Brits storm the Golden Globes
The British stormed the shortlists for the prestigious Golden Globe film awards today.
Movies including Frost/Nixon, Slumdog Millionaire, In Bruges, Mamma Mia! and Happy-Go-Lucky dominate the honours, traditionally seen as a key indicator for the Oscars.
Kate Winslet got a double nomination for roles in The Reader, directed by Stephen Daldry, and for Revolutionary Road with her husband Sam Mendes.
Stars including Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas, Sally Hawkins, Rebecca Hall - the actress daughter of the theatre director Sir Peter - and Emma Thompson all get a chance of glory.
Four out of the five films in the running for best film drama are either British or have strong British ties.
Frost/Nixon, which has three nominations, started as a play at the Donmar Warehouse. Frank Langella, who played President Nixon on stage and in the film, was nominated for best actor.
Slumdog Millionaire, by Trainspotting director Danny Boyle, joins the best film list, with Daldry's adaptation of the Holocaust novel The Reader also a strong contender.
Revolutionary Road is an American drama but with strong British hopes in the form of Mendes and Winslet.
Kristin Scott Thomas pulls off the feat of being shortlisted for a French film, I've Loved You So Long.
Sally Hawkins, star of Mike Leigh's bitter-sweet comedy Happy-Go-Lucky, goes up against Emma Thompson in Last Chance Harvey and Rebecca Hall in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona for best performance in a musical or comedy. Meryl Streep, for the mega hit Mamma Mia! and Frances McDormand in Burn After Reading, again produced by Working Title, complete the contenders in the category.
The winners will be announced on 11 January, 11 days before the Oscar nominations.
THE NOMINATIONS
Best film - drama
Frost/Nixon, Revolutionary Road, Slumdog Millionaire, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Reader
Best actress in a film - drama
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married; Angelina Jolie, Changeling; Kristin Scott Thomas, I've Loved You So Long; Meryl Streep, Doubt; Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
Best actor in a film - drama
Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road; Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon; Sean Penn, Milk; Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Mickey Rourke, Wrestler
Best film - musical or comedy
Burn After Reading, In Bruges, Happy-Go-Lucky, Mamma Mia, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best actress in a film - musical or comedy
Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia!; Rebecca Hall, Vicky Cristina Barcelona; Emma Thompson, Last Chance Harvey; Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky; Frances McDormand, Burn After Reading
Best actor in a film - musical or comedy
Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina Barcelona;
Colin Farrell, In Bruges; James Franco, Pineapple Express; Brendan Gleeson, In Bruges; Dustin Hoffman, Last Chance Harvey
Best supporting film actress
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler; Viola Davis, Doubt; Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona; Amy Adams, Doubt; Kate Winslet, The Reader
Best supporting film actor
Tom Cruise, Tropic Thunder; Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder; Ralph Fiennes, The Duchess; Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt; Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Best director, film
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire; Stephen Daldry - The Reader; David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon, Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road
Best TV series
Dexter, House, In Treatment, Mad Men, True Blood
Best actor in a TV drama series
Gabriel Byrne in Treatment; Michael C Hall, Dexter, John Hamm, Mad Men, Hugh Laurie, House, Jonathan Rhys Meyer, The Tudors
