Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The Hollywood Foreign Press Association this week came up with its best Golden Globes nominations in the organization's history. It's a safe bet almost all the HFPA categories will be duplicated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences' nominations in February. Advertisement Hollywood's foreign press corps, consisting of 87 voting members, has become a fairly accurate bellwether for the Oscars in recent years, reflecting a growing serious consideration of the merits of major movies. Prior to December this year both the foreign press and the academy -- with 5,000 voting members -- had slim pickings for nominees in the major categories. But there has been a surprising onslaught of worthwhile movies in the past few weeks that makes 2001 a prime year for award-worthy films. Doubtless, there will be differences between the academy's preferences and Advertisement those of foreign journalists, but many performers and films will appear on both ballots. For example, the foreign press best motion picture drama of the year includes "A Beautiful Mind," "In The Bedroom," "The Lord of the Rings," "The Man Who Wasn't There" and "Mulholland Drive." At least the first three are likely to appear on the academy's nomination list if not all five. But "The Man Who Wasn't There" and "Mulholland Drive" may not please academy members as much as they did the foreigners. There is another factor that could come into play: the foreign press provides two best picture prizes -- for drama and comedy or musical. The Golden Globe nominees for the latter are "Bridget Jones's Diary," "Gosford Park," "Legally Blonde," "Moulin Rouge" and "Shrek." The nominations are further complicated by this year's academy establishment of a new category, best animated feature film. "Shrek" fits into that category for an Oscar, which means "Shrek" could win a Globe for best comedy and an Oscar for best animated film. If anything, the Golden Globes are more discerning in awarding two honors for best picture. Historically, the academy has rewarded few comedies with Oscars, clearly deeming dramah more artistic than laughtah. Advertisement Comparing "A Beautiful Mind" with, say, "Bridget Jones's Diary" is comparing apples and oranges and puts "Bridget" at a disadvantage. The academy would do well to follow suit. Over the years only a handful of comedies have won Oscars: "It Happened One Night," "You Can't Take It With You," "Annie Hall." This year, as usual, few musicals -- if any -- were made. It is, therefore, refreshing to see "Moulin Rouge" nominated for a Globe. It is also interesting to find that Nicole Kidman deservedly has been nominated twice for Golden Globes: for best actress in a motion picture musical or comedy ("Moulin Rouge") and best actress in a drama ("The Others"). Apparently Kidman's long-running, over-publicized divorce from actor Tom Cruise has had a salubrious effect on her career. The tall, slender beauty gives surpassingly good performances in both films. Worth noting: two African-American performers are nominated for best actor in a drama: Will Smith for "Ali" and Denzel Washington in "Training Day." They face off against Russell Crowe ("A Beautiful Mind"), Kevin Spacey ("The Shipping News") and Billy Bob Thornton ("The Man Who Wasn't There"). Advertisement Former Globe winner Gene Hackman was nominated for best actor in a comedy or musical for "The Royal Tenenbaums." Also contending for that award are Hugh Jackman ("Kate & Leopold"), Ewan McGregor ("Moulin Rouge"), John Cameron Mitchell ("Hedwig and the Angry Inch") and Billy Bob Thornton ("Bandits"). Kidman squares off in the drama nomination against Halle Berry ("Monster's Ball"), Judi Dench ("Iris"), Sissy Spacek ("In The Bedroom") and Tilda Swinton ("The Deep End"). The former Mrs. Cruise faces another group of talented actresses in the best comedy or musical category: Thora Birch ("Ghost World"), Cate Blanchett ("Bandits"), Reese Witherspoon ("Legally Blonde") and Renee Zellweger ("Bridget Jones's Diary"). It is noteworthy that while movies are divided into separate Golden Globe categories, their directors are not. Thus, two directors -- Robert Altman ("Gosford Park") and Baz Luhrmann ("Moulin Rouge") -- are in against a trio of drama directors. Nominated with Altman and Luhrmann are Ron Howard for "A Beautiful Mind," Peter Jackson for "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring"), David Lynch for "Mulholland Drive," and previous winner Steven Spielberg for "Artificial Intelligence." Advertisement Members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association will vote for the winners next week with the ballots to be tallied by an accounting firm. Winners of the awards will be announced at a gala banquet at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Jan. 20, thereby setting off the start of a three-month round of back-slapping, envelope opening breathless moments for nominees and winners. More time, money and attention are paid the relatively trivial show business awards both in the United States and abroad than the election of a pope.
