Golden Globe nominations announced

'Atonement' has picked up a slew of nominations today for this year's Golden Globes, as expected, including best actress for Keira Knightley.

It is nominated for best film, with Joe Wright a contender for best director and Knightley's co-star, James McAvoy, in the running for best actor.

'Atonement', an adaptation of Ian McEwan's best-selling novel set around the Second World War, leads the field with seven nominations in total.

Its 13-year-old star, Irish newcomer Saoirse Ronan, is in the running for best supporting actress.

The other best film contenders are violent thrillers 'American Gangster', 'Eastern Promises' and 'No Country For Old Men', legal drama 'Michael Clayton', historical saga 'There Will Be Blood' and Oprah Winfrey-produced feel-good film 'The Great Debaters'.

Nominated in the best actress are Angelina Jolie for 'A Mighty Heart', Cate Blanchett for 'Elizabeth: The Golden Age', Jodie Foster for 'The Brave One' and the veteran Julie Christie for 'Away From Her'.

McAvoy will face competition for the best actor award from George Clooney in 'Michael Clayton', Viggo Mortensen in 'Eastern Promises', Denzel Washington in 'American Gangster' and Daniel Day-Lewis as a turn-of-the-20th-century oil tycoon in 'There Will Be Blood'.

Ricky Gervais, Hugh Laurie and Minnie Driver are each nominated in the TV categories.

The nominations were announced in Los Angeles by film director Quentin Tarantino.

The 65th annual Golden Globe awards take place on January 13.