What Did the Globes Tell Us?
Oscar prognosticators can argue until their hair turns grey what the importance of the Golden Globes mean. Sometimes the winners match up, sometimes they don’t match up. It doesn’t matter. Looking at what won a specific award in no way leads to what will win an Oscar. There is no one with a perfect track record in that regard.
The Golden Globes can teach us something very important about the races, however. It is our first real glimpse into a room full of Hollywood elite (many of who are Academy voters or representative of the voting body), and see how they are reacting to the winners and nominees. You can tell when a winner gets only mild applause, or a nominee gets riotous applause, how Hollywood is viewing that contender. Here are a few thoughts on what the Globes, and the mood in the room, can tell us about the races going on.
Best Picture/Best Director: The response for Avatar and James Cameron was warm, but in no way the most popular film of the evening. Kathryn Bigelow seemed to get the largest response of the director nominees, and there was a lot of applause for The Hurt Locker. People seem to be arguing that these wins push Avatar into the front runner position, and it certainly doesn’t hurt, but no one is pointing out that Avatar is a film seemingly made for this crowd: an international blockbuster that seems to play almost better overseas than here in the States. This fight is far from over.
Best Actor: The standing ovation given to Jeff Bridges was easily the biggest of the night, and in most cases would signal a landslide win from here on out. He is going for a career-recognition win, is a beloved actor and that response showed that Hollywood is behind the idea of honoring him. However, his chief competition is George Clooney, and Clooney was the talk of the evening. With his organization of the Haiti telethon this week, everyone was focused on Clooney’s work, both on the red carpet and at the show. He was the center of attention, and this could propel him back into the middle of a fight. This one ain’t over yet folks.
Best Actress: This race has two front-runners, and thanks to the Globes split, both of the front-runners took away hardware (after tying Friday night at the BFCA). Bullock won the Drama award, which is usually a stronger precursor, but like Jeff Bridges in the Actor category, Meryl Streep has a long career on her side. Which one will the Academy choose: the bright, young star who has finally gotten her shot at an Award, or the most nominated Actress of all time shooting for a long-overdue this Oscar? Usually we would turn to SAG for the answer, but they could confuse stuff. They just gave the award to Meryl Streep last year, so giving it to Bullock would in no way be a snub of Streep. We won’t know this one until the Oscars, I’m afraid.
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz got a great ovation, and cleaned up yet another award. He would be a seeming front-runner. Neither Woody Harrelson nor Christopher Plummer got much attention, and one would think they would be the biggest obstacle in front of Waltz.
Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique got a surprisingly large standing ovation. This all but sealed her Oscar win. It seems obvious that she is garnering awards and Hollywood is eating her up.
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January 22nd, 2010 - 11:39
Sure The Globes have serious implications for Oscar nominations, but in doing some research they have really fumbled the ball in many categories in the past, and I mean a lot. They truly are a stange lot, only about 90 members or so who ARE courted by big money. I KNEW THE HURT LOCKER and MISS BIGELOW would not win though the movie and its director have won almost every single Critics prize to date to my everlasting thanks.
It is high time a WOMAN won Best director…… In the past only three other woman have been nominated for Oscar Director, all three unbelievably outstanding: the first Lina Wertmuller of Italy for the Foregin film SEVEN BEAUTIES, then Jane Campion for the glorious THE PIANO and finally SOPHIA COPPOLA a few years back with Bill Murray giving a knockout performance. If you have not seen the above three films….. do so. GREAT, GREAT CINEMA!
So, we come to BIGELOW who is the only contender who should win. Her work was beyond amazing and the time has truly come to honor a woman. Can anyone think of anyone more deserving than Bigelow this year as best director, MALE OR FEMALE. It surely isn’t the egomaniacal Cameron who was stunned to win and admitted as much…. but as said it is no surprise coming from THE GLOBES.
I found the audience was very lukewarm to his win so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that THE HURT LOCKER will win movie and director. It will make more persons go and see a film THAT MUST BE SEEN!. I was on the edge of my seet throughout the film, the suspense, the fright of the war and what international troops ( Here Americans ) do….. which is so troubling. The film disturbed me and yet exhilerated me for its courage to put this bold film out while we are still at war.
There are more reasons both movie and director should win, but I’ve already oulasted my stay! The fact is……Bigelow DESERVES to win, hands down as has been proven in almost every critics poll in every major city of the country.
Merci! GO and see THE HURT LOCKER if you have not done so. You will be blown away as many are in the movie, so sad and depressed to say.
AVATAR didn’t even make it to the top ten list of The American Film Institute who only choose quality even if it has earned but a few million dollars.
January 20th, 2010 - 08:45
I wish Gabourey Sidibe win, because she gives powerful performance in “Precious”, she is deserve to get best actress oscar.
January 19th, 2010 - 23:58
“You’re”? …Geez, I must have been unconscious or something when I wrote that. Oh man.
And yeah, I think the fact that even Cameron seemed to think Bigelow should have won is just going to bolster her chances. Without that speech I might think she had some real competition, but I just don’t think much has changed. Honestly, it might be another year where the Best Picture and Best Director awards are split…
January 19th, 2010 - 23:22
And I’m not discounting those. I was the first in the forums to state that Bridges seemed to have strengthened his position and it wasn’t the ovation Mo’Nique received, but her speech that may have sealed her as an Oscar winner.
January 19th, 2010 - 22:22
Even James Cameron seemed to think Bigelow should have won, and pretty much said so.
Yes, camera and mic positioning has something to do with it, but there is no discounting the standing ovations for Bridges and Mo’Nique.
January 19th, 2010 - 22:19
That’s true, but even if we discount applause as a metric for judging Avatar’s momentum, I still think you’re point stands.
January 19th, 2010 - 21:28
But, you can’t always allow applause to tell you how people are being received. Camera and mic positioning compared to where the applause is coming can sometimes confuse matters.
January 19th, 2010 - 21:06
“…no one is pointing out that Avatar is a film seemingly made for this crowd: an international blockbuster that seems to play almost better overseas than here in the States. This fight is far from over.”
Good. I’m glad you pointed that out. It’s definitely true, and more people should be talking about it. Avatar’s win at the Globes only signals it’s place as a serious contender. It in no way knocks The Hurt Locker out. And I honestly don’t think Kathryn Bigelow has lost a single bit of momentum for her Best Director award.