BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — At tonight’s 68th annual Golden Globes , the regal 1930s saga “The King’s Speech” and the contemporary Web tale “The Social Network” will contend for top honors.
The two films are considered the favourites for best drama — “The King’s Speech” leading the Globes with seven nominations and “The Social Network” dominating awards from top critics groups.
More than 150 stars of TV and film are expected at tonight’s ceremony, including Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Lopez, Bruce Willis, Robert Downey, Jr., Helen Mirren, Jeff Bridges, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steve Carell, Justin Bieber, Tom Hanks, Jane Fonda, Geoffrey Rush, Renee Zellwegger, Sylvester Stallone and the various nominees.
Besides “The Social Network” and “The King’s Speech,” also competing for best drama are the ballet thriller “Black Swan,” the boxing story “The Fighter” and the science-fiction smash “Inception.”
Colin Firth is considered the likely winner for best dramatic actor for “The King’s Speech,” in which he plays Queen Elizabeth II’s father, George VI, amid his struggle to overcome a debilitating stammer.
Firth’s competition includes “The Social Network” star Jesse Eisenberg, who plays Internet innovator Mark Zuckerberg as he founds Facebook then falls into legal tussles with former associates over the Web site’s riches.
While Firth also is the front-runner for best actor at the Academy Awards on Feb. 27, the best-actress race could be a tossup between two favourites. Natalie Portman has the edge for dramatic actress as a ballerina coming unhinged in “Black Swan,” while Annette Bening is the probable winner for best actress in a musical or comedy for her role as a stern but loving lesbian mom in “The Kids Are All Right.”
The ceremony also features such heavyweight nominees as Mark Wahlberg, Halle Berry and Nicole Kidman in the dramatic acting categories and Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie and Anne Hathaway in the musical or comedy ranks.
Robert De Niro will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award for career achievement.
