"Inglourious Basterds" and "Nine" earned the most nominations yesterday for the Broadcast Film Critics Association's 15th annual Critics Choice Movie Awards, receiving a record 10 nominations each.

Quentin Tarantino's World War II epic, which stars Brad Pitt, collected nominations for such categories as best picture, best director for Tarantino, best original screenplay and best action movie. The musical "Nine's" nominations included best picture, best cinematography, best costume design and best song.

Rounding out the best picture category are "Avatar," "An Education," "The Hurt Locker," "Invictus," "Precious," "A Serious Man," "Up" and "Up in the Air."

The 15th annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards will be broadcast by VH1 Jan. 15, from the Hollywood Palladium.

MUSICIAN ARRESTED IN MEXICAN DRUG RAID

Latin Grammy winner Ramon Ayala was arrested during a raid on a drug cartel's Christmas party in a wealthy gated community in Mexico.

A spokesman for the federal attorney general's office said yesterday the Texas-based Ayala was released after being questioned Saturday following a military operation that is part of the government's campaign to crack down on drug gangs. Authorities found no grounds for charging him with a crime, the spokesman said.

Ayala and his norteno band, Los Bravos del Norte, were performing in a gated community outside the mountain town of Tepoztlan when sailors raided the house and a shootout ensued before dawn Friday, the official said.

REGGAE STAR FACING FLORIDA DRUG CHARGES

Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton is facing charges that he attempted to buy a large quantity of cocaine from an undercover law enforcement officer.

A U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration affidavit says Banton, whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie, traveled to Sarasota, Fla., last week to make the purchase along with two others.

Banton, 36, was being held at Miami's downtown prison yesterday.

COBAIN'S CHILD PLACED IN GUARDIANSHIP

The only child of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love has been placed in a temporary guardianship.

A Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner granted control over 17-year-old Frances Bean Cobain to Kurt Cobain's mother, Wendy O'Connor, and his sister, Kimberly Dawn Cobain. The court filing does not mention Love or give a reason for the guardianship.

Attorney Geraldine Wyle, who is handling the case for the mother and sister, called it a private family matter and declined further comment.