The Golden Globes are frequently cited by news outlets and people who don’t really know what they’re talking about as “one of the precursors to the Oscars”, but really, it’s a vastly inferior accolade to an Academy Award and has little bearing on it for several reasons. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the enigmatic committee that decides the Golden Globes, consists of less than 100 foreign journalists living in California, a relatively obscure group of people when we consider that AMPAS – the actors, directors and crew members who decide the Oscars – has over 5000 members. So, why should we care what the HPFA thinks, especially when they’ve shown time and time again that they’ll nominate anything if it means they can schmooze with the actors involved; who can forget The Tourist infamously being nominated in several categories two years ago?
Though this year didn’t have any outrageously egregious nominations (though Nicole Kidman for The Paperboy was pushing it), the winners list still proved as baffling as ever, even if they had the good sense to give Ben Affleck a Best Director win after his being snubbed by the Oscar nominations last week.
Here are 10 things the Golden Globes got wrong.
10. Brave Wins Best Animated Film
One has to put this down to the HPFA simply being infatuated with Pixar and maybe not being so much into video games, because it’s difficult to imagine how anyone could see Brave as a superior film to the likes of Frankenweenie and specifically Wreck-It Ralph. It wasn’t exactly a banner year for animation, but there were still plenty of films that far outdid Pixar’s effort – and incredulously, Paranorman wasn’t even nominated… – and it’s all the more shocking when one considers that Brave wasn’t even full of household names, whereas Wreck-It Ralph in particular had the likes of John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman and Jane Lynch giving spirited vocal performances. Given Pixar’s respect in the industry, it just goes to show that you can’t ever count them out completely.
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7 Comments
Oh Shaun, don’t count Argo out just yet! There’s still hope, especially after taking top prize. I don’t really see Les Mis taking top honors at the Oscars, but this wouldn’t be the first time I’ve eaten my words. Argo or Zero Dark Thirty are my bets, with Argo coming out ahead.
Not giving the award to Benedict Cumberbatch’s take on Sherlock was definitely something HFPA got wrong this year.
It goes to show how flawed the Oscar’s nominee list was…I think it was the worst pick in YEARS…
It is also hilarious and ironic that even Bill Clinton endorses Lincoln, while the film won only 1 award. I guarantee at Oscars it will (unjustly) win the major categories… This should remind the world it was a so-so picture
I remember a time when The Social Network was to be the winner at the oscars, the the golden globes came along and changed the game by awarding The Kings Speech its top prize…same could now be said about the Lincoln oscar buzz versus the now Argo win
Honestly, if there’s to be an upset, it’ll probably be Les Mis yet again. Tom Hooper strikes again…
Personally I was glad that Homeland won Best Drama TV Series. Whilst I love Breaking Bad, and am intrigued and excited to see where the series goes when the second half airs, I honestly don’t feel like I care what happens to Walter at the end. I can’t quite pinpoint where it happened, but I know now that I would have the same feelings towards him if he died, or went to jail, or just got away with it, and that’s a feeling of complete neutrality. Don’t get me wrong, I still really love the show, but I don’t care all that much for its central character right now, even though I do agree that obviously Bryan Cranston is brilliant in the role. I do care about Jesse though, and I am worried for his wellbeing! I think a part of it stemmed from Skylar, for me her character became ever so slightly dull and even annoyed me a bit on occasion. Really I’ve just never been quite so shocked with Breaking Bad as I was with the finale of Homeland and for me that elevated it above anything else I’d seen on TV in 2012, I felt like Homeland was more unpredictable and volatile than Breaking Bad in their latest seasons (Which is weird, as Breaking Bad has always thrived on those things). But still, matters of opinion I guess.
Whilst I definitely would have given the Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy to Bradley Cooper for his enthralling turn in Silver Lining’s Playbook, I decided I didn’t mind either Damien Lewis or Bryan Cranston winning the award for Best Actor in TV Drama, and Damien Lewis definitely provided a stunning performance in what is arguably a far more tortured role than even that of Walter White, who has effectively slipped as far into his Heisenberg persona as he can. Lewis had the fate of the whole of America at his hands and was forced into making impossible decisions for the wellbeing of those he loved, against the country he once swore to protect. Whilst some may believe Homeland had a few too many convoluted plot points during its second season, which Breaking Bad is usually free from, that feels largely irrelevant to the performances themselves. In my view, that even provides a stronger case for Damien Lewis than Bryan Cranston, as he made his character believable and sympathetic despite what was happening around him, whereas Breaking Bad was good enough to guide Cranston and his performance through the series, even though it was undoubtedly a brilliant performance that he gave.
Golden Globes 2013 10 Things They Got Wrong..
Chris Terrio Best Screenplay ..really? you are really dumb fat boy