Globe-Trotters

Early this morning, the nominees for the 63rd Annual Golden Globes, were announced. The awards recognize the best achievements in both film and television of the past year...as determined by members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Here is the list of the motion picture nominees* as posted on Zap2it.com:

*Editor's Note: Since The Last Reel is primarily a movie blog-I decided to concentrate on the nominee's represented by that industry. The complete list of nominees can be be on Zap2it just the same.

Best Picture - Drama

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

Best Picture - Musical or Comedy

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

Best Actor - Drama

Russell Crowe, "Cinderella Man"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Capote"
Terrence Howard, "Hustle & Flow"
Heath Ledger, "Brokeback Mountain"
David Straithairn, "Good Night, and Good Luck"

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"

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"

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"

Best Supporting Actor

George Clooney, "Syriana"
Matt Dillon, "Crash"
Will Ferrell, "The Producers"
Paul Giamatti, "Cinderella Man"
Bob Hoskins, "Mrs. Henderson Presents"

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"

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"

Best Screenplay

Woody Allen, "Match Point"
George Clooney and Grant Heslov, "Good Night, and Good Luck"
Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco, "Crash"
Tony Kushner, "Munich"
Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana, "Brokeback Mountain"

Best Original Score

Alexandre Desplat, "Syriana"
James Newton Howard, "King Kong"
Gustavo Santaolalla, "Brokeback Mountain"
Harry Gregson-Williams, "The Chronicles of Narnia"
John Williams, "Memoirs of a Geisha"

Best Original Song

"A Love that Will Never Grow Old," from "Brokeback Mountain"
"Christmas in Love," from "Christmas in Love"
"There's Nothing Like a Show on Broadway," from "The Producers"
"Travelin' Thru," from "Transamerica"
"Wunderkind," from "The Chronicles of Narnia"

Best Foreign-Language Film

"Kung Fu Hustle" (Hong Kong)
"The Promise" (China)
"Merry Christmas" (France)
"Paradise Now" (Palestine)
"Tsotsi" (South Africa)

The real surprise about the list was the fact that the higher profile studio films like Munich and King Kong were outdone by smaller independent movies, like Good Night And Good Luck, as well as Brokeback Mountain. If the "Globes" are indeed a preview of the Oscar race that is to come--then this year should prove quite interesting indeed. The Golden Globes will be handed out live on NBC Monday January 16th 2006.