THE SURGERY CHRONICLES, PT 5: THIS BITES, AND SO DO MOST OF THE GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINATIONS

Posted by on December 15, 2007 in Film, Grey's Anatomy, Personal, Television | 0 comments


It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Or so the song says. But I call bullsh*t right now.

Quick daily health summary: feeling much better, almost human today. Back on the pain meds, able to walk around a bit. Actually went outside to get the mail. Napping far too often. Still a Cranky Pants having a Pity Party. Movies watched while standing up: Reign Over Me and Puccini for Beginners. But I am looking forward to tomorrow, as my first visitors will be coming over and my better half will be baking holiday cookies all day.

And now, a few thoughts about the recently announced 2008 Golden Globe nominations. First up, the nominated films. Let’s just get this out of the way – what the hell is with the separate categories for best picture? They separate them into Drama and Comedy or Musical, and most of the time they f*ck that up. Same with television nods.

Granted, I have not had the time to see as many of these films as I would have liked. But of course I’ve read all about them, watched all trailers and formed my own opinions. Hello, this is my life.

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

  • American Gangster (agreed)
  • Atonement (haven’t seen it, want to, good buzz)
  • Eastern Promises (not worthy)
  • The Great Debaters (haven’t seen it, Oprah produced = golden)
  • Michael Clayton (agreed)
  • No Country For Old Men (haven’t seen it, want to, great buzz)
  • There Will Be Blood (haven’t seen it, want to, mixed buzz)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

  • Cate Blanchett – Elizabeth: The Golden Age (haven’t seen it, loved the 1st one, love her)
  • Julie Christie – Away from Her (haven’t seen it, but sentimental favorite)
  • Jodie Foster – The Brave One (surprising nod, totally deserving)
  • Angelina Jolie – A Mighty Heart (agreed)
  • Keira Knightley – Atonement (no surprise)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

  • George Clooney – Michael Clayton (agreed)
  • Daniel Day Lewis – There Will Be Blood (he should have won Oscar for Gangs of New York)
  • James McAvoy – Atonement (no surprise)
  • Viggo Mortensen – Eastern Promises (for the bathroom scene alone)
  • Denzel Washington – American Gangster (badass once again)

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

  • Across the Universe (haven’t seen it, heard it was odd)
  • Charlie Wilson’s War (haven’t seen it, want to)
  • Hairspray (was entertaining but not award worthy)
  • Juno (can’t wait to see it, heard it deserves all noms)
  • Sweeney Todd (ditto above)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

  • Amy Adams – Enchanted (no surprise, she was the movie)
  • Nikki Blonsky – Hairspray (good but not award winning)
  • Helena Bonham Carter – Sweeney Todd (always a dark horse)
  • Marion Cotillard – La Vie en Rose (need to rent this)
  • Ellen Page – Juno (bingo, we have a winner)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

  • Johnny Depp – Sweeney Todd (the pirate moves to the barber shop and sings)
  • Ryan Gosling – Lars and the Real Girl (not sure this is a comedy)
  • Tom Hanks – Charlie Wilson’s War (welcome back, Mr. Hanks)
  • Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Savages (again, a comedy? heard he was better in Charlie Wilson’s War)
  • John C. Reilly – Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (love it, even if he doesn’t have a chance)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

  • Bee Movie (was it worth the over-promotion, Jerry?)
  • Ratatouille (no surprise)
  • The Simpsons Movie (hysterical)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM (haven’t seen any)

  • 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

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

  • Cate Blanchett – I’m Not There (double nods, totally deserving)
  • Julia Robers – Charlie Wilson’s War (welcome back, red)
  • Saoirse Ronan – Atonement (haven’t seen it, heard she was great)
  • Amy Ryan – Gone Baby Gone (hear this one’s a slam dunk)
  • Tilda Swinton – Michael Clayton (agreed)

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 (haven’t seen it, but good for him)
  • Javier Bardem – No Country for Old Men (if Hannibal Lecter can win an Oscar…)
  • Philip Seymour Hoffman – Charlie Wilson’s War (wait, a minute ago this film was a comedy…)
  • John Travolta – Hairspray (Seriously?! Yikes. Horrible.)
  • Tom Wilkinson – Michael Clayton (agreed)

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE

  • Tim Burton – Sweeney Todd (love most of his work)
  • Ethan & Joel Coen – No Country for Old Men (ditto)
  • Julian Schnabel – The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (haven’t seen it)
  • Ridley Scott – American Gangster (didn’t love direction as much as acting)
  • Joe Wright – Atonement (loved his work with Pride & Prejudice)

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE

  • Diablo Cody – Juno (bingo, another winner)
  • Ethan & Joel Coen – No Country for Old Men
  • Christopher Hampton – Atonement
  • Ronald Harwood – The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
  • Aaron Sorkin – Charlie Wilson’s War (should give Juno a run for her money)

Moving on to Television, where it seems the nominating committee had their heads shoved further up their collective arses…

BEST TV SERIES – DRAMA

  • Big Love (can’t agree)
  • Damages (hallelujah!)
  • Grey’s Anatomy (oh hell no, not this season)
  • House (again, not the best season)
  • Mad Men (agreed)
  • The Tudors (ugh)

Ok, no Lost? Friday Night Lights? Brothers and Sisters? Dexter? Hurrah for cable and all that, but COME ON.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TV SERIES – DRAMA

  • Patricia Arquette – Medium
  • Glenn Close – Damages (should be a slam dunk)
  • Minnie Driver – The Riches (dark horse newbie, totally deserving)
  • Edie Falco – The Sopranos (could be a sentimental send off)
  • Sally Field – Brothers and Sisters
  • Holly Hunter – Saving Grace
  • Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer

Look, I like Medium. But I think the glaring omissions in the category have to be Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights), Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost), and Chandra Wilson (Grey’s Anatomy).

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TV SERIES – DRAMA

  • Michael C. Hall – Dexter (bingo, a clear winner)
  • Jon Hamm – Mad Men (agreed)
  • Hugh Laurie – House (agreed)
  • Jonathan Rhys Meyers – The Tudors (ugh)
  • Bill Paxton – Big Love (um, no)

Yes, this will sound repetitive. But where is the love for Matthew Fox’s amazing season on Lost or Kyle Chandler’s on Friday Night Lights?

BEST TV SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

  • 30 Rock (agreed; brilliant season)
  • Californication (not a comedy; The Office should take its place)
  • Entourage (great, but not this season; Ugly Betty should take its place)
  • Extras (love it)
  • Pushing Daisies (fav new show)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TV SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

  • Christina Applegate – Samantha Who? (um, ok)
  • America Ferrera – Ugly Betty (agreed)
  • Tina Fey – 30 Rock (agreed)
  • Anna Friel – Pushing Daisies (she’s good, but Jenna Fisher deserves the spot)
  • Mary Louise Parker – Weeds (my choice)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TV SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

  • Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock
  • Steve Carell – The Office
  • David Duchovny – Californication
  • Ricky Gervais – Extras
  • Lee Pace – Pushing Daisies

I don’t have too many problems with this particular bunch.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TV (a.ka. Best Supporting Actress in a TV role)

  • Rose Byrne – Damages (great)
  • Rachel Griffiths – Brothers and Sisters (my pick)
  • Katherine Heigl – Grey’s Anatomy (what, for having to suffer through Gizzie?)
  • Samantha Morton – Longford (didn’t see it)
  • Anna Paquin – Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (didn’t see it)
  • Jaime Pressley – My Name is Earl (hysterical, but wrong category)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (yada yada yada, see above)

  • Ted Danson – Damages (slam dunk; unbelievably strong)
  • Kevin Dillon – Entourage (not this year)
  • Jeremy Piven – Entourage (not this year)
  • Andy Serkis – Longford (Gollum gets a nod)
  • William Shatner – Boston Legal (is his name mandatory every year?)
  • Donald Sutherland – Dirty Sexy Money (um, ok)

Ok, that list was far too long for my fragile state. I need a nap. I’m sure further thoughts will develop as I heal. Please excuse any spelling errors.

What did you think of the nods?

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