GOLDEN GLOBES TONIGHT

The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, will be telecast live tonight on NBC, 8:00 p.m. (EST), it is a potential breakthrough night for movies dealing with homosexuality or transsexualism. The cowboy romance BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (homosexuality); the movie about In Cold Blood author Truman Capote, CAPOTE (a homosexual); and TRANSAMERICA (transsexuality), which is expected to catapult "Desperate Housewives" Felicity Huffman's career with a best actress award, are among the key contenders. The Globes are awarded by the relatively small Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which has about 80 members, compared with the 5,800 film professionals eligible to vote for the Oscars®. The Globes have more categories, including comedy and musical films, and TV shows. Yet, the Globes have an excellent track record at predicting the Oscars®, and winners catch momentum that can boost their chances come Oscar® night.

The members of the Association like movies that push the boundaries of movie making, and the five films nominated in the Best Dramatic Film category this year do that. They are: BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN; THE CONSTANT GARDENER; GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK; A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE; and MATCH POINT. Some would say the levity is that SirAnthony Hopkins will be honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement.

In the Best Foreign Film category, KUNG FU HUSTLE (Gong fu, Hong Kong Mandarin title) is the only film in the running not submitted to AMPAS® for a possible Oscar® nomination in that category, but it has already received awards at the Broadcast Critic's Choice Awards and the Boston Film Critics.

For more, see my Awards Page.