BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Martin Scorsese’s Paris adventure “Hugo” leads the Academy Awards with 11 nominations, among them best picture and the latest director slot for the Oscar-winning filmmaker.
The third installment of Paradise Lost, meanwhile, was nominated for best feature-length documentary. The series focuses on the 1993 murders of three boys in West Memphis and the subsequent convictions of three men who last year were released from prison after pleading guilty to the crime while maintaining their innocence.
Also nominated for best picture Tuesday: the silent film “The Artist”; the family drama “The Descendants”; the Sept. 11 tale “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”; the Deep South drama “The Help”; the romantic fantasy “Midnight in Paris”; the sports tale “Moneyball”; the family chronicle “The Tree of Life”; and the World War I epic “War Horse.”
The nominations set up a best-picture showdown between the top films at the Golden Globes: best musical or comedy recipient “The Artist” and best drama winner “The Descendants.”
“The Artist” ran second with 10 nominations.
"Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory" is nominated alongside "Hell and Back Again," "If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front," "Pina" and "Undefeated." The film, directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, was recut after Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin last year entered Alford pleas and were released from prison.
The men had maintained their innocence and were pushing for new trials when prosecutors and attorneys agreed to the rare plea in exchange for immediate freedom. Echols was on death row while Misskelley and Baldwin were sentenced to life in prison.
Picture
The Artist, The Descendants, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, The Help, Hugo, Midnight in Paris, Moneyball, The Tree of Life, War Horse
Actor
Demián Bichir, "A Better Life"; George Clooney, "The Descendants"; Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"; Gary Oldman, "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"; and Brad Pitt, "Moneyball."
Actress
Glenn Close, “Albert Nobbs”; Viola Davis, “The Help”; Rooney Mara, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”; Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady”; Michelle Williams, “My Week with Marilyn.”
Supporting actress
Octavia Spencer, “The Help”; Berenice Bejo, “The Artist”; Jessica Chastain, “The Help”; Janet McTeer (“Albert Nobbs”); and Melissa McCarthy, “Bridesmaids.”
Supporting actor
Kenneth Branagh, “My Week with Marilyn”; Jonah Hill, “Moneyball”; Nick Nolte, “Warrior”; Christopher Plummer, “Beginners”; Max von Sydow, “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.”
The Oscars will be presented Feb. 26 at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by Billy Crystal and broadcast live on ABC.