Avedah!: A day late "live" blog of the Golden Globes

You know what it is, I know what it is. I decided that I'll twitter the Oscars and not bother my legion of followers on a regular Sunday.

Ok so we start off with Gervais who is typically snarky and off the cuff and I like it even if it isn't barn burning material.

Mo'nique wins best supporting, not surprising. Thanks God, EQUALLY non-surprising. Frankly I think she should have won for Beerfest. Oh and how adorable does Anna Kendrick look. Looking forward to seeing more of her, especially in Scott Pilgrim.

Sophia Veraga looks hot and seeing Matthew Fox makes me really wish Lost was starting (also for a Speed Racer sequel).

I've only seen the pilot of US of Tara and wasn't enamored of it, though Cary heartily endorses it so I'll 'flix ot soon.

Hey it's Sheldon and his hair looks so delightfully puckish. The escort/presenter girl looks like a deer in the headlights.

Neil Patrick Harris is sitting right behind Mickey Rourke I really hope a project for some sort of project with these soon.

Wooot Lithgowpalooza! Though come on it should've been NPH. I am eager to catch up on Dexter and see what is supposed to be an amazing season.

Paul McCartney comes out to Yellow Submarine? Why? Cause it's raining in L.A.? Bizzare. "As I'm now known, that guy from rock band" is pretty damn funny. "Animation is not just for children, it's also for adults who take drugs."

Normally when animated films are nominated alongside a Pixar film they're pretty much also-rans but every single nominee was pretty damn great. Way to step up the game people. But of course there can be only one and I cried a lot during Up.

Bad form cutting off Pete Docter, he was giving a great speech.

Kate Hudson sure looks pretty shame she hasn't been in anything good (or good in anything) since Almost Famous.

Two of my favorite stage/tv combos. Jane Krakowski and NPH. I liked that you could clearly hear Alec Baldwin laughing.

John Hamm with a beard. He makes it work. Is it for a project or just cause he likes it?

How weird is it that Michael C. Hall is married to his show sister?

Every time I think to myself mehhhh Julianna Marguiles I remember she was the main flight attendant in Snakes on a Plane and all is right with the world.

It's fitting that Harrison Ford in introducing Up In the Air in that he's become filmic excess baggage.

It must be weird for Christina Aguilerra to walk next to Cher and see her horrid future.

Fuck I hate this dumb-ass Cinema Italiano song. Fuck I hate that stupid Avatar song.

Agh, really need to see Crazy Heart. And White Ribbon. And Sherlock Holmes. I will soon, promise. T. Bone Burnett is a pretty staggering musical talent though.

There were many deserving nominess for score, Horner's Avatar was not one of them. Michael Giachinco is well on his way to being the next young John Williams.

Amy Adams, love it, love everything about it. Very pregnant.

Hey apparently Tom Hanks is on twitter now and instead of saying "thanks" he says "hanx."

Stanley Tucci, awesome reaction,. I LIKE that guy. Hey readers, go watch the Impostors oh and Big Night.

You know when Colin Farrel says "Oh, once I was a cliche" I kind of almost sort of feel for him. Cause seriously the man has been stepping up his acting game considerably since In Bruges.

Sorry to get all girly on everyone but Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia is rather delightful. Actually maybe my favorite perf of the nominees. You know I don't think she needs to be in movies with these young ingenues, she really is strong enough to hold and lead a film all by herself.

Oop getting a little long and preachy.

Ugh why is George Lucas right up front. WHYYYYY?!?!

I'm pretty sure Dame Helen Mirren just quoted Ron Shortsweather.

Sam Worthington, god help us all, THIS is a movie star? I'll take Chris Pine thank you very much. Give me somebody who at least looks like he's having fun.

How come Kevin Bacon won't do Footloose type movies anymore. The people want to see you DANCE Kevin!

A fun Drew Barrymore drinking game. Shots whenever she says "love", "flowers", "yes" and "spirit."

Hey remember when Cameron Diaz looked like a human? Ironically it was in The Mask.

Fuck first-world white people problems.

"This next category is a bit of a downer. It's for writing." And of course they don't cut to a SINGLE writer.

Oh Jennifer Anniston and Gerard Butler, if there was an award for movie pairing that would ensure I would never watch it, you'd win it.

Oh wait, not so fast Jennifer Garner and Ashton Kutcher may have upset that last couple.

I like that QT is sitting next to Eli Roth. Would love to hear their conversation.

Oh Jason Riteman and Sheldon Turner, you wrote a movie. Yes Jason, we're ALL waiting for them to say QT's name.

Maggie Gyllenhaal, you're not getting introduced and this shit is RANDOM. Also you look like Skeletor. Actresses EAT SOMETHING!

I wrestled with making a very mean Precious joke after that last line.

Soon to be seen as Nick Furty in Iron Man 2...FUCK YEAH!

God damn I love evvvvvverything about Inglourious Basterds.

Sometimes I think that all the Sophia Loen hububb is cause she still looks good for her age.

It's kind of odd that the HFPA doesn't put more emphasis on foreign films, given that it's, y'know, the foreign press.

Hehe Michael Haneke hates you all. Other than Werner Herzog or Lars Von Trier I can't think of a director who seems like he belongs less at an excessive awards show.

Wait a minute Barrymore gets twenty minutes to blather on and they can't give Haneke one minute?

Mad Men is full of win. Rightfully so. Christina Hendricks-most beautiful woman in the world. Great actress too, a fact that is all too often overlooked.

Hey kids, Taylor Lautner, please watch our show. Ugh desperation is a stinky cologne.

How great is Jane Lynch? The answer is very. Alas, no award. Very disappointing.

I feel like Ben Chinn always has a really good story on hand about Chloe Sevigny.

FUCK YEAH CHRISTOPH WALTZ! YES YES YES! Just think a year ago nobody knew this guy and now he is just killing it. Cute and grateful speech. I await the one at the Oscar.

Scorsese montage. Greatness personified:


The opening joke would've been great if Bob (I get to call him that) hadn't botched his first line. The follow-up joke about sex with film was funny, then got weird and then remedied by the cut to a super drunk Brendan Fraser who found the whole thing HILARIOUS.

Lovely sweet words from DiCaprio and Scorsese looks genuinely humbled.

Fuuuuck so many good movies. I need to watch Last Temptation of Christ and Gangs of New York and Kings of Comedy and Age of Innocence all again REALLY soon. Shutter Island can't get here soon enough.

Wow. The only real legit thing that was missing was his appearance in The Muse "He's angry, but he's thin."

I love that he takes every moment to talk about the great films and filmmakers of the past. Beautiful.

Holy shit that Mel Gibson joke almost justifies the whole thing.

QT or Team Bigelow VERY deserving. Unfortunately this award decided to eat a bullshit sandwich. Oooo Jaso Riteman looks pissy.

Holy crap do James Cameron and Mel Gibson ACTUALLY live next door to each other. Where do they live? Douchebag Gated Community?

So I see we didn't learn anything from quoting from your stupid script a decade ago. Ugh no Na'vi speak

In a weak year for 30 Rock and an ok year for the Office I'm glad Glee won. Though I wouldn't have minded if Modern Family took it. Ahem, FUCK Entourage. Maybe Park and Rec next year?

Haha, so no Galifinakas? Given all the ribbons I like to imagine that this is to support Justin Bartha for being in Gigli.

Oh yeah, Reese Witherspoon, I forget about you.

I see were being populist with winners. Pssh The Hangover. Don't get me wrong, very entertaining movie but over say, In the Loop? No way.

Da Governor GAHAGAHBSHAHGAHGAHGAHAKHA... Avadah!

I like that Elektra, Bullseye, Nick Fury and Whiplash have all presented awards.

Oh man Carey Mulligan was so good in An Education. More love please. None of this Sandra Bullock nonsense come Oscar time. I do like that Sandra Bullock gave a shoutout to Maker's Mark. I'd be happy to endorse this fine liqueur on the blog.

Sally Hawkins, we got over you fast.

Gah, really need to see Sherlock Holmes, maybe tomorrow after work. I really like everyone in this category but man does Daniel Day-Lewis have no business winning (first and last time I'll be saying that, promise). At least we get a Downey speech. Always good.

Heh. Most fun speech. You go Tony Stark.

Kate Winslet; beautiful, talented, charming.
Frankly a very worthy set of nominees. Still need to see Crazy Heart. Gah. That being said if he weren't there I'd want it to go to Firth who is PHENOMENAL in A Single Man.

Got to love that the bulk of the Iron Man cast has won awards. How do you not like Jeff Bridges? He's the Dude. No literally, the Dude.

Ugh Julia Roberts. Ughhhhhh.

Again Hurt Locker or Basterds are THE movies of this blog.

And again they're DENIED! Heh now QT looks pissed.

"Give it up for yourselves"? Fuck you times a million.

Goodnight everyone. Gervais was lovely but didn't do much. Yay for Waltz and Bridges and Downey Jr and the Scorsese Tribute and Glee. Boo the rest.

Reacting to the Nom Nom Noms

Ah yes, the Hollywood Foreign Press. Once every year the poke their heads out of a hole and try to predict whether we're bound to several more months of winter (or something like that).

No, actually its time for my Golden Globe nomination reactions.

First off I am very excited that Ricky Gervais is hosting as a Gervais appearance is inevitably a (if not THE) highlight of any given awards program he appears on.

As for the nominees themselves:

Best Motion Picture - Drama

Nominees:

Avatar (2009)

The Hurt Locker (2008)

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009)

Up in the Air (2009/I)

Interesting mix. I was expecting to see A Serious Man, A Single Man and Invictus in place of Avatar, Hurt Locker and Basterds. I really have no idea whether Avatar is just a "well it seems like it ought to be on here vote" or not. I don't see foreign votes connecting with the life of an obese, illiterate, inner-city youth no matter how well made the movie was. Its UITA's to lose. However, Basterds could pull an upset as it casts a wide international net.

Should Win: Basterds or Locker

Will Win: Up In The Air (and Offer will be one step closer to owing me 5 bucks).

Snub(s): A Serious Man, A Single Man, Bright Star, Where the Wild Things Are

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Nominees:

(500) Days of Summer (2009)

The Hangover (2009)

It's Complicated (2009)

Julie & Julia (2009)

Nine (2009)

It still bugs me that these two categories are combined. Oh well. It really burns my hash that something like It's Complicated makes the cut because Nancy Meyers and her beige sweater movies ALWAYS do. I'd kind of love to see a Hangover win if only because it's such perfect alchemy to make such a big, dumb, successful comedy that connects with so many people. Also psyched to see (500) Days of Summer so high even though as I get further away from the film its more twee elements become increasingly pronounced. Nine wins because its the most awards bait-y. Still Frank seems to have given it the stamp of approval and he is the Fellini/Nine expert. Should win: I don't know

Will win: Nine

Snubs: In the Loop, The Informant!, Zombieland, The Brothers Bloom, Adventureland,

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Nominees:

Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart (2009)

George Clooney for Up in the Air (2009/I)

Colin Firth for A Single Man (2009)

Morgan Freeman for Invictus (2009)

Tobey Maguire for Brothers (2009/I)

Very surprised to see Maguire on here (though the reviews I read of the film consistently singled him out). Haven't seen A Single Man or Crazy Heart yet but they're both likely to feature showier work than Clooney (Bridges especially has the age to get a "lifetime achievement" style award here so I'll say...

Should Win: Clooney

Will Win: Bridges

Snubs: Where's Jeremy Renner? He anchors an extremely riveting and well crafted film and helps put it over the top. It was never going to happen but Sam Rockwell in Moon would be nice too.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Nominees:

Emily Blunt for The Young Victoria (2009)

Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side (2009)

Helen Mirren for The Last Station (2009)

Carey Mulligan for An Education (2009)

Gabourey 'Gabby' Sidibe for Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009)

As far as I'm concerned the category begins and ends with Mulligan. Again, unless the foreign press connects with Precious which I don't think they will. Hadn't even heard of the Mirren and Blunt films before today and while I dig both they're going to need way more traction.

Should Win: Mulligan

Will Win:Mulligan

Snubs: Tilda Swinton in Julia is caustic and brilliant. Unfortunate snubbing there. Same goes for Abbie Cornish in Bright Star who prevents her character from sliding into cloying/obnoxious territory many times. Sorry not to see Melanie Laurent's Shoshana in here as she is quite striking in her transformation from victim to vengeance seeker in Basterds.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Nominees:

Matt Damon for The Informant! (2009)

Daniel Day-Lewis for Nine (2009)

Robert Downey Jr. for Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt for (500) Days of Summer (2009)

Michael Stuhlbarg for A Serious Man (2009)

Cool list and makes me very excited to see Sherlock Holmes. The hardest worker here is I think Damon, though JGL is no slouch either. Stuhlbarg makes such a great debut, eh's like a more mainstream, less caricatured David Paymer.

Should win: Stahlberg or Damon

Will Win: Damon

Snubs: The huge snub here is Peter Capaldi in In the Loop and were he in the category he'd punch everyone in the kidneys. Oh and let me throw this at you; Adam Sandler in Funny People. Yeah, how do you like that?

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Nominees:

Sandra Bullock for The Proposal (2009/I)

Marion Cotillard for Nine (2009)

Julia Roberts for Duplicity (2009)

Meryl Streep for It's Complicated (2009)

Meryl Streep for Julie & Julia (2009)

Bullock? Really? Roberts is actually quite fun in Duplicity. I heard from Frank that Cotillard steals Nine (no mean feet considering who she's surrounded by). Streep is always great but I feel like voters may be getting tired of her, plus being slotted in twice divides her base.

Should Win: Cotillard

Will Win: Streep (oh who am I kidding)

Snubs: You know who gave a simple but funny and lovely performance? Maya Rudolph in Away We Go.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Nominees:

Matt Damon for Invictus (2009)

Woody Harrelson for The Messenger (2009/I)

Christopher Plummer for The Last Station (2009)

Stanley Tucci for The Lovely Bones (2009)

Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Ooooo good category. But this is such a no-brainer, frankly " It's a BINGO!"

Should Win: Waltz

Will Win: Waltz

Snubbed: Even though its all Waltz I'd love to see him competing against Alfred Molina's work in An Education or Christian McKay doing what I thought only Maurice La Marche could do (a credible Orson Welles impression).

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Nominees:

Penélope Cruz for Nine (2009)

Vera Farmiga for Up in the Air (2009/I)

Anna Kendrick for Up in the Air (2009/I)

Mo'Nique for Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009)

Julianne Moore for A Single Man (2009)

Maybe the toughest acting race to call outside of Best Actor. You've got the universally praised Mo'nique (who didn't really show herself as dramatic heavyweight in Phat Girlz, Beerfest and a billion seasons of The Parkers), the pair of great perfs in UITA. Then there's critical darlings Moore and Cruz (Cruz is especially favored by HFP). So what to do?

Should Win: Farmiga, she really emerges as a bonnafide leading lady here and has the best chemistry I've ever seen Clooney have with another woman in a film ever.

Will Win: Mo'nique, I don't see them bucking the trend. Good for her if she does by the way.

Snubs: Rachel Weisz revealed ample comedic chops in Brothers Bloom and was a frequent highlight that should not be overlooked. Even though she's only in it for a moment Emma Thompson just destroys in her scenes in An Eduaction.

Best Director - Motion Picture

Nominees:

Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker (2008)

James Cameron for Avatar (2009)

Clint Eastwood for Invictus (2009)

Jason Reitman for Up in the Air (2009/I)

Quentin Tarantino for Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Intriguing line-up with a lot of fun stories behind each. There's Reitman's riches to riches story, the once married couple now in competition and coming out of nowhere the two grizzled vets. I'll be happy with whoever wins (unless its Eastwood or Cameron).

Snubs: Lee Daniels looks like he's done producing with the very solid directing of his actors in Precious. Rob Marshall makes directing a musical look easy on film. For this he should definitely get SOME sort of award. Lone Scherfig was an unknown to me but she does powerful work with what could be stage-bound material in An Education. Spike Jonze and the Coens also delievered amazing work that would not get nearly as far with their careful hands.

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

Nominees:

District 9 (2009): Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell

The Hurt Locker (2008): Mark Boal

Inglourious Basterds (2009): Quentin Tarantino

It's Complicated (2009): Nancy Meyers

Up in the Air (2009/I): Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner

Interesting mix but Meyers has no place in there. Let me also surprise my constituency and say that maybe District 9 shouldn't be there either. Of the remaining three I can see Up In the Air taking it because the script supports the material and builds its characters well. Basterds on the other hand is bold but even I'll admit its a very indulgent bit of writing.

Should Win: Basterds

Will Win: Up in the Air

Snubbed: The smartest script that arrived this year was Armando Ianucci's In the Loop, followed by the Pixar team's Up. Kind of surprised that the Coen's aren't here either.

Best Original Song - Motion Picture

Nominees:

Avatar (2009): James Horner, Simon Franglen, Kuk Harrell("I Will See You")

Brothers (2009/I): U2, Bono("Winter")

Crazy Heart (2009): T-Bone Burnett, Ryan Bingham("The Weary Kind")

Everybody's Fine (2009): Paul McCartney("(I Want To) Come Home")

Nine (2009): Maury Yeston("Cinema Italiano")

Haven't really heard these yet though I'm looking forward to Crazy Heart and Cinema Italiano.

Should Win: Crazy Heart

Will Win: Cinema Italiano

Snubs: Where's The Princess and the Frog offerings?

Best Original Score - Motion Picture

Nominees:

Avatar (2009): James Horner

The Informant! (2009): Marvin Hamlisch

A Single Man (2009): Abel Korzeniowski

Up (2009): Michael Giacchino

Where the Wild Things Are (2009): Carter Burwell, Karen Orzolek

Maybe the best mix of genres represented anywhere.

Should Win: The Informant! Wild and surprising and funny and critical to the film's silly tone.

Will Win: Up. No slouch either.

Snubs: Alexander Desplatt gets better with each new score and his work in Fantastic Mr. Fox is no exception.

Best Animated Film

Nominees:

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)

Coraline (2009)

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

The Princess and the Frog (2009)

Up (2009)

Very exciting to see so many legitimate contenders this year. But come on, who is better than Pixar?

Should Win: Up

Will Win: Up

Snubs: A Town Called Panic is supposed to be phenomenal though I'm yet to see it.

Best Foreign Language Film

Nominees:

Los abrazos rotos (2009)

Baarìa (2009)

Das weisse Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte (2009)

La nana (2009)

Un prophète (2009)

Interesting mix of stuff here.

Should Win: White Ribbon. Haneke's new masterpiece?

Will Win:Broken Embraces. HFPA loooooves Almodovar (rightly so).

Snubs: Thirst

I was originally going to do TV too but you know what, this is not the Sickness TV so forget it.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of...The Golden Globes

For SHAME Hollywood Foreign Press! For f'ing SHAME! I will be adding to this post later but with little exception I am MOST displeased. I think you can all guess what I'm PARTICULARLY upset about.

MARION COTILLARD OVER AMY ADAMS!

REALLY?!


REALLY?!

This:


Over This?:

What's that you say fictional Hollywood Super-Agent Ari Gold?

REALLY!?!

Updated with actual content (kind of):

The Good: Sweeney Todd's win may hopefully give it some award show traction which I wish to then turn into traction for a much deserved Burton nomination. But considering its opposition consisted of Across the (snicker) Universe its win is not so staggering, even in the face of the rising popularity of Juno.

Daniel Day-Lewis DRINKS YOUR MILKSHAKE Denzel.

Yay for Ratatouille a clear-cut much deserved win.

Julie Christie, again given the bracket, deserved the win. Same goes for Depp, considering the bracket. I'm not upset about Bardem's win but there were a lot of worthy nominees.

Good for Julian Schnabel as I do think the direction in Diving Bell was top-notch but potentially at the cost of Burton's nomination? I'm torn.

The Bad: MARION COTILLARD OVER AMY ADAMS! WTF!?!?!?!?!?!?!? I can't imagine her being beaten by a worse opponent oh my poor Amy. I hope this doesn't kill her traction. Hey you know who didn't do their own singing? Cotillard! You know who DID do their own singing? AMY ADAMS! You know who complained and bitched unconvincingly for two hours? Cotillard! You know who effectively portrayed a human incarnation of an animated princess discovering the perils and joys of being human? ADAMS!

I've started reading Atonement and it is a textured, wonderful novel but it only serves to underline how inconsistent the film was. Still, as was pointed out the best picture Globe winner is generally not an indicator of the winner (Babel anyone?).

Cate Blanchett's win is laziness, pure and simple. She's great but she's hardly earth-shaking. Swinton or Ryan would've been much worthier wins. Hell even Ronan would've given a good spee-never mind.

The mostly rote adaptation of No Country (Those lines everyone likes? All Cormac) over Juno, weak!

As much as I enjoy the soundtrack of Into the Wild (and I do) come on I defy you to tell me the lyrics of any Eddie Vedder song "Sabigsahhhhhh" Brilliance. Poor "That's How You Know."

Ugly: Spending an hour with Billy Bush and Nancy O'Dell. Awful. Thank god for beer, the great entertainment equalizer. And talking about winners and losers right after someone has won is all well and good when you're at home, but to do so during the ACTUAL broadcast. TACKY!