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2008 Golden Globe Nominees: “Atonement,” “Charlie Wilson’s War” Lead the List of Nominated Films

Dewey Cox

On December 13, 2007 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced their nominations for the 2008 Golden Globe Awards. For movie watchers, these awards have served as a good barometer for the Academy Award nominations, which will be announced in early 2008.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Motion Picture (Drama)

AMERICAN GANGSTER
ATONEMENT
EASTERN PROMISES
THE GREAT DEBATERS
MICHAEL CLAYTON
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
THERE WILL BE BLOOD

Denzel Washington has universal appeal and “American Gangster” leads a very strong field followed closely by “NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN,” which has overwhelming critical buzz.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama)

CATE BLANCHETT – ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE
JULIE CHRISTIE – AWAY FROM HER
JODIE FOSTER – THE BRAVE ONE
ANGELINA JOLIE – A MIGHTY HEART
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY – ATONEMENT

In the little-seen “The Brave One,” Jodie Foster gave one of her best performances as a woman changed forever by a brutal assault. Foster is the one to watch in this category.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama)

GEORGE CLOONEY – MICHAEL CLAYTON
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS – THERE WILL BE BLOOD
JAMES MCAVOY – ATONEMENT
VIGGO MORTENSEN – EASTERN PROMISES
DENZEL WASHINGTON – AMERICAN GANGSTER

Clooney had people talking about his performance in “Michael Clayton,” by Denzel Washington is almost stoppable as a real-life drug lord in “American Gangster.” I look for Washington to add a Golden Globe and another Oscar to his trophy case next year.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical)

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR
HAIRSPRAY
JUNO
SWEENEY TODD

Nikki Blonsky knocked my socks off with a voice that’s one-in-a-million in “Hairspray,” but no one can beat the Tim Burton/Johnny Depp team. “Sweeney Todd” will be the demon winner of this Golden Globe.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical)

AMY ADAMS – ENCHANTED
NIKKI BLONSKY – HAIRSPRAY
HELENA BONHAM CARTER – SWEENEY TODD
MARION COTILLARD – LA VIE EN ROSE
ELLEN PAGE – JUNO

My two sweethearts for 2008, Amy Adams and Nikki Blonsky, due battle in this category. Adams was truly enchanting, but Blonsky goes home with the award.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical)

JOHNNY DEPP – SWEENEY TODD
RYAN GOSLING – LARS AND THE REAL GIRL
TOM HANKS – CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN – THE SAVAGES
JOHN C. REILLY – WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY

During “Sweeney Todd,” when Johnny Depp sings a love ballad to his set of straight razors, it is truly the performance of his career and makes him the best bet to win the Golden Globe. Captain Jack Sparrow would be proud.

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2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Animated Feature Film

BEE MOVIE
RATATOUILLE
THE SIMPSONS MOVIE

Seinfeld had the buzz (literally) with “Bee Movie,” but “Ratatouille” has the charm and the heart to make it a winner; the last 20 minutes alone can bring tears to your eyes (Sorry about that, Homer).

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Foreign Language Film

4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS (ROMANIA)
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY (FRANCE AND USA)
THE KITE RUNNER (USA)
LUST, CAUTION (TAIWAN)
PERSEPOLIS (FRANCE)

Already controversial for one scene involving the assault of a child, the big screen adaptation of “The Kite Runner” is moving and powerful and leads the pack here.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

CATE BLANCHETT – I’M NOT THERE
JULIA ROBERTS – CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR
SAOIRSE RONAN -ATONEMENT
AMY RYAN – GONE BABY GONE
TILDA SWINTON – MICHAEL CLAYTON

Julia Roberts plays against type in the story of the redemption of a real-life congressman, which makes her the front-runner.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

CASEY AFFLECK – THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD
JAVIER BARDEM -NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN – CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR
JOHN TRAVOLTA – HAIRSPRAY
TOM WILKINSON – MICHAEL CLAYTON

Everybody went to see Travolta in a dress, but Tom Wilkinson, a superb character actor, is overdue for some recognition.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Director (Motion Picture)

TIM BURTON – SWEENEY TODD
ETHAN COEN & JOEL COEN – NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
JULIAN SCHNABEL – THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY
RIDLEY SCOTT – AMERICAN GANGSTER
JOE WRIGHT – ATONEMENT

No one but Tim Burton could make a musical about cannibalism palatable. He brings the popular Broadway musical to the screen in style and goes home with a Golden Globe and not a meat pie.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Screenplay (Motion Picture)

DIABLO CODY – JUNO
ETHAN COEN & JOEL COEN – NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
CHRISTOPHER HAMPTON – ATONEMENT
RONALD HARWOOD – THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY
AARON SORKIN – CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR

No one is better at Aaron Sorkin for writing scripts and he’ll be adding a Golden Globe to the mantle.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Original Score

MICHAEL BROOK, KAKI KING, EDDIE VEDDER – INTO THE WILD
CLINT EASTWOOD – GRACE IS GONE
ALBERTO IGLESIAS – THE KITE RUNNER
DARIO MARIANELLI – ATONEMENT
HOWARD SHORE – EASTERN PROMISES

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Alberto Iglesias adds a haunting soundtrack to the beautifully executed “Kite Runner,” but Clint Eastwood could spoil it for him.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Original Song

“DESPEDIDA” – LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA
“GRACE IS GONE” – GRACE IS GONE
“GUARANTEED” – INTO THE WILD
“THAT’S HOW YOU KNOW” – ENCHANTED
“WALK HARD” – WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY

I’m not ashamed to say I loved “Enchanted,” but I think the Hollywood Foreign Press may throw “Walk Hard” a bone in this category.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Television Series (Drama)

BIG LOVE (HBO)
DAMAGES (FX NETWORKS)
GREY’S ANATOMY (ABC)
HOUSE (FOX)
MAD MEN (AMC)
THE TUDORS (SHOWTIME)

The Tudors” square off against those advertising giants in the highly original “Mad Men.” When the cigarette smoke clears, “The Tudors” emerge victorious.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series (Drama)

PATRICIA ARQUETTE – MEDIUM
GLENN CLOSE – DAMAGES
MINNIE DRIVER – THE RICHES
EDIE FALCO – THE SOPRANOS
SALLY FIELD – BROTHERS & SISTERS
HOLLY HUNTER – SAVING GRACE
KYRA SEDGWICK – THE CLOSER

Glenn Close boils Holly Hunter’s bunny as Close walks away with the Golden Globe.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series (Drama)

MICHAEL C. HALL – DEXTER
JON HAMM – MAD MEN
HUGH LAURIE – HOUSE
JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS – THE TUDORS
BILL PAXTON – BIG LOVE

This one comes down to a battle between a crabby medical genius and royalty. Jonathan Rhys Meyers has the talent and the sex appeal to take home the gold.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Television Series (Comedy or Musical)

30 ROCK (NBC)
CALIFORNICATION (SHOWTIME)
ENTOURAGE (HBO)
EXTRAS (HBO)
PUSHING DAISIES (ABC)

A story about a good-hearted pie maker who can raise the dead with a simple touch of his finger, “Pushing Daisies” has quickly become a critical darling and a fan favorite, making it almost a sure bet to win in this category.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series (Comedy or Musical)

CHRISTINA APPLEGATE – SAMANTHA WHO?
AMERICA FERRERA – UGLY BETTY
TINA FEY – 30 ROCK
ANNA FRIEL – PUSHING DAISIES
MARY-LOUISE PARKER – WEEDS

Fans adore Christina Applegate as a woman who gets a second chance at life thanks to an auto accident, but my personal favorite is the sweet and charming Anna Friel from “Pushing Daisies.”

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series (Comedy or Musical)

ALEC BALDWIN – 30 ROCK
STEVE CARELL – THE OFFICE
DAVID DUCHOVNY – CALIFORNICATION
RICKY GERVAIS – EXTRAS
LEE PACE – PUSHING DAISIES

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With a blossoming movie career, Carell is a bit overexposed and Alec Baldwin has become quite comfortable on television, making him the likely winner of this category.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE (HBO)
THE COMPANY (TNT)
FIVE DAYS (HBO)
LONGFORD (HBO)
THE STATE WITHIN (BBC AMERICA)

A critical favorite, “Bury My Heart” certainly doesn’t bury it’s chances in this category.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD – AS YOU LIKE IT
DEBRA MESSING – THE STARTER WIFE
QUEEN LATIFAH – LIFE SUPPORT
SISSY SPACEK – PICTURES OF HOLLIS WOODS
RUTH WILSON – JANE EYRE (MASTERPIECE THEATRE)

Debra Messing is a charming but Queen Latifah can act circles around the competition. Look for the Queen to take home the Golden Globe.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

ADAM BEACH – BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED – KNEE
ERNEST BORGNINE – A GRANDPA FOR CHRISTMAS
JIM BROADBENT – LONGFORD
JASON ISAACS – THE STATE WITHIN
JAMES NESBITT – JEKYLL

Jim Broadbent, another truly fine character actor, gets the award in this category as long as Ernest Borgnine doesn’t cause an upset.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

ROSE BYRNE – DAMAGES
RACHEL GRIFFITHS – BROTHERS & SISTERS
KATHERINE HEIGL – GREY’S ANATOMY
SAMANTHA MORTON – LONGFORD
ANNA PAQUIN – BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED – KNEE
JAIME PRESSLY – MY NAME IS EARL

Katherine Heigl’s mother said she didn’t have a chance to win an Emmy (which she did), so let’s prove her mom wrong again with a Golden Globe. Jaime Pressly could be the spoiler in this category.

2008 Golden Globe Nominees for Best Performance by and Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made For Television

TED DANSON – DAMAGES
KEVIN DILLON – ENTOURAGE
JEREMY PIVEN – ENTOURAGE
ANDY SERKIS – LONGFORD
WILLIAM SHATNER – BOSTON LEGAL
DONALD SUTHERLAND – DIRTY SEXY MONEY

Sutherland was superb in the late great “Commander-in-Chief” and he could edge out William Shatner in this category.

The 2008 Golden Globes Award Ceremony will be broadcast live on Sunday, January 13, 2008 on NBC beginning at 8 p.m. EST.