The Hollywood Foreign Press Association did its usual thing this morning, honoring prestige dramas (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Revolutionary Road, The Reader) while largely overlooking blockbusters (The Dark Knight) and grittier films (Milk). Here’s a rundown of the nominees in the major movie categories. (Also, check out Ken Tucker’s reaction to the TV noms.)
Best Picture, Drama
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire
I had heard that the HFPA loved The Reader, so its inclusion here isn’t a surprise. But the omission of Milk is odd given how well it’s done with the New York, L.A., and Broadcast critics. The big story here is Revolutionary Road, which came roaring back into the awards race with four big Globe nominations. I’d say Button is the one to beat.
Best Actor, Drama
Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
There were six strong competitors going into this morning’s announcements, and one of them had to be left out. To my surprise, it was Clint Eastwood. At least he got two nominations in the music categories. Any of these five guys could win.
Best Actress, Drama
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Kristin Scott Thomas, I’ve Loved You So Long
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
The loser here is Cate Blanchett, who now must fight back for an Oscar slot. I actually think they made the right call with these five. It’s Meryl vs. Kate for the win.
Best Picture, Comedy/Musical
Burn After Reading
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges
Mamma Mia!
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
I’m sad about the omission of Last Chance Harvey, which seemed to me like a sure bet here. But the HFPA created an interesting list of hits (Mamma Mia!) and deserving indies (In Bruges). I’m thinking Vicky takes it home.
Best Actor, Comedy/Musical
Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Colin Farrell, In Bruges
James Franco, Pineapple Express
Brendan Gleeson, In Bruges
Dustin Hoffman, Last Chance Harvey
I expected James Franco to get a Globe nomination this morning…but for Milk, not Pineapple Express. I was worried this race would seem like filler this year, but it really doesn’t. Give the edge to Hoffman.
Best Actress, Comedy/Musical
Rebecca Hall, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Frances McDormand, Burn After Reading
Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia!
Emma Thompson, Last Chance Harvey
I’m still rubbing my eyes waiting for Sarah Jessica Parker’s name to appear on this list for Sex and the City given all the Globe love she received while the TV series was on the air. This one’s between Hawkins and Streep, and I think the plucky Brit could win.
Best Supporting Actor
Tom Cruise, Tropic Thunder
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Ralph Fiennes, The Duchess
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
This category held the most surprises of any this year. Downey for Tropic Thunder, sure. But Tom Cruise? Over Revolutionary Road’s unforgettable Michael Shannon and any of the Milk guys? The HFPA’s love of big stars got the better of them here. It’s a Hoffman/Ledger rematch at this point.
Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Kate Winslet, The Reader
These are five worthy women, to be sure, but to leave out Button’s Taraji P. Henson is to ignore one the most emotionally powerful performances of the year. Cruz and Winslet seem like the frontrunners.
Best Director
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road
Where are Gus Van Sant and Christopher Nolan, you might ask? Well, in a tight race, personality matters. And I guarantee Boyle, Daldry, and Mendes were much more charming to the HFPA than Van Sant and Nolan. My money’s on Fincher or Boyle.
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This is a reasonably good list, but some of the comedy category nominees are really pushing it…In Bruges? It hasn’t been talked about since, well, ever. And I’m a little dissapointed that Wall E only got a nod in the animated film category…But overall, it’s nice to see Revolutionary Road come back, and it officially spells the end of Australia’s chances at anything
The Dark Knight should have been nominated for Best Picture! It’s easily one of the best movies of the year that broke through the comic book movie stereotypes! If it’s not nominated for the Best Picture Oscar than I will have totally given up on the people who vote for these things!
I am still shocked that Milk was not included in best picture or screenplay. But the most hurtful (yes I take it personally cause I met her and she is wonderful) is the omission of Taraji. She is a relevation in Button. Hopefully Oscar will not ignore her.
To Kyle: A movie is not good only if it’s been talked about! I am quite happy In Bruges made the list as it was an excellent little movie that could! Funny, intelligent and with raw emotion! And both leads were excellent!
It’s nice to see films like In Bruges and Happy-Go-Lucky nominated, but like last year’s Into the Wild, Milk should have more nominations.
And Tom Cruise over Frost/Nixon’s Michael Sheen? Come on!
yah Kate Winslet! Love her. Hopefully this will get her an Oscar. Love Mamma Mia-so much fun. I will love to see Brad and Angelina arrive together, the press will go crazy of course
i am not digging the Milk snub! and yea, i guess Australia’s chances for anything non-technical are over. good to see Revolutionary Road give it a go. The comedy categories are a joke. only Sally Hawkins has a chance- I would be completely excited if Robert Downey Jr gets an Oscar nom for Tropic Thunder
I was excited to see In Bruges and its stars recognized as well. It was both extremely funny and quite touching, in its own weird way.
The HFPA has taken another step toward irrelevance with this list of nominees. Mamma Mia! and no Tropic Thunder for Best Comedy? No Milk or Dark Knight? This does seem like the final nail in Doubt’s coffin, however, which tells me there may be a surprise snub from the Academy for one of the actors. Streep is in so I’m guessing Adams or Hoffman.
MILK got shafted. I guess a vital, timely true story with a fantastic screenplay and the year’s most committed acting didn’t cut it.
If only MILK had had the excellence, random cinematic style, lack of direction, and nonsensical bellowing of MAMMA MIA!
I’m really upset about Clint being left out but it is nice to see that he is being recognized for his musical talents as well. The Changeling love is great as well as the love for Vicky Christina and In Bruges. I really hope this is Kate Winslet’s year though. How she deserves it.
I was disappointed, but not surprised to see “Australia” didn’t get nominated for anything and I agree with Paige: looks like it’s all technical from here. The Tom Cruise nomination surprised me as well, but I was pleased to see “Bolt” nominated for best animated feature, it’s was an adorable movie overshadowed by “Wall-E.”
Thrilled that In Bruges was remembered but other than that…. seriously? Now more than ever these noms are a joke. Mamma Mia and Burn after Reading over Tropic Thunder, Pineapple Express, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall? And to leave out Milk and The Dark Knight is just a huge gaping mistake. But, this is the group that nominated Bobby for best drama….
I think they really screwed up the nominations for best pic drama. the reader and revolutionary road have gotten mixed reviews and a great film like the dark knight gets snubbed? I know what I won’t be doing Jan 11th.
Where’s Kate Beckinsale for “nothing but the truth”??
The Golden Globes are not meant to be taken seriously so stop the drama. Crash, a couple of years ago wasn’t even nominated for Best Picture mmmkaaay??
I’m really disappointed that Melissa Leo didn’t get a nod for “Frozen River”
Meh. It’s been a weak year anyway.
Actually, the Foreign Press showed a little maturity this year. I don’t agree with all of them, and I still think Milk is the Oscar front-runner, regardless. But it is a little odd that Milk didn’t get the same love as Brokeback Mountain did in nominations. I’m just glad that “Rachel Getting Married” is getting attention because of Anne Hathaway. But I hope it’s Meryl’s year for the Oscar. She’s so due.
I have not yet seen 4 of the 5 movies but did see Milk. I felt Penn gave an outstanding performance. Definately desreves this nod and hope he wins. The film got shafted. Hopefully it will gain some momentem when it expands to more theaters. I didn’t feel it was a “gay” film but a film about a gay person who tried to make a difference.
I hate to be the guy who rails against a half-way decent awards lists because of a few snubs but I just can’t help it this year.
No The Dark Knight?
No Wall-E?
No Milk?
No Lost?
I am sorry but it the Hollywood Foreign Press isn’t going to make an honest attempt to include the REAL best films and tv shows of the past year then I just can’t support it by watching it.
Here’s to hoping the Oscars do a better job.
I think this list is really good. I am ecstatic to see In Bruges on here, to me the best film for all of 2008. I am glad The Dark Knight didn’t get nominated for Best Picture – Drama. I thought it was very good, but to consider it one of the top five of the year is, I think, an extreme overstatement. My only problem with this list is the Tom Cruise nomination. I think Robert Downey Jr. was amazing and deserves his, but I found Cruise to be annoying and not funny at all. They got a little too excited to call for his comeback, which I think we are yet to see… if ever.
LOL I love when people boycott entire awards shows because one thing they liked didn’t get nominated.
I really hope Taraji P Henson gets an Oscar nomination. It’s the only major disappointment for me, and I haven’t even seen the movie yet. Golden Globe supporting categories are a mess each year and I’m not too worried
Glad In Bruges is getting love. I have been telling all my friends to see it. However, Tom Cruise for Tropic Thunder over Brad Pitt for Burning After Reading is a crime
Oh, should i dare to dream that the SAG actors go into strike immediately so as to cancel this wannabe oscars.
I don’t give the Golden Globes much creditability to begin with, and excluding the ‘The Dark Knight’ and Christopher Nolan cements that.
Someone up there said that come Oscar time, one of the actors in Doubt might disappear, and they bet on either Adams or Hoffman. But it must be remembered that thou shalt not exclude Hoffman at the Oscars. Remember Charlie Wilson’s War? The movie was bad, but he got a nomination for his amazing performance. He’s that good. If an actor gets left out, it’s Amy Adams.
When was the last time an actor/actress scored a nom in both “Lead, Drama” and “Lead, Comedy/Musical”? We love you, Meryl!
The Tom Cruise nomination really pisses me off. Cameos deserve awards now? GIVE THE NOD TO BILL IRWIN!!!
I am really glad to see Revolutionary Road getting some love, since it has been snubbed by a lot of the other guys. I was starting to worry the movie wasn’t that good, but I’m now cautiously optimistic.
Great, Tom Cruise is nominated which means he and his Stepford Wife will be attending the awards show. I would not be surprised if they asked Katie to present an award and when she walks out on stage the cameras will pan to Tom beaming at the girl he created to be his wife. I also would not be surprised if the HFPA asked Posh & Becks to attend the show which of course they will be seated up close at the same table with Tom.