BRITAIN: The battle for Britain's BAFTA film awards, often seen as an indicator for the Oscars, turned into a tale of two US cities yesterday as Chicago and Gangs of New York picked up 12 nominations each.
Both are up for the prestigious best film award, along with British film The Hours, The Lord of the Rings sequel The Two Towers and The Pianist.
Daniel Day Lewis was nominated for best actor for his role in Gangs of New York, Martin Scorsese's epic set in mid-19th century Manhattan.
Renee Zellweger, star of Bridget Jones's Diary, was nominated for best actress for her performance in Chicago.
The Hours, a film about three women grappling with depression, alienation and a search for love, picked up 11 nominations, including one for best film. Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep were both nominated for best actress for their performances in the film.
Michael Caine was nominated for best actor for his role in The Quiet American, an adaptation of Graham Greene's novel, while Jack Nicholson's name is put forward for his performance in About Schmidt. The winner of the awards will be announced in London on February 23th.