Monday, January 14-------It was, without a doubt, the strangest Golden Globe Awards in memory. Not only was there not the lavish and extravagantly catered affair at the Beverly Hilton, but no actors, writers or directors were present to make acceptment speeches. In fact, the whole event was nothing more than a glorified Press Conference and some rather boring (and ratings challenged) telecasts on NBC, CNN and some other media outlets. In spite of the Writers Guild strike, the Awards were indeed announced (if not handed out, I guess they are all on a UPS truck somewhere in the San Fernando Valley) and there were both juicy surprises and expected predictions that were realized on what used to be one of the film industry's most glamorous nights.

Javier BardemThere was no real "leader" that swept the awards. In fact, four films led with two Globes a piece (hardly a rocking endorsement). To the surprise of many, the lavish wartime drama ATONEMENT won Best Drama--Motion Picture and Best Score (leaving the director, writer and actors out). Javier Bardem, who better be shopping for his Oscar duds, took Best Supporting Actor honors for NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, which also won a Best Screenplay prize for its writers/directors Joel and Ethan Coen.

In two big surprises, that could alter the Oscar race, the French language THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY won Best Foreign Language Film and a Best Director award for Julian Schnabel. The film is not even competing in the Foreign Film Oscar race, since France instead chose PERSEPOLIS to represent them in the Oscar sweepstakes (THE DIVING BELL can and will attempt to get nominations in all the other categories). SWEENEY TODD, the lavish adapation of the Stephen Sondheim musical about a vengeful barber in 19th century London, won Johnny Depp his first Golden Globe (after seven nominations) and the prize for Best Film--Musical or Comedy. The film's director Tim Burton did not win an award, as was predicted by many forecasters. His inclusion in the five name Best Director Oscar list is now far less certain.

Marion CotillardWhat could be called a major surprise was the fact that the historical epic THERE WILL BE BLOOD, which has been increasing in momentum in the past few weeks, only won a single award, for its lead actor, Daniel Day-Lewis. This was complimented by the win by frontrunner Julie Christie for her haunting performance as a woman losing her memory in AWAY FROM HER. The French actress Marion Cotillard surprised many by being named as Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical for her portrayal of chanteuse Edith Piaf in LA VIE EN ROSE, making her inclusion on the Oscar list a much surer thing. Cate Blanchett was an insider favorite for her incarnation of Bob Dylan in I'M NOT THERE, but the film hardly received any other nominations and only a single win.

Two suspected Oscar hopefuls, MICHAEL CLAYTON (starring George Clooney) and the Fox Searchlight hit  comedy JUNO were passed over. It is not clear what effect this will have on Oscar nominations.  And that is even true for the night's big winners, ATONEMENT and SWEENEY TODD, neither of which is a shoe-in for Best Picture Oscar inclusion. We will have to patiently wait just two weeks more when the nominations for the Academy Awards will be announced on the morning of Tuesday, January 22nd.

Sandy Mandelberger, Awards Watch Editor

2008 GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS 

BEST MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
Atonement
Working Title Productions; Focus Features

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS - DRAMA
Julie Christie, Away From Her

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR - DRAMA
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Ratatouille
Pixar; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Distribution

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (France and USA)
A Kennedy/Marshall Company and Jon Kilik Production; Miramax/Paramount Vantage

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Cate Blanchett, "I'm Not There"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Javier Bardem, "No Country For Old Men"

BEST MOTION PICTURE - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd

BEST DIRECTOR
Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and The Butterfly

BEST SCREENPLAY
Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, No Country For Old Men

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - MOTION PICTURE
Dario Marianelli, "Atonement"

BEST ORIGINAL SONG - MOTION PICTURE
"Guaranteed" -- "Into The Wild"
Music & Lyrics by: Eddie Vedder