Winning a Golden Globe doesn’t carry the same weight as getting an Oscar, but the awards ceremony is far more entertaining because it’s unpredictable. The stars are liquored up, the atmosphere is chill, and sometimes the results can be downright shocking. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is a small organization and keeps both its membership and its voting practices shrouded in mystery. It’s often next to impossible to make heads or tails of who will win because of the unpredictability of the members of the Hollywood Foreign Press. Taking all this into account, and with the caveat that this year’s batch of Globe nominees are all over the map, here’s who will end taking up home a Golden Globe on Sunday night.
Best Motion Picture, Drama
Spotlight
Nominees: Carol; Mad Max: Fury Road; The Revenant; Room; Spotlight
This win will signify the commencement of the Spotlight victory tour as HFPA will reward Spotlight just as every other significant awards body has to date. It seems likely that the producers of Spotlight will have to make room on the shelf for an Oscar as well.
Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
The Big Short
Nominees: The Big Short; Joy; The Martian; Spy; Trainwreck
The HFPA likes to surprise us, but lately, we’ve seen them go with conventional wisdom. Last year it seemed the voters went with conventional wisdom and chose The Grand Budapest Hotel (rightfully so). If this were truly about the best comedy, then The Martian wouldn’t be in this category at all. But it is, and it has a chance, but the HFPA will make a statement and reward The Big Short ( as it should).
Best Actor, Motion Picture Drama
Leonardo Dicaprio
Nominees: Bryan Cranston (Trumbo); Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant); Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs); Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl); Will Smith (Concussion)
Truthfully, DiCaprio’s performance in The Revenant didn’t make me feel that he was some lock by any means. However, in looking at the other performances, it’s becoming crystal clear who not only will win this Golden Globe but will also eventually win the Best Actor Oscar.
Best Actress, Motion Picture Drama
Brie Larson
Nominees: Cate Blanchett (Carol); Brie Larson (Room); Rooney Mara (Carol); Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn); Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl)
This category is going to be close and easily could see Saoirse Ronan winning. The voters are going to side with Larson and, truthfully, they should. Larson has been racking up win after win in these critic guild awards across the United States and is quickly ascending to a favorite for the Oscar in a little over a month’s time.
Best Actor, Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Matt Damon
Nominees: Christian Bale (The Big Short); Steve Carell (The Big Short); Matt Damon (The Martian); Al Pacino (Danny Collins); Mark Ruffalo (Infinitely Polar Bear)
The HFPA will honor The Martian. Matt Damon is poignant and provides humor in arguably one the best performances of his career. Also, Damon has never won a Golden Globe. That will change this year.
Best Actress, Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Amy Schumer
Nominees: Jennifer Lawrence (Joy); Melissa McCarthy (Spy); Amy Schumer (Trainwreck); Maggie Smith (The Lady in the Van); Lily Tomlin (Grandma)
The Golden Globes will go a little off the rails as Amy Schumer shocks everyone and wins for her role in Trainwreck. The simplest pick would have been to choose Jennifer Lawrence, but she will have other chances, and this where the HFPA will get a little edgy and pick the talented actress/comedian.
Best Supporting Actor, Motion Picture
Sylvester Stallone
Nominees: Paul Dano (Love & Mercy); Idris Elba (Beasts of No Nation); Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies); Michael Shannon (99 Homes); Sylvester Stallone (Creed)
It’s a simple as this: any other year this would be a two-horse race between Idris Elba and Paul Dano, but this is just simply a case of someone being a little better. Stallone winning Sunday night is about as close to a lock as you will see with the HFPA.
Best Supporting Actress, Motion Picture
Alicia Vikander
Nominees: Jane Fonda (Youth); Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight); Helen Mirren (Trumbo); Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina); Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs)
Vikander has had quite a year with a tremendous performance in The Danish Girl and Ex Machina. While Leigh is a tremendous force on screen, Vikander’s performance carries Ex Machina and truly cements her status and the Golden Globe’s Best Supporting Actress winner in 2016.
