This year marks the 62nd year that the Hollywood Foreign Press has handed out awards for their picks for the best in television and motion pictures. Unlike most other awards presented in the industry, the Golden Globes offer separate categories for musical/comedy genres. This allows nominees that would normally be overshadowed by the big dramatic films or shows to receive recognition. Compared to the Academy Awards, this award show is more of a casual industry get-together. Nominees sit in groupings at round tables set throughout the venue and the intimate setting, along with the drinks served, allow the celebrities to be more relaxed.
The road trip-wine comedy "Sideways" leads the pack of nominees with seven nods including Best Picture -- Musical or Comedy, Best Actor -- Musical or Comedy for Paul Giamatti and Best Supporting Actor and Actress, respectively, for Thomas Haden Church and Virginia Madsen.
The Howard Hughes biopic "The Aviator" earned the second-most nominations with six, including Best Motion Picture -- Drama, Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio, Best Supporting Actress for Cate Blanchett and Best Director for Martin Scorsese.
But the main man to watch out for tonight is actor Jamie Foxx, who scored a record three nominations -- in three separate categories, nonetheless -- for his film roles in "Ray" and "Collateral" and for the tv mini-series, "Redemption." If he wins all three, he will be the first actor in the Globes' history to do so.
In addition to the regular categories, legendary comedian/actor Robin Williams will receive this year's Cecil B. DeMille Award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for his "outstanding contribution to the entertainment field." I can't wait to hear the acceptance speech (on a seven-second delay, I'm sure).
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is made up of approximately 90 reporters from overseas news outlets. Many of the nominees and winners at the Golden Globes go on to be nominated for Academy Awards.
The show airs live on NBC tonight, Sunday, January 16th, starting at 8pm (EST), as well as airing in over 150 countries worldwide. Presenters on the show are scheduled to include Patricia Arquette, Halle Berry, Diane Keaton, Megan Mullally, Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Will Ferrell, Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Robbins, Charlize Theron, Naomi Watts and Renee Zellweger. Clint Eastwood's daughter Kathryn will perform the "Miss Golden Globe" duties, an honor bestowed to daughters of previous Globes nominees. Pre-show arrivals will be covered by Star Reynolds-Jones and Kathy Griffin for E! Television, and by former E! Globes correspondents Joan and Melissa Rivers, who will be working the TV Guide section of the red carpet, this year.
Tonight the following nominees will compete for the 2004 Golden Globe statuettes. I've highlighted my picks in blue and provided commentary why underneath. If you'd like to cast your own ballot, or talk about the nominees, visit this thread in the forums.
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The Motion Picture Categories
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Picture - Drama
The Aviator
Closer
Finding Neverland
Hotel Rwanda
Kinsey
Million Dollar Baby
**It's going to be a close call between Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby" and "The Aviator" but I think the later will edge out for the win.**
Picture - Musical Or Comedy
Eternal Sunshine Of the Spotless Mind
The Incredibles
The Phantom Of the Opera
Ray
Sideways
**Another close tie, but I think the dark tones of "Ray" will be overshadowed by the indie charms of "Sideways" in this category.**
Actor In A Leading Role - Drama
Javier Bardem [The Sea Inside]
Don Cheadle [Hotel Rwanda]
Johnny Depp [Finding Neverland]
Leonardo DiCaprio [The Aviator]
Liam Neeson [Kinsey]
**For me, this was one of the toughest categories to choose, as all five nominees have wowed in their chosen roles. It could be a flip of a coin close, but I'm going to go with DiCaprio.**
Actor In A Leading Role - Musical Or Comedy
Jim Carrey [Eternal Sunshine Of the Spotless Mind]
Jamie Foxx [Ray]
Paul Giamatti [Sideways]
Kevin Kline [De-Lovely]
Kevin Spacey [Beyond the Sea]
**Since Foxx is nominated in several other categories, I think the win will go to Giamatti, who shines in his "Sideways" role.**
Actress In A Leading Role - Drama
Scarlett Johansson [A Love Song For Bobby Long]
Nicole Kidman [Birth]
Imelda Staunton [Vera Drake]
Hilary Swank [Million Dollar Baby]
Uma Thurman [Kill Bill (Vol. 2)]
**Nicole and Uma are Globes darlings, but I think Swank will edge them out for the win.**
Actress In A Leading Role - Musical Or Comedy
Annette Bening [Being Julia]
Ashley Judd [De-Lovely]
Emmy Rossum [The Phantom Of the Opera]
Kate Winslet [Eternal Sunshine Of the Spotless Mind]
Renée Zellweger [Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason]
**All are very talented actesses, but Bening is a longtime favorite of the HFP.**
Actor In A Supporting Role
David Carradine [Kill Bill (Vol. 2)]
Thomas Haden Church [Sideways]
Jamie Foxx [Collateral]
Morgan Freeman [Million Dollar Baby]
Clive Owen [Closer]
**Not only was Foxx's role in "Collateral" well done, but I think if the HFP doesn't award him the Best Actor win for "Ray," it'll give him extra pull to win this category.**
Actress In A Supporting Role
Cate Blanchett [The Aviator]
Laura Linney [Kinsey]
Virginia Madsen [Sideways]
Natalie Portman [Closer]
Meryl Streep [The Manchurian Candidate]
**Again, another category of excellent nominees. However, I think Madsen's surprise turn in "Sideways" could seal the win for her here.**
Director
Clint Eastwood [Million Dollar Baby]
Marc Forster [Finding Neverland]
Mike Nichols [Closer]
Alexander Payne [Sideways]
Martin Scorsese [The Aviator]
**It's going to be close between Eastwood and Scorsese, but the HFP has a love affair with Scorsese and his films, so I think he'll edge out for the win.**
Screenplay
The Aviator [Written by John Logan]
Closer [Written by Patrick Marber]
Eternal Sunshine Of the Spotless Mind [Written by Charlie Kaufman]
Finding Neverland [Written by David Magee]
Sideways [Written by Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor]
**"Sideways" is really all about the words, with dialogue as fine as the wine they're discussing, so I think this script will sweep the category.**
Original Score
The Aviator [Written by Howard Shore]
Finding Neverland [Written by Jan A. P. Kaczmarek]
Million Dollar Baby [Written by Clint Eastwood]
Sideways [Written by Rolfe Kent]
Spanglish [Written by Hans Zimmer]
**I love Shore's compositions, and so does the HFP. "The Aviator" score should fly off with the victory.**
Original Song
"Accidentally In Love" [Shrek 2]
"Believe" [The Polar Express]
"Learn To Be Lonely" [The Phantom Of the Opera]
"Million Voices" [Hotel Rwanda]
"Old Habits Die Hard" [Alfie]
**The Phantom melodies will win this one.**
Foreign Film
The Chorus [France]
House Of Flying Daggers [The People's Republic Of China]
The Motorcycle Diaries [Brazil]
The Sea Inside [Spain]
A Very Long Engagement [France]
**I'm disappointed that Gael García Bernal wasn't nominated for his role as Che Guevara, leader of the Cuban Revolution, in "The Motorcycle Diaries," but I think the film will win this category.**
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The Television Categories:
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Television Series - Drama
Deadwood
Lost
Nip/Tuck
The Sopranos
24
**I would love, love, love for "Lost" or "Nip/Tuck" to win, but the HFP has a long-standing affair with "The Sopranos."**
Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Arrested Development
Desperate Housewives
Entourage
Sex and the City
Will & Grace
**It's close between critical faves "Arrested Development" and "Sex and the City," which ran against each other last year. But since it's the last year "SATC" can be nominated, I think it'll get the win.**
Mini-Series Or Television Movie
American Family — Journey Of Dreams
Iron Jawed Angels
The Life and Death Of Peter Sellers
The Lion In Winter
Something the Lord Made
**Another close category, but I think the Peter Sellers biopic will win out.**
Actor In A Leading Role - Drama Series
Michael Chiklis [The Shield]
Denis Leary [Rescue Me]
Julian McMahon [Nip/Tuck]
Ian McShane [Deadwood]
James Spader [Boston Legal]
**I think McMahon's portrayal of Dr. Christian Troy and his love of the seven sins has not only driven the show this year, but should get him the win.**
Actor In A Leading Role - Musical Or Comedy Series
Jason Bateman [Arrested Development]
Zach Braff [Scrubs]
Larry David [Curb Your Enthusiasm]
Matt LeBlanc [Joey]
Tony Shalhoub [Monk]
Charlie Sheen [Two and a Half Men]
**For me, it's hard to choose between Braff and Bateman, but I think Bateman will edge out for the win.**
Actor In A Leading Role - Mini-Series Or Television Movie
Mos Def [Something the Lord Made]
Jamie Foxx [Redemption]
William H. Macy [The Wool Cap]
Geoffrey Rush [The Life and Death Of Peter Sellers]
Patrick Stewart [The Lion In Winter]
**Rush's portrayal of Sellers was eerily close. As such, I think he'll get the win in this category, though it is possible Macy could steal it from him.**
Actress In A Leading Role - Drama Series
Edie Falco [The Sopranos]
Jennifer Garner [Alias]
Mariska Hargitay [Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]
Christine Lahti [Jack & Bobby]
Joely Richardson [Nip/Tuck]
**It's great to see Hargitay finally getting recognition for her role on "L&O:SVU," but I think the HFP/"Sopranos" love affair will continue in this category.**
Actress In A Leading Role - Musical Or Comedy Series
Marcia Cross [Desperate Housewives]
Teri Hatcher [Desperate Housewives]
Felicity Huffman [Desperate Housewives]
Debra Messing [Will & Grace]
Sarah Jessica Parker [Sex and the City]
**Not only will the three "Desperate Housewives" actresses cancel each other out, but this is the last year Parker can win for "SATC" -- look for her to win as she did last year.**
Actress In A Leading Role - Mini-Series Or Television Movie
Glenn Close [The Lion in Winter]
Blythe Danner [Back When We Were Grownups]
Julianna Margulies [The Grid]
Miranda Richardson [The Lost Prince]
Hilary Swank [Iron Jawed Angels]
**It's a tie between Close and Swank, but Hilary has had a great year of roles, so I think she'll win this one, too.**
Actor In A Supporting Role - Series, Mini-Series Or Television Movie
Sean P. Hayes [Will & Grace]
Michael Imperioli [The Sopranos]
Jeremy Piven [Entourage]
Oliver Platt [Huff]
William Shatner [Boston Legal]
**I love Piven in his role and I'm hoping the HFP does, too.**
Actress In A Supporting Role - Series, Mini-Series Or Television Movie
Drea De Matteo [The Sopranos]
Anjelica Huston [Iron Jawed Angels]
Nicollette Sheridan [Desperate Housewives]
Charlize Theron [The Life and Death Of Peter Sellers]
Emily Watson [The Life and Death Of Peter Sellers]
**Theron is delightful as usual, but De Matteo's last season on "The Sopranos" showed how good an actress she is. I think the HFP will think so, too.**
So do you agree or disagree with my picks? Please visit this thread in the forums and let your thoughts be known.
