Broadcast critics laud ‘Milk,’ ‘Button’

“Milk” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” dominated the nominations Tuesday for the Broadcast Film Critics Assn.’s 14th annual Critics’ Choice Awards, receiving eight nods each.

Gus Van Sant’s drama about Harvey Milk, the gay member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors who was murdered 30 years ago, was nominated for best picture, lead actor for Sean Penn, supporting actor for James Franco and Josh Brolin, acting ensemble, director for Van Sant, writer for Dustin Lance Black and composer for Danny Elfman.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” about a man who gets younger as he ages, earned nominations for best picture, lead actor for Brad Pitt, lead actress for Cate Blanchett, supporting actress for Taraji P. Henson, acting ensemble, director for David Fincher, writer for Eric Roth and composer for Alexandre Desplat.

Joining “Milk” and “Benjamin Button” in the best picture category are “Changeling,” “The Dark Knight,” “Doubt,” “Frost/Nixon,” “The Reader,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” “Wall-E” and “The Wrestler.”

In addition to Penn and Pitt, lead actor nominations went to Clint Eastwood for “Gran Torino,” Richard Jenkins for “The Visitor,” Frank Langella for “Frost/Nixon” and Mickey Rourke for “The Wrestler.”

Nominations in the lead actress category went to Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale for “Nothing but the Truth,” Anne Hathaway for “Rachel Getting Married,” Angelina Jolie for “Changeling,” Melissa Leo for “Frozen River” and Meryl Streep for “Doubt.”

Rounding out the supporting actor category: Robert Downey Jr. (“Tropic Thunder”), Philip Seymour Hoffman (“Doubt”) and the late Heath Ledger (“The Dark Knight”).

Supporting actress nominations also went to Penelope Cruz (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”), Viola Davis (“Doubt”), Vera Farmiga (“Nothing but the Truth”), Marisa Tomei (“The Wrestler”) and Kate Winslet (“The Reader”).

The best director category also included Danny Boyle (“Slumdog Millionaire”), Ron Howard (“Frost/Nixon”) and Christopher Nolan (“The Dark Knight”).

The winners will be announced at the Critics’ Choice Awards gala on Jan. 8. For a complete list of nominees, go to theenvelope.com.

--

susan.king@latimes.com