Scoring five nods each, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” which tells the story of a man who ages backwards, “Frost/Nixon,” a drama revisiting the interviews of former U.S. President Richard Nixon by British journalist David Frost, and “Doubt” about a nun who confronts a priest after suspecting him of abusing a child, lead this year’s Golden Globe Awards nominations.

However, only two of the three, “Benjamin Button” and “Frost/Nixon” were picked for the best picture category, alongside “The Reader,” “Revolutionary Road,” and “Slumdog Millionaire” which received four mentions each. “Doubt” drew most recognition for its primary stars, Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis, who were all nominated as well as a nod for the Best Screenplay Award.

"Benjamin Button," which opens Christmas Day, and “Frost/Nixon” both earned nominations in the exact same five categories, Best Actor (Brad Pitt and Frank Langella respectively), Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Score and the Best Picture – Drama mentioned above.

Joining Pitt and Langella in the race for Best Actor, Sean Penn nabbed a nomination for his role in “Milk,” which despite wide critical acclaim wasn’t acknowledged by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in other categories. Leonardo Dicaprio and Mickey Rourke rounded up the final five.

Pitt’s significant other, Angelina Jolie, got nominated in the Best Actress category for her part as a devoted mother trying to find her missing son in “Changeling,” alongside Anne Hathaway for “Rachel Getting Married,” Kate Winslet for “Revolutionary Road,” Meryl Streep for “Doubt” and Kristin Scott Thomas for “I've Loved You So Long.”

Streep also was nominated for best actress in a motion picture, comedy or musical, for her singing role in “Mamma Mia!” while Winslet earned another nomination for supporting actress as a former Nazi prison guard in “The Reader.”

Meanwhile, the most notable snubs were Clint Eastwood, who will have to make do with nominations for best original score for “Changeling” and best original song for “Gran Torino,” even though he was expected to be a contender in the directing and best actor categories, and “Dark Knight.” Despite lots of talk about possible nominations in multiple categories, Heath Ledger’s nod for Best Supporting Actor was the flick’s single nomination.

Other stars nomination in the same category include Tom Cruise for his role in "Tropic Thunder," Robert Downey Jr. for the same comedy, Ralph Fiennes in “The Duchess” and Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman for “Doubt.”

On the television side, HBO dominated once again, as its freshman series “In Treatment” led with five nominations, as did its telefilm “Recount.” Miniseries “John Adams” was close behind with four nods, while established hit “Entourage” received three mentions. Newcomer “True Blood” sucked up two nominations. Last year's Best Drama series winner, Mad Men, was back again with three nominations.

The ceremony for the second-biggest film awards show after the Academy Awards, which traditionally help sort out the potential Oscar field, will air on January 11 on NBC.