CLICK HERE: 2010 Final Golden Globe Predictions
Early 2010 Golden Globe Predictions: Best Actor – Drama Nominations
Colin Firth, A Single Man
In 1960s Los Angeles, a gay college professor wants to end his life after learning that his lover has died in an accident.
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
By staging the Rugby World Cup in South Africa, Nelson Mandela attempts to unite black and white South Africans.
James McAvoy (above, with Paul Giamatti), The Last Station
Leo Tolstoy's secretary and follower tries to reconcile reality with his idol's radical ideology.
Viggo Mortensen, The Road
A man and his son struggle to survive in a cold, brutal post-apocalyptic world.
Brad Pitt in Inglourious Basterds
A ruthless Jewish-American guerrilla leader wants to kill as many Nazi officers as possible.
Stars are what matter. For every Golden Globe-nominated Djimon Hounsou there are — quite literally — eight Johnny Depps and George Clooneys (the latter in various capacities); for every David Straithairn there are seven Leonardo DiCaprios and four Brad Pitts; for every Richard Farnsworth (2 nods) there are 3 1/2 Tom Cruises (7 nods) and 2 1/2 Russell Crowes (5 nods).
Stars are what matter — even if they aren't exactly as bright as supernovas. Colin Firth, for instance, may lack the superstar status of a Leonardo DiCaprio or a Johnny Depp, but he's hardly an unknown, and the same goes for James McAvoy.
Other Golden Globe possibilities are Robert De Niro's widower in Everybody's Fine; Hal Holbrook's farmer in That Evening Sun (I'd say that Holbrook has a better chance at the Oscars than at the Golden Globes); Mark Wahlberg's bereaved father in The Lovely Bones; and Ben Whishaw's doomed poet in Bright Star.
Ah, and Johnny Depp in Public Enemies.
Here are a couple of belated additions: Robert Downey Jr in Sherlock Holmes and Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart.
I hope Colin Firth wins. He's such a good actor, and IMHO has not received his due. He doesn't flaunt his talent as some do, plus his ego isn't king-sized, so sometimes he is pushed into the background.