Oscar Predictions: Best Actress in a Supporting Role

This year, Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 14th. I’ll be offering detailed predictions in most of the major categories, saving some of the biggest categories for last.

Last year’s nominees: Patricia Arquette, Laura Dern, Keira Knightley, Emma Stone, Meryl Streep

This year’s locks: Kate Winslet

Very likely: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Alicia Vikander, Rooney Mara

Possible: Kristen Stewart, Alicia Vikander, Helen Mirren, Jane Fonda, Rachel McAdams

Unlikely: Elizabeth Banks, Joan Allen, Julia Walters

The rundown: This is a very tricky category because it’s hard to know where two of the top performances this year will end up being classified. The Golden Globes put Rooney Mara (Carol) and Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl) in lead, SAG and the Critics Choice Awards put them in supporting, and BAFTA split them up. The bigger reason that Vikander’s placement matters is that, if she ends up being classified as lead, that will make room for Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina). She just can’t get nominated for both, and might be left off because of a vote split for her two performances. It’s intriguing because, at this point, the only lock is Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs), who cemented her status with a surprise Golden Globe win. Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight) seems likely despite being left off the list by SAG, which probably didn’t see the film. I don’t think that SAG nominee Rachel McAdams (Spotlight) will make the cut since enthusiasm for her film seems to be inexplicably flagging. A surge for Golden Globe nominee Jane Fonda (Youth) wouldn’t be too surprising, but the film hasn’t been landing as strongly as many thought. And then there’s Helen Mirren (Trumbo), who has shown up pretty much everywhere for her scene-stealing performance in a movie filled with showy actors. Mirren was recognized by most awards bodies in 2012 for “Hitchcock” before being snubbed on Oscar nominations day, and I think the same will happen this year. Being left off the BAFTA list when American costar Bryan Cranston made the cut doesn’t help. There’s also Kristen Stewart (Clouds of Sils Maria), who won the French Oscar, the Cesar, for her performance, yet hasn’t really shown up except for critics’ trophies. She’ll need some help, but I believe that she’ll make it. There’s still a chance Elizabeth Banks (Love and Mercy) will show up, and Joan Allen (Room) would be a nominee similar to Laura Dern last year, whose costar got all the praise and then slid in under the radar. There is plenty of potential here, and I’m hopeful that we’ll get a good solid list.

One possible crazy scenario: I didn’t like this performance, but Emmy winner Cynthia Nixon (James White) might earn her first Oscar bid for the Sundance indie.

Forecasted winner: It’s too early to tell. If my list is actually nominated, I think Mara might win.

Oscar Predictions: Best Adapted Screenplay

This year, Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 14th. I’ll be offering detailed predictions in most of the major categories, saving some of the biggest categories for last.

Last year’s nominees: American Sniper, The Imitation Game, Inherent Vice, The Theory of Everything, Whiplash

This year’s locks: Room, The Big Short, Steve Jobs

Very likely: Brooklyn

Possible: Anomalisa, The Martian, Carol, Trumbo, 45 Years, The Revenant, Mad Max: Fury Road

Unlikely: The End of the Tour, The Danish Girl

The rundown: The WGA list in this category seems much likelier to repeat at the Oscars than the original field, though I can’t imagine that Room, which was ineligible at the WGA, will be left off. Count on The Big Short and Steve Jobs (the surprise Globe winner) for sure, The Martian and Carol are strong possibilities but could be left off in this race, and we’ll have to see if all the love for Trumbo extends to Oscar voters. Knocking another of those films out will probably be WGA-ineligible but USC Scripter-nominated Brooklyn, and USC Scripter nominee The End of the Tour might show up too. Anomalisa is a threat because it comes from Charlie Kaufman, and watch out also for 45 Years, which feels like it would fit nicely into this race given voters’ historical choices.

One possible crazy scenario: It’s actually not that crazy, but we still don’t know if Beasts of No Nation will be a big Oscar movie or not, and a nomination here would be a show of strength.

Forecasted winner: I think this goes to Room.

Oscar Predictions: Best Original Screenplay

This year, Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 14th. I’ll be offering detailed predictions in most of the major categories, saving some of the biggest categories for last.

Last year’s nominees: Birdman, Boyhood, Foxcatcher, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Nightcrawler

This year’s locks: Spotlight, Inside Out, The Hateful Eight

Very likely: Bridge of Spies

Possible: Ex Machina, Son of Saul, Youth, Straight Outta Compton, Trainwreck, Joy, Sicario

Unlikely: So many others

The rundown: The WGA list is never the best barometer for this category since a handful of the top Oscar contenders are ruled ineligible. This year, The Hateful Eight and Inside Out are the strongest ones that couldn’t have made the cut but probably will with Oscar voters, and Youth is another possibility that wasn’t eligible. From the actual WGA nominees, I’m betting only on Spotlight and Bridge of Spies to make the cut. I don’t see Oscar voters embracing Trainwreck and I just don’t think that Straight Outta Compton will cut it here even if it makes the Best Picture race. I wouldn’t put too much stock in Sicario either, for writing specifically, and instead I’d watch out for Ex Machina. Watch out also for Best Foreign Film certainty Son of Saul to make a possible bid. I wish that Joy was a stronger contender here: it totally deserves to be recognized.

One possible crazy scenario: The wonderful script of Grandman earns a welcome mention.

Forecasted winner: I see it going to Spotlight unless Quentin Tarantino can muster enough support for his film.

Oscar Predictions: Best Foreign Film

This year, Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 14th. I’ll be offering detailed predictions in most of the major categories, saving some of the biggest categories for last.

Last year’s nominees: Wild Tales (Argentina), Tangerines (Estonia), Timbuktu (Mauritania), Ida (Poland), Leviathan (Russia)

This year’s contenders: The Brand New Testament (Belgium), Embrace of the Serpent (Colombia), A War (Denmark), The Fencer (Finland), Mustang (France), Labyrinth of Lies (Germany), Son of Saul (Hungary), Viva (Iceland), Theeb (Jordan)

The rundown: This list was winnowed down from eighty submissions to nine finalists, five of which will ultimately be nominated. A few films many expected to be here didn’t make the cut, and Golden Globe nominee “The Club” from Chile isn’t on it. Of the four Globe nominees, Son of Saul and Mustang will both definitely be nominated. I’ve seen three others - The Fencer, Viva, and Theeb, and I’m not so sure about their chances. I don’t think I would include any of those three on my list. I think that Labyrinth of Lies will probably make the cut, and A War is a good bet too. I don’t know anything about Embrace of the Serpent, and The Brand New Testament, which looks pretty light, was a Golden Globe nominee, so it may make the cut too. I think we’ll have fewer surprises here than usual, though four of these films haven’t yet been released in the United States, so it’s hard to know.

One possible crazy scenario: The lock of all locks, Son of Saul, somehow doesn’t get in. It won’t happen though.

Forecasted winner: “Son of Saul”

Oscar Predictions: Best Documentary

This year, Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 14th. I’ll be offering detailed predictions in most of the major categories, saving some of the biggest categories for last.

Last year’s nominees: Citizenfour, Finding Vivian Maier, Last Days in Vietnam, The Salt of the Earth, Virunga

This year’s contenders: Amy, Best of Enemies, Cartel Land, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, He Named Me Malala, Heart of a Dog, The Hunting Ground, Listen to Me Marlon, The Look of Silence, Meru, 3 ½ Minutes 10 Bullets, We Come as Friends, What Happened Miss Simone?, Where to Invade Next, Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom

The rundown: This category has been winnowed down to fifteen finalists already. At this point last year, I had seen four of that crowd, but now I’ve seen just one, so I’ll have to do some catching up after the nominations come out. The one film I have seen is terrific – Best of Enemies. From what I’ve heard and read, Amy and The Look of Silence are the surest things. Going Clear is a good bet, though Alex Gibney has been snubbed in the past. He Named Me Malala is supposed to be great, and I’ve also heard very good things about Listen to Me Marlon. It’s more depressing, to be sure, but 3 ½ Minutes, 10 Bullets is probably a strong contender, as is The Hunting Ground. It’s not a good idea to count out Michael Moore, but Where to Invade Next is far from a sure thing.

One possible crazy scenario: I’m sad to say that what I predicted happening here, “Life Itself” getting snubbed, came true last year. Since I haven’t seen the film, I’ll say the same about Amy missing out since that just seems unfathomable.

Forecasted winner: I think Amy takes it.

Oscar Predictions: Best Animated Feature

This year, Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 14th. I’ll be offering detailed predictions in most of the major categories, saving some of the biggest categories for last.

Last year’s nominees: Big Hero 6, The Boxtrolls, How to Train Your Dragon 2, Song of the Sea, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

This year’s locks: Inside Out

Very likely: Anomalisa, The Good Dinosaur

Possible: Shaun the Sheep Movie, Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, The Peanuts Movie, When Marnie Was There, Minions, Boy and the World

Unlikely: Home, Hotel Transylvania 2, The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie: Sponge Out of Water, Moomins on the Riviera, The Boy and the Beast, The Laws of the Universe – Part 0

The rundown: It’s hard to hold on to anything in this category after sure thing The Lego Movie was snubbed. Still, there’s no way that Inside Out is getting left off, and I don’t really see Anomalisa being cast off either. I wouldn’t bet against The Good Dinosaur, but I think things get trickier after that. The Golden Globe list and the Annie Award nominees for Best Feature included The Peanuts Movie and Shaun the Sheep Movie. The Producers Guild of America swapped out the latter for Minions. The likeliest of the other nine eligible films to show up are Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, When Marnie Was There, and Boy and the World. In 2011, 2013, and 2014, we got too such more eclectic nominees, but in 2012, we got none, with “The Pirates! Band of Misfits” taking the fifth spot. I’m betting that “The Peanuts Movie,” the one Globe contender I haven’t seen, will miss out in favor of one of the other three.

One possible crazy scenario: The peculiar adaptation of a Finnish cartoon that I had the chance to screen, Moomins on the Riviera, earns a nomination.

Forecasted winner: How could it not be Inside Out?

Oscar Predictions: Best Original Song

This year, Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 14th. I’ll be offering detailed predictions in most of the major categories, saving some of the biggest categories for last.

Last year’s nominees: “Lost Stars” (Begin Again), “Grateful” (Beyond the Lights), “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” (Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me), “Everything Is Awesome” (The Lego Movie), “Glory” (Selma)

This year’s Golden Globe nominees: “Love Me Like You Do” (Fifty Shades of Grey), “See You Again” (Furious 7), “One Kind of Love” (Love and Mercy), “Writing’s on the Wall” (Spectre), “Simple Song #3” (Youth)

Other contenders: “Pray 4 My City” (Chi-Raq), “Hey Baby Doll” (Danny Collins), “Dreamsong” (Diary of a Teenage Girl), “’Til it Happens to You” (The Hunting Ground), “I’ll See You in My Dreams” (I’ll See You in My Dreams), “Phenomenal” (Southpaw)

The rundown: There are 74 eligible songs this year. Golden Globe nominee “One Kind of Love” isn’t eligible, so count that one out. I feel like I haven’t listened to my annual playlist of the contenders as faithfully as I usually do, so I’m at a bit of a loss. The films and song titles pictured above are the ones I’ve heard most about, but I don’t have too much confidence in this race, so don’t hedge your bets on this one.

One possible crazy scenario: Any one of the seven eligible songs from “Salt Bridge” makes the cut.

Forecasted winner: I think See You Again takes it for the sentimental factor.

Oscar Predictions: Best Original Score

This year, Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 14th. I’ll be offering detailed predictions in most of the major categories, saving some of the biggest categories for last.

Last year’s nominees: The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, Interstellar, Mr. Turner, The Theory of Everything

This year’s locks: Carol, The Danish Girl, The Hateful Eight

Very likely: None

Possible: Bridge of Spies, Spotlight, Brooklyn, Steve Jobs, Sicario, The Martian, Inside Out, Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Unlikely: The other 111 contenders

The rundown: A whopping 122 scores are officially eligible in this category this year. The only one of note that’s missing is Golden Globe nominee “The Revenant.” The other Globe honorees should be top contenders: Carol, The Danish Girl, The Hateful Eight, and Steve Jobs. Other films likely to bump any of them out are Bridge of Spies, Brooklyn, Inside Out, The Martian, Sicario, and Spotlight. It would be fun for Star Wars: The Force Awakens to be included here, earning John Williams his record-setting forty-fifth nomination and his first since “Return of the Jedi” for a Star Wars film. I’m not sure it will happen, but it’s certainly possible.
One possible crazy scenario: Thomas Newman scores a bid for Spectre, earning James Bond his second-ever mention in this category.
Forecasted winner: I think this goes to The Hateful Eight.

Oscar Predictions: Best Costume Design

This year, Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 14th. I’ll be offering detailed predictions in most of the major categories, saving some of the biggest categories for last.

Last year’s nominees: The Grand Budapest Hotel, Inherent Vice, Into the Woods, Maleficent, Mr. Turner

This year’s locks: Carol, The Danish Girl

Very likely: Brooklyn

Possible: Trumbo, The Hateful Eight, Joy, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Revenant, Cinderella, Beasts of No Nation

Unlikely: Plenty of others, I’m sure!

The rundown: Like the Art Directors Guild, the Costume Designers Guild separates its nominees, announced last Thursday, into three categories: contemporary, period, and fantasy. The last two are more important to take seriously. From the period section, I think Brooklyn, Carol, The Danish Girl, and Trumbo could well represent four out of five of our nominees here. From fantasy, Cinderella could represent contenders that won’t show up in other races, while Mad Max: Fury Road is likely to be honored here along with its many other accolades. From the contemporary field, Joy and Beasts of No Nation would both be cool inclusions. Both The Revenant and The Hateful Eight didn’t make the cut with the CDG and could show up here anyway.

One possible crazy scenario: Star Wars: The Force Awakens becomes the first film in its series since the original took home this award in 1977 to be nominated here.

Forecasted winner: I think that The Danish Girl gets this.

Oscar Predictions: Best Art Direction

This year, Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 14th. I’ll be offering detailed predictions in most of the major categories, saving some of the biggest categories for last.

Last year’s nominees: The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, Interstellar, Into the Woods, Mr. Turner

This year’s locks: Mad Max: Fury Road, The Revenant

Very likely: Carol, The Danish Girl

Possible: Brooklyn, Bridge of Spies, Trumbo, Sicario, The Martian

Unlikely: Joy, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Room

The rundown: Translating what these nominees will be from the Art Directors Guild list is tough since there are three separate categories there – contemporary, period, and fantasy – and just one here. It’s easy to see that Mad Max: Fury Road and The Revenant, both of which earned nominations in their respective genres, are frontrunners. A shocking snub from the ADG was Carol, which is likely to break through here, and should be joined by period nominee The Danish Girl. After that, it’s anyone’s guess. Period nominees Bridge of Spies and Trumbo could contend, as could contemporary nominees Joy, Sicario, and The Martian. I wouldn’t bet on fantasy nominee Star Wars: The Force Awakens since only the original three “Star Wars” films were honored here (the first won in 1977). The other non-ADG-recognized film, which was probably wasn’t eligible, that might grab the fifth spot: Brooklyn.

One possible crazy scenario: An ADG nominee I wouldn’t think to take seriously – horror film Crimson Peak makes the cut.

Forecasted winner: This feels like a solid place to honor Mad Max: Fury Road.

Oscar Predictions: Best Cinematography

This year, Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 14th. I’ll be offering detailed predictions in most of the major categories, saving some of the biggest categories for last.

Last year’s nominees: Birdman, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Ida, Mr. Turner, Unbroken

This year’s locks: The Revenant, Mad Max: Fury Road, Carol

Very likely: Bridge of Spies

Possible: Sicario, The Martian, The Hateful Eight, Room, Spotlight

Unlikely: The Danish Girl, Creed, The Walk, Star Wars: The Force Awakens

The rundown: This category usually matches up 4/5 with the American Society of Cinematographers list, though in some years, like 2002 and 2007, the list corresponds exactly. Of that list, there are three nominees that should be sure things: The Revenant, Mad Max: Fury Road, and Carol. Even if it doesn’t make the Best Picture list, which it probably will at this point, I’d count on Bridge of Spies making the cut here. The fifth nominee, Sicario, is a good bet, since it should place in the technical categories and is looking more and more likely in the bigger races too. Other possibilities include The Martian, The Hateful Eight, Room, and Spotlight, and The Danish Girl or Creed could show up too.

One possible crazy scenario: I feel like I’m putting this film in this spot in every category: The Walk gets rewarded for some truly visual storytelling.

Forecasted winner: I predict Emmanuel Lubezki to score his third consecutive trophy for The Revenant.

Final Golden Globe Winner Predictions

I’m always excited for the Golden Globes, the first major awards ceremony of the season, and Oscar nominations haven’t yet come out, so we still have the chance to see some big surprises that won’t actually affect the nominations since ballots are already past due.

The best part for me is that I think I've seen more than ever before at this point or even long after the ceremony. I managed to catch all but three nominated films in any category. I missed "The Peanuts Movie" while it was in theatres, but I'm not too broken up about that. I haven't heard anything about U.S. releases for Foreign Film nominees "The Brand New Testament" and "The Club," so I didn't have a chance to see any of those. I consider myself lucky and excited to have seen all the rest in every race, so hopefully these are the most informed predictions yet!

Last year, there were clear frontrunners - “Birdman” and “Boyhood” - and I unwisely and unsuccessfully bet against the former. This year, “Spotlight” seems like the frontrunner but I’m predicting a different film for Best Director, as are many others. What the Globes will do is solidify who the leaders are and whether it’s those who have appeared everywhere, like Mark Rylance or Helen Mirren, or if others shouldn’t be underestimated. Many of the probable winners feel like locks, but are they? I’m excited to see - I think this is a fun year and we could have some good winners. Click on category headings for analysis. Leave your thoughts in the comments. Let’s hope for a great show! Head over to TVwithAbe.com for predictions in all of the TV races, and enjoy the show!

Best Motion Picture - Drama
Spotlight

Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
The Martian

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Brie Larson (Room)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
Matt Damon (The Martian)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
Jennifer Lawrence (Joy)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight)

Best Animated Feature Film
Inside Out

Best Foreign Language Film
Son of Saul

Best Director - Motion Picture
George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Spotlight

Best Original Score - Motion Picture
The Danish Girl

Best Original Song - Motion Picture
“See You Again” (Furious 7)

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical

The competition: The Big Short, Joy, The Martian, Spy, Trainwreck

For your information: “The Big Short” has four nominations, “The Martian” has two, and the other three are only nominated for Best Actress in addition to this prize. The only film nominated for Best Director is “The Martian.” With no musicals nominated this year, there aren’t too many helpful statistics to cover.

Who should win? I enjoyed “Joy” a lot, and I would definitely give this award to that film. I’m not sure “The Martian” is a comedy, but it would be a fine choice, as would “The Big Short.”

Who will win? It could be “The Big Short,” but I’m going with The Martian.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Motion Picture – Drama

The competition: Carol, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Revenant, Room, Spotlight

For your information: All but “Room” are nominated for Best Director, and only “Room” and “Spotlight” and up for Best Screenplay. “Carol” has five nominations, “The Revenant” has four, “Room” and “Spotlight” each have three, and “Mad Max: Fury Road” has two. In the past ten years, only three of the winners have gone on to win the Best Picture Oscar.

Who should win? I’ve been championing “Room” and “Spotlight” as the two films everyone should see this year for awards purposes (and because they’re great). “Spotlight” is definitely my favorite of this race.

Who will win? It’s been underperforming all of awards season, but I think Spotlight has what it takes to win this award.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Director – Motion Picture

The competition: Todd Haynes (Carol), George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road), Ridley Scott (The Martian), Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (The Revenant), Tom McCarthy (Spotlight)

For your information: Only two of these nominees have contended before for directing, and none have won. Though he won the Oscar last year, Inarritu was just a nominee at the Globes, and took home the the screenplay award for “Birdman.” He was previously nominated for directing “Babel” in 2006. Scott was previously nominated for helming “American Gangster” in 2007 and “Gladiator” in 2000. Haynes was nominated in the screenplay category for “Far From Heaven” in 2002. The only time a comedy won in the past twenty-five years was “Gosford Park” in 2001, and “The Martian” is considered a comedy here.

Who should win? I enjoyed Scott and McCarthy’s films most, and I think they deserve a lot of the credit. I wouldn’t be too upset about any of these films winning since the directors were instrumental in making what was strong about them strong.

Who will win? It could be Inarritu or McCarthy, but I think that Miller shouldn’t have too much trouble taking home this award.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Screenplay – Motion Picture

The competition: Charles Randolph and Adam McKay (The Big Short), Quentin Tarantino (The Hateful Eight), Emma Donoghue (Room), Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer (Spotlight), Aaron Sorkin (Steve Jobs)

For your information: Tarantino has been nominated six times before, three times for directing and three times for writing. He won for penning the screenplays for “Pulp Fiction” and “Django Unchained.” This is his first time being nominated in this category without a corresponding directing nod. This is the sixth nomination in this category for Sorkin, who won in 2010 for “The Social Network.” McCarthy is also nominated for directing his film. “The Big Short,” “Room,” and “Spotlight” are all nominated for Best Picture prizes. Only “Spotlight” is nominated for directing.

Who should win? The dialogue is definitely clever in “The Big Short” and “The Hateful Eight,” while “Room” and “Spotlight” are two of the best dramatic films of the year. My choice, however, is the brilliant and very Sorkin-like “Steve Jobs,” which lives and thrives on its writing.

Who will win? Last year, I noted that no film in the past thirty years had won this award without a corresponding Best Picture bid, and so I’d say that discounts “The Hateful Eight” and “Steve Jobs,” which are the two competitors likeliest to take down Spotlight or “The Big Short.”

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Foreign Language Film

The competition: The Brand New Testament (Belgium/France/Luxembourg), The Club (Chile), The Fencer (Finland/Germany/Estonia), Mustang (France), Son of Saul (Hungary)

For your information: It’s hard to tabulate statistics by country since multiple countries are sometimes credited for a given film, including two nominees this year. By my calculations, France has been nominated a whopping 79 times and has been credited with twelve wins. Germany shared credit on one win out of a handful of nominations. Belgium won twice. Hungary and Chile have both been nominated once before, and Estonia was nominated last year for the first time. Finland was cited once also, over fifty years ago. Jaco Van Dormeal, who helmed “The Brand New Testament,” was nominated in 1996 for “The Eighth Day.” Four of these films made the shortlist for the Oscar race and may be nominated – “The Club” is the only one that didn’t.

Who should win? I haven’t seen “The Brand New Testament” or “The Club,” neither of which have U.S. release dates on the schedule. The other three are all good - I’m not sure I have a preference.

Who will win? This category didn’t have a clear frontrunner the past two years, but Son of Saul seems like it this year.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Animated Feature Film

The competition: Anomalisa, The Good Dinosaur, Inside Out, The Peanuts Movie, Shaun the Sheep Movie

For your information: This category has existed since 2006. Pixar has won almost every year but hasn’t been nominated for the past three years. This marks the first time that two Pixar films are nominated. 20th Century Fox Animation, which co-produced “The Peanuts Movie,” has contended twice previously, Aardman Animations, which produced “Shaun the Sheep Movie,” was nominated once before for “Arthur Christmas.” “Anomalisa” is the first R-rated movie to contend for this award. None of these films have any other nominations.

Who should win? I missed “The Peanuts Movie” but I’m not rushing to try to find it anytime soon. I enjoyed all of these and think they have merits, but “Inside Out” is clearly the best.

Who will win? Last year, “How to Train Your Dragon 2” eclipsed “The Lego Movie” and eventual Oscar winner “Big Hero 6.” This year, Inside Out is the clear frontrunner and should have no trouble winning.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Original Song

The competition: “Love Me Like You Do” by Max Martin, Savan Kotecha, Ali Payami, and Ilya Salmanzadeh (Fifty Shades of Grey), “See You Again” by Justin Franks, Andrew Cedar, Charlie Puth, and Wiz Khalifa (Furious 7), “One Kind of Love” by Brian Wilson and Scott Montgomery Bennett (Love and Mercy), “Writing’s on the Wall” by Sam Smith and James Napier (Spectre), and “Simple Song #3” by David Lang (Youth).

For your information: This is the first nomination for all contenders in this category. Though the past three years have been different, in the past ten years, six of the winners have gone on to be snubbed by Oscar. There isn’t much more to say technically about this category except that big names tend to win over the buzziest songs. This is the seventh nomination for a James Bond film. Only one has ever won, and that was “Skyfall” in 2012. Brian Wilson has never been nominated for a Golden Globe but has contended for nine Grammys and won two of them.

Who should win? I just listened to all these songs again. I like “See You Again” but I was also surprisingly fond of “Simple Song #3.” They’re definitely different types of music.

Who will win? I think I’ll still go with See You Again even though I think that “One Kind of Love” could win due to its Beach Boys roots and “Simple Song #3” could also triumph because it stands apart so much from the rest of the nominees.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Original Score

The competition: Carol (Carter Burwell), The Danish Girl (Alexandre Desplat), The Hateful Eight (Ennio Morricone), The Revenant (Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto), Steve Jobs (Daniel Pemberton)

For your information: This is the eighth nomination for Morricone, who won in 1986 for “The Mission” and in 1999 for “The Legend of 1900.” This is also the eighth nomination for Desplat, who won in 2006 for “The Painted Veil” and was nominated most recently last year. Burwell has been nominated once before. Sakamoto has been nominated twice before as part of composing teams, winning on both occasions, in 1987 for “The Last Emperor” and in 1990 for “The Sheltering Sky.” This is Pemberton’s first nomination.

Who should win? I remember the music from “The Danish Girl” and “The Hateful Eight” from when I saw the films. “The Revenant” and “Steve Jobs” are a bit too populated with ambient noise for my tastes. I would vote for “Carol” or “The Danish Girl.”

Who will win? It could be any of these. My pick is The Danish Girl over “The Hateful Eight.”