Golden Globe predictions: 'King's Speech' or 'Social Network' to reign?

Predicting the Golden Globes is hard because the awards are bestowed by such a quirky group of foreign journalists with unusual tastes. But let's try it anyway. First the film categories.

-- Tom O'Neil

X = predicted winner

PICTURE (DRAMA)
"Black Swan"
"The Fighter"
"Inception"
"The King's Speech"
X - "The Social Network"

PREDICTION: This is a close contest between "King's Speech" and "Social Network." Members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. often like foreign-set films, especially when they involve the British aristocracy, as evidenced by past victories here by "Atonement," "The English Patient" and "Sense and Sensibility." But sometimes the foreigners strive to do the opposite – to prove how in tune they  are with hip Yankee fare such as "Avatar" last year – and "Social Network" this year? I think so, yes.


PICTURE (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
"Alice in Wonderland"
"Burlesque"
X - "The Kids Are All Right"
"Red"
"The Tourist"

PREDICTION: "Kids" is the only movie on this list that has any hope of an Oscar nomination for best picture, so it'll probably prevail. But is it really a comedy?


DIRECTOR
Darren Aronofsky, "Black Swan"
X - David Fincher, "Social Network"
Tom Hooper, "The King's Speech"
Christopher Nolan, "Inception"
David O. Russell, "The Fighter"

PREDICTION: Unlike Oscar voters, Globe voters often spread the wealth and reward helmers of films that don't win best picture. But I don't think that's going to happen this year.


ACTOR (DRAMA)
Jesse Eisenberg, "The Social Network"
X - Colin Firth, "The King's Speech"
James Franco, "127 Hours"
Ryan Gosling, "Blue Valentine"
Mark Wahlberg, "The Fighter"

PREDICTION: Firth hasn't lost a single award yet this season – and he's not going to lose this one, or any other, en route to the Oscar crown.

 

'The Social Network' wins Critics' Choice Movie Award for best film

 
 
As expected, "The Social Network" won the Critics' Choice Movie Award for best film of 2010 on Friday evening, along with the best director award for David Fincher, best adapted screenplay for Aaron Sorkin and best score for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The drama about the birth of Facebook has won the majority of critics honors this year, including the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn., New York Film Critics Circle and National Society of Film Critics. It's nominated for six Golden Globe Awards and earlier in the week earned nominations from the Producers Guild of America, the Writers Guild of America and the Directors Guild of America.

However, it was not the evening's biggest winner by trophy count.  That distinction went to Christopher Nolan's enigmatic thriller "Inception," which took home six awards from the Broadcast Film Critics Assn.: best action film; cinematography for Wally Pfister; art direction for Guy Henrix Dyas, Larry Dias and Doug Mowat;  editing for Lee Smith; and for visual effects and sound.

Best actor went to Oscar front-runner Colin Firth for "The King's Speech." The historical drama also won best original screenplay for David Seidler. Natalie Portman took best actress honors for the psychological thriller "Black Swan." Christian Bale and Melissa Leo won best supporting actor and actress for their work in "The Fighter," which won the best ensemble award. And 14-year-old Hailee Steinfeld's breakout work in "True Grit" landed her the best young actor/actress award.

"Toy Story 3" won best animated feature, and "Easy A" took home the best comedy honors. Tim Burton's box office hit "Alice in Wonderland" won best costume design for Colleen Atwood as well as best makeup.

"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" earned best foreign-language film honors, while "Waiting for 'Superman,' " was named best documentary.  Best song honors went to "If I Rise" from "127 Hours,"  music by A.R. Rahman and lyrics by Dido Armstrong and Rollo Armstrong. The sole TV honor -- best television movie -- went to HBO's miniseries "The Pacific."

The awards were handed out at the Hollywood Palladium and telecast on VH1.

— Susan King

 

Photo: Jesse Eisenberg, Brenda Song and Andrew Garfield in "The Social Network." Credit: Merrick Morton/Columbia Tristar.

American Cinema Editors announce Eddie nominees in film, TV and documentary

 

 

The American Cinema Editors announced  its nominees Friday morning for the 61st annual Eddie Awards in film, TV and documentaries.

Nominated for best-edited feature film (dramatic) are Andrew Weisblum, A.C.E.,  for "Black Swan"; Pamela Martin for "The Fighter";  Lee Smith, A.C.E., for "Inception"; Tariq Anwar for "The King's Speech";  and Angus Wall, A.C.E., and Kirk Baxter for "The Social Network."

Nominees for best-edited feature film (comedy or musical) are Chris Lebenzon, A.C.E., for "Alice in Wonderland";  Susan Littenberg for "Easy A"; Jeffrey M. Werner for "The Kids Are All Right"; Michael Parker for "Made in Dagenham'; and Jonathan Amos and  Paul Machliss for "Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World."

Best-edited animated feature film nominees are Gregory Perler and Pam Ziegenhagen  for "Despicable Me"; Maryann Brandon, A.C.E., and  Darren T. Holmes, A.C.E., for "How to Train Your Dragon"; and Ken Schretzmann and Lee Unkrich, A.C.E., for "Toy Story 3."

On the TV side, nominees for best-edited half-hour series are Brian A. Kates, A.C.E. , for the pilot of "The Big C"; Jonathan Schwartz for the "Family Portrait" episode of "Modern Family"; and Anne McCabe for the "Years of Service" installment of "Nurse Jackie."

Best-edited one-hour series for commercial TV nominees are Kelly Dixon for the "Sunset" episode of "Breaking Bad"; Mark Conte, A.C.E., for the "I Can't" installment of "Friday Night Lights";  Bradley Buecker, Doc Crotzer, Joe Leonard and John Roberts for the "Journey" episode of "Glee"; Scott Vickery, A.C.E., for the "Running" episode of "The Good Wife"; and Hunter Via for the "Days Gone By" episode of "The Walking Dead."

Vying for best-edited one-hour series for non-commercial TV are Sidney Wolinsky, A.C.E., for the pilot of "Boardwalk Empire"; Louis Cioffi, A.C.E., for the "Dexter" episode "Take It!";  and Kate Sanford, A.C.E., and Alexander Hall for the "Do You Know What It Means" episode of "Treme."

Best-edited miniseries or motion picture for TV nominees are Marta Evry, A.C.E., and  Alan Cody, A.C.E., for the "Okinawa" episode of "The Pacific"; Leo Trombetta, A.C.E., for "Temple Grandin";  and Aaron Yanes for "You Don't Know Jack."

Nominees for best-edited documentary are Tom Fulford  and Chris King for "Exit Through the Gift Shop"; Chad Beck and Adam Bolt for "Inside Job"; and Jay Cassidy, A.C.E., Greg Finton and Kim Roberts for "Waiting for 'Superman.'"

Best-edited reality show contenders are Kelly Coskran and Josh Earl for "The Deadliest Catch" episode "Redemption Day"; Rob Goubeau, Jeremy Gantz, Hilary Scratch, Ken Yankee, Mark S. Andrew, A.C.E., Heather Miglin, John Skaare and Paul J. Coyne for the "Colusa High" episode of "If You Really Knew Me"; and Yvette Mangassarian-Amirian, Eric Myerson, Michael Caballero, David Michael Maurer and Edward Salier, A.C.E., for the "Whale Wars 3" episode "Vendetta."

Writer-director Christopher Nolan will receive the ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award. Two career achievements will be announced next week.

The winners will be announced at the 61st annual ACE awards ceremony Feb. 19 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

-- Susan King

Photo: Mia Wasikowska in "Alice in Wonderland."

Credit: Disney Enterprises