'Gladiator,' 'Traffic' Lead Golden Globe Nominations
Dec. 21, 2000 -- The Roman epic Gladiator andthe drug war drama Traffic led the motion picture Golden Globenominations today with five each.
Traffic director Stephen Soderbergh received twobest-director nominations, for that movie and for Erin Brockovich.
Traffic also received nominations for dramatic picture,supporting actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, supporting actor BenicioDel Toro and the screenplay by Stephen Gaghan.
Wide Range of Films Recognized
Gladiator was nominated for dramatic picture, best dramaticactor for Russell Crowe, supporting actor Joaquin Phoenix, directorRidley Scott and its musical score.
Four movies received four nominations apiece: the 1970s rock ’n’roll reminiscence Almost Famous, the French provincial romanceChocolat, Soderbergh’s Erin Brockovich and the offbeatcampus drama Wonder Boys.
The other best dramatic picture nominees were Billy Elliot,Erin Brockovich, Sunshine and Wonder Boys.
The nominees for best musical or comedy picture were AlmostFamous, Best in Show, Chicken Run, Chocolat and OBrother, Where Art Thou?
Nominees for best actress in a dramatic movie were Joan Allenfor The Contender, Bjork for Dancer in the Dark, EllenBurstyn for Requiem for a Dream, Laura Linney for You CanCount on Me and Julia Roberts for Erin Brockovich.
Besides Crowe, the other dramatic actor nominees were JavierBardem for Before Night Falls, Michael Douglas for WonderBoys, Tom Hanks for Cast Away and Geoffrey Rush forQuills.
Acting nominee Bjork also received a nomination for bestoriginal song, “I’ve Seen It All” from Dancer in the Dark, for which she wrote the music.Other song nominees were Sting and David Hartley for “My FunnyFriend and Me” from The Emperor’s New Groove, “One in aMillion” by Steffan Olsson from Miss Congeniality, Bob Dylanfor “Things Have Changed” from Wonder Boys and Garth Brooksand Jenny Yates for “When You Come Back to Me Again” fromFrequency.
NBC Leads TV Nominees
NBC led television nominees with 15, followed by HBO with 12,then CBS, Fox and Showtime with seven each.
The best dramatic TV series nominees were CSI, ER, ThePractice, The Sopranos and The West Wing.
The best musical or comedy series nominees were Ally McBeal, Frasier, Malcolm in the Middle, Sex and the City andWill & Grace.
Among notable TV acting nominees were Robert Downey Jr., whoreceived a supporting actor nod for Ally McBeal. Downey came tothe show after his release from prison in a drug case, but hassince been arrested again.
Chocolat nominee Dench also got a TV nod for best actress ina miniseries or TV movie for Last of the Blonde Bombshells.
Oscar’s Crystal Ball
The Golden Globe nominations often serve as indicators for howthe year’s movies will fare when Oscar nominees are announced inFebruary. In past years, movies such as American Beauty,Saving Private Ryan or Titanic emerged as clearfront-runners.
Nominees are chosen by the association’s roughly 90 members, whocover Hollywood for overseas publications.
Unlike the Oscars, top categories for the Golden Globes aredivided into two sets, dramatic movies and musicals or comedies.Winners in the Globe dramatic categories are more likely to go onto win Oscars.
In the past 57 years, one of the two best-picture winners at theGolden Globes has taken the same honor at the Oscars 41 times, saidThomas O’Neil, author of Movie Awards, a book due out nextmonth that examines film honors.
“The Golden Globe is a genuine crystal ball for the Oscars,” O’Neil said.
The 1999 Golden Globes correctly predicted Oscar wins forAmerican Beauty and director Sam Mendes, Boys Don’t Crystar Hilary Swank and Girl, Interrupted supporting actressAngelina Jolie.
Denzel Washington in The Hurricane won a Golden Globe forbest dramatic actor, and Tom Cruise won the supporting-actor honorfor Magnolia. At the Oscars, Kevin Spacey won best actor forAmerican Beauty and Michael Caine was named best supportingactor for The Cider House Rules.
The Golden Globe Awards will air live on NBC on Jan. 21.