Golden Globe Musings: Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that, especially this year, it’s hard to know which films and performances will end up being honored.

Last year’s nominees:
Dolemite Is My Name
Jojo Rabbit
Knives Out
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Rocketman

The likeliest nominee here is Hamilton, but it’s always possible that voters will choose to ignore this curiously eligible filmed stage production. Other frontrunners include Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Palm Springs, The Prom, On the Rocks, and The King of Staten Island. I don’t have as much confidence in The Personal History of David Copperfield or Eurovision Song Contest, but they’re possible too, as are Let Them All Talk, Emma, and French Exit. I don’t think it’s likely at all, but I’d love to see a surprise appearance from The Climb here.

Current predictions:
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Hamilton
On the Rocks
Palm Springs
The Prom

Golden Globe Musings: Best Motion Picture – Drama

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that, especially this year, it’s hard to know which films and performances will end up being honored.

Last year’s nominees:
The Irishman
Joker
Marriage Story
1917
The Two Popes

There’s no question that Nomadland will be nominated here. Mank and The Trial of the Chicago 7 seem safe too, as does One Night in Miami. I’m pretty sure that Promising Young Woman will make the cut, though it was briefly going to compete in the comedy races, where it might have had better odds. Da 5 Bloods, The Father, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, News of the World, and Sound of Metal are other possibilities. Watch out also for critics’ favorites from earlier in the year like First Cow, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, and I’m Thinking of Ending Things.

Current predictions:
Mank
Nomadland
One Night in Miami
Promising Young Woman
The Trial of the Chicago 7

Golden Globe Musings: Best Director – Motion Picture

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that, especially this year, it’s hard to know which films and performances will end up being honored.

Last year’s nominees:
Martin Scorsese (The Irishman)
Todd Phillips (Joker)
Bong Joon Ho (Parasite)
Sam Mendes (1917)
Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)

This is a category that mostly draws from Best Motion Picture - Drama nominees and a well-received Comedy/Musical honoree or two. The big question this year is if multiple women can break through here. An all-male lineup is guaranteed not to happen thanks to Chloe Zhao (Nomadland), and she may be joined by Regina King (One Night in Miami), Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman), Kelly Reichardt (First Cow), or Eliza Hittman (Never Rarely Sometimes Always). Male frontrunners include David Fincher (Mank), Aaron Sorkin (The Trial of the Chicago 7), Florian Zeller (The Father), Spike Lee (Da 5 Bloods), Lee Isaac Chung (Minari),  and Paul Greengrass (News of the World).

Current predictions:
David Fincher (Mank)
Chloe Zhao (Nomadland)
Regina King (One Night in Miami)
Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman)
Aaron Sorkin (The Trial of the Chicago 7)

Golden Globe Musings: Best Screenplay – Motion Picture

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that, especially this year, it’s hard to know which films and performances will end up being honored.

Last year’s nominees:
The Irishman
Marriage Story
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Parasite
The Two Popes

The Globes don’t have separate categories for original and adapted screenplays, which means that the buzziest films nominated in the top races often place here, along with a few surprising inclusions every couple of years. Both “Roma” and “Parasite” made the cut in the past two years, and I think that suggests that another subtitled entry, Minari, has a decent shot. It will have to compete with The Trial of the Chicago 7, Nomadland, Mank, and Promising Young Woman, as well as other possibilities like The Father, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Da 5 Bloods, News of the World, Sound of Metal, On the Rocks, and First Cow.

Current predictions:
Mank
Nomadland
One Night in Miami
Promising Young Woman
The Trial of the Chicago 7

Golden Globe Musings: Best Original Song

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that, especially this year, it’s hard to know which films and performances will end up being honored.

Beautiful Ghosts (Cats)
Into the Unknown (Frozen 2)
Stand Up (Harriet)
Spirit (The Lion King)
I’m Gonna Love Me Again (Rocketman)

This category is especially hard to predict without the list of fifteen finalists for the corresponding Oscar race, which won’t be released until after Globe nominations are unveiled. Presumed frontrunners include Speak Now (One Night in Miami), Hear My Voice (The Trial of the Chicago 7), Rocket to the Moon (Over the Moon), Io Si (The Life Ahead), and Wear Your Crown (The Prom). If voters are feeling less serious, Húsavík (Eurovision Song Contest) or Wuhan Flu (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm) could show up here. Other contenders are Just Sing (Trolls: World Tour), (If Only You Could) Save Me (Mank), and Loyal Brave True (Mulan).

Current predictions:
Io Si (The Life Ahead)
Speak Now (One Night in Miami)
Rocket to the Moon (Over the Moon)
Wear Your Crown (The Prom)
Hear My Voice (The Trial of the Chicago 7)

Golden Globe Musings: Best Original Score

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that, especially this year, it’s hard to know which films and performances will end up being honored.

Last year's nominees:
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
Motherless Brooklyn
1917

I don’t know if Nomadland is going to be eligible here, but if it is, it won’t have any problem being nominated. Tenet is a good bet here too, and while Soul is a likely Oscar nominee, animated films rarely get honored here. Strong possibilities include News of the World, Mank, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Minari, Da 5 Bloods, and One Night in Miami.

Current predictions:
Mank
Minari
News of the World
Tenet
The Trial of the Chicago 7

Golden Globe Musings: Best Foreign Film

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that, especially this year, it’s hard to know which films and performances will end up being honored.

Last year’s nominees:
The Farewell (USA)
Les Miserables (France)
Pain and Glory (Spain)
Parasite (South Korea)
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (France)

I correctly predicted all five nominees in this category last year, and I would love to repeat that feat this year. There are a staggering 139 films in consideration from 77 countries, which is of course much more than on Oscar’s list. Among the likeliest contenders only eligible here are Minari (USA), The Life Ahead (Italy), I Carry You With Me (Mexico), New Order (Mexico, France), and Cuties (France). It’s hard to know which films will ultimately be ahead from around the world, but it’s fair to say that Another Round (Denmark) is surely at the top of that list. Two of Us (France) feels like a safe choice too. I’ve heard excellent things about This Is Not A Burial, It's A Resurrection (Lesotho, South Africa, Italy) and Quo Vadis, Aida? (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Romania, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, France, Norway, Turkey), but I’m not sure either will end up picked here. Other possibilities include Apples (Greece), Charlatan (Czech Republic), Dear Comrades! (Russia), La Llorona (Guatemala, France), My Little Sister (Switzerland), Never Gonna Snow Again (Poland, Germany), Night of the Kings (France, Côte d'Ivoire, Canada, Senegal), A Sun (Taiwan), Sun Children (Iran), True Mothers (Japan), and You Will Die at Twenty (Sudan).

Current predictions:
Another Round (Denmark)
I Carry You With Me (Mexico)
The Life Ahead (Italy)
Minari (USA)
Two of Us (France)

Golden Globe Musings: Best Animated Film

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that, especially this year, it’s hard to know which films and performances will end up being honored.

Last year’s nominees:
Frozen 2
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
The Lion King
Missing Link
Toy Story 4

This category is a bit emptier than usual because the bigger animated films haven’t been coming out as much. There’s no debate that Soul is at the forefront. What’s next is a bit more of a question mark. While Wolfwalkers is a shoo-in for an Oscar bid, Cartoon Saloon has only ever been nominated here for “The Breadwinner,” not its other two Irish productions. Over the Moon and Onward both probably have a good chance, mainly because it’s not clear what else would bump them. Likeliest to fill out the category is The Croods: A New Age, the sequel to a 2013 nominee in this category, or The Willoughbys.

Current predictions:
The Croods: A New Age
Onward
Over the Moon
Soul
Wolfwalkers

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that, especially this year, it’s hard to know which films and performances will end up being honored.

Last year’s nominees:
Kathy Bates (Richard Jewell)
Annette Bening (The Report)
Laura Dern (Marriage Story)
Jennifer Lopez (Hustlers)
Margot Robbie (Bombshell)

The main critics’ honoree, Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm), is competing as a comedy lead actress, which opens this category up a bit more. Frontrunners include Amanda Seyfried (Mank), Olivia Colman (The Father), Ellen Burstyn (Pieces of a Woman), Glenn Close (Hillbilly Elegy), and Youn Yuh-jung (Minari). Other possibilities are Saoirse Ronan (Ammonite), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton), Helena Zengel (News of the World), and Talia Ryder (Never Rarely Sometimes Always).

Current predictions:
Ellen Burstyn (Pieces of a Woman)
Glenn Close (Hillbilly Elegy)
Olivia Colman (The Father)
Saoirse Ronan (Ammonite)
Amanda Seyfried (Mank)

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that, especially this year, it’s hard to know which films and performances will end up being honored.

Last year’s nominees:
Tom Hanks (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood)
Anthony Hopkins (The Two Popes)
Al Pacino (The Irishman)
Joe Pesci (The Irishman)
Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)

This category may be awfully crowded since all four stars of Regina King’s directorial debut have been placed here: Leslie Odom Jr. (One Night in Miami), Kingsley Ben-Adir (One Night in Miami), Eli Goree (One Night in Miami), and Aldis Hodge (One Night in Miami). The same goes for another ensemble piece, with Sacha Baron Cohen (The Trial of the Chicago 7) likeliest out of his cast, which also includes Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (The Trial of the Chicago 7), Eddie Redmayne (The Trial of the Chicago 7), Frank Langella (The Trial of the Chicago 7), and Mark Rylance (The Trial of the Chicago 7). The most popular critics’ pick has been Paul Raci (Sound of Metal), and Bill Murray (On the Rocks) should be a likely choice. Glynn Turman (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) and David Strathairn (Nomadland) are possibilities, as are Bo Burnham (Promising Young Woman), Chadwick Boseman (Da 5 Bloods), Orion Lee (First Cow) and Daniel Kaluuya (Judas and the Black Messiah).

Current predictions:
Sacha Baron Cohen (The Trial of the Chicago 7)
Daniel Kaluuya (Judas and the Black Messiah)
Bill Murray (On the Rocks)
Leslie Odom Jr. (One Night in Miami)
Paul Raci (Sound of Metal)

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that, especially this year, it’s hard to know which films and performances will end up being honored.

Last year’s nominees:
Ana de Armas (Knives Out)
Awkwafina (The Farewell)
Cate Blanchett (Where’d You Go, Bernadette?)
Beanie Feldstein (Booksmart)
Emma Thompson (Late Night)

I’m not sure that there are any guaranteed nominees in this race, but there are a few likely inclusions. Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm) will be competing in this category, and shouldn’t have any trouble getting a nomination. I’m really hoping that Cristin Milioti (Palm Springs) isn’t snubbed because she was so great in her film. It would also be wonderful to see Jo Ellen Pellman (The Prom), rather than her more famous costar, Meryl Streep (The Prom), who may compete with another role, Meryl Streep (Let Them All Talk). Rashida Jones (On the Rocks) and Anya Taylor-Joy (Emma) both have a good shot. Kristen Stewart (Happiest Season) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Downhill) are both possible, depending on how voters receive their films. That’s also true for Michelle Pfeiffer (French Exit), whose film has not earned positive mentions.

Current predictions:
Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm)
Rashida Jones (On the Rocks)
Cristin Milioti (Palm Springs)
Meryl Streep (The Prom)
Anya Taylor-Joy (Emma)

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that, especially this year, it’s hard to know which films and performances will end up being honored.

Last year’s nominees:
Daniel Craig (Knives Out)
Roman Griffin Davis (Jojo Rabbit)
Leonardo DiCaprio (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)
Taron Egerton (Rocketman)
Eddie Murphy (Dolemite Is My Name)

This is a tricky category because there are a number of films that will probably do well and bring their lead actors along with them, and there’s also one project eligible that might trump everything this. Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton) and Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton), who won’t be in the running at the Oscars, are very likely given the popularity of the staged musical. Next up are Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm), Andy Samberg (Palm Springs), and Pete Davidson (The King of Staten Island). I’m not sure if Dev Patel (The Personal History of David Copperfield) will be embraced by this group or not since his film is more fantasy than outright comedy. Watch out for also for Mads Mikkelsen (Another Round), whose film is a lock for a Best Foreign Film nomination, or it could be one or two nominations for Will Ferrell (Eurovision Song Contest) or Will Ferrell (Downhill).

Current predictions:
Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm)
Pete Davidson (The King of Staten Island)
Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton)
Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton)
Andy Samberg (Palm Springs)

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that, especially this year, it’s hard to know which films and performances will end up being honored.

Last year’s nominees:
Cynthia Erivo (Harriet)
Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story)
Saiorse Ronan (Little Women)
Charlize Theron (Bombshell)
Renee Zellweger (Judy)

This category seems like it could be set. Frances McDormand (Nomadland) is surely at the head of the pack, but Viola Davis (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom), Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman), and Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman) shouldn’t be far behind. Next could be Sophia Loren (The Life Ahead), Jessie Buckley (I’m Thinking of Ending Things) or Elisabeth Moss (The Invisible Man), and it’s possible that her recent Emmy win and the strength of reviews will propel a late-breaking contender, Zendaya (Malcom and Marie), to that final slot. Watch out also for Sidney Flanigan (Never Rarely Sometimes Always), Kate Winslet (Ammonite), Amy Adams (Hillbilly Elegy), Nicole Beharie (Miss Juneteenth) or Andra Day (The United States vs. Billie Holiday).

Current predictions:
Viola Davis (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom)
Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman)
Sophia Loren (The Life Ahead)
Frances McDormand (Nomadland)
Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman)

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that, especially this year, it’s hard to know which films and performances will end up being honored.

Last year’s nominees:
Christian Bale (Ford v Ferrari)
Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory)
Adam Driver (Marriage Story)
Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)
Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes)

The surest things in this category are the late Chadwick Boseman (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) and a supporting nominee from last, Anthony Hopkins (The Father). Even if his film doesn’t show up in a big way, expect Delroy Lindo (Da 5 Bloods) to be here. After that, things get a bit more uncertain. In theory, Gary Oldman (Mank) should be a shoo-in, but he’s been absent from many precursor lists that have included his film in other categories and could go the way of Robert DeNiro last year for “The Irishman.” Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal) and Steven Yeun (Minari) are strong possibilities who will surely garner votes, and the same goes for Tom Hanks (News of the World) and Jude Law (The Nest). John David Washington (Malcolm and Marie) is a late-breaking contender who may or may not place depending on if voters have seen the film, and he could face competition from performers in films from earlier in 2020 like Ben Affleck (The Way Back), Jesse Plemons (I’m Thinking of Ending Things), or John Magaro (First Cow).

Current predictions:
Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal)
Chadwick Boseman (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom)
Anthony Hopkins (The Father)
Delroy Lindo (Da 5 Bloods)
Gary Oldman (Mank)

Final Golden Globe Predictions

Golden Globe nominations will be announced tomorrow morning. I’m very excited since I feel like I’ve seen so much more than ever before at this point, and I’m hoping to be happy with all the picks. I’m making three small changes to my predictions, two of which are based off the category switching of “Uncut Gems” to drama after I had already written some of my predictions. Therefore, I’m swapping out Christian Bale for Adam Sandler in drama, and Daniel Craig will take Sandler’s spot in comedy. I also saw “Richard Jewell” within the last week and think it will do well, so I’m putting Sam Rockwell in for supporting actor with a suspicion that both Paul Walter Hauser and Kathy Bates, plus director Clint Eastwood, could also show up. I’m hoping that both “Booksmart” actresses aren’t left off, and it would be great if the movie earned a nomination too. The film I’m most pulling for to surprise is “Wild Rose,” which I’ve predicted for Best Original Song, and I’d love to see it earn star Jessie Buckley a best actress bid, though I’m not sure if it would be considered a drama or a musical. I’d also be ecstatic if “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” or “Honey Boy” broke through in significant ways. And a nomination for Aldis Hodge for “Clemency” would be wonderful. But, for now, I’ll settle for my bold and probably incorrect predictions that “Parasite” will be nominated only for Best Foreign Film and that Margot Robbie will earn two Best Supporting Actress nominations. Let’s see how it goes! Full reactions by category beginning Monday morning, though probably not quite as early as nominations are announced given that I’m currently in Los Angeles.

No guts, no glory:
Jessie Buckley and “Wild Rose” both nominated in Comedy/Musical
Julia Fox for Best Supporting Actress for “Uncut Gems”
“Honey Boy” nominated for Best Motion Picture – Drama

Final predictions:
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory)
Robert De Niro (The Irishman)
Adam Driver (Marriage Story)
Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)
Adam Sandler (Uncut Gems)

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Cynthia Erivo (Harriet)
Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story)
Saiorse Ronan (Little Women)
Charlize Theron (Bombshell)
Renee Zellweger (Judy)

Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical
Daniel Craig (Knives Out)
Roman Griffin Davis (Jojo Rabbit)
Leonardo DiCaprio (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)
Taron Egerton(Rocketman)
Eddie Murphy (Dolemite Is My Name)

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical
Awkwafina (The Farewell)
Kaitlyn Dever (Booksmart)
Beanie Feldstein (Booksmart)
Emma Thompson (Late Night)
Constance Wu (Hustlers)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Tom Hanks (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood)
Al Pacino (The Irishman)
Joe Pesci (The Irishman)
Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)
Sam Rockwell (Richard Jewell)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Laura Dern (Marriage Story)
Jennifer Lopez (Hustlers)
Margot Robbie (Bombshell)
Margot Robbie (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)
Zhao Shuzhen (The Farewell)

Best Animated Film
Abominable
Frozen 2
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Missing Link
Toy Story 4

Best Foreign Film
The Farewell (USA)
Les Miserables (France)
Pain and Glory (Spain)
Parasite (South Korea)
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (France)

Best Original Score
Ford v Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Little Women
1917

Best Original Song
Speechless (Aladdin)
Into the Unknown (Frozen 2)
Stand Up (Harriet)
I’m Gonna Love Me Again (Rocketman)
Glasgow (Wild Rose)

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
The Farewell
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Marriage Story
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Best Director – Motion Picture
Martin Scorsese (The Irishman)
Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit)
Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story)
Sam Mendes (1917)
Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)

Best Motion Picture – Drama
The Irishman
Little Women
Marriage Story
1917
Richard Jewell

Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical
Dolemite Is My Name
Hustlers
Jojo Rabbit
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Rocketman

Golden Globe Musings: Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
Crazy Rich Asians
The Favourite
Green Book
Mary Poppins Returns
Vice

Two major contenders are Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Jojo Rabbit, and there isn’t a situation I can imagine in which either of them gets snubbed here. “The Farewell” isn’t eligible in this category since it’s considered a foreign film, and “Uncut Gems” has joined “The Two Popes” as a potential comedy submission that is ultimately going to be billed as a drama. That makes space for Dolemite Is My Name and Rocketman, both of which should place, and then the last spot should be a competition between Hustlers and Knives Out. I’d love to see Booksmart make the cut but don’t think it will happen, and it’s probably too late for Cats to earn votes given that it hasn’t even screened yet. Music nostalgia could earn either Yesterday or Blinded by the Light a spot here too.

Current predictions:
Dolemite Is My Name
Hustlers
Jojo Rabbit
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Rocketman

Golden Globe Musings: Best Motion Picture – Drama

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
BlacKkKlansman
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody
If Beale Street Could Talk
A Star is Born

The past two years, I’ve missed predicting the winner of this category as a nominee. I hope not to make that mistake this time, and that’s mainly because I’ll be including The Irishman and 1917, which I consider the frontrunners for the win here. Likely Oscar nominee “Parasite” isn’t eligible here because it’s a foreign-language film, so next up is Marriage Story. After that, Little Women is probably likeliest, with Ford v Ferrari, Joker, Bombshell, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, and The Two Popes also very possible. Apparently Uncut Gems has also been switched to this category, which I don’t think is a smart idea since its chances at a nomination are that much weaker. If it does show up, that’s a really good sign for its Oscar chances. I think, however, that another late-breaking hit, Richard Jewell, will claim the final spot.

Current predictions:
The Irishman
Little Women
Marriage Story
1917
Richard Jewell

Golden Globe Musings: Best Director – Motion Picture

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman)
Peter Farrelly (Green Book)
Alfonso Cuaron (Roma)
Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born)
Adam McKay (Vice)

This is a category that mostly draws from Best Motion Picture - Drama nominees and a well-received Comedy/Musical honoree or two, which, this year will probably be two. Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) should be a sure thing, while Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit) is likely but not guaranteed. Martin Scorsese (The Irishman) is a lock, and, based on recent buzz, so is Sam Mendes (1917). I think Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story) and Bong Joon Ho (Parasite) are competing for the last slot, with a disadvantage to the latter, which is not eligible in the top categories because it’s a foreign-language film. The same is true for longshot Lulu Wang (The Farewell). Another possibility is Greta Gerwig (Little Women), though she wasn’t nominated for “Lady Bird” two years ago when it won Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical. I’m not sure any of the other possibilities, like Clint Eastwood (Richard Jewell), Todd Phillips (Joker), Marielle Heller (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood), James Mangold (Ford v Ferrari) and Pedro Almodovar (Pain and Glory), feel like they’ll be able to muster enough support.

Current predictions:
Martin Scorsese (The Irishman)
Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit)
Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story)
Sam Mendes (1917)
Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)

Golden Globe Musings: Best Screenplay – Motion Picture

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
The Favourite
Green Book
If Beale Street Could Talk
Roma
Vice

The Globes don’t have separate categories for original and adapted screenplays, which means that the buzziest films nominated in the top races often place here, along with a few surprising inclusions every couple of years. Last year, I didn’t expect foreign film “Roma” to make the cut, which suggests that maybe Parasite could show up this year. I suspect that Marriage Story and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood are likeliest to lead this list, with Little Women, The Farewell, Jojo Rabbit, The Two Popes, and Bombshell.

Current predictions:
The Farewell
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Marriage Story
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Golden Globe Musings: Best Foreign Film

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Girl (Belgium)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)

I’ve seen more than ever before this year, and I just have to adjust my expectations slightly from the corresponding Oscar race due to certain films being eligible here and not there, and vice versa. The most significant films present on the list of 92 submissions from 63 countries is The Farewell (USA), making it ineligible in the normal motion picture category, and Portrait of a Lady on Fire (France), while “Honeyland,” from North Macedonia, is ineligible because it’s a documentary. Parasite (South Korea), Pain and Glory (Spain), and Les Miserables (France) seem like the surest bets. The question is whether Corpus Christi (Poland) will make the cut after last year’s “Cold War,” which went on to earn a Best Director bid, was shockingly snubbed. Among the other films vying for a slot are Invisible Life (Brazil), Out Stealing Horses (Norway), Truth and Justice (Estonia), And Then We Danced (Sweden, Georgia, France), Atlantics (Senegal, France, Belgium), Beanpole (Russia), Synonyms (Israel, France, Germany) and Tel Aviv on Fire (Luxembourg, Belgium, Israel, France).

Current predictions:
The Farewell (USA)
Les Miserables (France)
Pain and Glory (Spain)
Parasite (South Korea)
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (France)