The Golden Globes: My Picks!

The Golden Globes are in exactly one week, so I've narrowed down my picks for the awards. It's somewhat disappointing - two years ago I was so blown away by Marion Cotillard in La Vie En Rose and also by Tilda Swinton in Michael Clayton. Last year, Amy Adams, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and (of course) Meryl Streep all blew me away in Doubt. Slumdog Millionaire was also such a surprise of a film last year.

This year I haven't had anything truly blow me away to the same degree - granted, I still haven't seen Avatar (I know, I know.. I will be seeing it tomorrow) - but it's mostly a good ol' drama that gets me. This year I've been very surprised by many films, but none of them have pleased so much as they have these past two years.

The awards will be presented Sunday, January 17 on NBC. The Globes will be hosted this year by Ricky Gervais (so it will be funny and offensive)!

Best Motion Picture - Drama

· Avatar (2009)

Avatar certainly deserves it - this is revolutionary filmmaking and the voters will recognize that. And, who can't respect those box office numbers - oh wait, wasn't The Dark Knight jipped from this category last year?

· The Hurt Locker (2008)

· Inglourious Basterds (2009)

· Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009)

· Up in the Air (2009/I)

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

· (500) Days of Summer (2009)

· The Hangover (2009)

· It's Complicated (2009)

· Julie & Julia (2009)

· Nine (2009)

Many of you are probably thinking The Hangover, but I hated it. I'm stuck here between (500) Days of Summer and Nine - total opposites. Ultimately I choose Nine - an all-star cast with incredible art direction, costumes, and singing!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

· Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart (2009)

· George Clooney for Up in the Air (2009/I)

· Colin Firth-- A Single Man (2009)

I've only seen George Clooney's performance - which is great - out of all of these. But Colin Firth has been getting a lot of press for his role in A Single Man (a film I am absolutely dying to see), and I ultimately think he will receive the prize.

· Morgan Freeman for Invictus (2009)

· Tobey Maguire for Brothers (2009/I)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

· Emily Blunt for The Young Victoria (2009)

· Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side (2009)

· Helen Mirren for The Last Station (2009)

· Carey Mulligan -- An Education (2009)

I really believe it's between Emily Blunt and Carey Mulligan for this one. I've heard more press for Mulligan and saw the film (and I have been dying to see it again, but have ultimately just been reading the screenplay again). Mulligan is charming, vulnerable, intelligent and beautiful in every scene of An Education.

· Gabourey 'Gabby' Sidibe for Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

· Matt Damon for The Informant! (2009)

· Daniel Day-Lewis-- Nine (2009)

Daniel Day-Lewis really took on this character in Nine. You could see it in the way he spoke/sang and the way he carried himself - he truly embraced, in both body and mind, the difficulty this director was having in his life.

· Robert Downey Jr. for Sherlock Holmes (2009)

· Joseph Gordon-Levitt for (500) Days of Summer (2009)

· Michael Stuhlbarg for A Serious Man (2009)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

· Sandra Bullock for The Proposal (2009/I)

· Marion Cotillard for Nine (2009)

· Julia Roberts for Duplicity (2009)

· Meryl Streep for It's Complicated (2009)

· Meryl Streep -- Julie & Julia (2009)

HOW can I choose between Marion Cotillard and Meryl Streep - two of my favorite actresses?! I never thought I would have to make this choice. Ultimately, however, I choose Meryl.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

· Matt Damon for Invictus (2009)

· Woody Harrelson for The Messenger (2009/I)

· Christopher Plummer for The Last Station (2009)

· Stanley Tucci for The Lovely Bones (2009)

· Christoph Waltz --Inglourious Basterds (2009)

I haven't seen any of the four films in this category, so my vote isn't necessarily pure, but I truly believe that nobody - absolutely nobody - gave a finer performance in 2009 than Christoph Waltz.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

· Penélope Cruz for Nine (2009)

· Vera Farmiga for Up in the Air (2009/I)

· Anna Kendrick for Up in the Air (2009/I)

· Mo'Nique --Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009)

This is the most difficult category for my vote - every peformance by each woman blew me away. But, for Mo'Nique to go from comedy actress to the ulimate degree of drama in Precious is stunning. She rightfully deserves this award!

· Julianne Moore for A Single Man (2009)

Best Director - Motion Picture

· Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker (2008)

· James Cameron -- Avatar (2009)

He deserves it. And he'll win it. I'd also like to give a tip of the hat to Kathryn Bigelow - we could use more female directors (although my other nod would have gone to Lone Scherfig for An Education).

· Clint Eastwood for Invictus (2009)

· Jason Reitman for Up in the Air (2009/I)

· Quentin Tarantino for Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

· District 9 (2009): Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell

· The Hurt Locker (2008): Mark Boal

· Inglourious Basterds (2009): Quentin Tarantino

This is a tough one.. Inglorious Basterds is an incredible combination of genres and dialogue and is an original work, whereas Up in the Air (my other pick) is an adaptation. So, I'll give credit to originality here. And that fact that It's Complicated is even nominated for Best Screenplay is a joke; Nancy Meyers can suck it.

· It's Complicated (2009): Nancy Meyers

· Up in the Air (2009/I): Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner

Best Original Song - Motion Picture

· Avatar (2009): James Horner, Simon Franglen, Kuk Harrell("I See You")

· Brothers (2009/I): U2, Bono("Winter")

· Crazy Heart (2009): T-Bone Burnett, Ryan Bingham("The Weary Kind")

· Everybody's Fine (2009): Paul McCartney("(I Want To) Come Home")

· Nine (2009): Maury Yeston ("Cinema Italiano")

Although the douchebag at the NY TImes criticized this song, I loved it. The words are quick and Kate Hudson's performance is phenomenal.

Best Original Score - Motion Picture

· Avatar (2009): James Horner

· The Informant! (2009): Marvin Hamlisch

· A Single Man (2009): Abel Korzeniowski

This score is such perfection! There is always just one that really blows me away (last year: Slumdog Millionaire, 2007: Michael Clayton). And I have a feeling that this will be that film that doesn't get anything else in its cateogry except Best Score. So, here's to you, A Single Man.

· Up (2009): Michael Giacchino

· Where the Wild Things Are (2009): Carter Burwell, Karen Orzolek

Best Animated Film

· Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)

· Coraline (2009)

· Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

The only film out of this category that I've seen is Up. And, no, I don't believe it was that great. Fantastic Mr. Fox, however, deserves recognition for it's incredible animation (Pixar is always the same) and a directorial turn and challenge for Wes Anderson.

· The Princess and the Frog (2009)

· Up (2009)

Best Foreign Language Film

· Los abrazos rotos (2009)

Pedro Almodovar. Penelope Cruz. Do I really need to say more?

· Baarìa (2009)

· Das weisse Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte (2009)

· La nana (2009)

· Un prophète (2009)

Best Television Series - Drama

· "Big Love" (2006)

· "Dexter" (2006)

· "House M.D." (2004)

· "Mad Men" (2007)

· "True Blood" (2008)

This show is unlike any other. The cast, the writing, the direction.. everything is perfect and different than what you see somewhere else.

Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy

· "Entourage" (2004)

· "Glee" (2009)

· "Modern Family" (2009)

· "The Office" (2005)

· "30 Rock" (2006)

At this point I really don't want 30 Rock to win it - AGAIN. Yes, it deserves it, but it's won over and over and frankly I'm tired of it. However, I don't think Glee necessarily deserves it; after the first two episodes the first season has really lacked in the screenplays. However, it is a great idea and it is getting a lot of attention. It will get the award no matter what I think.

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

· Georgia O'Keeffe (2009) (TV)

· Grey Gardens (2009) (TV)

This'll win it. It deserves it.

· Into the Storm (2009) (TV)

· "Little Dorrit" (2008)

· Taking Chance (2009) (TV)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

· Kevin Bacon for Taking Chance (2009) (TV)

· Kenneth Branagh for "Wallander" (2008)

· Chiwetel Ejiofor for Endgame (2009)

· Brendan Gleeson -- Into the Storm (2009) (TV)

I haven't seen any of these films, but I have a feeling Brendan Gleeson will get it!

· Jeremy Irons for Georgia O'Keeffe (2009) (TV)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

· Joan Allen for Georgia O'Keeffe (2009) (TV)

· Drew Barrymore -- Grey Gardens (2009) (TV)

· Jessica Lange -- Grey Gardens (2009) (TV)

Drew Barrymore earned my respect with her performance in this film. Both Barrymore and Lange have such incredible chemistry together in this film and both embraced their roles to such an extraordinary degree. I think Lange will ultimately get it, like she did the Emmy, however, both of them deserve the award.

· Anna Paquin for The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler (2009) (TV)

· Sigourney Weaver for Prayers for Bobby (2009) (TV)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy

· Alec Baldwin -- "30 Rock" (2006)

· Steve Carell for "The Office" (2005)

· David Duchovny for "Californication" (2007)

· Thomas Jane for "Hung" (2009)

· Matthew Morrison-- "Glee" (2009)

Alec Baldwin gives a better performance, however, I have to tip my hat to Matthew Morrison. He can certainly sing and act, but I do think he overacts a bit on Glee - but Baldwin has been getting it every year. I think this is his year to get jipped!

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy

· Toni Collette --"United States of Tara" (2009)

Toni Collette is absolutely phenomenal on this television program (which deserves a nod for Best Comedy). She handles each character she plays with such depth and the writing of Diablo Cody never fails when it comes out of Collette's mouth. She got the Emmy, now give her the Globe!

· Courteney Cox for "Cougar Town" (2009)

· Edie Falco for "Nurse Jackie" (2009)

· Tina Fey for "30 Rock" (2006)

· Lea Michele for "Glee" (2009)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama

· Simon Baker for "The Mentalist" (2008)

· Michael C. Hall --"Dexter" (2006)

I've seen my fair share of Dexter, but do not watch the program religiously, but Michael C. Hall climbs into this character and his various plotlines each Season. He has gone through year after year watching this award fly by. I hope this year he gets it because he has deserved it each time.

· Jon Hamm for "Mad Men" (2007)

· Hugh Laurie for "House M.D." (2004)

· Bill Paxton for "Big Love" (2006)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama

· Glenn Close for "Damages" (2007)

· January Jones -- "Mad Men" (2007)

I have yet to see season three of Mad Men, but I have been "wow"ed by Jones' performance each season. My vote this year goes to her because Anna Paquin has already won it for True Blood. Also - aren't we all tired of hearing Kyra Sedgwick's accent on The Closer by now??

· Julianna Margulies for "The Good Wife" (2009)

· Anna Paquin for "True Blood" (2008)

· Kyra Sedgwick for "The Closer" (2005)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

· Michael Emerson-- "Lost" (2004)

This is Emerson's first Globe nomination, and he won the Emmy last year for this performance. He has created such a complex, endearing character each and every season of Lost. He deserves every bit of recognition!

· Neil Patrick Harris for "How I Met Your Mother" (2005)

· William Hurt for "Damages" (2007)

· John Lithgow for "Dexter" (2006)

· Jeremy Piven for "Entourage" (2004)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

· Jane Adams-- "Hung" (2009)

Many people I know will go for Jane Lynch, but I feel like all she really does is open her mouth for a few one-liners. Yes, they're good, but there's no substance to her character. Jane Adams, however, is so hilariously naive with her role in Hung. My other vote is for Chloe Sevigny who finally receives a nod - I've admired her since season one of Big Love, however, I hope Jane Adams will get it!

· Rose Byrne for "Damages" (2007)

· Jane Lynch for "Glee" (2009)

· Janet McTeer for Into the Storm (2009) (TV)

· Chloë Sevigny for "Big Love" (2006)

What are YOUR picks? Anything that you wanted to get nominated but didn't? Let me know in the Comments or at my Twitter page!