Will ‘Social Network’ lead Golden Globe nominations?

“The Social Network” -- the drama about the founding of Facebook -- appears poised to garner a slew of nominations Tuesday morning when the 68th annual Golden Globe nominations are announced.

The drama, directed by David Fincher, has been cleaning up this award season. It was named best film of the year by the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn., the Boston Society of Film Critics and the New York Film Critics Circle. It has also been honored by the American Film Institute as one of the 10 best films of the year. Other films in possible contention for multiple nominations include “Toy Story 3,” “The Fighter,” “Black Swan,” “The King’s Speech,” “True Grit” and “ Winter’s Bone.”

The Golden Globes, presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., have five nominated films in the dramatic category and five in the comedy and musical category. Actor and actress awards are also divided into those categories.

Though the Golden Globes are considered a bellwether for the Academy Awards, the two organizations often don’t agree on major awards. Last year, for example, the HFPA picked “Avatar” as best dramatic film, with its director, James Cameron, earning the Golden Globe for best director. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences selected “The Hurt Locker” and its director, Kathryn Bigelow.

The Golden Globes also hand out awards for excellence in television. Among those series, miniseries and TV movies that should perform well Tuesday morning are “ Mad Men,” “Dexter,” “The Pacific” and “Temple Grandin.”

The HFPA already announced that two-time Oscar winner Robert De Niro will receive the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille Award and that the irreverent Ricky Gervais will return as host of the three-hour ceremony. Gervais received mixed reviews for his first outing as MC.

The awards will be telecast live Jan. 16 on NBC from the Beverly Hilton Hotel.