Is anyone really believing what I've just read? I got on the internet in between classes so I could take a look at who is up for the 66th installment of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's Golden Globe Awards. Boy was I shocked when I saw what the seventy-odd member group unvieled as their nominees for the best of the year in motion pictures and television.

First thing to ask is where the hell is "Milk"? One would think with how gaga the HFPA went for Brokeback Mountain three years ago that they would be eager to unload praise on this film that's a testament to the early gay rights movement in San Francisco and especially in the wake of the passage of Proposition 8 in California. The film has also been garnering stellar reviews and has really launched itself on the awards scene. So far it's picked up 8 Critics' Choice Award nominations, won 2 awards each for Sean Penn and Josh Brolin and yesterday was named Best Picture by the highly regarded New York Film Critics Circle. But alas the Globes only nominated Sean Penn for his leading performance. I guess Tom Cruise shaking his ass in a fat suit and yelling obscenities in "Tropic Thunder" was SOOOOO GOOOD that the HFPA had to pass over Josh Brolin's performance. Though, I am not ashamed to admit I did find Cruise funny in the movie. Nothing for Gus Van Sant's direction or Dustin Lance Black's script either.

And how about no recognition for "The Dark Knight"? Yes, Heath Ledger was recognized posthumously for his haunting and frightening portrayal of The Joker, but no Best Picture nod or one for Best Direction for Christopher Nolan? How about a nomination for the great musical score of Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard?

No Best Actor nod for Clint Eastwood in "Gran Torino", either?

There were some nominations that did make me happy. None did this more than Robert Downey, Jr.'s nomination in Best Supporting Actor for "Tropic Thunder". Hopefully this nod along with his nod at the Critics' Choice Awards will bring back up his hopes of snagging his second Oscar nomination. One interesting thing to think about, if Downey snags his second nomination for his performance in Thunder, this will mean that both his Oscar nominations will have come from playing Oscar winners. Of course Chaplin was a real winner and Kirk Lazarus of Thunder is fictional, to the best of our knowledge.

There were some noteable things going on in the television categories as well, such as the absence of "The Shield" and "Breaking Bad". "The Shield" pulled of two amazing and justified upsets five years ago when, coming fresh off of Michael Chiklis's Emmy victory, the show took home Best TV Series – Drama and Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama for Chiklis. The show has continued to be a standard of excellence for every other television on the air, but they have never gotten back on the Globes nominees list. Now that they have finished their seven year run it appears that those two awards the show captured in 2003 were just a one time thing. One would also think that with Bryan Cranston's Emmy victory in September, that the Globes would be lining up to shower their kudos on the little known show "Breaking Bad". But alas, no recognition and this is from an organization that's known for giving lesser known shows a shot and appreciating them.

And how about the comedy category? Is it just me or do those nominees look insanely similar to the ones from last year? It seems like the Globes have turned into the Emmys when it comes to this year's television nominees.

So, what can we draw from this? Well, not much. The Globes have never really been the forcaster for the Academy Awards. It just happens to work out that way. That's not to say that a win at the Globes can't severly alter the a person's chances at the Oscars, such as Nicole Kidman in 2003 when her win at the Globes all but obliterated Julianne Moore's chances to win Best Actress. But this year, the nominees themselves don't really mean that much in terms of the Oscar nominees. Especially if the most nominations for one film is five and three films are tied for that honor.