Golden Globe Predictions

*UPDATE* Now that the show is over, I've updated the list to include the actual winners (noted in bold).

Here are my bets for this year's Golden Globes. I'll use an asterisk (*) to denote my choice & elaborate on each.

Best Motion Picture (Drama)
*Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
Up in the Air

My Prediction: "Avatar" will probably win (it's got more buzz than an over-populated bee hive right now), but I wouldn't mind (nor surprised) if "Up in the Air" pulled out the win. No points for "Inglourious Basterds" in my book -- they spelled both words in the title wrong.

Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy)
(500) Days of Summer
The Hangover
*It's Complicated
Julie & Julia
Nine

My Prediction: I've only seen two of the five in this category -- (500) Days and Julie & Julia -- so it's hard to judge. From everything I've heard and read about Nine, it almost has no business being nominated (surprising, given Rob Marshall directed) and The Hangover was a typical frat-boyish humor movie, so it's chances are slim too. My bet would be on It's Complicated (it's got a bunch of Hollywood A-listers & has gotten pretty good reviews, despite its predictability).

Best Actor (Drama)
Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"
George Clooney, "Up in the Air"
Colin Firth, "A Single Man"
*Morgan Freeman, "Invictus"
Tobey Maguire, "Brothers"

My Prediction: This one's a toss up between Morgan Freeman, who was incredible as Nelson Mandela in "Invictus", and Tobey Maguire, who made a practically seamless transition from Spider-boy to emotionally wounded soldier.

Best Actor (Musical or Comedy)
Matt Damon, "The Informant!"
Daniel Day-Lewis, "Nine"
*Robert Downey Jr., "Sherlock Holmes"
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, "(500) Days of Summer"
Michael Stuhlbarg, "A Serious Man"

My Prediction: The only other person I could possibly see wining this category would be Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who was adorably funny in "(500) Days".

Best Actress (Drama)
*Emily Blunt, "The Young Victoria"
Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"
Helen Miren, "The Last Station"
Carey Mulligan, "An Education"
Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious"

My Prediction: New Queen Emily Blunt will definitely beat out former Queen Helen Miren, but Sandra Bullock could be a threat (she did win the Critic's Choice Award).

Best Actress (Musical or Comedy)
Sandra Bullock, "The Proposal"
Marion Cotillard, "Nine"
Julia Roberts, "Duplicity"
Meryl Streep, "It's Complicated"
*Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia"

My Prediction: Streep beats Streep in this category, but again, Bullock could steal the win here too (she made quite a comeback in "The Proposal" this year).

Best Supporting Actor
*Matt Damon, "Invictus"
Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger"
Christopher Plummer, "The Last Station"
Stanely Tucci, "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"

My Prediction: I didn't believe Matt Damon's British accent for a minute, but he was outstanding in that role otherwise.

Best Supporting Actress
Penelope Cruz, "Nine"
Vera Farmiga, "Up in the Air"
Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"
*Mo'nique, "Precious"
Julianne More, "A Single Man"

My Prediction: Of the flicks in this category, I've only seen "Up in the Air", and neither Farmiga nor Kendrick gave an award-winning performance. Based on the buzz I've heard, Mo'nique has this one in the bag. You go girl!

Best Animated Feature
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
*Up

My Prediction: "Up" was not only funny, but also poignant and moving. I don't think there's a bad one in this bunch ('cept maybe Coraline), so this category could definitely be a toss-up.

Best TV Drama Series
Big Love
Dexter
House
*Mad Men
True Blood

My Prediction: After my European Mass Media professor raved about "Mad Men" for an entire semester, I finally broke down and watched a few episodes, and I have to say, I'm a fan. I've loved "House" forever (no matter how formulaic the show's plots are), but I seriously doubt it'll win again (Season 5 was a bit of a mess).

Best TV Comedy Series
30 Rock
Entourage
*Glee
Modern Family
The Office

My Prediction: Even though I wanted to hate it, "Glee" officially gets my vote in this category. I officially hate myself for loving that show. But it's fabulous.

Best Actor, TV Drama Series
Simon Baker, "The Mentalist"
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"
*John Hamm, "Mad Men"
Hugh Laurie, "House"
Bill Paxton, "Big Love"

Hugh Laurie's always received high praise as House, but I think this could be Mad Men's year for a win.

Best Actress, TV Drama Series
Glenn Close, "Damages"
January Jones, "Mad Men"
*Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
Anna Paquin, "True Blood"
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"

My Prediction: I could see Kyra Sedgwick winning this award too, but she's already won in the past.