After years of problems, the Golden Globe awards have become the second-most important show in the world of movies, only behind the Academy Awards. Sunday, the Hollywood Foreign Press will again be dishing out the hardware -- in what might be an Oscar preview.

The Golden Globe Awards hit a low point in 1982 when Pia Zadora was named New Star of the Year for the movie Butterfly. The movie had been savaged by some critics and, even worse, totally ignored by others. But the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the group with the sometimes questionable credentials that hands out the Golden Globes, must have seen something the mainstream entertainment world didn't.

It was subsequently reported, however, that Pia's mega-millionaire husband had apparently spent a few bucks wining, dining and generally buying off HFPA members and his young wife's win likely owed more to payola than talent.

Fortunately, those days seem for the most part to be behind the Golden Globe Awards.

The awards and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association have cleaned up their acts and the Golden Globes today rank second second only to the Academy Awards in movie industry importance.

And, as viewers should find out again Sunday night, they make for much better TV.

The Golden Globes will be handed out Sunday night on NBC at 8 p.m. with a minimum of technical awards and a maximum of star power.

The Globes honour motion picture and television with trophies in 24 categories including best motion picture and actors in drama and comedy/musical categories, which means twice as many big-name nominees, most of who actually attend.

The event includes a sit-down dinner and the turnout is always high, both in attendance and, thanks to the bottles of Moet champagne on each table, spirit.

Best actor and supporting nominees this year include Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman, Sissy Spacek, Russell Crowe, Will Smith, Kevin Spacey, Billy Bob Thornton, Denzel Washington, Reese Witherspoon, Renee Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Gene Hackman, Hugh Jackman, Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Hayden Christensen, Ben Kingsley, Jude Law and Jon Voight.

From the TV world, look for Lorraine Bracco, Amy Brenneman, Edie Falco, Sela Ward, James Gandolfini, Martin Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland, Calista Flockhart, Heather Locklear, Debra Messing, Kelsey Grammer and Charlie Sheen.

The Globes have generally foreshadowed Oscar nominations and victories (and often reflect more popular tastes).

Oscar nominations will be announced Feb. 12 but one can discern the top five movies by checking the Golden Globe hopefuls.

A Beautiful Mind and Moulin Rouge lead nominations for the Golden Globes with six each in the drama and comedy/musical categories respectively, including best picture bids and honours for actors Crowe and Kidman.

Both movies should find a home on the Oscar nomination list and the actors stand equally good chances.

The Oscars will also likely nominate Globe hopefuls In the Bedroom and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Other Golden Globe hopefuls with good Oscar chances are Gosford Park, The Man Who Wasn't There and Mulholland Drive.

Kidman should grab at least one Globe because she is nominated for best actress in both comedy/musical (Moulin Rouge) and drama for The Others. Billy Bob Thornton also received nominations, in drama (The Man Who Wasn't There) and musical/comedy (Bandits).

Robert Altman's murder mystery Gosford Park has five nominations, including best musical or comedy and supporting actress nominations for Helen Mirren and Maggie Smith.

Source: The Hamilton Spectator