bill bodkin and daniel cohen examine the nominees …
The Golden Globe nominations are in, and thankfully we’ve been spared the Hollywood Foreign Press’ penchant for ridiculous nominations — like last year, when the action thriller The Tourist was up for Best Musical or Comedy.
This year was a tough one, though. Unlike the past few years — think Avatar vs. The Hurt Locker and The Social Network vs. The King’s Speech — 2011 wasn’t flooded with critical favorites dramatically duking it out. But what it didn’t lack was stand-out performances from Hollywood’s A-list. Just look at the nominations for Best Actress in both the dramatic and comedic categories — almost all of them could be legitimate Oscar contenders come February. And for awards nerds like the staff at Pop-Break, this is really exciting.
Let award season begin as Pop-Break co-founder Bill Bodkin and film editor Daniel Cohen break down the nominees …
BEST PICTURE — DRAMA
The Descendants
The Help
Hugo
The Ides Of March
War Horse
Bill Bodkin: As a fan of The Help, it’s nice to see the film was not a summer afterthought. I feared Ides Of March was becoming a bit of an afterthought, so it was good to see it made the list. As for Hugo — after a lukewarm advance buzz, strong reviews have done wonders for Martin Scorsese’s flight of fancy. If I had to call it right now on a gut feeling, it’s The Descendants. However, I wouldn’t be shocked if War Horse takes the trophy.
Daniel Cohen: I can’t speak for War Horse, but this category should be re-titled ‘Battle of the Overrateds.’ The Ides Of March is the only deserving winner here. The only movie that I would make a big stink about winning, though, is Hugo 00 Just because a movie looks imaginative, doesn’t mean it is … sorry, Hugo fans.
SNUBS
BB: No love for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo? Color me very surprised. After Fincher’s shocking Oscar snub for The Social Network, I would’ve thought people would’ve been rallying around his macabre May poll. And while I wasn’t in love with the film as I was the performances, it’s a surprise to see no love for J. Edgar. And after speaking with our resident Oscar expert, Brent Johnson, it should be noted that the high-profile drama Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close, starring A-listers Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock, was shut out of all major Globe categories.
DC: Drive and Warrior, but I didn’t expect them to get nominated, so no surprise.
BEST PICTURE — MUSICAL OR COMEDY
The Artist
Bridesmaids
50/50
Midnight In Paris
My Week With Marilyn
Bill Bodkin: Bridesmaids was one of the funniest movies I’ve seen this year. However, despite being a strong comedy, I doubt it will defeat The Artist. This film is getting gigantic buzz and will easily take the Globe. Going into the Oscar race, I say The Artist and Midnight In Paris will be on the final ballot. 50/50 is actually a bit of a surprise – it’s nice it on this list.
Daniel Cohen: The Artist should be in the Drama category, but whatever, this movie is a lock to win, and it should win. I suppose Midnight In Paris has a slight chance, which I’d also be fine with. With regards to Bridesmaids, my mom always said if I don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it. Looking ahead to the Oscars, not that it will happen, but I don’t want to live in a world where Bridesmaids gets nominated for Best Picture, while The Dark Knight is still waiting on its nomination three years later.
SNUBS
BB: Very surprised that Young Adult wasn’t in here, especially since the Globes seem to have a love for both Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman. Also, while I wasn’t madly in love with it as a film, The Muppets‘ musical element alone deserved a Globe nom. And people seemed to really dig Crazy Stupid Love, but no love there either.
DC: I can’t really think of any, except maybe The Muppets.
BEST ACTOR — DRAMA
George Clooney, The Descendants
Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar
Michael Fassbender, Shame
Ryan Gosling, The Ides Of March
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
Bill Bodkin: This is one of the strongest Best Actor lists you could draw up. One could question Fassbender, but his reviews have been crazy good for Shame as well as A Dangerous Method. In the end, it’s between Clooney and Leo, because they both are the heart and soul of their respective films. The question that really is most puzzling is: Who’s going to get bumped for Jean DuJardin of The Artist when it comes to Oscar time?
Daniel Cohen: I haven’t seen Shame, but I can honestly say everyone else absolutely deserves to be here. My only gripe is that I thought Gosling was better in Drive, but oh well. At the end of the day, Leo will get it. He really did carry that movie.
SNUBS
BB: No one stands out except Gary Oldman in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.
DC: As I mentioned before, it’s Gosling for Drive. James McAvoy also gave one hell of a performance in The Conspirator, which nobody saw.
BEST ACTRESS — DRAMA
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton, We Have To Talk About Kevin
Bill Bodkin: Rooney Mara is the only wild card here — but since she’s the only member of Dragon that’s been nominated, one can assume she’s good. Having just seen Albert Nobbs, Glenn Close is going give everyone a run for their money. A betting man would make the safe bet for Streep to take the Globe home — though I wouldn’t be shocked if Tilda Swinton wins. My big question is when it comes to Oscar time: Where will Kate Winslet, Charlize Theron, Jodie Foster and Michelle Williams fit into this race?
Daniel Cohen: Viola Davis, Glenn Close, Meryl Streep, Tilda Swinton … you can’t really argue with those names. I hate making claims on a movie I haven’t seen yet, but Rooney Mara probably will be my favorite out of all of them.
SNUBS
DC: Where’s Kristen Stewart for Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1?
BB: I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that, Dan.
BEST ACTOR — MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Jean DuJardin, The Artist
Brendan Gleeson, The Guard
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 50/50
Ryan Gosling, Crazy Stupid Love
Owen Wilson, Midnight In Paris
Bill Bodkin: This is a one horse race — it’s all about DuJardin.
Daniel Cohen: Jean Dujardin won … the end.
SNUBS
BB: I guess Matt Damon’s new flick We Bought A Zoo isn’t the stuff of Cameron Crowe legend. Also, nothing for Christoph Walz or John C. Reilly for Carnage?
DC: None for me.
BEST ACTRESS — MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Jodie Foster, Carnage
Charlize Theron, Young Adult
Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
Kate Winslet, Carnage
Bill Bodkin: Much stronger category than the male comedy category. Personally, I hope Wiig takes the Globe home because I think most of the actresses in this category performed in films that are more drama than comedy.
Daniel Cohen: A lot of big names here, and I don’t even mind Kristen Wiig getting nominated, even though I hate Bridesmaids. She and Charlize Theron are the only ones I saw. I think Theron or Michelle Williams will ultimately take home the gold. I guess I really need to see Carnage, though.
SNUBS
BB: No one stands out as a snub, unless you wanted Amy Adams in there for The Muppets.
DC: I really think Cameron Diaz for Bad Teacher deserves to be here.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Albert Brooks, Drive
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Bill Bodkin: A lot of surprise noms in here, including Mortensen and Hill. When it comes to taking a Globe home, I think it goes to Plummer. His performance was one of the first critically lauded of the year, and this could be his lifetime achievement award year.
Daniel Cohen: It’s awesome to see Albert Brooks in there. I really can’t say who the frontrunner is, but why do I get the feeling it could actually be Jonah Hill? Just because you play someone completely different from what you normally do, you shouldn’t just get handed the award. He was good, but that performance is not award-worthy.
SNUBS
BB: Super surprised that Armie Hammer got the snub, especially since everyone was gaga over his role in J. Edgar. Also, what about some love for Patton Oswalt in Young Adult? Also nothing for George Clooney, Paul Giamatti or Phillip Seymour Hoffman for Ides Of March? They were all excellent.
DC: Where’s my boy Alan Rickman for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2? The bigger snubs are actually Tom Hardy and Nick Nolte, both for Warrior. They were really outstanding. And what about Armie Hammer for J. Edgar?
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Shailene Woodley, The Descendants
Bill Bodkin: While Bejo will probably run away with this, it should be noted that McTeer’s performance in Albert Nobbs was absolutely fantastic.
Daniel Cohen: Berenice Bejo should win this, hands down. I loved her in that movie. Who will win? It’s probably going to be between the two Help girls, with a slight edge to Octavia Spencer.
SNUBS
BB: Little surprised to not see Keira Knightley for A Dangerous Method — it was one of her best reviewed performances. Also, no Melissa McCarthy? She absolutely owned in Bridesmaids and is deserved of a nom.
DC: Robin Wright, dipping once again into the Conspirator well.
BEST DIRECTOR
Woody Allen, Midnight In Paris
George Clooney, The Ides Of March
Michael Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Bill Bodkin: This is a super strong category, but I’m going to go against the grain and pick Woody Allen for the win here. This is one of his top films in years, so I think he might take the Globe home.
Daniel Cohen: Michael Hazanavicius will win, and should win. There’s an outside chance for Clooney, though.
SNUBS
BB: War Horse gets a best picture nod, but not for its director, Stephen Spielberg?
DC: Out of all my Drive snubs, this was the most egregious. I really thought Nicolas Winding Refn would get on there.
