Two days away now from the highly anticipated 2008 Golden Globes press conference (oh, just feel the sarcasm in that statement), where the winners we will be announced and the Oscar prognostication can heat up. However, before all of that I thought it only worthwhile to lay out my predictions on the table and see how they shake out. There are 14 categories to predict so let’s try and hustle through this okay?
A short time ago I would have told you Atonement was a lock for Best Picture Drama at the Globes and I thought it was the frontrunner for Best Picture at the Oscars as well. However, with lackluster box-office returns and the buzz dwindling it is beginning to look more and more like No Country for Old Men may be the picture of the year at the Globes, SAGs and the Oscars.
WHO WILL WIN: No Country for Old Men
WHO I THINK SHOULD WIN: Atonement
The Oscar race looks like it is between Julie Christie for Away from Her and Marion Cotillard for La Vie En Rose, so why would the Globes go any different as Christie is the obvious frontrunner to take this one home and the fact that Jodie Foster got nominated for that travesty of a film The Brave One just makes me cringe.
WHO WILL WIN: Julie Christie
WHO I THINK SHOULD WIN: I guess Julie Christie since everyone likes her, but I have not seen the film. I have seen the others and of that bunch I would probably give it to Jolie.
This is another easy pick as Daniel Day-Lewis is prepping his mantle for a Golden Globe, a SAG Actor and an Oscar. He is the obvious choice here and has been for some time.
WHO WILL WIN: Daniel Day-Lewis
WHO I THINK SHOULD WIN: Daniel Day-Lewis
Here is where my opinion differs from the rest of the living world as Juno is most likely going to take home the Golden Globe and go on to be nominated for an Oscar. Fortunately for the little film that could (a.k.a. this year’s Little Miss Sunshine) the Globes split their Best Picture categories.
WHO WILL WIN: Juno
WHO I THINK SHOULD WIN: Sweeney Todd by a mile!
Hey, hey, I have seen all of these films and while I just recently was able to see La Vie En Rose I will say I wasn’t all that blown away by the film. Cotillard does give a good performance, but why anyone would favor her over Amy Adams or Helena Bonham Carter is beyond me. Unfortunately this is a category I have to go with the buzz on, because if I didn’t Carter would be my pick.
WHO WILL WIN: Marion Cotillard
WHO I THINK SHOULD WIN: Helena Bonham Carter
This is a tough one, only because Johnny Depp was not the best part of Sweeney Todd, Helena Bonham Carter was, and to think he would take home a Globe while she gets the shaft is depressing. However, that is what it looks like to me.
WHO WILL WIN: Johnny Depp
WHO I THINK SHOULD WIN: Johnny Depp
Of this bunch I have seen all but one and unfortunately I won’t be seeing 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days until the middle of next week, which means I can’t have an opinion on it. However, I don’t think it matters. The buzz and my personal love for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly should guarantee this one a Globe.
WHO WILL WIN: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
WHO I THINK SHOULD WIN: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Bee Movie
Ratatouille
The Simpsons Movie
I am not even going to waste the time explaining.
WHO WILL WIN: Ratatouille
WHO I THINK SHOULD WIN: Ratatouille
Cate Blanchett – I’m Not There
Julia Roberts – Charlie Wilson’s War
Saoirse Ronan – Atonement
Amy Ryan – Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton – Michael Clayton
Once again, this cat has another terrible nomination in naming Julia Roberts. Vanessa Redgrave deserves it for her five minute performance in Atonement before Roberts does.
WHO WILL WIN: Amy Ryan
WHO I THINK SHOULD WIN: Tilda Swinton
Casey Affleck – The Assassination of Jesse James
Javier Bardem – No Country for Old Men
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Charlie Wilson’s War
John Travolta – Hairspray
Tom Wilkinson – Michael Clayton
WHO WILL WIN: Javier Bardem
WHO I THINK SHOULD WIN: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Tim Burton – Sweeney Todd
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen – No Country for Old Men
Julian Schnabel – The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Ridley Scott – American Gangster
Joe Wright – Atonement
WHO WILL WIN: Joe Wright
WHO I THINK SHOULD WIN: Joe Wright
Diablo Cody – Juno
Ethan and Joel Coen – No Country for Old Men
Christopher Hampton – Atonement
Ronald Harwood – The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Aaron Sorkin – Charlie Wilson’s War
What, I should say Diablo Cody because she has a cool name and Juno was oh so quirky and clever? Jog on… The Coen brothers deserve this way more than her. No Country for Old Men was scripting genius simply based on what was in the film as much as what wasn’t in the film.
WHO WILL WIN: Ethan and Joel Coen
WHO I THINK SHOULD WIN: Ethan and Joel Coen
Michael Brook, Kaki King and Eddie Vedder – Into the Wild
Clint Eastwood – Grace is Gone
Alberto Iglesias – The Kite Runner
Dario Marianelli – Atonement
Howard Shore – Eastern Promises
WHO WILL WIN: Atonement
WHO I THINK SHOULD WIN: The not nominated Lust, Caution
“Despidia” from Love in the Time of Cholera
“Grace is Gone” from Grace is Gone
“Guaranteed” from Into the Wild
“That’s How You Know” from Enchanted
“Walk Hard” from Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
I have no idea with this category so I will throw a dart and come up with the most logical choice.
WHO WILL WIN: “Guaranteed” from Into the Wild
WHO I THINK SHOULD WIN: Who cares?
The 2008 Golden Globes will be announced at a shortened press conference this Sunday, January 13th. Stay tuned as we will have winners, a complete wrap-up and a live diary evaluating everything the WGA screwed up.