The nominations for the 69th annual Golden Globes were announced this morning, and the Hollywood Foreign Press Acssociation has gotten some things wrong and others very right.

Surprisingly, the Best Picture categories actually offer a pretty strong line-up of films.  The Descendants, The Help, Hugo, The Ides of March, Moneyball and War Horse are all competing for Best Picture – Drama.  For Best Picture – Musical or Comedy, the nominees are The Artist, Bridesmaids, 50/50, Midnight in Paris and My Week with Marilyn.

Leading the pack with six nominations is The Artist, followed closely behind by The Descendants with five nominations.  On the TV side of things, I’m thrilled that the brilliant New Girl got nominations for both Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical and an acting nod for the great Zooey Deschanel.  While there are obviously some problems with the awards, particularly a complete snub for The Muppets even in the very disappointing Best Original Song category, there are nice surprises as well.  Thrilled with the Best Actor nod for Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s stunning performance in 50/50, and the Best Supporting Actress nod for Jessica Chastain’s wonderful work in The Help.  But on the flipside, there are other deserving films and performances left out in the cold, but that’s the Golden Globes for you, right?

The Golden Globe winners will be announced on January 15th, 2012.  For the third year in a row, the telecast will be hosted by the cynical Ricky Gervais, so expect it to be a nasty celebrity roast.  The TV noms can be seen here, and the complete list of nominees in all of the film categories is after the break.

-John C.

Best Picture – Drama

The Descendants

The Help

Hugo

The Ides of March

Moneyball

War Horse

Best Picture – Musical or Comedy

The Artist

Bridesmaids

50/50

Midnight in Paris

My Week With Marilyn

Best Director

Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

Alexander Payne, The Descendants

Martin Scorsese, Hugo

George Clooney, The Ides of March

Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris

Best Actor – Drama

George Clooney, The Descendants

Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar

Michael Fassbender, Shame

Ryan Gosling, The Ides of March

Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Best Actor – Musical or Comedy

Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Brendan Gleeson, The Guard

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 50/50

Ryan Gosling, Crazy, Stupid, Love.

Owen Wilson, Midnight in Paris

Best Actress – Drama

Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs

Viola Davis, The Help

Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady

Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin

Best Actress – Musical or Comedy

Jodie Foster, Carnage

Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids

Charlize Theron, Young Adult

Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

Kate Winslet, Carnage

Best Supporting Actor

Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn

Albert Brooks, Drive

Jonah Hill, Moneyball

Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method

Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Best Supporting Actress

Berenice Bejo, The Artist

Jessica Chastain, The Help

Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs

Octavia Spencer, The Help

Shailene Woodley, The Descendants

Best Screenplay

Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, The Descendants

George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon, The Ides of March

Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris

Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian, Moneyball

Best Foreign Language Film

The Flowers of War

In the Land of Blood and Honey

The Kid With a Bike

A Separation

The Skin I Live In

Best Animated Feature

The Adventures of Tintin

Arthur Christmas

Cars 2

Puss in Boots

Rango

Best Original Score

Ludovic Bource, The Artist

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Howard Shore, Hugo

John Williams, War Horse

Abel Korzeniowski, W.E.

Best Original Song

“Lay Your Head Down,” Albert Nobbs

“Hello Hello,” Gnomeo and Juliet

“The Living Proof,” The Help

“The Keeper,” Machine Gun Preacher

“Masterpiece,” W.E.