Four of the five films nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Universal’s “Frost/Nixon,” Focus Features’ “Milk,” Fox Searchlight’s “Slumdog Millionaire” and the Weinstein Co.’s “The Reader” have designed their theatriacl release strategy around the Oscar nominations, announced today, Jan 22.

In the 81-year-history of the Academy, only two films have received 14 nominations: Joseph Mankiewicz's All About Eve in 1950 and James Cameron's Titanic in 1997.  Sweeping most awards, b0th films won the Best Picture Oscar. Up to The Curious Case of Benajmin Button, seven films received 13 nomination each, but not all of them won Best Picture.

See List of Nominated Pictures ny Number of Nominations

As in every year, the Oscar omissions are almost as interesting and glaring as the Oscar contenders.  This year, the following films and performers were ignored or snubbed by the Academy voters: “The Dark Knight” and its director Christopher Nolan, Clint Eastwood as Best Actor in “Gran Torino,” Leonardo DiCaprio in “Revolutionary Road,” Bruce Springsteen for his song in Darren Aronofsky's drama “The Wrestler,” to mention a few.

In the contest for the 81st Oscar Awards, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” received 13 nominations.  In Oscar's entire history, onlky two movies have received 14 nominations: All About Eve in 1950 and Titanic in 1997. “Benjamin Button” is only the ninth film in 80 years to ever score that many nominations.