Golden Globes Light Oscar Path

The annual awards, dished out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, have always been scattered generously across the board. For example, this year's film nominations, announced Thursday, included the expected Erin Brockovich and the surprising Sunshine, while TV nods ranged from the proven James Gandolfini for The Sopranos to the barely tested Jessica Alba in Dark Angel.

Once seen as a dubious event, biased towards actors and producers who courted favor with HFPA scribes, the Golden Globe Awards for years was little more than a fun opportunity for movie and TV stars to enjoy a night out.

But the event has cleaned up its act in order to qualify as a nationally broadcast television show. (This year, the three-hour January 21 broadcast is on NBC, the network which happened to secure the most nominations--15.) The Globes have virtually no impact on the Emmys, handed out in September, but are considered an excellent publicity platform for the Oscars, presented March 25.

David Ansen, senior writer and movie critic for Newsweek, notes the past lack of legitimacy, but says, "These days it seems the Golden Globes are taken increasingly seriously. Especially in a year like this when the Oscar race is not clear cut more attention is paid to both the various critics awards and to the Globes--and gradually the same names are beginning to appear."

Counters Leonard Maltin, film critic for Entertainment Tonight, "People always tell me the Golden Globes are a great predictor of the Oscar, but I say, 'So is my mother's bridge club.' It's not that hard to match the Oscar vote, doing so doesn't validate the Globes. But the Globes are a great, glittery party at which everyone has a good time, a great fashion photo op."

The Globes' best-drama list usually points out the likely nominees for Oscar's Best Picture nominations. Gladiator director Ridley Scott, contemplating the awards season ahead, told the Associated Press, "I think there's been a bit of muttering and discussion about the number of good movies being thin. I look at what I'm up against, and I think it's quite a good lineup."

The day's biggest surprise, Sunshine, only played in limited release, although viewing tapes were sent out early to Academy voters. Its theme might appeal to the Academy membership, but it's extremely unlikely to garner an Oscar nod. Meanwhile, the sense is that Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon--likely to win in the Golden Globe's foreign film category--might get a Best Picture nod from the Academy, perhaps at the expense of Wonder Boys. Erin Brockovich, Traffic, Billy Elliot and Gladiator are now all considered likely Oscar nominees.

Other possibilities mentioned by observers include Chocolat (which did get a Globe nomination in the Best Comedy or Musical category), Cast Away, Quills and You Can Count on Me.

In the meantime, Globe nominees were already gushing, some like excited school children on a snow day, others ponderous, some even tongue in cheek. Geoffrey Rush, nominated for Best Actor, Drama, as the sex-obsessed Marquis de Sade in Quills, stayed in character to issue the written statement, "As the Marquis might say, or perhaps a Hollywood mogul, 'This can only be good for better penetration of the marketplace.' "

But most nominees settled for the standard thank-yous to all those who made it possible: Scott told Daily Variety, "The most important thing to remember about this nomination is that no film is made without a team, my role was to spearhead one--in this case, very large--team."

In the gush division, Renée Zellweger said her nomination for Nurse Betty, was "a wonderful Christmas gift" (Hopefully it will make up for the one she won't be getting from ex-beau Jim "Grinch" Carrey, also a Golden Globe nominee). And Laura Linney, nominated for You Can Count on Me said she was "overwhelmed" and admitted that both she and her publicist screamed with delight.

Javier Bardem, of Before Night Falls, insisted, "My nomination is the film's nomination and more important, it is Julian Schnabel's nomination. We cannot be separated, without him it would not be possible for me to say a word of English. He was my teacher." (It is not known who helped him with this perfect English thank-you.)

Commenting on his company's three acting nominations, for Bardem, Brenda Blethyn and Björk, Fine Line Features honcho Mark Ordesky told Variety, "We got everything we wanted..."

That's basically how the Golden Globe voters want everyone in Hollywood to feel.