Five Things to Watch at Golden Globe Nominations

Black Swan versus the Facebook movie! Michael Douglas on the comeback trail! Glee out of luck?!

By Joal Ryan Dec 13, 2010 11:00 PMTags
Lea Michele, Glee, Michael Douglas, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Natalie Portman, Black SwanFox; Fox; Niko Tavernise/Fox Searchlight

Will Natalie Portman dump Facebook? Will Michael Douglas get good news? Will Glee be celebrated—or snubbed?

The Golden Globe nominations are out tomorrow at 5 a.m. PT/8 a.m. ET. Key things to look for:

Fox Searchlight

1. Does the Black Swan fly into contention? Yes, we know, Portman's demented dance movie already is a contender. But, where Oscar Best Picture's race is concerned, it hasn't been considered an equal of The King's Speech and The Social Network.

But if Black Swan, which loaded up on Critics' Choice Awards noms today, loads up on Globe noms tomorrow, does a two-film race officially become a three-film race?

Merrick Morton/Columbia Pictures

2. Does The Social Network look socially inept? So far, everything's gone right for David Fincher's and Aaron Sorkin's all-American geeks. But don't be surprised if the British-accented King's Speech and the ballerina-graced Black Swan play better to the Globes' international voters than The Social Network (and, for that matter, the very-American, very-contemporary The Kids Are All Right).

3. Does Nicole Kidman get a nomination for The Rabbit Hole? If she doesn't, then call the authorities—pod people have assumed the identities (and votes) of the star-worshipping Hollywood Foreign Press.

We were going to say Halle Berry could get a nomination this way, too (for the as-yet-unreleased Frankie & Alice), but, one, that sounded too crazy, and, two, we all but declared her trophy chances dead last weekend. Then we saw the awards gurus at Gold Derby were predicting a Berry nom themselves. And then we remembered: Nothing's too crazy for the Globes.    

Twentieth Century Fox

4. Does Michael Douglas have reason(s) to celebrate? We think so, and, to be honest, we hope so. Look for him to figure in the Best Supporting Actor race for Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps—and maybe in a Best Actor race for his little-seen, but well-reviewed indie, Solitary Man.

Ray Mickshaw/FOX

5. Is the glow off Glee? A year ago, this show was everything Globe voters love (after Nicole Kidman and Halle Berry, natch): It was bright, shiny and new! Now, it's half-way through a successful, if arguably inconsistent second season that's prompted at least one TV critic to write a break-up letter. But if there's no new bright and shiny show to turn the Hollywood Foreign Press' collective head—and there's really not, unless, by chance, its members are totally into Walking Dead—then look for Glee to grab its share of nods again.