Some amends for ‘Atonement’

“Atonement,” the sweeping romantic epic starring James McAvoy and Keira Knightley, dominated the nominations for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts’ film awards Wednesday.

The adaptation of Ian McEwan’s acclaimed novel of redemption was nominated for 14 awards, including best film, best British film, best director for Joe Wright, best adapted screenplay for Christopher Hampton, best actress for Knightley, best actor for McAvoy and best supporting actress for Saoirse Ronan.

Although “Atonement” has been ignored by the majority of American critics’ organizations and failed to receive nominations from the Screen Actors Guild, Directors Guild of America, Writers Guild of America and Producers Guild of America, the film won the Golden Globe on Sunday for best dramatic film of 2007.

Also vying for BAFTA’s best film award are “American Gangster,” “The Lives of Others,” “No Country for Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood.”

The German film “The Lives of Others,” which won the Oscar last year for best foreign-language film, made a surprisingly strong showing. Besides best film, it scored nominations for best foreign-language film, director and screenplay for Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, and best actor for the late Ulrich Muhe.

Joining “Atonement” in the best British film category are “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “Control,” “Eastern Promises” and “This Is England.”

Besides Wright and Von Donnersmarck, the director nominees are Paul Greengrass for “The Bourne Ultimatum,” Joel and Ethan Coen for “No Country for Old Men” and Paul Thomas Anderson for “There Will Be Blood.”

Joining Von Donnersmarck in the original screenplay category are Steven Zaillian for “American Gangster,” Diablo Cody for “Juno,” Tony Gilroy for “Michael Clayton” and Shane Meadows for “This Is England.”

Competing in the adapted screenplay category are Ronald Harwood for “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” David Benioff for “The Kite Runner,” the Coen brothers for “No Country for Old Men” and Anderson for “There Will Be Blood.” Besides McAvoy and Muhe, best actor nominees are George Clooney for “Michael Clayton,” Daniel Day-Lewis for “There Will Be Blood” and Viggo Mortensen for “Eastern Promises.”

Vying for best actress with Knightley are Cate Blanchett for “Elizabeth: The Golden Age,” Julie Christie for “Away From Her,” Marion Cotillard for “La Vie en Rose” and Ellen Page for “Juno.”

Supporting actor nominees are Javier Bardem and Tommy Lee Jones for “No Country for Old Men,” Paul Dano for “There Will Be Blood,” Philip Seymour Hoffman for “Charlie Wilson’s War” and Tom Wilkinson for “Michael Clayton.”

In contention for supporting actress along with Ronan are Blanchett for “I’m Not There,” Kelly Macdonald for “No Country for Old Men,” Samantha Morton for “Control” and Tilda Swinton for “Michael Clayton.”

“Ratatouille,” “Shrek the Third” and “The Simpsons Movie” are vying for best animated film; joining “The Lives of Others” in the foreign-language film category are “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” “The Kite Runner,” “Lust, Caution” and “La Vie en Rose.”

The awards will be handed out Feb. 10 and will air on BBC America at 3 p.m. PST.

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susan.king@latimes.com