'Lincoln' crowned Oscar frontrunner

Actress Jessica Chastain is shown in a scene from the film "Zero Dark Thrity" in this publicity photo released to Reuters January 10, 2013. The film has been nominated for best picture for the 80th Academy Awards, announced in Beverly Hills Thursday. The Oscars will be presented in Hollywood, California February 24, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

"SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK" SCORES BIG

"Silver Linings Playbook" also earned the distinction of being the first film to receive nominations for best picture, director, screenplay and all four acting categories since 1981.

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"I am feeling emotional and extremely humbled ... it's a very competitive year and I went to bed frankly not knowing what to expect," director David O. Russell told Reuters.

"There are many surprises in those nominees ... I was especially surprised not to see Ben (Affleck) and Kathryn (Bigelow) on the list," Russell added.

In the race for best actress, Jessica Chastain's young CIA agent in "Zero Dark Thirty" faces off against Jennifer Lawrence ("Silver Linings Playbook"), and Naomi Watts for tsunami movie The Impossible".

They are joined by the youngest - nine year-old Quvenzhane Wallis ("Beasts of the Southern Wild") - and oldest (Emmanuelle Riva, 85, for "Amour") actresses nominated in the lead category in the Academy's 85 year-history.

"Zero Dark Thirty," which recounts the decade-long hunt for bin Laden, picked up five nods, including best screenplay for Mark Boal.

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Boal said on Thursday he was honored by his nomination but added in a statement; "None of us would be so honored today without the genius and remarkable talent of Kathryn Bigelow."

The film has caused controversy in the United States over its depiction of torture and the possibly secret sources used by the filmmakers to reconstruct the long hunt for the al Qaeda leader.

James Bond film "Skyfall" won five nominations, including best original song and cinematography, but the British secret agent movie missed out on a coveted best picture mention.

The screen adaption of musical "Les Miserables" will compete in eight categories, including best supporting actress for Anne Hathaway as tragic heroine Fantine.

"Amour," Austrian director Michael Haneke's moving French-language love story about an elderly couple, won a rare double nomination in the best picture and the foreign language categories.