23 January,2009 08:42 AM IST | | Agencies
Period love story The Curious Case of Benjamin Button emerged as the front-runner for the Academy Awards yesterday, after landing a whopping 13 nominations.
The critically acclaimed romance, starring Brad Pitt as a man who ages in reverse, edged out India-set, rags-to-riches drama Slumdog Millionaire, which scored 10 nominations.
Benjamin Button picked up nominations in several high-profile categories, including best picture and best director for David Fincher, while the film's leading man Pitt also earned a best actor nod.
The film's 13 nods was just one shy of the all-time record of 14 nominations held by 1997's Titanic and 1950's Bette Davis classic All About Eve, which both went on to earn best picture.
Speaking in France, Pitt described the slew of nominations for Benjamin Button as "a great honour for the film".
"The Oscars are the highest honour. For the film to be seen this way is a really nice thing for us," Pitt said. "I'm especially happy for David Fincher who's been working nine days a week shaping this for five years."
