By Ann Oldenburg, USA TODAY
The 2012 Oscar nominations are pretty much in sync with all the critics' picks so far. Here are the nominees in major categories:
Actor in a leading role:
- Demian Bichir, A Better Life
- George Clooney, The Descendants
- Jean Dujardin, The Artist
- Brad Pitt, Moneyball
- Gary Oldman, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Actor in a supporting role:
- Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
- Nick Nolte, Warrior
- Christopher Plummer, Beginners
- Max von Sydow, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
- Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Actress in a leading role:
- 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
PICTURES: At the Academy Award Nominations
Actress in a supporting role:
- Berenice Bejo, The Artist
- Jessica Chastain, The Help
- Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
- Octavia Spencer, The Help
- Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Directing:
- Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
- Alexander Payne, The Descendants
- Martin Scorsese, Hugo
- Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
- Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life
Best picture (only 9 films were nominated):
- The Artist
- The Descendants
- Hugo
- The Help
- Midnight in Paris
- War Horse
- Moneyball
- Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
- The Tree of Life
USA Today