If the latest nominations by the Writers Guild and Cinematographers Union are to go by, The Dark Knight might not be the Oscar underdog initially predicted.

Scoring a nomination from the WGA for their adapted screenplay of The Dark Knight, brothers in crime Christopher and Jonathan Nolan aren’t without stiff competition. Eric Roth’s screenplay for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt, Simon Beaufoy’s Slumdog Millionaire and Peter Morgan Frost/Nixon also picked up nominations in the category.

However, the brother duo might just have the upper hand if last year is any indication. For their adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s No Country For Old Men, brothers Joel and Ethan Coen took home the award in ’08. Unsurprisingly, the Coen’s are back again this year, showing their diversity by picking up a nomination in the best original screenplay category for Burn After Reading. Also nominated for their original screenplay’s is Dustin Lance Black for Milk, Woody Allen for Vicky Christina Barcelona, Tom McCarthy for The Visitor and Robert Siegel for The Wrestler.

The WGA Awards are set to take place February 7th.

The Writers aren’t the only ones giving The Dark Knight some pre-Oscar attention. Over at the American Society of Cinematographers, Batman’s director of photography Wally Pfister scored a nomination for their prestigious award. He’s been pitted against Roger Deakins, nominated twice for his work on The Reader and Revolutionary Road, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’s Claudio Miranda and Slumdog Millionaire’s Anthony Dod Mantle.
No love for Australia? That’s a shame.

So as the Oscar nom’s loom closer (January 22, in case you were wondering), do you think The Dark Knight has what it takes to steal the show?

Source: E Online

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