Oscars 2012 nominations to be announced today

The nominations for the 2012 Oscars will be announced later today (January 24) at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

The nominations will be broadcast live online from 5.30am PT/1.30pm GMT, and available to watch on Digital Spy.

Black-and-white silent film The Artist is the early frontrunner to lead the pack at this year's Academy Awards, having already picked up three Golden Globes and 12 nominations at the 2012 BAFTAs.

Michel Hazanavicius's homage to silent cinema is currently 1/3 favourite with bookmakers William Hill to win the coveted 'Best Picture' Oscar, which last year went to royal drama The King's Speech.

Martin Scorsese's Hugo, civil rights drama The Help, Woody Allen's latest movie Midnight in Paris and Brad Pitt's Moneyball are also expected to feature in the 'Best Picture' category.

George Clooney and Meryl Streep, who both won Golden Globes earlier this month, have been tipped for acting nominations.

Clooney's The Descendants sees him play a land baron struggling to raise his two daughters after their mother falls into a coma, while Streep has drawn praise for her performance as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

The 84th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 26 at the Kodak Theatre, Hollywood. Billy Crystal is hosting the ceremony for the ninth time.

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