Golden Globe Preview

Last year’s writer’s strike transformed the Golden Globe awards from a lavish party into a gussied up news conference.

This year, the stars return to the red carpet and the party’s on once again, but will the globes still be golden for viewers?

“There’s no guarantee they’re going to watch a star for a movie they haven’t even heard about,“ said the The Hollywood Reporter Senior Writer Steve Zeitchik.

It’s the smaller films that often make big noise at the globes but “Mamma Mia” could be an exception this year.

It’s up against the Coen brothers’ film, “Burn After Reading”, for best comedy or musical.

The other three nominees went largely unnoticed in theaters.

“En Bruges, Vicki Cristina Barcelona, Happy Go Lucky. These are small independent films that most people haven’t seen,“ said Entertainment Weekly’s Dave Karger.

It’s the same story for at least two of the best drama nominees, “the reader” and “Revolutionary Road”, even though both feature Globe-nominated performances by Kate Winslet.

A third nominee, the historical drama “Frost Nixon”, has fared marginally better at the box office but “Best Drama” could still wind up a two film fight.
 
In one corner, it’s the small budget Bollywood romance, “Slumdog Millionaire”.

“It opened early, it attracted a lot of taste maker attention.  It’s a hit at the box office.  And you know what, a lot of people are saying if Slumdog wins, they’re not going to be surprised,“ said Zeitchik.

In the actress categories, Meryl Streep has two chances to add to her collection of six Golden Globes.

“Mamma Mia” has Streep up for best actress in a comedy or musical, while her turn as a nun in “doubt” has her nominated as Best Actress in a Drama.

“I think chances are slim to win both because she has tough competition in both categories,“ said Karger.

The same goes for the Best Supporting Actor where Heath Ledger’s work in The Dark Knight could posthumously beat out the likes of Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise. 

“If there’s one certainty this awards season, I think it’s Heath Ledger,“ said Zeitchic.

But nothing’s certain until the envelopes opened.