“It's pretty extraordinary. I don't quite know what to say. It was a story that needed to be told and it was told at the right time. This was my first film with Gus (Van Sant). I sort of stalked him to get the job and he screwed up and hired me. He was always willing to try anything new and narratively different.”
— Elliot Graham, film editor, “Milk”

“I was awoken by the news. I'm in New York but a late riser. I'm kind of over the moon about it. I didn't think any film that comes out that early is thought of in these terms. We all liked the script and it's great recognition for all the work.”
— Martin McDonagh, original screenplay, “In Bruges”

It feels surreal. I just got a call from Javier Bardem in Spain and he was flipping out and screaming. The reality is I got up at 5:55 here in Utah and looked at the clock and figured the nominations were announced and it didn't happen. I said to myself, 'That's OK I can deal with it.' Then I realized there's a one-hour time difference.”
— Josh Brolin, supporting actor, “Milk”

BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.) A Kennedy/Marshall Production; Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
“Frost/Nixon” (Universal) A Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment
and Working Title Production; Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Eric Fellner, Producers “Milk” (Focus Features)
A Groundswell and Jinks/Cohen Company Production; Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, Producers “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company)
A Mirage Enterprises and Neunte Babelsberg Film GmbH Production; Nominees to be determined
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight) A Celador Films Production; Christian Colson, Producer

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” scored 13 nominations for the 81st Academy Awards, including best picture.