Golden Globe predictions!

source: goldenglobes.org

The winners of the 67th Golden Globes will be announced in Los Angeles on Sunday the 17th January (Monday morning in Australia). It will be here that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association will reveal their favourite films, filmmakers, actors and television programs of 2009.

Of course, no one really respects the Golden Globes, but at least they act as an interesting reverse-indicator of the Academy Awards. For instance, if someone wins a major prize at the Globes, you are better off betting against them at the Academy Awards. You will also notice that when it comes to acting nominations, fame significantly outweighs talent. (Sandra Bullock has two Best Actress nominations. Two! Sandra Bullock!!!)

Anyway, just for the hell of it, here is how I believe proceedings will go down. Check out my predictions and let us know who you think will go home with a globe.

BEST FILM – DRAMA

Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
Up In The Air

Prediction: The Hurt Locker

In the past decade, the winner of this category coincided with the Oscar’s Best Picture victor only four times. Precious is the only film here that seems an unlikely champion, so my prediction is a bit of a crapshoot (saying that, so are all of them really). I’ll say The Hurt Locker will win , only because I don’t believe it will win the Oscar. It deserves the prize far more than Avatar, but Cameron’s flick is looking more and more likely to take the Best Picture Oscar in February.

BEST FILM – MUSICAL OR COMEDY

(500) Days of Summer
The Hangover
It’s Complicated
Julie and Julia
Nine

Prediction: (500) Days of Summer

Uhhh, well (500) Days of Summer is the only film here that is actually really good. Can’t say I’ve seen Nine yet, but the reviews have been poisonous. Julie and Julie and It’s Complicated are just O.K. The Hangover was very funny, and a big hit, but Best Film worthy? Ah well. Previous winners in this category include Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Sweeney Todd and Dreamgirls. I suppose it’s not worthy spending much time mulling over.

BEST DIRECTOR

Kathryn Bigelow – The Hurt Locker
James Cameron – Avatar
Clint Eastwood – Invictus
Jason Reitman – Up In The Air
Quentin Tarantino – Inglourious Basterds

Prediction: James Cameron – Avatar

The Golden Globes love blockbusters, so Avatar has got to win at least one. With no technical categories at the Globes, please welcome the reigning King of the World to the podium. But don’t get too comfortable up there Cameron. Your ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow is on track to take the same prize at the Academy Awards.

BEST ACTOR – DRAMA

Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart
George Clooney – Up In The Air
Colin Firth – A Single Man
Morgan Freeman – Invictus
Tobey Maguire – Brothers

Prediction: Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart

A well respected actor yet to win any major awards. Still, have enough people seen his film?

BEST ACTOR – MUSICAL OR COMEDY

Matt Damon – The Informant!
Daniel Day-Lewis – Nine
Robert Downey Jr. – Sherlock Holmes
Joseph Gordon-Levitt – (500) Days of Summer
Michael Stuhlbarg – A Serious Man

Prediction: Joseph Gordon-Levitt – (500) Days of Summer

This is actually quite a tough one. Stuhlbarg and Gordon-Levitt are the only ones in this category who gave great performances. Since I liked Gordon-Levitt’s film better, I’ll give my (completely uncounted) vote to him.

BEST ACTRESS – DRAMA

Emily Blunt – The Young Victoria
Sandra Bullock – The Blind Side
Helen Mirren – The Last Station
Carey Mulligan – An Education
Gabourey ‘Gabby’ Sidibe – Precious

Prediction: Carey Mulligan – An Education

Who doesn’t love an ingénue? Mulligan can’t lose this category, least of all to Sandra Bullock. That is, unless the Golden Globes really really love famous people. Upset? God I hope not.

BEST ACTRESS – MUSICAL OR COMEDY

Sandra Bullock – The Proposal
Marion Cotillard – Nine
Julia Roberts – Duplicity
Meryl Streep – It’s Complicated
Meryl Streep – Julie & Julia

Prediction: Meryl Streep – Julie & Julia

It’s Meryl Streep! It also helps that she’s incredible in this film, which is more than can be said for her competitors. For those who believe Streep’s votes may be split between her role in Julie & Julia and It’s Complicated, don’t fear. The latter wasn’t a big enough hit (critically or commercially) to pose any threat.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Matt Damon – Invictus
Woody Harrelson – The Messenger
Christopher Plummer – The Last Station
Stanley Tucci – The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds

Prediction: Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds

Waltz has received virtually every other supporting actor award there is to give. Much like perennial Supporting Actress winner Mo’Nique, consider this a lock.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Penélope Cruz – Nine
Vera Farmiga – Up In The Air
Anna Kendrick – Up In The Air
Mo’Nique – Precious
Julianne Moore – A Single Man

Prediction: Mo’Nique – Precious

See above.

BEST SCREENPLAY

District 9 – Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell
The Hurt Locker – Mark Boal
Inglourious Basterds – Quentin Tarantino
It’s Complicated – Nancy Meyers
Up In The Air – Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner

Prediction: Up In The Air – Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner

The original screenplays of Inglourious Basterds and The Hurt Locker are impressive, but I believe the Globes will show their affection for those films in other categories. Up in the Air deserves some recognition, and I believe Reitman and Turner’s adapted screenplay will receive it.

BEST ANIMATED FILM

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
Up

Prediction: Up

Fantastic Mr. Fox is getting serious awards buzz. Still, Pixar is unlikely to be topped.

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Broken Embraces
The White Ribbon
The Maid
Baaria
A Prophet

Prediction: Broken Embraces

The White Ribbon might be the favourite for the Oscar, but I just can’t see the Golden Globes honouring as alienating an auteur as Michael Haneke. Expect them to go for Pedro Almodovar’s lighter Broken Embraces.

You can check out the rest of the nominees here.

Discuss: Who do you think will take home the “prestigious” awards?