Golden Globe noms

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Here are HE's reactions to some of the just-announced Golden Globe nominations:

Best Drama: American Gangster, Atonement, Eastern Promises, The Great Debaters, Michael Clayton, No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood. Response: What is that, seven nominations? Why not ten like the Broadcast Film Critics list? The HFPA's belief that David Cronenberg's Russian penis movie is among the year's best dramas while not even including Zodiac and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is amusing, at the very least. History will judge their lack of vision and backbone accordingly.

Best Performance by an 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). Response: The Blanchett nomination is a joke. Conventional wisdom says it's Christie's to lose...and she could manage that if she doesn't get out there and "work it" -- which she's said to be reluctant to do. The jackals and the wild dogs of Kenya can smell this attitude, and if they're "smart" (in a vicious, dog-eat-dog, rules-of-the-game sense of the term), they'll gang up and take her down. She's definitely a vulnerable wildebeest.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture -- Drama: George Clooney Michael Clayton), Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood), James McAvoy (Atonement), Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises), Denzel Washington (American Gangster). Response: They nominate Mortensen, Washington and Clooney but blow off HE faves Benicio del Toro and Sam Riley? I don't care how repetitious I sound by bringing this up time and again, but this is a matter of breathtaking epic-scale denial. Del Toro and Riley gave landmark performances, and HFPA nominators are playing political suck-up games by nominating Clooney, Washington and Mortensen, all of whom (a) will look good on the red carpet but (b) gave very good but not quite award-level performances.

Best Motion Picture -- Musical Or Comedy: Across The Universe, Charlie Wilson's War, Hairspray, Juno, Sweeney Todd. Comment: The Across the Universe nomination is a sop and a joke. Arterial fire-hydrant issues aside, the winner really ought to be Sweeney Todd. If the blood kills it, Juno will gake the prize. Why isn't Once nominated in this category? It's easily superior in every respect to Across the Universe -- more intimate, better acted, more honestly emotional, etc.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture -- Musical or Comedy: Amy Adams, Nikki Blonsky, Helena Bonham Carter, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page. Comment: All sublime performances, but Cotillard deserves to win. Of course, she could very possibly lose because La Vie en Rose came out so long ago, blah blah. Picturehouse needs to bring Cotillard back to Los Angeles in early January and keep her there.

Best Supporting Actor: Casey Affleck, Javier Bardem, Philip Seymour Hoffman, John Travolta, Tom Wilkinson. Comment: Travolta is the weak sister in the group. Bardem will probably prevail, especially given his Spanish heritage and the HFPA's presumed favoritism for foreign-reared contenders.

Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett, Saoirse Ronan, Julia Roberts, Amy Ryan, Tilda Swinton. Comment: How formidable is the Ryan blitzkreig? Will the HFPA membership knuckle under and go along, or will they grow a pair and stand up for Blanchett or Swinton? Ronan is in there to round out the pack. The Roberts nomination is a case of the HFPA simply wanting her to attend the awards show.

Best Screenplay: Diablo Cody Juno), Joel Coen & Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men), Christopher Hampton (Atonement), Ronald Harwood (The Diving Bell & the Butterfly), Aaron Sorkin (Charlie Wilson's War). Comment: The Coens, of course, but it wouldn't surprise me if Cody, who's slightly better at working a room than Joel and Ethan, nabs it.

A friend just wrote to say that "the biggest disappointment in the Best Actor category is Tommy Lee Jones not getting any love for In The Valley of Elah." Jones was superb in that film, yes, but I liked him even more in his somewhat quieter No Country supporting performance...and he was shut out there also.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on December 13, 2007 at 6:30 AM

comment #1

Joel says ...

Lord, what boring nominations. Seven for best picture and many of the choices are STILL lame.

Posted by Joel at December 13, 2007 7:29 AM

comment #2

Walter Sobchak says ...

They should all burn in the depths of hell for not having a "Best Picture Drama" category that consists only of one film instead of seven...."Zodiac"!

Casey Affleck as Supporting actor? He's the star of the damn movie. This is one of those instances where the category was decided based on the fame of the actor. Supporting?

"Once" looks like it got shut out. Not even a nom for Best Song?! Please. Watch your screeners, Euro-trash Globe people!

And why wasn't "The Wire" nominated for "Greatest Thing Ever"? Heresy!

Posted by Walter Sobchak at December 13, 2007 7:30 AM

comment #3

JD says ...

"Conventional wisdom says it's Christie's to lose...and she could manage that if she doesn't get out there and 'work it' -- which she's said to be reluctant to do. The jackals and the wild dogs of Kenya can smell this attitude, and if they're smart, they'll gang up and take her down."

So it's "smart" to be a jackal and take people down for having integrity? You're a deeply confused man, Jeff.

Posted by JD at December 13, 2007 7:31 AM

comment #4

p.Vice says ...

Epic-scale denial is right. They are denying just how pathetic and meaningless this whole awards nonsense is by actually bothering to give awards in the first place! The only response any cineaste would have to these nominations is, WHO GIVES A SHIT???

I know I find myself saying that a lot but nothing else makes sense these days.

Posted by p.Vice at December 13, 2007 7:33 AM

comment #5

Walter Sobchak says ...

And Jeffrey... great call on the Roberts nom explaination. Surprised they didn't squeeze Jack in there for the same reason.

Posted by Walter Sobchak at December 13, 2007 7:34 AM

comment #6

MAGGA says ...

Many of these films have yet to be released in my neck of the woods, but there is nothing in American Gangster I have not seen a hundred times before, and much, much better, so I wish people would stop nominating it on the grounds of famous pairings of actors.

Posted by MAGGA at December 13, 2007 7:35 AM

comment #7

BNick says ...

Yeah, Jeff, your comment about Christie was just bizarre. People should take her down for not sucking up enough?

This is a pretty uninspired slate of nominations. Apparently "Once" didn't have enough movie stars in it to fill a whole table at the ceremony.

Also, is the Kite Runner a foreign language film? I thought everyone was speaking English in the trailers.

Posted by BNick at December 13, 2007 7:39 AM

comment #8

romeoisbleeding says ...

The fact that they chose Travolta for a supporting nomination over Robert Downey jr. is sad and inane. What a boring list all around. Well perhaps there will be no show with the writers out so I won't have to watch any of it. Zodiac was just too smart a choice for this group.

Posted by romeoisbleeding at December 13, 2007 7:39 AM

comment #9

Le Samorai says ...

What's up with PTA not getting a director nod?

Posted by Le Samorai at December 13, 2007 7:40 AM

comment #10

romeoisbleeding says ...

Just realized they left out Once also. This nails it. I just don't care anymore. On to next year.

Posted by romeoisbleeding at December 13, 2007 7:42 AM

comment #11

Dave says ...

Jeff, can you stand tall and blame anyone for not nominating The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford when it didn't even make *your* ten best list the other day?

All those raves, all that love. . . forgotten fairly quickly. Bourne Ultimatum was good, but not THAT good, man.

Posted by Dave at December 13, 2007 7:45 AM

comment #12

adorian says ...

They didn't nominate Del Toro because he might walk the red carpet while looking scruffy. They know Clooney and Denzel will look great in their tuxes. And there's always the hope that Viggo might run the red carpet totally nekkid, tea-baggin' the paparazzi. It's all about viewership and who looks great on the carpet...e.g., Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett, Kiera K.

Posted by adorian at December 13, 2007 7:48 AM

comment #13

JHRussell says ...

How have all the critics groups and now the HFPA snubbed "Once" so thoroughly? Is there any chance for "Once" in the Academy?

On the other hand, I am pleased that the HFPA has not taken the bait on "Into the Wild"...I just hope the Academy follows suit...

Finally, how does Ridley Scott get a directing nom for that mess of a film "American Gangster" and Anderson gets passed over. Sheesh...

Posted by JHRussell at December 13, 2007 7:48 AM

comment #14

dgunz says ...

No love for "Once" - not even in the "Best Song" category? Give me a break.

Posted by dgunz at December 13, 2007 7:54 AM

comment #15

Mike Schaefer says ...

Just for clarity: am I correct in saying that there are 7 Best Pic noms because 3 movies tied for 5th place in the voting? I wonder which 3?

Posted by Mike Schaefer at December 13, 2007 7:56 AM

comment #16

Edward Havens says ...

History isn't going to give a shit about the HFPA or the Golden Globes. Only writers looking for something to write about care about these things.

Quick, and without looking... who won the Golden Globe for Best Picture, Musical or Comedy last year?

Yeah, I don't remember either.

Posted by Edward Havens at December 13, 2007 7:58 AM

comment #17

Josh Massey says ...

BREAKING NEWS: The best films aren't always nominated! The Golden Globes mean nothing! Film at 11!

Posted by Josh Massey at December 13, 2007 8:05 AM

comment #18

K. Bowen says ...

Why are you upset by the snubbing of Jesse James? You put it at no. 16. I agree with the statement you made, but I'm not sure that you do.

Posted by K. Bowen at December 13, 2007 8:14 AM

comment #19

christian says ...

What, no love for Pia Zadora?

Posted by christian at December 13, 2007 8:21 AM

comment #20

Chicago48 says ...

As I've been screaming all over the internt -- NO COLOR! How dare they and the other awards overlook the best 5 minutes on screen by Ruby Dee? And didn't Keri Russell carry Waitress all by herself? What a crock! And I agree about Eastern promises ..... while it was "watchable" it wasn't award calibre...except for Viggo that sexy beast!
It's the same actors/actresses year in and year out and the public is (I am at least) bored with it....Denzel, George, Julia, Cate...it's like a merry-go-round...are they the ONLY actors acting in good movies these days?

Posted by Chicago48 at December 13, 2007 8:33 AM

comment #21

btwnproductions says ...

Amidst the Golden glop, I was pleased to see that the underrated Eastern Promises pulled off a few noms. Del Toro, Riley and Zodiac never had a chance.

Posted by btwnproductions at December 13, 2007 8:36 AM

comment #22

Aguirre says ...

i mean... they don't honestly expect us to take any awards show seriously that nominates american gangster, across the universe, and hairspray. it's all for a laugh - a sharp satire of the awards derby... it's brilliant.

Posted by Aguirre at December 13, 2007 8:40 AM

comment #23

Rubyglass says ...

The most bewildering snub to me is for Jonny Greenwood's score for There Will Be Blood, especially considering that the film managed to score a nomination for best drama. The score is stunning and pretty much *makes* the film. The fact that they nominated *Clint Eastwood* in his place, among other less deserving candidates, is utterly laughable.

Perhaps the Oscars will rectify the snub, but I'm feeling less than hopeful.

Posted by Rubyglass at December 13, 2007 8:46 AM

comment #24

Aguirre says ...

and clint eastwood and eddie vedder over jonny greenwood's INSANELY BRILLIANT score for there will be blood!?!?!? okay... that hurts.

Posted by Aguirre at December 13, 2007 8:52 AM

comment #25

AJW says ...

Who cares? Today's big announcement is the Mitchell Report.

Posted by AJW at December 13, 2007 8:52 AM

comment #26

rickyroma says ...

Zodiac, Jesse James, even No Country have all been attacked/defended to some degree this season. But the one film that EVERYONE who has seen it loves is Once. I have to assume most voters haven't bothered to watch the film, because I can't believe they'd shut it out after having seen it.

Posted by rickyroma at December 13, 2007 8:55 AM

comment #27

MarkVH says ...

Sobchack, The Wire didn't put out a season in 2007, and was therefore ineligible for "Greatest thing ever" this year. Season 5 will be eligible next year, so that's when it will likely be ignored.

And you're not funny.

Posted by MarkVH at December 13, 2007 9:08 AM

comment #28

MichaelC says ...

Once was left off for one reason and one reason alone: No stars to ass kiss.

I expected this in the best picture. I thought they might squeeze in a performer since they found room for Hedwig and the Angry Inch a while back. But the lack of the song nomination? That's terrible - even by Globe standards.

Posted by MichaelC at December 13, 2007 9:19 AM

comment #29

thasos says ...

I love the Russian penis movie line, though I thought Eastern Promises was quite good. When he puts the knife in the guy's eye, everyone in the audience loudly went "aaaaaaaaaargh", which I've heard about but never experienced until recently.

Posted by thasos at December 13, 2007 10:04 AM

comment #30

thasos says ...

Posted by thasos at December 13, 2007 10:04 AM

comment #31

truefaith says ...

There sure are a lot of posters from people who claim not to like the Golden Globes. What's with that? I'm glad to see that I wasn't the only one who preferred the artistic and imaginative ACROSS THE UNIVERSE over the pretentious and tedious ONCE. It probably won't win the Best Picture-Comedy award, but it's nice to see that it was nominated. I'm surprised that PTA wasn't nominated for Best Director yet Ridley Scott was. I'm also surprised that LOST wasn't nominated for Best TV Drama yet I'm glad that PUSHING DAISIES was for BEST TV Comedy.

Posted by truefaith at December 13, 2007 10:23 AM

comment #32

actionman says ...

The "Russian penis movie" thing needs to stop...so lame to reduce a great thriller like Eastern Promises to that silly, shallow description.

The fact that Jesse James, Into the Wild, Zodiac, and Once didn't get some love is a fucking joke. The Golden Globes has always been--and will always be--a total joke.

Posted by actionman at December 13, 2007 10:35 AM

comment #33

chicbn872 says ...

This is honestly the sorriest lot of nominations I have seen in recent years. The list of screw-jobs is massive:

Keri Russell for "Waitress"

"Once" for Best Song & Best Picture-Musical/Comedy

Downey Jr. for "Zodiac"

"Knocked Up" & "Once" are better than "Across The Universe" & "Hairspray"

Where in God's Name are Josh Brolin & Tommy Lee Jones for "No Country"?

Posted by chicbn872 at December 13, 2007 10:36 AM

comment #34

T. S. Idiot says ...

"The Roberts nomination is a case of the HFPA simply wanting her to attend the awards show." What about all the reports that none of these people will attend if the strike's still going on? Too bad blogs didn't exist in the olden days when Raquel Welch was nominated for Three Musketeers.

Posted by T. S. Idiot at December 13, 2007 10:37 AM

comment #35

corey3rd says ...

we're talking about the Golden Globes. This is truly the "nominate people we want to invite for dinner" organization.

Watched Hairspray last night. Travolta was a kiss of death. That nomination belonged to Walken. Although they should have given it to the High School Musical boy since that would beef up the ratings with the younger crowd.

Posted by corey3rd at December 13, 2007 10:46 AM

comment #36

thevisceral says ...

Transformers robbed again.

Posted by thevisceral at December 13, 2007 11:01 AM

comment #37

FrankieJ says ...

way too many haters on this site. Hey, I love films more than most and take these things way too seriously, too...but everyone needs to tone down the mean!

That said, how could BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD have been completely ignored????

Posted by FrankieJ at December 13, 2007 11:26 AM

comment #38

kingspiffo says ...

I'm surprised Chris Cooper has received no love at all during this awards season. Sure, Breach was released in the first half of the year, but you'd think they'd get it right for once.

Posted by kingspiffo at December 13, 2007 11:27 AM

comment #39

actionman says ...

"...how could BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD have been completely ignored????"

phenomenal question

Posted by actionman at December 13, 2007 11:32 AM

comment #40

Craig Kennedy says ...

Between the Drama and Comedy/Musical categories, they nominated what...like 12 movies? Hard to believe with that shotgun approach they missed anything, though I'm sure they did and I'm sure I'd be filled with righteous indignation if I'd looked closely at the list.

Beyond offering hints about what could happen with the Oscars, no one outside of studio marketing departments and the nominees themselves really takes these seriously do they? I mean, they're fun and all, but...?

Posted by Craig Kennedy at December 13, 2007 11:42 AM

comment #41

Sean says ...

WELLS -

you left off one, actors in a comedy.

Posted by Sean at December 13, 2007 12:11 PM

comment #42

JaySmire says ...

While I make no bones about saying Zodiac is not one of my ten best films of the year, it was certainly better than American Gangster, and I think better than Michael Clayton. Why didn't it get nominated? This is the foreign press, people. If it isn't coming out in theaters oversees, or already out, they don't care. If it doesn't contain a big star, they don't care. Sure, a few gems slip in through their cracks but by and large it is all about promoting films--so they like what's going to be hot topics for them. Once and Zodiac were movies that came out years ago in their book. John Travolta for Best Supporting Actor? He was beyond terrible in that horror-show of a musical. Divine must be spinning in his grave.

Newsflash to those wanting best oscar nod for "TWBB" score. Probably won't happen. That branch is super snobby. Remember the score for Incredibles? Well, the academy didn't. Any chance they get to nominate Clint Eastwood for anything--they will take it.

Posted by JaySmire at December 13, 2007 12:45 PM

comment #43

DarthCorleone says ...

I'm sure I've noticed this before, but it's stupid that the Globes bother to divide Drama & Comedy/Musical but lump all the directors into one category. It's even stupider that they lump all the writers together. That's just ridiculous comparing the original writing of Juno vs. the adapted writing of No Country For Old Men.

Posted by DarthCorleone at December 13, 2007 12:53 PM

comment #44

jeffmcm says ...

Once never had a chance here, folks, too small.
Although I say that as one of the dozen or so people out there who saw it and didn't love it.

Posted by jeffmcm at December 13, 2007 12:54 PM

comment #45

BurmaShave says ...

EASTERN PROMISES' three nominations is only a good thing. Mortensen was extraordinary. My Russian friends agree, I mean that. "russian penis movie" is one of your dumber witticisms. It makes about as much sense as calling HISTORY OF VIOLENCE an "Iowa bush movie".

Posted by BurmaShave at December 13, 2007 12:57 PM

comment #46

Arran says ...

You're fucking kidding me, truefaith. Across the Universe is a masterpiece but Once is "pretentious"? If you found it tedious that's your call, but pretentious? Fucking hell.

Posted by Arran at December 13, 2007 1:22 PM

comment #47

Dan Revill says ...

If they hadn't jumped the shark before, they certainly did now by nominating those 7 films in the Best Film Drama. While I thought AG was entertaining, it's nowhere near the pedigree of some of the other films in that list...I'm not a detractor of Eastern Promises, and am glad it got some love...still, there should be a rule about this sort of thing - or else just change the rule permanently.
Anyhow, doubt I'll watch. Not too many inspired choices in there. For all the praise that Greenwood's score is getting, I'm actually surprised they didn't nominate it - usually I've found the HFPA has a better track record in recognizing great music than the Academy does...

Posted by Dan Revill at December 13, 2007 2:05 PM

comment #48

Devin Conroy says ...

Truefaith, you're a fucking idiot...Once is utterly unpretentious...

To shut it out in best musical/comedy is a travesty but no song nod?...that doesn't even make sense.

Greenwood's TWBB score? This is a fuckin' joke.

And, can we narrow drama down to five please? 7? Why not make it a list of 17 nominations? Ridiculous...

Posted by Devin Conroy at December 13, 2007 2:11 PM

comment #49

truefaith says ...

To Arran: Read. My. Words. I described ACROSS THE UNIVERSE as artistic and imaginative. I never used the word "masterpiece."

To Devin Conroy: I suppose you think I'm an idiot because I don't agree with your assessment of ONCE. Well, that makes you the idiot.

Posted by truefaith at December 13, 2007 2:22 PM

comment #50

TCorey says ...

Damn...lots of bitter folks 'round here.

Saw Once as well and didn't love it. Think the comments around here had built it up so much that it could never have matched what I was expecting. As a movie, it's kind of just there.

I think "Into The Wild" is the one that got snubbed and will still get love from the Acadmey.

Posted by TCorey at December 13, 2007 2:39 PM

comment #51

gr81lives says ...

HFPA is so dumb!! Julia Roberts??? Are you kidding me??? no wonder why does interviews only with the HFPA. PLEASE SOMEBODY EXPLAIN WHY THE HFPA HAS ANY SAW OR WHY PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE IMPORTAINT???

THEY ARE A GROUP OF DUMB PEOPLE WHO DON'T EVEN PUBLISH OR HAVE LEGIT OUTLETS BUT ARE TREATED LIKE ROYALITY.

Posted by gr81lives at December 13, 2007 3:08 PM

comment #52

Chase Kahn says ...

Okay, no the Best Picture list isn't perfect, but to call Eastern Promises a Russian Penis movie? come on. How childish is that? It's a great movie with one of the best performances of the year in it. I'm sick of all of the complaining...did you REALLY think Sam Riley was going to get nominated, come on!

Posted by Chase Kahn at December 13, 2007 3:48 PM

comment #53

Arran says ...

TCorey: "Saw Once as well and didn't love it. Think the comments around here had built it up so much that it could never have matched what I was expecting. As a movie, it's kind of just there."

See, I can live with comments like that. It's labelling it pretentious I just can't fathom. It's a wholly unpretentious movie.

Posted by Arran at December 13, 2007 3:50 PM

comment #54

actionman says ...

I am still shocked that Wells doesn't see the brilliance of Eastern Promises. It's so exacting and forcefully directed, and so immediate in its visceral impact that I was riveted throughout the entire thing. And it holds up brilliantly on repeated viewings. It's so much more than just a "Russian penis movie." Best. Fight. Ever.

Posted by actionman at December 13, 2007 4:00 PM

comment #55

gr81lives says ...

actionman: Wells doesn't the brilliance of Eastern Promises because the studio didn't pay him to say it at least as of yet!

But I heard David Fincher is giving him a cut of his next movie for talking about Zodiac for the next 20 years :) (BAD JK COME JEFF EVEN YOU CAN TAKE A JOKE EVERY SO OFTEN)

Posted by gr81lives at December 13, 2007 4:37 PM

comment #56

insidah says ...

No nomination for Hal Holbrook? Wow. I'm truly stunned. And the Julia Roberts nom is a joke. They love their movie stars, those trashy euros. And does anyone else think Juno is scarily overrated. Knocked Up was such a more fun movie. Ugh, Diablo Cody's dialogue made my skin crawl.

Posted by insidah at December 13, 2007 5:59 PM

comment #57