Despite poor reviews in the US, Atonement managed to pick up seven nominations for this year’s Golden Globes, when the shortlists were announced yesterday by Quentin Tarantino. James McAvoy and Keira Knightley are up for best actor and actress, Joe Wright for best director, Saoirse Ronan for best supporting actress, and the film&’s other nods include best film drama, best screenplay and best original score. Keira Knightley said: ‘I’m absolutely thrilled, and i’s so wonderful that the film has been nominated in so many categories. I adored making it, and am delighted for Joe, James, Saoirse and everyone involved.’
The British are well represented in all categories for both television and film. In the former, Hugh Laurie, Ricky Gervais and Minnie Driver have been nominated for House (up for best TV drama), Extras (up for best comedy series) and The Riches respectively. Anna Friel has been recognised for her role in the quirky US series Pushing Daisies. Ruth Wilson gets a nod for Jane Eyre, Jason Isaacs for The State Within, James Nesbitt for Jekyll and Jim Broadbent, Andy Serkis and Samantha Morton are all nominated for Longford. Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers has been nominated for The Tudors, which, surprisingly, is also in contention for best TV drama.
Big-screen hopefuls include Julie Christie for her performance as a woman with Alzheimer’s in Away From Her and Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood. Unlike the Oscars, the Globes separates dramatic films from musical or comedy ones, and in this latter category, the much-anticipated Sweeney Todd has done well, with a nomination for Helena Bonham Carter (as well as director Tim Burton, Johnny Depp and the film).
Predictions? Well, the acting categories will be hard fought this year, with the best actor particularly notable for its stellar performances (from George Clooney, Viggo Mortensen and Denzel Washington as well as McAvoy and Day-Lewis). I doubt Atonement will emerge as a big winner, but it’s encouraging to have it recognised nonetheless. Julie Christie stands a very good change of winning in her category (against Cate Blanchett, Angelina Jolie and Jodie Foster as well as Knightley). Sweeney Todd should win best musical or comedy, although Enchanted’s Amy Adams may prove too sweet for Miss Bonham-Carter.
On TV, don’t discount Ricky Gervais or Hugh Laurie and their series, which are both still very popular. Familiarity may count for a great deal by then, as new episodes of most series will have dried up as a result of the writers’ strike. Minnie Driver and Anna Friel shouldn’t book a plane ticket (both face insurmountable competition from established shows and beloved actresses). Ruth Wilson is in with a good chance and, as three out of five nominations for best actor are Brits, one of them should manage it!
Results will be announced on February 24, and will provide a good idea of who’ll be making off with all the awards this year. For a full list of all the nominations, go to http://www.goldenglobes.org/news/id/81
Also announced this week were the nominations for the London Film Critics’ Circle awards (to be announced on February 8), which gives recognition to film, directors and actors, with separate categories for UK movies and talent. Atonement garnered another seven nominations here, as did Control, the biopic of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis; two of them for its lead actor Sam Riley. Daniel Day-Lewis has been nominated for best actor of the year overall.
The race for UK best actress will be fierce with Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller and Helena Bonham-Carter all nominated. And Dakota Blue Richards has been rightly nominated for British breakthrough for The Golden Compass.
And there’s more reason to celebrate for Lord Attenborough as the Regional Film Critics’ Awards have been renamed in his honour. They’ll take place in January.
