Nominations for the 2010 Academy Awards have been announced, and many of the nominated films are already here at the Library. This year there are ten films nominated for Best Picture - the first time in over 60 years that this has been done (in the eight years from 1936 to 1943 there were also 10 best picture nominees).

The National Film Registry of The Library of Congress recently announced its list of inductees for 2009. Among the titles is Michael Jackson's 1983 video Thriller, which is the first music video to be named to the Registry. Established in 1989, it now contains 525 films selected for their enduring importance to United States culture. Also included among the list of 2009 entries are

• Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
• Jezebel (1938)
• Mrs. Miniver (1942)
• The Muppet Movie (1979)
• Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
• Pillow Talk (1959)
• The Story of G.I. Joe (1945)

The complete list can be found here.

Bolt (voices of John Travolta, Miley Cyrus) Super-dog Bolt is the star of a hit TV show whose life is filled with adventure, danger and intrigue. When he is accidentally shipped to New York City and separated from Penney, his beloved co-star and owner, Bolt immediately springs into action to save her from the forces of evil.

Coraline (voices of Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher) A young girl walks through a secret door that she has found in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life. Based on the book by Neil Gaiman.

According to an article in the Detroit Free Press, Hollywood is coming to the aid of the McGregor Library in Highland Park, Michigan. The library was forced to close in 2002 because the city couldn't afford to keep it open. Actor Danny Glover will reportedly star in a film - titled Highland Park - which will tell the story of the struggle to reopen the library. Significant restoration will be done on the building as part of the film project, and it is hoped that this will eventually lead to the library reopening.

The 2009 Traverse City Film Festival opens today at the historic State Theatre. Originally opened in 1918 the theatre has been the main venue of the festival since it began in 2005. This year's offerings include The Answer Man starring  Michigan's own Jeff Daniels, and Julie & Julia starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. The festival ends on August 2.

Have you ever sat through a seemingly endless parade of  previews at your local cineplex waiting to see the film you just paid for, only to wonder if the ones that are coming out in the next few months  are really  as good (or bad) as they seem to be?

This year's Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to actor Michael Douglas by the  American Film Institute on June 11.

The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films recently announced its nominations for the 35th annual Saturn Awards.  Awarded every year in the categories of film, television and DVD, the film The Dark Knight tops the list with 11 nominations.

The Changeling starring Angelina Jolie and directed by Clint Eastwood is a tragic true story of the 1920's of a mom who never gives up hope of finding her kidnapped son.  I like history, and if you do, too, you will learn much from this sad tale that affected many southern California families.  It is a tear jerker and not for kids, but Angelina Jolie is a marvelous actress, and this is her at her best.  You will not be able to get up from your seat once this movies begins. 

Have you spotted George Clooney at Metro Airport this week? Or maybe Drew Barrymore at the Lafayette Deli in Detroit earlier this year? Despite these recent "star sightings," making movies in Michigan is not a completely new phenomenom. It was 50 years ago this spring when Anatomy of a Murder was filmed in the Upper Peninsula town of Ishpeming.

The Oscars weren't the only celebration of film that occurred this weekend. This year's Spirit Awards  - given out  annually by Film Independent - were held Saturday night. The winner for Best Female Lead was Melissa Lee for Frozen River, and the Best Male Lead was awarded to Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler - which was also named Best Feature.

Nominated for eight Academy awards, the biographical film Milk tells the story of Harvey Milk, California's first openly gay elected official. Elected as a San Francisco supervisor in 1977, he was assassinated along with Mayor George Moscone by San Francisco Supervisor Dan White in November, 1978. The nominations include Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Director.

Nominated for Best Documentary Feature, Man on Wire relates the story behind "the artistic crime of the century." In 1974 tightrope walker Philippe Petit attempted a daring, but illegal, high-wire walk between New York City's World Trade Center's twin towers.

The Duchess, starring Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes, has been nominated for two Academy Awards - Best Art Direction and Best Costume.

Nominated for five Academy Awards, The Reader, starring Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes is set in post-World War II Germany where nearly a decade after his encounter with an older woman came to a sudden and mysterious end, a young law student discovers her as she defends herself in a war crimes trial.

Based on the novel Q & A by Vikas Swarap, the film Slumdog Millionaire built on its positive buzz at the 2008  Toronto Film Festival to become this year's favorite underdog.

Best known for her long running role in the acclaimed TV series Homicide, life on the street, veteran character actress Melissa Leo has been nominated as Best Actress for her role in the independent film Frozen River.

Based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button has been nominated for thirteen Academy Awards.  The film tells the story of Benjamin Button, a man who is born in New Orleans at the end of World War I as a man in his eighties and proceeds to age backwards into the 21st century. The multiple nominations include Best Picture, Best Actor (Brad Pitt), Best Supporting Actress (Taraji P. Henson), and Best Director (David Fincher).

Nominated for five Academy Awards, Frost/Nixon stars Michael Sheen and Frank Langella in the film version of the Broadway production of the same name.

Nominations for the 2009 Academy Awards have been announced, and many of the nominated films are already here at the Library.