Lucky 13 for Chicago

Critically acclaimed movie Chicago is leading the way in the battle for the Oscars after scooping a whopping 13 nominations, while Michael Caine, Daniel Day-Lewis and Catherine Zeta Jones are heading the Brit charge for awards.

Day-Lewis and Caine will vie for the best actor award, but face tough competition from movie veteran Jack Nicholson for his role in About Schmidt, Nicholas Cage for his part in Adaptation and Adrien Brody in The Pianist.

Caine was nominated for the Graham Greene adaptation The Quiet American, while Day-Lewis earned a place in the list for his portrayal of Bill The Butcher in Gangs Of New York.

Zeta-Jones, who yesterday took centre stage in her High Court battle with Hello! magazine in London, is up for best supporting actress for Chicago, in which she plays ruthless murderess Velma Kelly.

Meanwhile, her co-star Renee Zellweger, who plays Roxie Hart, will compete with Nicole Kidman, Salma Hayek, Diane Lane and Julianne Moore for the best actress Oscar.

In the best director award Martin Scorsese, who has yet to win an Oscar, has been nominated for Gangs of New York and is expected to be in a two-horse race with British director Stephen Daldry for his movie The Hours.

Another familiar name is that of legendary actor Paul Newman who has been nominated in the best supporting actor category for his role in the Road to Perdition.