'Up In the Air', 'Avatar' head Golden Globes contenders

Futuristic epic "Avatar" and downsizing drama "Up In the Air" led the field as nominees for the 67th Golden Globes were unveiled Tuesday, signaling the start of Hollywood's awards season.

Despite the fact that it has yet to be released in North America, Oscar-winner James Cameron's groundbreaking "Avatar" scored nominations in the best drama and best director categories for the January 17 awards show.

The nominations will fuel hype about the film, which has garnered stellar reviews following its world premiere in London last week.

However "Titanic" director Cameron's big budget labor of love faces stiff competition from "Up In the Air," the acclaimed story about a corporate downsizer played by George Clooney who starts to question his life.

The film picked up several nominations including best drama, a best actor nod for Clooney, and best director for Jason Reitman.

Other contenders for best drama include gripping Iraq war drama "The Hurt Locker," Quentin Tarantino's blood-soaked World War Two revenge fantasy "Inglourious Basterds" and gritty drama "Precious," about the struggles of an obese, illiterate and abused African-American teenager.

Unlike the Oscars, the Golden Globes splits its best picture prizes between genres, honoring best drama and best comedy/musical.

The Globes are often viewed as a key barometer of which films may go on to challenge for honors at the Oscars, which will take place at Hollywood's Kodak Theater on March 7 next year.

Although 67.4 percent of films which won best picture at the Academy Awards also won a Golden Globe, in recent years the awards have proved an unreliable barometer of likely Oscar winners.

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Rags-to-riches drama "Slumdog Millionaire" is the only film in the past five years to have followed up a best picture statuette at the Golden Globes with victory at the Oscars.