The 2015 Academy Award Oscar nominations were announced this morning with Birdman and Grand Budapest Hotel gaining the most award nominations.

Whilst the Academy as the option to nominate up to 10 movies for best picture, this year they only nominated 8. Not sure if that is a reflection on the standard of 2014 movies or as a result of the influence of movie studios lobbying for a reduction in Best Picture nominations so their highlight movies can gain bigger attention. This years Best Picture nominations are Birdman, Grand Budapest Hotel, American Sniper, Boyhood, Imitation Game, Selma, Theory Of Everything and Whiplash. With the Grand Budapest winning at the Golden Globes, it is starting to firm as a popular favourite.

Best Director also comes from the similar crop including Alejandro González Iñárritu for Birdman, Richard Linklater for the ‘it took 12 years to make so I better win some awards’ Boyhood, Bennett Miller for Foxcatcher, Morten Tyldum and Wes Anderson for Budapest.

Best Actor looks like an interesting contest Michael Keaton (for Birdman) and Eddie Redmayne for Theory Of Everything appear to be the early favourites but Bradley Cooper (American Sniper) could be a dark horse. Cooper was snubbed by the Golden Globes so it will be interesting to see how he fairs on the biggest of nights. Funny man Steve Carell is nominated for his brilliant dramatic role in Foxcatcher along with Benedict Cumberbatch for The Imitation. I’m hoping for a Keaton win, just on the off chance he slips into this Batman voice.

The Best Actress category is a huge surprise. No Jennifer Aniston and no Amy Adams. After the Golden Globes we were all talking about these two duking it out for the top award, but neither were nomed. Those nominated were Marion Cotillard, Felicity Jones, Julianne Moore, Rosamund Pike and the delightful Reese Witherspoon.

There’s a definite lack of Aussies this year which is always disappointing, so come on Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett and Russell Crowe deliver us a stellar performance this year and get back up there for 2016.

The Oscars ceremony will be on 22 February and is always fun to watch.