Thoughts on the Golden Globe Nominations [Oscar Watch]

Wasn't near my computer this morning, so I'm a little late getting to the Golden Globe noms. Overall, I'm not thrilled

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

Obviously, I'm not happy with this. Dark Knight, my favorite film of the year, and Milk, my choice so far to take the big prize (admittedly for the statement it would make more so than for its quality, but none of my actual favorites of the year have a chance of winning) were shut out. And while I wouldn't call Doubt the best picture of the year, it was filled with impeccable performances and I thought translated to film much better than Frost/Nixon did. Hmph.

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

Wow, both Leo & Brad and no Clint? Interesting. I didn't want to see Gran Torino anyway, so I don't hate that decision. Ultimately this will come down to Sean Penn vs. Mickey Rourke, I'm pretty sure.

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

No Cate Blanchette, but I wasn't expecting her to get a nod anyway. The bad news here is I watched Frozen River last night in anticipation, then Kristin Scott-Thomas comes in and messes everything up. And don't make me see Changeling, please? Hoping that for the Oscars, Melissa Leo & Sally Hawkins replace Jolie & Scott-Thomas.

BEST MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Burn After Reading
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges
Mamma Mia!
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

My favorite of these would have to be Vicky, but then again, I've only seen Vicky and Burn After Reading, so my opinion doesn't really count. I'm not seeing Mamma Mia in order to prep for the Oscars, so you can just forget that idea right now. Happy-Go-Lucky definitely on my list. The fact that all the great straight up comedies from this year (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Pineapple Express, Role Models) got completely ignored doesn't thrill me.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Colin Farrell, In Bruges
James Franco, Pineapple Express
Brendan Gleeson, In Bruges
Dustin Hoffman, Last Chance Harvey

James Franco!!!! I approve!!! I thought he was so delightful, playing against his normal broody type and making me smile throughout the entire film, both times I saw it. Therefore, I'm rooting for him.

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

Sally Hawkins will take it and possibly score an Oscar nomination. And Rebecca Hall is gorgeous and wonderful. That is all.

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

I think the Hollywood Foreign Press wants to make me sad. Because they nominated a stupid cameo by Tom Cruise for best supporting actor. I don't like Tom Cruise and I don't think he deserved a nomination, but the HFP loooves him. Yay Philip Seymour Hoffman! He delivers yet another phenomenal performance. Where are the Milk guys? At least this means it should be a lock for Ledger I hope I hope I hope.

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

Seen all of these films but The Reader and thought all of the performances were strong. My favorite might actually be Amy Adams, who took a role I thought nothing of when I saw it on stage and really brought it to life. I thought she was just fantastic. And I've said it before, Penelope Cruz is electric and very deserving of this nomination and her eventual Oscar nod.

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

No Chris Nolan. Siiigh. I have a feeling Danny Boyle will take this one. Once I see Benny Button, Rev Road & The Reader, I'll have an opinion on who I WANT to take this one.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E

Wall-E!

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
Everlasting Moments (Sweden/Denmark)
Gomorrah (Italy)
I’ve Loved You So Long (France)
Waltz With Bashir (Israel)

Grrrr Everlasting Moments....Go Waltz With Bashir!

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

I'm gonna guess Slumdog Millionaire will take this one, though Peter Morgan is one of my favorite writers and John Patrick Shanley did a fantastic job adapting his work for the screen.

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

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
"Down to Earth," WALL-E
"Gran Torino," Gran Torino
"I Thought I Lost You," Bolt
"Once in a Lifetime," Cadillac Records
"The Wrestler," The Wrestler

As for TV, no Lost & Battlestar so eff them. But hooray Mad Men, True Blood & 30 Rock! And NPH. Always hooray for NPH. Noms listed below.

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Dexter, Showtime
House, Fox
In Treatment, HBO
Mad Men, AMC
True Blood, HBO

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY
30 Rock, NBC
Californication, Showtime
Entourage, HBO
The Office, NBC
Weeds, Showtime

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
Jonathan Rhys Meyers, The Tudors

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
January Jones, Mad Men
Anna Paquin, True Blood
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Kevin Connolly, Entourage
David Duchovny, Californication
Tony Shalhoub, Monk

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Debra Messing, The Starter Wife
Mary Louise-Parker, Weeds

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Eileen Atkins, Cranford
Laura Dern, Recount
Melissa George, In Treatment
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Denis Leary, Recount
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Blair Underwood, In Treatment
Tom Wilkinson, John Adams