I didn’t realize just how serious a year this has been at the movies until I saw the Golden Globe nominations. Most of the films being honored with nominations are R-rated dramas, and that’s usually not the case. Think back to last year, when “Avatar” ruled and “The Blind Side” got so much love. This year, if you’re looking for a “feel good” film you have to go to “The Social Network”, and that isn’t exactly a “feel good” film.
Even the Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Muscial category isn’t much fun: “Red”? “The Tourist”? I thought these Hollywood Foreign Press people were supposed to have a sense of humor. Both “Morning Glory” and “The Other Guys” deserved to be selected over those films. I think this emphesis on the serious, adult dramas, many that a lot of movie fans haven’t heard of, let alone seen, will hurt the viewing audience for the Globe telecast.
I’m also not happy with:
– Two Johnny Depp nominations for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical. Didn’t like him in “Alice” and he’s getting killed by critics for “The Tourist”.
– No nomination for Diane Lane in “Secretariat”.
– And I haven’t seen “True Grit” yet, but I’m hearing it’s great. It didn’t get a single nomination. Apparently members of the Foreign Press haven’t seen it either.
What I’m happy about:
– Five solid picks in the Best Animated Feature Film category. “Toy Story 3” is the big favorite.
– Michael Douglas getting a sympathy nomination for Best Supporting Actor for “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps”, which he was hardly in.
– Ricky Gervais will be hosting, so at least we’ll get some laughs from him.
The Golden Globes are Sunday, January 16.