Hollywood ? “Cold Mountain,” director Anthony Minghella’s sweeping Civil War love story based on the best-selling novel, may have captured eight Golden Globe nominations Thursday, but an underdog racehorse and two strikingly mature teenage actresses also captured the heart of the Hollywood foreign press as the movie awards season shifted into high gear.

Themes of war, violence and revenge dominated the best dramatic picture category, in which each nominee was adapted from a popular book.

Along with “Cold Mountain,” Golden Globe nominations went to Peter Jackson’s epic fantasy “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” Peter Weir’s swashbuckling “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,” Clint Eastwood’s brooding murder mystery “Mystic River” and Gary Ross’ uplifting horse racing saga “Seabiscuit.”

The Globe nominations have more importance to the Oscar race this year than the winners do. That’s because the Academy Awards are on an earlier schedule this season, with Oscar nominations announced Jan. 27, two days after the Globes are handed out; the Oscars will be awarded Feb. 29, a month earlier than normal.

The Globes will be announced Jan. 25 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and telecast on NBC.

The star of “Girl With a Pearl Earring,” an ecstatic 19-year-old Scarlett Johansson, was smiling through her runny mascara as she expressed joy at being nominated not only for best actress for that period drama but also for the contemporary comedy “Lost in Translation.”

She joins 16-year-old Evan Rachel Wood in the drama category for her role as a rebellious teen in “Thirteen.”

Either would be the youngest winner honored by the Golden Globes for best actress.

Actress Nicole Kidman and actor Jude Law each were nominated for Golden Globe awards for their leading roles in Cold