"THE ARTIST" LEADS 69TH ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS

Still from The Artist

Awards Season has now kicked-in officially with the Golden Globe Nominations being announced earlier today at 5:00 AM PAC from Los Angeles. No huge surprises this year, but if anything Michael Hazanavicius' The Artist has solidified itself as a Frontrunner for Best Picture at the Oscars, leading all other Nominees with a total six nods including Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical where it is up against 50/50, My Week with Marilyn, Midnight in Paris and the biggest Box Office Hit of them all, Bridesmaids.

The Help fared v. well, in addition to leading in SAG Awards nominations as announced yesterday, garnering nods for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama with Viola Davis (some saw her as a Supporting Actress) and also Actress in a Supporting Role with Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer. It too is in the running for Best Motion Picture - Drama vying against The Descendants, Hugo, Moneyball, War Horse and The Ides of March.

Michelle Williams leads the race for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical for My Week with Marilyn, giving her a bit of breather from her stiffest Oscars competition in Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady in the the category of Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Drama. Both Streep and Williams are being campaigned by the same interest in The Weinstein Co.  The Match of the Year.

The category of Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical is led by favourite, Jean Dujardin for his portrayal of Silent Film Star, George Valentin.  Meanwhile Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama is more heated battle with George Clooney (The Descendants) up against Buddy Brad Pitt (Moneyball), Michael Fassbender (Shame), Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar) and Ryan Gosling (The Ides of March).  Gosling also is being recognized for performance in the Comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love.

In the Television Categories, HBO's outstanding Mildred Pierce receives four nominations for Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries with Kate Winslet, Best Performance by a Supporting Actress with Evan Rachel Wood, Best Supporting Actor with Guy Pearce and also Best Miniseries or Motion Picture made for Television.

Modern Family, Boardwalk Empire, Cinéma Vérité and Homeland also each received three nominations apiece.  Morgan Freeman will be receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Award this year for his outstanding Body of Work.

Overlooked perhaps this year were Elizabeth Olsen for her stunning Breakthrough Performance in Martha Marcy May Marlene, Felicity Jones for Like Crazy, Carey Mulligan for Shame, Melissa McCarthy for Bridesmaids and Mike and Molly, Michael Shannon for Take Shelter, David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method for Best Motion Picture - Drama and the divisive Toronto Film Critics Association 2011 Best Picture, The Tree of Life.

Click here for a complete list of Nominees. The 69th annual Golden Globe Awards will be broadcast live on Sunday, January 29, 2012 on NBC from 8-11 PM EST; controversial Ricky Gervais hosts.

(Photo credit: Alliance Films)