Wednesday 16 December 2009
US actor Morgan Freeman is seen here on December 8, after a media briefing held in Johannesburg. Freeman playing Nelson Mandela in "Invictus" and Penelope Cruz in "Nine" look likely to take home Golden Globes nominations along with films "Julie & Julia," "Inglourious Basterds," "The Hurt Locker" and "Up in the Air.
Organized and chosen by members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the Golden Globes will be held in Beverly Hills on January 17; they are traditionally seen as a key indicator in the battle for honors at the Oscars.
The excitement starts at 1300 GMT as singer-actor Justin Timberlake joins actor John Krasinski to unveil nominees in 25 categories in film and television.
Though 67.4 percent of films that won best picture at the Academy Awards also won a Golden Globe, in recent years the awards have proved an unreliable barometer of Oscar winners.
The rags-to-riches drama "Slumdog Millionaire" is the only film in the past five years to have followed up a best picture statuette at the Golden Globes with victory at the Oscars.
So far this year, no one film has emerged as a clear awards season.