Even if you're not an awards show buff, the Golden Globes are the best to watch. It's the only award show that allows the guests to drink booze, so you get particularly funny speeches. And, of course, we get to watch Ricky Gervais rip on celebrities again. Best of all, the Golden Globes give us a good entertainment betting preview for the Academy Awards. Let's try our hand at the big categories (a.k.a. the ones we'll see at the Oscars – so we'll ignore the Musical or Comedy stuff).
BEST PICTURE – DRAMA
The Social Network: -175
The King's Speech: +150
The Fighter: +1200
Inception: +1400
Black Swan: +2000
This is very much a two-horse race, as the odds show. The Fighter and Black Swan are more acting pieces; Inception should dominate the technical awards come Oscar time. It comes down to the classic King's Speech and new-age historical drama the Social Network. The Golden Globes have made some progressive, non-Oscar choices in recent years, including Brokeback Mountain and Babel, so I like them to make the modern choice.
The pick: The Social Network -175
BEST ACTOR – DRAMA
Colin Firth, The King's Speech: -360
Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network: +500
James Franco, 127 Hours: +600
Mark Wahlberg, The Fighter: +1200
Ryan Gosling, Blue Valentine: +1600
Firth is the runaway favorite here and deservedly so; he pulled off an amazing performance as the stuttering King George VI. I think Franco is the only one with a chance for the upset but it's very unlikely.
The pick: Colin Firth -360
BEST ACTRESS – DRAMA
Natalie Portman, Black Swan: -500
Jennifer Lawrence, Winter's Bone: +500
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole: +700
Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine: +1600
Halle Berry, Frankie and Alice: +2000
I'm surprised to see Michelle Williams so low on this list, as she's received major Oscar buzz for her heartbreaking turn in Blue Valentine. Though Jennifer Lawrence's strong, subtle performance in Winter's Bone may have actually been the year's most skilful, it's Natalie Portman's time. She seemed genuinely insane in the haunting Black Swan and makes for a solid betting choice.
The pick: Natalie Portman -500
BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
David Fincher, The Social Network: -280
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan: +500
Tom Hooper, The King's Speech: +600
Christopher Nolan, Inception: +800
David O. Russell, The Fighter: +1600
Fincher is the big favorite but I'm not so sure he'll win this one. It was arguably the script that drove The Social Network more than the directing. No director impacted his own film more than Chris Nolan did with Inception this year. Here's hoping the voters realize that.
Free pick: Christopher Nolan +800
QUICK PICKS
Best supporting actor, drama: Christian Bale (-335) is arguably the safest online betting choice for any award on Sunday night. He wowed everyone in The Fighter.
Best supporting actress, drama: Melissa Leo (+175) was memorable as Bale's tough mother in The Fighter and has an excellent chance to win some hardware.
Best TV series, drama: If you can find the odds, - they're tougher to find than movie award odds – this could be the year for Mad Men's run to end. I like Boardwalk Empire to pull the upset.
Best TV series, comedy: Modern Family is due for its award. It's been arguably the most universally acclaimed comedy series of the last two years.