Big Fat Story
Fables and dramas will lead the boards.
With five nods each, three films share the spotlight for most Golden Globe nominations this year. Compelling journo vs. former Prez drama Frost/Nixon scored five nominations across the film and actor categories, with Frank Langella singled out for his eerily accurate portrayal of Richard Nixon. Epic fable The Curious Case of Benjamin Button also racked up five for best film drama, director, screenplay, score, and one for Brad Pitt in the titular role. And never underestimate the power of Meryl Streep in a habit—the heavy, scandal-laden Doubt received five nominations with four coming in the acting categories. But Slumdog Millionaire is the biggest winner of all—the Mumbai game show story was an unexpected critical darling and, with four noms, appears poised for mainstream success. Between these four films, tonight is anyone’s game.
Two serious Oscar contenders won’t be getting awards tonight.
Ask any serious critic to predict the nominations and they would have been likely to guess that Gus Van Sant’s Milk, a biopic about gay San Francisco politician Harvey Milk and a tour-de-force by leading actor Sean Penn, would be a shoo-in. Shockingly, the movie will not be in the running for Best Drama tonight—though it may still have a shot at an Oscar nomination (and some critics say, a win. Sean Penn made the cut for Best Actor, however. Another overlooked gem is The Dark Knight—though Heath Legder was nominated for his (almost guaranteed) posthumous acting award, the fantastic film was not recognized in other categories. Lastly, the usually golden Clint Eastwood got the short stick—both of his recent films, Gran Torino and Changeling, were largely ignored, but he will probably make an appearance in his quest for Oscar bids.
Franco, Cruise could bring the comic relief.
There are always a few upsets. Tom Cruise’s scene-stealing moments as an overweight studio boss in Tropic Thunder served to make crowds giggle and now might pay off in a Best Supporting Actor statue. He was in the film for five minutes but was pitch-perfect—one hopes he wins just to see his spirited reaction. Robert Downey Jr. also scored a nomination for Tropic Thunder. And despite being ignored for his acclaimed role in Milk, James Franco was nominated for Best Actor for…his stoner in Pineapple Express, a move that supposedly elicited laughs from the crowd during the nomination announcements. If he wins, he will infuse a needed shot of Apatow irreverence into the usually dragging ceremony.
GOLDEN GLOBES
The Golden Globe awards set the tone for the Oscars and other red carpet shows to follow. This year, there were some obvious nods—and a few surprises. (Tom Cruise for Tropic Thunder? Really?) More importantly, a few of the year’s most heavily praised films, like Milk and The Dark Knight were snubbed. Who deserves a trophy? The Daily Beast’s short guide to everything Globes.
2008’s most poignant moments.
This year was really about great acting—it was chock full of some of the best performances we’ve seen in a long time. Some were very short; in only one powerhouse scene, Golden Globe nominee Viola Davis managed to steal Doubt away from veteran actors like Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Some marked a rebirth: in The Wrestler, Mickey Rourke puts on the show of his life. There is no predicting whether Rourke will even show up at the awards show, but if he does, he stands to win for his turn as an aging wrestler who has fallen out of the public eye. Kate Winslet, consistently excellent, was nominated in two categories for her two big roles this month—as an illiterate Nazi in The Reader and as a depressed housewife in Revolutionary Road. She will take home at least one. Rounding out the much-deserved nods is Anne Hathaway, who played an attention-starved drug addict in Rachel Getting Married and changed her entire image from frothy screen princess to serious actress overnight. The Golden Globes website mistakenly jumped the gun and posted a Hathaway win. Wait and see if they were right.
While cable will bring home the bacon.
In what will be perhaps the least surprising awards of the night, critical darlings 30 Rock and Mad Men—which won Emmys for Best Comedy and Best Drama, respectively—will likely pick up the glory: best series, best actor, best actress. (Here’s hoping January Jones is finally recognized for her brilliant turn as Betty Draper in Mad Men). Another safe prediction: cable will murder the networks. HBO garnered 22 noms, with awards likely to go to In Treatment, Recount, John Adams, and Entourage. Showtime’s Californication, Dexter, and Weeds also are heavy contenders. Back in primetime, House and The Office slide into the running with nods in the best series and best actors categories, while the tumultuous Grey’s Anatomy got a categorically deserved snub all around.
2008’s most poignant moments.
This year was really about great acting—it was chock full of some of the best performances we’ve seen in a long time. Some were very short; in only one powerhouse scene, Golden Globe nominee Viola Davis managed to steal Doubt away from veteran actors like Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Some marked a rebirth: in The Wrestler, Mickey Rourke puts on the show of his life. There is no predicting whether Rourke will even show up at the awards show, but if he does, he stands to win for his turn as an aging wrestler who has fallen out of the public eye. Kate Winslet, consistently excellent, was nominated in two categories for her two big roles this month—as an illiterate Nazi in The Reader and as a depressed housewife in Revolutionary Road. She will take home at least one. Rounding out the much-deserved nods is Anne Hathaway, who played an attention-starved drug addict in Rachel Getting Married and changed her entire image from frothy screen princess to serious actress overnight. The Golden Globes website mistakenly jumped the gun and posted a Hathaway win. Wait and see if they were right.
Fables and dramas will lead the boards.
With five nods each, three films share the spotlight for most Golden Globe nominations this year. Compelling journo vs. former Prez drama Frost/Nixon scored five nominations across the film and actor categories, with Frank Langella singled out for his eerily accurate portrayal of Richard Nixon. Epic fable The Curious Case of Benjamin Button also racked up five for best film drama, director, screenplay, score, and one for Brad Pitt in the titular role. And never underestimate the power of Meryl Streep in a habit—the heavy, scandal-laden Doubt received five nominations with four coming in the acting categories. But Slumdog Millionaire is the biggest winner of all—the Mumbai game show story was an unexpected critical darling and, with four noms, appears poised for mainstream success. Between these four films, tonight is anyone’s game.
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How/Why is "slumdog millionaire" not mentioned in this? WTF TDB?
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