Putting aside the question of whether the Golden Globes actually deserve to be considered important (hardly anyone not actively campaigning for their votes would know a Hollywood Foreign Press Association voter if they fell over one), the fact is that we collectively act as if they are, and that makes them so. And to their idiosyncratic credit, the Globes and their way of categorizing “Comedies” as opposed to “Dramas” tend to be fairly comprehensive in covering potential Oscar nominees. The complete list of nominees is here, but let’s dig into some of the major categories.
BEST DRAMA FILM
12 YEARS A SLAVE
CAPTAIN PHILLIPS
GRAVITY
PHILOMENA
RUSH
BEST COMEDY FILM
AMERICAN HUSTLE
HER
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
NEBRASKA
THE WOLF OF WALL STREET
BEST DIRECTOR
Alfonso Cuaron, GRAVITY
Paul Greenglass, CAPTAIN PHILLIPS
Steve McQueen, 12 YEARS A SLAVE
Alexander Payne, NEBRASKA
David O. Russell, AMERICAN HUSTLE
There are two huge shocks here. One is that Rush made the list–although that surprise had been tipped off in recent days by pundits who were being told by HFPA voters that they loved the film. The conventional wisdom is that its Globes appeal is directly linked to its European-centric storyline, and the fact that it received only one other major nomination (Daniel Bruhl for Best Supporting Actor) suggests it’s still an outlier for a likely Oscar nomination. The other is the fact that SAVING MR. BANKS, generally considered a shoo-in for Oscar nomination, failed to make the list (except for Emma Thompson’s Best Actress nomination). It’s also a surprise that Philomena, rather than its Weinstein Company stablemate August: Osage County, made the cut–although there again, the European setting and cast may have made the difference. Other omissions: Dallas Buyers Club,The Butler (which received no major nominations), The Book Thief, Fruitvale Station, Blue Jasmine, Lone Survivor and All is Lost.
As with the Oscars since they went to a 5-10 Best Picture nominee format, the nominees for Best Director, since they’re limited to 5, can provide a hint as to which the most serious contenders are. The surprise there is that Nebraska made the short list, over The Wolf of Wall Street, Inside Llewyn Davis and Her. Also worth noting: the very strong showing for American Hustle, which tied with 12 Years A Slave for the most overall nominations with 7 and had every major member of its cast receive a nomination. As is often the case, since 12 Years is a “Drama” and Hustle is a “Comedy,” both can win in their respective Golden Globe categories, setting up what could be a head-to-head showdown at the Oscars.
BEST DRAMA ACTOR
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 YEARS A SLAVE
Idris Elba, MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM
Tom Hanks, CAPTAIN PHILLIPS
Matthew McConaughey, DALLAS BUYERS CLUB
Robert Redford, ALL IS LOST
BEST COMEDY ACTOR
Christian Bale, AMERICAN HUSTLE
Bruce Dern, NEBRASKA
Leonardo DiCaprio, THE WOLF OF WALL STREET
Oscar Isaac, INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
Joaquin Phoenix, HER
The only real surprise here is the inclusion of Elba, and as fine as he is in the film, one can’t help wonder if timing contributed to this particular nomination. It was a particularly good day for both Elba and Ejiofor, who both received nominations for Best TV Movie/Miniseries Actor as well. Omissions include Michael B. Jordan for Fruitvale Station and Forest Whitaker for The Butler. On the Comedy side, the 5 nominees are the leads of all 5 nominated Pictures.
BEST DRAMA ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, BLUE JASMINE
Sandra Bullock, GRAVITY
Judi Dench, PHILOMENA
Emma Thompson, SAVING MR. BANKS
Kate Winslet, LABOR DAY
BEST COMEDY ACTRESS
Amy Adams, AMERICAN HUSTLE
Julie Delpy, BEFORE MIDNIGHT
Greta Gerwig, FRANCES HA
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, ENOUGH SAID
Meryl Streep, AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
Kate Winslet hasn’t been turning up on many lists for the indifferently-received Labor Day, but the Hollywood Foreign Press usually nominates her if they have half a chance. On the Comedy side, the recognition for Gerwig and Louis-Dreyfus is somewhat surprising, especially the latter because James Gandolfini didn’t receive the more-anticipated Supporting Actor nod.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Bradley Cooper, AMERICAN HUSTLE
Michael Fassbender, 12 YEARS A SLAVE
Jared Leto, DALLAS BUYERS CLUB
Daniel Bruhl, RUSH
Barkhad Abdi, CAPTAIN PHILLIPS
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Sally Hawkins, BLUE JASMINE
Jennifer Lawrence, AMERICAN HUSTLE
Lupita Nyong’o, 12 YEARS A SLAVE
Julia Roberts, AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
June Squibb, NEBRASKA
On the Supporting Actor side, Jonah Hill was widely expected to score a nomination, as was Gandolfini. The shock in Supporting Actress was that Oprah Winfrey, considered an Oscar frontrunner, didn’t even get nominated, and that Sally Hawkins did.
Be sure to read the Instant Analysis of the Golden Globe Nominations for Television.
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