2014 Golden Globes Recap

Alright ladies, you might as well start lining up to work with David O. Russell now. He once again produced a couple of acting winners with his Golden Globe winning American Hustle.

Here's a recap with a tiny bit of commentary to keep you interested.

Best Screenplay - Spike Jonze, Her. Totally deserving. Her was the most original film this year in a sea of biopics and sequels. Spike Jonze has proven once again that you can go against the grain in Hollywood, and with the help of Joaquin Phoenix, he created a truly beautiful love story. I hope he wins the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

Best Supporting Actress - Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle. She is definitely America's darling, and she has gotten some very choice roles over the past three years or so. Not that she was necessarily undeserving, but I think the awards voters have become a bit blinded by her recent celebrity. That said, she was great in her O. Russell roles, and will team with both Bradley Cooper and her Hunger Games director, Gary Ross in her next few films.

Best Supporting Actor - Jared Leto, Dallas Buyer's Club. Leto doesn't have significant screen time in DBC, but his role as a cross dressing man living with AIDS is heartbreaking and a welcome return to the screen for one of the more underrated actors around. Quirky like Depp, but extremely talented.

Best Actress - Comedy - Amy Adams, American Hustle. What more is there to say besides she's hitched her wagon to the right horse. Her performance was great, but I didn't necessarily see it taking her to the Oscars. She's young and has a long career in front of her, and is a fine actress, either in plunging necklines or not.

Best Actor - Comedy - Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street. The more I think about TWofWS, the more I was impressed by both DiCaprio and Hill. Leo gave what was probably the most thoughtful speech of the night, surrounded by actors and actresses who get on stage unprepared. It's an awards ceremony. You were nominated. Write a speech! DiCaprio won his second Golden Globe after a dozen or so nominations. Definitely a deserving award.

Best Actress - Drama - Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine. For the most "sure-thing" winner of the evening, I wasn't that impressed. Sure, it was great acting in a very particular role, but it was a well-written Woody Allen film. It might be blasphemy, but this was a weak category this year. Expect more of the Oscar nominees to come from the comedy or musical category than this one.

Best Actor - Drama - Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyer's Club. Deserving win, but very unexpected nonetheless. I was left feeling empty after seeing DBC, but I suppose that was the point. McConaughey was gaunt and passionate about his role, and it fit him perfectly with the Texas drawl. I'm not disappointed, but I wonder if the academy feels the same way.

Best Director - Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity. My most deserving pick of the season was Alfonso Cuaron for Best Director. The film was revolutionary and beautiful, and kudos to him for picking up the globe. You can pencil him in as winner at the Academy Awards as well. Very satisfying win.

Best Picture - Comedy, American Hustle. No surprise here. Russell's next movie is called Nailed, and Jake Gyllenhaal, Jessica Biel, James Marsden, and Catherine Keener should start clearing some mantle space. He is an awards magnet, and don't be surprised if American Hustle sneaks into legitimate Best Picture talks for the Oscars.

Best Picture - Drama, 12 Years a Slave. Best picture is an interesting category this year with no real clear winner. When you look at the ten films that were nominated, there are a handful who are legitimate contenders. I could see American Hustle gaining some traction over the next month and a half or so, but I'm still behind Captain Phillips. I wouldn't mind seeing one of the lesser-seen films like Her, Nebraska, or Inside Llewyn Davis get a little recognition, but that's unlikely. 12 Years a Slave is a virtual lock at this point as it's won 97 awards out of 130 nominations. Not bad for a single movie. Steve McQueen deserves it, he's a great new director. He's been making shorts since the early 90's, but this is only his 3rd feature film. I'm not disappointed if 12 Years wins, but I'm still pulling for Hanks and Phillips.