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Film fanatic predicts Golden
Globe winners By Meryn Bandy The Golden Globe Awards have been called “Hollywood’s best party,” bringing together stars from film and television and allowing geniuses of both drama and comedy to shine separately. The Golden Globe Awards give actors like Jim Carrey a chance to become “the Tom Hanks of the Golden Globes” and honor outrageous dramatic performances, such as Geoffrey Rush’s over-the-top portrayal of the Marquis de Sade in “Quills.” The Golden Globe Awards are held at the end of every January by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). The HFPA, which represents newspapers and magazines from countries all over the world, formed during the heyday of the 1940s, when the world was deeply involved in World War II. It was during those tumultuous years that the film industry flourished both creatively and financially, as movie-going became a popular diversion from the tragedy of Pearl Harbor, the frightening awe of the atomic bomb, and the conflict overseas. The members of the HFPA screen some 250 domestic and foreign films, as well as prime time television shows and made-for-television motion pictures before awarding trophies to directors, writers and performers in categories such as best motion picture actor and best actress in a comedy series. The Golden Globes have traditionally been both a precursor to the Academy Awards and, often times, a predictor of who the winners will be in March. In the past decade alone, the Golden Globes have managed to predict seven out of 10 of the best picture and best actor winners and eight out of 10 of the best actress winners at the Academy Awards. Each year, one performer is also presented wit h the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award. Past recipients have included Walt Disney (1953), John Wayne (1966), Lucille Ball (1979), Sidney Poitier (1982) and, most recently, Barbra Streisand (2000). This year, Al Pacino will be honored for his unparalleled contributions in films from “The Godfather” (1972) to “Scent of a Woman” (1992) to “Any Given Sunday” (1999).
As with every year, a flurry of predictions for winners follows the announcement of nominees. Journalists, movie buffs, and film fans all try to get it right. As a journalist of sorts, a definite movie buff, and a loyal film fan, here are my personal predictions for the 58th Annual Golden Globe Awards:
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