2008 GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED

Last week the nominations for this year's Golden Globe Awards were announced. This is always an interesting time of the year because, historically, the Golden Globes serve as a preview of who the front-runners for the Oscars will be. Seeing as how I host a regular film series and write reviews, I thought that I would write a post giving some of my predictions for the awards. I will not be hitting every category since I am mainly a movie guy. I'll leave the TV predictions to those better suited for it.

One more note before I get to it....

I usually only take my Golden Globe predictions half-seriously. Most of the time my predictions will reflect who I want to win instead of who will most likely win. Sometimes these two match up, sometimes they do not. This is because, as I said before, the Golden Globes are a precursor to the Oscars. When the Oscar nominations are announced, I will write another prediction post and that one will be taken more seriously and more than just "what I want" will be taken into account.

With that said, here are my predictions for the 2008 Golden Globe Awards:


BEST MOTION PICTURE-DRAMA

-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-Frost/Nixon
-The Reader
-Revolutionary Road
-Slumdog Millionaire*

I'm going with Slumdog Millionaire here. This film has received praise from almost everyone that has seen it. It is truly a celebration of life and film at the same time. Don't get me wrong. The other films in this category are very, very good and this category will most likely be very close. But a celebration of life is a winner in my book.


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE-DRAMA

-Anne Hathaway* Rachel Getting Married
-Angelina Jolie Changeling
-Meryl Streep Doubt
-Kristin Scott Thomas I've Loved You So Long
-Kate Winslet Revolutionary Road

Anne Hathaway gets my vote here. This is another power-packed category that could go to any one of these amazing women. Anne Hathaway was the first actress to start generating Oscar buzz with her performance this year, but Meryl Streep seems to always bring the heat. I go with Hathaway now, but don't be surprised to see Meryl snatch the Oscar in February.


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE-DRAMA

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


Sean Penn gives the performance of the year in Milk. He will without a doubt win an Oscar this year. That being said he will also most likely win the Golden Globe. Sometimes, however, in cases like this where an Oscar is clearly in line, the Golden Globe can go to someone else who deserves recognition. Do not be surprised if Frank Langella or Mickey Rourke walk away with this Golden Globe.


BEST MOTION PICTURE-COMEDY OR MUSICAL

-Burn After Reading
-Happy-Go-Lucky*
-In Bruges**
-Mamma Mia!
-Vicky Cristina Barcelona

This was a very tough call for me because I love some of these movies, but know that others I have not seen are very, very good. I'm going a little against my rule and picking two out of this category. I believe that Happy-Go-Lucky will win the award. I have heard nothing but great things about this movie and its lead actress. My heart screams for In Bruges though. I think this is one of the most underrated movies of the year, maybe even the last few years. It is so incredibly smart, funny, and well-acted and written.


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE-MUSICAL OR COMEDY

-Rebecca Hall Vicky Cristina Barcelona
-Sally Hawkins* Happy-Go-Lucky
-Frances McDormand Burn After Reading
-Meryl Streep Mamma Mia!
-Emma Thompson Last Chance Harvey

As I mentioned before, Sally Hawkins has been garnering a lot attention for her performance in Happy-Go-Lucky. I believe she will net an Oscar nomination as well, but, as I also said before, I think that category is already wrapped up by Meryl Streep. I think Sally Hawkins gets her due at the Golden Globes. Although, I wouldn't be surprised to hear Emma Thompson's name announced that night, either.


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE-COMEDY OR MUSICAL

-Javier Bardem Vicky Cristina Barcelona
-Colin Farrell In Bruges
-James Franco* Pineapple Express
-Brendan Gleeson In Bruges
-Dustin Hoffman Last Chance Harvey

Again, I would love to see Colin Farrell or especially Brendan Gleeson win in this category. But I'm going with a sleeper pick on this one. I think James Franco will come away with it. Pineapple Express was incredibly funny and his performance was great. I think winning this award will also be in recognition somewhat of his work in Milk as well.


BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

-Bolt
-Kung Fu Panda
-Wall-E*

Wall-E wins. No question.


BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

-The Baader Meinhof Complex
-Everlasting Moments
-Gomorrah
-I've Loved You So Long*
-Waltz with Bashir

I know it's not everyone's favorite category, but people need to learn that other countries besides America make very good films. This will ultimately be between and I've Loved You So Long and Waltz with Bashir. I think the former wins. I was disappointed that Let the Right One In did not make the list. Hopefully, the Academy Awards will get it right.


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

-Amy Adams Doubt
-Penelope Cruz Vicky Cristina Barcelona
-Viola Davis* Doubt
-Marisa Tomei The Wrestler
-Kate Winslet The Reader

I'm going with another sleeper pick in Viola Davis in this category. She has only one very long scene in Doubt where she squares off with Meryl Streep. Anyone who can hold their own with Streep and gets a lot of notice for it, deserves something. Although, I do like Marisa Tomei's chances as well.


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

-Tom Cruise Tropic Thunder
-Robert Downey Jr. Tropic Thunder
-Ralph Fiennes The Duchess
-Philip Seymour Hoffman Doubt
-Heath Ledger* The Dark Knight

Heath Ledger wins. No explanation necessary.

(These last few are not as popular as the others so I'm just giving my picks.)


BEST DIRECTOR-MOTION PICTURE

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

Opie makes another great one.


BEST SCREENPLAY-MOTION PICTURE

-Simon Beaufoy* Slumdog Millionaire
-David Hare The Reader
-Peter Morgan Frost/Nixon
-Eric Roth The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-John Patrick Shanley Doubt

Beautiful writing from Mr. Beaufoy.


BEST ORIGINAL SCORE-MOTION PICTURE

-Alexandre Desplat The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-Clint Eastwood Changeling
-James Newton Howard Defiance
-A.R. Rahman Slumdog Millionaire*
-Hans Zimmer Frost/Nixon

A.R. Rahman's work is inspired and addicting. I couldn't buy the soundtrack fast enough when I saw it on the store shelves.


BEST ORIGINAL SONG-MOTION PICTURE

-"Down to Earth" Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman Wall-E
-"Gran Torino" Clint Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens Gran Torino
-"I Thought I Lost You" Miley Cyrus, Jeffrey Steele Bolt
-"Once in a Lifetime" Beyonce Knowles, Amanda Ghost, Scott McFarnon, Ian Dench, James Dring, Jody Street Cadillac Records
-"The Wrestler" Bruce Springsteen* The Wrestler

The Boss rules!


Well, those are my Golden Globe predictions for this year. Let me know what you think: do you disagree, agree, or feel like the nominators left someone out. I'd love to hear from you.