British film Atonement is leading the nominations for the 2008 Golden Globe Awards with nods in seven categories.

Keira Knightley has been shortlisted for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama for the romantic epic, and her co-star James McAvoy picked up the same honour in the Best Actor category. Joe Wright has also received a Best Director nod for his critically lauded adaptation of Ian McEwan's 2001 novel.

Atonement will be competing for the coveted Best Motion Picture - Drama award with American Gangster, Eastern Promises, The Great Debaters, No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood.

Hollywood star George Clooney joins McAvoy in the running for the Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama prize for his role in Michael Clayton, as does Daniel Day-Lewis, for There Will Be Blood; Viggo Mortensen, for Eastern Promises; and Denzel Washington, for American Gangster.

Knightley will be battling it out with Cate Blanchett, for Elizabeth: The Golden Age; Angelina Jolie, for A Mighty Heart; Julie Christie, for Away From Her; and Jodie Foster, for The Brave One.