I like the Golden Globes.I mean, what's not to like? They reward both movies and TV (and are WAY ahead of the curve in rewarding newer TV shows than the Emmys), they mostly cut out all the technical categories no one cares about and they give the stars free alcohol the entire night.
Sure, they're not perfect. I think it's kind of weird how they mash together "Supporting Actors" in TV categories, and it's even more of a popularity contest than the Oscars. But who cares, really? It's an entertaining show and a high-profile precursor to the Oscars, coming up in a few months.
What follows are my thoughts on the movie nominations (with "Atonement", pictured, right, leading the way with seven). My TV thoughts will be in a separate column. I'll do my best since I haven't watched every movie (some of them aren't even out yet). As always, if I'm going to say a person or movie deserved to be nominated, it's only fair I take out someone who made the cut. Let's take a look at the nominees.
BEST MOTION PICTURE DRAMA
Sure, they're not perfect. I think it's kind of weird how they mash together "Supporting Actors" in TV categories, and it's even more of a popularity contest than the Oscars. But who cares, really? It's an entertaining show and a high-profile precursor to the Oscars, coming up in a few months.
What follows are my thoughts on the movie nominations (with "Atonement", pictured, right, leading the way with seven). My TV thoughts will be in a separate column. I'll do my best since I haven't watched every movie (some of them aren't even out yet). As always, if I'm going to say a person or movie deserved to be nominated, it's only fair I take out someone who made the cut. Let's take a look at the nominees.
BEST MOTION PICTURE DRAMA
American Gangster
Atonement
Eastern Promises
The Great Debaters
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood
What John Thinks: Right off the bat, I like that there are seven nominees, instead of the customary five. I mean, why not? Only one's going to win at the end of the night, and if there are seven strong enough films to gain recognition, then the more the merrier (it's the holiday season, so I'm feeling generous.
The nom for the Denzel Washington-directed "Great Debaters" is probably the biggest surprise, mostly because a lot of people probably don't realize this movie exists. I like seeing "Eastern Promises" up there (it's gotten lost in the award-season shuffle so far), and the rest of the nominees are strong. I don't really have indefensible snub to complain about here.
BEST MOTION PICTURE MUSICAL OR COMEDY
What John Thinks: Right off the bat, I like that there are seven nominees, instead of the customary five. I mean, why not? Only one's going to win at the end of the night, and if there are seven strong enough films to gain recognition, then the more the merrier (it's the holiday season, so I'm feeling generous.
The nom for the Denzel Washington-directed "Great Debaters" is probably the biggest surprise, mostly because a lot of people probably don't realize this movie exists. I like seeing "Eastern Promises" up there (it's gotten lost in the award-season shuffle so far), and the rest of the nominees are strong. I don't really have indefensible snub to complain about here.
BEST MOTION PICTURE MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Across the Universe
Charlie Wilson's War
Hairspray
Juno
Sweeney Todd
What John Thinks: Again, haven't seen "Sweeney" or "Juno", but from what I hear, they've earned their spots on this list. Personally, I'd take out "Across the Universe" (not much of a movie, just a psychedelic collection of Beatles musical numbers) and replace it with "Knocked Up". I'd also replace "Charlie Wilson's War" (which I haven't seen) with "Hot Fuzz". "Knocked Up" and "Hot Fuzz" are the funniest movie of the year, so I figured they'd probably deserve recognition in the comedy category. Also, no offense to "Charlie Wilson", but I'd get him out of there in favor of "Dan In Real Life."
BEST DIRECTOR
What John Thinks: Again, haven't seen "Sweeney" or "Juno", but from what I hear, they've earned their spots on this list. Personally, I'd take out "Across the Universe" (not much of a movie, just a psychedelic collection of Beatles musical numbers) and replace it with "Knocked Up". I'd also replace "Charlie Wilson's War" (which I haven't seen) with "Hot Fuzz". "Knocked Up" and "Hot Fuzz" are the funniest movie of the year, so I figured they'd probably deserve recognition in the comedy category. Also, no offense to "Charlie Wilson", but I'd get him out of there in favor of "Dan In Real Life."
BEST DIRECTOR
Tim Burton, Sweeney Todd
Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Ridley Scott, American Gangster
Joe Wright, Atonement
What John Thinks: Nice to see Tim Burton (one of my all-time faves) getting some awards-season love. I love that the Coens are here (and probably the front-runners). I hear Schnabel and Wright did terrific work with their respective movies (I'll probably see "Atonement" soon enough), so, in a tough decision, I'll take out Ridley Scott's very-good-but-not-great work on "American Gangster" and replace him with P.T. Anderson, who ALWAYS has a strong point of view and delivers interesting work. Yes, I just replaced a director whose movie I haven't seen with one whose movie I HAVE seen (and enjoyed). That's how good P.T. Anderson is.
BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE DRAMA
What John Thinks: Nice to see Tim Burton (one of my all-time faves) getting some awards-season love. I love that the Coens are here (and probably the front-runners). I hear Schnabel and Wright did terrific work with their respective movies (I'll probably see "Atonement" soon enough), so, in a tough decision, I'll take out Ridley Scott's very-good-but-not-great work on "American Gangster" and replace him with P.T. Anderson, who ALWAYS has a strong point of view and delivers interesting work. Yes, I just replaced a director whose movie I haven't seen with one whose movie I HAVE seen (and enjoyed). That's how good P.T. Anderson is.
BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE DRAMA
George Clooney, Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
James McEvoy, Atonement
Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises
Denzel Washington, American Gangster
What John Thinks: Again, I'm glad the voters remembered Viggo Mortensen's solid work. The rest of the nominees are all solid contenders too, especially Washington and Day-Lewis, who can probably earn award nominations by reading the phone book. You know what? I think we need to come up with a new mundane task to describe someone so fascinating that they make mundane tasks interesting. How about? Washington and Day-Lewis can make fixing a bowl of cereal interesting. Or filling out a cross-word puzzle. Anyway, no major snubs for me to complain about here.
BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE DRAMA
What John Thinks: Again, I'm glad the voters remembered Viggo Mortensen's solid work. The rest of the nominees are all solid contenders too, especially Washington and Day-Lewis, who can probably earn award nominations by reading the phone book. You know what? I think we need to come up with a new mundane task to describe someone so fascinating that they make mundane tasks interesting. How about? Washington and Day-Lewis can make fixing a bowl of cereal interesting. Or filling out a cross-word puzzle. Anyway, no major snubs for me to complain about here.
BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE DRAMA
Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie, Away From Her
Jodie Foster, The Brave One
Angelina Jolie, A Mighty Heart
Keira Knightley, Atonement
What John Thinks: Well, since I didn't see any of these movies, I'll mostly just tune in to watch Keira Knightley, Angelina Jolie, Jodie Foster and Cate Blanchett because I think they're all really good. Of course that means Julie Christie's mini-comeback performance will probably trump them all.
BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE MUSICAL OR COMEDY
What John Thinks: Well, since I didn't see any of these movies, I'll mostly just tune in to watch Keira Knightley, Angelina Jolie, Jodie Foster and Cate Blanchett because I think they're all really good. Of course that means Julie Christie's mini-comeback performance will probably trump them all.
BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd
Ryan Gosling, Lars and the Real Girl
Tom Hanks, Charlie Wilson's War
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Savages
John C. Reilly, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
What John Thinks: I have mixed feelings about this category. Personally, I would tend to reward actors who were really funny in their movies. Though Johnny Depp and John C. Reilly are in here legitimately because they're in musicals, the Golden Globes mostly seem to nominate really good actors in movies that are comedies. Obviously, Ryan Gosling, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Tom Hanks are better actors than Steve Carell of "Dan in Real Life", Seth Rogen of "Knocked Up", and Simon Pegg of "Hot Fuzz"but I would still include the latter group — ESPECIALLY Steve Carell in "Dan In Real Life"
BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE MUSICAL OR COMEDY
What John Thinks: I have mixed feelings about this category. Personally, I would tend to reward actors who were really funny in their movies. Though Johnny Depp and John C. Reilly are in here legitimately because they're in musicals, the Golden Globes mostly seem to nominate really good actors in movies that are comedies. Obviously, Ryan Gosling, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Tom Hanks are better actors than Steve Carell of "Dan in Real Life", Seth Rogen of "Knocked Up", and Simon Pegg of "Hot Fuzz"but I would still include the latter group — ESPECIALLY Steve Carell in "Dan In Real Life"
BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Amy Adams, Enchanted
Nikki Blonsky, Hairspray
Helena Bonham Carter, Sweeney Todd
Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose
Ellen Page, Juno
What John Thinks: Didn't see Keri Russell in "Waitress" so I can't get too riled up about her not being here. Otherwise, I'm happy with the nominees. Especially Amy Adams who, in my mind, has this award on lockdown (though she faces strong competition from page and Cotillard). Nice to see former Cold Stone employee Blonsky in here too.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE
What John Thinks: Didn't see Keri Russell in "Waitress" so I can't get too riled up about her not being here. Otherwise, I'm happy with the nominees. Especially Amy Adams who, in my mind, has this award on lockdown (though she faces strong competition from page and Cotillard). Nice to see former Cold Stone employee Blonsky in here too.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War
John Travolta, Hairspray
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton
What John Thinks: Haven't seen most of these performances, but I know this. Javier Bardem absolutely deserves to be here and John Travolta absolutely does not. This is a popularity pick. The best Travolta did in "Hairspray" was not completely embarrass himself (which is tough to do when you're playing an oversized woman). Get him out and put Tommy Lee Jones in "No Country for Old Men" in.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE
What John Thinks: Haven't seen most of these performances, but I know this. Javier Bardem absolutely deserves to be here and John Travolta absolutely does not. This is a popularity pick. The best Travolta did in "Hairspray" was not completely embarrass himself (which is tough to do when you're playing an oversized woman). Get him out and put Tommy Lee Jones in "No Country for Old Men" in.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE
Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
Julia Roberts, Charlie Wilson's War
Saiorse Ronan, Atonement
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton
What John Thinks: Sorry, Julia, I haven't seen your movie, but this nomination (again!) screams "popularity contest". From what I've heard Jennifer Garner in "Juno" is more deserving. Personally I'd go with either Kelly Macdonald in "No Country for Old Men" or the powerhouse that was Marcia Gay Harden in "The Mist". Yes, "The Mist".
BEST SCREENPLAY
What John Thinks: Sorry, Julia, I haven't seen your movie, but this nomination (again!) screams "popularity contest". From what I've heard Jennifer Garner in "Juno" is more deserving. Personally I'd go with either Kelly Macdonald in "No Country for Old Men" or the powerhouse that was Marcia Gay Harden in "The Mist". Yes, "The Mist".
BEST SCREENPLAY
Diablo Cody, Juno
Ethan and Joel Coen, No Country for Old Men
Christopher Hampton, Atonement
Ronald Harwood, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Aaron Sorkin, Charlie Wilson's War
What John Thinks: Unlike at the Oscars, original and adapted screenplays are mashed together here, making things trickier. Still, I'll take out the superstar name again (Aaron Sorkin of "Charlie Wilson's War" and substitute Brad Bird for "Ratatouille" because Anton Ego's speech at the end is probably the best one I've heard all year. Wow, apparently, I really hate "Charlie Wilson's War" (without even seeing it yet).
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
What John Thinks: Unlike at the Oscars, original and adapted screenplays are mashed together here, making things trickier. Still, I'll take out the superstar name again (Aaron Sorkin of "Charlie Wilson's War" and substitute Brad Bird for "Ratatouille" because Anton Ego's speech at the end is probably the best one I've heard all year. Wow, apparently, I really hate "Charlie Wilson's War" (without even seeing it yet).
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Bee Movie
Ratatouille
The Simpsons Movie
What John Thinks: "Bee Movie" was cute and had its moments, and "The Simpsons Movie" was very funny. But "Ratatouille" is the best movie of the year.
BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
What John Thinks: "Bee Movie" was cute and had its moments, and "The Simpsons Movie" was very funny. But "Ratatouille" is the best movie of the year.
BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days (Romania)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (France/U.S.)
The Kite Runner (U.S.)
Lust, Caution (Taiwan)
Persepolis (France)
What John Thinks: I've heard good things about all these movies (well, I've heard there's lots of sex in "Lust, Caution" anyway), but the one that sounds the most interesting is "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" because of its true story about a paralyzed man who dictates his memoirs by blinking through the alphabet to his assistant. Oh, who am I kidding, the one I'm interested in the most if the one with all the sex!
BEST SCORE
What John Thinks: I've heard good things about all these movies (well, I've heard there's lots of sex in "Lust, Caution" anyway), but the one that sounds the most interesting is "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" because of its true story about a paralyzed man who dictates his memoirs by blinking through the alphabet to his assistant. Oh, who am I kidding, the one I'm interested in the most if the one with all the sex!
BEST SCORE
Atonement
Eastern Promises
Grace is Gone
Into the Wild
The Kite Runner
What John Thinks: To be honest, I don't generally pay attention to movie scores unless they REALLY stand out. Off the top of my head, the recent scores I've noticed are "Brokeback Mountain", "Pan's Labyrinth" and "Notes on a Scandal". Sorry.
ORIGINAL SONG
What John Thinks: To be honest, I don't generally pay attention to movie scores unless they REALLY stand out. Off the top of my head, the recent scores I've noticed are "Brokeback Mountain", "Pan's Labyrinth" and "Notes on a Scandal". Sorry.
ORIGINAL SONG
"That's How You Know,'' Enchanted
"Grace Is Gone,'' Grace Is Gone'
"Guaranteed,'' Into the Wild
"Despedida,'' Love In the Time of Cholera
''Walk Hard,'' Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
What John Thinks: After a few years of relatively weak original songs, this category's made a strong comeback this year. I've said it before, and I'll say it again — if you can't crack a smile during "That's How You Know", then you're a heartless bastard and I feel bad for you. If one song from "Enchanted" had to get nominated I'm glad it was that one. But why did only one have to get nominated? I'd add in the "Happy Working Song" and remove "Despedida" because no one cares about the "Love in the Time of Cholera" movie. Finally, I'm kinda surprised that no songs from "Once" made the cut. Oh well.
Overall, I like the nominations, and I think the best movies of the year were properly recognized for the most part. I was a little disappointed to not see anything for "Dan In Real Life", but I understand that it's a movie only I and about 18 other people really loved.
As I said, I haven't seen a lot of the year-end movies nominated for these awards, and I hope they're really good, because 2007 has left me a bit underwhelmed so far.
So what'd you think of the nominations? Did your favorite movie get left out? Who were you most happy to see included?
What John Thinks: After a few years of relatively weak original songs, this category's made a strong comeback this year. I've said it before, and I'll say it again — if you can't crack a smile during "That's How You Know", then you're a heartless bastard and I feel bad for you. If one song from "Enchanted" had to get nominated I'm glad it was that one. But why did only one have to get nominated? I'd add in the "Happy Working Song" and remove "Despedida" because no one cares about the "Love in the Time of Cholera" movie. Finally, I'm kinda surprised that no songs from "Once" made the cut. Oh well.
Overall, I like the nominations, and I think the best movies of the year were properly recognized for the most part. I was a little disappointed to not see anything for "Dan In Real Life", but I understand that it's a movie only I and about 18 other people really loved.
As I said, I haven't seen a lot of the year-end movies nominated for these awards, and I hope they're really good, because 2007 has left me a bit underwhelmed so far.
So what'd you think of the nominations? Did your favorite movie get left out? Who were you most happy to see included?
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