The Golden Globe Nominations

Okay, so the one day I can sleep in and come to work late (our office Christmas/Wrap party was last night. Woohoo! I'll be partially and temporarily unemployed in one more day! Cannot WAIT!), they had to announce the Golden Globe nominations and every blogger out there already made their quick comments. Oh sure. Thanks a lot.

So here I am coming in late piping in with my 2 cents (in Canadian dollars). Generally speaking, nothing completely shocking (except Bobby? Seriously?). Middle of the road but nothing I can get too huffy about. Some omissions like United 93, Sandra Oh, Ryan Gosling, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski and Friday Night Lights, but whatever. Some expected omissions like Veronica Mars and the cast, and Battlestar Gallactica, who I think will join Buffy the Vampire Slayer as the always overlooked.

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

BABEL
BOBBY
THE DEPARTED
LITTLE CHILDREN
THE QUEEN

Again, Bobby? Really? I haven't seen it, wanted to, until it got trashed in the reviews. Where is United 93? Everthing else seems fine. Would have liked The History Boys to be up there too.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

PENÉLOPE CRUZ - VOLVER
JUDI DENCH - NOTES ON A SCANDAL
MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL - SHERRYBABY
HELEN MIRREN - THE QUEEN
KATE WINSLET - LITTLE CHILDREN

No real complaints here although at this point, can't we just hand Helen Mirren the Oscar and get on with life again?

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

LEONARDO DICAPRIO - BLOOD DIAMOND
LEONARDO DICAPRIO - THE DEPARTED
PETER O’TOOLE - VENUS
WILL SMITH - THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
FOREST WHITAKER - THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND

2 for Leo huh? I'm actually not going to complain because I actually do think he's a pretty good actor. Still, just like Helen Mirren, can't we just hand Forest Whitaker the Oscar and get on with life?

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
DREAMGIRLS
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
THANK YOU FOR SMOKING

Three of the movies (Borat, Sunshine, Smoking) I thought were good films but I didn't think they were GREAT films, so this whole category seems a bit underwhelming (but not unexpected) for me. I think I would lean towards Thank You for Smoking, at least until I see Dreamgirls which I know I'll enjoy anyways but I'm not sure it's going to be GREAT either.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

ANNETTE BENING - RUNNING WITH SCISSORS
TONI COLLETTE - LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
BEYONCÉ KNOWLES - DREAMGIRLS
MERYL STREEP - THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
RENEE ZELLWEGER - MISS POTTER

As much as I didn't LOVE Little Miss Sunshine, I did like all the performances including Toni Collette's. Still, I think Meryl MADE the movie for The Devil Wears Prada. You gotta hand it to her, there's a reason why she has the reputation for being the best actress of our time.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

SACHA BARON COHEN - BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN
JOHNNY DEPP - PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST
AARON ECKHART - THANK YOU FOR SMOKING
CHIWETEL EJIOFOR - KINKY BOOTS
WILL FERRELL - STRANGER THAN FICTION

As much as I thought Borat was overated, I will give Sacha Baron Cohen and standing O for playing the part continuously. Still, I simply LOVED Aaron Eckhart's performance in Thank You For Smoking. Love Chiwetel Ejiofor usually but he's done better parts.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

CARS
HAPPY FEET
MONSTER HOUSE

Only saw Cars but loved it.

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

APOCALYPTO (USA)
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA (USA/JAPAN)
THE LIVES OF OTHERS (GERMANY)
PAN’S LABYRINTH (MEXICO)
VOLVER (SPAIN)

Love how they squeeze in two American films into the Foreign Language Film category. Only saw Pan's and Volver so far and no plans to see Apocalypto, but my heart's for Volver. Not a perfect film but still something to faun over.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

ADRIANA BARRAZA - BABEL
CATE BLANCHETT - NOTES ON A SCANDAL
EMILY BLUNT - THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
JENNIFER HUDSON - DREAMGIRLS
RINKO KIKUCHI - BABEL

Glad to see Blunt, Hudson, and Kikuchi come from nowhere to get nominations.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

BEN AFFLECK - HOLLYWOODLAND
EDDIE MURPHY - DREAMGIRLS
JACK NICHOLSON - THE DEPARTED
BRAD PITT - BABEL
MARK WAHLBERG - THE DEPARTED

I love how this list would seem more expected in the Best Actor category a few years ago. At this point, I think I would lean towards Mark Wahlberg actually as I felt Jack Nicholson was just playing the over-the-top "Jack Nicholson" he usually plays (whereas in About Schmidt, I found he was actually ACTING).

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE

CLINT EASTWOOD FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS
CLINT EASTWOOD LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
STEPHEN FREARS THE QUEEN
ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ IÑÁRRITU BABEL
MARTIN SCORSESE THE DEPARTED

Leo twice I can deal with. Clint twice? Hmm... Not when you omit Paul Greengrass for United 93 or Bill Condon for Dreamgirls (how can it be nominated so much and have no director?).

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE

GUILLERMO ARRIAGA - BABEL
TODD FIELD & TOM PERROTTA - LITTLE CHILDREN
PATRICK MARBER - NOTES ON A SCANDAL
WILLIAM MONAHAN - THE DEPARTED
PETER MORGAN - THE QUEEN

Note how Bobby wasn't in Screenplay or Director. How DID it get the Best Picture Drama nom? It's not like all the actors in it (apparently half of Hollywood) could even vote for it since this is the Hollywood Foreign Press. Maybe the HFP just hoped that all those stars might just show up instead if Bobby was nominated.

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

24 (FOX)
BIG LOVE (HBO)
GREY’S ANATOMY (ABC)
HEROES (NBC)
LOST (ABC)

Not a bad list. At least nothing offensive is on it (anything on CBS... hmm note: CBS may be the number one network but it pretty much airs lame/boring shows). I can dream that Friday Night Lights or Veronica Mars made the list but I'll remain happy with what they have. I know there's a lot of haters of Lost right now, but I'm not one of them (thank goodness I have an ally in Jace at Televisionary).

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

PATRICIA ARQUETTE - MEDIUM
EDIE FALCO - THE SOPRANOS
EVANGELINE LILLY - LOST
ELLEN POMPEO - GREY’S ANATOMY
KYRA SEDGWICK - THE CLOSER

I'm going to assume Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempsey's (see below) nominations really represent for the rest of the cast (Chandra Wilson, Sandra Oh, T.R. Knight, etc) since, while they are good actors, are the weakest of Grey's Anatomy's. I'm just not a fan of Patricia Arquette, love Sedgwick but not the show, and Edie Falco is always reliable and the best part of The Sopranos. As for Lilly, I know there are lot of you haters out there but I think she does a great job with Kate, so Televisionary, I'm on your side!

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

PATRICK DEMPSEY GREY’S ANATOMY
MICHAEL C. HALL DEXTER
HUGH LAURIE HOUSE
BILL PAXTON BIG LOVE
KIEFER SUTHERLAND 24

As much as I'm disappointed with House the show lately, Hugh Laurie remains the REASON to watch it, so my love is for him. Haven't seen full episodes of Dexter or Big Love but always been a big fan of Hall and Paxton. Meanwhile, Dempsey is far overated on Grey's Anatomy (I would have even preffered homophobe Isaiah Washington) and ditto with Keifer Sutherland on 24 (gasp, Yes I said it). 24 is a great show but Keifer just lucked out into the central role. He's not BAD on it, but I don't think he's one of the major reasons that make the show so great.

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
ENTOURAGE (HBO)
THE OFFICE (NBC)
UGLY BETTY (ABC)
WEEDS (SHOWTIME)

I think I would have prefered to see Scrubs or How I Met Your Mother instead of Desperate Housewives but I won't stir it up too much for fear of losing the other 4 GREAT shows listed. Almost a perfect list. Again, at least DH doesn't offend me (like if The King of Queens were to get nominated or something).

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –COMEDY OR MUSICAL

MARCIA CROSS - DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
AMERICA FERRERA - UGLY BETTY
FELICITY HUFFMAN - DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS - THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE
MARY-LOUISE PARKER - WEEDS

I wish there were a spot for Tichina Arnold from Everybody Hates Chris or Jenna Fischer from The Office but again, nothing offends me here. Even though DH had a lackluster second season, and better third, Marcia Cross and Felicity Huffman always do great work. America Ferrera IS what makes Ugly Betty from good fun to GREAT television, and Parker and Dreyfus are fantastic in their mother roles.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

ALEC BALDWIN - 30 ROCK
ZACH BRAFF - SCRUBS
STEVE CARRELL - THE OFFICE
JASON LEE - MY NAME IS EARL
TONY SHALHOUB - MONK

Okay. Here is something that OFFENDS me. Monk? Again? Tony Shalhoub is usually great but ENOUGH ALREADY. The show stinks and yes hes quirky and zany but there were far better actors out there this year (John Krasinski in The Office, Kevin Connolly in Entourage, Tyler James Williams or Terry Crews in Everybody Hates Chris)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

EMILY BLUNT - GIDEON’S DAUGHTER
TONI COLLETTE - TSUNAMI, THE AFTERMATH
KATHERINE HEIGL - GREY’S ANATOMY
SARAH PAULSON - STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP
ELIZABETH PERKINS - WEEDS

Ah yes, the weird supporting categories from EVERYTHING and ANTHING on television. I'm shocked Katherine Heigl is recognized as I find she tends to get overlooked with Chandra Wilson and Sandra Oh around even though her performance is just as good. Still, where's Chandra Wilson and Sandra Oh's nominations? Perkins totally deserves it (and I think the win) for Weeds and love Paulson who I think is the best thing about Studio 60 as I've noted in my Best New People list (along with America Ferrera and Masi Oka). Meanwhile, Blunt and Collette have a second nomination (along with Helen Mirren with TWO more and Ejiofor with another one for TV movies or miniseries). That's a lot of double nominations which is great but at the same time, share the wealth people.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

THOMAS HADEN CHURCH - BROKEN TRAIL
JEREMY IRONS - ELIZABETH I
JUSTIN KIRK - WEEDS
MASI OKA - HEROES
JEREMY PIVEN - ENTOURAGE

I can't believe Neil Patrick Harris isn't on the list for Barney in How I Met Your Mother but I'm totally for Kirk, Oka and Piven's noms.