It's hardly a surprise to see the Hollywood Foreign Press Agency tow the party line by honouring The Artist with a field-leading six nominations. It'll probably tap dance its way to an easy Best Picture win in the Musical/Comedy category. What interests (and pleases) me more is their wave of support for George Clooney's terrific The Ides of March, which has thus far been rudely ignored by the precursor circuit. Even if its four nominations have more to do with Clooney's star power than the merits of the film, I won't object. Here's hoping the Academy will stick up for it somewhere.
Best Picture, Drama
The Descendants
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball
War Horse
Best Picture, Comedy or Musical
50/50
The Artist
Bridesmaids
Midnight in Paris
My Week with Marilyn
Best Director
Woody Allen, Midnight In Paris
George Clooney, The Ides of March
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Best Actress, Drama
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin
Best Actor, Drama
George Clooney, The Descendants
Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar
Michael Fassbender, Shame
Ryan Gosling, The Ides of March
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
Best Actress Comedy or Musical
Jodie Foster, Carnage
Charlize Theron, Young Adult
Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
Kate Winslet, Carnage
Best Actor Comedy or Musical
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Brendan Gleeson, The Guard
Joseph Gordon Levitt, 50/50
Ryan Gosling, Crazy, Stupid, Love
Owen Wilson, Midnight in Paris
Best Actor Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh, My Week with Marilyn
Albert Brooks, Drive
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Best Actress Supporting Actress
Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain , The Help
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Shailene Woodley, The Descendants
Best Screenplay
Midnight in Paris
The Ides of March
The Artist
The Descendants
Moneyball
Best Foreign Language Film
A Separation (Iran)
The Flowers Of War (China)
The Kid With The Bike (Belgium)
In The Land Of Blood and Honey (USA)
The Skin I Live In (Spain)
Best Animated Feature
The Adventures of TinTin
Arthur Christmas
Cars 2
Puss in Boots
Rango
Best Score
The Artist
W.E.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
War Horse
Best Original Song
“Hello Hello” – Gnomeo & Juliet
“Lay Your Head Down” – Albert Nobbs
“The Living Proof” – The Help
“The Keeper” – Machine Gun Preacher
“Masterpiece” – W.E.
