Disappointing news if you were involved with MUNICH and KING KONG to name a few...really shows that what Hollywood spent money on in the hopes of courting Oscar misfired (KING KONG obviously less so, but I still believe Universal might have had hopes the movie would pull a LOTR and go beyond the genre boundaries).
Should the Oscars echo the Globes like they often do, it also goes without saying this roster of movies will not appeal to most movie-goers...I'm guessing this will go down as THE smallest-rated Oscar telecast ever, without much of anything people have a) seen and b) really would care about to tune in and see what wins.
'Brokeback Mountain' Leads Globe Nods
By DAVID GERMAIN, AP Movie Writer 35 minutes ago
The cowboy romance "Brokeback Mountain" positioned itself as a key Oscar competitor Tuesday, roping in seven Golden Globe nominations, including best dramatic picture and honors for actor Heath Ledger and director Ang Lee.
Other best drama picture contenders were the murder thriller "The Constant Gardener," the Edward R. Murrow tale "Good Night, and Good Luck," the mobster story "A History of Violence" and "Match Point," a drama about infidelity.
The Globes were a triumph for smaller budgeted films over big studio productions.
"This is the first time in the history of the Golden Globes that all of the best (dramatic) film nominees are independent movies made for under $30 million," said Philip Berk, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
The Globes have a separate category for musical or comedy films. Nominated were the theater tale "Mrs. Henderson Presents," the Jane Austen costume pageant "Pride & Prejudice," the Broadway musical "The Producers," the divorce story "The Squid and the Whale," and the Johnny Cash film biography "Walk the Line."
The Globes were the latest recognition for "Brokeback Mountain," a critical darling that has received top honors from critics groups in New York City, Los Angeles and Boston.
Along with Ledger, who plays a family man concealing a homosexual affair from his family, best dramatic actor nominees included three actors playing real-life figures: Russell Crowe as Depression-era boxer Jim Braddock in "Cinderella Man," Philip Seymour Hoffman as author Truman Capote in "Capote," and David Strathairn as newsman Murrow in "Good Night, and Good Luck." The fifth nominee was Terrence Howard as a small-time pimp-turned-rap singer in "Hustle & Flow."
"Good Night, and Good Luck" was tied for second-most film nominations with four, along with "Match Point" and "The Producers." The Murrow tale earned a best-director nomination for George Clooney, who also had a supporting actor movie nomination for the oil industry thriller "Syriana."
Felicity Huffman received two nominations — best dramatic actress in a film for her role as a man preparing for sex-change surgery in "Transamerica" and best actress in a TV musical or comedy for "Desperate Housewives." Her "Desperate Housewives" co-stars Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher and Eva Longoria also were nominated.
Other best dramatic film actress nominees were Maria Bello as a wife learning painful secrets about her husband in "A History of Violence," Gwyneth Paltrow as an unstable math genius' daughter in "Proof," Charlize Theron as a woman leading a sexual harassment lawsuit in "North Country" and Ziyi Zhang as a poor girl who becomes the belle of Japan's geisha houses in "Memoirs of a Geisha."
Based on a short story by Annie Proulx, "Brokeback Mountain" grabbed a supporting actress nomination for Michelle Williams as Ledger's wife, who chooses to ignore his affair with a man (Jake Gyllenhaal) to hold her family together. The movie also scored a directing nomination for Lee and received nominations for best screenplay, score and song.
For best actor in a movie, musical or comedy, Globe voters nominated Pierce Brosnan as a burned-out hit man in "The Matador," Jeff Daniels as a husband unglued by divorce in "The Squid and the Whale," Johnny Depp as candyman Willy Wonka in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," Nathan Lane as a Broadway con man in "The Producers," Cillian Murphy as a cross-dressing Irishman in "Breakfast on Pluto," and Joaquin Phoenix as country legend Cash in "Walk the Line."
Best musical or comedy film actress nominees: Judi Dench as a 1930s British dame who opens a nude theatrical review in "Mrs. Henderson Presents," Keira Knightley as the romantic heroine in "Pride & Prejudice," Laura Linney as a divorcing wife in "The Squid and the Whale," Sarah Jessica Parker as a woman hated by her fiance's relatives in "The Family Stone," and Reese Witherspoon as country singer June Carter in "Walk the Line."
Besides Lee and Clooney, the directing contenders were Woody Allen for "Match Point," Peter Jackson for "King Kong," Fernando Meirelles for "The Constant Gardener," and Steven Spielberg for "Munich."
In addition to Clooney, supporting movie actor nominees were "Matt Dillon for "Crash," Will Ferrell for "The Producers," Paul Giamatti for "Cinderella Man," and Bob Hoskins for "Mrs. Henderson Presents."
Supporting actress nominees: Scarlett Johansson for "Match Point," Shirley MacLaine for "In Her Shoes," Frances McDormand for "North Country," Rachel Weisz for "The Constant Gardener," and Williams for "Brokeback Mountain."
Two years ago, the Golden Globes correctly predicted winners in all key categories, including best-picture champ "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" and actors Sean Penn, Theron, Tim Robbins and Renee Zellweger.
But a year ago, the Globes missed the mark, picking "The Aviator" as best picture, an honor that went to "Million Dollar Baby" at the Oscars. Jamie Foxx and Hilary Swank won lead-acting Globes and went on to earn Oscars, but Globe voters chose Clive Owen and Natalie Portman of "Closer" for the supporting-actor honors, which were won at the Oscars by Morgan Freeman for "Million Dollar Baby" and Cate Blanchett for "The Aviator."
The Globes are handed out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, a relatively small group of about 90 reporters for overseas news outlets. Yet with a nationally televised awards ceremony on NBC and a historically solid knack for picking eventual Academy Award winners, the Globes wield a fair amount of sway among the 5,800 Oscar voters.
Winners of the Golden Globes will be announced Jan. 16, five days before polls close for Oscar voters. Oscar nominations come out Jan. 31, and the awards will be presented March 5.
The Globes feature 13 categories for film and 11 for television. Unlike other major movie awards, the Globes have separate divisions for dramas and comedies or musicals in the best-picture and lead-acting categories.
Anthony Hopkins will receive the group's Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement.
Golden Globe Nominations
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AndyDursin
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How depressing- I would vote for A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE (Which really was good). It's no surprise that Brokeback Mountain got so many nods- it's actually fascinating to hear how people talk about this movie. Whatever. I'm not seeing it and it looks like small films are going to dominate the Oscars from here on out (possibly). That is a depressing read above.
Without a doubt.AndyDursin wrote:And worse than last year, too, Eric...no doubt.Q-BanditZ wrote:No comment.'Brokeback Mountain' Leads Globe Nods
All I'm going to say is: This was a pretty dismal year, overall, for films and film scoring.
I agree with your assesment, Andy.
Politics and agendas. That thing comes straight out of the heart and soul of Hollywood, right in time for Christmas, of all things.mkaroly wrote: How depressing- I would vote for A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE (Which really was good). It's no surprise that Brokeback Mountain got so many nods- it's actually fascinating to hear how people talk about this movie. Whatever.
You figure it out.
Very much so. History of Violence gets my nod as well. I'm with you.I'm not seeing it and it looks like small films are going to dominate the Oscars from here on out (possibly). That is a depressing read above.
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AndyDursin
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I'm certainly not homophobic, but I saw the trailer with my fiancee prior to RENT and most of the audience laughed at it...there's just something that's so out of kilter about a movie making a statement about "gay cowboys" (as if there ever was such a thing) with two guys who couldn't be completely more "straight" starring in it. The shot of Heath Ledger smelling Gylenhaal's clothes had me trying to contain my laughter...anyway, I'm not paying to support it with my own dollars, but to remain objective, if they sent it to me on DVD, I'd give it a fair shake.mkaroly wrote:How depressing- I would vote for A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE (Which really was good). It's no surprise that Brokeback Mountain got so many nods- it's actually fascinating to hear how people talk about this movie. Whatever. I'm not seeing it and it looks like small films are going to dominate the Oscars from here on out (possibly). That is a depressing read above.
No doubt, though, that in a year of misfired opportunities, Hollywood will look to make a statement by elevating a film with this subject matter into the forefront...
It still cracks me up how the media goes on a rant about portraying NARNIA as this Christian fundamentalist movie (Christian overtones? How dare they!) and yet they all embrace a gay cowboy movie.......only reinforcing yet again how out of touch the media, and Hollywood itself, is with everyday people.
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Carlson2005
If anything, the media complaints over Narnia have been about the filmmakers' cowardice in soft-peddling the Christianity - if you look at all the press interviews, for all the targeting of Church groups, the filmmakers have gone out of their way to say it's not really a Christian movie. 
Even ignoring the almost unbroken run of mediocre films that Ang Lee has made out of much more promising material, I can't say Brokeback Mountain appeals much - every time I see that poster I keep on thinking about Cartman's rants against indie movies "about gay cowboys eating porridge."
Even ignoring the almost unbroken run of mediocre films that Ang Lee has made out of much more promising material, I can't say Brokeback Mountain appeals much - every time I see that poster I keep on thinking about Cartman's rants against indie movies "about gay cowboys eating porridge."
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AndyDursin
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There's definitely been some of both. You're right, Disney (who only partially bankrolled it) executive comments and those from the filmmakers were along those lines. Yet the print stories that came out about the movie were on the other side, and there were polls actually taken over whether viewers were "offended" by the movie that came out on Monday (and what a shock, nobody was).Carlson2005 wrote:If anything, the media complaints over Narnia have been about the filmmakers' cowardice in soft-peddling the Christianity - if you look at all the press interviews, for all the targeting of Church groups, the filmmakers have gone out of their way to say it's not really a Christian movie.
LOL. Wait till you see the trailer...I almost died laughing.Carlson2005 wrote:Even ignoring the almost unbroken run of mediocre films that Ang Lee has made out of much more promising material, I can't say Brokeback Mountain appeals much - every time I see that poster I keep on thinking about Cartman's rants against indie movies "about gay cowboys eating porridge."
The weird thing about Brokeback Mountain is how they talk about it- I actually heard someone connected with the movie imply that it's not really a movie about homosexuality (it might have been one of the actors) but it's a love story that transcends all that. HUH?????? I saw the trailer and an even more explicit scene- don't try to wax over the homosexuality- it is what it is, and Hollywood loves it and is gving it all the accolades! Don't try to pull the wool over my eyes by saying it's something it's not- that's all.
As far as NARNIA goes, we should expect a movie based on a book written by one of the great Christian writers of the 21st century (and one of the smartest writers as well- the dude was an Oxford English Literature Tudor and Fellow) who PURPOSEFULLY put Christian "subtext" (though it's not really subtext since it's out in the open) in the story to be about Christian beliefs on some level or another. The filmmakers should not have anything to be afraid of as THE PASSION proved all the critics wrong at the box-office. I suspect NARNIA will do the same.
Anyway, this might be Hollywood's attempt at embracing the more "serious", independent filmmaker as I'm sure they're all sick of being laughed at for how much they embraced commercial studio large-scale stuff! They want to be taken more seriously AND/OR want to side more with a less conservative agenda (as opposed to the ultra-conservative agenda back in WWII)- more aggressively away from center and to the left. They can do whatever they want, but don't try to sell me a film about "gay cowboys" by implying sexuality isn't the point.
What do you think Brokeback Mountain's take is going to be at the box office? I think this is one film that would be fun to see the demographics on after it's all said and done.
As far as NARNIA goes, we should expect a movie based on a book written by one of the great Christian writers of the 21st century (and one of the smartest writers as well- the dude was an Oxford English Literature Tudor and Fellow) who PURPOSEFULLY put Christian "subtext" (though it's not really subtext since it's out in the open) in the story to be about Christian beliefs on some level or another. The filmmakers should not have anything to be afraid of as THE PASSION proved all the critics wrong at the box-office. I suspect NARNIA will do the same.
Anyway, this might be Hollywood's attempt at embracing the more "serious", independent filmmaker as I'm sure they're all sick of being laughed at for how much they embraced commercial studio large-scale stuff! They want to be taken more seriously AND/OR want to side more with a less conservative agenda (as opposed to the ultra-conservative agenda back in WWII)- more aggressively away from center and to the left. They can do whatever they want, but don't try to sell me a film about "gay cowboys" by implying sexuality isn't the point.
What do you think Brokeback Mountain's take is going to be at the box office? I think this is one film that would be fun to see the demographics on after it's all said and done.
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AndyDursin
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That's exactly how I feel Michael. Most of the time, if there are "gay elements" in a movie, I have no issue with that. Here, though, this movie is gaining press, word of mouth, because it IS "The Gay Cowboy Movie"!!mkaroly wrote:The weird thing about Brokeback Mountain is how they talk about it- I actually heard someone connected with the movie imply that it's not really a movie about homosexuality (it might have been one of the actors) but it's a love story that transcends all that. HUH?????? I saw the trailer and an even more explicit scene- don't try to wax over the homosexuality- it is what it is, and Hollywood loves it and is gving it all the accolades! Don't try to pull the wool over my eyes by saying it's something it's not- that's all.
As far as NARNIA goes, we should expect a movie based on a book written by one of the great Christian writers of the 21st century (and one of the smartest writers as well- the dude was an Oxford English Literature Tudor and Fellow) who PURPOSEFULLY put Christian "subtext" (though it's not really subtext since it's out in the open) in the story to be about Christian beliefs on some level or another. The filmmakers should not have anything to be afraid of as THE PASSION proved all the critics wrong at the box-office. I suspect NARNIA will do the same.
Anyway, this might be Hollywood's attempt at embracing the more "serious", independent filmmaker as I'm sure they're all sick of being laughed at for how much they embraced commercial studio large-scale stuff! They want to be taken more seriously AND/OR want to side more with a less conservative agenda (as opposed to the ultra-conservative agenda back in WWII)- more aggressively away from center and to the left. They can do whatever they want, but don't try to sell me a film about "gay cowboys" by implying sexuality isn't the point.
What do you think Brokeback Mountain's take is going to be at the box office? I think this is one film that would be fun to see the demographics on after it's all said and done.
Let's put it this way: if there weren't two homosexual characters top lining this movie, would anyone care? When was the last time Heath Ledger, Jake Gylenhaal or Michelle Williams starred in a movie that anyone really wanted to see? And most importantly of all, when was the last time ANYONE cared about a movie where cowboys were the featured characters?
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AndyDursin
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I should also add that what made the BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN trailer so amusing is that it literally followed the ad for CASANOVA -- also with a very HETERO-sexual Heath Ledger running after a group of attractive young ladies.
To see that ad, followed by the one for BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, had most of the audience in stitches!
To see that ad, followed by the one for BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, had most of the audience in stitches!
I thought some of the noms are pretty weird... munich almost none, king kong best director and score??? come on, the score is a generic actionscore which usually doesn't get any attention at all at such awards. also gregson-williams got a nod? this is truly insulting... there have many many better scores than his NARNIA stuff... like where is Julian Nott's W&G score? that deserved a nomination!
nice to see that Felicity Huffman got a nomination... I really like her, still havent seen the movie.
Overall I have the feeling that even now the GG start to feel like studio-paid to get the audience interested in a movie, which would otherwise go by unnoticed (BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN... so far, people I know who have seen it said it is very boring).
And of course a Williams' nomination was inevitable, wasn't it? Yawn...
nice to see that Felicity Huffman got a nomination... I really like her, still havent seen the movie.
Overall I have the feeling that even now the GG start to feel like studio-paid to get the audience interested in a movie, which would otherwise go by unnoticed (BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN... so far, people I know who have seen it said it is very boring).
And of course a Williams' nomination was inevitable, wasn't it? Yawn...
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AndyDursin
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Felicity Huffman playing a transsexual is sure to earn her an Oscar. BTW I like her tooromanD wrote:I thought some of the noms are pretty weird... munich almost none, king kong best director and score??? come on, the score is a generic actionscore which usually doesn't get any attention at all at such awards. also gregson-williams got a nod? this is truly insulting... there have many many better scores than his NARNIA stuff... like where is Julian Nott's W&G score? that deserved a nomination!
nice to see that Felicity Huffman got a nomination... I really like her, still havent seen the movie.
Overall I have the feeling that even now the GG start to feel like studio-paid to get the audience interested in a movie, which would otherwise go by unnoticed (BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN... so far, people I know who have seen it said it is very boring).
And of course a Williams' nomination was inevitable, wasn't it? Yawn...
And BTW- who the heck is Heath Ledger? I saw the trailer for CASANOVA and it looks awful (Irons looks like he's tunring in a WAY over-the-top performance).....who is this dude? How did he get his start...on the WB??? And who is Jake Gyllenhal (or whatever his name is)- why are these dudes so hyped? I've never heard of them before....just curious.AndyDursin wrote:I should also add that what made the BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN trailer so amusing is that it literally followed the ad for CASANOVA -- also with a very HETERO-sexual Heath Ledger running after a group of attractive young ladies.
To see that ad, followed by the one for BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, had most of the audience in stitches!
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AndyDursin
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Heath has been around...did you see THE PATRIOT or A KNIGHT'S TALE, or 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU? To be fair, Ledger (an Aussie) was solid in those films. Jake Gyllenhaal is not a favorite of mine, but the cult that loves DONNIE DARKO surely feels otherwise (he was also in the fine OCTOBER SKY).mkaroly wrote:And BTW- who the heck is Heath Ledger? I saw the trailer for CASANOVA and it looks awful (Irons looks like he's tunring in a WAY over-the-top performance).....who is this dude? How did he get his start...on the WB??? And who is Jake Gyllenhal (or whatever his name is)- why are these dudes so hyped? I've never heard of them before....just curious.AndyDursin wrote:I should also add that what made the BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN trailer so amusing is that it literally followed the ad for CASANOVA -- also with a very HETERO-sexual Heath Ledger running after a group of attractive young ladies.
To see that ad, followed by the one for BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, had most of the audience in stitches!
CASANOVA is supposedly light, bawdy and comedic in nature, so perhaps Jeremy's mugging goes down better once you've seen the film.