Look at James Cameron. Look at his big, newly cleanshaven face as he waves his Golden Globe at the world. “Give it up for yourselves!” he shouted to his pals in the Beverly Hilton on Sunday Night.
The myth that the Globes accurately predict the Oscars was blown quite some time ago. Indeed,
Slumdog Millionaire
is the only picture in the last five years to convert a Globe into a best picture Oscar. Yet it is hard to deny that the win on Sunday bolstered
Avatar
’s claim – barely plausible a month ago – to be runaway favourite for the big gong at the Academy Awards.
What else was worth noting? Well, Jeff Bridges now has the sentimental vote in the bag for his performance as an aging wrestler who has one last chance to . . . Hang on. That’s not right. Bridges, victor in the best dramatic actor race, plays a creaky country singer in the upcoming
Crazy Heart
. Is the four-time Oscar nominee a certain winner? No. Don’t forget that Mickey Rourke, winner at last year’s Globes, lost to Sean Penn at the Academy bash.
What was finally confirmed was that the Golden Globes – appropriately, given their name – do like to follow the money. This year’s two best picture winners,
Avatar
and
The Hangover
, were by far the biggest earners in their respective categories (drama and comedy). Ker-ching!
