It's my favorite time of year, awards season. Here are my prediction for the Golden Globes. For fun I've listed who I think a) will, and b) who should win.

BEST MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
a) Up in the Air - It has the most buzz and has a recession appropriate theme.
b) The Hurt Locker - This film spares nothing, and has great acting from all three leads as well as excellent cameos from Guy Pierce, Ralph Fiennes, Christian Camargo.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
a) Helen Mirren, The Last Station - The HFPA love to award celebrity and lets face it, period films as well.
b) Emily Blunt, The Young Victoria - She truly held the picture together and didn't let the costumes or set pieces overwhelm her. I loved that she was able to show vulnerability without being too weak.
(Note: If Carey Mulligan wins, I will literally tear out my hair; the girl cannot act. She played the same character in An Education as she played in The Seagull which coincidentally starred Peter Saarsgaard in a similar role.)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
a) George Clooney, Up in the Air - Once again, the lure of a celebrity is too great for those Brits who run the HFPA. To his credit, Clooney did act the best I've ever seen, but sadly his best isn't the same league previous winners.
b) Colin Firth, A Single Man - A beautifully subtle actor, whose acting is sadly too subtle to catch the attention of the HFPA.

BEST MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
a) (500) Days of Summer - The HFPA loves quirky feel good films films (re: Vicky, Christina, Barcelona)
b) Nine - This whole movie is like a Steven Meisel or Patrick Demarchelier editorial. Simple gorgeous and Rob Marshall is able to make even Fergie appear an actress.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
a) Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia - She is even more outrageous than the real Julia Child. Once again the quirk factor.
b) Marion Cotillard, Nine - The is able to show such range of emotion with just her eyes. Her portrayal of Luisa Contini is regal and heartbreaking.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
a) and b) Michael Stuhlbarg, A Serious Man - There is a great scene where Larry has just been told the Rabbi Marshak won't see him though he is clearly unoccupied to which Larry exasperated and almost on the verge or crying or laughing states "But he's not doing anything." Stuhlbarg is able to invoke the image of a child stamping his foot when he doesn't get candy. Truly brilliant. However, Stuhlbarg is a bit full of himself in person.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
a) and b) Up - If possible a film that lived up to WallE. The introduction with the story of Carl and Ellie is just beautiful storytelling. This should actually be in Musical or Comedy category...it's much better than most of the other nominations.

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
a) Broken Embraces (Spain) - Almodovar is a favorite of the critics.
b) The White Ribbon (Germany) - The German's make nice subtle films. Even if they do all have Nazi or Communist undertones.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
• Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air - The scene in which she breaks down after revealing she was dumped via txt is hilarious.
• Penélope Cruz, Nine - She won an Oscar so she won't win for awhile, but her decision to wear no makeup in the scene after her attempted suicide was brave and paid off in spades. Her comic timing is also excellent.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
a) and b) Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds - A favorite of critics and the fans. The Heath Ledger of this year (but not to the same extent).

BEST DIRECTOR
a) James Cameron, Avatar - A worthy successor to Titanic. I give him credit, there were times I forgot I was watching 3D which is a first for me since usually the gimmick of 3D suspends the disbelief.
b) Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker - Not only did Bigelow get ovation worthy performances from the three leads, but she maintained the tension throughout the film without throwaway high octane tricks favored by other war movies directors (that's you Mr. Spielberg).

BEST SCREENPLAY
a) Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker - As mentioned, the film moves along at a pace befitting the content and allows us to see enough of the soldiers' anxiousness and despair without becoming cliched.
b) Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, District 9 - A parable about the relocation of Distict 6 in Cape Town using aliens could have gone badly awry. This treatment didn't and impressed both critics and audiences.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
a) James Horner, Avatar - The music is sweeping and grand befitting the movie, but had too many harmonies that sounded like they came from Titanic
b) Karen O and Carter Burwell, Where the Wild Things Are - Bittersweet and enchanting. I almost bought the soundtrack after leaving the theater.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
a) "I Want to Come Home," Music & Lyrics by Paul McCartney (Everybody's Fine) - Bruce Springsteen won last year. Time to reward fading folk singers.
b) "The Weary Kind," Music & Lyrics by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett (Crazy Heart) - I like songs with strong guitar backing and the HFPA does often as well.

BEST TELEVISION SERIES, DRAMA
a) Mad Men - Mad Men has become the Lost of this year, watercooler talk revolves around Don crying, and Betty cheating. In its own right the acting and styling of this show are superior.
b) Dexter - This show is ridiculously well written and addictive to watch. Showtime has another winner.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES, DRAMA
a) Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife - This year the talk has swung back to network television. The Good Wife in particular was a apt show given the moral health of American politicians this year.
b) Glen Close, Damages - Cruella DeVille for adults. She is delicious as the partner of a top litigation firm.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES, DRAMA
a) Jon Hamm, Mad Men - Men want to be him, and women want to be with him. Jon Hamm does give a layered performance as Don Draper, and these season especially has shown a depth of emotion and angst previously unseen.
b) Michael C. Hall, Dexter - It could be very easy to make Dexter Morgan cartoonish, but Hall's interpretation humanizes him without making you ever entirely too comfortable with him.

BEST TELEVISION SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
a) Modern Family - The format feeds off the success of The Office. While the show has excellent one-liners, I don't think it has staying power.
b) Glee - This show has single handedly re-energized MT. This is the first show in a long time that doesn't worry about becoming the 'next' big thing but enjoys just being the campy song fest that it is.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
a) Toni Collette, United States of Tara - Toni Collette has an impressive body of work, and while I haven't seen her in this, I imagine it she turns in another knockout performance. Also if nothing else the HFPA will want to honor her for her past credits.
b) Tina Fey, 30 Rock - Truly the wonder woman of television and comedy. Sadly she's been honoured so often the judges will want some new blood.


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
a) Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock - The man is hilarious, and like Steve Carrell's Michael Scott make an ass look like a decent guy.
b) David Duchovny, Californication - Some people may say this character isn't a stretch for him, but I think he does a fine job skirting the line from loveable to hateable.

BEST MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
a) & b) Grey Gardens - Haven't seen it, I just have a feeling about this one.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
a) Joan Allen, Georgia O'Keefe - She got rave review on Broadway for "Impressionism" so I'm going to take a guess and say the Jeremy Irons chemistry translates off stage as well.
b) Jessica Lange, Grey Gardens - I like crazy people, what can I say?

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
a) Jeremy Irons, Georgia O'Keefe
b) Brendan Gleeson, Into the Storm

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
a) Rose Byrne, Damages - She's grown up a lot from the ingenue to a shark in her own right this season.
b) Janet McTeer, Into the Storm - I love Janet McTeer. A lot.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
a) John Lithgow, Dexter - As Trinity he was pretty amazing.
b) Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother - Barney single handedly makes this show legend---wait for it---ary!