Production designer Rick Carter and set decorator Lee Sandales are in the running for the award for best art direction. Michael Kahn has been nominated for best editing. John Williams has been nominated for best score and the movie is also nominated for best sound.

'War Horse' opens in Australian cinemas on Boxing Day.

Horse movies are very popular this year with movie-length documentary 'Buck', about horse trainer Buck Brannaman, directed by Cindy Meehl, among six nominations for best documentary feature.

Unfortunately 'Buck' didn't make it to cinemas in Australia but is available now on DVD and can be purchased from www.ranchmans.com.au

With such quality horse films in the offing, tickets to 'War Horse' or the 'Buck' DVD would make great Christmas Gifts for the horse-mad folks in your life.

The Broadcast Film Critics Association represents more than 250 television, radio and online critics.

Their choices are generally seen as an early prediction of likely Oscar Awards picks, because many Critics' Choice Award winners have gone on to receive golden statuettes from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Winners will be revealed at the 16th annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards ceremony on January 14 at the Hollywood Palladium.

Meanwhile, here's another sneak peak at 'War Horse' and 'Buck' 

Quick Link

• View the full list of nominations for the Critics' Choice Movie Awards at moviecitynews.com