January 26, 2004

Good morning…

The Golden Globes brought few surprises on Sunday night… except how pretty much everyone seemed to be in a good mood afterwards. The winners, the losers, the security guards, the bartenders. Perhaps it was the utter lack of anyone who walked away going, “But I thought…”

Even the big winner, the Lord of the Rings crew, didn’t have that edge that the winners sometimes have. Perhaps it was the three years that they’ve all been working on these movies. But there was a certain feeling of grace that fell over their party. Perhaps it is the trickle down from Mr. Jackson, Ms. Walsh and Ms. Boyens, who are just plain lovely people, not to mention a New Line team that is enjoying major post-coital glow.

In any case, I am enjoying a post-Jack Daniels need to sleep. So, more in the morning.

While I’m sleeping, don’t let anyone sell you the line that the Golden Globes are going to influence the Oscars. Without blowing my own horn, because a lot of people are in agreement here, every one of my Oscar #1s in the top 7 categories (the Globes only have one screenwriting winner) won a Globe on Sunday night. And I would expect almost every one to also take home an Oscar.

Yes, it is important to show up for the Globes, since everything you do publicly will effect the about-to-start race for the Oscar finals. Bill Murray’s speech and Sean Penn’s absence could actually turn the tide for the Academy. Scarlett Johansson’s double shut out might seal the deal for Renee Zellweger, though I still suspect that Scarlett is getting Supporting Actress only with the Academy.

In any case, I now go to sleep, reminded how surprised I get when I realize how many people I really do like in this psychotic little universe in which we all work. Some nights, our better angels do emerge.

12:18pm - Good morning again…

It's funny how quickly one falls out of box office fascination mode. Of course, it doesn't hurt that things have been pretty boring since The Lock Of The Rings (patent pending) hit theaters.

While in Sundance, I didn't get a chance to applaud the folks at Universal, who once again confounded me with a campaign for Along Came Polly that I thought, honestly, was a virtual burial at sea. $32.5 million opening later, I am proven to be a moron. I think the real answer is, Universal knows how to open comedies featuring Ben Stiller, Jennifer Aniston and/or Jim Carrey better than anyone in the known universe. I mean, these campaigns are relaxed to the point of passive aggression, but they work… in a huge way.

On the flip side, DreamWorks launched a comedy that should have taken off this last weekend. $7.5 million later, pffft. The ad campaign just never found its hook. A weird title, Ashton Kutcher (the real Tad Hamilton) siphoning off young girls, and no movie stars with drawing power (Kate Bosworth's "people" have to be drinking the Jim Jones Kool-Aid this morning after a second pricey release that was embraced by people who saw it and opened for shit).

It will be interesting to see whether Eurotrip's rather remarkable web campaign gets any better results. Perhaps the gay version of that site, featuring Josh Duhamel instead of teenage girls, would have done the trick, so to speak.

As is, look for Tad to travel the The Sweetest Thing road… $25 million or so and a disproportionably powerful DVD life.

Okay… I'm going back to bed again… just kidding. But somehow, details about the Globes parties just don't seem that interesting. The fact that Bill Murray was being available and bubbly is the closest thing to news. That and one The Rings Globes going missing for about an hour, grabbed off the ballroom table by well-intended New Liners. Oh yes, and Mischa Barton and her blue dress sending gay men into hysterics… what's that all about?

I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning on MovieCityNews with coverage of the Oscar nominations. (Please God, let there be a half dozen surprises!!!) There may even be a THB column waiting for you after an evening with LAFCA.