In Contention

Tag: Hollywood Foreign Press Association

  • ‘King’s Speech’ leads Globe nods, ‘True Grit’ shut out

    True to form, the Golden Globe nominations are a buffet of the good, the bad and the unconscionably hideous — with perhaps a touch more emphasis than usual on the third of those this year. I refer, of course, to those largely mortifying Comedy/Musical races, where HFPA voters solved the lack of obvious contenders this year by giving in to their randiest star-shagging urges.

    Welcome to the Best Picture race, “Red,” “The Tourist” and (pauses to cross himself and say three Hail Marys) “Alice in Wonderland.” Or, you know, not. Congratulations on your double-shot of well-deserved Best Actor nominations, Mr. Depp. Or, you know, not. Sorry, Sally Hawkins, we liked you just fine in “Made in Dagenham,” but Angelina Jolie was obviously working harder in her movie. Or, you know, not.

    Still, even as we strike down upon the HFPA with great vengeance and furious anger, I’m feeling pretty chipper about some things: reviled as it is by many, “Burlesque” is the kind of grandly gaudy goof-off that I’m happy to see livening up the category, while my biggest air-punch of the morning came when my actress of the year Emma Stone’s name was read out for “Easy A.”

    (more…)

  • HFPA goes its own way, ‘Milk’ snubbed, ‘Button,’ ‘Frost’ and ‘Doubt’ lead with five noms each

    Golden GlobesBest nominations of the morning: Tom Cruise, Best Supporting Actor in “Tropic Thunder” and James Franco, Best Actor, “Pineapple Express.”  I’m also happy to see some love for Rebecca Hall.  Nice.

    The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, as they tend to do, went their own way this morning with a list of nominations that will certainly shake the landscape of this year’s film awards season, but I don’t expect a huge impact where Oscar is concerned.

    “The Reader” is still a marginal contender at best (the studio is even pulling advertising in some outlets), while “Revolutionary Road” got a much-needed (and frankly surprising) shot in the arm.  “Milk,” meanwhile, was left with just one nomination for Best Actor.  Odd.

    Guy will be working up a lengthy reaction in due time but I’m going to duck out for the time being.  The nominees:

    Best Picture (Drama)
    “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
    “Frost/Nixon”
    “The Reader”
    “Revolutionary Road”
    “Slumdog Millionaire”

    Best Picture (Comedy/Musical)
    “Burn After Reading”
    “Happy-Go-Lucky”
    “In Bruges”
    “Mamma Mia!”
    “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”

    (more…)