Golden Globe Nominations

The nominations are in, and as expected, there are many that you would expect, and some that are out of left field. Even more interesting (and probably not surprising) there are undeserved nominations and even some snubs from this year's somewhat unremarkable lineup of films.

Because of the shift to 10 best picture nominees for the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, which are routinely a warm-up with more basic categories and ultimately awards distributed, seems considerably more important in the prediction and dissemination of the big awards. That said, here is my prognostication for the early awards.

Best Picture, Drama - Avatar. The Cameron titanic will henceforth be known as his crowning achievement. It is the Lord of the Rings trilogy rolled into a revolutionary film making style that will usher in the 21st century a few years too late. Although two sequels are already planned, this is what will solidify lifetime achievement awards for Cameron. This is what the Phantom Menace was supposed to be. Prepare to be blown away. I have my tickets, you'd better get yours. Once released, the hype will confirm and the fans will flock. I boldly predict global box office domination well into March. This is guaranteed top 5 grossing films of all time, possibly giving Titanic a run for its money.

Best Picture, Musical or Comedy - The Hangover. Spot on casting and sharp writing, the Hangover is a modern comedy classic for the ages in the league of Caddyshack, Animal House, and Ghostbusters (Harold Ramis, anyone?). Nine is riding on the coat-tails of Chicago, and although the cast is impressive and Day-Lewis will carry it to success, both critically and financially, it won't be enough to match the brilliance of the Hangover. Piece of advice: even better the 2nd time around.

Best Director - James Cameron. No other film maker this year has put more of his heart, soul, and vision into an epic film. This shouldn't even be a contest, although I do concur with 4 of the nominations (although I haven't seen Precious yet). I am glad Tarantino is getting credit for his bold move with Inglourious Basterds.

Best Actor, Drama - George Clooney. Up in the Air. I like the Jeff Bridges buzz, he is an under-appreciated talent, but I see his role too similar to Rourke's the Wrestler last year. Clooney is in a higher profile film, and honestly, his performance was as good as Michael Clayton, and with the limited competition this year, he will win.

Best Actor, Comedy or Musical - Matt Damon. the Informant. His performance made this film what it was (no disrespect to Soderbergh). The weight gain, goofy mustache, and arrogant, yet ignorant character combined with a hilarious true story will give him the award that he most certainly deserves. Daniel Day-Lewis will come in a close second, and will probably earn an Oscar nomination while Damon will receive one for Invictus (see Winslet, 2009 - she was better in Revolutionary Road than the Reader, and won a supporting Golden Globe for the same movie she eventually won the Best Actress Oscar for).

Best Actress, Drama - Gabourey Sidibe. Precious. She stands out as the most visceral performance of the group. The role must have been gut-wrenching to play, and the competition is not of the highest caliber that it has been in years past.

Best Actress, Musical or Comedy - Meryl Streep. Julie and Julia. With 40% of the nominations in this category, Streep is the odds on favorite. As the greatest and most accomplished actress in the history of film, she improves her odds. Expect similar results at the Oscars.

Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz. Inglourious Basterds. Nevermind that he speaks four languages throughout the course of the film. He is a riveting and almost respectable Nazi Colonel dubbed "Jew Hunter" yet he manages to stand out as the star. Great movie - even better the second time around. Waltz is mesmerizing.

Best Supporting Actress - Anna Kendrick. Up in the Air. Better than Farminga, and Up in the Air is the most impressively acted film of the year. Maybe I'm biased because I don't like Julianne Moore or Penelope Cruz. Mo'Nique is the other option, and I don't think Precious will sweep the female awards.

Best Screenplay - Quentin Tarantino. Inglourious Basterds. His best since Pulp Fiction, and we all know how that one has withstood the test of time among cult classics. It was simply a risky move on a highly controversial subject that ended up as an entertaining tale with the most satisfying climax of any film this year. I expect nothing less from the man who has invented a genre.

Now for the main TV categories, without the exhaustive commentary.

Best Show, Drama - Dexter. Great writing, acting, and a guilty pleasure through and through.

Best Show, Comedy - Modern Family. The best new show on TV, supplants 30 Rock and the Office as the best comedy.

Best Actor, Drama - Michael C. Hall. Dexter. Hall has made a serial killer the coolest character on television. How can you argue that?

Best Actor, Comedy - Alec Baldwin. 30 Rock. He does deadpan comedy so well, and does so with such ease that would be a perennial shoe-in if not for that Carell character.

Best Actress, Drama - Kyra Sedgewick. Due to the lack of competition this year, and her longevity with the series, she wins.

Best Actress, Comedy - Tina Fey. 30 Rock. The perfect comedic yang to Baldwin's yin, and as one of the creative minds behind the humor, it adds to her viability.

Best Supporting Actor - John Lithgow. Dexter. Making this season one of the most exhilarating, Lithgow played the villain with such uncharacteristic creepiness. I can't look at him the same.

Best Supporting Actress - Jane Lynch. Glee. She is the equivalent of a comic Midas. Everything she touches is comedic gold.