Benjamin Button, Slumdog lead Oscar nominees

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a drama in which Brad Pitt plays a man who ages backward, led the field of Oscar contenders with 13 nominations, organizers said yesterday.

Slumdog Millionaire, the tale of an impoverished orphan's improbable victory on an Indian television game show, followed with 10, while the Batman sequel The Dark Knight and the gay-rights saga Milk each landed eight.

Benjamin Button, Slumdog Millionaire and Milk will vie for best picture at the 81st annual Academy Awards on Feb 22, alongside The Reader and Frost/Nixon. All five also had best director nominations.