Fassbender and Gleeson nominated for Golden Globes

THERE WAS happy news for Brendan Gleeson and Michael Fassbender, two of the nation’s busiest actors, when the nominations for the Golden Globes were announced at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles yesterday.

Gleeson was listed as best actor in a musical or comedy for his performance in John Michael McDonagh's comedy The Guard. Fassbender was mentioned in the best dramatic actor category for his turn as a distraught sex addict in Steve McQueen's Shame.

Albert Nobbs, a production of Irish company Parallel films, received three nominations. Glenn Close was shortlisted for best dramatic actress for her performance as a cross-dresser in 19th century Ireland. Janet McTeer is nominated for best supporting actress. The theme song, Lay Your Head Down, sung by Sinéad O'Connor, competes for best original song.

The Irish film community received further good cheer this week when it was announced that Pentecost, the directorial debut of actor Peter McDonald, is under consideration for the best short film Oscar. Also on the short list – the final stage before nominations – was The Shore, by Northern Irish director Terry George.

The Golden Globes, despite remaining the second most glamorous event in the awards season, does not have a great record of predicting the Oscars. Over the last seven years, only one film has won best picture at both.

That noted, the producers of Michel Hazanavicius's The Artist, currently odds-on favourite for best picture at the Oscars, will be cheered to hear their film is leading the Golden Globes pack. The black-and-white silent picture, a celebration of old Hollywood, received an impressive six nominations. The Help, a heart-tugging tale of racial struggles in 1960s Mississippi, and The Descendants, the latest film from Alexander Payne, were next best with five nominations each.

Martin Scorsese's Hugogot a paltry three nods, while The Tree of Lifeand Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, among the best reviewed films of the year, didn't manage a single mention. The Globes, organised by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, take place on January 15th.