Golden Globes Preview and Predictions
Remember last year's Golden Globe ceremony? Don't strain too hard - it didn't exist. The Writers Guild strike, and the Actors Guild's reluctance to cross the picket line, forced the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to reduce their usual glamor-fest to a press conference announcing the winners. Not a backless gown or drunken George Clooney in sight.
As a film awards season junkie, I heart the Golden Globes
for one simple reason: booze. That isn't sparkling cider in those flutes. Encouraging natural born narcissists to souse
up before stumbling onto a stage to slur into a microphone while holding an
awkward, top-heavy trophy is entertainment at its finest. No
wonder they forget who to thank - some of them forget where they are. In 1998, Christine Lahti was in the bathroom
when she was announced the winner for
Some Oscar aficionados see the Globes as an Oscar indicator
of sorts. Truth be told, the HFPA
fancies themselves free-thinkers, so a Globe win isn't a straight shot to Oscar
glory. Their Best Picture winners
haven't matched the Oscar winner since 2003.
Every year there seems to be at least one or two oddball nominees; last
year's Best Picture nod for the tepid Denzel Washington vehicle The Great Debaters springs to mind. There doesn't seem to be a lot of method to
their madness. Still, a win can't hurt
your Oscar chances. And they do pour a
mean
Supporting Actor: Robert Downey Jr. for Tropic Thunder
This is a tough one -
The foreign press still loves Woody Allen, and Cruz has dominated the critics' awards so far. Kate Winslet's a possible upset (she just won the Critics Choice award for The Reader) but I'm banking on Cruz here.
This one is almost by default, as Farrell's competition
includes co-star Brendan Gleason (great, but upstaged by Farrell),
Strong category with Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky), Frances McDormand (Burn After Reading) and Rebecca Hall (
Another tough one - Rourke's up against
Something's got to give here. Winslet's been nominated seven times and has come up empty - she's becoming the Susan Lucci of the Globes. The HPFA loved Road (four total nominations) so this should be Kate's year. If she snags the Supporting Actress award, look for Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married) to grab this one.
Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy): Vicky Christina Barcelona
ABBA vs. Woody: When
Titans Clash. Mamma Mia! is probably the safest bet, but
Motion Picture (Drama): The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Some major Oscar hopefuls - Milk, The Dark Knight, The Wrestler, Gran Torino - didn't make the
Globe short list; the HFPA went for Button,
Slumdog Millionaire,
And the rest...
Director: David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
Animated Feature: WALL-E
Original Score: Clint Eastwood, The Changeling
Original Song: "The Wrestler" from The Wrestler
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Cover Story: Pipe Schemes
