2017 Golden Globe Nominees

To be hosted by multi-talented Jimmy Fallon, the 74th Golden Globe Awards ceremony on Monday January 9th Australian EST signifies an official beginning to my favourite time of year, Awards Season.

The Hollywood foreign press association have a tradition of nominating less obvious films or actors for awards and they seem to know how to throw a party with multiple recipients over the years appearing on stage bringing their refreshments with them. It happened so often one particular year that hosts Tina Fey & Amy Poehler began a drinking game inciting ‘Scorsese’ as a reference to immediately skol.

The Globes also recognise comedy/musical in separate categories while another of their many significant aspects is combining television and film talent recognising them as a whole. This remains unique although with so much quality small screen productions being made by non-network distrubutors including HBO (Showtime in Australia) or streaming giant Netflix are attracting big screen A-list in front of and behind the camera. Hollywood royalty Meryl Streep has a record of 30 nominations for 8 wins, she is receiving the honorary Cecil B. DeMille award alongside yet another nod for her Florence Foster Jenkins role.

My anticipation runs high, champagne chilled, tuxedo on, lounge chair parched, let the celebrations begin. Here are my tips but don’t hold your breath as there are always a few shocks, although Ryan Reynolds should just be happy to be there.

BEST PICTURE DRAMA
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
Lion
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight
– Such a testament to dramatic variety and a hard one to pick, Australian made Hacksaw Ridge and Lion will come close.
My Pick – MOONLIGHT

BEST PICTURE MUSICAL or COMEDY
20th Century Woman
Deadpool
Florence Foster Jenkins
La La Land
Sing Street
– Keeping with tradition of Golden Globe obscure nominations, Deadpool & Sing Street are good films with absolutely no chance.
My Pick – LA LA LAND

BEST ANIMATION
Kubo and the Two Strings
Moana
My Life as a Zucchini
Sing
Zootopia
– A most competitive year when quality such as Finding Dory is omitted, Kubo has a deserved following which could sneak it a win.
My Pick – Zootopia

BEST ACTOR DRAMA
Casey Affleck – Manchester by the Sea
Joel Edgerton – Loving
Andrew Garfield – Hacksaw Ridge
Viggo Mortenson – Captain Fantastic
Denzel Washington – Fences
– Denzel has the epic monologues, Australian Joel Edgerton is incredibly emotional and a real chance, as is Garfield but Affleck reigns.
My Pick – Casey Affleck

BEST ACTOR MUSICAL or COMEDY
Colin Farrell – The Lobster
Ryan Gosling – La La Land
Hugh Grant – Florence Foster Jenkins
Jonah Hill – War Dogs
Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool
– Hugh Grant can act that’s a fact but won’t win, Gosling can’t lose although a slim chance of an upset could be an impressive Farrell.

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Mahershala Ali – Moonlight
Jeff Bridges – Hell or Highwater
Simon Helberg – Florence Foster Jenkins
Dev Patel – Lion
Aaron Taylor Johnson – Nocturnal Animals
– Grizzled stalwart Bridges is pure dynamite and has this in the bag, more than worthy Taylor Johnson equally impressive.
My Pick – Jeff Bridges

BEST ACTRESS DRAMA
Amy Adams – Arrival
Jessica Chastain – Miss Sloane
Ruth Negga – Loving
Natalie Portman – Jackie
Isabelle Huppert – Elle
– Tough category all deserve the win, Portman edges out in a breathless performance, Adams and Negga understated.
My Pick –  Natalie Portman

BEST ACTRESS MUSICAL or COMEDY 
Annette Bening – 20th Century Woman
Lily Collins – Rules Don’t Apply
Hailee Stienfeld – Edge of Seventeen
Emma Stone – La La Land
Meryl Streep – Florence Foster Jenkins
– Stone gives ten emotions in any one scene. Stienfeld is flawless acting above her age, Collins on the verge like a young Natalie Wood.
My Pick – Emma Stone *Omitting Meryl is difficult for me.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Viola Davis – Fences
Naomie Harris – Moonlight
Nicole Kidman – Lion
Octavia Spencer – Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams – Manchester by the Sea
– Australia’s own Nicole Kidman compliments a remarkable nomination lineup, Harris or Spencer may surprise in supreme roles.

BEST DIRECTOR
Damien Chazelle – La La Land
Tom Ford – Nocturnal Animals
Mel Gibson – Hacksaw Ridge
Barry Jenkins – Moonlight
Kenneth Lonergan – Manchester by the Sea
– A real chance Gibson has obviously been welcomed back to Hollywood, Ford made a terrific film nobody saw, Chazelle has this.
My Pick – Damien Chazelle

ORIGINAL SONG
Can’t Stop this feeling – Trolls
City of Stars – La La Land
Faith – Sing
Gold – Gold
How far I’ll go – Moana
– Lucky to be alive punk legend Iggy Pop on the red carpet will be eyeopening. Pop sensations Ariana Grande & Justin Timberlake shine.
My Pick – City of Stars; duet sung by Ryan Gosling Emma Stone

 *My Picks for a few OTHER CATEGORIES
Screenplay – Nocturnal Animals
Musical Score – Justin Hurwitz – La La Land
Foreign Film – Elle (French Language)
Series TV Drama – Stranger Things
Series TV Comedy or Musical – Veep
Actor TV Drama – Liev Schreiber in Ray Donovan
Actress TV Drama – Caitriona Balfe in Outlander
Actor TV Comedy – Nick Nolte in Graves
Actress TV Comedy – Julia Louis Dreyfuss in Veep
Supporting Actor TV – John Travolta in People vs OJ
Supporting Actress TV – Thandie Newton in Westworld

Shane A. Bassett