Have Globes upped Cate and Abigail to lead races?
(NOTE ADDED ON 11/21 — While much of the info in this report below turns out to be accurate, two key details are no longer true: "Volver" will not compete in the comedy lineup and Cate Blanchett will be eligible in supporting, not lead, for "Notes on a Scandal." At least one of these changes was made as a result of a studio appeal, but I don't know what's behind my erroneous report that "Volver" would be deemed a comedy. Perhaps my source was misinformed, but, strangely, he got all other info correct prior to at least one appeals flip-flop. Maybe two. Here's the original report —)
If a tip-off I just received from a usually trusty source turns out to be true, the qualification committee of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is really shaking up the Golden Globes derby.
Rumor has it that the panel has pooh-poohed Fox Searchlight's plea to put Cate Blanchett into the supporting actress race for "Notes on a Scandal." Instead, she'll compete for best lead drama actress opposite costar Judi Dench — and herself, too, as star of "The Good German."
The panel has also nixed the studio's recommendation to put "Little Miss Sunshine" star Abigail Breslin in supporting. Instead, she'll be in the lead race for comedy/musical actresses where she'll compete against — hold your horses, Derbyites; this news is a doozy — Penelope Cruz. Apparently, the panel believes that "Volver" is a comedy (even though that corpse in a freezer is no laughing matter), but don't expect to it to be nommed for best comedy/musical picture. Being in Spanish, it's not qualified for that race, just the separate category for best foreign-language film.
In the race for best lead comedy/musical actress, Breslin and Cruz will compete against Meryl Streep ("The Devil Wears Prada"), Annette Bening ("Running with Scissors"), Renee Zellweger ("Miss Potter"), Catherine O'Hara ("For Your Consideration" — unless the HFPA put her in supporting, which I haven't heard any tattle about), Kirsten Dunst ("Marie Antoinette") and Dakota Fanning ("Charlotte's Web").
Plus Beyonce Knowles, but not "Dreamgirls" costar Jennifer Hudson. This is great news for Hudson fans who are cheering her on for the supporting Oscar, which she'll now probably win after nabbing the supporting Globe first. Had HFPA hiked Hudson to the lead race, it could've caused huge kudos chaos.
HPFA will not release final word about which categories films have been placed in until close to the announcement of nominees on Dec. 14. Nonetheless, I have formally asked HFPA to comment on this news we've heard and I expect a response on Monday.
Photos: Fox Searchlight/ Sony Pictures Classics/ DreamWorks-Paramount
well; i laughed several times through Volver....
Posted by: teri | November 26, 2006 at 03:19 PM
Day after day, I feel that “The Good German” is going to the top.
Do you feel the same as me?
Posted by: Flapp | November 22, 2006 at 07:27 PM
Orlando I totally agree with you on that one. However, I think the reason is because then the awards would never end. But they should seriously consider it.
Also the Acadmey could also consider dividing its categories into Comedy and Drama. Might make the playing field even. (And save the technical awards for a sep. broadcast like the Tonys)
Posted by: Seth Federman | November 21, 2006 at 06:19 AM
Actually, EDouglas, Keisha Castle-Hughes did NOT get a Golden Globe nomination. She just got an SAG nod for Supporting Actress and then the AMPAS nod for Lead.
Anyway, this Dench/Blanchett as Lead news reminds me of Ledger/Gyllenhaal, since the latter also had Jarhead, and thereby had votes siphoned away by his co-star AND himself. And I believe Blanchett will do the same.
So Tom, any idea what Gretchen Mol for The Notorious Bettie Page is? (I think she MAY be able to pull off a surprise nom, a la Cillian Murphy for Breakfast on Pluto, whom I predicted anyway.) I'm thinking she'll be Drama, even though early on we speculated Comedy/Musical. It's light and fluffy, but it makes more sense as a Drama--especially if Venus is there too. So could you find that out please? Thanks.
Oh, and on that note--did HFPA accept Peter O'Toole in Drama? I seriously hope not, but I guess it's better that way.
Other ones I'm curious about: Ashley Judd (Come Early Morning), Guy Pearce (lead or supporting?), Catherine O'Hara (lead or supporting?), Gael Garcia Bernal (The Science of Sleep--C/M Lead Actor is SO weak, I wouldn't be surprised =P).
Thanks for your consistent and accurate reporting Tom. You're the most trustworthy source for us fellow Oscar-nerds!
Posted by: James | November 21, 2006 at 03:13 AM
Its always exciting to see how well the Globes can be the early precursor of the Oscars even though its not always considered to be as "serious" as the others. By shaking up a bit here and there, Globes can always be fun and adventurous in determining the nominees. Its fun to see fresh faces to grace the nominations rather than the familiars.
Massive supports for Jennifer Hudson is probably the most exciting thing ever happened in long history of award seasons. Globes can help her winning Oscar by cleverly put her in supporting. Remember Oscar winners Jennifer Conelly and Catherine Z.J? By perfectly put her is supporting,Jennifer won the Globes and Oscars but flunked at the SAG in lead while Catherine Z J lost to Renee by wrongly put her in lead but excelled at the Oscars in supporting.
p.s I still appreciate the Globes for their effort to appreciate Mulholland Drive.
Posted by: Kuala Lumpur, a fan of jennifer Hudson from Malaysia | November 21, 2006 at 12:13 AM
Hm... Actually I thought the corpse in the freezer was one of the funniest things about "Volver." In fact, I was expecting Cruz to get rid of the body by chopping it into little cubes, applying the requisite spices, and then serving them to the local film crew.(I guess my imagination can get a little wilder than Almodovar's...)
Now, I'd say "Volver" is a dramatic comedy. It's true that the Foreign Press members have made some pretty bizarre comedy/musical/drama choices in the past, but "Volver" is one picture that could be placed in either category.
It can't be nominated for Best Comedy/Musical, right? Only U.S. (or English-language) films are allowed, I believe. Or??
Posted by: andre | November 20, 2006 at 11:53 PM
Well, leading or supporting, I want a double nom for Blanchett!
And one more question: did you think about Streep and Bening going for SUPPORTING?
Posted by: Flapp | November 20, 2006 at 06:46 PM
all i gotta say is: Hudson's got the Oscar wrapped up...and hopefully Breslin, will get a nod for Supporting in the SAGs and Oscars.
Posted by: sam coffey | November 20, 2006 at 01:57 PM
Wait - Marie Antoinnette was a comedy? Huh? I guess Sofia should have put the guillotine scene in there after all!
Posted by: Larry | November 20, 2006 at 01:15 PM
Volver is definitely a comedy and I'm glad they're moving Penelope there... but I'm very confused by the other moves. If the HFPA does something, does the Academy immediately follow suit? I don't think Abigail has much of a chance getting into the lead category against such stalwarts, though I guess it happened with Keisha Castle-Hughes and Whale Rider. I think Cate Blanchett will get into any category they decide for Notes on a Scandal...but would that rule her out as lead for Good German? (which really is more of a supporting role... oh, the confusion!!!)
I'm surprised that everyone is ignoring Maggie Gyllenhaal in the lead race for Sherrybaby, especially after IFC sent out hundreds of DVD screeners to make sure everyone has seen it.
Posted by: EDouglas | November 20, 2006 at 06:58 AM
So Diaz for "The Holiday" is out? Again... What a pity (I thought she was great!) :(
Posted by: Sean | November 20, 2006 at 01:24 AM
Yes, of course, Orlando -- I've clarified that in the item. TX
Posted by: Tom O'Neil | November 19, 2006 at 09:46 PM
Oh I hope so much that Abigail Breslin can break through into the Lead Actress in a Comedy/Musical race. HFPA, Abigail needs your help!
Posted by: intensity1234 | November 19, 2006 at 09:39 PM
There's not such category as "Supporting Actress Comedy/Musical". It's just "Supporting Actress". And I always believed Volver was a Comedy. It's a very dark comedy though (It's actually an author's movie but I see it more as a Comedy than as a drama), and I don't know if I was the only who actually laughed in the scenes involving the dead corpse in the freezer.
Posted by: Orlando Cuculiza | November 19, 2006 at 08:44 PM