BREAKING NEWS–Golden Globe nominations for SWEENEY TODD, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Tim Burton!

Great news! The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced their nominees for the 2008 Golden Globe Awards this morning, and Tim Burton’s film of Stephen Sondheim’s musical SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET emerged with four nominations: for the film as Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy; for Tim Burton as Best Director; for Johnny Depp as Best Actor, Musical or Comedy; and for Helena Bonham Carter as Best Actress, Musical or Comedy. Congratulations and best wishes to the nominees!

Johnny Depp’s SWEENEY TODD nomination is his eighth Golden Globe nod, and the fifth consecutive year his work has been recognized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Johnny’s previous nominations were for EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (1991), BENNY & JOON (1994), ED WOOD (1995), PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL (2004), FINDING NEVERLAND (2005, his only nomination in the Best Actor, Drama category), CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (2006), and PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST (2007). Other actors nominated this year as Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy are Ryan Gosling in LARS AND THE REAL GIRL; Tom Hanks in CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR, a surprise entry in the comedy category; Philip Seymour Hoffman in THE SAVAGES; and John C. Reilly in WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY.

Tim Burton’s Golden Globe nomination is the director’s first; other nominees include the Coen brothers for NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, Julian Schnabel for THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY, Ridley Scott for AMERICAN GANGSTER, and Joe Wright for ATONEMENT.

Helena Bonham Carter was previously nominated for a Golden Globe as Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama for THE WINGS OF THE DOVE (1998); she also has three nominations for her work in television miniseries. Other nominees for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical include Amy Adams in ENCHANTED, Nikki Blonsky in HAIRSPRAY, Marion Cotillard in LA VIE EN ROSE, and Ellen Page in JUNO.

Thanks to Intodadepps for breaking the news! You can read a lively discussion about the Golden Globes nominations on the Zone’s News & Views forum. To see a full list of the 2008 nominees, click here: http://tinyurl.com/37smop The Golden Globes Awards will air live on NBC one month from today, on Sunday, January 13, 2008 . . . writers’ strike permitting, of course. –Part-Time Poet