Image Credit: Laurie SparhamAs always, the Golden Globe nominations featured their fair share of expected results and head scratchers. Here are my top five of each in the movie categories.
SURE THINGS
1. The King’s Speech tops the list The Social Network may be the critical favorite, but the delightful British drama led the pack with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, scoring seven nominations. Is this a trophy a movie other than Social Network can actually win? Quite possibly.
2. The Social Network continues its momentum With six nominations, it tied for second place overall. We really have a two-horse race on our hands here.
3. Big stars dominated Nicole Kidman, Johnny Depp, Halle Berry, Angelina Jolie, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Michael Douglas were all nominated. Oh, and Johnny Depp again.
4. A decent showing for Burlesque The HPFA loves a splashy musical even when the critics don’t. And they only had one to choose from this year. Hence a Best Picture nomination and two Best Song nods.
5. The Kids Are All Right returns A Best Picture nomination and recognition for Annette Bening and Julianne Moore (finally!) give the indie comedy a much-needed boost.
SURPRISES
1. Six nominations for The Fighter! The rousing boxing drama tied with The Social Network for second place overall, scoring nods for all four of its lead cast members, including Mark Wahlberg. It’s looking more and more like a real player.
2. True Grit gets blanked True, the HFPA doesn’t worship the Coen brothers like the Academy does. But for their star-studded Western to be completely blanked is an eye-opener.
3. Only one nod for The Town I thought Ben Affleck’s rollicking crime drama would have a shot at Best Picture or Best Director. But only supporting actor Jeremy Renner made the cut. I’m still optimistic for its chances at an Oscar nod.
4. 127 Hours left out of Best Picture and Best Director Danny Boyle’s acclaimed film scored three nominations but was left out of the two main races. Could the movie be in just a little bit of trouble?
5. The Tourist for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress? Next.
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Seriously, “The Tourist?” This is why a Golden Globe is a nice award, but not as presitigious as an Oscar. They tend towards Hollywood flair and shy away from critical darlings.
Completely agree, it’s ridiculous that the Tourist got that many nods. It’s just one big kiss-ass fest. I wish we had some sort of award show where they actually picked true critical success movies.
It’s ridiculous. There were plenty of other comedies they could have nominated over The Tourist and Burlesque. Easy A, Get Him to the Greek, Scott Pilgrim. I realize this sort of star-worship happens every year but this year it just seems really gross.
Uh, the Oscars?
I agree Taylor. Heck, even The Other Guys and Dinner for Schmucks would have been better choices than The Tourist and Burlesque.
Burlesque is the most fun movie of the year and the most fun musical of the past decade!
Pipe down, Christina.
You’re not supposed to get nominated for being “fun”.
The Tourist? Really? Their probably kicking themselves now!
I agree. That pissed me off. I mean, Johnny Depp is amazing but even he couldn’t save that movie. It’s ridiculous it got nominated just because of who starred in it, even though they were both awful in it, especially Jolie. Scott Pilgrim was one of my favorite films of the year, but apparently it didn’t have enough star power to be acknowledged. And Alice in Wonderland sucked too. Of all the great movies he’s been in, he gets nominated for crap. The comedy category, for the most part, is a joke.
So happy for Jolie and Depp!!!! Just saw the tourist and it was great! So was Salt as well so, I guess Jolie is veryy deserving and as for Depp, he is simply without peers.
Stick a sock in it Maddox.
great sappy cheezy glazed crapfest.
The only reason Jolie and Depp got nominated is so they would show up and the globes red carpet can be Alist…which is sad considering there are plenty of good films and actors/actresses for comedy and musical that have been named in the comments that SHOULD have been nominated
AND there’s not guarantee either one would show up unless they were BOTH nominated. It’s just a game, folks. These awards shows — yes, including the Oscars — mean nothing nowadays.
“glazed crapfest” is my favourite comment of the month so far
The Globe wants as many big name actors in the seats as possible. That’s why they nominate crappy things like Burlesque “Christina Agulira and Cher” and The Tourist. The just want it to be a good show.
It would have been odd if the comedy and musical category did not have a musical and this year I can only recall one thus the nomination for Burlesque.
But if there aren’t any GOOD musicals then you don’t just nominate one crappy one to fill the space.
@Ilevinso: “Nine,” anyone?
I agree with your sentiment, Ilevinso. Sadly, the HFPA does not.
TGS, I’m not saying the GG don’t do this, I’m saying they SHOULDN’T.
Burlesque absolutely deserved it’s best song nominations.
Settle down, Cher.
@JR: Actually, I listened to both songs and they’re terrific.
The Tourist!!!??? I just saw that movie. Its TRASH! Im so confused, what are these nominations based on?
Suckupitude.
It’s like they’re not even trying to be legitimate anymore. The Tourist? Really? Double nods for Johnny Depp for 2 horrible performances? I think this embarrasses him more than it flatters him.
I agree. It’s kind of like saying, Yes, your work over the last two decades was great, but we’re only just now catching on, so here’s a token nod for whatever movies you were in this year!
I agree. alice in wonderland was horrible.
Where’s Mark Ruffalo for “the Kids are All Right’? I was certain he was a sure thing!
Maybe they were classified as a drama but I thougt Get Low and Robert Duvall for Actor (Com) was a sure thing. Also, Mike Douglas in Solitary Man (Com?) and Jim Carrey in I Love You Phillip Morris must have been considered dramas. We these considered dramas? Does anybody know. I guess How Do You Know must really suck because I expected nominations for Reese, Rudd and Jack and for Best Picture (com).
Carrey not making the Comedy cut is a HUGE surprise.
I know the Oscars are notorious for snubbing him, but the Globes are supposed to be the ones who LOVE him!
Huge huge fan of both but I agree this is a little crazy, The Tourist does not deserve any awards. I think even Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp would agree.
I mean nomination. It does not deserve a nomination…
I did not see The Tourist, but I don’t even recall seeing ONE positive review for it.
I guess “Knight and Day” was too low-brow for the Globes.
The Tourist was one of the worst movies I’ve seen this year. I am embarrassed for the HFPA – what a joke. It’s way too obvious that they’re just wanting Johnny Depp & Brad/Angelina to be on their red carpet.
I’m seriously surprised at many many many of the noms this year. I think most of them are trash. Kudos on The Fighter getting so much recognition but otherwise I was really disappointed.
Saw both The Fighter and The Tourist this weekend. The Fighter is great (and I’m from MA, so I thoroughly enjoyed the depiction of Lowell). I thought The Tourist was pretty flat, which is a shame considering the people working in and on that movie. Of all the categories, I’m loving Best Supporting Actress. Haven’t seen King’s Speech yet, but all the other noms in that category are solid. Loved Jacki Weaver and Melissa Leo – crazytown moms for the win!
5 bang on:
1)the fighter for the win! here’s hoping the wahlberg/bale drama can be the big oscar “upset”…(social network’s reminding me a lot of ben button. hype, decent enough movie, but really not worthy in the end…
2) 127 hrs is shut out of director and pic. i think franco’s hugely deserving. the movie and boyle? not so much.
3)love for gosling and williams in blue valentine, two of this generations best actors in a heartbeat
4)supoporting actress. seems like these 5 are a lock for oscar. kunis is the only dark horse it seems but it’s doubtful barbs hersh can knock her out now. who knew kelso’s girlfriend could throw down?
5) no love for the town? funny, i don’t have much love or it either.
my 5 shockers were:
1)the love and other drugs actor noms…really? ugh
2)ruffalo’s exclusion over garfield’s nom (really? who cares spidey?)
3)no dicaprio love. with the globes giving every other name actor a nom it’s surprising he didn’t get one, if even for shutter island
4) burlesque? even saying it out loud hurts, let alone nominating it. where’s paltrow’s hillbilly romp?
5) if the kids are all right doesn’t win best comedy i’m officially baffled in this life. the noms baffled me enough….
agree with you completely on Leo’s snub. It has to be b/c Shutter Island and Inception were Dramas and all the dramatic categories are stacked with potential winners.
I kind of don’t get the Hailee from “True Grit” best actress hype. From trailers and clips seems she just speaks in a southern drawl and acts spunky and tough: something an actress like Chloe Moretz could do in her sleep. Interesting she was left out of the Golden Globes: it will be more interesting to see if she’s left off the Oscar nominations as well.
“Burlesque” was fun.
It’s interesting to see how many bitter, unhappy haters like to post comments.
I’m glad “The Figher” really scored!
“127 Hours” was amazing … I saw it last weekend.
How about posting some POSITIVE comments, people?
Ugh. Misery loves company I guess.
It’s not that I’m bitter and unhappy. I consider myself a positive and happy person in RL! I was merely expressing my opinion on an online message board, not a personal vendetta against all things Golden Globes. There is a difference! That’s the thing about the internet… we’re all free to express our opinions in whatever way we choose. You’re bound to disagree with it, but the cool thing is, you can! And then I can disagree with you. It’s a circle jerk of awesome!
Roger that!!!
Danny sounds like a flamer.
Okay, how about “Burlesque” isn’t as bas a “Showgirls.” That’s positive, right?
“Showgirls” was a rip-off of “42nd Street”.
It’s a cinch any number of these films had their scripts stolen. And all this hype surrounding ho-hum actors. There’s no Lawrence Olivier in this bunch. Hollywood is just a bunch of hacks who are good at self promotion. Anybody can make a movie–just rent a movie camera and buy some film stock, and presto–Look Ma, I’m a moo-vy star!
… or even a Laurence Olivier.
You do realize that you’re describing early Hollywood, don’t you? Not to mention every other start up movie company out there. Not everything that came out of the studio system was gold.