2006 Golden Globes Predictions

By Rachel Sexton

Film fans love this time of year as the awards season begins! As the most important precursor to the Oscars, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's Golden Globe awards are always fun and full of surprises. They're unique as well in that they feature both television and film awards and that they divide the into Drama and Musical/Comedy categories. Here are the nominees in the major motion picture categories and my predictions as to the winners.

BEST PICTURE-DRAMA

Brokeback Mountain
The Constant Gardener
Good Night, and Good Luck.
A History of Violence
Match Point

My Prediction: Proof that this was a good year for film is that this list is an excellent group, but Brokeback and Good Night will battle it out for the award. Brokeback's higher number of nominations gives it the slight edge in my opinion.

Winner: Brokeback Mountain

BEST PICTURE-MUSICAL OR COMEDY

Mrs. Henderson Presents
Pride and Prejudice
The Producers
The Squid and the Whale
Walk the Line

My Prediction: Of the three films here critics love most, Squid might be too small, so Pride and Walk are the frontrunners. Walk will probably do just that with the award as it is a drama up against comedies.
 

Winner: Walk the Line
 

BEST ACTOR-DRAMA

Russell Crowe, Cinderella Man
Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Capote
Terrence Howard, Hustle and Flow
Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain
David Strathairn, Good Night, and Good Luck

My Prediction: What a group. Howard is the blazing newcomer, Ledger moves to the front of his generation and Strathairn is the respected vet, but they'll all have a hard time beating Hoffman, who's due some well-earned recognition.
 

Winner: Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Capote

BEST ACTRESS-DRAMA

Maria Bello, A History of Violence
Felicity Huffman, Transamerica
Gwyneth Paltrow, Proof
Charlize Theron, North Country
Ziyi Zhang, Memoirs of a Geisha

My Prediction: A surprising group, as many of these are underperforming films both critically and commercially. The exception is A History of Violence, and my pick thusly is Maria Bello, a hard worker who has given excellent performances in other recent films, too.
 

Winner: Felicity Huffman, Transamerica

BEST ACTOR-MUSICAL OR COMEDY

Pierce Brosnan, The Matador
Jeff Daniels, The Squid and the Whale
Johnny Depp, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Nathan Lane, The Producers
Cillian Murphy, Breakfast on Pluto
Joaquin Phoenix, Walk the Line

My Prediction: With the combination of a dramatic role as a living legend, his own singing and great respect for the film in general, Phoenix will Walk away with it.

Winner: Joaquin Phoenix, Walk the Line
 

BEST ACTRESS-MUSICAL OR COMEDY

Judi Dench, Mrs. Henderson Presents
Keira Knightley, Pride and Prejudice
Laura Linney, The Squid and the Whale
Sarah Jessica Parker, The Family Stone
Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line

My Prediction: Based on the quality of their performances and the scope of their careers, Linney and Witherspoon have the edge. Again, as a dramatic role and the fact that she does her own singing, Witherspoon will probably prevail. But don't count out Linney.

Winner: Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line
 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

George Clooney, Syriana
Matt Dillion, Crash
Will Farrell, The Producers
Paul Giamatti, Cinderella Man
Bob Hoskins, Mrs. Henderson Presents

My Prediction: You've got a comeback (Dillion) versus a vet (Hoskins) versus unrewarded critical adoration (Giamatti). Giamatti will probably be in the front, but Clooney's excellent year both in front and behind the camera makes him a contender, too.

Winner: George Clooney, Syriana
 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Scarlett Johansson, Match Point
Shirley MacLaine, In Her Shoes
Frances McDormand, North Country
Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener
Michelle Williams, Brokeback Mountain

My Prediction: The past award winners and starlets here may all have to wait for an award. Weisz's performance in a top-notch film and her past lauded work will more than likely get her the statuette.

Winner: Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener
 

BEST DIRECTOR

Woody Allen, Match Point
George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck
Peter Jackson, King Kong
Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain
Fernando Meirelles, The Constant Gardener
Steven Spielberg, Munich

My Prediction: Some separation from the Best Picture categories is evident here, so this is a harder category to call. I love that films with important topics are well represented in all these categories, but for direction the acknowledged legends (Allen, Jackson, and Spielberg) have their awards, so Meirelles and Lee will likely be the top vote-getters. Though Lee has won before, either could win this time.

Winner: Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain

We'll see how accurate I am on January 16, 2006 when the awards are handed out.

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