Golden Globes Movie Preview

Best Picture, Drama.  Of the six pictures nominated, three were mediocre (Ides of March, Moneyball, War Horse). The Help wasn’t as good as The Descendants or Hugo, and the race is truly between the latter two. Because Hugo is about the history of film, takes place in France, and is favorable toward Georges Melies (a real filmmaker), the HFPA will likely select it.

Best Actress, Drama.  While Rooney Mara turned in a brave and powerful performance in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, both this award and the Oscar will go to Meryl Streep for her portrayal of Dame Margaret Thatcher. Streep is the most nominated actress in the history of film, and sometimes she deserves to win. This is one of those years.

Best Actor, Drama. George Clooney demonstrated this year that he’s got range. Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance was strong in J. Edgar, but it was a mediocre film. Brad Pitt was good in Moneyball but didn’t go far enough out of his comfort zone. Gosling is cross-nominated, and when that happens, the vote gets split. Michael Fassbender’s performance as a sex addict in Shame is being hailed as one of the bravest acting performances in several years, and the voting body is a less repressed, international one; therefore, Fassbender may win.

Best Picture, Comedy or Drama. This award will be won by The Artist if there is any justice. Midnight in Paris and The Artist are the two that will likely also end up with Best Picture nominations at the Oscars, and The Artist may even win.

Best Actress, Comedy. When two actresses from the same film are nominated against each other, like Jodie Foster and Kate Winslet are in Carnage, usually both lose. Critics and moviegoers both were in love with Bridesmaids this year, which was written by Kristen Wiig. This is their chance to reward Wiig for her work.

Best Actor, Comedy. This is the most competitive category this year, because at least three of these performances deserve the award. In the end, however, it will likely go to Jean DuJardin for his role in The Artist. He had to spend the entire film conveying everything using only his face and body language, and he dances really well.

Best Animated Feature. Any other year, this would go to Rango. However, Tintin was a work of greatness, based on a well-loved book series, and it was directed by Steven Spielberg, who will lose awards for War Horse. So look for Tintin to win this.

Best Supporting Actress. This is the most unfair category this year, because Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain, both from The Help, will probably split the vote, likely denying the deserving Spencer. However, both may be out of luck should the foreign agency decide to award French actress Berenice Bejo for her work in The Artist. Bejo will likely win, but an Octavia Spencer upset would be welcome.

Best Supporting Actor. Christopher Plummer, as a 75-year-old man coming out of the closet, ought to win. Branagh and Mortensen are no strangers to awards shows, and for good reason. However, Plummer played a controversial part in a way that was surprising, sensitive and endearing.

Best Director. It’s a close call between Martin Scorsese and Michel Hazanavicius. Either could win. Both made movies about movies, and both men are deserving.

Best Screenplay. The shameful omission of Crazy, Stupid Love from this list is infuriating. However, this could be the category given to Woody Allen as Midnight in Paris was wonderful and will lose in other categories.

Best Score. While Howard Shore’s score for Hugo was mesmerizing, Ludovic Bource did the heavy lifting in The Artist, a silent film. He had to do more work, and write in a very specific style, which he captured beautifully.

Best Original Song. How there are no nominees from The Muppet Movie is a mystery. The re-teaming of Elton John and Bernie Taupin might be enough to entice judges, but Mary J. Blige is, well…Mary J. Blige, and she ought to win. (Madonna is a girl from Detroit who lately has been trying to be an English country woman, and that irks a lot of people.)