娱乐英语新闻:"The Artist" leads nomination for Golden Globe Awards

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- "The Artist" topped contention for the 69th annual Gloden Globe Awards with six nominations as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) announced its picks for one of the most prestigious honors in the industry at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles Thursday morning.

Chinese drama "The Flowers of War," a production helmed by Zhang Yimou, was also nominated in the foreign language film category against "In the Land of Blood and Honey" (U.S.), "The Kid with the Bike" (Belgium), "A Separation" (Iran) and "The Skin I Live In" (Spain). The film stars the Academy Award best supporting actor winner Christian Bale in the role of a westerner who attempts to lead a group of Chinese women seeking refuge in a church to safety during Japan's rape of Nanjing in 1937.

The poster of movie "The Artist"

"The Artist," a black-and-white silent tribute to the early ages of the Hollywood, will compete for best musical/comedy with four other serious contenders which include rowdy comedy " Bridesmaids," the cancer-patient's struggle "50/50," writer- director Woody Allen's latest comedy "Midnight in Paris," and the biopic of screen legend "My Week with Marilyn."

In contention for the best dramatic film, the most prestigious trophy in the field, HFPA, which split film awards format among two separate categories such as comedy/musicals and dramas in 1963, has picked the family tale "The Descendants," the civil rights era drama "The Help," director Martin Scorsese's 3-D adventure "Hugo," the political thriller "The Ides of March," the baseball drama " Moneyball" and director Steven Spielberg's World War I drama "War Horse" as its choices.

George Clooney, the Oscar winner who garnered a Golden Globe award in 2000, squares off with Brad Pitt for "Moneyball," Leonardo DiCaprio for "J. Edgar," Ryan Gosling for "The Ides of March" and Michael Fassbender for "Shame" in the best actor in a drama contention.

Nominees for best actor in a motion picture comedy/musicals are: Ryan Gosling for "Crazy, Stupid, Love," Jean Dujardin of "The Artist," Brendan Gleeson of "The Guard," Joseph Gordon-Levitt of " 50/50" and Owen Wilson of "Midnight in Paris."

Five actresses were recognized for best actress in a dramatic motion picture. They are: Glenn Close for "Albert Nobbs," Viola Davis for "The Help," Meryl Streep for "The Iron Lady," Rooney Mara for "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" and Tilda Swinton for " We Need to Talk About Kevin."

A pair of A-listers, Jodie Foster and Kate Winslet, who were featured in Roman Polanski's latest comedy "Carnage," got their nods for best actress in a motion picture comedy/musical. Other contenders in the category include Charlize Theron of "Young Adult, " Kristen Wiig of "Bridesmaids" and Michelle Williams for her portryal of Marilyn Monroe in "My Week With Marilyn."

The best supporting actor fight pitted Kenneth Branagh for "My Week with Marilyn" against Albert Brooks for "Drive," Jonah Hill for "Moneyball," Viggo Mortensen for "A Dangerous Method" and Christopher Plummer for "Beginners."

Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer were both nominated for best supporting actress for "The Help." They will vie for the honor with Berenice Bejo of "The Artist," Janet McTeer for "The Help" and Shailene Woodley for "The Descendants."

In best director category, Woody Allen was named for his work on "Midnight in Paris." His contenders include George Clooney for "The Ides of March," Michel Hazanavicius for "The Artist," Alexander Payne for "The Descendants" and Martin Scorsese for " Hugo." He will also strive for best screenplay honors with Clooney, Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon for "The Ides of March," Hazanavicius for "The Artist," along with Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash For "The Descendants," Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin for " Moneyball."

The 69th Golden Globes ceremony will be held Jan. 15 at the Beverly Hilton. Ricky Gervais will host the event for the third consecutive year.