|
 "I haven't even seen 'The Tourist.' Who has? It must be good
because it's nominated," he deadpanned at the 2011 awards, his
last as host.
Those kinds of missteps may be a thing of the past for the
Globes' organizer, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association,
which has become a more respected arbiter in the Hollywood
awards season, which kicks off with Sunday's Globes and ends
with the Academy Awards on Feb. 22.
"There was a period a few years ago where it seemed like the
best thing for a movie in the Oscar race was to lose at the
Golden Globes," said Fandango's chief correspondent and awards
expert, Dave Karger.
Take the Coen Brothers thriller "No Country for Old Men" and
Kathryn Bigelow's war drama "The Hurt Locker," both of which
lost out on the Golden Globes best drama accolade but went on to
win the Best Picture Oscar in 2007 and 2008, respectively.
This year, surreal showbiz satire "Birdman" leads the film
nominees with seven nods in the comedy/musical film categories
while coming-of-age tale "Boyhood" has five nominations in the
drama film categories.
Both have been warmly received by critics, who have bestowed
numerous awards on them already, and both are hotly tipped as
Oscar front-runners when nominations are announced next week.
For the most part, this year's Golden Globe nominees have echoed
critical favorites, with "Birdman" star Michael Keaton expected
to win for best actor in a comedy/musical, JK Simmons tipped for
best supporting actor for "Whiplash," and Patricia Arquette to
take best supporting actress for "Boyhood."
'JAW DROPPERS AND UPSETS'
The Golden Globes are voted on by about 90 foreign journalists
who are members of the HFPA, with no overlap in the voting
bodies of the rest of the major Hollywood awards including the
Oscars, which are voted on by members of the film industry.
[to top of second column] |
 "The Hollywood Foreign Press is very aware of the fact that
they've been a punching bag to some highbrow critics over the
years and I think they're conscious of trying to change their
perception," Karger said.
In the last three years, Golden Globe winners appear to be extending
their success to the Oscars.
"The Globes are famous for jaw droppers and upsets that redefine the
Oscar race," said Tom O'Neil, founder of awards tracker Gold Derby.
"Boyhood" could be beaten by civil rights drama "Selma" or World War
Two biopic "The Imitation Game," O'Neil said, and Jennifer Aniston
could snatch best drama actress for "Cake" from overwhelming
favorite Julianne Moore for "Still Alice."
"The Golden Globe is really your Oscar audition if you're in the
race," O'Neil said. "If a star gives the performance of their life
up there at the podium, that can hand them the Oscar right there."
Both Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto delivered stirring speeches
when they won best actor and best supporting actor for "Dallas
Buyers Club" at the Golden Globes last year that some have said
helped lock in their subsequent Oscar wins.
In the television categories, the Golden Globes have earned a
reputation as an early taste-maker, this year favoring shows on
cable television and online steaming platforms over broadcast
stalwarts.
If Netflix's "House of Cards" wins best TV drama and "Orange is the
New Black" or Amazon Studios' "Transparent" wins best TV comedy, it
would be a "watershed moment," Karger said, defining a new era in
television.
(Editing by Mary Milliken and Leslie Adler)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
