Articles

December 12, 2013
 

OSCARLAND: The Golden Globes – Instant Analysis

 

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.

 



About the Author

Mitch Salem
MITCH SALEM has worked on the business side of the entertainment industry for 20 years, as a senior business affairs executive and attorney for such companies as NBC, ABC, USA, Syfy, Bravo, and BermanBraun Productions, and before that, at the NY law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges. During all that, he has more or less constantly been going to the movies and watching TV, and writing about both since the 1980s. His film reviews also currently appear on screened.com and the-burg.com. In addition, he is co-writer of an episode of the television series "Felicity."