Golden Globes 2008: Atonement leads nominations
Story by Jack Foley
JOE Wright’s acclaimed adaptation of Ian McEwan’s Atonement, starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, has emerged as the hot favourite at the 2008 Golden Globe Awards after nabbing a total of seven nominations.
The picture is in the running for best film (drama), best actor (McAvoy), best actress (Knightley) and best director (Wright), as well as for best supporting actor (Saoirse Ronan), best screenplay (Christopher Hampton) and best original score (Dario Marianelli).
The film tells of an ill-fated love affair that unfolds before and during World War II.
The British film, financed by Working Title Pictures, is now seen as one of the lead contenders for Oscar glory as well. But in what proved to be a good day for the Brits, several stars from the world of TV and film emerged on the shortlists.
Helena Bonham Carter was nominated in the best performance by an actress in a film (Musical or Comedy) for Sweeney Todd, Julie Christie was shortlisted as best actress (drama) for Away From Her and Daniel Day-Lewis is in the running for best actor (dramatic) for Paul Thomas Anderson’s comeback film, There Will Be Blood. Tom Wilkinson is also nominated for his supporting role in Michael Clayton.
On the filmmaking front, Atonement‘s Wright faces competition from fellow Brit Sir Ridley Scott for his crime epic, American Gangster, which also delivered Denzel Washington a best actor nod.
On TV, Hugh Laurie picked up another nomination for House, Ricky Gervais was shortlisted for Extras and Minnie Driver earned a best actress nod for The Riches.
The Golden Globes are handed out annually by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and is viewed as one of the main events in the run-up to the Oscars on February 24.
Other early favourites in the film categories include the Coen Brothers’ No Country For Old Men, which has already been named best film by the National Board of Review and the New York Critics’ Circle.
It’s in the running for best film, best director(s), best screenplay and best supporting actor (for Javier Bardem).
George Clooney’s latest thriller Michael Clayton attracted four nominations (including nods for best film, best actor and best supporting actor) and political satire Charlie Wilson’s War gained five (including best comedy actor for Tom Hanks, best supporting actor for Philip Seymour Hoffman and best supporting actress for Julia Roberts).
The seven pictures in the running for best film are: Sir Ridley Scott’s American Gangster, David Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises, the Coen brothers’ No Country for Old Men, Atonement, Denzel Washington’s The Great Debaters, Michael Clayton and Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood.
Three musicals feature in the race for best comedy or musical – Beatles-themed Across The Universe, Hairspray and Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd.
TV shortlist
Despite some lukewarm reviews and the odd changing of history, historical saga The Tudors, a co-production between the BBC and HBO, featured prominently on the TV section with nods for best TV drama and best actor for troubled star Jonathan Rhys Meyers.
Ricky Gervais’s sitcom Extras is nominated for best comedy, while British actress Ruth Wilson was recognised with a nomination for BBC drama Jane Eyre.
British actors Jim Broadbent, Andy Serkis and Samantha Morton were also nomainted for their work on Channel 4’s Longford. And former Cold Feet star James Nesbitt attracted a nod for Jekyll.
Gervais faces some tough competition in both the best actor (comedy) and best show (comedy) categories – vying against the likes of Alec Baldwin and David Duchovny for the shows 30 Rock and Californication respectively.
While The Tudors faces competition in the best dramatic TV series from Big Love, Damages, Grey’s Anatomy, House and Mad Men.
The nominations were announced jointly by Death Proof director Quentin Tarantino, actor Ryan Reynolds and Heroes star Hayden Panettiere on Thursday (December 13, 2007) at the Beverly Hilton.
The awards will be presented at a glittering ceremony to be held on January 13 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.