'Into the Wild' scoops four Guild nominations

Road-trip drama 'Into the Wild' received four Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations today.

Lead actor Emile Hirsch and supporting actors Hal Holbrook and Catherine Keener all received nominations.

The film, directed by Sean Penn, was also nominated for the best film award. It faces competition from '3:10 to Yuma', 'American Gangster', 'No Country for Old Men' and 'Hairspray'.

Conspicuously absent from the Guild field was the British romantic melodrama 'Atonement'. The film starring Keira Knightley led the Golden Globe nominations last week with seven nominations.

Other best-actor nominees were George Clooney ('Michael Clayton'), Daniel Day-Lewis ('There Will Be Blood'), Ryan Gosling ('Lars and the Real Girl') and Viggo Mortensen ('Eastern Promises').

Nominated for best actress were Cate Blanchett ('Elizabeth: The Golden Age'), Julie Christie ('Away From Her') Marion Cotillard ('La Vie En Rose'), Angelina Jolie ('A Mighty Heart') and Ellen Page ('Juno').

Blanchett was also nominated for supporting actress for her role in Bob Dylan-based film 'I’m Not There'. The movie features six different performers playing variations of the musician.

The awards will be presented on January 27..

The Guild choices boost prospects for many performers hoping to compete at Hollywood’s big prizes – the Academy Awards, whose nominations come out January 22.

This year's choices have clouded the field in an unusual year when no clear favourites have emerged. Though critically acclaimed, 'Into the Wild' was snubbed for acting nominations for the Golden Globes.

Unlike the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes, which face turmoil caused by striking Hollywood writers, the Guild awards are expected to go off as planned.

With actors showing strong solidarity on strike issues, the Guild has reached an agreement with the Writers Guild of America for one of its members to write the ceremony.