The Artist and The Descendants tipped for Golden Globe glory

Jan 15, 2012, 17:03 GMT

Los Angeles - Hollywood was to turn out in all its finery Sunday night for the 69th annual Golden Globes, kicking the Hollywood awards season into high gear six weeks before the Oscars.

Movie fans from around the world will tune in to see stars such as George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Meryl Streep walk down the red carpet for an event that is widely regarded as second only to the Academy Awards in the Hollywood calendar.

The prizes are awarded by 90 correspondents at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, and the show is to be hosted by British comedian Ricky Gervais.

French director Michel Hazanavicius' The Artist, an enchanting romantic comedy and tribute to the silent movie era, was the top nominee with six nods.

On Thursday, The Artist dominated the Critics Choice Awards, winning prizes for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Score and Best Costume Design.

The Descendants, director Alexander Payne's wry family drama starring George Clooney, had a shot at the best drama prize, according to some pollsters. Also in the running for awards were Martin Scorsese's first foray into 3D, Hugo, and Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris.

The nominees for Best Motion Picture - Drama, are The Descendants; Hugo; political thriller The Ides of March; Brad Pitt-starrer Moneyball; Steven Spielberg's War Horse; and The Help, a civil rights drama set in the 1960s US South.