The 78th Annual Golden Globes are this Sunday, so just like every year, I thought it would be fun run through my predictions and personal picks in each category while Keith will chime in with his. The Golden Globes are the first major precursor to hand out their awards, so they are typically tougher to predict as there is nothing substantial to go off of. Without further ado, let’s get started!
BEST PICTURE – DRAMA
WILL WIN: Promising Young Woman (Tristan), The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Keith)
COULD WIN: The Trial of the Chicago 7, Promising Young Woman (Keith)
SHOULD WIN: Nomadland (Tristan, Keith)
WINNER: Nomadland
While it is potentially the least critically revered of the nominees, Aaron Sorkin’s timely star-studded courtroom-drama “The Trial of the Chicago 7” is the presumed frontrunner by many. The Globes have honoured Aaron Sorkin at every opportunity possible and the film explores timely subject matter in a entertaining and commercially accessible fashion. That being said, it has been a turbulent year and while they don’t have much credibility as an organization, I’d imagine the HFPA are going to gravitate towards a film with a bit more to unpack thematically this year. This may be a bold choice, but I am going to predict Promising Young Woman wins the top prize at the Globes. The fact that they nominated Promising Young Woman in four major categories, indicates that they are willing to embrace a film as bold, gutsy and uncompromisingly timely as Emerald Fennel’s debut. While Nomadland is still the frontrunner for Best Picture at the Oscars, something tells me that the HFPA aren’t going to gravitate to it as much as the Academy, and other guilds such as the PGA and DGA would. It’s easily the best film the past year had to offer in my opinion, but at the end of the day it’s a tone poem, which is not the type of film the HFPA tend to vote for, at least not in this category.
BEST PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
WILL WIN: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Tristan), Hamilton (Keith)
COULD WIN: Hamilton (Tristan), Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Keith)
SHOULD WIN: Palm Springs (Tristan, Keith)
WINNER: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
While it’s entirely possible the HFPA could rally behind Hamilton as an excuse to award Lin-Manuel Miranda and company for creating a pop culture phenomenon, there has been an outcry regarding whether it should even be eligible as it is technically a live recording of the Broadway production. I think enough voters will question its eligibility and instead vote for another pop culture phenomenon. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm was a surprise success that will eventually be known as one of the defining films of the COVID era. Tackling relevant political themes in a bold and hysterical fashion, the film was arguably able to reach the heights of its predecessor and in turn will likely be embraced by the HFPA. While I didn’t love the film as much as some critics, it would be a nice surprise to see Palm Springs take home the award as it is the most creative and original film of the bunch, and it has a surprising amount of depth that you wouldn’t typically expect from this brand of broad comedy.
BEST ACTOR – DRAMA
- Anthony Hopkins – The Father
- Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
- Gary Oldman – Mank
- Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal
- Tahar Rahim – The Mauritanian
WILL WIN: Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: Anthony Hopkins – The Father (Tristan), Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal (Keith)
SHOULD WIN: Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal (Tristan), Anthony Hopkins – The Father (Keith)
WINNER: Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman is going to inevitably steamroll through awards season and I would be very shocked if he lost a single major award. His gargantuan performance is destined for awards consideration and I’m sure the HFPA would seize the opportunity to recognize Chadwick’s accomplishments as an actor throughout his short but groundbreaking career. That being said, Anthony Hopkins performance is equally as miraculous and he has never won a competitive Golden Globe, so a surprise upset is not out of the question. As incredible as those two performances are, my personal pick would be Riz Ahmed in Sound of Metal, a challenging role that showcased Ahmed’s range and vulnerability as an actor, skillfully shifting between understated and explosive at ease.
BEST ACTOR – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
- Andy Samberg – Palm Springs
- Dev Patel – The Personal History of David Copperfield
- James Corden – The Prom
- Lin-Manuel Miranda – Hamilton
- Sasha Baron Cohen – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
WILL WIN: Sasha Baron Cohen – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: Lin-Manuel Miranda – Hamilton (Tristan, Keith)
SHOULD WIN: Sasha Baron Cohen – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Tristan, Keith)
WINNER: Sasha Baron Cohen
2020 was an eventful year for Sasha Baron Cohen, as he delivered two central performances in two very different critically acclaimed films (both of which he was nominated for) and has been campaigning more than anyone else this season. While his performance in The Trial of the Chicago 7 is the more out-of-left field role as it is a departure from his typical style, that category is far more competitive, so the HFPA will likely honour him here to award him for his accomplishments throughout the past year. While it’s a possibility that the HFPA will go all in on Hamilton, they are more likely to embrace Coen, as he is truly deserving of an award this year.
BEST ACTRESS – DRAMA
- Andra Day – The United States vs. Billie Holiday
- Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman
- Frances McDormand – Nomadland
- Vanessa Kirby – Pieces of a Woman
- Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
WILL WIN: Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Tristan), Vanessa Kirby – Pieces of a Woman (Keith)
SHOULD WIN: Frances McDormand – Nomadland (Tristan, Keith)
WINNER: Andra Day
Similar to Chadwick, it’s very possible that Carey Mulligan could steamroll this season. She’s an actress who has been delivering incredible performances for over a decade and she has never really gotten her due in terms of awards consideration. She delivers a firecracker performance in Promising Young Woman that stands out from the pack. I wouldn’t entirely count out Viola Davis or Frances McDormand, but I’m pretty confident that Carey’s got this. That being said, if I’m judging on the performances alone and not how overdue each actress is, I would personally vote for Frances McDormand, who delivers a naturalistic and vulnerable performance that may very well be her best to date.
BEST ACTRESS – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
- Anya Taylor-Joy – Emma
- Kate Hudson – Music
- Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
- Michelle Pfeiffer – French Exit
- Rosamund Pike – I Care A Lot
WILL WIN: Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: Rosamund Pike – I Care A Lot (Tristan), Anya Taylor-Joy – Emma (Keith)
SHOULD WIN: Anya Taylor-Joy – Emma (Tristan), Rosamund Pike – I Care A Lot (Keith)
WINNER: Rosamund Pike
Maria Bakalova has won the majority of critics circles awards for Best Supporting Actress, which not only cements her as a lock to win in this particular category, but she also is the only nominee who has a strong chance at also earning an Oscar nomination. Buzz for Rosamund Pike’s performance in I Care A Lot has been surging as of late, but Bakalova is too strong of a contender to realistically compete with. In terms of my personal pick, I really enjoyed Anya Taylor-Joy’s playful performance in the latest adaptation of Jane Austin’s Emma, but I wouldn’t have any qualms with Bakalova winning.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
- Bill Murray – On the Rocks
- Daniel Kaluuya – Judas & the Black Messiah
- Leslie Odom Jr. – One Night In Miami
- Jared Leto – The Little Things
- Sasha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7
WILL WIN: Daniel Kaluuya – Judas & the Black Messiah (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: Sasha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Tristan, Keith)
SHOULD WIN: Daniel Kaluuya – Judas & the Black Messiah (Tristan), Bill Murray – On the Rocks (Keith)
WINNER: Daniel Kaluuya
While Judas & the Black Messiah was not widely embraced at the Golden Globes in terms of nomination, I would still bet money on Daniel Kaluuya taking home the award for his ferocious performance in the film. Kaluuya is easily one of the greatest actors to emerge within the last few years and giving him the award would be a great way for the HFPA to recognize that. That being said, you can’t entirely count out Sasha Baron Cohen. While he is more likely to win for his comedic-leaning performance in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, it is possible that the HFPA will want to award him for the more dramatic performance of the two
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
- Amanda Seyfried – Mank
- Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy
- Helena Zengel – News of the World
- Jodie Foster – The Mauritanian
- Olivia Colman – The Father
WILL WIN: Amanda Seyfried – Mank (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: Olivia Coleman – The Father or Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy (Tristan, Keith)
SHOULD WIN: Amanda Seyfried – Mank (Tristan), Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy (Keith)
WINNER: Jodie Foster
Out of all the categories, Best Supporting Actress is easily the most difficult to predict. Seyfried, Coleman and Close are in a three-way battle for the prize, but I’m predicting Amanda Seyfried comes out on top. Mank is a very divisive film that has been criticized for its isolating and inside-baseball approach to telling its story. However, almost everyone agrees that Seyfried is the heart and soul of the film, delivering a performance that is reminiscent of the kinds of Oscar-Winning performances that are looked fondly upon from the 1940s and 1950s.
BEST DIRECTOR
- Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7
- Chloé Zhao – Nomadland
- David Fincher – Mank
- Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman
- Regina King – One Night In Miami
WILL WIN: Chloé Zhao – Nomadland (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: David Fincher – Mank (Tristan), Regina King – One Night In Miami (Keith)
SHOULD WIN: Chloé Zhao – Nomadland (Tristan, Keith)
WINNER: Chloé Zhao
Outside of Best Actor, Best Director may be the most predictable category. Chloé Zhao has won pretty much every single award she has been nominated for, really dominating this season. It’s not difficult to understand why. Her hyper-realist style is undeniably impressive, combining narrative and documentary elements to create a intriguing concoction that is completely unique to her. On top of that, she explores relevant themes of isolation, economic instability, grief and the beauty of nature, all of which resonate in our current COVID world. The HFPA love Sorkin and especially Finches, and I suppose they could go all in with Promising Young Woman, but I would personally be very surprised if Zhao doesn’t take home this award. It’s a remarkable directorial achievement, she’s a very likeable person who clearly has a lot of wisdom and a unique perspective on the world, and she has been campaigning more than anyone else in this category.
BEST SCREENPLAY
WILL WIN: Promising Young Woman (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Tristan, Keith)
SHOULD WIN: Promising Young Woman (Tristan, Keith)
WINNER: The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best Screenplay is tricky to predict. Most awards experts would lean towards The Trial of the Chicago 7, as the HFPA love to award Aaron Sorkin and the script is very wordy and fast-paced. However, most people agree that it isn’t Sorkin’s best work as a screenwriter, as the ending has been criticized for being safe and somewhat poorly written. I would personally bet on Emerald Fennell taking home the award for her astonishing work on Promising Young Woman. The script is energetic and surprising at every turn, perfectly complimenting Carey Mulligan’s excellent performance. If I had to make a comparison, it is in some ways similar to Martin McDonaugh’s script for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri which he won the Globe for, as both scripts are extremely bold and unpredictable in nature.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
WILL WIN: Soul (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: Tenet (Tristan, Keith)
SHOULD WIN: Soul (Tristan, Keith)
WINNER: Soul
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross composed not one, but two brilliant score’s this past year that were both nominated in this category. Their work on Soul in particular, alongside jazz musician Jon Batiste, is absolutely brilliant and none of the other nominees are even in the same league. The way the film masterfully navigates between the jazz oriented compositions and Reznor and Ross’ surprisingly experimental electronic oriented score is undeniably impressive. Soul not only has the best score in this category, but also utilizes it to convey emotion and as a storytelling device in a way that none of the other nominees do. If any score was going to pose a threat, it would be Ludwig Göransson’s work on Tenet, as he is one of the most popular composers working today and has yet to be recognized by the HFPA.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
- Fight For You – Judas & the Black Messiah
- Hear My Voice – The Trial of the Chicago 7
- Io Se – The Life Ahead
- Speak Now – One Night In Miami
- Tigress & Tweed – The United States vs. Billie Holiday
WILL WIN: Speak Now – One Night in Miami (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: Fight For You – Judas & the Black Messiah (Tristan, Keith)
SHOULD WIN: Speak Now – One Night in Miami (Tristan, Keith)
WINNER: Io Se
I will be honest, I am not very invested in the Best Original Song category this year, as frankly every single nominee sounds very similar. Typically both the Academy and the HFPA do a great job at curating a lineup of nominees where each song is distinct in one way or another, but this year the competition is direly slim. There are surprisingly no songs nominated from any musicals or animated films, which typically occupy at least a few slots in this category. Out of this lineup, Speak Now is definitely the standout, due to Leslie Odom Jr.’s impeccable vocal performance and sharp writing. I wouldn’t count out Fight For You either, as H.E.R. is beloved within the industry and has commercial appeal as well.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
WILL WIN: Soul (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: Wolfwalkers (Tristan, Keith)
SHOULD WIN: Soul (Tristan, Keith)
WINNER: Soul
Disney/Pixar almost always dominates this category, but this time it is definitely well deserved. While Wolfwalkers is an impressive film that is beloved by both critics and animation fans alike, It lacks both the depth and mass appeal that Soul has. Pete Docter outdid himself, crafting a film that really touched and inspired mass audiences at a time we needed emotional comfort most. It’s a remarkable achievement that will likely dominate this category throughout awards season.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
- Another Round
- La Llorona
- The Life Ahead
- Minari
- Two of Us
WILL WIN: Minari (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: Another Round (Tristan, Keith)
SHOULD WIN: Minari (Tristan, Keith)
WINNER: Minari
While you can easily make the argument that Minari shouldn’t even be eligible, as it is an American film, it qualifies based on the HFPA’s rules and therefore will easily take home this award. Similar to Parasite and Roma, Minari is competing in a number of categories this season and has a legitimate chance at winning Best Picture at the Oscars, so it would come as a major surprise if the film isn’t awarded here. However, there is a slim chance that Another Round could pull an upset, as it is a very likeable film that will probably win Best International Feature at the Oscars.
In addition to awarding the best cinema had to offer throughout the past year, the Globes also have several categories dedicated to awarding the best in Television. While I personally do not know nearly as much about television as I do film, I will try my best to accurately predict the winners in each of the TV oriented categories.
BEST TV DRAMA SERIES
- The Crown
- Lovecraft Country
- The Mandalorian
- Ozark
- Ratched
WILL WIN: The Crown (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: Ozark (Tristan, Keith)
WINNER: The Crown
BEST TV DRAMA ACTOR
- Jason Bateman – Ozark
- Josh O’Connor – The Crown
- Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul
- Al Pacino – Hunters
- Matthew Rhys – Perry Mason
WILL WIN: Jason Bateman – Ozark (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: Josh O’Connor – The Crown (Tristan), Matthew Rhys – Perry Mason (Keith)
WINNER: Josh O’Connor
BEST TV DRAMA ACTRESS
- Olivia Colman – The Crown
- Jodie Comer – Killing Eve
- Emma Corrin – The Crown
- Laura Linney – Ozark
- Sarah Paulson – Ratched
WILL WIN: Emma Corrin – The Crown (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: Olivia Coleman – The Crown (Tristan, Keith)
WINNER: Emma Corrin
BEST MUSICAL/COMEDY SERIES
- Emily in Paris
- The Flight Attendant
- Schitt’s Creek
- The Great
- Ted Lasso
WILL WIN: Schitt’s Creek (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: Ted Lasso (Tristan), The Flight Attendant (Keith)
WINNER: Schitt’s Creek
BEST TV MUSICAL/COMEDY ACTOR
- Don Cheadle – Black Monday
- Nicholas Hoult – The Great
- Eugene Levy – Schitt’s Creek
- Jason Sudeikis – Ted Lasso
- Ramy Youssef – Ramy
WILL WIN: Jason Sudeikis – Ted Lasso (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: Eugene Levy – Schitt’s Creek (Tristan, Keith)
WINNER: Jason Sudeikis
BEST TV MUSICAL/COMEDY ACTRESS
- Lily Collins – Emily in Paris
- Kaley Cuoco – The Flight Attendant
- Elle Fanning – The Great
- Jane Levy – Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist
- Catherine O’Hara – Schitt’s Creek
WILL WIN: Kaley Cuoco – The Flight Attendant (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: Catherine O’Hara – Schitt’s Creek (Tristan, Keith)
WINNER: Catherine O’Hara
BEST LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
- Normal People
- The Queen’s Gambit
- Small Axe
- The Undoing
- Unorthodox
WILL WIN: The Queen’s Gambit (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: Small Axe (Tristan), Normal People (Keith)
WINNER: The Queen’s Gambit
BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
- Bryan Cranston – Your Honor
- Jeff Daniels – The Comey Rule
- Hugh Grant – The Undoing
- Mark Ruffalo – I Know This Much is True
- Ethan Hawke – The Good Lord Bird
WILL WIN: Mark Ruffalo – I Know This Much is True (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: Mark Ruffalo – I Know This Much is True (Tristan), Hugh Grant – The Undoing (Keith)
WINNER: Mark Ruffalo
BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
- Cate Blanchett – Mrs. America
- Daisy Edgar-Jones – Normal People
- Shira Haas – Unorthodox
- Nicole Kidman – The Undoing
- Anya Taylor-Joy – The Queen’s Gambit
WILL WIN: Anya Taylor-Joy – The Queen’s Gambit (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: Cate Blanchett – Mrs. America (Tristan, Keith)
WINNER: Anya Taylor-Joy
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
- John Boyega – Small Axe
- Brendan Gleeson – The Comey Rule
- Daniel Levy – Schitt’s Creek
- Jim Parsons – Hollywood
- Donald Sutherland – The Undoing
WILL WIN: Dan Levy – Schitt’s Creek (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: John Boyega – Small Axe (Tristan, Keith)
WINNER: John Boyega
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
- Helena Bonham Carter – The Crown
- Julia Garner – Ozark
- Annie Murphy – Schitt’s Creek
- Cynthia Nixon – Ratched
- Gillian Anderson – The Crown
WILL WIN: Gillian Anderson – The Crown (Tristan, Keith)
COULD WIN: Gillian Anderson – The Crown (Tristan, Keith)
WINNER: Gillian Anderson
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