Six nominations for 'Up in the Air'

Two years ago, director Jason Reitman's "Juno" was the consummate Oscar underdog. An independent film without A-list stars, it went on to earn four Oscar nominations, winning best original screenplay for Diablo Cody.

Reitman's new, widely feted film, "Up in the Air," won't have the luxury of a sneak attack. It solidified its status as an Academy Awards favourite Tuesday, when it was nominated for six Golden Globes, the most of any film.

Reitman has said he was concerned the expectations surrounding "Up in the Air" - starring George Clooney as a frequent flier who fires people for a living - might detract from the joy of its success. When he watched the Globes announcements - while fittingly jet-lagged from a recent flight from Los Angeles to New York – he seemed to be taking to the new role.

"Whatever my fears were about having anticipation, there's nothing as exciting as watching live TV and not knowing if your name is going to be called out," said the 32-year-old Reitman, who was nominated for best director and best screenplay with co-writer Sheldon Turner. "It's an overwhelming rush."

But it will have stiff competition. Another critical favorite, the Iraq war drama "The Hurt Locker," has been building steam, picking up awards. Before it received three Golden Globe nominations Tuesday, it was picked as the best film of the year by the New York Critics Circle and the Los Angeles Critics Association.

James Cameron's new sci-fi movie, "Avatar," also may be a strong contender. Its Oscar prospects are less clear because it's a relatively late arrival, screening for critics for the first time last week. But early reviews have largely been glowing, and it will surely be a much larger hit at the box office.