The Golden Globes have officially kicked off 2021's awards season. Given the recent movie landscape, who knew there'd ever be enough content available to give awards to. From film to TV, the Golden Globes have shown us what the best of the bunch may be.
Unlike the Oscars, The Golden Globes recognize prestige in both television and film, like if the Emmys and Academy Awards were combined. The Golden Globes kick off a season from February to May that awards all of the achievements in entertainment that define the past year.
Typically, The Golden Globes can give a good indication of who's doing well at the big Academy Awards later on. Even if the UK hasn't yet seen many of these (and it's possible it won't for a long while) it's always fun to make informed predictions based on critical acclaim and solid guesswork.
Nominations & Predictions - Movies
BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Nomadland
Mank
The Father
Promising Young Woman
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Prediction - Nomadland
There's been so much talk surrounding how impressive Nomadland is. With Frances McDormand as the lead and Mank failing to find any emotional impact, I can see this film doing very well.
BEST MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Hamilton
Music
Palm Springs
The Prom
Prediction - Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
It was a toss up between Palm Springs and Borat, but the cultural significance of that sequel cannot be ignored even if Andy Samberg was at the top of his game.
BEST DIRECTOR
Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
David Fincher, Mank
Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
Regina King, One Night in Miami
Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Prediction - Chloé Zhao
This one could go to absolutely anyone. It's amazingly the first time three women have had a nomination in this category. Considering how much I disliked Mank, Zhao seems like a good choice.
BEST ACTOR – DRAMA
Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal
Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Anthony Hopkins, The Father
Gary Oldman, Mank
Tahar Ramin, The Mauritanian
Prediction - Chadwick Boseman
Critics are saying big things about Riz Ahmed, but this prediction is simple. I've seen Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and Boseman completely stole the show. So him for the win.
BEST ACTRESS – DRAMA
Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Andra Day, The United States vs Billie
Frances McDormand, Nomadland
Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman
Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman
Prediction - Vanessa Kirby
I have a feeling this is going to be the hardest category to predict. There are so many good actresses in there, but it's got to be Kirby. She was simply phenomenal.
BEST ACTOR – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
James Corden, The Prom
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Andy Samberg, Palm Springs
Dev Patel, Personal History of David Copperfield
Prediction - Sacha Baron Cohen
Borat 2 was a critical, cultural and commercial success. That is all because of him. The rest of the nominations pale in comparison to that role. I'm not sure James Cordon stands a chance.
BEST ACTRESS – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Kate Hudson, Music
Michelle Pfeiffer, French Exit
Rosamund Pike, I Care A Lot
Anya Taylor-Joy, Emma
Prediction - Maria Bakalova
This is a much harder one to call. I Care A Lot isn't out yet, I haven't been able to see the other two and Anya Taylor-Joy was very good in a fairly mediocre movie. But Maria was awesome.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE
Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah
Jared Leto, The Little Things
Bill Murray, On the Rocks
Leslie Odom, Jr., One Night in Miami
Prediction - Daniel Kaluuya
This is the one thing I haven't seen that I'm 100% sure about. This man will sweep. From That Mitchell & Webb Look to awards season glory. Him and Olivia Coleman do Britain proud.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE
Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy
Olivia Colman, The Father
Jodie Foster, The Mauritanian
Amanda Seyfried, Mank
Helena Zengel, News of the World
Prediction - Olivia Coleman
Speak of the devil. I have heard amazing things about The Father. Perhaps this award will go to Seyfried, but it would be nice to see Britain tearing it up again.
BEST SCREENPLAY
Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
Florian Zeller and Christopher Hampton, The Father
Jack Fincher, Mank
Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
Prediction - Emerald Fennell
Not sure why. Sometimes there's just a feeling and Promising Young Woman seems like the one. It could be The Social Network, Steve Jobs and A Few Good Men writer Aaron Sorkin. But I don't think so.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Alexandre Desplat, The Midnight Sky
Ludwig Göransson, Tenet
James Newton Howard, News of the World
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste, Soul
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, Mank
Prediction - Ludwig Göransson
Tenet was a divisive movie. But I think most people can agree that the soundtrack is awesome.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
“IO SÌ (SEEN)” - The Life Ahead
“SPEAK NOW” - One Night in Miami
“TIGRESS & TWEED” - The United States Vs. Billie Holiday
“FIGHT FOR YOU” - Judas and the Black Messiah
“HEAR MY VOICE” - The Trial of the Chicago 7
Prediction - HEAR MY VOICE
Simple, it's the only one I've heard.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
The Croods 2
Onward
Over the Moon
Soul
Wolfwalkers
Prediction - Soul
Wolfwalkers has been getting a lot of attention in the US, but considering it's not yet available in the UK and Soul was so good - It's got to be Soul.
Nominations & Predictions - TV
BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
The Mandalorian
The Crown
Lovecraft Country
Ozark
Ratched
Prediction - The Mandalorian
This one was another real toss up. The Crown was undeniably good, but with Netflix's weakest season of the four up against The Mandalorian's strongest of its two innovative seasons - The Mandalorian wins.
BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY
Emily in Paris
Ted Lasso
The Flight Attendant
Schitt’s Creek
The Great
Prediction - The Great
I've been meaning to watch The Great for a long time. I haven't had any interest in the rest. So its a very ignorant and selfish prediction of The Great.
MINISERIES OR TELEVISION FILM
Normal People
The Queen’s Gambit
The Undoing
Small Axe
Unorthodox
Prediction - The Queen's Gambit
On the flip side to the last category, I've had a major interest in every single one of these. This could go to one of three. The Queen's Gambit, Small Axe or Normal People. Based on sheer popularity, The Queen's Gambit gets my vote.
BEST ACTOR TV SERIES – DRAMA
Jason Bateman, Ozark
Josh O’Connor, The Crown
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Matthew Rhys, Perry Mason
Al Pacino, Hunters
Prediction - Josh O' Conner
For a moment I thought this was for his role in Emma. Then I realised I was wrong. He's so unlikeable in The Crown. Which is perfect for that particular role.
BEST ACTRESS TV SERIES – DRAMA
Olivia Colman, The Crown
Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
Emma Corrin, The Crown
Laura Linney, Ozark
Sarah Paulson, Ratched
Prediction - Olivia Coleman
This woman used to be in Peep Show. Now she's in The Crown and nominated for two Golden Globes. I say she should have them. If not, then Jodie Comer.
BEST ACTOR TV SERIES – COMEDY
Don Cheadle, Black Monday
Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Nicholas Hoult, The Great
Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
Ramy Youssef, Ramy
Prediction - Nicholas Hoult
Sometimes it's just a gut feeling. Here's another one of those.
BEST ACTRESS TV SERIES – COMEDY
Lily Collins, Emily in Paris
Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant
Elle Fanning, The Great
Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek
Jane Levy, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist
Prediction - Catherine O'Hara
I need to start watching more comedy series. Apparently The Flight Attendant is far less silly than advertised, but considering it's Schitt's Creek's last ever nomination let's go for it.
BEST ACTOR – MINISERIES OR TELEVISION FILM
Bryan Cranston, Your Honor
Jeff Daniels, The Comey Rule
Ethan Hawke, The Good Lord Bird
Hugh Grant, The Undoing
Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much Is True
Prediction - Hugh Grant
This category just tells you how prominent TV has become over the last two decades. Big Hollywood names all up for TV nominations. High Grant has really come into his own lately and, I have it on good authority, he was the best part of The Undoing.
BEST ACTRESS – MINISERIES OR TELEVISION FILM
Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen’s Gambit
Shira Haas, Unorthodox
Nicole Kidman, The Undoing
Cate Blanchett, Mrs. America
Daisy Edgar-Jones, Normal People
Prediction - Shira Haas
I've seen 3/5 of these. It's likely that it's between those three really. It's very likely that Anya Taylor-Joy will get it, but Shira Haas should be the one. Her performance in Unorhtodox is truly one of a kind. Go check it out on Netflix.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – SERIES, MINISERIES OR TELEVISION FILM
John Boyega, Small Axe
Brendan Gleeson, The Comey Rule
Dan Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Jim Parsons, Hollywood
Donald Sutherland, The Undoing
Prediction - John Boyega
Brendan Gleeson is one of the best actors of all time, but since I've not seen The Comey Rule I'd be very surprised if Boyega didn't win this.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – SERIES, MINISERIES OR TELEVISION FILM
Gillian Anderson, The Crown
Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown
Julia Garner, Ozark
Annie Murphy, Schitt’s Creek
Cynthia Nixon, Ratched
Prediction - Gillian Anderson
It's a shame we have to end on a sour note. I think she'll win this because the majority of people thought it was an estonishing performance. I thought it was overly croaky and thought she was miles better in Sex Education. That's the beauty of opinions.
The winners will be announced in The Golden Globes ceremony on 28th February 2021