(This may or may not post. Great timing for a software glitch. Thanks GoDaddy!)

Here are the stars from two shows that aren’t nominated! They must love presenting.

Ok, Rumer Willis. No comment.

Best Supporting Actor, Series/Miniseries, etc.:
NPH, HIMYM (acronyms are so ’09)
D Leary
J Piven (Mercury Boy)
Blair Underwood
T Wilkinson

Winner: Tom Wilkinson. I should have known; Lisa said “of course he’s going to win.” I’m opinionated but rarely right.

So far, Brits: 2, Americans: 1.

Is he drunk already?

Will this be another John Adams sweep tonight?

Best Supporting Actress, Series/Miniseries blah blah blah:
E Atkins
L Dern
M George (NOT enjoying her on Greys)
R Griffiths (my choice)
D Wiest

Winner: Laura Dern

Well, she was amazing as the crazy voting lady.

Sidenote: I went to college with Ben Harper’s brothers. Very nice and sweet. His grandparents ran an amazing music store in Claremont, CA.

…back in a minute.

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Watching the entertainment reporters talk to the stars on the red carpet is excruciating, especially when they ask about nominations that don’t exist. Seriously, DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

I watched the ‘pre-game’ show, and I only have one thing to say: WOW, Kate Winslet. That is all.

I’ve been to that ballroom! This is the fun awards show; stars are getting sloshed.

Hi, JLo. What’s relevant with you? Nice to see

Best Supporting Actress: Film
Amy Adams
P Cruz
Viola Davis
M Tomei
Kate Winslet

WINNER: Kate Winslet!!! YES. Thank you.

Well the evening has started off right. Of course I haven’t seen any of the films these women were nominated for (yet), but obviously I am an unabashed Winslet fan.

Has she ever looked better?

Oh look, Sting – who is NOT nominated (tsk tsk, NBC).

Best Original Song: Film
P Gabriel (Wall E)
J Cullum (Gran Torino)
M Cyrus (Bolt)…I just threw up a little
Beyonce (Cadillac Records)
B Springsteen (The Wrestler)

WINNER: Springsteen

Who can beat The Boss? No one. Even if the competition was Best Apple Pie.

Mickey Rourke flat out scares me. And I’ve lived in Oakland.

(pause for posting during commercials; will post during every commercial break. thanks for tuning in!)

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There are myriad year-end lists published every December; here is my (J)opinion about the Best of 2008.

STELLAR PERFORMANCES

Glenn Close, Damages

Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man & Tropic Thunder

Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Mary Louise Parker, Weeds

Sean Penn, Milk

Jimmy Smits, Dexter

Rutina Wesley, True Blood

The women of Mad Men

FAVORITE FILMS

The Dark Knight

Iron Man

Milk

Slumdog Millionaire

Wall E

TOP TELEVISION

30 Rock

Dexter

Mad Men

Lost
 
NEW SHOWS

Fringe

The Middleman

True Blood

POLITICS & POP CULTURE

Even better than the real thing: Tina Fey as Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live.

Hallelujah. Change has never looked better.

With the passage of Proposition 8 in California, the wedded bliss that Ellen & Portia and 18,000 other happy couples share may be revoked.  Our plans to get married are now on hold as well. Disappointment doesn’t begin to cover how I feel.
 
MUSIC: ALBUMS

Coldplay: Viva La Vida

Death Cab for Cutie: Narrow Stairs

Killers: Day and Age

Pink: Funhouse

Kanye West: 808s & Heartbreak

MUSIC: SINGLES

Ben Folds w/Regina Spector: “You Don’t Know Me”

The Bravery: “Believe” & “Time Won’t Let Me Go” (tie)

Kaiser Chiefs: “Never Miss a Beat”

Kings of Leon: “Sex on Fire”

I’m sure that there are shows, films and songs I’m forgetting, so let’s blame the holiday food coma.

I hope that you enjoyed a fabulous holiday, and Happy New Year to all!

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I wanted to provide a quick review of Slumdog Millionaire before the holidays, because I think this movie deserves a wider audience and I highly recommend it.

There have been very few films in the last few years as equally heartbreaking and heartwarming. It is beautifully filmed and edited, accompanied by a fantastic soundtrack.  Colorful and compelling, Slumdog Millionaire weaves us through one young man’s life in a series of very seamless and clever flashbacks while he is on the verge of winning the Indian equivalent of one million dollars on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

Director Danny Boyle (28 Days Later), who has already been recognized with a Golden Globe nod for helming this film, definitely deserves an Oscar nomination as well.

Slumdog Millionaire is very impressive from start to finish; led by a talented and relatively unknown cast (at least in the U.S.), it is a fascinating story with a great script, enhanced by superb cinematography. It is now my second choice in the Best Picture category this year, along with Milk.

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After reexamining the Golden Globe nominations, I realized that there are a ridiculous number of potentially great films coming out in the next month which I would love to see, as well as a few I should have by now. I will probably wind seeing most after New Year’s but before the Academy Awards.

Here are those which top my must-see list:

1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Doubt
3. Frost/Nixon
4. Gran Torino
5. Rachel Getting Married
6. The Reader
7. Revolutionary Road
8. Seven Pounds
9. Slumdog Millionaire
10. The Spirit
11. The Wrestler

Thus far, the only Oscar-worthy movies I’ve seen this year are The Dark Knight, Milk and Wall E. I am on the fence about Changeling, although I do think that Clint Eastwood is one hell of a director.

For those of you who share my interest in the major film awards, I highly recommend that you visit and bookmark The Envelope, the LA Times’ extensive awards buzz blog.
 
Am I forgetting any pending releases?

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I would like to start by stating that at least in my eyes, the Golden Globes are not as significant as the Emmys are for television and Oscars are for film. It is worth noting that the foreign press are the voting committee for the Globes, whereas those who create the films are the ones who determine the Academy Award nominations.

Every year around this time I tend to bemoan many of the major award nominations, and the 2008 Golden Globe nods are no exception. I find the separation of the film and acting categories (drama and comedy or musical) to be odd and unnecessary.

I have not had the opportunity to see many of the films yet, as most have only debuted in limited release. Those with an asterisk denote my personal choice in each category; who I want to win vs. who I think will win.

FILM

BEST PICTURE: DRAMA

• 
  The Curious Case of Benjamin Button *
  
• 
  Frost/Nixon
• 
  The Reader
• 
  Revolutionary Road
• 
  Slumdog Millionaire

I have not seen any of these yet and find it infuriating that Milk is not included.

BEST DIRECTOR

• 
  Danny Boyle: Slumdog Millionaire
• 
  Stephen Daldry: The Reader
• 
  David Fincher Button: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button *
  
• 
  Ron Howard: Frost/Nixon
• 
  Sam Mendes: Revolutionary Road

My top choice is Gus Van Sant (for Milk), and he was not nominated. I simply do not understand this omission either.

ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE: DRAMA

• 
  Anne Hathaway: Rachel Getting Married
• 
  Angelina Jolie: Changeling
• 
  Meryl Streep: Doubt
• 
  Kristin Scott Thomas: I’ve Loved You So Long
• 
  Kate Winslet: Revolutionary Road *

This is her year. That Winslet is nominated in both acting categories for two films gives me great hope that the same may hold true for the Oscars, and she might finally make it to the podium this time.

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

• 
  Amy Adams: Doubt
• 
  Penelope Cruz: Vicky Cristina Barcelona
• 
  Viola Davis: Doubt
• 
  Marisa Tomei: The Wrestler
• 
  Kate Winslet: The Reader *

I have heard the buzz around Tomei’s and Davis’ performances, so I wouldn’t be surprised if either won.

ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE: DRAMA

• 
  Leonardo Dicaprio: Revolutionary Road
• 
  Franky Langella: Frost/Nixon
• 
  Sean Penn: Milk *
• 
  Brad Pitt: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• 
  Mickey Rourke: The Wrestler

Slam dunk.

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

• 
  Tom Cruise: Tropic Thunder
• 
  Robert Downey Jr.: Tropic Thunder
• 
  Ralph Fiennes: The Duchess
• 
  Philip Seymour Hoffman: Doubt
• 
  Heath Ledger: The Dark Knight *

An obvious and deserving choice. I was slightly amused by Cruise’s performance, but by no means does he belong among this company and in category.

BEST PICTURE: COMEDY OR MUSICAL

• 
  Burn After Reading
• 
  Happy-Go-Lucky
• 
  In Bruges
• 
  Mamma Mia! *
• 
  Vicky Cristina Barcelona

I was not very impressed with Burn After Reading and could not get through In Bruges. None of these will make the cut with regard to the Oscars and Best Picture.

ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE: COMEDY OR MUSICAL

• 
  Rebecca Hall: Vicky Cristina Barcelona
• 
  Sally Hawkins: Happy-Go-Lucky
• 
  Frances McDormand: Burn After Reading
• 
  Meryl Streep: Mamma Mia!
• 
  Emma Thompson: Last Chance Harvey *

Although I think Streep deserves it for taking a rare career risk and doing so with such joy and success, I am leaning toward a sentimental win for both Thompson and Hoffman (see below).

ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE: COMEDY OR MUSICAL

• 
  Javier Bardem: Vicky Cristina Barcelona
• 
  Colin Farrell: In Bruges
• 
  James Franco: Pineapple Express
• 
  Brendan Gleeson: In Bruges
• 
  Dustin Hoffman: Last Chance Harvey *

BEST ANIMATED FILM

• 
  Bolt
• 
  Kung Fu Panda
• 
  Wall-E *

My second favorite Pixar film of all time, behind Monsters Inc.

TELEVISION

Best Drama

• Dexter
• House
• In Treatment
• Mad Men *
• True Blood

I believe Dexter is the better show overall, but Mad Men’s second season was nothing short of spectacular. That being said, I am outraged that In Treatment and True Blood are nominated and Lost is not. I really enjoy True Blood but it stumbled out of the gate and certainly did not have a flawless first season. I am not a fan of In Treatment and remain baffled by its many nods this year.  Lost, on the other hand, emerged from the writers strike as one of the most consistent, well produced and written series on television (network or cable).

Best Actor: Drama

• Gabriel Byrne: In Treatment
• Michael C. Hall: Dexter *
• Jon Hamm: Mad Men
• Hugh Laurie: House
• Jonathan Rhys Meyers: The Tudors

Hall’s Dexter is one of the most eerily calm and charming serial killers in the history of television. Hamm is great, but his silent, subtle style does not compare.

Best Actress: Drama

• Sally Field: Brothers & Sisters
• Mariska Hargitay: Law and Order: SVU
• January Jones: Mad Men *
• Anna Paquin: True Blood
• Kyra Sedgwick: The Closer

This was Betty Draper’s season and Jones’ year for sure.

Best Musical/Comedy

• 30 Rock *
• Californication
• Entourage
• The Office
• Weeds

I truly don’t think there is a more entertaining half hour on TV. Weeds is my runner up, but this season was not as sublime.  The Office has lost a little steam, and blew it by letting Amy Ryan go.

Best Actor: Musical/Comedy

• Alec Baldwin: 30 Rock *
• Steve Carell: The Office
• Kevin Connolly: Entourage
• David Duchovny: Californication
• Tony Shalhoub: Monk

Scratching head at all but Baldwin and Carell.

Best Actress: Musical/Comedy

• Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
• America Ferrera: Ugly Betty
• Tina Fey: 30 Rock *
• Debra Messing: The Starter Wife
• Mary-Louise Parker: Weeds

This is the strongest category, in my opinion. And frankly, it’s refreshing not to see any Housewives. Fey is fantastic, but so are Parker and Applegate. I wish that they’d move Weeds into the Drama category, however.

Best Mini-Series 

• A Raisin in the Sun
• Bernard and Doris
• Cranford
• John Adams *
• Recount

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture

• Ralph Fiennes: Bernard and Doris
• Paul Giamatti: John Adams
• Kevin Spacey: Recount *
• Kiefer Sutherland: 24: Redemption
• Tom Wilkinson: Recount

We need Spacey back on the big screen…in better films. I loved John Adams but never quite agreed with the casting of Giamatti.

Best Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture

• Judi Dench: Cranford
• Catherine Keener: An American Crime
• Laura Linney: John Adams *
• Shirley MacLaine: Coco Chanel
• Susan Sarandon: Bernard and Doris

Linney’s performance was borderline perfection. However, Keener is phenomenal in An American Crime…a very disturbing film that I was able to see at Sundance in 2007.

Best Supporting Actor

• Neil Patrick Harris: How I Met Your Mother
• Denis Leary: Recount
• Jeremy Piven: Entourage *
• Blair Underwood: In Treatment
• Tom Wilkinson: John Adams

I wish I watched HIMYM. Piven is the only reason I still tune in to Entourage.

Best Supporting Actress

• Eileen Atkins: Cranford
• Laura Dern: Recount
• Melissa George: In Treatment
• Rachel Griffiths: Brothers and Sisters *
• Dianne Wiest: In Treatment

I have been a fan of Griffiths since Muriel’s Wedding and Six Feet Under. She really shines on B&S. Laura Dern’s turn as Katherine Harris in Recount is a very close second.

—
So…any thoughts of your own about the nominations that you’d care to share? I’m sure that I’ll attempt to live-blog the Golden Globes when they air on January 11, so stay tuned!

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