The 'laughable' Golden Globe nominations

The nominations for the annual Golden Globe awards were announced this morning, reportedly prompting "derisive laughter" from reporters covering the press conference. Along with no-brainer nominations for awards-friendly fare like The King's Speech and The Social Network came some controversial snubs and "laughable" nominees. Here's how commentators reacted to the selections made by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), which organizes and judges the awards:

The Tourist — best comedy? How is The Tourist up for best comedy? asks Benny Gammerman at Ology. This "gaudy schlock" was lucky to rack up a "generous" 19 percent positive rating on the film-review aggregator website, Rotten Tomatoes. And even if it weren't an "inferior" movie, it's a "romantic thriller," not a comedy.

"The Hollywood Foreign Press doesn't understand what a comedy is"

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Beautiful people seemed to do disproportionately well: It seems as if the HPFA is more concerned about attracting "glamorous, boldface-name stars" to its ceremony than awarding stellar work, says Gary Susman at Moviefone. How else to explain nominations for Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie in The Tourist? A preference for "megawattage over merit" would also explain nods for the mediocre Burlesque (starring Cher and Christina Aguilera) and Halle Berry's performance in Frankie & Alice.

"And the Golden Globe goes to... the beautiful people"

What, no True Grit? Where oh where are the Coens? asks John Lopez at Vanity Fair. The brothers' Western adventure True Grit was "completely shut out" from the nominations, an "even bigger shocker" than The Tourist's unexpected nods. No doubt the film will be on the Oscar list "given the Coens' increasing beloved-of-the-Academy status." But seriously HFPA, what were you thinking?

"68th Golden Globe nominations: True Grit snubbed, Johnny Depp loved"

It wasn't all bad: Aside from a few admittedly "silly" choices, says Moira Macdonald at The Seattle Times, this was about as standard a list as you could hope for. There were "well deserved" nominations for The King's Speech and The Social Network, and "interesting nods" for the likes of Emma Stone in Easy A and Paul Giamatti in Barney's Version. "Bravo to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, whoever they are."

"Today's Golden Globe silliness"