3rd Annual Muriel Awards Begin

I'm a bit ashamed that I haven't yet done my due diligence in promoting the 3rd Annual Muriel Awards (Oscar's greatest rival), hosted by Paul Clark over at Silly Hats Only.

The awards are handed out based on the tabulated votes of 37 Internet film luminaries, including yours truly (the only not-so-luminous member of the pack).

Categories range from the standard Best Picture and Best Director to Best Film-Related Website. As the above logo indicates, they're handed out over 17 days.

If your math was correct, you're right in realizing that 7 awards have already been handed out: "50th Anniversary for Best Film, 1958", "25th Anniversary for Best Film: 1983", "10th Anniversary for Best Film: 1998", "Best Film-Related Website, 2008", "Best Cinematic Breakthrough, 2008", and "Best Cinematography, 2008", to be exact.

But the Muriels are just heating up, with all the "major" categories left to be announced!

Last year, the Muriels were helped out big time by the plug of RogerEbert.com editor and new voter Jim Emerson. Let's work to make this year's awards even more widely circulated!

So what are you waiting for? Hop on over to Silly Hats Only now and get caught up on the winners so far!

Golden Globes Tonight (with live-'blogging)

The 66th Annual Golden Globes roll out the red carpet tonight and I have my picks and predictions to share. I'll also live 'blog the event with updates of the winners, my prediction-accuracy tally, and my commentary. Judging from the precursors, I think Slumdog Millionaire and Happy-Go-Lucky will be the big winners of the night. Without further adieu:

Final Prediction-Accuracy Count: 8/13 (62%).

Best Motion Picture- Drama: Slumdog Millionaire, well deserved if not my "pick".
Nominees: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, The Reader, Revolutionary Road, Slumdog Millionaire.
My Prediction: Slumdog Millionaire.
I Would Vote for: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Best Motion Picture- Comedy: Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
Nominees: Burn After Reading, Happy-Go-Lucky, In Bruges, Mamma Mia!, Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
My Prediction: Happy-Go-Lucky.
I Would Vote for: Happy-Go-Lucky.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture- Drama: Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) -- my record is going to hell and I don't care because the best are truly winning!
Nominees: Leonardo DiCaprio (Revolutionary Road), Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon), Sean Penn (Milk), Brad Pitt (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler).
My Prediction: Sean Penn (Milk).
I Would Vote for: Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler).

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture- Drama: Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road) -- screw that "clerical error", the best really did win!
Nominees: Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married), Angelina Jolie (Changeling), Meryl Streep (Doubt), Kristin Scott Thomas (I've Loved You So Long), Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road).
My Prediction: Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married).
I Would Vote for: Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road).

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture- Musical or Comedy: Colin Farrell (In Bruges) -- WOAH I KNOW.
Nominees: Javier Bardem (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Colin Farrell (In Bruges), James Franco (Pineapple Express), Brendan Gleeson (In Bruges), Dustin Hoffman (Last Chance Harvey).
My Prediction: Javier Bardem (Vicky Cristina Barcelona).
I Would Vote for: Dustin Hoffman (Last Chance Harvey).

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture- Musical or Comedy: Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky).
Nominees: Rebecca Hall (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky), Frances McDormand (Burn After Reading), Meryl Streep (Mamma Mia!), Emma Thompson (Last Chance Harvey).
My Prediction: Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky).
I Would Vote for: Rebecca Hall (Vicky Cristina Barcelona).

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight).
Nominees: Tom Cruise (Tropic Thunder), Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder), Ralph Fiennes (The Duchess), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt), Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight).
My Prediction: Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight).
I Would Vote for: Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight).

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Kate Winslet (The Reader).
Nominees: Amy Adams (Doubt), Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Viola Davis (Doubt), Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler), Kate Winslet (The Reader).
My Prediction: Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona).
I Would Vote for: Viola Davis (Doubt).

Best Director - Motion Picture: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire).
Nominees: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire), Stephen Daldry (The Reader), David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon), Sam Mendes (Revolutionary Road).
My Prediction: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire).
I Would Vote for: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire).

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire).
Nominees: Eric Roth (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), John Patrick Shanley (Doubt), Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon), David Hare (The Reader), Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire).
My Prediction: Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire).
I Would Vote for: Eric Roth (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).

Best Animated Feature: WALL-E.
Nominees: Bolt, Kung Fu Panda, WALL-E.
My Prediction: WALL-E.
I Would Vote for: WALL-E.

Best Foreign Feature: Waltz with Bashir.
Nominees: The Baader-Meinhoff Complex, Everlasting Moments, Gomorrah, I've Loved You So Long, Waltz with Bashir.
My Prediction: Waltz with Bashir.
I Would Vote for: I've Loved You So Long.

Best Original Song - Motion Picture: "The Wrestler" (The Wrestler).
Nominees: "I Thought I Lost You" (Bolt), "Once in a Lifetime" (Cadillac Records), "Gran Torino" (Gran Torino), "Down to Earth" (WALL-E), "The Wrestler" (The Wrestler).
My Prediction: "The Wrestler" (The Wrestler).
I Would Vote for: "Gran Torino" (Gran Torino).

Best Original Score - Motion Picture: A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire).
Nominees: Clint Eastwood (Changeling), Alexendre Desplat (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), James Newton Howard (Defiance), Hans Zimmer (Frost/Nixon), A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire).
My Prediction: Alexendre Desplat (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).
I Would Vote for: A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire).

I would make choices in the TV categories, but I'd just end up embarrassing myself. (Final score on those was 45% -- not as bad as it could've been.)