Many of this year's Oscar-nominated films are based on true stories ("Lincoln," "Zero Dark Thirty," "Argo") or on well-known novels ("Les Miserables," "Life of Pi"). And as you can imagine, it's easy for those stories to put a twist on a tale -- often intentionally, for drama's sake -- not telling it the way it was in real life or in an earlier book.

Those changes mostly go unnoticed unless you're really familiar with the source material, but we found five notable ones.

Sony Pictures

The SEALs in "Zero Dark Thirty" made too much noise, says a man who should know.

1. Osama bin Laden raid was too noisy in 'Zero Dark Thirty'
Who can you believe about the death of Osama bin Laden if not the man who killed Osama bin Laden? That former Navy SEAL spoke to Esquire magazine and saw the movie for the first time with Phil Bronstein, who wrote the Esquire article. He pointed out some minor errors -- the dog on the real mission was a Belgian Malinois, not a German Shepherd and the night-vision goggles worn by the SEALs in the film didn't exist when bin Laden was killed. But his biggest correction? The real SEALs went about their mission in silence. In the movie, a SEAL loudly yells "Breacher!" when he wants someone to blow a door at the compound, and characters call out bin Laden's name. In real life, the SEALs storming the Pakistan terrorist compound tried to keep as quiet as possible, for obvious reasons.

2. No one chased the plane onto the runway in 'Argo'
Kathleen Stafford, one of two women among the six Americans rescued from Iran in the events that inspired "Argo," told the Washington Post that the film Hollywooded up her actual experiences. "Argo" is full of fictionalized sections -- in real life, the six were split between two homes, not just the Canadian ambassador's, for one thing, and Canada's role is downplayed in the film in order to make the CIA look like more of a player. But perhaps the most dramatic scene in the film, where Iranian revolutionaries drive out on an airport runway chasing a departing plane just as it lifts off, never happened. Tony Mendez, the real CIA operative played by Ben Affleck, reports that the airport departure was "smooth as silk," with only a minor mechanical problem slightly delaying takeoff, not gun-waving revolutionaries.

Warner Bros.

"Argo" added drama to its airport scene.

3. Connecticut wasn't pro-slavery as shown in 'Lincoln'
Unless you live in the Nutmeg State, you probably didn't notice how Connecticut voted on the Thirteenth Amendment in the movie "Lincoln." But Rep. Joe Courtney sure did. He wrote a letter to director Steven Spielberg complaining that two out of three Connecticut votes are seen being cast against abolishing slavery. In real history, all four votes from his state were pro-abolition. (The film's screenwriter acknowledged he changed the facts.) A Lincoln historian pointed out that the film actually got a lot of things right, including Lincoln's enjoyment of a certain bathroom joke. The historian's quibbles were minor: Mary Todd Lincoln's teeth were too white, the word "sniper" would not have been used, General Lee did not surrender from horseback, and Abe Lincoln didn't swear so much.

4. Was that song really in 'Les Mis'?
Fans of the "Les Miserables" musical know it backwards and forwards. They know what someone who's never seen "Les Mis" on stage wouldn't -- that the song "Suddenly," about Valjean's love for adopted daughter Cosette, isn't in the stage show. But that's hardly a goof, it's an intentional addition. Since it was an original piece for the film, "Suddenly" was the one song eligible to be nominated for a best original song Oscar. (We're guessing it will lose to Adele's "Skyfall.") Fans seem to like the new song. As theologian Mark Roberts points out, it's smartly written and the title hearkens back to a word in Victor Hugo's novel.

5. Samuel L. Jackson's favorite swear word didn't exist in 'Django' days
Much of the controversy surrounding "Django Unchained" was about its near-constant use of the n-word. But another term drew attention too. You know it: Starts with "mother," incorporates a famous f-word. Samuel L. Jackson, who plays Leonardo DiCaprio's creepy slave-hating slave Stephen, says it four times in "Django," but according to IMDb.com, that expression was unlikely to have been used until World War I. Mother--oh, never mind.

Weinstein Company

Samuel L. Jackson's favorite swear word wasn't around in slavery times.

What's your pick for best picture? Vote in our poll, and tell us on Facebook.

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Barring a huge upset, Daniel Day-Lewis will receive the best-actor Oscar for “Lincoln” on Feb. 24 and pull off what Marlon Brando, Dustin Hoffman, Jack Nicholson and Spencer Tracy could not --  become the first three-time winner of the award. It would also cement his reputation as the best, and probably most eccentric, actor of his generation.

Miramax, 20th Century Fox, Dream

Day-Lewis undergoes incredible physical transformations for his roles. From left, the actor in "Gangs of New York," "The Last of the Mohicans," and "Lincoln."

Day-Lewis previously won Oscars for his unforgettable portrayals of disabled artist Christy Brown in “My Left Foot” (1989) and oil baron Daniel Plainview in “There Will Be Blood” (2007). Now he’s nominated for his iconic role as Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg’s film about the Great Emancipator’s shrewd campaign to outlaw slavery with the 13^th Amendment.

Slideshow: Daniel Day-Lewis

Reuters

The Oscar winner's own life is the stuff of movies. He is the son of a British poet laureate and married to a famous playwright's daughter.

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Despite a relatively slim filmography that includes only 19 features over the last three decades, the chameleon-like 55-year-old Brit has delivered more memorable performances than any other actor of his era. He’s the male Meryl Streep, someone whose own persona disappears on camera, a perfectionist performer who is hardly recognizable from film to film.

He’s brilliantly brought to life such divergent characters as a 19^th-century mobster (“Gangs of New York”), an Irishman falsely imprisoned for an IRA bombing (“In the Name of the Father”), a gay punk (“My Beautiful Laundrette), an ex-con fighter (“The Boxer”), a farmer accused of witchcraft (“The Crucible”), a wealthy New York lawyer (“The Age of Innocence”), and a womanizing Czech surgeon (“The Unbearable Lightness of Being”).

Day-Lewis is so worshipped that it’s almost heresy to point out that his resume also includes some duds. “Eversmile, New Jersey” is humdrum comedy; he was horribly miscast in the musical “Nine;” and “The Ballad of Jack and Rose" is a pretentious bore. Still, he’s one of the most fascinating actors around.

Watch how he physically morphs from one character to the next. As Hawkeye in “The Last of the Mohicans,” with sported flowing shoulder-length hair, gym-toned pecs, and a musket strapped on his back, Day-Lewis never looked sexier. As Bill “The Butcher” in “Gangs of New York,” he was a cold-blooded killer with a glass eye, more menacing than Mike Tyson in his prime.

And of course, there’s his current turn as Abraham Lincoln in “Lincoln.” Though his lanky frame suggests he might have been born to play the role, Day-Lewis’ face looks more gaunt than usual and the chin-curtain beard helps him fit our historical Lincoln image to a T.

A physical transformation is one thing, but Day-Lewis also manages to completely change his voice to fit the part, too. As Christy Brown in “My Left Foot,” he perfectly captures the slurred, halting speech of a cerebral palsy victim who learns to write and paint with his foot. Drawing on his “Gangs of New York” role again, his guttural, street-wise voice is almost as scary as his character's "Butcher" nickname. And his most recent best actor win, as Daniel Plainview in “There Will Be Blood” he invented a unique frontier accent that sounds like a hybrid of Jack Palance and John Huston.

To achieve those distinctive personas, Day-Lewis has been known to stay in character even after the cameras stop rolling. For instance, he reportedly never left his wheelchair on the set of “My Left Foot.” He learned to hunt and skin animals for “The Last of the Mohicans” and apprenticed as a butcher for “Gangs of New York.” He trained for 18 months with former world champion Barry McGuigan for “The Boxer,” and in a move that certainly raised a stink, supposedly did not bathe or shower while shooting “The Crucible."

Day-Lewis can be romantic on screen -- who can forget his smoldering love scenes with Lena Olin and her bowling hat in "The Unbearable Lightness of Being’’ -- but he can also be vicious. When he bludgeons preacher Eli Sunday with a bowling pin in "There Will Be Blood,’’ he looks like he needs an exorcism.

Day-Lewis’ official anointment as the most decorated actor of all time is expected during Sunday’s Oscar broadcast, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Is Daniel Day-Lewis the best actor of his generation? What's his best role? Tell us on Facebook.

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Previously on the long-running drama we call Awards Season: Ben Affleck's "Argo" is an early Oscar best picture favorite until Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" arrives. Then Affleck gets clotheslined by the directing branch of the Academy leaving "Lincoln" sitting pretty. Until "Argo" surges at the Golden Globes.

Warner Bros., DreamWorks

Ben Affleck in "Argo," left, and Daniel Day-Lewis in "Lincoln."

All this brings us to our new episode, also known as the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

SAG Award nominations: snubs and surprises

Here's a look at the storylines that could emerge from Sunday's show:

"Lincoln" reemerges as, well, "Lincoln": It wins the ensemble award, reminds that the Globes are just the Globes (a contest reflecting the views of exactly zero Oscar voters), and continues on its presidential way toward the best picture prize on Feb. 24. If you take stock in such things, this is is how oddsmakers and pundits think Sunday will go.

"Argo" gives "Lincoln" a lot to think about: On the heels of its Globes success, it wins the ensemble award, and demonstrates how deep the affection for the 1970s-vibing thriller runs among Affleck's fellow actors, or as they are more properly referred to this time of year: the largest voting branch of the Academy.

10 best SAG Award stars ever

"Silver Linings Playbook" gives "Lincoln" and "Argo" a lot to think about: It wins the ensemble award (an ensemble, mind you, that the aforementioned acting branch of the Academy showered with four nominations), emerges as the new best picture candidate to beat, and reaffirms just how good Harvey Weinstein is at this sort of thing -- i.e., blindsiding Spielberg. (See: "Saving Private Ryan's" stunning 1998 best picture loss to "Shakespeare in Love.")

"Les Miserables" gives oddsmakers a lot to think about: It wins the ensemble award, reclaims its Christmastime mojo and likely perks up on the best picture leader board after falling out of a dead heat with "Lincoln."

"The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" gives everyone a lot of to think about: If this no-shot best picture contender, which was not nominated for the Academy's top prize, wins the ensemble award, it will make an unpredictable awards season a real, live mystery.

18 years of SAG Award winners

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As the Golden Globes event approaches zero hour -- that's Sunday night, for those keeping track -- TODAY's Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie wanted to get the inside scoop on what to expect on both the red carpet and the big stage on one of the industry's most-anticipated nights of the year. 

First off, Guthrie, reporting from Los Angeles, sat down with senior fashion editor at Marie Claire magazine Zanna Roberts Rassi to go over the eye-catching looks actresses and (sometimes) actors will trot out on the carpet. Rassi was enthusiastic about relative newcomer Jessica Chastain (a nominee for "Zero Dark Thirty"), calling her a "fashion plate." The pair also discussed Jennifer Lawrence's (nominated for "Silver Linings Playbook") tendency to change hair color, and noted that Lena Dunham (nominated as an actress in her show "Girls") is great for keeping it real and not worrying about her body type.

Anticipated trends for the carpet, said Rassi, include black and white combos, "extreme" ruffles and "strategically-placed" skin, despite the low temperatures expected for Sunday evening.

Vote for your Golden Globes favorites!

Later, back in New York, Lauer chatted with Access Hollywood correspondent Michelle Beadle, asking her to prognosticate on who will "walk away with the hardware" from the evening.

Beadle liked "Lincoln" as a best picture and "Les Miserables" for the best musical or comedy award (the Globes separates the genres, while the Oscars does not); she also leaned toward Anne Hathaway to pick up an award for her short role in "Les Mis." 

"When she sang 'I Dreamed a Dream,' I think that nailed it for her," said Beadle.

The best director list includes three names who were considered snubbed by the Oscars: Ben Affleck, Kathryn Bigelow and Quentin Tarantino, and she anticipated that Affleck would take the Globe Sunday. "Expect a funny speech out of him because I do think he feels dissed by the Academy for Oscar time," she said.

Affleck, 'Argo' win at Critics' Choice Awards

Over in best actress for a musical or comedy, Beadle had a big raised fist for Jennifer Lawrence ("Silver Linings Playbook"). "She's young, she's smart, she's the new Hollywood without all the drama and stuff off the screen," she said.

Finally, the pair explored best television drama, and the vote was for "Breaking Bad" to take it home. "This is a tough category; all five of these are obviously strong shows," Beadle said.

Later, Beadle returned for a special Globes-themed "Take 3" segment, sitting down with TODAY's Willie Geist and Tamron Hall and E!'s Jason Kennedy (Guthrie weighed in from L.A.). They compared their own predictions in key categories -- Kennedy and Geist agreed that "Argo" deserved best picture; Hall and Beadle went for "Lincoln," which left Guthrie going it alone on "Zero Dark Thirty." Viewers choice? "Lincoln."

The biggest surprise? Hall, by her own admission, hadn't seen any of the movies being discussed. "My opinions are solely based on the -- I do read a lot -- all of the reviews," she insisted.

Geist promised to hook her up with screeners so she could watch the films at home.

They also noted that the pairing of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to host the show would be awesome. "We can boldly all predict and agree that they are going to be fabulous," said Guthrie. "There's no chance they're not going to absolutely kill it out there."

Be sure to check out the video to find out what else they had to say -- and tune in Sunday night starting at 7 p.m. ET for "TODAY at the Golden Globes" on NBC to see if their predictions come true!

Slideshow: 2013 Golden Globe nominations

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Ben Affleck's Iran hostage drama "Argo," "Lincoln" star Daniel Day-Lewis and "Zero Dark Thirty"'s Jessica Chastain were among big winners at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards on Thursday, taking honors for best picture, actor and actress, with Affleck nabbing the prize for best director.

Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

Director Ben Affleck accepts the best director award for the movie "Argo" at the Critics' Choice Awards in Santa Monica, Calif., on Thursday.

The all-star "Silver Linings Playbook" swept the comedy awards, winning best comedy film, best comedy actor for Bradley Cooper and best comedy actress, which went to Jennifer Lawrence.

The 250-member Broadcast Film Critics Association, the largest film critics organization in the United States and Canada, also gave the film its best acting ensemble prize at the event in Santa Monica, Calif.

Affleck, known mostly as actor and who was overlooked for directing "Argo" earlier on Thursday when the Academy Award nominations were announced, began his acceptance with the quip: "I would like to thank the academy," before adding "I'm kidding. This is the one that counts."

Day-Lewis won for his acclaimed performance in the title role of Steven Spielberg's historical drama "Lincoln," while Chastain took the prize for "Zero Dark Thirty," about the hunt for Osama Bin Laden.

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Actor Daniel Day-Lewis accepts the best actor award for "Lincoln" at the Critics' Choice Awards.

Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

Actress Jessica Chastain accepts the award for best actress for "Zero Dark Thirty."

It was one of only two awards for "Lincoln," which led the Oscar nominations with 12. The Oscar runner-up, "Life of Pi," won only two technical awards.

Lawrence took home two awards, also winning best actress in an action movie for "The Hunger Games."

"Critics aren't so bad," she said as she accepted the award, later riffing on the line when she won her second award, for "Silver Linings Playbook," saying "Seriously, I love critics."

Many stars who were nominated just hours earlier for Oscars, Hollywood's top honors, were on hand, including "Les Miserables" star Hugh Jackman, Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway, who won the award for best supporting actress for "Les Miserables."

Best supporting actor went to Philip Seymour Hoffman for "The Master."

Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

Actor Bradley Cooper accepts the award for best actor in a comedy movie for "Silver Linings Playbook."

Director David O. Russell dedicated the "Silver Linings" award to his son, saying "I made it to give him hope," adding, "That's my silver lining."

European director Michael Haneke's drama "Amour," about an aging couple struggling with failing health and mortality and which scored several major Oscar nominations on Thursday, won the award for best foreign language film.

The prize for best sci-fi/horror film went to "Looper," while "Searching for Sugarman" won best documentary.

The screenwriting awards were won by Quentin Tarantino for his original screenplay for "Django Unchained" and Tony Kushner who adapted the screenplay for "Lincoln."

British singer Adele's song "Skyfall" from the James Bond film of the same name won best song, and star Daniel Craig was named best actor in a action film. The film also won best action movie.

Danny Moloshok / Reuters

Actress Quvenzhane Wallis poses with the best young actor or actress award backstage for her role in "Beasts of the Southern Wild."

Nine-year old Quvenzhane Wallis, star of "Beasts of the Southern Wild" who became the youngest best actress Oscar nominee in history on Thursday, was named best young actor or actress. She accepted her award clutching a pink-cased electronic device, from which she read her speech as she grinned broadly.

The awards were handed out ahead of Sunday's Golden Globes and a slew of other award shows that narrow the field for the Oscars, which will be held on Feb. 24.

Writer-producer-director Judd Apatow received a special "genius" award created to honor "an unprecedented demonstration of excellence in the cinematic arts."

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The Academy Awards are a lively, high-spirited event, but many of the films nominated Thursday morning feature grim topics. From the waterboarding of "Zero Dark Thirty" to the desperation and revolution of "Les Miserables," movies this time around were rewarded for tackling dark subject matter with skill. Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" led all comers with 12 nominations, with Ang Lee's "Life of Pi" next with 11.

Slideshow: Oscar nominees

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Up to 10 films can be nominated in the best picture category, and this year, nine were chosen. "Beasts of the Southern Wild," "Silver Linings Playbook" and "Amour" were three of the lesser-known titles making the cut. "Zero Dark Thirty," "Lincoln," "Les Miserables," "Life of Pi," "Django Unchained" and "Argo" were among the other films in the best picture category.

The best actress category offers a chance for history, as it features both the oldest (Emmanuelle Riva, 85, for "Amour") and youngest (Quvenzhane Wallis, now 9, for "Beasts of the Southern Wild") nominees ever in that category. (Tatum O'Neal, 10, won the best supporting actress award for "Paper Moon" in 1974 -- and Justin Henry was only 8 when he was nominated for best supporting actor in "Kramer vs. Kramer," but he didn't win.) But Jessica Chastain is likely to be favored in that category for her role as a CIA agent in "Zero Dark Thirty." Also nominated there are Naomi Watts for "The Impossible" and Jennifer Lawrence for "Silver Linings Playbook."

Many of the names Oscar watchers expected to hear were indeed called. Anne Hathaway was figured early on to be a favorite in the best supporting actress category for her role as Fantine, who sells her body, hair and teeth to save her daughter in the adaptation of the beloved stage musical. She's nominated, as is Sally Field, who plays Mary Todd Lincoln in "Lincoln," another expected name. Others in the category are Jacki Weaver for "Silver Linings Playbook," Helen Hunt for "The Sessions," and Amy Adams for "The Master."

MacFarlane, Stone made Oscar nods a must-see

Daniel Day-Lewis, who plays the title role in "Lincoln," will easily be named the favorite in the best actor category. Also nominated there were Hugh Jackman for "Les Miserables," Denzel Washington for "Flight," Bradley Cooper for "Silver Linings Playbook" and Joaquin Phoenix for "The Master." Phoenix was snubbed in the same category by the Screen Actors Guild award nominations.

Cooper called in to TODAY to talk with Al Roker, Willie Geist and Natalie Morales after hearing his name called. 

"The funny thing is how I sort of talked myself into how I wasn't going to get up (for the announcements)," he told the anchors. "But cut to: It's like 4:30 in the morning, and I'm just puttering around the house, and then I got my mom up and my dog, and then we were watching."

Christoph Waltz was nominated for best supporting actor for his role as a dentist turned bounty hunter in Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained." Waltz won the best supporting actor Oscar in 2010 for his role in another Tarantino film, "Inglourious Basterds." Also nominated in his category: Philip Seymour Hoffman for "The Master," Robert DeNiro for "Silver Linings Playbook," Tommy Lee Jones for "Lincoln" and Alan Arkin for "Argo."

Tarantino himself was not named in the best director category, nor was Ben Affleck, whom many expected to see there for his work on "Argo," or Kathryn Bigelow, for "Zero Dark Thirty." Steven Spielberg was nominated for "Lincoln," Ang Lee for "Life of Pi," David O. Russell for "Silver Linings Playbook," Michael Haneke for "Amour" and Benh Zeitlin for "Beasts of the Southern Wild."

While the snubs of Affleck, Bigelow and Tarantino bothered some, Bradley Cooper told the TODAY anchors he was thrilled that Russell was nominated for "Silver Linings Playbook."

"I kind of lost it watching," Cooper said of hearing Russell's name called. "His heart is in that movie."

In past years, the best original song category has been shrunk to as few as two nominees, but this year it was filled out with five. "Skyfall," singer Adele's song for the latest James Bond movie, is the best-known of the group. She'll compete against "Before My Time" from "Chasing Ice" (a documentary about climate change), "Pi's Lullaby" from "Life of Pi," "Suddenly" from "Les Miserables" and "Everybody Needs a Best Friend," from "Ted."

Oscar host Seth MacFarlane and actress Emma Stone read the nominations, and MacFarlane, who stars in and directed "Ted," was notably pleased that a song from his film was included. "That's kinda cool," MacFarlane said. "I get to go to the Oscars now."

Animated fim nominees are "Wreck-It Ralph," "Frankenweenie," "The Pirates! Band of Misfits," "Brave" and "Paranorman."

Original screenplay nominees were "Flight," "Zero Dark Thirty," "Django Unchained," "Amour" and "Moonrise Kingdom." Adapted screenplay nominees were "Beasts of the Southern Wild," "Lincoln," "Argo," "Life of Pi" and "Silver Linings Playbook."

Foreign film nominees included the French-language "Amour," which also shows up in the best picture category, as well as Chile's "No," Canada's "War Witch," Norway's "Kon-Tiki" and Denmark's "A Royal Affair." 

The Academy Awards ceremony will be held Feb. 24 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

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Todd Williamson / AP file

Daniel Day-Lewis, left, and director Steven Spielberg arrive at the "Lincoln" premiere at AFI Fest in Hollywood on Nov. 8.

STORY: Daniel Day-Lewis on Lincoln's Voice, Spielberg on His Presidency

The Oscar-winning director famously chased down the life story of the 16th president for a decade, running through scripts and collaborators like the Union did Civil War generals in a process that would ultimately result in this fall's smash hit, "Lincoln." On Monday, Spielberg read to the public for the first time the letter that the two-time Oscar-winning actor sent him to pass on the first version of the project, a sweeping war epic with the president as fearless leader.

Dear Steven,

It was a real pleasure just to sit and talk with you. I listened very carefully to what you had to say about this compelling history, and I’ve since read the script and found it in all the detail in which it describes these monumental events and in the compassionate portraits of all the principal characters, both powerful and moving. I can’t account for how at any given moment I feel the need to explore life as opposed to another, but I do know that I can only do this work if I feel almost as if there is no choice; that a subject coincides inexplicably with a very personal need and a very specific moment in time. In this case, as fascinated as I was by Abe, it was the fascination of a grateful spectator who longed to see a story told, rather than that of a participant. That’s how I feel now in spite of myself, and though I can’t be sure that this won’t change, I couldn’t dream of encouraging you to keep it open on a mere possibility. I do hope this makes sense Steven, I’m glad you’re making the film, I wish you the strength for it, and I send both my very best wishes and my sincere gratitude to you for having considered me.

Spielberg said he then had an entirely new script written, which he then sent to Day-Lewis -- only to receive a similar reply. That led him to scrap that as well and turn to his "Munich" collaborator Tony Kushner to pen another new version. Eventually, that was whittled down from 500 pages to find the soul of the president in the small details.

The final product, a narrow and politically focused character study of a committed leader working to pass the 13th Amendment, is a completely different film than what Spielberg had first proposed to Day-Lewis in the early years of the last decade. As it turned out, Kushner's screenplay -- or, the part that was used in the film, anyway -- was honored by the NYFCC as well.

More movie news:

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• 'Twilight' nominated for 11 Razzie awards
• Spielberg, Affleck among Directors Guild noms
• SLIDESHOW: Golden Globe nominees

Dreamworks via AP

Sally Field and Daniel Day-Lewis in "Lincoln."

"Lincoln", the story of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln's battle to end slavery starring Daniel Day-Lewis in the title role, won 10 BAFTA nominations on Wednesday, putting it ahead of the pack at Britain's top film honors.

The biopic was shortlisted in categories including best film, actor, supporting actor (Tommy Lee Jones) and supporting actress (Sally Field), but director Steven Spielberg was not nominated.

Added to its domination of the Golden Globe contenders going into Sunday night's awards ceremony, British critics said the film appeared to be in pole position to sweep Oscar nominations which are announced on Thursday.

"Les Miserables", the movie version of the global hit stage musical, and shipwreck saga "Life of Pi" followed with nine BAFTA nominations each, while the latest installment of James Bond, "Skyfall", garnered eight.

Iranian hostage thriller "Argo" won seven nominations and "Anna Karenina", an adaptation of the Russian novel, earned six.

Quentin Tarantino's quirky slavery-era Western "Django Unchained" and "Zero Dark Thirty," about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, were just behind with five nominations apiece.

"Amour," Austrian director Michael Haneke's moving portrayal of death, bagged four nominations, an unusually high number for a film in a foreign language.

Eric Fellner of Working Title Films, the company behind "Les Miserables" and "Anna Karenina," said he was pleased that two potentially risky projects had been recognized.

"Les Miserables," by Oscar-winning director of "The King's Speech" Tom Hooper, was sung live on set, while Joe Wright's "Anna Karenina," starring Keira Knightley and Jude Law, was set against the backdrop of elaborate stage sets.

"We knew that it was a much-loved musical and there was a large part of the world's population who were also aware of the book," Fellner said of "Les Miserables" after the BAFTA nominations were announced.

"But it didn't stack up as a mainstream movie because over the past decades very few (musicals) have worked. It was a big risk," he told Reuters, adding that awards recognition could provide a big lift for a picture just hitting theaters now.

Of Anna Karenina, he added: "The minute you do anything different it becomes harder to get it made. But we really believe in our film makers." 

"Skyfall's" Judi Dench was nominated for best supporting actress as Bond's spymaster M and Spanish actor Javier Bardem was nominated for best supporting actor as the villain Silva. 

There is likely to be disappointment, however, that the movie which has become the most successful in British box office history, with critical acclaim to match, was not included on the most coveted shortlist -- best film. 

That award will be contested by "Argo,"" Lincoln," "Life of Pi," "Les Miserables" and "Zero Dark Thirty."

Up for best actor alongside Day-Lewis is Ben Affleck ("Argo"), Bradley Cooper ("Silver Linings Playbook"), Hugh Jackman ("Les Miserables") and Joaquin Phoenix in "The Master." 

The best actress award is between 85-year-old Emmanuelle Riva ("Amour"), Helen Mirren ("Hitchcock"), Jennifer Lawrence ("Silver Linings Playbook"), Jessica Chastain ("Zero Dark Thirty") and Marion Cotillard ("Rust and Bone").

As well as Haneke and Affleck, Ang Lee is in the running for best director ("Life of Pi") as is Tarantino and Kathryn Bigelow ("Zero Dark Thirty").

The BAFTAs have a patchy record in predicting which films go on to scoop the biggest movie honours, the Oscars, although last year the main winner in London, "The Artist,"  also swept to success at the Academy Awards.

The awards ceremony for the BAFTAs, formally called the EE British Academy Film Awards, takes place in London on Feb. 10.

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Chris Pizzello / AP file

"Lincoln" director Steven Spielberg.

Steven Spielberg ("Lincoln"), Tom Hooper ("Les Miserables"), Kathryn Bigelow ("Zero Dark Thirty"), Ang Lee ("Life of Pi") and Ben Affleck ("Argo"): There were no surprises in Tuesday's nominations for the 65th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards.

Unless, that is, you're a fan of "Django Unchained," "The Master" or "Silver Linings Playbook," in which case there were unhappy surprises.

Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson and David O. Russell were among those who failed to rate in the most critical of Oscar tuneups.

'Silver Linings Playbook' has better luck with Writers Guild

The DGA class of 2013 runs the gamut of past winners to Affleck, who has his first-ever nod from the filmmaking group.

All five nominees and their films have long been counted as safe bets for the Academy Awards. Nominations for the big show of big shows are due out Thursday.

The DGA Awards is unsurpassed as an Oscar predictor: It's been more than a decade since a DGA winner didn't rate the same prize from the Academy.

Just how sad is 'Les Mis'?

The exclusions of Tarantino, Anderson and Russell are notable, but not necessarily surprising, with only Russell's "Silver Linings Playbook" considered a top-tier Best Picture candidate.

If the DGA field holds at the Oscars, then the road gets even longer for those on the outside looking in. The last film to win Best Picture without a nominated director was 1989's "Driving Miss Daisy."

The 65th DGA Awards are scheduled to be presented Feb. 2.

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Universal, Sony, Dreamworks

"Les Miserables," "Zero Dark Thirty," and "Lincoln."

Steven Spielberg's presidential drama "Lincoln," musical "Les Miserables" and Kathyrn Bigelow's Osama bin Laden thriller "Zero Dark Thirty" were among 10 films earning Producers Guild Award nominations on Wednesday, as the Hollywood awards season gathered momentum.

Ben Affleck and George Clooney, two of the producers behind Affleck's Iran hostage drama "Argo," and the team that brought Quentin Tarantino's darkly humorous slavery Western "Django Unchained" to the screen also won nods for the awards handed out by the Producers Guild of America.

The critically acclaimed James Bond blockbuster "Skyfall," which last weekend surpassed $1 billion at the worldwide box office, got a big boost to its Oscar hopes when producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson were included.

They joined an eclectic list that featured Ang Lee's shipwreck tale "Life of Pi," and quirky comedy "Silver Linings Playbook."

Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom," and mythical indie film "Beasts of the Southern Wild" rounded out the feature film nominations, the PGA said in a statement.

The Producers Guild Awards will be handed out at a ceremony in Los Angeles on Jan. 26 and will be a key indication of Hollywood sentiment ahead of the Oscars on Feb. 24.

Many of the PGA-nominated movies are expected to feature strongly on the list of Oscar nominations when those are announced on January 10. Eight of the movies are also in the running for best picture Golden Globe trophies on Jan. 13.

But the PGA had nothing for "The Hobbit" from director Peter Jackson. It also left early awards hopeful "The Master" out of the running in a sign that the cult tale starring Philip Seymour Hoffman may be losing steam in Hollywood.

Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" also failed to make the list.

The PGA nominated the producers of five films for its animated movie honors -- Tim Burton's "Frankenweenie," Disney family films "Wreck-it-Ralph" and "Brave," and "ParaNorman" and "Rise of the Guardians."

The PGA also named its picks for producers of television movies and miniseries. Ryan Murphy's "American Horror Story," the team behind HBO film "Game Change" about Sarah Palin's 2008 vice presidential bid, and Britain's modern twist on detective Sherlock Holmes "Sherlock" were among the five making the cut.

They were joined by "Hatfields & McCoys," about a legendary family feud starring Kevin Costner who was also one of the producers, and the PBS chronicle of the 1930s drought "The Dust Bowl."

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Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln," which tells the story of the famed president's final days in office, earned seven Golden Globe nominations Thursday, including best movie in the drama category, best director for Spielberg, best actor for Daniel Day-Lewis and best supporting actress for Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln.

Slideshow: 2013 Golden Globe nominations

Launch slideshow

The movies nominated for best drama were pretty much as critics predicted. In addition to "Lincoln," "Argo," "Django Unchained," "Life of Pi" and "Zero Dark Thirty" earned nominations.

Lesser-seen films dominated the film comedy and musical category. "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," "Les Miserables," "Moonrise Kingdom," "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" and "Silver Linings Playbook." Of those, "Les Miserables" is the only one to be opening in thousands of mainstream theaters, and that not until Christmas Day.

Major names filled the best director category. Ben Affleck was nominated for "Argo," Kathryn Bigelow for "Zero Dark Thirty," Ang Lee for "Life of Pi," Steven Spielberg for "Lincoln" and Quentin Tarantino for "Django Unchained."

On the television side, "Breaking Bad," "Boardwalk Empire," "Downton Abbey," "Homeland" and "The Newsroom" were drama nominees.  "The Big Bang Theory," "Episodes," "Girls," "Modern Family" and "Smash" were nominated for best TV musical or comedy.

After the nominations were announced, Christoph Waltz, nominated for best supporting actor for his role as a dentist-turned-bounty hunter in Tarantino's "Django Unchained," talked to TODAY's Savannah Guthrie about his reaction.

Waltz noted that his name was the last of the five to be read, saying that by that point, he'd thought to himself, "I kinda know what I need to do in January anyway," only to be surprised by his inclusion. 

"Django Unchained" opens Dec. 25, which Waltz noted is very late in the awards season. "I see it picking up steam," he told Guthrie.

Waltz also said he felt lucky to be able to help develop his character along with Tarantino.

"I was allowed to kind of follow the genesis," he told Guthrie. "I saw this character come to existence ... become a personage."

Naomi Watts was nominated in the best actress category for her movie "The Impossible," which focuses on a family's experience during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. She told the TODAY anchors she was celebrating her son's birthday with pancakes when she received word she was nominated.

"I did a little yelp and my son got worried," she said.

There was little dialogue in "The Impossible," much of which was shot in water, not exactly a favorite substance for Watts.

"I had a bad experience with riptides, like, when I was a teenager," she said, telling of a time in Bali when her family was trapped in waters rougher than expected. Her mother, she said, "miraculously" found solid footing and pulled her daughter to safety.

"I've had a fear of water ever since," she said.

Bradley Cooper, a nominee for best actor for "Silver Linings Playbook," also spoke with the TODAY anchors about the awards. "Silver Linings Playbook" is also nominated in the best movie, comedy or musical category, and Cooper's co-star Jennifer Lawrence also received an acting nomination.

"It's a small film, and it's a word-of-mouth movie," Cooper said. "And hopefully the fact that it's getting this kind of attention, more people will go see it."

Cooper heard his nomination announced by his friend and "Hangover" co-star Ed Helms. "On a personal level, it's just surreal," he said of being nominated. "I grew up the nerd who would like, wait to hear the announcements."

He also said his date for the awards would almost certainly be his mother.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, both nominees in the TV best actress category, will host the Golden Globes, which air on NBC Jan. 13.

List of nominees:

Best movie, drama
"Argo"
"Django Unchained"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"
"Zero Dark Thirty" 

Best movie, comedy or musical
"Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"
"Les Miserables"
"Moonrise Kingdom"
"Salmon Fishing in the Yemen"
"Silver Linings Playbook" 

Best director
Ben Affleck, "Argo"
Kathryn Bigelow, "Zero Dark Thirty"
Ang Lee, "Life of Pi"
Steven Spielberg, "Lincoln"
Quentin Tarantino, "Django Unchained" 

Best actor, movie drama
Daniel Day-Lewis, "Lincoln"
Richard Gere, "Arbitrage"
John Hawkes, "The Sessions"
Joaquin Phoenix, "The Master"
Denzel Washington, "Flight"

Best actress, movie drama
Marion Cotillard, "Rust and Bone"
Jessica Chastain, "Zero Dark Thirty"
Naomi Watts, "The Impossible"
Rachel Weisz, "The Deep Blue Sea"
Helen Mirren, "Hitchcock" 

Best actor, movie comedy or musical
Hugh Jackman, "Les Miserables"
Bradley Cooper, "Silver Linings Playbook"
Jack Black, "Bernie"
Ewan McGregor, "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen"
Bill Murray, "Hyde Park On Hudson"

Best actress, comedy or musical
Jennifer Lawrence, "Silver Linings Playbook"
Meryl Streep, "Hope Springs"
Judi Dench, "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"
Maggie Smith, "Quartet"
Emily Blunt, "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen"

Best TV drama
"Breaking Bad"
"Boardwalk Empire"
"Downton Abbey"
"Homeland"
"The Newsroom" 

Best actor, TV drama
Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Damian Lewis, "Homeland" 

Best actress, TV drama
Connie Britton, "Nashville"
Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Glenn Close, "Damages"
Michelle Dockery," "Downton Abbey"
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"

Best TV comedy or musical
"The Big Bang Theory"
"Episodes"
"Girls"
"Modern Family"
"Smash" 

Best actress, TV comedy or musical
Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl"
Lena Dunham, "Girls"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep" 

Best actor, TV comedy or musical
Alec  Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"
Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"
Louis C.K., "Louie"
Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory" 

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• 'Lincoln,' 'Les Mis' among SAG nominees
• 'Argo' offers tight political thriller
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• 'Zero Dark Thirty' agent passed over for promotion

Dreamworks via Reuters

Actor Daniel Day-Lewis portrays President Abraham Lincoln in the Steven Spielberg's film "Lincoln."

Updated 10:25 a.m. ET: LOS ANGELES -- The actors of drama "Lincoln," musical "Les Miserables" and comedy "Silver Linings Playbook" led nominations for the Screen Actors Guild film awards on Wednesday, winning four nominations apiece, including best ensemble cast.

Joining them among nominees for best movie cast -- the organization's top prize -- were the actors of Iranian hostage drama "Argo" and British comedy "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel."

Thriller "Zero Dark Thirty" about the U.S. hunt for Osama bin Laden was left out of the best ensemble cast picks but Jessica Chastain was nominated best actress for her performance as a CIA agent.

The awards from the Screen Actors Guild, or SAG, are among the most-watched honors during Hollywood film awards season leading up to the Academy Awards because actors make up one of the largest voting groups for the Oscars.

As a result, SAG nominees usually figure prominently on many ballots by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hands out the Oscars in February.

The SAG awards will be given out in Los Angeles on Jan. 27 in a live telecast on the TBS and TNT networks.

Warner Bros. via AP

Ben Affleck stars as Tony Mendez, center, in the Iranian hostage crisis thriller "Argo."

"Lincoln," director Steven Spielberg's movie about U.S. President Abraham Lincoln's battle to outlaw slavery, brought nominations on Wednesday for lead actor Daniel Day-Lewis and supporting actors Sally Field as his wife, and Tommy Lee Jones.

Hugh Jackman was nominated for best actor while Anne Hathaway was chosen for her supporting role in the movie adaptation of hit stage musical "Les Miserables."

Other actors nominated on Wednesday included the stars of quirky comedy "Silver Linings Playbook" -- Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert DeNiro -- and John Hawkes and Helen Hunt for the independent movie "The Sessions" about a disabled man and his sex therapist.

One of the biggest surprises was "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," the story of a group of elderly Britons who retire to a ramshackle Indian hotel. The film, which stars Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson and Bill Nighy, had two nominations - best ensemble and best supporting actress for Maggie Smith.

Smith also was nominated in SAG's television category for her role as a sarcastic aristocrat in period drama "Downton Abbey." The show also was among the picks for ensemble acting in the TV category.

Other TV drama nominations went to the casts of "Boardwalk Empire," "Homeland," "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad."

In TV comedy, old favorites "30 Rock," "Glee," "The Big Bang Theory," "Modern Family," "Nurse Jackie" and "The Office" were nominated.

Following are nominees in key film and television categories:

FILM

Best Ensemble Cast
"Argo"
"The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"
"Les Miserables"
"Lincoln"
"Silver Linings Playbook"

Best Actor
Bradley Cooper, "Silver Linings Playbook"
Daniel Day-Lewis, "Lincoln"
John Hawkes, "The Sessions"
Hugh Jackman, "Les Miserables"
Denzel Washington, "Flight"

Best Actress
Jessica Chastain, "Zero Dark Thirty"
Marion Cotillard, "Rust and Bone"
Jennifer Lawrence, "Silver Linings Playbook"
Helen Mirren, "Hitchcock"
Naomi Watts, "The Impossible"

Best Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin, "Argo"
Javier Bardem, "Skyfall"
Robert De Niro, "Silver Linings Playbook"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "The Master"
Tommy Lee Jones, "The Master"

Best Supporting Actress
Sally Field, "Lincoln"
Anne Hathaway, "Les Miserables"
Helen Hunt, "The Sessions"
Nicole Kidman, "The Paperboy"
Maggie Smith, "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"

TELEVISION

Best Ensemble Cast, Drama
"Boardwalk Empire"
"Breaking Bad"
"Downton Abbey"
"Homeland"
"Mad Men"

HBO

Steve Buscemi and Paz de la Huerta in "Boardwalk Empire."

Best Actor, Drama
Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Damian Lewis, "Homeland"

Best Actress, Drama
Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey"
Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story: Asylum"
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"

Best Ensemble Cast, Comedy
"30 Rock"
"The Big Bang Theory"
"Glee"
"Modern Family"
"Nurse Jackie"
"The Office"

Best Actor, Comedy
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"
Louis C.K., "Louie"
Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"
Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family"

Best Actress, Comedy
Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"
Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"
Betty White, "Hot in Cleveland"

Best Actor, Television Movie/Miniseries
Kevin Costner, "Hatfields & McCoys"
Woody Harrelson, "Game Change"
Ed Harris, "Game Change"
Clive Owen, "Hemingway & Gellhorn"
Bill Paxton, "Hatfields & McCoys"

Best Actress, Television Movie/Miniseries
Nicole Kidman, "Hemingway & Gellhorn"
Julianne Moore, "Game Change"
Charlotte Rampling, "Restless"
Sigourney Weaver, "Political Animals"
Alfre Woodard, "Steel Magnolias"

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