**My winners are in BOLD**

BEST DRAMA
American Gangster
Not in my top 7 dramas, but good nonetheless.

Atonement
Easily the front runner when it comes to award shows. Romance, war, star-power=hard to beat.

Eastern Promises
Good to see Cronenberg getting some love. Not a chance to win, although it is a great film, but not a chance to pull this upset off.

The Great Debaters
Behold the power of Oprah. If she can get Barrack Obama on top of Hillary Clinton, she can get a movie a Golden Globe award. I still haven’t seen the directorial debut of Denzel Washington. Word is it’s really good, could be a latecomer that makes a big splash.

Michael Clayton
Another drama that’s managed to stick around and keep the buzz going. A critical favorite, but doubtful to win the big one.

No Country for Old Men
Easily THE critical favorite. This has been buzzed about since the Cannes Film Festival, and for good reason. I’d put No Country a close second to win the category.

There Will Be Blood
My favorite film of the category. Along with No Country, this movie is an instant classic. Daniel Day-Lewis is a lock, but can such a dark, different movie win over the competition? I hope so, but doubt it.

BEST MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Across the Universe
Are you kidding me? Decent movie, but top five musicals or comedies? Wait until you see what was left off of this list, then consider this is on it. Disgusting.

Charlie Wilson’s War
If Aaron Sorkin goes to the bathroom, someone will be there to throw a parade. I like Sorkin too, and I haven’t seen the movie yet, but something tells me this star-powered, Mike Nichols pic was getting this nod no matter what.

Hairspray
I liked Hairspray for the fun, silly little movie it was. But no way would I honor it with an award.

Juno
I have yet to see Juno, but I’m told it’s an instant classic.

Sweeny Todd
Everybody with me – “Ovvvveeeeerrr Raaaaaattteeeeeeddd!” I love everyone involved with this movie, but it just doesn’t add up. At times, it’s even a borefest!

**JUST A COUPLE NOTES HERE. WHERE IS “SUPERBAD?” WHERE IS “KNOCKED UP?” WHERE, IN THE NAME OF EVERYTHING THAT IS HOLY IN CINEMA, IS “ONCE????” BY FAR THE BIGGEST HIT OF THE YEAR WHEN IT COMES TO INDIE CINEMA, A MOVIE THAT REDEFINED THE MUSICAL, AND IT DOESN’T GET A BEST MUSICAL NOD. THIS CATEGORY IS A JOKE. PLUS, THE MOVIE WASN’T EVEN NOMINATED IN THE ORIGINAL SONG CATEGORY!! INSTEAD, SOME LAME CRAP FROM *ENCHANTED* WILL BE PERFORMED AT THE SHOW. THE HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. NOW LETS GET IT TOGETHER AND MOVE ON.

BEST ACTRESS - DRAMA
Cate Blanchett in “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”
Like it’s really hard for her at this point? Where’s Seth Rogen’s nomination for Superbad, then?

Julie Christie in “Away from Her”
Solid performance, pretty gut-wrenching movie. Could translate to award material.

Jodie Foster in “The Brave One”
Wow, I’m shocked with this one. Are we really considering this performance one of the TOP FIVE OF THE YEAR! She did fine, but TOP FIVE? Ridiculous!

Angelina Jolie in “A Mighty Heart”
This is my favorite female performance of the year. Angelina plays the wife of slain WSJ reporter Daniel Pearl. The moment she hears her husband’s fate is one of those paralyzing moments in movies. She’s outstanding, but I don’t think she’ll win.

Keira Knightly in “Atonement”
Ladies and Gentlemen, our winner. Star power plus favorite film plus top-notch performance means Golden Globe.

BEST ACTOR – DRAMA
George Clooney in “Michael Clayton”
Solid performance from George, but he won’t win.

Daniel Day-Lewis in “There Will Be Blood”
If there were ever a lock for an actor to win everything he is nominated in, it would be Daniel Day-Lewis for his performance in this movie. One of the best EVER. And I’m not exaggerating. If he does not win, it’s a crime against cinema.

James McAvoy in “Atonement”
Great performance, but wrong year to be nominated against Day-Lewis.

Viggo Mortensen in “Eastern Promises”
I love the name Viggo. It just rolls off the tongue. Try it – Viggo! Anyway, he’s great, but not gonna do it.

Denzel Washington in “American Gangster”
Like Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth, standard procedure for him. This is a “let’s get the audience to watch the show” nomination. I hope he smacks his drink off the table when he loses.

BEST DIRECTOR
Tim Burton for “Sweeny Todd”
See above notes. Just standard for him, nothing exceptional.

The Coen Bros. for “No Country”
The dudes. I’d love to see them win this.

Julian Schnabel for “Diving Bell and the Butterfly”
A late critical surge. Could be a dark horse.

Ridley Scott for “American Gangster”
Good, fun flick, but Best Director? Ha!

Joe Wright for “Atonement”
Will battle it out with the Coens, but could win it.

**JUST ANOTHER QUICK RANT. YET ANOTHER JOKE CATEGORY WITH OMISSION OF PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON FOR “THERE WILL BE BLOOD.” BY FAR THE MOST AMBITIOUS AND WELL CONSTRUCTED FILM OF 2007, COMPLETE WITH THE BEST PERFORMANCE THE MOVIES HAVE PRODUCED IN DECADES. WHAT MORE DOES A DIRECTOR HAVE TO DO TO GET SOME LOVE?

BEST ACTOR – COMEDY/MUSICAL
Johnny Depp in “Sweeny Todd”
Fine performance, but nothing exceptional for him.

Tom Hanks in “Charlie Wilson’s War”
Haven’t seen it, but again, if Tom Hanks blows his nose, someone will be there with a plaque to commend it.

Ryan Gosling in “Lars and the Real Girl”
I’m shocked someone remembered this movie. Good for Ryan, he’s a fine actor.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman in “The Savages”
Surprised this movie didn’t get more love, but PSH is always going to be recognized.

John C. Reilly in “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story”
The shocker of the category, but just like regular folks, the Hollywood Foreign Press must love John C. He’s slowly become one of the most respected comic actors out there. I hope he wins, he deserves it.

BEST ACTRESS – COMEDY/MUSICAL
Amy Adams in “Enchanted”
Need families to watch award show.

Nikki Blonsky in “Hairspray”
Newcomer was outstanding in this one.

Helena Bonham Carter in “Sweeny Todd”
Overrated performance. She’s good, but standard good.

Marion Cotillard in “La Vie de Rose”
Didn’t see it, and neither did you!

Ellen Page in “Juno”
Didn’t see it yet, but she will win this. Gut feeling.

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Casey Affleck in “Jesse James”
Going head to head with the next bad boy. He should lose, but it’ll be close.

Javier Bardem in “No Country”
Simply put – the man. The best onscreen villain since Hannibal Lecter. He should win.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman in “Charlie Wilson’s War”
Again, haven’t seen it. But PSH always getting some love.

John Travolta in “Hairspray”
Yeah, you read that right. Is this some kind of joke? Lol.

Tom Wilkinson in “Michael Clayton”
Does anybody else think of My Blue Heaven when they hear the name Tom Wilkinson? Hilarious. He’s good, as usual.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett in “I’m Not There”
Watch John C. Reilly do Bob Dylan in Dewey Cox, then you’ll see why it’s so easy. I hope she arrives in character, however.

Saoirse Ronan in “Atonement”
She is fantastic, should win easily. Love her performance.

Julia Roberts in “Charlie Wilson’s War”
Haven’t seen it.

Amy Ryan in “Gone Baby Gone”
Pretty good performance, I’m not going nuts over it.

Tilda Swinton in “Michael Clayton”
She could read me the newspaper and I would love it. One of the best, most underrated actresses alive. She won’t win, however. Saoirse will take it.

***Quick roundup of the rest:

-Look for “Juno” to take Best Screenplay with “No Country” a close second. Again, “There Will Be Blood” being snubbed in the category renders it a “joke” category. Too much great dialogue and drama in that film to be overlooked when it comes to scriptage.

-Animated film will go to “Ratatouille” over “Bee Movie” and “Simpsons.”

-“Persepolois” missed out on that one, it got a Foreign Language nod, as did the U.S. made “The Kite Runner.” Weird.

-Original Score must go to “Atonement.” Although Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood was snubbed for “There Will Be Blood.” Scam.

-Best Song should go to every song in “Once.” But the HFP didn’t see that movie, I guess. Instead, I hope John C. Reilly wins for “Walk Hard.” Hilarious.

The full list of noms can be found at the HFP website, goldenglobes.org.