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My very truly earnest 2009 Golden Globe predictions
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Last week, I promised myself I would take a stab at predicting winners for the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Better late than never is quickly becoming my favorite mantra as life continues to sideline my best laid plans.
Never mind that the only film I saw in an actual theater last year was Sex and the City: The Movie. Or that, other than one or two shows, I’ve completely stopped watching television. Or that I’m an Oscar watcher by trade, and therefore much more attuned to the preferences of the Academy. Or that, IMHO, the Golden Globes are sometimes awarded as Oscar consolation prizes, you know, a way for the Hollywood Foreign Press to say, “Hey, we think you’re utterly fabulouso, but what the hell do we know?”
So here I am, putting myself out on a limb. Today, for some strange reason, I’m feeling rather bold, nay emboldened. Maybe it has something to do with last night’s unbelievable Ravens victory over the Tennessee Titans. You have to admit the AFC championship game was one helluva nail biter. On the other hand, my mood could have more to do with the short attention span of today’s audiences. After the cancellation of last year’s ceremony, people are so relieved to have Oscar’s drunken step-child back they probably won’t remember the half-baked predictions of some Baltimore hack.
Wait a minute, did I really say hack? I meant gack, as in “some Baltimore – gack – self-professed expert.”
Oh, who I am kidding? Any movie or television rat will immediately see through my thin façade of expertise. I have nothing to go on other than outdated knowledge of what used to be good and whatever fawning praise I read on the Internet. If that counts as expertise, I’m ready for my close-up.
BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Nominees: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Frost/Nixon,” “The Reader,” “Revolutionary Road,” “Slumdog Millionaire.”
Slumdog Millionaire - I’m going to go with the little independent film who could over Benjamin Button for the simple reason that most of the latter’s appeal is inextricably intertwined with CGI. But I’m not quite ready to count out “Revolutionary Road.” With the pairing of old “Titanic” lovers and an otherwise killer story, this is the kind of also-ran historically recognized by the Foreign Press.
BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Nominees: Anne Hathaway “Rachel Getting Married,” Angelina Jolie “Changeling,” Meryl Streep “Doubt,” Kristen Scott Thomas “I’ve Loved You So Long,” Kate Winslet “Revolutionary Road.”
Anne Hathaway - With apologies to glaze-eyed Angelina Jolie and Kate Winslet’s supposedly stunning performance in “Revolutionary Road,” I’m hedging my bets on this blunder. But the truth is, I heard Hathaway gave a spectacular performance in Rachel and even though it wasn’t nominated, I L-O-V-E-D the television inspired “Get Smart” movie (so much smarter and “gettier” than the original). Besides, Hathaway is on a steam-gathering roll going into the ceremony. It’s only logical the Hollywood Foreign Press would hop on the “Anne funneled her personal woes into stupendous performances” bandwagon.
BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Nominees: Leonardo DiCaprio “Revolutionary Road,” Frank Langella “Frost/Nixon,” Sean Penn “Milk,” Brad Pitt “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Mickey Rourke “The Wrestler.”
Mickey Rourke – Because he’s so much more battered, bruised, and tortured than all the rest. In real life. No joke. Rourke could kill himself before he gets another shot at a major award. Would you want to have that epitaph hanging over your head?
BEST MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Nominees: “Burn After Reading,” “Happy-Go-Lucky,” “In Bruges,” “Mamma Mia!,” “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”
Mamma Mia! – Ever since the Venice Film Festival, Vicky Cristina seemed to be a hands-down favorite. And I truly believe there’s still a contingent of the Hollywood Foreign Press who favors Woody Allen despite all his personal foibles. But the conventional wisdom says this category favors big musicals over comedies. And even though both films are set abroad, “Momma Mia!”is chock full of foreign everything, including the musical score.
BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Nominees: Rebecca Hall “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.” Sally Hawkins “Happy-Go-Lucky,” Frances McDormand “Burn After Reading,” Meryl Streep “Momma Mia!,” Emma Thompson “Last Chance Harvey.”
Sally Hawkins – New and fresh faced, the perfect receptacle for fawning praise from abroad. Streep can sing, sure, but she’s had her day in the sun so many times she’ll need a more spectacular performance to best Hawkins, a major talent in her own right.
BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Nominees: Javier Bardem “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” Colin Farrell “In Burges,” James Franco “Pineapple Express,” Brendan Gleeson “In Burges,” Dustin Hoffman “Last Chance Harvey.”
Colin Farrell – Because he’s hot and foreign. Okay, in all fairness, so is Javier Bardem, but I heard he didn’t carry his movie and Oscar lavished him last year. Also, as an American, I would love to see Dustin Hoffman walk away with this award. Come on, leading man love interest at his age – what’s not to like about that? But Farrell is an underrated talent, probably because he’s seen by so many as “talent light.” I’m thinking this time his performance hit home. And it’s a legitimate way for the Foreign Press to recognize “In Burges,” a stellar film with so little U.S. hype.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE
Nominees: Amy Adams “Doubt,” Penelope Cruz “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” Viola Davis “Doubt,” Marisa Tomei “The Wrestler,” Kate Winslet “The Reader.”
Kate Winslet – By recognizing Winslet for her supporting role, the Hollywood Foreign Press can make up for their snub in the Best Actress category. In my mind, “The Reader,” a supposedly resonating drama, doesn’t have much of a shot at anything else this year. My pick is actually a toss up between Winslet and Cruz, everyone’s favorite mischief-maker in the darling of film festivals.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE
Nominees: Tom Cruise “Tropic Thunder,” Robert Downey, Jr. “Tropic Thunder,” Ralph Fiennes “The Duchess,” Philip Seymour Hoffman “Doubt,” Heath Ledger “The Dark Knight.”
Heath Ledger – In any other year, I’d pick Tom Cruise for his breakaway performance in Thunder. He should be honored to be included in this pack of extraordinary talent. Everyone knows this category is a done deal. If Ledger doesn’t win, Vegas is going to break the bank, a big no-no by anyone’s standards.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Nominees: Bolt, Kung-Fu Panda, Wall-E
Wall-E – Aw, common, they’d have to have a heart of stone to overlook this classic.
BEST DIRECTOR
Nominees: Danny Boyle “Slumdog Millionaire,” Stephen Daldry “The Reader,” David Fincher “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Ron Howard “Frost/Nixon,” Sam Mendes “Revolutionary Road.”
Danny Boyle – I’m getting short of explanations, so let’s just say that since I’m betting the farm on Slumdog, I might as well go all the way with its director.
BEST SCREENPLAY
Nominees: The Curious case of Benjamin Button (Eric Roth), Doubt (John Patrick Shanley), Frost/Nixon (Peter Morgan), The Reader (David Hare), Slumdog Millionaire (Simon Beaufoy).
Slumdog Millionaire (Simon Beaufoy) – See above.
BEST TELEVSION SERIES – DRAMA
Nominees: Dexter (Showtime), House (Fox), In Treatment (HBO), Mad Men (AMC), True Blood (HBO).
Mad Men – I’ve seen the show once or twice and I understand the appeal. What I don’t understand is what the producers did to “House.” The show used to be one of my all-time favorite never miss a beat watch programs. Then they rearranged the cast and hardly ever deviated from their CSI-medical mystery formula. Yuk! If I’m no longer liking the show, I’m guess neither is the Foreign Press.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
Nominees: Sally Field “Brothers and Sisters,” Mariska Hargitay “Law and Order,” January Jones “Mad Men,” Anna Paquin “True Blood,” Kyra Sedgwick “The Closer.”
Kyra Sedgwick – I’m not a big fan of vampires, even when they’re fodder for someone as cute and convincing as Paquin. Sedgwick not only lost her shirt in the Bernie Madoff scandal, she’s a terrific actress and deserves the big prize.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Nominees: Gabriel Bryne “In Treatment,” Michael C. Hall “Dexter,” Jon Hamm “Mad Men,” Hugh Laurie “House,” Jonathan Rhys Meyers “The Tudors.”
Jon Hamm – I hate myself for making this prediction. I’d much rather see the prize go to Hugh Laurie and will secretly hope that it does.
BEST TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Nominees: 30 Rock (NBC), Californication (Showtime), Entourage (HBO), The Office (NBC), Weeds (Showtime).
Entourage – Who says I have to go with “30 Rock” as conventional wisdom? Wasn’t everyone complaining about the guest star overload? Besides, “Entourage” is one of the few shows I carve into my schedule. It’s hip, filled with the funniest lines on TV, and out of this world entertaining. Now on hiatus, I would give almost anything to catch a new episode.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Nominees: Christina Applegate “Samantha Who?,” America Ferrera “Ugly Betty.” Tina Fey “30 Rock,” Debra Messing “The Starter Wife,” Mary-Louise Parker “Weeds.”
Tina Fey – As the consummate fan of “SNL,” I recognized Fey’s unique intellectual talent before she made “Mean Girls.” Smart, sassy, one of kind, and even though I didn’t go to Catholic School, I proclaim Fey the new black.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Nominees – Alec Baldwin “30 Rock.” Steve Carell “The Office,” Kevin Connolly “Entourage,” David Duchovny “Californication,” Tony Shalhoub “Monk.”
Alec Baldwin – Just because I can’t stand the guy doesn’t mean he isn’t talented. Baldwin is the heart of that show and there’s no getting around this is his year to shine. Duchovny is a popular actor at best. He’s never wowed me in anything he’s been in, although in all fairness, I have never watched “Californication” and probably would be wise not to count him out. Tony Shalhoub has won the award so many times, I think it’s time to turnover the mantle.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELVISION SERIES, MINI-SERIES, OR MADE FOR TELEVISION MOTION PICTURE
Nominees: Eileen Atkins “Cranford,” Laura Dern “Recount,” Melissa George “In Treatment,” Rachel Griffiths “Brothers and Sisters,” Dianne Wiest “In Treatment.”
Dianne Wiest – I always thought this category was unfair as it lumps all supporting television actresses in one category and tends to favor serious contenders over comedies. I’m also in way over my head. The only nominee performance I actually saw was Laura Dern and while she was very good, the acting did not by any means blow me away. Melissa George and Dianne Wiest are incredible actresses. Critics have heaped numerous accolades upon their HBO series. With all things being equal, I’ll go with Wiest, a perennial favorite.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES, MINI-SERIES, OR MADE FOR TELEVISION MOTION PICTURE
Nominees: Neil Patrick Harris “How I Met Your Mother,” Denis Leary “Recount,” Jeremy Piven “Entourage,” Blair Underwood “In Treatment,” Tom Wilkinson “John Adams.”
Jeremy Piven – What can I say, I’m biased. Hug it out b**ch.
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