Allow Me to Explain Myself ... and my Golden Globe Predictions

Alright, so I posted some of my favorites of the year...but as you could probably tell, the major list...as in my favorite films and actors has not been posted. The thing is I'm still attempting to catch up on some of the movies I missed out on over the course of the year...films that were released too limited to see, etc. My list will hopefully be up within the next week before we fall too far into 2007. But, before all of that the Golden Globe Awards are on tomorrow night (my favorite award show! drunk celebrities!!) Here they are...

Best Motion Picture – Drama
Will Win: The Departed
Should Win: The Departed
Should have been nominated: United 93

The Departed has been one of the only films to sustain buzz since its opening to the awards. With strong performances, direction, writing, editing, etc. there is no reason why it won't take the top prize. Little competition from the other films...Whose idea was it to nominate Bobby anyway? I would have liked to have seen Paul Greengrass's understated epic take a nomination, like the Departed it's a strong film filled with compelling performances and fantastic taut direction.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Will Win: Helen Mirren – The Queen
Should Win: Maggie Gyllenhaal – sherrybaby
Should have been nominated: Sienna Miller – Factory Girl

There is nobody in this category that will dethrone the queen. The award is well deserved for sure, it's Mirren's year but Maggie Gyllenhaal gave the performance of her budding career in sherrybaby. At least a nomination should draw some attention, but I would love to see her accept the statue. Sienna Miller, as Edie Sedgwick in Factory Girl lights up the screen. She's a young ingenue proving some serious acting chops here, a nomination would have been great but this was a tough race to break into.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Will Win: Forest Whitaker – The Last King of Scotland
Should Win: Leonardo DiCaprio – Blood Diamond or The Departed
Should have been nominated: Ryan Gosling – Half Nelson

Whitaker is a given like Mirrent above but I would have liked to see James McAvoy, whose performance is a perfect balance to Whitaker's over the top portrayal of Amin, earn a nod in the supporting. Whitaker is great but DiCaprio is the best actor of the year with two amazing performances. Gosling was robbed...plain and simple!

Best Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
Will Win: Dreamgirls
Should Win: Little Miss Sunshine
Should have been nominated: A Prairie Home Companion

It's an obvious choice here but I would love to see the biggest little indie in years take the prize. Dreamgirls is fine but a little overhyped. My choice for best musical of the year is A Prairie Home Companion, brilliantly subtle and full of feeling.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Will Win: Meryl Streep – The Devil Wears Prada
Should Win: Toni Collette – Little Miss Sunshine
Should have been nominated: Abigail Breslin – Little Miss Sunshine

Meryl Streep is fantastic, as always, so I would be happy to see her walk away with it. But I'm in love with Toni Collette in Little Miss Sunshine...more in love with Breslin, though, absolutely robbed in this category. Fingers crossed for an Oscar.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
Will Win: Sacha Cohen – Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan
Should Win: Sacha Cohen – Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Should have been nominated: Greg Kinnear – Little Miss Sunshine

It's Cohen for sure! I look forward to his acceptance speech.

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Will Win: Jennifer Hudson – Dreamgirls
Should Win: Cate Blanchett – Notes On A Scandal
Should have been nominated: Shareeka Epps – Half Nelson

The trouble here is whether or not you give the award to the best supporting actress of the year or the best supporting singer of the year. I know that's not entirely fair...because Hudson is compelling even when not belting one out, but Blanchett is amazing as a teacher involved in the most bizzare love triangle in Notes on a Scandal. I have a feeling the Globes...known for picking the young upstart (see Keri Russell, Jennifer Garner) over the seasoned vet...will go with Hudson. If they were really looking for the upstart, they would have nominated Shareeka Epps who is brilliant in Half Nelson.

Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Will Win: Eddie Murphy – Dreamgirls
Should Win: Mark Wahlberg – The Departed
Should have been nominated: James McAvoy – The Last King of Scotland

Tough calls here. I think they will opt for Eddie, but Wahlberg is a foil. He shines in The Departed stealing nearly every scene he is in. I think, with some recent critic awards, he may have a shot at a win. McAvoy deserves a nod, fingers crossed for an Oscar, he carries the emotional weight of The Last King of Scotland.

Best Animated Feature Film
Will Win: Happy Feet
Should Win: Happy Feet
Should have been nominated: A Scanner Darkly

Cars perhaps. I've honestly not seen it, but I love to watch Pixar squirm. Hello, A Scanner Darkly, way more compelling than any of these kid flicks.

Best Foreign Languge Film
Will Win: Letters From Iwo Jima
Should Win: Pan’s Labyrinth
Should have been nominated: Curse of the Golden Flower

My plan is to see Iwo Jima next weekend, when it is released on a larger scale, but I feel like it will take it without a problem. Pan's Labyrinth is one of my favorites of 2006 and deserves the win if for nothing else than Del Toro's masterful direction and writing and the pain and stress put into making the film possible.

Best Director - Motion Picture
Will Win: Martin Scorsese – The Departed
Should Win: Martin Scorsese – The Departed
Should have been nominated: Pedro Almodovar – Volver

It's too obvious.

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Will Win: The Queen – Peter Morgan
Should Win: Little Children – Todd Field, Tom Perrotta
Should have been nominated: Brick – Rian Johnson

Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Will Win: Babel – Gustavo Santaolalla
Should Win: Babel – Gustavo Santaolalla
Should have been nominated: Notes On A Scandal – Philip Glass

Best Original Song - Motion Picture
Will Win: “Listen” – Dreamgirls
Should Win: “Listen” – Dreamgirls
Should have been nominated: “Neighbor” – Shut Up and Sing

Best Television Series - Drama
Will Win: Grey’s Anatomy
Should Win: 24
Should have been nominated: Prison Break

Ugh. If Grey's wins I'll be so pissed. It was 24's best season yet COME ON! I know Prison Break secured a nod last year and deserved one this year for maintaining the thrill and fun of the first season.

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama
Will Win: Edie Falco – The Sopranos
Should Win: Edie Falco – The Sopranos
Should have been nominated: Kristen Bell – Veronica Mars

It's Edie's year here, dealing with the nearly fatal gunshot wounds to Tony, and she will take it without a challenge. When will the awards recognize the brilliance of Bell in Veronica Mars? Not soon enough considering this is likely the show's last season.

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama
Will Win: Michael C. Hall – Dexter
Should Win: Michael C. Hall – Dexter
Should have been nominated: Matthew Perry – Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

Hall blew me away as Dexter and I would like to see the young show awarded. Another young show, at risk of cancellation is Studio 60, which is one of the best shows on network television. All the performances deserve nods, but Perry especially as the stressed out lead writer of a late night sketch comedy show.

Best Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Will Win: The Office
Should Win: Entourage
Should have been nominated: Scrubs

Please let Entourage take it...please!

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Will Win: America Ferrera – Ugly Betty
Should Win: Mary-Louise Parker – Weeds
Should have been nominated: Tina Fey – 30 Rock

America will take it (again see Hudson or Keri Russell or Jennifer Garner) but Parker making a repeat upstaging would be fantastic. Where is the love for Tina Fey, without her Alec Baldwin would be nothing.

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Will Win: Steve Carell – The Office
Should Win: Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock
Should have been nominated: John Krasinski – The Office

Come on Baldwin! Will Krasinski ever get recognized? He's the best part of the Office right now.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Will Win: Katherine Heigl – Grey’s Anatomy
Should Win: Sarah Paulson – Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Should have been nominated: Melinda Clarke – The O.C.


Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Will Win: Masi Oka – Heroes
Should Win: Jeremy Piven – Entourage
Should have been nominated: Robert Knepper – Prison Break