They say that the Golden Globes serves as a predictor of sorts for the Oscars.  If that’s the case, then we’ll be in for quite a surprise. For next year’s Globes, which are awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, it looks like it’s going to be a battle between David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Ron Howard’s Frost/Nixon.

Both films got five nominations each, including those for Best Picture and Best Director.  Doubt also took home five nominations, although these are mostly for acting.  Rounding out the drama nominees are The Reader, Revolutionary Road and Slumdog Millionaire, which took home four nods each.

In the comedy/musical side, Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona took home the most nominations, with four.  It was followed by In Bruges, which took three; and Mamma Mia!, Burn After Reading and Happy-Go-Lucky, which took two each.

On the acting side, Meryl Streep finally surpassed Jack Lemmon for having the most Globe nominations ever, taking her 22nd and 23rd for Mamma Mia! and Doubt, respectively.  Kate Winslet also took home two nominations, for The Reader and Revolutionary Road.  There are also a few surprises: Milk and The Dark Knight only took home one nomination each, for Sean Penn and the late Heath Ledger, respectively.

Then again, getting a Globe doesn’t exactly increase your chances for Oscar wins.  There’s always hope for a come-from-behind win: Crash, anyone?  The list of major film nominations are below; the awarding ceremonies will be on January 11.

Best Feature, Drama
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Feature, Comedy/Musical
Burn After Reading
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges
Mamma Mia!
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Actor, Drama
Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Best Actress, Drama
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kristin Scott Thomas, I’ve Loved You For So Long
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road

Best Actor, Comedy/Musical
Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Colin Farrell, In Bruges
James Franco, Pineapple Express
Brendan Gleeson, In Bruges
Dustin Hoffman, Last Chance Harvey

Best Actress, Comedy/Musical
Rebecca Hall, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Frances McDormand, Burn After Reading
Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia!
Emma Thompson, Last Chance Harvey

Best Supporting Actor
Tom Cruise, Tropic Thunder
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Ralph Fiennes, The Duchess
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Kate Winslet, The Reader

Best Director
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road


-Henrik Batallones, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Variety
(Images courtesy of Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures)