SEAN PENN NABS GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINATION FOR MILK

Milk, the film about gay politician Harvey Milk, has scooped a coveted Golden Globe nomination for its lead actor Sean Penn, but otherwise failed to earn any other nods.

Many were surprised that the acclaimed film, which has been at the top of numerous American critics’ best film of 2008 list, was not nominated for Best Motion Picture – Drama.

Instead, that honour went to The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, The Reader, Revolutionary Road and Slumdog Millionaire; none of which have been released in South Africa.

The nominations were announced on Thursday by actress Brooke Shields and Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Jorge Camara in Beverly Hills, California.

James Franco, who also stars in Milk, received a nomination but that was for his role in another film, the comedy Pineapple Express.

The nominees in the Best Motion Picture – Musical Or Comedy category are Burn After Reading, Happy-Go-Lucky, In Bruges, Mamma Mia! and Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

As many expected, the late Heath Ledger was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for his turn as The Joker in The Dark Night.

Meryl Streep received two nominations; best actress in a drama for Doubt and best actress in musical or comedy for Mamma Mia!

Openly gay actor, Neil Patrick Harris was nominated for his role in the television sitcom How I Met Your Mother while America Ferrera was recognised for her performance in gay favourite, Ugly Betty.

The winners of the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards will be announced on Sunday, January 11, 2009.