The original plan was to see another movie, today, but guess what?  SNOWED IN!  So, here’s something else I was planning on  doing . . .

The Movie March Golden Globes Preview!

For those who aren’t aware, the Golden Globes – taking place on Sunday night, January 8 – are conducted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and covers both film and television.  I’m only covering the film component of the awards in this column.  As far as television goes, I’ll leave it at GO, GAME OF THRONES!

So, I’m going to take this one category at a time.  I’ve seen almost all of the nominees.  A few of them haven’t made it to my area, yet.  One of them did, but was gone before I could get to it.  None of the Foreign Language nominees have been anywhere around here, so I’ll skip that category.  I’ll list who/what I want to win and then who/what I believe will win.  So, here I go, working my way up.

Best Original Song

Nominees:

• Can’t Stop the Feeling! (Trolls)
• City of Stars (La La Land)
• Faith (Sing)
• Gold (Gold)
• How Far I’ll Go (Moana)

Want to win: “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana

Analysis: Of these songs, only “How Far I’ll Go” truly made me feel anything as I listened to it, but “City of Stars” is a great song.  Hollywood loves movies about Hollywood, so I expect La La Land to get the win for that reason.

Will win: “City of Stars” from La La Land

 

Best Original Score

Nominees:

• Nicholas Britell (Moonlight)
• Justin Hurwitz (La La Land)
• Johánn Johánnsson (Arrival)
• Dustin O’Halloran, Hauschka (Lion)
• Hans Zimmer, Pharrell Williams, Benjamin Wallfisch (Hidden Figures)

Want to win: Dustin O’Halloran and Hauschka for Lion

Analysis: The score in Lion added so much to the immersive nature of that film.  But La La Land is a musical and this is a music category.

Will win: Justin Hurwitz for La La Land

 

Best Motion Picture – Animated

Nominees:

• Moana
• My Life as a Zucchini
• Sing
• Zootopia
• Kubo and the Two Strings

Want to win: Kubo and the Two Strings!  Kubo, Kubo, Kubo!!!

Analysis: Kubo and the Two Strings is far and away the best of these films and is a true achievement in filmmaking, animated or not.  But most people didn’t see it, and that sadly will extend to much of the HFPA, as well.  That makes it a tossup between the pair of Disney films.  Moana is fantastic and fresher in the voters’ minds and that could be enough.  But Zootopia was more topical and had stronger buzz, so that’s the way I’m leaning.

Will win: Zootopia

 

Best Screenplay

Nominees:

• Damien Chazelle (La La Land)
• Tom Ford (Nocturnal Animals)
• Barry Jenkins (Moonlight)
• Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester by the Sea)
• Taylor Sheridan (Hell or High Water)

Want to win: Tom Ford for Nocturnal Animals

Analysis: Nocturnal Animals was a mindbender of a film with a dexterous screenplay but Moonlight is the talk of the town, with a weighty, topical theme.  That’s enough for the likely win, but watch out for Manchester by the Sea.

Will win: Barry Jenkins for Moonlight

 

Best Director

Nominees:

• Damien Chazelle (La La Land)
• Tom Ford (Nocturnal Animals)
• Mel Gibson (Hacksaw Ridge)
• Barry Jenkins (Moonlight)
• Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester by the Sea)

Want to win: Damien Chazelle for La La Land

Analysis: Moonlight and La La Land are the two darlings of this awards season and one of them should win this (with Manchester by the Sea having an outside shot).  Chazelle did so many small, unique things to enhance his storytelling, so I’ll give him the nod.  Tough call, though.

Will win: Damien Chazelle for La La Land

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Nominees:

• Mahershala Ali (Moonlight)
• Jeff Bridges (Hell or High Water)
• Simon Helberg (Florence Foster Jenkins)
• Dev Patel (Lion)
• Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Nocturnal Animals)

Want to win: Dev Patel for Lion

Analysis: And I thought the last category was tough!  Really, anybody but Helberg is deserving of this one.  Patel’s performance moved me beyond words, but Ali carried the first third of Moonlight and that counts for something when it’s part of the film that has Hollywood talking.

Will win: Mahershala Ali for Moonlight

 

 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Nominees:

• Naomie Harris (Moonlight)
• Nicole Kidman (Lion)
• Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures)
• Michelle Williams (Manchester by the Sea)
• Viola Davis (Fences)

Want to win: Viola Davis for Fences

Analysis: Harris, Kidman, and Williams all did great work but were overshadowed by other aspects of their films.  Spencer is a fantastic talent but had very little to do in Hidden Figures.  Davis was powerful and memorable in her role in Fences and hopefully takes home the trophy.

Will win: Viola Davis for Fences

Best Performance by an Actor – Musical or Comedy

Nominees:

• Colin Farrell (The Lobster)
• Ryan Gosling (La La Land)
• Hugh Grant (Florence Foster Jenkins)
• Jonah Hill (War Dogs)
• Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool)

Want to win: Ryan Gosling for La La Land

Analysis: This one is between the two Ryans.  I think, in any other year, Ryan Reynolds would have a shot at this.  But Ryan Gosling so completely owned his role in La La Land – to the point of learning how to master – not just play – the piano, that he’s the only one truly deserving of the award.  Throw in that this is his fourth nomination without a win and it just feels like it’s his time.

Will win: Ryan Gosling for La La Land

Best Performance by an Actress – Musical or Comedy

Nominees:

• Annette Bening (20th Century Women)
• Lily Collins (Rules Don’t Apply)
• Hailee Steinfeld (The Edge of Seventeen)
• Emma Stone (La La Land)
• Meryl Streep (Florence Foster Jenkins)

Want to win: Hailee Steinfeld for The Edge of Seventeen

Analysis: Hailee Steinfeld was the best part of the largely-overlooked The Edge of Seventeen.  Lily Collins charmed her way through Rules Don’t Apply until her character sadly virtually disappeared from the story.  They would be my personal top choices.  I haven’t gotten to see 20th Century Women, so I can’t speak to Annette Bening’s turn.  And if Meryl Streep wins, the HFPA gave it to her just for the sake of giving it to Meryl Streep.  It’s not her year.  It’s Emma Stone’s year as La La Land is dominating the landscape.

Best Performance by an Actor – Drama

Nominees:

• Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea)
• Joel Edgerton (Loving)
• Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge)
• Viggo Mortenson (Captain Fantastic)
• Denzel Washington (Fences)

Want to win: Denzel Washington for Fences

Analysis: Denzel’s performance was breathtaking, but he’s had his day in the sun.  I missed Loving but am hoping to find a way to catch it, soon.  Garfield and Mortenson were both fine, but Affleck has all the buzz, probably more due to his performance being so surprising than because it’s truly better than everyone else’s.  That should be enough.

Will win: Casey Affleck for Manchester by the Sea

Best Performance by an Actress – Drama

Nominees:

• Amy Adams (Arrival)
• Jessica Chastain (Miss Sloane)
• Isabelle Huppert (Elle)
• Ruth Negga (Loving)
• Natalie Portman (Jackie)

Want to win: Jessica Chastain for Miss Sloane

Analysis: Only two of these women have significant, across-the-board buzz and they are Jessica Chastain and Natalie Portman.  Miss Sloane was a fantastic film, but provocative and not many people saw it.  Portman wins.

Will win: Natalie Portman for Jackie

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

Nominees:

• 20th Century Women
• Deadpool
• Florence Foster Jenkins
• La La Land
• Sing Street

Want to win: La La Land

Analysis: The fact that Florence Foster Jenkins is nominated in this category is surprising and kind of insult to The Edge of Seventeen, which should absolutely be listed, here.  It won’t win.  Sing Street was fine, but it has no chance.  20th Century Women doesn’t have the word of mouth.  Can Deadpool actually win Best Picture?  That would be the only thing more shocking than its nomination!  The short answer: no.  It can’t.  It’s up against the juggernaut that is La La Land, which is practically a slam-dunk winner.

Will win: La La Land

Best Motion Picture – Drama

Nominees:

• Hell or High Water
• Lion
• Manchester by the Sea
• Moonlight
• Hacksaw Ridge

Want to win: Lion

Analysis: Lion is an immaculate motion picture that hits the spot in all the right places.  But Moonlight makes an important social statement and does so in poetic fashion.  Luckily for Moonlight and La La Land, they don’t have to face off for Best Picture at this ceremony.  But, come the Academy Awards, it will be a different, fascinating story.  Here, though?  An easy win for Moonlight.

Will win: Moonlight

 

And there we have it!  These shows can pull off surprises, so it will be fun to see how it  plays out!  Thanks for reading!  Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook!  Until next time, see you later and enjoy the Golden Globes!