The Golden Globes: "It is what it is"

The Ricky Jay character's quote in "Boogie Nights" is a perfect explanation to
me of how I look at the movie awards season. For me, the awards
season is bittersweet because on one hand, everyone knows politics
plays such a huge role that the best movies of the year don't
necessarily get the props that they deserve. It often becomes a race
to gather "momentum," which I always found intriguing because the
films being voted on were finished months prior to them gaining
"momentum." It's not like a sports team who played well, beat an
opponent and rode "momentum" into the next game. Basically this just
means that "momentum" goes to the most well known good movies of the
year, which sometimes is the best movie, but most of the time is
simply a means to a popularity contest. On the other hand, for movie
lovers who can't fly around to Cannes, Sundance and Toronto for real
celebrations of film, awards season is all we have. We watch on the
couch The less serious major awards show, the Globes (January 15th),
usually are a prelude to the Oscars, so in the spirit of the awards
season, here are my predictions and hopes of the major categories of
the Globes divided into two parts (one for the musical/comedy category
and one for the drama category)

The supporting categories are combined into one for drama and musical/comedy.

Best Supporting Actress:
a. ADRIANA BARRAZA — BABEL
b. CATE BLANCHETT — NOTES ON A SCANDAL
c. EMILY BLUNT — THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
d. JENNIFER HUDSON — DREAMGIRLS
e. RINKO KIKUCHI — BABEL

Prediction: I expect this one to go to Jennifer Hudson of Bill
Condon's Dreamgirls as The Devil Wears Prada was stolen by Meryl
Street, Babel's two candidates will split and Hudson has more "buzz"
than Blanchett does. Blanchett was also in two other noteworthy films
of 2006, The Good German and Babel, so she may not stand out as well
as Hudson does.
My pick: Cate Blanchett has always been a favorite of mine and I
wouldn't mind seeing her win.

Best Supporting Actor:
a. BEN AFFLECK — HOLLYWOODLAND
b. EDDIE MURPHY — DREAMGIRLS
c. JACK NICHOLSON — THE DEPARTED
d. BRAD PITT — BABEL
e. MARK WAHLBERG — THE DEPARTED

Prediction: Jack Nicholson for The Departed. He has a huge advantage
over Wahlberg because he's in the movie so much more. Brat Pitt also
isn't in Babel as much and who's going to pick Ben Affleck over Jack.
Eddie Murphy could also pull it off with rave reviews about his acting
from Dreamgirls.
My pick: It's tough to go against Nicholson here.

Best actor in musical or comedy:
a. SACHA BARON COHEN — BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE
BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN
b. JOHNNY DEPP — PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST
c. AARON ECKHART — THANK YOU FOR SMOKING
d. CHIWETEL EJIOFOR — KINKY BOOTS
e. WILL FERRELL — STRANGER THAN FICTION

Prediction: Johnny Depp edging out Aaron Eckhart. Cohen will get
stronger consideration than I previously anticipated but I just don't
see him winning despite a very weak category. Will Ferrell? Come on.
Johnny Depp was equally as good as in the first Pirates, but
My pick: Cohen for Borat. I like Johnny Depp and wouldn't be upset of
Eckhart won, but Cohen is single-handedly responsible for the most
surprising movie of the year. Cohen's movie was so funny that masses
loved it and even the critics had to stand up and cheer for it. Very
simple – he makes the movie what it is. Johnny Depp was equally as
good as in the first Pirates, but I felt the movie was garbage and
can't vote for him here.

Best actress in a comedy or musical:
a. ANNETTE BENING — RUNNING WITH SCISSORS
b. TONI COLLETTE — LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
c. BEYONCE KNOWLES — DREAMGIRLS
d. MERYL STREEP — THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
e. RENEE ZELLWEGER — MISS POTTER

Prediction: Meryl Streep for The Devil Wears Prada. Award voters
never seem to tire of her, Beyonce was outshined by Hudson and I don't
see Bening winning for Running With Scissors. Renee Zellweger could
win for Miss Potter, but The Devil Wears Prada had more massive
appeal.
My pick: Toni Collette for Little Miss Sunshine. She was very good in
one of my favorite movies of the year and though I like Streep a
little more after Adaptation, I'd like to see Collette win.

Best picture comedy or musical:
a. BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS
NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN
One America; Twentieth Century Fox
b. THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
Twentieth Century Fox; Twentieth Century Fox
c. DREAMGIRLS
DreamWorks Pictures/Paramount Pictures; DreamWorks Pictures/Paramount Pictures
d. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Big Beach/Bonafide Productions; Fox Searchlight Pictures
e. THANK YOU FOR SMOKING
Room 9 Entertainment/David O. Sacks Production/Content Film; Fox
Searchlight Pictures

Prediction: Dreamgirls in a very strong category. Little Miss
Sunshine and Borat will get their share of votes, but Dreamgirls has
had the best picture Oscar nomination buzz since before it came out.
My pick: Little Miss Sunshine. If the category was funniest motion
picture of the year, I'd choose Borat, but Little Miss Sunshine was
good on so many levels it has to be my choice here.