Viewer’s Guide to the ‘09 Golden Globes

Festival season has come to an end for both Montreal and most of the rest of the world. Now all eyes turn to the slew of critic association lists and the upcoming film award ceremonies in the new year. Airing on the 11th of January, the Golden Globes is the first major ceremony of 2009. For filmgoers with more than a passing interest in the awards (more than just red carpet glitz), take an active part by making your own decisions on the nominees with this handy viewing guide to catch the majority of films in the next few weeks.

Now Available on DVD

Available now from your local video store are the following nominated films: Burn After Reading (2 Nominations including Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical), The Dark Knight (1 Nomination for Heath Ledger, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role), The Duchess (1 Nomination for Ralph Fiennes, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role), In Bruges (3 Nominations including Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical), Kung Fu Panda (1 Nomination for Best Animated Feature Film), Mamma Mia! (2 Nominations including Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical), Tropic Thunder (2 Nominations), and WALL-E (2 Nominations including Best Animated Feature Film). One final film will also be released on DVD before the awards. On January 6th, you will have the chance to check out the Judd Apatow-produced comedy, Pineapple Express which garnered 1 Nomination for James Franco.

Now In Montreal Theaters

For anything not available on disk, theaters in Montreal have the rest of the nominees mostly covered. Though, as listed below, there are a few missing. As usual, the AMC Theaters at the old hockey forum (corner of Atwater and Sherbrooke) have the most selection: Bolt (2 Nominations including Best Animated Feature Film), Changeling (2 Nominations), Doubt (5 Nominations including Best Screenplay - Motion Picture), Frost/Nixon (5 Nominations including Best Motion Picture - Drama), Milk (1 Nomination for Sean Penn in Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama), Rachel Getting Married (1 Nomination for Anne Hathaway in Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama), Vicky Cristina Barcelona (4 Nominations including Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical) and Waltz with Bashir (1 Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film).

Outside of the AMC, other Montreal theaters will be playing a selection of the films in the weeks leading the golden ceremony. At the Cinema Banque Scotia, still known by most as the Paramount theater: The Reader (4 Nominations including Best Motion Picture - Drama) and The Wrestler (3 Nominations including one for Mickey Rourke in Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama). Playing in an exclusive engagement at the Quarter Latin theater on St. Denis above Sherbrooke is Il y a longtemps que je t’aime (2 Nominations including Best Foreign Language Film). Lastly, playing in a variety of theaters from AMC to Cinema du Parc to Cinemas Guzzo are: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (5 Nominations including Best Motion Picture - Drama) and Slumdog Millionaire (4 Nominations including Best Motion Picture - Drama).

Conspicuously (or not) Missing

Two films with major nominations are nowhere to be found in theaters yet. Revolutionary Road (4 Nominations including Best Motion Picture - Drama) directed by Sam Mendes won’t see a release until the New Year. Perhaps it will be out before the awards, so keep an eye on local listings. Happy-Go-Lucky (2 Nominations including Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical) was only a week ago playing at AMC, but as now disappeared. Last Chance Harvey (2 Nominations) also seems like it will be getting a release in 2009. The next three films all received one nod, and all for Best Foreign Language Film. If you missed them at the film festivals you are unlikely to see them until they eventually make it out on DVD sometime mid to late next year. They are Gomorra from Italy, The Baader Meinhof Complex (Der Baader Meinhof Komplex) from Germany, and Everlasting Moments (Maria Larssons eviga ogonblick) from Sweden. So, 6 out of the 27 major film nominees aren’t currently available by legal means, but a few should squeeze in there on time.

For the full list of Golden Globe nominees, click here.
For the full list of local film listings in the Montreal area, click here.