The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards

Tonight's the night - the official begin of what many equate to the Triple Crown in terms of Awards Season. There are many categories - too many to consider here so I will only focus on the ones that I feel strongly about. I've done the work and seen over two thirds of the movies and shows nominated - there's still so much to see!! Here's my take on some of the biggest and controversial categories that will all be decided tonight:

Best Motion Picture - Drama

                                                                          

What might win

What should win

    

It doesn't matter if The Help was one of the best reviewed movie of the year or that it had a phenomenal cast that drove the story into the hearts of its audience. I've read the book, seen the movie twice and it still has an overwhelming effect on me. It's timeless. A treasure. A modern masterpiece. If you haven't seen it, it's the one movie of 2011 that you simply must. It's the kind of movie that makes you laugh and cry, furious and elated, hurt and proud. What more could you possibly ask for?

The case for The Decedents is strong. The cast, led by George Clooney, is strong but its the story that lends itself to such amazing performances. What The Decedents really has going for it is momentum and sometimes it all about timing. Here's to hoping that the buzz for The Help remains loud enough in the ears of the Hollywood Foreign Press because it truly is an exceptional film.

Best Performance By an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama 

Who should win: Viola Davis

Who might win: Meryl Streep

I can't promise this will be last time I will urge you to see The Help because it probably won't so just humor me. Every single performance in the entire film was above and beyond and for that, they deserve every ensemble award of the year. That being said, if there was an actor that stood out, it would be Viola Davis. She spoke the truth through Aiblene with power, dignity, and incredible humility and gave what I believe is the performance of her career. It's the kind of thing you felt when you saw it, like you were seeing a character be brought to life for the first time. It's almost haunting and will stay with me probably forever - for that alone, I believe she deserves every award she is nominated for this season. Meryl Streep is the best actress of our generation, no argument there, and I have yet to see The Iron Lady. However, I find it hard to believe that anyone can top what Ms. Davis did.

Best Performance By an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Who should win: Leonardo DiCaprio

Who might win: George Clooney

This is probably the toughest competition of the awards season as the men really came out swinging this year and gave it their all. Brad Pitt and Ryan Gosling both gave exceptional performances and any other year, the globe would be theirs (although I will say that I think Gosling got nominated for the wrong performance but I guess that's what happens when you had that good of a year!) The reason I think it will most likely come down to DiCaprio and Clooney is the nature of their performances. In The Decedents, we saw a side of  Clooney that we usually don't get to see. His portrayal of Matt King as he struggled through unimaginable circumstances with humor and what remained of his dignity was honest and oddly refreshing. On the other hand, DiCaprio was J. Edgar and the way in which he showed us that fearful inner life through his his hard, aging exterior was flawless. What gives him the slight edge over Clooney is the transformation he mad into his character - it was virtually seamless. I didn't know where Leo ended and J. Edgar began but I know what I was lost in his world right along with him. 

Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical

What should win

What might win

In the interest of full disclosure, I have not been able to see The Artist yet but if the current trend is right, this should be theirs for the taking. I have seen all of the other films and feel as though they did deserve a nod; 50/50 was funny and charmingly heart-wrenching while My Week With Marilyn was a vehicle for some outstanding performances by Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh. Speaking as a whole, however, I'd have to give my vote to Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris. A simple concept delightfully complicated in a way only Woody Allen can and while it is my favorite work of his, I still want to see The Artist. 

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

Michelle Williams

The transformation made by Michelle Williams and the innocence that she infused into her performance of Marilyn Monroe was all that we could ask for. I think she had the toughest job out of any of the performers this year, perhaps this decade. Was she Marilyn? The answer is yes and no. She didn't attempt to copy Marilyn or be Marilyn. Instead, she told the story and her truth became our reality. If anyone else wins this category, the HFP clearly were not taking into consideration the what exactly it was that Michelle Williams achieved. It would be a huge upset. 

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

Who might win: Ryan Gosling

Who should win: Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Again, I have not seen The Artist so I cannot say for sure who this will go to. However, of the performances I have seen, I was beyond taken with JGL in 50/50. His performance was understated and real in an impossible set of circumstances. He was able to make a joke and tug on the heartstrings of the audience at the same time. Who does that? I was equally impressed by Gosling in Crazy, Stupid, Love. Underneath his womanizing, perfectly polished exterior was an incredible heart that added depth and drive to the story. As I said before, he had some incredible performances this year and in this one, he got the added bonus of flexing his funny muscle. 

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

Octavia Spencer

Again, I really feel that there is no competition here. Octavia's portrayal of Minny Jackson in The Help was the perfect ying to Viola Davis' yang. She was everything a supporting actress should be while still shining in her own right. Without a doubt, she was that sassy, back-talking but fiercely loyal Minny who stole our hearts and said everything we were thinking. An honorable mention should go to Jessica Chastain who played Celia in The Help, giving an sweet, beautifully innocent performance.

That's all I'm going to cove tonight! Be sure to watch the Globes tonight at 8PM EST!!