This year I decided to write “predictions” in quotes as a way of acknowledging the Golden Globes is a bit of a sham of an awards show.
At one time you can say that the Globes were a good way to see who will win at the Oscars. However, in recent years, you have had Best Picture winners that were out of left field (i.e. 2007’s winner Atonement) or completely based on popularity (i.e. 2010’s win for Avatar).
I’m going to make predictions because I like the game of it all, but I am sure that I am going to be shocked by at least one of the “winners” tonight.
Best Picture – Drama
Nominees:
The Descendants
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball
War Horse
Prediction: Hugo
Alternate: The Descendants
Reason: While Hugo also had many comic elements, I believe that it’s the best film on this list (for the record, I have yet to see Moneyball or The Help). I don’t know why I made The Descendants my alternate pick, I just have a feeling. This is probably the category I have the biggest chance at being shocked by.
Best Picture – Musical or Comedy
Nominees:
The Artist
Bridesmaids
50/50
Midnight in Paris
My Week with Marilyn
Prediction: The Artist
Alternate: Midnight in Paris
Reason: The Artist stands out the most in the category and I’m fairly sure it will win. I also quite liked Midnight in Paris, so I made that my alternate pick.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Nominees:
George Clooney for The Descendants
Leonardo DiCaprio for J. Edgar
Michael Fassbender for Shame
Ryan Gosling for The Ides of March
Brad Pitt for Moneyball
Prediction: Michael Fassbender
Alternate: Ryan Gosling
Reason: If the HPFA isn’t scared by Shame‘s content, Fassbender is the stand-out here.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Nominees:
Glenn Close for Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis for The Help
Rooney Mara for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton for We Need to Talk About Kevin
Prediction: Tilda Swinton
Alternate: Meryl Streep
Reason: Tilda Swinton will be the one to beat all awards season.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical Or Comedy
Nominees:
Jean Dujardin for The Artist
Brendan Gleeson for The Guard
Joseph Gordon-Levitt for 50/50
Ryan Gosling for Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Owen Wilson for Midnight in Paris
Prediction: Jean Dujardin
Alternate: Ryan Gosling
Reason: Will a silent performance win? I sure hope so.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Nominees:
Jodie Foster for Carnage
Charlize Theron for Young Adult
Kristen Wiig for Bridesmaids
Michelle Williams for My Week with Marilyn
Kate Winslet for Carnage
Prediction: Kristin Wiig
Alternate: Jodie Foster
Reason: This is always one of the hardest to pick. I love both the Carnage actresses performances, but I fear they may cancel each other out. As such, I’ll go with a comedic actress, who needs some proper recognition.
Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Nominees:
Kenneth Branagh for My Week with Marilyn
Albert Brooks for Drive
Jonah Hill for Moneyball
Viggo Mortensen for A Dangerous Method
Christopher Plummer for Beginners
Prediction: Christopher Plummer
Alternate: Viggo Mortensen
Reason: Christopher Plummer’s performance totally made Beginners the joy that it was.
Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Nominees:
Bérénice Bejo for The Artist
Jessica Chastain for The Help
Janet McTeer for Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer for The Help
Shailene Woodley for The Descendants
Prediction: Bérénice Bejo
Alternate: Shailene Woodley
Reason: For some odd reason, Bejo is nominated as a supporting actress instead of lead. Either way, she is the stand out here.
Best Director – Motion Picture
Nominees:
Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris
George Clooney for The Ides of March
Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist
Alexander Payne for The Descendants
Martin Scorsese for Hugo
Prediction: Michel Hazanavicius
Alternate: Martin Scorsese
Reason: It will be one or the other.
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Nominees:
The Artist: Michel Hazanavicius
The Descendants: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
The Ides of March: George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon
Midnight in Paris: Woody Allen
Moneyball: Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin, Stan Chervin
Prediction: The Artist
Alternate: Midnight in Paris
Reasion: A screenplay is especially important when the film is silent.
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Nominees:
The Artist: Ludovic Bource
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
Hugo: Howard Shore
War Horse: John Williams
W.E.: Abel Korzeniowski
Prediction: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Alternate: The Artist
Reason: I like Trent Reznor
Best Original Song – Motion Picture
Nominees:
Albert Nobbs: Brian Byrne, Glenn Close(“Lay Your Head Down”)
Gnomeo & Juliet: Elton John, Bernie Taupin(“Hello Hello”)
The Help: Mary J. Blige, Thomas Newman, Harvey Mason Jr., Damon Thomas(“The Living Proof”)
Machine Gun Preacher: Chris Cornell(“The Keeper”)
W.E.: Madonna, Julie Frost, Jimmy Harry(“Masterpiece”)
Prediction: Machine Gun Preacher
Reason: I haven’t really heard or care about any of these songs (where’s The Muppets), so I’m just picking one from a hat.
Best Animated Feature Film
Nominees:
The Adventures of Tintin
Arthur Christmas
Cars 2
Puss in Boots
Rango
Prediction: The Adventure of Tintin
Alternate: Rango
Reason: I believe both are the best on this list (Pixar had an off year)
Best Foreign Language Film
Nominees:
The Flowers of War (China)
In the Land of Blood and Honey (USA)
The Kid with a Bike (Belgium)
A Separation (Iran)
The Skin I Live In (Spain)
Prediction: The Skin I Live In
Alternate: A Separation
Reason: It’s hard picking films I’ve not yet seen, however I’ve heard some VERY good things about The Skin I Live In.
And those are my “predictions”