Golden Globes Afterthoughts

I really don’t put too much emphasis on the Golden Globes. I see them more like the junior varsity of awards shows when compared to something like the Oscars. Don’t get me wrong, I watched every minute of it because I love shows like that, but the real deal isn’t until the Academy Awards are handed out March 7. At any rate, last night’s 67th Annual Golden Globes did have plenty of surprises. I’m not just saying they were surprises because some of my predictions were wrong, but because there’s something inherently screwy with any organization who can truly say with a straight face that Sandra Bullock’s performance in “The Blind Side” was better than Carey Mulligan’s in “An Education” or Gabby Sidibe’s in “Precious.”

With that said, here’s a quick look at how I did with my predictions last night…

BEST MOTION PICTURE (DRAMA)
Prediction: Up in the Air
Winner: Avatar
Thoughts: When James Cameron won Best Director earlier in the evening I knew this one was coming. I’m not at all impressed with the idea that bigger is better although “Avatar” is a really good movie.

BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE (DRAMA)
Prediction: Carey Mulligan – An Education
Winner: Sandra Bullock – The Blind Side
Thoughts: Give me a freaking break. This Sandra Bullock lovefest is getting totally out of hand. This automatically puts her in the Oscar race for a role that is totally overrated.

BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE (DRAMA)
Prediction: Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart
Winner: Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart
Thoughts: “Crazy Heart” is the only movie of all the ones nominated in any category tonight that I haven’t seen yet (hurry up San Antonio!), but I made my prediction based on the buzz Jeff Bridges is getting. Turns out it was a good guess.

BEST MOTION PICTURE (COMEDY OR MUSICAL)
Prediction: 500 Days of Summer
Winner: The Hangover
Thoughts: Sigh. Popularity outweighs material again. I didn’t think “The Hangover” had any chance to win this, but apparently journalists in Bangladesh love them some Zach Galifianakis.

BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE (COMEDY OR MUSICAL)
Prediction: Meryl Streep – Julie & Julia
Winner: Meryl Streep – Julie & Julia
Thoughts: Easy pick. There was no way she was going to lose this. This role will be the only comedy role nominated for the Oscar.

BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE (COMEDY OR MUSICAL)
Prediction: Michael Stuhlbarg – A Serious Man
Winner: Robert Downey, Jr. – Sherlock Holmes
Thoughts: Looking back, I had no reason to think Michael Stuhlbarg was actually going to win other than the fact that his acting was the best of the bunch. But, again, Robert Downey Jr. is a big name and the Hollywood Foreign Press love their movie stars. Even Downey Jr. didn’t know what the hell he was doing with the trophy. Gotta love the honesty.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE
Prediction: Mo’Nique – Precious
Winner: Mo’Nique – Precious
Thoughts: She’s just on a roll. A powerhouse performance that should translate into an Oscar win fairly easily.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE
Prediction: Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds
Winner: Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds
Thoughts: This role is going to get Christoph Waltz so much work it’s not even funny. He definitely deserved this award.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Prediction: Up
Winner: Up
Thoughts: I am pulling for “Fantastic Mr. Fox” for everything, but I’m not stupid. “Up” is bound to beat it out at any awards show.

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Prediction: The White Ribbon
Winner: The White Ribbon
Thoughts: Best of the bunch although “Broken Embraces” and “A Prophet” are amazing works as well.

BEST DIRECTOR
Prediction: Kathryn Bigelow – The Hurt Locker
Winner: James Cameron – Avatar
Thoughts: Wow, didn’t see that one coming. I really don’t know what to think.

BEST SCREENPLAY
Prediction: Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner – Up in the Air
Winner: Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner – Up in the Air
Thoughts: Pretty safe pick. Jason Reitman and Turner adapted a great script with so much emotional leverage.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Prediction: Michael Giacchino – Up
Winner: Michael Giacchino – Up
Thoughts: He deserves it although I would have liked to have seen “Where the Wild Things Are” win it.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Prediction: “The Weary Kind” – T Bone Burnett and Ryan Bingham – Crazy Heart
Winner: “The Weary Kind” – T Bone Burnett and Ryan Bingham – Crazy Heart
Thoughts: It’s a really great song. Hopefully, it doesn’t fall prey to what happened to Bruce Springsteen’s song from “The Wrestler” last year and get jilted from the Oscar race.

FINAL TALLY: 9 of 14