Now that the Golden Globe winners have been announced, how did tonight’s results change the overall awards race? Not too much, actually. Though there’s no overlap between the Globes and the Oscars in terms of the voting bodies, the results were fairly consistent with the rest of the season. Here’s what struck me about the night’s results.
The Social Network dominates With four wins out of six nominations (including Best Drama, Best Director, and Best Screenplay), David Fincher’s acclaimed drama continued its phenomenal sweep of the season so far. Will it hit any speed bumps along the way from here on out? The Fighter, which won both supporting races, could steal the SAG Best Cast prize, and The King’s Speech still has a shot for Best Picture based on what I’m hearing from voters, but Network‘s performance so far has been almost unprecedented.
Four acting front-runners emerge After picking up Critics Choice awards from the Broadcast Film Critics Association on Friday, Colin Firth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, and Melissa Leo all repeated. The supporting actress race might still be something of a race thanks to Leo’s Fighter costar Amy Adams, but I’m thinking the other three acting categories are now completely sewn up.
Kids gains some steam After failing to earn a Best Picture nod from the broadcast critics, The Kids Are All Right picked up two major Globes, for Best Comedy and Best Actress in the Comedy. It should also score around four Oscar nominations and pick up multiple prizes at the Spirit Awards next month.
Um, Paul Giamatti?! The ace character actor was a surprise Best Actor in a Comedy for the little-seen Canadian indie Barney’s Version, besting A-listers Johnny Depp, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Kevin Spacey. It’s clear no one’s seen your film when you basically have to recap its plot in your acceptance speech. The win was a great moment for Giamatti — too bad the Oscar nominations balloting ended on Friday.
Of the four acting categories, Supporting Actress is usually the one the Globes get wrong, only about half right in the last fifteen years (not counting 2009 where they awarded Kate Winslet for “The Reader” which the Oscars would move to Leading category). The SAGs might give a clearer view and I ackowledge Leo deserves it. However, the Academy go by sentiment a lot more and star power works as well and, like it or not, Adams has a bigger star standing than Leo. Plus, it would be her third nomination in the last five years so a lot of voters might feel “it’s time to give it to her.”
Another factor is that some voters might be feeling “we want to award two years in a row playing a loud and controlling mother character?” I know, the role is different but some voters might not think that way. Leo does deserve it but still feel that some Academy members may be leaning more toward Adams. But we’ll have to see, they may throw a turn into things (such as if Barbara Hershey, not Kunis, gets a nod for “Black Swan.”)
That also pertains to Best Actress. Portman has momentum but Benning has been a past nominee several times and some may want to give it to her as a makeup. I know it’s not right but the Oscars are as much politics as performance.
I agree, Big Time Rush is the best show on tv
I agree with you regarding Amy Adams. She certainly made the film very interesting to watch with her performance. She certainly had the star power over Leo. I hope she gets the Oscar and SAG awards!
i think speeches at the globes may have blown some chances for some ladies. leo came off as a bit of a crazy person, possibly leaving the door open for adams to snag the golden man. and bening’s pretentiousy speech came off even worse when compared to portman’s heartfelt words on art…
How was Annette Bening’s speech pretentious? I thought it was nice, though not one of the more memorable ones of the evening. And I’m pretty sure Melissa Leo was at least somewhat drunk. Booze seemed to be going around rather freely at The Fighter table. It was kind of amusing.
Leo’s speech was heartfelt and charming. That’s what I saw. She is enjoying the hell out of the ride her career is giving her, and it showed.
Leo was crazy and Annette was pretentios. Too bad because I like her but her speech was a bit annoying, it seem like she will lose to a younger woman yet again (She should have won for American Beauty over the over rated Hilary Swank in Boys Don’t Cry). Swank deserved to win over Annette in Million Dollar Baby though!!
Whether I agree or disagree: ballots are already in. Those speeches cannot influence Oscar voting.
The NOMINATION ballots are in. They will still have to vote for the actual winners.
I agree that Supporting Actress isn’t sewn up yet, but the fact that the Globes – who love ingenues who they think have a shot at the Oscar – picked character actress Melissa Leo, who they didn’t even nominate for Frozen River – well, it’s a great sign for her. Plus, as an actor’s actor, I’d say she’s even more so the SAG frontrunner. Amy Adams is excellent but probably hurt by the fact that Melissa Leo is in her movie and already winning all the awards. The spoiler to me seems to be Helena Bonham Carter. She could be like Tilda Swinton and win the BAFTA (because she’s British) and Oscar for her role in a film the Academy will probably eat up. Like Tilda, and more so than Amy (except for Enchanted), Helena has been in a number of big movies (Sweeney Todd; Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter all in this year). She’s been nominated before, and I wouldn’t call her more overdue than Amy or Melissa, per se, but she broke onto the scene with better films much earlier than either of them did. Plus she may have sentiment on her side since her family members died in that African accident. I doubt it will happen if Melissa Leo wins the SAG (the year Tilda Swinton won, EVERY precursor award went to a different actress – Amy Ryan, Cate Blanchett, Ruby Dee!). But despite such a generic, nothing role in the movie, Helena could be the right mix of acclaimed actress, movie star, and “it’s her time” beneficiary to take down a more unknown like Leo. But this isn’t Leo’s first part or nomination, and I don’t suspect this upset will happen.
Leo is also older than Adams and the Academy prefers ingenues in the Supporting Actress category. Over the past 20 years only 4 winners in that category have been over 40.
Another factor is if the Oscar decide to put Julianne Moore in Supporting, in which case, I could see her topping Adams and Leo for it.
Four? I count seven: Mercedes Ruehl (43), Dianne Wiest (46), Kim Basinger (44), Judi Dench (64), Marcia Gay Harden (41), Tilda Swinton (47) and Mo’Nique (42). Bad news for Ms. Leo – fifty year olds are severely underrepresented.
Supporting actress holds the only tension among the big 6 prizes come Oscar night. Until we know for sure who is in, it is further conjecture – but Firth,Portman and Bale seem pretty set, and Fincher and The Social Network look solid. Still hoping for Jacki Weaver and Barbara Hershey to show up.
Well, I think the Golden Globes got it right by giving THE SOCIAL NETWORK 4 awards, including Best Picture (Drama). THE KING’S SPEECH was all right, THE SOCIAL NETWORK was a lot better. I felt the characters were a lot more developed. To me, THE SOCIAL NETWORK was sorta like a Shakespearean play whereas THE KING’S SPEECH was more or less a Masterpiece Theater production. I’m still mystified that RABBIT’S HOLE and NEVER LET ME GO weren’t better acknowledged by the GG. I hope the Oscars copy the GG and give the Best Picture awsard to THE SOCIAL NETWORK.
The Golden Globes got it right with The Social Network. What a sledgehammer of a movie.
I wish Inception got more recognition than just from the technical categories. At this juncture, of the non-technical awards, I hope Inception wins Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars as Social Network will surely win Best Adapted Screenplay. The rest of the awards are gonna be a repeat I feel. Today’s quintet of David Fincher, Colin Firth, Christian Bale, Natalie Portman and Melissa Leo might as well start practicing their Oscar acceptance speeches. I am *very* happy for all of them – god knows their awards are richly deserved, but every year the Awards get more and more predictable…
This is how I feel! I really don’t know the restrictions/requirements needed for each category…but I was confused that the Social Network won for best original screenplay. I haven’t seen SN, but isn’t it loosely based on true events while Inception was a completely original idea?
And I really want Mila Kunis to at least win one major award from all these ceremonies. I have it in my head that she could be this year’s Mo’Nique…someone known for their regular roles surprising everyone for getting an esteemed role, if you know what I mean.
To clear things up, the Globes only have 1 screenplay category. The Oscars have 2 (original and adapted). Social Network is adapted from the book The Accidental Billonaires, so it’d be in the adapted category. The King’s Speech, though inspired by true events (like The Social Network), has no source material (book, play, etc.) so it will compete for Original Screenplay like Inception.
But Mo’Nique nabbed every award last season though didn’t she?
You’re right, Diana. Unlike Kunis, Mo’Nique had the majority of critic’s prizes; Kunis has none. At this point last year, the award was already Mo’Nique’s to lose.
Kunis won the award from the Oklahoma Film Critics. Not that I think she has any chance at winning the Oscar, just pointing out that she did win one critics prize.
To @Oscar Historian: Thank you for the correcion. Why can I never remember the Oklahoma Film Critics? Could it be because I have no idea where Oklahoma is?
“Inception” was the most entertaining movie I saw last year; it’s depressing to see it totally shut out by the critics’ darling “Social Network” and the politically trendy “Kids.”
@Lyn, I agree. “The Social Network” may be worthy of the nom, but I was surprised by its GG win. It certainly does not deserve the Oscar over its fellow nominees.
i just can’t see the social network winning best pic come oscar. fincher, sure. and arrogant sorkin, probly (although I hope not). justin timberlake RUINED anything that was good in that movie with his horrible performance. oh yah, and it was boring. i left the theatre going, “so?”…
Though not as important as a best picture award I really thought that Inception should have won for original score. The music fit the move perfectly!
GG’s are kind of irrelevant. Last year, Avatar won best pic, and Hurt Locker went home with nothing. Watch out for BAFTAs to see who’s going home with pic (my money’s still on the King’s Speech). Agreed that there’s no race for Actor. Firth is doing his awards march all the way to the Oscar ceremony.
I wouldn’t count Benning out for Actress. She’s due, she was brilliant in The Kids are All Right, she’s Hollywood royalty, and she has a major critics award. Supporting Actress is still a race, and there could still be a surprise nomination there. Same for Supporting actor. Last year, these two races were clean sweeps, but there’s definitely room this time around for somebody to gain momentum with the SAGs and BAFTAs.
Of course The King’s Speech is going to win the BAFTA. It’s a British movie about British royalty. Don’t hold your breath about it winning the Oscar.
As for Benning… I’m so tired of the “she’s due” comments. Compared to the physical, psychological and emotional transformation of Natalie Portman, it would be a crime to give the award to Annette. What did she do in “Kids,” except get a lesbian haircut, drink wine and learn to drive a Volvo? Seriously. I thought that film was fine/entertaining, but everyone in the cast was equally good, and to give Annette an award for this role would be for all the wrong reasons.
I’m also tired of the “overdue” comments, but it’s because I think Annette Bening would deserve an Oscar based solely on the merit of her performance. Natalie Portman gets the win from me, but mostly just because I can’t choose whether I liked Bening or Moore more. Just because Annette Bening didn’t physically transform herself for the movie doesn’t mean she didn’t give a great performance. It irritates me when people act like you have to think only one or the other deserves to win.
Very happy for the four acting winners. They all deserve it, particularly Natalie Portman.
And it’s not noted here, but I was thrilled with the win for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ hypnotic score for The Social Network. I hope they will repeat at the Oscars.
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross should thank the hyper-restrictive score rules for disqualifying Clint Mansell’s amazing score for Black Swan and the best score of Carter Burwell’s career for True Grit. Either of those would have been very strong competition. I would have but my money on Carter Burwell for his near perfect score.
*put my money on…
I have listened to Mansell’s score but the film doesn’t open until Friday here in the UK.
Trent Reznor’s score was the first time I walked out of a cinema dying to listen to the soundtrack again.
Cody, I’ll agree with you on Clint Mansell’s Black Swan score. It was breathtaking and I was very annoyed that it was considered ineligible. As for Burwell’s True Grit score, I’m on the fence. It was good, but it didn’t quite move me or stay with me.
As far as the nominees went, I was happy for Reznor and Ross. I think they deserved it.
I liked the score for The King’s Speech more than Social Network.
Hans Zimmer should’ve won best score for his outstanding music in Inception. Especially the music playing during the last scene.
yes! the music in inception is amazing. just watch the trailer. even that snippet is chilling
The music in Inception was far more crucial to it’s success than the others, in my opinion. Hans Zimmer nailed it. I think that because he’s done it so many times though (amazing scores), award shows are looking for new blood for ratings, press, etc.
I have to agree. As much as I found TSN music interesting and refreshing, Inception’s music was outstanding.
I don’t understand how you say “four acting front-runners emerge” as if the four of them have only just emerged as such post-Golden Globes. News flash: Natalie Portman, Colin Firth, Christian Bale, and Melissa Leo have already been (to varying degrees) considered the frontrunners in their respective categories for quite some time now. Some people, ahem, just haven’t wanted to admit it.
I totally agree with you on that, A. *glares at EW* They have had such a jones for Kings Speech winning Best Picture, that they totally ignored the fact that Social Network has won EVERY Best Picture award out there. This is all based on “the buzz”. I dont see another ‘Crash’ win happening.
huh? karger’s been shoving the social network down our throats for WEEKS now. he just isn’t convinced it will take the oscar in the end (probly cuz he knows it kind of sucked and oscar voters are a bit more particular than globe popularists. look at avatar and the hurt locker…)
I love how so many people, when they think one fantastic movie isn’t better than another fantastic movie, they have to say it “sucked.” What wana-be counter-cultural, contrary tools. You’re really impressing us, Bruno.
Just because Social’s dialogue was quick, clever and over your head, Bruno, doesn’t mean the movie sucked. All the nominated films this year are fantastic.
Avatar won the GG for Best Picture last year but The Hurt Locker swept almost all awards for Best Picture. Not a good example of TSN not getting the Oscar.
Hey – “News Flash”, A –
Jesse Eisenberg was won an equal number of, if not more, critics awards than Firth.
*has
If you are so sure, give us the actual numbers.
News flash, V – no, he hasn’t. He has not won an equal amount of critics awards. Colin Firth has probably won at least double the amount of awards as Jesse Eisenberg has so far. Add to that the fact that Firth has won the more important New York and LA film critics awards.
Honestly, do just a smidgen of research before you make a comment like that. Eisenberg is great, but Firth has been the frontrunner for the award for some time now.
Colin has won at least 11 awards to 4 for Jesse and 4 to James Franco.
I for one am thrilled by the Melissa Leo appreciation. I have loved her since her days on Homicide and have watched her really gaining steam over the past few years. Another oscar nomination (and a first win) would be wonderful.
Would also LOVE to see Colin Firth and Natalie Portman win. It’s just time for Firth now as he has been steadily making great movies. I admit that I am a bit baffled by the idea of Benning pulling out a win this year. I saw The Kids Are All Right and I thought her performance was just there. Admittedly, I didn’t like her character AT ALL so perhaps I’m biased.
Yes, biased you are. It irks me when lack of character likability trumps quality of performance in some people’s eyes. I suppose it has something to do with Dave’s thinking that TKS will beat TSN for Best Picture. So silly.
“there’s definitely room this time around for somebody to gain momentum with the SAGs and BAFTAs”.
I would probably discount the BAFTAs as they are (understandably) often biased towards British actors and films. I would imagine that Colin Firth will take home Actor and Helena Bonham-Carter will take the Supporting actress award….unless they bump her up to lead actress. The King’s Speech will surely win Best picture at the BAFTAs.I think The SAGs will give a better indication of what to expect from the Oscars.
I’m extremely surprised by the lack of recognition for Inception. I’d love to see it get a Best Picture nomination, Best Supporting Actor for Cillian Murphy and Best Director for Chris Nolan.
I was very happy to see Christian Bale and Trent Reznor win, extremely deserving winners.
Sorry but the Kids Are All Right picked up NO steam. Of course it won best picture…. look what it was nominated with. What else would have won? The Tourist? Burlesque? And Annette Bening winning? Obviously. An oscar frontrunner isn’t nominated against her toughest competition, of course she’ll win.
Agreed. The two awards it picked up last night were two awards it was expected to win. It needed to have an upset in something like, say, the screenplay category to actually gain momentum.
yup. it will get nominated for best picture for the academy awards but only because there are slots for 10 films.
I completely agree. The movie was fine, but not outstanding. When compared to the others in the category, it was a no-brainer it would win. I would have liked to have seen Easy A in there instead of Burlesque or The Tourist (which was not even a comedy).
Agreed. You could have easily taken out those two movies and inserted Easy A, Scott Pilgrim, or even The Other Guys and it would have been a much better list.
Agreed.
Dave, last year a lot of voters were telling you that AVATAR would easily win the Oscar for Best Picture. They were wrong then, and they’re wrong now. THE KING’S SPEECH is not going to win Best Picture. There’s no suspense regarding the top six categories. But I imagine you’ll continue trying to create the illusion that that there’s a real contest for Best Picture. Otherwise, the weeks leading up to the Oscar ceremony will be dull.
Seriously! “The Social Network” has won EVERYTHING and Dave Karger still won’t predict it as the Oscar frontrunner. I just don’t get it. Has he lost his mind?
I think it is more that the academy has not tended to award films like Social Network in the past. I find it a little surprising that it might win as it is not their usual fare. The King’s Speech is. Both were good films. I would like to see King’s Speech win, but think it will be Social Network.
Kids Are Alright has no buzz? It was always going to win that category. Given it’s competition. I can see the King’s Speech winning the Oscar but it’s best bet to steal some momentum was to win the Globe since you would think a Foreign organization would take to a British type movie. But they went with The Social Network. I can’t see a movie winning everything is sight losing the big award. So I think Social Network will still win… But it could be close… But still, I don’t think it (TSN) will develop the backlash Brokeback Mountain did… to allow for Crash to “crash” the Oscars. So we’ll see…
Hate to see “Social Network” run away with everything. According to the Time mag profile of Mark Zuckerberg, the movie pretty much smears the guy and portrays him as a much bigger jerk than he’s ever been. It’s just a chance for perpetual media darling A. Sorkin to spout snarky dialogue and snag yet another award.
They weren’t trying to portray Mark Zuckerberg accurately, as evidenced by the fact that they didn’t even mention that it was “based on a true story” in the movie. And I don’t think the movie was nearly as critical as people act like it was. Afterward, I felt quite sympathetic toward Zuckerberg and the other people in the movie.
Actually, a great bit on Cracked.com is how the movie makes Zuckerberg look more awesome than he really is. They show clips of the real guy stammering in an interview and how “the movie version would have destroyed that reporter.”
1) The GGs need help with the Comedy/Musical category. Not only was THE TOURIST not a comedy, neither was THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT. Sure, the latter could be considered a “dramedy,” but NOT a comedy.
2) That said, not a huge surprise that Giamatti won because that was a WEAK category!
3) With repeat wins between Critic’s Choice and GGs in main cats, Oscars are shaping up to be quite predictable. HO HUM.
Social Network, Fincher, Firth, Portman, Leo and Bale should all repeat.
TKAAR was a comedy. Its makers submitted it as such.