Reflections in a Golden Eye

Let’s not waste time or energy discussing the debacle that was last night’s Golden Globes "press conference." And life is too short to even reflect back on the double whammy fright-fest known as Billy Bush and Nancy O’Dell. The event was so truly awful to begin with, but then having the Children of the Corn leading us through the horror of it all was more than I could endure.

But on to the awards. Although my predictions were indeed off the mark in more than one category, it was nice to see Atonement back in the race, having emerged from the Valley of the Guild Snubs. And Sweeney Todd snatching some much-deserved attention was also a good thing. This may possibly bodes well for the Oscar race, at least for Atonement. There are only three instances of a GG Best Drama not going on to earn a Best Picture nomination from the Academy: East of Eden, Spartacus and The Cardinal. In the comedy and/or musical category, the GG’s best picture winner isn’t always a sure thing for the Academy’s top five. Dreamgirls, Evita, A Star is Born, and Yentl –all winners according to the HFPA, not to mention my dear friend Ethel Cookies – did not do nearly so well with the Oscars. Can the same fate await Sweeney?

Honestly, I’m not sure if either has a strong chance, now that we know the Producers Guild nominations:

No Country For Old Men
The Diving Bell And The Butterfly
There Will Be Blood
Juno
Michael Clayton

These five films, along with Into the Wild (which nabbed a DGA nomination over Juno) have dominated the critics’ polls and guild nominations and thus seem to be the heavy hitters as we go into the home stretch.

On another note, on the TV side of the Golden Globes’ anointed few, there were some truly deserving victories: Glenn Close, Tina Fey, Extras, Jeremy Piven, and especially Jon Hamm and his terrific Mad Men from AMC, easily the best new dramatic series of the season. Don’t believe me? Repeats begin later this month. Be there. You won’t be sorry.