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Playwright/screenwriter/director David Mamet once wrote the Oscars are the closest our society gets to royalty. Mamet, who’s been nominated for 1982’s "The Verdict" and 1998’s "Wag the Dog," is not far off. Every year a worldwide audience huddles around their TV sets to see who will take home the little gold man. Film freaks and casual observers alike are humbled by the decadent glamour that reminds the world that we still know how to throw a party. Early morning Jan. 31, the Oscar nominations will be announced and the frenzy will begin once again. Who will take home the statuettes this year? March 5, with Lawrenceville, N.J.’s, own Jon Stewart taking up the mantle of host for the first time, all will find out.
The Golden Globes, which aired Monday night, were once Oscar’s poorer cousin, but the award has come up in stature in recent years. Although it is by no means a foolproof gauge of Academy Award success, a Golden Globe nomination is fair indication Oscar might come calling. Where it gets a tricky are the Best Motion Picture and Best Acting categories. The Golden Globes have two separate categories, one for Drama and one for Musical or Comedy. This makes it a little harder to predict an Oscar nod because the field is doubled.
Without further hesitation, here are my picks for this year’s Oscar nominations:
Best Motion Picture
"Brokeback Mountain"
"Crash"
"Match Point"
"The Constant Gardener"
"Munich"
Other possibilities:
"King Kong"
"The Squid and the Whale"
"Walk the Line"
Golden Globes winner for Drama: "Brokeback Mountain"
Golden Globes winner for Comedy or Musical: "Walk the Line."
If there were any justice "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" would get noticed, but that’s about as likely as the Eagles going to the Super Bowl with Terrell Owens next year. The film with the most momentum seems to be "Brokeback Mountain" with several critics’ wins, including best film.
Best Performance By An Actor In a Leading Role
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Capote"
David Strathairn, "Good Night, and Good Luck"
Joaquin Phoenix, "Walk the Line"
Terrence Howard, "Hustle and Flow"
Heath Ledger, "Brokeback Mountain"
Other possibilities: Russell Crowe, "Cinderella Man;" Jeff Daniels, "The Squid and the Whale;" Nathan Lane, "The Producers;" Viggo Mortenson "A History of Violence;" Eric Bana, "Munich."
Golden Globes winner for Drama: Hoffman
Golden Globes winner for Comedy or Musical: Phoenix
This is probably the easiest category to handicap. Three performances have pretty much dominated the screens this year: Hoffman, Strathairn and Phoenix. Everyone else can take a number.
Best Performance By An Actress In a Leading Role
Felicity Huffman, "Transamerica"
Reese Witherspoon, "Walk the Line"
Judi Dench, "Mrs. Henderson Presents"
Laura Linney, "The Squid and the Whale"
Ziyi Zhang, "Memoirs of a Geisha"
Other possibilities: Toni Collette, "In Her Shoes;" Charlize Theron, "North Country;" Gwyneth Paltrow, "Proof;" Maria Bello, "A History of Violence;" Claire Danes, "Shopgirl."
Golden Globes winner for Drama: Huffman
Golden Globes winner for Comedy or Musical: Witherspoon
Unlike the Best Actor category, not one performance has stood out as a slam dunk. The closest to a dominating force would have to be Huffman, who has not only earned a Golden Globe, but several major critics’ awards.
