Golden Globes: Thoughts, Predictions, and Hopes

Is it just me or are the Golden Globes super early this year? Then again last year's took place just a day later so maybe I'm just imagining things. Anyways, are y'all ready for the first major televised awards this season? I'M NOT but no one thinks about my schedule. At they very least I have seen most of the nominated films give or take a Molly's Game or a Phantom Thread. Anyways onwards...

Best Director
Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water
Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk
Ridley Scott, All The Money in the World
Steven Spielberg, The Post

A bit disappointing not to see Greta Gerwig, Jordan Peele or Luca Guadagnino in the mix here. Hoping the DGA and Oscar think through this list a bit more.

Will Win: Guillermo del Toro
Alternate: Ridley Scott
Should Win: Christopher Nolan (or the aforementioned three snubs)

Best Motion Picture, Drama
Call Me by Your Name
Dunkirk
The Post
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Two films that probably expected a nomination were Darkest Hour and Phantom Thread. Frankly I wish The Florida Project made it in, but this is a damn solid list.

Will Win: The Shape of Water
Alternate: Call Me By Your Name
Should Win: Call Me By Your Name

Best Motion Picture, Comedy/Musical
The Disaster Artist
Get Out
The Greatest Showman
I, Tonya
Lady Bird

The big miss here would be The Big Sick which seemed like a lock a few months ago, but flashier, starrier films knocked it down a peg or two.  At least no embarrassing nominations here.

Will Win: Lady Bird
Alternate: Get Out
Should Win: Lady Bird

Best Actress, Drama
Jessica Chastain, Molly’s Game
Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water
Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Meryl Streep, The Post
Michelle Williams, All the Money in the World

While they won't win I actually think Streep and Williams' nominations are inspired. They both can feel default-y some years, but they pulled it out this year.

Will Win: Sally Hawkins
Alternate: Frances McDormand
Should Win: Sally Hawkins

Best Actress, Musical/Comedy
Judi Dench, Victoria & Abdul
Helen Mirren, The Leisure Seeker
Margot Robbie, I, Tonya
Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird
Emma Stone, Battle of the Sexes

The HFPA really love Mirren don't they? Regina Hall in Girls' Trip or even Emma Watson in Beauty & the Beast would've probably made more sense. Love that Stone wasn't forgotten this season though.

Will Win: Saoirse Ronan
Alternate: Margot Robbie
Should Win: Saoirse Ronan

Best Actor, Drama
Timothée Chalamet, Call Me by Your Name
Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread
Tom Hanks, The Post
Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour
Denzel Washington, Roman J. Israel, Esq.

I'm rooting so hard for Chalamet to breakthrough especially against such BIG NAMES. His closest competition is the only other non-winner and probably front-runner.

Will Win: Gary Oldman
Alternate: Timothée Chalamet
Should Win: Timothée Chalamet

Best Actor, Musical/Comedy
Steve Carell, Battle of the Sexes
Ansel Elgort, Baby Driver
James Franco, The Disaster Artist
Hugh Jackman, The Greatest Showman
Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out

Kumail Nanjiani should've been nominated, but I don't really mind this list. In fact, it's pretty solid. Though Chris Hemsworth in Thor: Ragnarok was also robbed.

Will Win: Daniel Kaluuya
Alternate: Hugh Jackman
Should Win: Daniel Kaluuya

Best Supporting Actress
Mary J. Blige, Mudbound
Hong Chau, Downsizing
Allison Janney, I, Tonya
Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird
Octavia Spencer, The Shape of Water

Gotta love the diversity here and especially Chau and Blige's award season's constancy. That said it's all about Janney vs. Metcalf.

Will Win: Allison Janney
Alternate: Laurie Metcalf
Should Win: Honestly I'd be pleased with a tie.

Best Supporting Actor
Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project
Armie Hammer, Call Me by Your Name
Richard Jenkins, The Shape of Water
Christopher Plummer, All the Money in the World
Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Plummer's nomination is hilarious. I'm not saying it's undeserved, but literally two months ago he hadn't shot a single scene. Insanity.

Will Win: Willem Dafoe
Alternate: Sam Rockwell
Should Win: Willem Dafoe

Best Screenplay
The Shape of Water
Lady Bird
The Post
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Molly’s Game

I had hoped Call Me By Your Name would've popped up here but at least it's one of the frontrunners at the Oscars for Adapted.

Will Win: The Shape of Water
Alternate: Lady Bird
Should Win: Lady Bird

Best Foreign Language Film
A Fantastic Woman
First They Killed My Father
In the Fade
Loveless
The Square

I haven't seen any of these so my predictions are mostly from perceived buzz.

Will Win: A Fantastic Woman
Alternate: The Square
Should Win: N/A

Best Animated Film
The Boss Baby
The Breadwinner
Coco
Ferdinand
Loving Vincent

Coco absolutely killed me so I'm rooting for it, but it's surrounded by interesting picks.

Will Win: Coco
Alternate: The Breadwinner
Should Win: Coco

Best Original Song
"Home," Ferdinand
"Mighty River," Mudbound
"Remember Me," Coco
"The Star," The Star
"This Is Me," The Greatest Showman

I wished one or both of Sufjan Stevens' songs from Call Me By Your Name had made it in, but no matter since I'm rooting for Coco or Greatest Showman.

Will Win: "Remember Me"
Alternate: "This Is Me"
Should Win: I'm okay with a tie or write-in votes for Stevens.

Best Original Score
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
The Shape of Water
Phantom Thread
The Post
Dunkirk

Anyone have actual thoughts on this category because I really, really don't.

Will Win: The Phantom Thread
Alternate: The Shape of Water
Should Win: I honestly don't know

Best TV Series, Drama
The Crown
Game of Thrones
The Handmaid’s Tale
Stranger Things
This is Us

A good mix of the kinds of shows the HFPA would pick for this category. Is anyone shocked?

Will Win: The Handmaid's Tale
Alternate: This Is Us
Should Win: The Handmaid's Tale

Best TV Series, Comedy
Black-ish
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Master of None
SMILF
Will & Grace

I'm kinda verklempf about this category. No The Good Place or Crazy Ex-Girlfriend feels defeatist all around.

Will Win: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Alternate: Master of None
Should Win: I'll just write-in my two aforementioned snubbed show.

Best Actress, TV Drama
Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
Claire Foy, The Crown
Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Deuce
Katherine Langford, 13 Reasons Why
Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale

Did Keri Russell stop being great because come on guys. That said, Moss should have this in the bag.

Will Win: Elisabeth Moss
Alternate: Claire Foy
Should Win: Elisabeth Moss

Best Actress, TV Musical/Comedy
Pamela Adlon, Better Things
Alison Brie, Glow
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Issa Rae, Insecure
Frankie Shaw, SMILF

This is actually a pretty damn solid shortlist even with the absence of Rachel Bloom and Gina Rodriguez... and shockingly Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Will Win: Rachel Brosnahan
Alternate: Issa Rae
Should Win: Issa Rae

Best Actor, TV Drama
Jason Bateman, Ozark
Sterling K. Brown, This is Us
Freddie Highmore, The Good Doctor
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan

Again did Matthew Rhys suddenly stopped being amazing? Because ugh. Also last year's winner Rami Malek is missing as well.

Will Win: Sterling K. Brown
Alternate: Bob Odenkirk
Should Win: Sterling K. Brown

Best Actor, TV Musical/Comedy
Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
Aziz Ansari, Master of None
Kevin Bacon, I Love Dick
William H. Macy, Shameless
Eric McCormack, Will & Grace

No offense to him but McCormack being the sole W&G actor to get nominated is a joke funnier than any comedy last year. Ted Danson from The Good Place should've been here.

Will Win: Kevin Bacon
Alternate: Aziz Ansari
Should Win: Aziz Ansari

Best Limited Series or TV Movie
Big Little Lies
Fargo
Feud: Bette and Joan
The Sinner
Top of the Lake: China Girl

I think Big Little Lies will continue it's awards domination as it damn should.

Will Win: Big Little Lies
Alternate: Feud: Better and Joan
Should Win: Big Little Lies

Best Actress, Limited Series/TV Movie
Jessica Biel, The Sinner
Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies
Jessica Lange, Feud: Bette and Joan
Susan Sarandon, Feud: Bette and Joan
Reese Witherspoon, Big Little Lies

Shout out to all those other actresses who were in other shows that just didn't have any chance this year. Also where did Biel come from?

Will Win: Nicole Kidman
Alternate: Jessica Lange
Should Win: Anyone by Sarandon really.

Best Actor, Limited Series/TV Movie
Robert De Niro, The Wizard of Lies
Jude Law, The Young Pope
Kyle MacLachlan, Twin Peaks
Ewan McGregor, Fargo
Geoffrey Rush, Genius

Meanwhile this category has a nominee from five shows so go figure. Anyways, I'm hoping for a Moulin Rouge sweep in these lead acting categories.

Will Win: Ewan McGregor
Alternate: Jude Law
Should Win: Ewan McGregor

Best Supporting Actress, TV
Laura Dern, Big Little Lies
Ann Dowd, The Handmaid’s Tale
Chrissy Metz, This is Us
Michelle Pfeiffer, The Wizard of Lies
Shailene Woodley, Big Little Lies

I actually think this is a tricky category to pin down. I think Dern has the slightly upper hand due to her AMAZING year, but we'll see.

Will Win: Laura Dern
Alternate: Ann Dowd
Should Win: Laura Dern

Best Supporting Actor, TV
David Harbour, Stranger Things
Alfred Molina, Feud
Christian Slater, Mr. Robot
Alexander Skarsgard, Big Little Lies
David Thewlis, Fargo

Your guesses are as good as mine, but I think Emmy winner Skarsgard will get this due to the show's love.

Will Win: Alexander Skarsgard
Alternate: Alfred Molina
Should Win: David Harbour

Let's see how wrong I am tomorrow night.

La La Land and Meryl Streep Win at Golden Globes

The most important thing to happen tonight at the Golden Globes is Meryl Streep's speech accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement. She expertly vilified a certain unnamed president "elect," made an impassioned plea for more empathy, and paid tribute to her "dear departed Princess Leia." Like Streep's filmography, her speech had range, was mostly captivating, and certainly already iconic. Other awards were given, many to a certain Los Angeles-set musical and many more to British actors. Jimmy Fallon, with the exception of the fun opening number, stuck with his usual milquetoast bland schtick with almost anyone else going to the stage tonight displaying why they'd be a better host (Viola Davis, Sunny Pawar, Kristen Wiig/Steven Carrell were my personal favorites). Anyways, onwards...

Best Motion Picture, Drama: Moonlight
Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: La La Land
Best Director: Damien Chazelle, La La Land
Best Actress, Drama: Isabelle Huppert, Elle
Best Actress, Comedy or Musical: Emma Stone, La La Land
Best Actor, Drama: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Best Actor, Comedy or Musical: Ryan Gosling, La La Land
Best Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, Fences
Best Supporting Actor: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nocturnal Animals
Best Animated Film: Zootopia
Best Foreign Language Film: Elle
Best Screenplay: La La Land
Best Score: La La Land
Best Song: "City of Stars," La La Land

Awards season frontrunner La La Land dominated, picking up a record breaking 7 awards and winning every category it was nominated for, becoming the winningest film in Globes history. Their haul included Best Comedy/Musical and first Globes to director Damien Chazelle and leads Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. The film awards were bookended with surprise wins, the first to Aaron Taylor-Johnson winning Supporting Actor (many thought, myself included, he had no right of being nominated let alone win) and the last to Moonlight for Best Drama Picture (a delightful turn of events). Isabelle Huppert, Casey Affleck, and Davis won acting awards giving their Oscar chances a boost though only Huppert was the only one that needed it (and I guess Taylor-Johnson as well but I still think/hope/pray his nomination/win here is a fluke). Predictions-wise, I think pretty great going 10 of 14 (12 of 14 with alternates). I was certainly happy that La La Land swept and I hope it happens again at the Oscars.

Best TV Series, Drama: The Crown
Best TV Series, Comedy: Atlanta
Best Actress, Drama: Claire Foy, The Crown
Best Actress, Comedy: Tracee Ellis Ross, black-ish
Best Actor, Drama: Billy Bob Thornton, Goliath
Best Actor, Comedy: Donald Glover, Atlanta
Best Mini-Series or TV Movie: The People vs. OJ Simpson
Best Actress, Mini/TV Movie: Sarah Paulson, The People vs. OJ Simpson
Best Actor, Mini/TV Movie: Tom Hiddleston, The Night Manager
Best Supporting Actress: Hugh Laurie, The Night Manager
Best Supporting Actor: Olivia Colman, The Night Manager

For TV, color me surprised that The Night Manager ended up as the most awarded TV show of the night with 3 wins. In retrospect, it really shouldn't have surprised anyone how much love this show would get from the HFPA (all its leads won including an Olivia Colman win that made me jump for joy). The Crown, Atlanta, and The People vs. OJ Simpson won Best Show honors as well as a key acting win each (Claire Foy, Donald Glover, and Sarah Paulson respectively). First time wins by Foy, Glover and Tracee Ellis Ross were a great sight to see. My predictions wasn't so great at 3 of 11 (6 of 11 with alternates) but in general I think the right people, mostly, were awarded.

To end, I have to again go back to Meryl Streep's speech. It's something that can be easily watched in full. You can do so below, courtesy of HFPA's tweet.

At tonight's #GoldenGlobes we honor Hollywood legend Meryl Streep with the prestigious Cecil B. Demille Award. pic.twitter.com/dxpeCDNXY6

— Golden Globe Awards (@goldenglobes) January 9, 2017

Golden Globes: Predictions and Hopes

My last post was almost four months ago talking about another awards show so I guess it's fine if I just dive right back in the midst of awards season especially with the Golden Globes happening tonight. No extended thoughts on the nominees, but my predictions and hopes are below.

Best Director
Damien Chazelle, La La Land
Tom Ford, Nocturnal Animals
Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester By the Sea

Will Win: Damien Chazelle
Alternate: Barry Jenkins
Should Win: Either one of those would be fine by me!

Best Motion Picture, Drama
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
Lion
Manchester By the Sea
Moonlight

Will Win: Moonlight
Alternate: Manchester by the Sea
Should Win: Happy for either of those, but I'm low-key hoping for a LION shocker.

Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
20th Century Women
Deadpool
La La Land
Florence Foster Jenkins
Sing Street

Will Win: La La Land
Alternate: N/A
Should Win: La La Land! La La Land! La La Land! LA LA LAND!!!

Best Actress, Drama
Amy Adams, Arrival
Jessica Chastain, Miss Sloane
Isabelle Huppert, Elle
Natalie Portman, Jackie
Ruth Negga, Loving

Will Win: Natalie Portman (Globes likes the big name!)
Alternate: Isabelle Huppert (Globes like the foreign ladies!)
Should Win: Amy Adams (Globes do whatever they want!)

Best Actress, Musical or Comedy
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

Will Win: Emma Stone
Alternate: Meryl Streep
Should Win: Stone should really get this, but most of her fellow nominees are great.

Best Actor, Drama
Casey Affleck, Manchester By the Sea
Joel Edgerton, Loving
Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic
Denzel Washington, Fences

Will Win: Casey Affleck
Alternate: Denzel Washington
Should Win: Viggo Mortensen. Or Andrew Garfield... but for his non-nominated role in SILENCE.

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

Will Win: Ryan... Gosling
Alternate: Ryan... Reynolds
Should Win: GOSLING! I like Reynolds but I swear if DEADPOOL crashes the LA LA LAND party, I might have a stroke.

Best Supporting Actor
Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
Simon Helberg, Florence Foster Jenkins
Dev Patel, Lion
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nocturnal Animals

Will Win: Mahershala Ali
Alternate: Jeff Bridges
Should Win: ALI! Maybe Dev Patel, but only if he shares his award with Sunny Pawar. But really ANYONE BUT Taylor-Johnson please and thanks.

Best Supporting Actress
Viola Davis, Fences
Naomie Harris, Moonlight
Nicole Kidman, Lion
Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams, Manchester By the Sea

Will Win: Viola Davis
Alternate: Michelle Williams
Should Win: What I really wish is Davis winning in Lead and Williams winning here.

Best Screenplay
Hell or High Water
La La Land
Manchester By the Sea
Moonlight
Nocturnal Animals

Will Win: Manchester by the Sea
Alternate: Moonlight
Should Win: Again, both films are worthy and will likely get their respective Oscars so let's blow it up a bit here and say LA LA LAND.

Best Foreign Language Film
Divines, France
Elle, France
Neruda, Chile
The Salesman, Iran/France
Toni Erdmann, Germany

Will Win: Toni Erdmann
Alternate: Elle
Should Win: Unfortnately I haven't seen any of these to make a judgment call.

Best Animated Feature Film
Kubo and the Two Strings
Moana
My life as a Zucchini
Sing
Zootopia

Will Win: Zootopia
Alternate: Moana
Should Win: A strong year for the medium that started out with a bang with ZOOTOPIA and it should be rewarded thusly.

Best Original Song, Motion Picture
“Can’t Stop the Feeling,” Trolls
“City of Stars,” La La Land
“Faith,” Sing
“Gold,” Gold
“How Far I’ll Go,” Moana

Will Win: The guys who wrote Broadway's Dear Evan Hansen (City of Stars)
Alternate: The guy who wrote Broadway's Hamilton (How Far I'll Go)
Should Win: I would be VERY sad if one of those songs don't win.

Best Original Score, Motion Picture
Arrival
Hidden Figures
Lion
La La Land
Moonlight

Will Win: La La Land
Alternate: Not sure...
Should Win: Hoping for a big night for this movie!

Best TV Series, Drama
The Crown
Game of Thrones
Stranger Things
This Is Us
Westworld

Will Win: Game of Thrones
Alternate: The Crown
Should Win: Ask me at different time and I can see myself (and the HFPA) say any of these, but I'll say GAME OF THRONES.

Best Actress, Drama
Catriona Balfe, Outlander
Claire Foy, The Crown
Keri Russell, The Americans
Winona Ryder, Stranger Things
Evan Rachel Wood, Westworld

Will Win: I have no idea actually... Claire Foy?
Alternate: Same, um... Evan Rachel Wood?
Should Win: Russell, because see Russian comment below. But Ryder for the nostalgia.

Best Actor, Drama
Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Matthew Rhys, The Americans
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Billy Bob Thornton, Goliath

Will Win: Rami Malek
Alternate: Matthew Rhys
Should Win: We're letting the Russians win elsewhere, so let's give it up for RHYS!

Best TV Series, Musical or Comedy
Atlanta
Black-ish
Mozart in the Jungle
Transparent
Veep

Will Win: Veep
Alternate: Mozart in the Jungle
Should Win: I think this election year is giving me PTSD with VEEP so I would've voted for BLACK-ISH probably.

Best Actress, Musical or Comedy
Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Sarah Jessica Parker, Divorce
Issa Rae, Insecure
Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish

Will Win: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, but can we first just look at how awesome this list of nominees is?
Alternate: Sarah Jessica Parker?
Should Win: Rooting for a first-time winner... Issa Rae!

Best Actor, Musical, or Comedy
Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
Gael Garcia Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle
Donald Glover, Atlanta
Nick Nolte, Graves
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Will Win: Gael Garcia Bernal
Alternate: Donald Glover
Should Win: Since Bernal won last year, I'd say Glover this time around.

Best Limited Series or TV Movie
American Crime
The Dresser
The Night Manager
The Night Of
The People v. O.J. Simpson

Will Win: The People v. OJ Simpson
Alternate: N/A
Should Win: PEOPLE V. OJ certainly, but I do wish NIGHT MANAGER got its due.

Best Actress, Limited Series or TV Movie
Felicity Huffman, American Crime
Riley Keough, The Girlfriend Experience
Sarah Paulson, The People v. O.J. Simpson
Charlotte Rampling, London Spy
Kerry Washington, Confirmation

Will Win: Sarah Paulson
Alternate: N/A
Should Win: PAULSON HAS GOT THIS.

Best Actor, Limited Series or TV Movie
Riz Ahmed, The Night Of
Bryan Cranston, All The Way
Tom Hiddleston, The Night Manager
John Turturro, The Night Of
Courtney B. Vance, The People v. O.J. Simpson

Will Win: Courtney B. Vance
Alternate: Tom Hiddleston
Should win: Either one of those would be good with me, but I'm low-key itching for Turturro.

Best Supporting Actor
Sterling K. Brown, The People v. O.J. Simpson
Hugh Laurie, The Night Manager
John Lithgow, The Crown
Christian Slater, Mr. Robot
John Travolta, The People v. O.J. Simpson

Will Win: Sterling K. Brown
Alternate: John Lithgow
Should Win: BROWN has got this easily.

Best Supporting Actress
Olivia Colman, The Night Manager
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Chrissy Metz, This Is Us
Mandy Moore, This Is Us
Thandie Newton, Westworld

Will Win: Thandie Newton
Alternate: Lena Headey
Should Win: Both were VERY good (very deadly) this past season. But I would love for Colman to grab this in a shocker.

Let's see how wrong I am tonight!

Golden Globes Stay True to Their Brand of Crazy

Here's the thing... Ricky Gervais was not good. Just no. And a lot of the presenters had bad materials that seemed to go on for far longer than they should (I won't even repeat all the bad stuff because no). There were a few highlights like America Ferrera and Eva Longoria's incisive commentary about Latinas in Hollywood and the hot duo of Ryan Gosling and a Benjamin Button-like Brad Pitt sharing the stage together and the Spy team doing a bit, but they were few and far between. But while the actual show was a hot mess at least many of the winners ranged from good to fantastic (give or take a ridiculous win for Sam Smith). The HFPA kept true to their brand of crazy certainly, but still picked some real winners. Onwards...

Best Motion Picture, Drama: The Revenant
Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: The Martian
Best Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, The Revenant
Best Actress, Drama: Brie Larson, Room
Best Actress, Comedy or Musical: Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
Best Actor, Drama: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
Best Actor, Comedy or Musical: Matt Damon, The Martian
Best Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs
Best Supporting Actor: Sylvester Stallone, Creed
Best Animated Film: Inside Out
Best Foreign Language Film: Son of Saul (Hungary)
Best Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, Steve Jobs
Best Score: The Hateful Eight
Best Song: "Writing's on the Wall," Spectre

The Revenant was the night's biggest winner picking up 3 awards for Best Drama Film, Best Director, and Best Actor. The latter was given to Leonardo DiCaprio which unofficially begins his road to perhaps finally winning his first Oscars. Earlier in the night, his Titanic co-star Kate Winslet won Best Supporting Actress for Steve Jobs making all of us nostalgic for Jack and Rose. That film won a second award for its Screenplay beating out other films that many thought were the front-runners. The Martian was the only other film to win more than one award for Best Comedy Film and Best Actor Matt Damon. Brie Larson and Jennifer Lawrence picked up Best Actress awards solidifying one as the front-runner (Larson) and the other as possible spoiler to the Oscar short list (Lawrence). Sylvester Stallone in the meantime received a standing ovation when he won Best Supporting Actor which means if he's Oscar nominated (still a big IF), he's the favorite. My predictions were horrendous as I went 4 out of 14, but a few of my "should wins" won so I'm okay. Plus this is just yet another feather to the unpredictability of this year's awards season which yay!

Best TV Series, Drama: Mr. Robot
Best TV Series, Comedy: Mozart in the Jungle
Best Actress, Drama: Taraji P. Henson, Empire
Best Actress, Comedy: Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Best Actor, Drama: Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Best Actor, Comedy: Gael García Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle
Best Mini-Series or TV Movie: Wolf Hall
Best Actress, Mini/TV Movie: Lady Gaga, American Horror Story: Hotel
Best Actor, Mini/TV Movie: Oscar Isaac, Show Me a Hero
Best Supporting Actress: Maura Tierney, The Affair
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Slater, Mr. Robot

Last year was all about first-time winners and the HFPA stayed true to this mantra with Jon Hamm the only repeat winner from the bunch (for Best Drama Actor which I personally thought should've gone to would've been first-time winner Rami Malek). Mr. Robot and Mozart in the Jungle picked up two wins each for Best TV Series Drama and Comedy respectively and an acting win (Christian Slater, Gael García Bernal). I was especially surprised by the latter's win, but why not? Taraji P. Henson and Rachel Bloom's wins were simultaneously shocking and yet not since their wins make sense per HFPA's usual choices. And then there's Lady Gaga beating out Queen Latifah and Lily Tomlin Kirsten Dunst for an acting award. Her speech was sincere and humble, but wowsa. Speaking of wowsa, Oscar Isaac won an award and the Internet is happy. Finally, their love affair with The Affair continues with a surprise win for Maura Tierney! Prediction-wise I went a horrific 1 out of 11 with just my bet of Lady Gaga succeeding. But like the film side, a few of my should wins won, so I'm good.

In the end, the one thing I'll remember tonight is for this tweet of mine during E!'s red carpet show making it into EW.com and USA Today:

My timeline is seemingly simultaneously thirsty for Oscar Isaac *and* Jacob Tremblay's father. Thanks Jacob! #GoldenGlobes

— Ryan (@sortathatguy) January 11, 2016

Golden Globes: Film Nominations

Tomorrow is the Golden Globes! And man, I've been seriously lacking awards season coverage this year. Of all years too, since it's been pretty strange and topsy turvy and thus actually exciting. In any case, will the season finally get into focus starting tomorrow? Who knows? I actually hope not. See my thoughts on the TV nominations here.

Best Director

• Todd Haynes, Carol
• Alejandro G. Iñárritu, The Revenant
• Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
• George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
• Ridley Scott, The Martian

Carol led all films with 5 nominations and so Haynes should be seen as the favorite... except McCarthy's film is the Oscar front-runner, Miller has garnered the most critic awards (if that means anything), Scott is a beloved veteran, and the Globes may want to award Iñárritu for not picking him last year. Basically, who the hell knows? Wished Ryan Coogler or Lenny Abrahamson had made it in as well.

Will Win: Tom McCarthy
Should Win: George Miller

Best Motion Picture, Drama

• Carol
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• The Revenant
• Room
• Spotlight

Really thought Brooklyn or Bridge of Spies would've made it in especially with their subject matter, but this just means strong showings for the rest especially the small film Room which makes me happy. As I said above, there's no reason why Spotlight's train will stop here. I wished I loved the film more (I like it very much), but really Carol, Room, or Mad Max would be my pick over it.

Will Win: Spotlight
Should Win: Mad Max: Fury Road

Best Actor, Drama

• Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
• Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
• Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
• Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl
• Will Smith, Concussion

I don't have any overt complaints as to who they decided to nominate, but I still am saddened to see the lack of precursor love for Michael B. Jordan. It would've also been quite fun to have seen Jacob Tremblay show up. Weirdly enough they decided not to nominate SAG-nominee Johnny Depp. In any case, this is the first real test of DiCaprio. If he wins, this could be game over. But Cranston is coming in strong.

Will Win: Leonardo DiCaprio
Should Win: Michael Fassbender

Best Actress, Drama

• Cate Blanchett, Carol
• Brie Larson, Room
• Rooney Mara, Carol
• Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
• Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

This seems like your Oscar shortlist and I'm quite fine with it give or take Charlotte Rampling as well as whether or not Mara/Vikander would actually be nominated in this right category. Blanchett seems like the easy winner here, but for some reason the narrative seems to be Larson vs. Ronan even though Carol is the more lauded film than either of theirs. There's also the very real threat of how everyone wants to award Vikander for her superb year.

Will Win: Cate Blanchett
Should Win: Brie Larson

Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical

• The Big Short
• Joy
• The Martian
• Spy
• Trainwreck

Look, this organization has had some dire Comedy/Musical nods in the past, so this year isn't actually that bad. Of course most of these films being categorized as comedies is quite debatable, but whatever. I had high hopes for Tangerine, but alas. Kind of odd to see them ignore a musical Meryl Streep film (Ricki and the Flash). Spy really should win this, but I'm thinking the more Oscar-friendly The Big Short or The Martian will win.

Will Win: The Big Short
Should Win: Spy

Best Actor, Comedy or Musical

• Christian Bale, The Big Short
• Steve Carell, The Big Short
• Matt Damon, The Martian
• Al Pacino, Danny Collins
• Mark Ruffalo, Infinitely Polar Bear

Pacino in what? Ruffalo in what?! I think a lot of people are STILL scratching their heads over these nods. I guess there weren't a lot of choices, but hey how about Bill Hader in Trainwreck and yeah, I don't know what else. As for a front-runner... Damon? Bale?

Will Win: Matt Damon
Should Win: Matt Damon

Best Actress, Comedy or Musical

• Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
• Melissa McCarthy, Spy
• Amy Schumer, Trainwreck
• Maggie Smith, The Lady in the Van
• Lily Tomlin, Grandma

Again, weird to see Meryl Streep not nominated here even for a movie that wasn't that popular. What I really wished for were the leads in Tangerine, which would've been amazing and well-deserved. I am super duper happy though still for McCarthy since she was fabulous, but sadly I think she'll lose out to either the pure star power of Lawrence or the current It Girl Schumer.

Will Win: Amy Schumer
Should Win: Melissa McCarthy (or Lily Tomlin!)

Best Supporting Actor

• Paul Dano, Love & Mercy
• Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation
• Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
• Michael Shannon, 99 Homes
• Sylvester Stallone, Creed

I have no idea why Dano is being campaigned as Supporting since he was so obviously a Lead to me, but here we are. Rylance (the frontrunner), Elba, and Shannon were all SAG nominated so their Oscar spots seems assured as weird as it is for the last two. Stallone is the dark horse. It depends how many people saw Creed and really got emotional (like I did).

Will Win: Mark Rylance
Should Win: Sylvester Stallone

Best Supporting Actress

• Jane Fonda, Youth
• Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
• Helen Mirren, Trumbo
• Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina
• Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

Who even knows what's happening with this category all season? Leads stuck in Supporting, Mirren defaulting, critic favorite Kristen Stewart and SAG-nom Rachel McAdams nowhere to be seen. It's a damn crap shoot and honestly at this point I hope this mess results in a (surprise?) win for Winslet.

Will Win: Alicia Vikander
Should Win: Kate Winslet

Best Screenplay

• Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer, Spotlight
• Aaron Sorkin, Steve Jobs
• Quentin Tarantino, The Hateful Eight
• Emma Donoghue, Room
• Charles Randolph and Adam McKay, The Big Short

Spotlight has been the runaway critics' favorite all season long, but do the Globes has the same taste? Might they want to award the more famous writers like Sorkin and Tarantino? Frankly, I'm rooting for the lone woman nominated.

Will Win: Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer, Spotlight
Should Win: Emma Donaghue, Room

Best Foreign Language Film

• The Brand New Testament (Belgium/France/Luxembourg)
• The Club (Chile)
• The Fencer (Finland/Germany/Estonia)
• Mustang (France)
• Son Of Saul (Hungary)

I haven't seen any of these and other than The Club all of these are in the Oscars long list. Son of Saul is everyone's bet to win here and at the Oscars though.

Will Win: Son of Saul
Should Win: N/A

Best Animated Feature Film

• Anomalisa
• The Good Dinosaur
• Inside Out
• The Peanuts Movie
• Shaun the Sheep Movie

I've seen the first three films and all season long it's been Anomalisa vs. Inside Out. I'm thinking the latter is the Oscar favorite, but the Globes might just want to award Charlie Kaufman's latest.

Will Win: Anomalisa
Should Win: Inside Out

Best Original Song

• "Love Me Like You Do," 50 Shades of Grey
• "One Kind of Love," Love and Mercy
• "See You Again," Furious 7
• "Simple Song #3," Youth
• "Writing's on the Wall," Spectre

I've been campaigning for Furious 7's nomination AND win for this category ever since I saw the movie earlier last year and I'm not going to stop now when it's SO CLOSE though I'm perfectly okay if 50 Shades actually wins since the song is good. Basically anything but Sam Smith's lame song from Spectre would be fine.

Will Win: "Writing's on the Wall"
Should Win: "See You Again"

Best Original Score

• Carol
• The Danish Girl
• The Hateful Eight
• Steve Jobs
• The Revenant

Why do the Globes even give out an award for Score? Why not Editing or Cinematography? So weird. Your guess is as good as mine.

Will Win: Carol
Should Win: Steve Jobs

Golden Globes: TV Nominations

The Golden Globes are this Sunday and so I just wanted to give brief thoughts on the nominations and give some half-hearted predictions. First the TV nominations!

Best TV Series, Drama

• Empire
• Game of Thrones
• Mr. Robot
• Narcos
• Outlander

God bless the Globes love for new things. It just keeps things fresh. I think the only repeat from last year is this year's Emmy champ Game of Thrones. Weirdly enough I don't think it'll win here though. I'll place my bet with Empire or Mr. Robot. But new shows mean older shows like Mad Men, The Good Wife or The Americans don't get deserved love. Or how about The Leftovers?

Will Win: Empire
Should Win: Mr. Robot

Best Actor, Drama

• Jon Hamm, Mad Men
• Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
• Wagner Moura, Narcos
• Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
• Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan

It's been years since the Globes has honored Mad Men so will they repeat the miracle at the Emmys to give Hamm a farewell win or will they honor one of the new kids on the block? I personally think Malek is the frontrunner here and SHOULD win, but I can easily see Moura or Odenkirk take it as well.

Will Win: Rami Malek
Should Win: Rami Malek

Best Actress, Drama

• Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
• Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder
• Eva Green, Penny Dreadful
• Taraji P. Henson, Empire
• Robin Wright, House of Cards

Last year they didn't nominate the previous year's winner (Tatiana Maslany) and they do the same this year not nominating Ruth Wilson. With that said, even with the quirky choices (Outlander and Penny Dreadful? Wow!), like the Emmys this is Davis vs. Henson and either one could win. I do think Davis edges Henson out since she's more of a MOVIE STAR and also they probably regret NOT picking her last year.

Will Win: Viola Davis
Should Win: Viola Davis

Best TV Series, Comedy

• Casual
• Mozart in the Jungle
• Orange Is the New Black
• Silicon Valley
• Transparent
• Veep

What did I say about keeping it fresh? Despite a severe lack of network TV love (Parks and Rec, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, black-ish, Fresh Off the Boat), this is an inspired list that makes the Emmys and even SAG look so tired. Last year's winner Transparent looks likely to win again, but I'm hoping Veep or Orange is the New Black could win their first.

Will Win: Transparent
Should Win: Orange is the New Black

Best Actor, Comedy

• Aziz Ansari, Master of None
• Gael García Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle
• Rob Lowe, The Grinder
• Patrick Stewart, Blunt Talk
• Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

This has been such a weak category usually, but that's mostly because of award bodies' inability to think outside the box. So at least the Globes have done that specially with the inclusion of Ansari, Bernal, and Stewart. Of course they all will still likely lose to Tambor.

Will Win: Jeffrey Tambor
Should Win: Aziz Ansari

Best Actress, Comedy

• Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
• Jamie Lee Curtis, Scream Queens
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
• Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
• Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie

Even without Amy Poehler for her farewell season or Ellie Kemper or Constance Wu or the Broad City girls, I am in love with this category. Kudos for them nominating last year's winner again Rodriguez and I would very much love her to repeat, but it's more likely Louis-Dreyfus will finally win her first Globe for this show. Newcomer Bloom (that's two for the CW!) and Tomlin could surprise though.

Will Win: Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Should Win: Gina Rodriguez

Best Mini-Series or TV Movie

• American Crime
• American Horror Story: Hotel
• Fargo
• Flesh and Bone
• Wolf Hall

I've only seen Fargo and it was amazing so I'm rooting for it. It's probably the likely winner as well, but I have no idea.

Will Win: Fargo
Should Win: Fargo

Best Actor, Limited Series or TV Movie

• Oscar Isaac, Show Me a Hero
• Patrick Wilson, Fargo
• Idris Elba, Luther
• David Oyelowo, Nightingale
• Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall

Sorry to be crass, but man this is one fuckable category. And the funny thing is I have no earthly idea who will win. By default, I'm rooting for Wilson since his is the only performance I've seen, but Isaac has Star Wars heat right now and is everyone's boyfriend. Then again Elba. Also Oyelowo. Also Rylance. I DON'T KNOW!

Will Win: Idris Elba
Should Win: Patrick Wilson

Best Actress, Limited Series or TV Movie

• Kirsten Dunst, Fargo
• Queen Latifah, Bessie
• Felicity Huffman, American Crime
• Sarah Hay, Flesh and Bone
• Lady Gaga, American Horror Story: Hotel

As much as I would like for Dunst to win this for her super fun role, this is obviously going to be a battle between a Queen and a Lady. One is a recent Emmy winner while the other is Lady Gaga. I just think the Globes won't be able to help themselves and vote for Gaga.

Will Win: Lady Gaga
Should Win: Kirsten Dunst

Best Supporting Actor

• Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
• Damian Lewis, Wolf Hall
• Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
• Tobias Menzies, Outlander
• Christian Slater, Mr. Robot

I haven't seen many of these, but I think these nods are still great. Again with all the new fresh names. I have no idea who will win or even should win honestly.

Will Win: Ben Mendelsohn
Should Win: Alan Cumming

Best Supporting Actress

• Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black
• Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
• Regina King, American Crime
• Judith Light, Transparent
• Maura Tierney, The Affair

Not sure why Froggatt keeps getting nominated, but even with that, this list is pretty great. Tierney's and Emmy winner King's nominations are pretty inspired and I hope either one wins. I love you still, Uzo!

Will Win: Regina King
Should Win: Maura Tierney

Check out my thoughts/prediction for the film nominations, here.

Golden Globes Pick Boyhood & First-Time Winners

If I'm being honest, this was probably the least successful hosting stint of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler at the Golden Globes (which still means it's better than average, just not as great as what they've done the past couple of years). I'm sure some if it was due to their North Korea bit with Margaret Cho falling flat a bit as well as people's uncomfortableness with the Bill Cosby jokes, but to Fey and Poehler they had to go there so to speak and knowing it was their last time hosting gave them the freedom to do whatever. They still managed to make a brilliant joke at Cecil B. Demille recipient George Clooney's expense and their "Who'd You Rather" skit is already a classic, so it was all worth it. So, the winners...

Best Motion Picture, Drama: Boyhood
Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Best Director: Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Best Actress, Drama: Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Best Actress, Comedy or Musical: Amy Adams, Big Eyes
Best Actor, Drama: Eddie Redmayne, Theory of Everything
Best Actor, Comedy or Musical: Michael Keaton, Birdman
Best Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Best Supporting Actor: J.K, Simmons, Whiplash
Best Animated Film: How to Train Your Dragon 2
Best Foreign Language Film: Leviathan
Best Screenplay: Birdman
Best Score: Theory of Everything
Best Song: "Glory," Selma

Boyhood led with 3 wins picking up Best Drama Film, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress followed by Birdman and Theory of Everything which both picked up two awards each, one for their leading actors and another for Screenplay and Score respectively. The Grand Budapest Hotel was the surprise winner for Best Comedy/Musical over Birdman while one of Oscars' front-runners The Imitation Game went home empty-handed. J.K. Simmons continued his awards season dominance by picking up Supporting Actor. Julianne Moore and Amy Adams picked up the Best Actress awards solidifying one as the front-runner (Moore) and the other as possible spoiler to the short list (Adams). Selma might yet figure importantly in the Oscar race, but its momentum this awards season is sorely lacking. Their win in Original Song, however, gave them an opportunity to talk about the film in relation to current events and that's not nothing. Finally, How to Train Your Dragon 2 won Best Animated Film in a bit of an upset to the presumed front-runner The LEGO Movie. I went 8 out of 14 with my predictions thinking the HFPA would pick Birdman and Cumberbatch among a few other misses.

Best TV Series, Drama: The Affair
Best TV Series, Comedy: Transparent
Best Actress, Drama: Ruth Wilson, The Affair
Best Actress, Comedy: Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
Best Actor, Drama: Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
Best Actor, Comedy: Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
Best Mini-Series or TV Movie: Fargo
Best Actress, Mini/TV Movie: Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Honorable Woman
Best Actor, Mini/TV Movie: Billy Bob Thorton, Fargo
Best Supporting Actress: Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
Best Supporting Actor: Matt Bomer, The Normal Heart

On the TV side, the big winners were new series and first-time winners. In fact, every single acting award went to first-time winners from the CW's first Golden Globe win ever with Gina Rodriguez picking up Best Comedy Actress (her win and speech were the highlights of the night) to 8-time nominee Kevin Spacey finally winning his first Golden Globe. The HFPA really went niche this year honoring not only Netflix and the CW, but Amazon as well with two wins for its ground-breaking show Transparent for Best Comedy and Best Comedy Actor. Showtime's freshman series The Affair also picked up two awards for Best Drama and Best Drama Actress. Fargo faced stiff competition, but came out on top over True Detective and The Normal Heart winning Best Mini-Series/TV Movie and winning Best Actor for Billy Bob Thorton (notably beating Matthew McConaughey). The Normal Heart did walk away with one award for Matt Bomer as Downton Abbey and The Honorable Woman also pick up an award each. I did horribly in my predictions this year getting only 4 out of 11 correctly, but two female-created shows winning the top two awards plus acting wins with roles dealing with race, trans, gay, and sexual abuse issues? As Fey/Poehler made the crowd chant tonight... TV *IS* BETTER.

Golden Globes Predictions

I've never really been that great at predicting who wins at the Golden Globes, but there's still something fun at trying to guess every year. The film half is slightly more predictable than the TV half this year, at least in my opinion, but perhaps that's always been true as the TV awards feel tacked on with nary a thought. It doesn't really matter though, because I'm just here for the fashion and for Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Bring it, ladies! Can't wait for tonight!

Best Motion Picture, Drama: Boyhood
Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: Birdman
Best Director: Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Best Actress, Drama: Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Best Actress, Comedy or Musical: Amy Adams, Big Eyes
Best Actor, Drama: Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game
Best Actor, Comedy or Musical: Michael Keaton, Birdman
Best Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Best Supporting Actor: J.K, Simmons, Whiplash
Best Animated Film: The LEGO Movie
Best Foreign Language Film: Force Majeure
Best Screenplay: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Best Score: Birdman
Best Song: "Glory," Selma

Even though Boyhood and Birdman have dominated in the precursors so far (and my predictions above are based on that) and have the most film nominations, I can also easily see the HFPA doing something different aka showing love to other films like The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, or even Theory of Everything. The two acting awards which confound me are Comedy Actress and Drama Actor so they'll be something to keep an eye out for during the big night. For my previous thoughts on the nominations, click here.

Best TV Series, Drama: The Good Wife
Best TV Series, Comedy: Orange is the New Black
Best Actress, Drama: Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder
Best Actress, Comedy: Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
Best Actor, Drama: Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
Best Actor, Comedy: Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
Best Mini-Series or TV Movie: True Detective
Best Actress, Miniseries/TV Movie: Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Honorable Woman
Best Actor, Miniseries/TV Movie: Matthew McConaughey, True Detective
Best Supporting Actress: Uzo Aduba, Orange Is The New Black
Best Supporting Actor: Alan Cumming, The Good Wife

Last year, the HFPA predictably honored Breaking Bad's final season and unpredictably gave some love to Brooklyn Nine-Nine. This year, it's looking to lean towards unpredictability with no one TV show really rising to the top. The acting categories are even more confounding because I think only Tambor and McConaughey are relatively safe picks while the others could be so wrong. We'll see! For my previous thoughts on the nominations, click here.

Golden Globes: Film Nominations

Apparently I needed to sleep on my thoughts on the film Golden Globe nominations for a few more nights. Perhaps I just got too excited over the TV nominations? Regardless Birdman leads with 7 nods followed by its fiercest awards season rival, Boyhood, with 5 nominations. Onwards...

Best Director

• Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
• Ava Duvernay, Selma
• David Fincher, Gone Girl
• Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman
• Richard Linklater, Boyhood

If this was the eventual Oscar lineup, it would really be something to behold, but I doubt this would actually happen. And yet other than NBR winner Clint Eastwood and mega superstar Angelina Jolie who has been everywhere (until she was forced to take a break recently), there are not many alternates. Linklater is the front-runner at the moment.

Best Motion Picture, Drama

• Boyhood
• Foxcatcher
• The Imitation Game
• Selma
• The Theory of Everything

Many expected Unbroken here and in fact that film was completely ignored by the HFPA which has usually been kind to Jolie in the past (remember The Tourist?). I thought Whiplash should've sneaked in, at least over Foxcatcher which saw its slightly dwindling fortunes rise with these Globes nominations. Boyhood should be seen the big favorite here as Birdman is relegated to Comedy/Musical.

Best Actress, Drama

• Jennifer Aniston, Cake
• Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything
• Julianne Moore, Still Alice
• Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl
• Reese Witherspoon, Wild

These are the same nominations as the SAG Awards so I would think it would be quite difficult for anyone else to try to make the shortlist. Marion Cotillard, who has been one of the critics' favorite this award season will do her best though. And I suppose underestimated Amy Adams (in Comedy/Musical) at your peril.

Best Actor, Drama

• Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
• Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game
• Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler
• David Oyelowo, Selma
• Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything

With Michael Keaton in Comedy/Musical, this is a five-man race not only to grab a win here, but to also occupy four of the five spots at the Oscars. Only Oyelowo wasn't nominated for a SAG earlier, but his film might have screened to late. I would think Carell and Gyllenhaal are the weak links with regards to Oscars even though oddly enough I think Gyllenhaal might be a slight front-runner for this award (in Keaton's absence).

Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical

• Birdman
• The Grand Budapest Hotel
• Into the Woods
• Pride     
• St. Vincent

I'm super, super happy to see such a small film like Pride get nominated for such a major award and the other nominees are quite solid as well including front-runner Birdman, early-year favorite Grand Budapest Hotel, and starry musical Into the Woods. It is a bit sad to see Begin Again and Skeleton Twins ignored though. And how about the mainstream comedies this year like Neighbors and 22 Jump Street? Guardians of the Galaxy and Edge of Tomorrow should've also deserved SOME recognition, but really this year's slate isn't as bad (in fact NOT AT ALL) compared to other years.

Best Actress, Comedy or Musical

• Amy Adams, Big Eyes
• Emily Blunt, Into the Woods
• Julianne Moore, Map to the Stars
• Quvenzhané Wallis, Annie
• Helen Mirren, Hundred Foot Journey

Moore is doubles up on the nomination for getting in for a film that won't even be released this year so you know, whatever. I bet Blunt is fantastic, but a tiny part of me wished her nomination was for her superb work in Edge of Tomorrow. Wallis though? I loved her in her debut film a few years ago, but I'd rather use her spot for someone like Kristen Wiig, Elisabeth Moss, Jenny Slate, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Keira Knightley, etc.

Best Actor, Comedy or Musical

• Ralph Fiennes, The Grand Budapest Hotel
• Michael Keaton, Birdman
• Bill Murray, St. Vincent
• Joaquin Phoenix, Inherent Vice
• Christoph Waltz, Big Eyes

Keaton is your likely winner here, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Fiennes put up a fight for this as well as the Oscars (IF he's nominated, a big if). With that said, I was honestly hoping for a surprise nomination for Chris Pratt in this category, but alas.

Best Supporting Actress

• Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
• Jessica Chastain, A Most Violent Year
• Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game
• Emma Stone, Birdman
• Meryl Streep, Into the Woods

This matches the SAG nominations almost perfectly with Chastain replacing Naomi Watts, but I think Chastain's performance is more of Oscar's speed so I think give or take Tilda Swinton, this is your Oscar line-up. A couple of other ladies who might break through would be veterans Laura Dern and Rene Russo.

Best Supporting Actor

• Robert Duvall, The Judge
• Ethan Hawke, Boyhood
• Edward Norton, Birdman
• Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher
• J.K, Simmons, Whiplash

People talk about what a weak year it's been for lead actresses, but supporting actor seems to be lacking any options other than these five names who were also all nominated by the SAGs. I think the closest thing to an alternate would be Josh Brolin in Inherent Vice unless the Academy actually deigns to nominate Andy Serkis for his mo-cap work. Regardless, this is Simmons (likely winner) vs. Norton.

Best Screenplay

• The Grand Budapest Hotel
• Gone Girl
• Birdman
• Boyhood
• The Imitation Game

No big surprises here as the trio of Boyhood, Birdman, and Budapest Hotel are likely Oscar front-runners in Original while Gone Girl and Imitation Game likewise in Adapted. It's quite a boost to the latter two films being singled out here as it's been a not so thrilling awards race so far this season for Adapted (compared to Original).

Best Animated Film

• Big Hero 6
• The Book of Life
• The Boxtrolls
• How to Train Your Dragon 2
• The LEGO Movie

Unless one of the smaller, foreign animated films make any headway, this is your Oscar list as well. Except it doesn't really matter because EVERYTHING IS AWESOME, I mean The LEGO Movie will likely sweep the majority of awards as it has been doing for a few weeks now.

Best Foreign Film

• Force Majeure (Sweden)
• Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem (France)
• Ida (Poland)
• Leviathan (Russia)
• Tangerines (Estonia)

I haven't seen any of these yet, but I have heard good stuff from people on Force Majeure, Ida, and Leviathan. It's sad that Brazil's really sweet submission The Way He Looks isn't making any awards dent at all so far.

Best Original Song

• "Big Eyes," Big Eyes
• "Glory," Selma
• "Mercy Is," Noah
• "Opportunity," Annie
• "Yellow Flicker Beat," The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I

After they snubbed her last year, I guess they had to honor Lana Del Rey here for her work in Big Eyes. In any case, there isn't a "Let It Go" from the bunch so who knows? Shocked to see "Lost Stars" from Begin Again not make it in though.

Best Original Score

• The Imitation Game
• The Theory of Everything
• Gone Girl
• Birdman
• Interstellar

The only film here I haven't seen is The Imitation Game, but it's nice to see Sanchez's innovative drum score nominated here especially after the news that his score is ineligible for the Oscars. Why? Because they suck.

Golden Globes: TV Nominations

Like last year, the Hollywood Foreign Press' penchant for honoring the newest, shiniest things actually paid off with some much needed new shows and faces appearing in their TV nominations. Let's take a look...

Best TV Series, Drama

• The Affair
• Downton Abbey
• Game of Thrones
• The Good Wife
• House of Cards

It's a bit sad to see last year's nominee Masters of Sex not make it back, but I guess it's somewhat fitting that fellow extra marital affair Showtime show took its place. I probably would ditch Downton Abbey to get The Americans some damn recognition or Mad Men... has everyone forgotten about Mad Men? At least The Good Wife makes it in here after being snubbed by the SAGs yesterday.

Best Actor, Drama

• Clive Owen, The Knick
• Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
• Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
• James Spader, The Blacklist
• Dominic West, The Affair

With last year's winner Bryan Cranston out of the competition, this is a wide open race. Though again, I grieve for Jon Hamm whose show seem to have fallen out of award bodies' graces or something just when they could all be winning acting awards finally! I'd think Spacey, as an Oscar winner, is the favorite here but I don't really know.

Best Actress, Drama

• Claire Danes, Homeland
• Viola Davis, How To Get Away With Murder
• Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
• Ruth Wilson, The Affair
• Robin Wright, House of Cards

Nice to see Wilson, who was just fabulous in Luther, get some kudos. It also makes total sense for them to nominate Davis and I'm just shocked her show didn't go more love from the HFPA. The other nominees are solid, but it's a bit hard to accept it totally when just last year they nominated Tatiana Maslany! Maybe, she can only be nominated for one major award every year (GG last year, SAG this year).

Best TV Series, Comedy

• Girls
• Jane the Virgin
• Orange Is The New Black
• Silicon Valley
• Transparent

Yup, hell has finally frozen over. I mean this is a major awards show and neither Big Bang Theory nor Modern Family is nominated... anywhere! Not even in the acting categories. I honestly never thought I'd see the day. It's also fantastic that this category is mostly made up of new shows including my favorite one this season Jane the Virgin, which is also the very first show from the CW honored with a Golden Globe nod. Transparent, meanwhile, is the first show from Amazon to get a nod. It's all very cool, but I am still lighting a candle for the non-nomination of Parks and Recreation and last year's surprise champ Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Best Actor, Comedy

• Louis C.K., Louie
• Don Cheadle, House of Lies
• Ricky Gervais, Derek
• William H. Macy, Shameless
• Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Cheadle is the only repeat nominee here so even though this category is usually my least favorite at least the HFPA is mixing it up. Shameless' genre switch to comedy is paying dividends for Macy and I hear nothing but praise for Tambor (my pick to win). Last year's winner Andy Samberg was curiously left out.

Best Actress, Comedy

• Lena Dunham, Girls
• Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
• Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
• Taylor Schilling, Orange Is The New Black

I can't even be mad that last year's winner (see a pattern here?) Amy Poehler is not nominated, because GINA FUCKING RODRIGUEZ got nominated. She and her show are absolutely delightful and I know people say that the Golden Globes don't really matter, but tell that to someone like Gina who's breaking through right now on a new show from a little seen network. This is everything to her right now and I'm so happy for her.

Best Mini-Series Or TV Movie

• Fargo
• The Missing
• The Normal Heart
• True Detective
• Olive Kitteridge

Other than those new and fresh nominees up above, one of the reasons why I was happy with the HFPA today was because they corrected what the Emmys and the SAG got so very wrong i.e. placed True Detective under Miniseries rather than a Drama Series. NOW I'm interested by the competition amongst it, The Normal Heart, and Fargo. The latter leads all TV shows with 5 nods and I think I'm rooting for it. It's going to be a real race though.

Best Actor, Mini-Series or TV Movie

• Martin Freeman, Fargo
• Mark Ruffalo, The Normal Heart
• Billy Bob Thornton, Fargo
• Matthew McConaughey, True Detective
• Woody Harrelson, True Detective

Weird that Sherlock (and thus Benedict Cumberbatch) wasn't nominated, but maybe it wasn't eligible? That said, this is a fun category. McConaughey and Harrelson may be the frontrunner, but I would count out any of the others at all.

Best Actress, Mini-Series or TV Movie

• Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Honorable Woman
• Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Freak Show
• Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge
• Frances O'Connor, The Missing
• Allison Tolman, Fargo

Though I've seen all of them in other roles, the only nominated role I've actually seen is Tolman's and she's fabulous in it so I hope she wins. And she's finally in the right category as well! How some people thought she was a supporting character on the show confuses me.

Best Supporting Actor

• Matt Bomer, The Normal Heart
• Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
• Colin Hanks, Fargo
• Bill Murray, Olive Kitteridge
• Jon Voight, Ray Donovan

Nice to see Bomer and Hanks nominated and of course they would fine a way to nominate Murray. Cumming is fantastic of course, but I actually think his co-star Matt Czuchry would have been a better choice. Of course this category should be split or at least expand to ten nominees because combining genres is just plain ridiculous.

Best Supporting Actress

• Uzo Aduba, Orange Is The New Black
• Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Freak Show
• Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
• Allison Janney, Mom
• Michelle Monaghan, True Detective

Yeah, I guess this is fine. I mean I'm actually SUPER HAPPY that Aduba picks up her first Golden Globe nod and Janney is unstoppable, but again this category could've been expanded to ten and it would still not be enough room!

My thoughts on the film nominations to come tomorrow once I've slept on them. They weren't nearly as exciting as the TV ones though.

Golden Globes Does the American Hustle; Brooklyn 99 Surprises

Due to my parent's anniversary falling on Golden Globes Sunday this year, I actually missed all of the red carpet coverage (blessing in disguise?) and the first hour or so of the ceremony. So it felt like I was playing catch up all night. Most of this could be attributed to the weird hi-jinks happening on stage like a barefoot Emma Thompson hamming it up or Diane Keaton singing at the end of her tribute to Cecil B. Demille recipient Woody Allen. But I think the unpredictability of the awards, especially the TV ones, and the spread the love mentality also had something to do with it. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler were predictable great. The Clooney joke was one for the ages and all of their in-show skits were just right. They should be asked again next year in two years if they're willing. But of course, we have to talk about the winners...

Best Motion Picture, Drama: 12 Years A Slave
Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: American Hustle
Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Best Actress, Drama: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Best Actor, Drama: Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Best Actor, Comedy or Musical: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Best Actress, Comedy or Musical: Amy Adams, American Hustle
Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Best Animated Film: Frozen
Best Foreign Language Film: The Great Beauty
Best Screenplay: Spike Jonze, Her
Best Score: Alex Ebert, All Is Lost
Best Song: "Ordinary Love," Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

American Hustle walked home with the most awards with three total, two for its actresses and one for Best Comedy/Musical. Dallas Buyers Club was the only other film to pick up multiple awards with two for Jared Leto and Matthew McConaughey. The latter was a bit of a surprise winning against presumed front-runner Chiwetel Ejiofor whose film was actually shut out for most of the night until winning the last award for Best Drama Film. It was a curiously weak showing for 12 Years a Slave that could portend things for the Oscars. But it did still win the top prize, which many thought was going to go to Gravity especially with Alfonso Cuaron winning Director earlier, so it's still very much in the race. Meanwhile Leonardo DiCaprio got his second Globe win this time in Comedy/Musical while Cate Blanchett continued her winning streak. As an aside, did anyone else gasp when DiCaprio was presenting Best Actress in Drama and said "Cate" thinking for a split second he was goign to say "Winslet" instead of Blanchett? In any case, Her also managed to win a major award for Spike Jonze's screenplay while Frozen expectedly won Best Animated Film (though not Best Song which went to U2, an obvious result in hindsight). I went 8 out of 14 with my predictions getting a couple of acting and most of the below-the-line categories wrong.

Best TV Series, Drama: Breaking Bad
Best TV Series, Comedy: Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Best Actress, Drama: Robin Wright, House of Cards
Best Actress, Comedy: Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Best Actor, Drama: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Best Actor, Comedy: Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Best Mini-Series or TV Movie: Behind the Candelabra
Best Actress, Miniseries/TV Movie: Elisabeth Moss, Top of the Lake
Best Actor, Miniseries/TV Movie: Michael Douglas, Behind the Candelabra
Best Supporting Actress: Jacqueline Bisset, Dancing on the Edge
Best Supporting Actor: Jon Voight, Ray Donovan

The big winner on the TV side is the letter B with Breaking Bad, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Behind the Candelabara picking up two awards each for the series and their lead actors. Bryan Cranston and Michael Douglas' wins were expected, but who could've predicted Andy Samberg to beat out Poehler in getting awarded for a sitcom role? Thankfully the universe righted itself immediately as Poehler finally, finally won (suck on that Emmy Awards) and was given the opportunity to make out with Bono as well as delivery a truly lovely speech. Fellow internet-fave Tatiana Maslany didn't win as she lost to The Princess Bride herself Robin Wright. More exciting though was the win for Elisabeth Moss for Top of the Lake making her the first Mad Men actor to win a major acting award. Pretty ridiculous stat, right? Other wins included Jon Voight who was weirdly nervous and Jacqueline Bisset who was clearly in shock as she delivered a confused and rambling speech that just made everyone uncomfortable. Overall, I did pretty poorly predictions-wise with 5 out of 11, but at least most of the wins were pleasant surprises. Mostly pleased for Brooklyn Nine-Nine whose wins should guarantee a S2 renewal. In the end, Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul said it best when he accepted the show's series win, "Yeah, bitch!"

Golden Globes Predictions

Can't wait for tonight's Golden Globes mostly to see Tina Fey and Amy Poehler host again. But I also didn't really realize how up in the air a lot of categories are until I sat down and tried to make predictions, which hopefully means an exciting show. My final predictions are below, but with many, many reservations...

Best Motion Picture, Drama: 12 Years A Slave
Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: American Hustle
Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity

Seems like a somewhat safe bet to pick Cuarón to win Best Director over McQueen, but the latter could still win. The question is would the HFPA split Director and Best Drama as I've predicted here? As for Comedy, American Hustle seems to be more in line with the HFPA, but the more critical pick of Her could also surprise.

Best Actress, Drama: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Best Actor, Drama: Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years A Slave
Best Actor, Comedy or Musical: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Best Actress, Comedy or Musical: Meryl Streep, August: Osage County

I think the Drama categories are set since I don't think the HFPA will disagree with consensus with Blanchett and Ejiofor. But Ejiofor could be slightly vulnerable if the HFPA wanted to honor a bigger name like Hanks or McConaughey. More difficult to predict are the Comedy categories. All of the men are in Best Picture nominees and seem to be playing at a relatively level playing field so they really could go any which way. I'm picking DiCaprio over Dern and Bale because in my head they think he's the bigger star. As for actress, NONE of these ladies have risen to top this season. Convention says it'll be between Adams and Streep since they're the biggest names. I think Streep ekes this one out on name alone.

Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

Would the HFPA really award Lawrence two years in a row? I think they will, even over Nyong'o just because they do love her. But don't underestimate Roberts' star appeal as well. As for Leto, he's been dominating all season but perhaps if the HFPA end up loving either American Hustle or 12 Years a Slave, Cooper or Fassbender could just take it. I don't think they will though.

Best Animated Film: Frozen
Best Foreign Language Film: Blue is the Warmest Color
Best Screenplay: 12 Years a Slave
Best Score: Gravity
Best Song: "Please Mr. Kennedy," Inside Llewyn Davis

Score and Song are the only ones I'm not 100% certain about. I think most of the films in the Score category can win and only giving the edge to Gravity, because it's such a big film. As for Song, "Let It Go" is the absolutely favorite... for the Oscars. But Oscar-ineligible "Please Mr. Kennedy" has seen strong support throughout the season... and it's very much like the HFPA to reward Timberlake.

With my film predictions out of the way, here comes TV, which is also perplexing me in a few spots...

Best TV Series, Drama: Breaking Bad
Best TV Series, Comedy: Girls

The HFPA's penchant for the newest thing, especially if they involve film stars, may be the downfall for Breaking Bad which for all intents and purpose should and will win. But House of Cards would probably be very, very appealing to the HFPA. As for Comedy, I think they'll pick last year's winner Girls, but they could also go back to their Modern Family love-fest. Anything could happen in this category and I wouldn't be too surprised.

Best Actress, Drama: Kerry Washington, Scandal
Best Actress, Comedy: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Best Actor, Drama: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Best Actor, Comedy: Michael J. Fox, The Michael J. Fox Show

Fox seems like a solid prediction here, because again he's a star HFPA would like to honor. And you'd think Cranston would be a slam-dunk gimme as well, but with a category so full of movie stars including Spacey and it's a bit trickier. Louis-Dreyfus is also likely to win after her unexpected lost last year to Dunham AND she's double-nominated this year. But I honestly have NO CLUE who'll win Drama Actress especially with Danes not even nominated. Schilling and Maslany are new, young, and pretty just the way the HFPA likes but Wright is a movie star while Margulies and Washington has been getting so much buzz. I'd sooner predict a 5-way tie than actually pick someone. In this case I just closed my eyes and pointed.

Best Mini-Series or TV Movie: Behind the Candelabra
Best Actress, Miniseries/TV Movie: Elisabeth Moss, Top of the Lake
Best Actor, Miniseries/TV Movie: Michael Douglas, Behind the Candelabra
Best Supporting Actress: Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Best Supporting Actor: Rob Lowe, Behind the Candelabra

Behind the Candelabra and Douglas are the only two wins I'm 100% confident in making this entire awards show. Moss seems likely to win, but who knows? The supporting categories are even more up in the air. I picked Lowe and Vergara for no apparent reason. We'll see how wrong I am later tonight...

Click here to see my thoughts on the nominations... Film/TV