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Matthew Huntley: Some of the Golden Globe winners really surprised me this year. I thought Kathryn Bigelow was a lock for Best Director (not that James Cameron isn't also deserving) and I didn't expect Robert Downey Jr. to win over Matt Damon or Michael Stuhlbarg.

The highlights of the evening were Mo'nique's acceptance speech and Jeff Bridges' standing ovation. When Bridges mentioned his wife, it was truly touching, as was Sandra Bullock's humble thanks to her cast and crew. I also liked Downey Jr.'s irreverent acceptance speech, which loosened everybody up.

Not that it's a low point, but I do wish Bigelow had won Director and Hurt Locker took home the statue for Picture. Don't get me wrong; Avatar is phenomenal in its own right, but Hurt Locker just seems like the better film overall. I was also disappointed that The Hangover won for Best Comedy over (500) Days of Summer. The Hangover is funny, sure, but it's not that funny, and in the end I think its popularity won it the award. The only question now is if it will get a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars, now that the category has opened up to ten films.

Ultimately, no, I don't consider this year's Oscar race is already decided. Avatar will surely get numerous nominations and technical wins, but I still say Hurt Locker will be the big winner. I think it will be a battle between these two films, but there are always surprises, just like the Globes proved tonight.

Michael Lynderey: The Globes were a modestly entertaining show, and that's about the most anyone can expect from them. As for the Oscars, there's been one foregone conclusion for me since just about August: Christoph Waltz = Best Supporting Actor. The other acting awards are a little more sketchy; Jeff Bridges could still get toppled from the Best Actor throne, the Supporting Actress category loves to start the night off with a surprise, and the Bullock win tonight just made the Best Actress race the least predictable one of the four: will the Academy give the prize to the veteran superstar who just had her biggest box office year yet (Bullock), or to one of the two ingenues (Sidibe, Mulligan) who carried a pair of very different coming-of-age stories? Now that's going to be the question of the night. As for Best Picture and Best Director... a little less of a mystery there, isn't it? Though word on the street is that Pixar's getting beat in the Best Animated Film category this year (I heard it from a friend of a friend of mine, so it must be true).

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