A couple of hours have passed since the Golden Globe nominations were announced, and yet even with the extra time to mull things over, I still feel about the same as I did when I first saw the list: kinda baffled. They're all over the place! James Franco now has a major award nomination from a movie about pot! There's a category that's basically Neil Patrick Harris vs. HBO! Things are nutty this year. Here are a few of my snap judgments:

  • First of all: This is going to be one awfully fun group of people drinking in a room together. Brad and Angelina, both nominees; Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes, another happy and multiply-nominated couple; Mickey Rourke and Meryl Streep and Colin Farrell and Frances McDormand all together; Tom freaking Cruise.
  • I can't remember a year when so many of the Best Motion Picture - Drama nominees weren't even in theaters yet (and won't be for weeks!). At the moment, I'm pretty stunned that Milk wasn't nominated, but will I still feel that way after seeing Benjamin Button, Revolutionary Road, and Frost/Nixon?
  • James Franco got a nomination for a movie where he makes a joint shaped like a cross. I mean, I kind of love it.
  • The Supporting Actor category for movies kind of annoys me, truth be told. I think Tom Cruise is funny enough in Tropic Thunder but there are tons of other actors I'd nominate before Cruise in this category. For starters, there are three men in Changeling I would very much rather see nominated. And does anybody think that his performance is on par with that of his fellow nominee in this category, Heath Ledger?
  • Hooray for Anne Hathaway and Sally Hawkins. Those are two of my favorite performances of the year.
  • However, one of the most baffling things on there is Mamma Mia! nominated for Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy. It's a fun movie to watch, but is it a best anything? No. No, no, and no. Maybe Best Hot Mess? That might be it!

For more of my thoughts, just read more.

  • I knew I had to see Slumdog Millionaire, but now I really, really have to see Slumdog Millionaire.
  • On the TV side, nice to see January Jones get some recognition for Mad Men (alongside Jon Hamm, of course).
  • In similar news, I'm thrilled to see Debra Messing right up there alongside Tina Fey and Mary-Louise Parker for her work on The Starter Wife. I'm really enjoying that series and it's largely due to the always enigmatic Messing.
  • The Golden Globe TV nominations are usually a lot of fun, because they tend to embrace new shows and shows that are just kind of small and cute, but this year is one big yawn. I guess I'm sort of happy about True Blood . . .
  • It is interesting that cable totally continues to dominate, though: six out of 10 of the series nominees are on cable.
  • I've assumed it was coming for weeks now, but Heath Ledger's nomination still gave me chills.

What are you guys all thinking?

Source