THE 16th GMA’s EDITION
By Charlie Kiggs

THE HIGHLIGHTS

‘The Show’ has turned out as the main candidate of this new Edition. Eight nominations is a remarkable achievement that places this movie as one of the most nominated films ever together with ‘The Amazing Adventures Of Kavalier And Clay’ (11), ‘American Tabloid’ (9) and ‘A Farewell to Arms’ (8). All of these won the Best Picture GMA… but remember an old GMA’s tradition: often, the most nominated movie has not become the most awarded one. We’ll see what happens with ‘The Show’, as ‘Noon’ and ‘Snow’ seem to be very tough rivals.

In fact, I was surprised to see ‘Snow’ reaching the 5 nods. In my very personal opinion, the movie was a nice love story but considering the many top quality movies released this Season, I think this one was a bit overvalued by voters.

14 movies have reached at least one nomination. It’s a lower number than usual but I’ll repeat again that this is probably the most competitive GMA Edition ever.

Looking at the talents nominees, this Edition looks like an Allstars Edition. Here are reunited in just one Edition the most awarded or nominated stars ever at the GMA: Johnny Depp, Martin Scorsese, James Bradley, Josh Collins, Tom Hanks, Merryl Streep, James Franco, Natalie Portman, Robert De Niro… They are all here!

In fact, it might be a night to break records. Right now (not considering here screenwriters), Steven Spielberg is the most awarded talent ever with 4 statues (two as director, two as producer). But Depp and Franco could break that record if they are lucky at the ceremony and Scorsese could equal it (becoming also the only talent to have won 4 awards with 4 nominations).

Tom Hanks has already beaten his own record. He is the only talent to have been nominated in five different categories: Actor, Director, Villain, Starring Couple and now Supporting Actor. An amazing achievement.

Denzel Washington and James Franco star the big duel of the night as they have met in two different categories – Villain and Actor -, both for their work in two different movies. Also Johnny Depp, Jim Sturgess and Emma Watson can win more than one statue… or go home empty handed after a bitter night.

THE IGNORED

‘The Respected’. As simple as that. The wonderful Jonathan Demme’s movie put a brilliant end to his mob trilogy. And voters have unfairly ignored it. Not getting a single nomination is a tough punishment for this big movie. I just can’t simply understand why this movie has not shown up in any category.

Gwyneth Paltrow also deserved recognition for showing her unexpected comedic skills in ‘A Tangled Web’. In fact, she was invited to present the GMA’s nominations by the Studio because they probably thought she would be nominated. But she wasn’t. And it’s a shame. I have nothing against Charlize, Emma and Natalie’s work. But Gwyneth very much deserved to be in the final trio.

‘Athena’ looked like one of those movies conceived to be an awards’ winner. Top budget, top-notch cast, luxurious production design, epic historical plot… It had it all to be at the GMA. But it finally only got two nominations in minor categories like Production Design and Most Wanted Sequel. I am sure that Zack Snyder, Joey Stark and James Bradley are more than disappointed.

Whatever happened to Tobey Maguire? James Franco did and splendid work in ‘Whatever Happened To Holden Caulfield?’ But Tobey too. Voters went for Franco and Tobey is probably looking at his face in the mirror and wondering ‘why not me?’ At least, he has a chance at the Starring Couple category.

Other great movies that I expected to be multi-nominated also got less nods than I thought they would. ‘The Cool’, ‘A Tangled Web’, ‘Love Lost’ or ‘Dark Shadows’ didn’t get more than one or two nominations.

And, as usual, the GMA mistreated ‘The Dark Tower’. The last movie of the saga, as brilliant as the previous ones, was only remembered for Production Design and Best Adaptation.

One last curiosity. All the main and awarded talents of past Season’s Best Picture Winner, ‘A Farewell To Arms’ are back again: Martin Scorsese (past Season’s Best Director winner), Chad Taylor (past Season’s Best Screenplay winner), Carey Mulligan (past Season’s Best Actress and Best Starring Couple winner) and James Franco (past Season’s Best Starring Couple winner and Best Actor nominee). So, if they win, this Edition will be a kind of déjà vu.

THE RETURNS

As I said, there are not only many returns this Edition but the reunion of the alltimes most awarded or nominated talents in GMA’s History. Only Denzel Washington, Jennifer Aniston, Jim Surgess, Emma Watson, Tobey Maguire and Jason Reitman are new at the GMA.

Previous Winners

JOHNNY DEPP
Most awarded actor ever. He has two Best Starring Couple awards (Seasons 5 and 9, ‘Cell Mates’ and ‘Sherlock Holmes’, with Jack Nicholson and Philip Seymour Hoffman respectively) and one Best Villain award (Season 2,’Uncommon Valour: The Frigate Captain’). He has also been nominated twice for Best Actor (Seasons 6 and 9, ‘Drawing Dreams’ and ‘Sherlock Holmes’). With these two new nominations, he already is the most nominated talent ever at the GMA (besides screenwriters).

JAMES FRANCO
He has become a regular at the GMA lately. Already owns two statues: Best Supporting Actor (Season 13, ‘The Amazing Adventures Of Kavalier And Clay’) and Best Starring Couple (Season 15, ‘A Farewell To Arms’). He was also nominee as Best Actor for ‘A Farewell To Arms’. So Franco reaches the six nominations and, if he has a lucky night with his three nods, he could become the most awarded talent ever.

MARTIN SCORSESE
A regular winner at the GMA. He is the only talent with a 100% of success at the GMA. Three nominations, three wins as Best Director: ‘The Heirs’ (Season 1), ‘American Tabloid’ (Season 12) and ‘A Farewell To Arms’ (Season 15).

CAREY MULLIGAN
She made her debut in CMP past Season with ‘A Farewell To Arms’ and she already won the Best Actress and the Best Starring Couple awards. If she wins, Carey will have won three Golden Moons with only two works for the Studio.

NICOLE KIDMAN
She was the first one to win the Best Actress GMA back at Season 1 with ‘The Heirs’. Then, she was nominated again for Best Actress in Season 8 with ‘Maleficarum’. Eight Seasons later, she is back, now fighting for the Supporting Actress award.

TOM HANKS
He turns gold (or Golden Moon) everything he touches... He has been nominated at every category possible for a man. Winner of two awards: Best Director (Season 3, ‘The Greatest Show On Earth’) and Best Villain (Season 12, ‘American Tabloid’). Also nominated for Best Starring Couple (Season 1, ‘Court Appeal’, with Julia Roberts) and twice for Best Actor (Season 2, ‘September’s Gone’ and Season 12, ‘American Tabloid’). This is his sixth nomination and his first chance for Best Supporting Actor.

CHARLIZE THERON
This is her second time around. In Season 2, she won the Best Supporting Actress award for ‘Cathedral’. 14 Seasons later, she is back fighting for Best Actress.

NATALIE PORTMAN
Another veteran at the GMA. Natalie won her first GMA back at Season 3: Best Starring Couple together with Jake Gyllenhaal for ‘Saving Samantha Moss’. In Season 14, she got three nominations. She won the Best Supporting Actress award with ‘Metropolis’ and she was nominated for Best Starring Couple (together with Jude Law) and Best Actress with ‘Secret Sins’.

Previous Nominees

MERRYL STREEP
Merryl has been around twice: nominee for Best Actress in Season 2 for ‘Cathedral’ and also for Best Villain in Season 10 with ‘Preacher: All American Family’.

ROBERT DE NIRO
This is his fourth nomination and he is still waiting for his first win. The previous nods were: Supporting Actor (Season 3, ‘The Toymaker’) and Best Actor and Best Starring Couple (with Sean Penn) in Season 4 for ‘The Heirs – Part 3’. It has taken him 12 Seasons to be back again.

SPIKE LEE
His only previous chance to win the Best Director award was back in Season 6 with ‘Dream Of A King’.

SANDRA BULLOCK
She has only been in three CMP’s movies. But Sandra already has a previous nomination at the GMA. It was at the Best Supporting Actress category in Season 8 with ‘The Chinese Bride’.

And The Screenwriters…

CHAD TAYLOR
Taylor is quickly becoming a veteran at the GMA. Past Season, he won the Best Screenplay award with ‘A Farewell To Arms’. And also past Season, he fought for Best Screenplay and Best Director with ‘Amedia’. Before, he had been nominated for Best Screenplay in Season 12 with ‘The Beatles’.

JAMES BRADLEY
Nobody owns more statues than him. Believe it or not, this is his 12th nomination! Five times winner. Four Best Screenplays awards: ‘Fools Game’ (Season 2), ‘The Toymaker’ (Season 3), ‘The Funeral Drum’ (with Joey Stark, Season 8) and ‘The Miracle Men’ (Season 11). One win as producer of the Best Picture winner (Season 8, ‘The 6th Avenue Castaways’). He also has one nomination for Best Director (Season 13, ‘Nude!’) and five more nominations for Best Screenplay: ‘Chevrolet’ (Season 2), ‘Pompeii’ (Season 6), ‘The Chinese Bride’ (Season 8), ‘Things I Forgot To Tell You’ (Season 9) and ‘American Tabloid’ (Season 12).

JOSH COLLINS
Another author with experience at the GMA. Collins reaches now his 7th nomination. He has only won one statue: Best Screenplay in Season 5 for ‘Velcro’. His other five previous nods were Best Director and Best Screenplay for ‘Hollyweird’ in Season 5 and three more Best Screenplay nominations: ‘Blink’ (Season 6), ‘Lyra’ (Season 7) and ‘Fireflies In The Jelly-Jars’ (Season 11).

THE PREDICTIONS

Probably, predictions have never been more difficult than this time. I honestly think that all the candidates have big chances to win at all the categories. It’s going to be a night full of tough fights. So I’ll just try and do my best.

As usual, remember that these predictions are written as soon as nominees have been announced so don’t look for any trustable hints or inside information in them beyond my very personal opinion.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

CAREY MULLIGAN
In favor: Her wonderful work past Season in ‘A Farewell To Arms’ may still be a positive influence in voters.
Against: Winning three GMA with her only two works for the Studio may be an excessive support for this young actress.
All in All: I won’t bet for her this time.

MERRYL STREEP
In favor: The brilliant and funny ‘A Tangled Web’ deserves to win at least one award and this is a wonderful opportunity to reward the movie.
Against: Golden Moon Awards have never been so nice with Merryl as the Oscars.
All in All: Big chances. She is my bet here.

NICOLE KIDMAN
In favor: She wonderfully played that manipulative journalist in the movie.
Against: I don’t think voters will support ‘The Show’ in each and every category it is nominated so maybe this will be one of its defeats.
All in All: She made a great acting work. But I think the statue will go to Merryl.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

JOHNNY DEPP
In favor: Here’s Johnny… I am sure he will take at least one statue home for his work in ‘Noon’ so it may be either Best Villain or this.
Against: The rivals are too tough heavy-weights.
All in All: Look at the three names nominees at this category… I’ll stay at a 33.3% chances for each here.

ROBERT DE NIRO
In favor: Hey, it’s De Niro.
Against: Fans of ‘The Show’ may split their votes between him and Hanks and that could benefit Depp.
All in All: He is the only one here that has never won a GMA so my sympathy goes for him here. But that does not change the 33.3%

TOM HANKS
In favor: Hey, it’s Hanks.
Against: Same as De Niro.
All in All: 33.3%

BEST ACTRESS

CHARLIZE THERON
In favor: Everybody loves Charlize in CMP.
Against: Her character is not on screen more than half of the length of the movie. Is that enough to win a Best Actress (in a leading role) award?
All in All: I’ll take the risk and bet for her win here. But not feeling absolutely confident about it at all.

EMMA WATSON
In favor: Like Charlize, everybody likes Emma too.
Against: She has a great future in CMP but I don’t think this is the time for her to win the award.
All in All: If Daniel Radcliff has won two GMA, why not her?

NATALIE PORTMAN
In favor: The ‘Black Swan Effect’. She is winning every acting award in Hollywood lately.
Against: Watching her winning another acting award may feel a bit repetitive.
All in All: It is a duel between her and Charlize here and both can win.

BEST ACTOR

DENZEL WASHINGTON
In favor: His work in ‘Foreclosed’ undoubtedly was The Acting Work of the Season.
Against: Franco and Sturgess are two very supported actors in CMP’s world.
All in All: Everybody will feel comfortable if he wins.

JAMES FRANCO
In favor: He also made a top quality acting work in ‘Whatever Happened To Holden Caulfield?’
Against: He is being too exposed at CMP lately and voters may feel a bit exhausted of that.
All in All: It may depend on who voters choose at the Best Villain category. Probably, he and Denzel will get one of these two awards each.

JIM STURGESS
In favor: There’s something about this guy that makes everyone feeling sympathy for him.
Against: You just simply cannot compare his work with Denzel’s or Franco’s. A nomination is enough recognition for his work in the movie.
All in All: I will feel uncomfortable if he wins.

BEST SCREENPLAY

CHAD TAYLOR
In favor: It wasn’t easy to update the story of ‘High Noon’. And he has written a wonderful adaptation.
Against: His screenplay is fighting against two top quality original ones.
All in All: I’ll play safe again here: 33.3%

JAMES BRADLEY
In favor: ‘The Show’ is a most intelligent and acid satire. He took the best of the premise.
Against: The feeling that Bradley has won too many times before.
All in All: yes, 33.3%

JOSH COLLINS
In favor: He has written what probably is his best screenplay ever. And I am saying this about a writer that has written a lot of good screenplays.
Against: Can’t think of anything. The movie is very much a ‘screenplay movie’.
All in All: Ok, I’ll give him a 34%

BEST DIRECTOR

JASON REITMAN
In favor: In this kind of Allstars Edition, it feels fresh and new voting for him.
Against: It feels difficult voting for him having Scorsese and Lee as options.
All in All: He might win. But I am not completely sure about it.

MARTIN SCORSESE
In favor: It’s Marty. Needless to say more.
Against: The ‘Let’s Not Be Predictable’ factor.
All in All: I would never dare to say that Scorsese is not going to win.

SPIKE LEE
In favor: It wasn’t easy at all to make ‘The Cool’. And he took the best of that difficult challenge.
Against: ‘Noon’ and ‘The Show’ seem to be ‘the movies of the night’.
All in All: CMP owes him this award since he directed the unforgettable ‘Dream Of A King’ and this is a wonderful chance to pay him that debt.

BEST PICTURE

NOON
In favor: It is the only ‘big production’ of the three nominees.
Against: After all, isn’t it only a good action movie?
All in All: I have the intuition that it might ruin the night to ‘The Show’.

SNOW
In favor: People love to support underdogs.
Against: In a Season full of top quality releases, it feels strange thinking that this nice little film might beat them all.
All in All:I think it has no options at this category

THE SHOW
In favor: It’s been so long since a movie based on an original concept won the Best Picture ward. I think that the last one was ‘The Rock Star’ back in Season 11.
Against: Yes, ‘Noon’ may look as a more awardable movie than this.
All in All: I will give it a 51% of chances (and the other 49% goes to 'Noon', of course).