'Lincoln' tops Oscar nods

US: Steven Spielberg's taut political drama "Lincoln" won the Oscars election Thursday with 12 nominations for the Academy Awards, the climax of Hollywood's annual prizes season. Taiwan-born Ang Lee's visually stunning 3D adventure "Life of Pi," based on the novel by Yann Martel, earned 11 nods from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, ahead of the Oscars ceremony on February 24.

"Silver Linings Playbook" meanwhile became the first film since 1981 to win nominations in all four acting categories plus best film, best director and best writer, according to the Academy. And James Bond blockbuster "Skyfall" won a rare five nominations for the 007 franchise, albeit none in the major categories but including for Grammy-winning songstress Adele, shortlisted for best song for the theme tune.

Spielberg, whose latest film recounts Abraham Lincoln's scheming to secure votes in Congress to abolish slavery, said he was woken by his publicist after the predawn announcement in Beverly Hills.

"It's the best wake up call I've had in 14 years! I'm always surprised by recognition... I'm deeply grateful," said the veteran director, as cited by the Hollywood Reporter.

"Lincoln" star Daniel Day-Lewis was nominated for best actor, as expected, against Hugh Jackman in "Les Miserables," Bradley Cooper for "Silver Linings Playbook," Joaquin Phoenix for "The Master" and Denzel Washington for "Flight." Best actress nominees are Jessica Chastain for "Zero Dark Thirty," Jennifer Lawrence for "Silver Linings Playbook," Emmanuelle Riva for "Amour," Naomi Watts for "The Impossible" and Quvenzhane Wallis for "Beasts of the Southern Wild." Both "Lincoln" and "Life of Pi" are nominated for the coveted best film prize, along with "Silver Linings Playbook" and the musical "Les Miserables," which each earned eight nods, and Iran hostage drama "Argo" with seven.

AFP