Golden Globes Snubs & Surprises: Movies
SURPRISE! 'Inglourious Basterds'
Some have called Quentin Tarantino's gory revisionist take on World War II his best work since 'Pulp Fiction,' but the movie doesn't exactly sing "awards darling." The fact that it beat out the Clint Eastwood-directed Oscar bait 'Invictus' in the Best Picture - Drama category is easily the day's biggest shocker. Tarantino earned his first Globe noms (for Best Director and Best Screenplay) since scoring in the same two categories in '94.
SNUB! 'Invictus'
An inspirational drama about the end post-apartheid South Africa (and, well, rugby) directed by Clint Eastwood? Sounds like an awards no-brainer. But despite nominations for Best Director (Eastwood), Best Actor (Morgan Freeman, as Nelson Mandela) and Best Supporting Actor (Matt Damon), 'Invictus' will be sitting out the Best Picture match.
SURPRISE! Julia Roberts
It's no secret that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association loves its superstars. But a Best Actress - Comedy nomination for Roberts for the March release 'Duplicity,' which has been largely forgotten after earning only $40 million at the box office? That's about the craziest thing since, well, Roberts was nominated for an otherwise-unheralded return to the screen in the 2007's 'Charlie Wilson's War.'
SNUB! Jeremy Renner
As awards season shifts into high gear, the summer sleeper 'The Hurt Locker' has emerged as a force to reckon with. But while the film scored noms for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay, its breakout leading man Renner, who was just named Best Actor by the Boston Society of Film Critics, is AWOL.
SURPRISE! 'Avatar'
Not a total shocker, sure. But as technically and visually stunning as James Cameron's 3D sci-fi epic may be, some critics are bemoaning its story and dialogue downfalls (while others, like Roger Ebert, are hailing it a masterpiece). The fact that it scored a Best Picture nomination from the Globes (as well as a Best Director nom for its former "king of the world") positions it comfortably for an Oscar run.
SNUB! 'Bright Star'
Jane Campion's poetic drama about the ill-fated romance between John Keats and Fanny Brawne stood an outside chance for Best Picture and Best Director noms, but has been considered a strong contender for Best Actress (Abbie Cornish). It looks like 'Star's' awards chances are now dimming as it racked up exactly zero nominations, losing its ground to new arthouse arrivals like 'The Last Station' and 'Young Victoria.'
SURPRISE! Meryl Streep vs. Meryl Streep
In case you needed further proof that Meryl Streep can do no wrong, the living legend was twice nominated in the Best Actress - Comedy category, for 'Julie & Julia' and 'It's Complicated.' That makes a staggering 25 Golden Globe nominations for Streep to date. Of course, her voicework as Mrs. Fox in Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' was sadly overlooked.
SNUB! Viggo Mortensen
Mortensen's potent turn as a desperate father willing to do anything to protect his son in John Hillcoat's adaptation of the bestselling Cormac McCarthy novel (it's like 'The Pursuit of Happyness' in a post-apocalyptic landscape) has been drawing raves, but the actor failed to procure his second Globe nomination after 2007's 'Eastern Promises.'
SNUB! Christian McKay
Richard Linklater's Zac Efron-starring dramedy 'Me and Orson Welles' has fallen mostly under the radar this fall -- with the exception of notice for the relatively unknown McKay, who proves a tour de force in a fearless portrayal of the famed 'Citizen Kane' director. More than anything, McKay's snub is probably a result of not enough voters seeing 'Welles.'
SURPRISE! 'District 9'
Neill Blomkamp's acclaimed sci-fi actioner seemingly emerged out of nowhere in August to become one of the year's most talked about films, but still, it's far from a traditional awards contender. The Globes, however, recognized Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell's allegory-heavy story in the Best Screenplay category, with the film beating out favorites like 'Precious' and ' Invictus.' The Nancy Meyers-penned 'It's Complicated' also surprised in this category.
