Thursday, December 11, 2008

Tis the Season: The Golden Globes


Do you remember last year, when the writers were on strike and the Golden Globe people decided to forego their usual drunken awards ceremony for a subdued press conference style announcement of the winners? No? Well, that's understandable. Nobody watched. Suddenly, the supposed biggest influence on the Oscars was barely noticed. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is hoping to shine this year, whcih might reasonably explain their big, safe choices for nominations.

Five films tied for the most nominations this year. They are THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, DOUBT and FROST/NIXON. Only two of these films will viy for Best Motion Picture (drama) as DOUBT sits out that race. Filling out that category are SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, THE READER and REVOLUTIONARY ROAD. The latter should consider itself quite happy as it comes up with subsequent nominations for both its leads, Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as the director, Sam Mendes. Its representation during awards season has been scattered at best so scoring these significant Globe nods will definitely help on its road. THE DARK KNIGHT however just suffered a major defeat. As the Globes are generally considered the most mainstream awards ceremony, it does not bode well for the biggest hit of the year to come up short, save for Heath Ledger's nom for Supporting Actor. Christopher Nolan's chance of earning a much deserved director nomination at the Oscar's just got slimmer too. Meanwhile, MILK, which had been performing very well so far this season, musterd only one nomination, for Sean Penn's performance. No screenplay, no picture, no director ... disappointing for sure. VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA continues to shine as well, earning nominations for three out of the four principal cast members as well as a nomination in the Motion Picture (comedy/musical) category. Sure, only Penelope Cruz is a seriously viable Oscar contender but the support certainly helps her case. Oh, and here's my favorite part. Tom Cruise has been nominated for his turn as an egomaniacal Hollywood producer in TROPIC THUNDER. Funny? Yes. Worth nominating and subsequently missing out on giving the nomination to a long list of more deserving people? Please.

Here are the nominees in the major film categories:

MOTION PICTURE (DRAMA)
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
FROST/NIXON
THE READER
REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

MOTION PICTURE (COMEDY)
BURN AFTER READING
HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
IN BRUGES
MAMMA MIA!
VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

ACTOR - DRAMA
Leonardo DiCaprio, "Revolutionary Road"
Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"
Sean Penn, "Milk"
Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"

ACTRESS - DRAMA
Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"
Angelina Jolie, "Changeling"
Meryl Streep, "Doubt"
Kristen Scott Thomas, "I've Loved You So Long"
Kate Winslet, "Revolutionary Road"

ACTOR - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Javier Bardem, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Colin Farrell, "In Bruges"
James Franco, "Pineapple Express"
Drendan Gleeson, "In Bruges"
Dustin Hoffman, "Last Chance Harvey"

ACTRESS - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Rebecca Hall, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Sally Hawkins, "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Frances McDormand, "Burn After Reading"
Meryl Streep, "Mamma Mia!"
Emma Thompson, "Last Chance Harvey"

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Tom Cruise, "Tropic Thunder"
Robert Downey Jr., "Tropic Thunder"
Ralph Fiennes, "The Duchess"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt"
Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, "Doubt"
Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Viola Davis, "Doubt"
Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler"
Kate Winslet, "The Reader"

DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"
Stephen Daldry, "The Reader"
David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Ron Howard, "Frost/Nixon"
Sam Mendes, "Revolutionary Road"

SCREENPLAY
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
THE READER
FROST/NIXON
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
DOUBT

ANIMATED FEATURE
BOLT
KUNG FU PANDA
WALL-E

The Golden Globe awards will air on January 11, 2009 ... that is if the Screen Actor's Guild doesn't go on strike first.

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