Thoughts/Analysis of the 2016 Golden Globe Nominations

Best Motion Picture, Drama
Carol
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
Room
Spotlight

Happily expected, pleasant surprise

Thoughts: Very strong lineup if all I've seen/heard fits together. Carol was absolutely brilliant, my favourite of the year, and I'm so glad to see it get recognition (though not at all surprised), and Mad Max: Fury Road was an incredibly pleasant surprise. It's received so much acclaim but I was worried that it being too much of a genre picture would count against it. Hopefully it can carry on some of this momentum to 2016. Haven't seen The Revenant, Room and Spotlight. But from what I've heard they are fully deserving. In conclusion, no real surprises here besides Mad Max.

Analysis: As I said, no real surprises here besides Mad Max. The other four I think could easily be argued as locks for Best Picture nominations, and Carol and Spotlight in particular, I think, would with a BAFTA nomination to boot, be the frontrunners to win the big prize. The un-nominated Creed and Bridge of Spies I could definitely see being very close to getting in here, and I think they're still strong contenders, as can be said for

Best Motion Picture, Comedy 
The Big Short
Joy
The Martian
Spy
Trainwreck

So apparently Joy is a barrel of laughs.

Thoughts: Have only seen The Martian and Spy on this list; loved the former and really hope it wins (and am also not too fussed that it's been placed in Comedy as really, it's merges this lighthearted sense of fun in every scene while maintaining the right dramatic gravitas when necessary, a testament to Ridley Scott's excellent directorial balance). Spy was alright but really just another mildly funny spy parody. Not particularly keen on watching Trainwreck or The Big Short (although Christian Bale's awards attention has me intrigued), and as for Joy I am still quite compelled to watch it despite the critical lambasting. Though I can't say I'm convinced it's a comedy, based on the promotional material for it thus far.

Analysis: Mark my words no matter what, Joy is getting nominated. And actually I would be fairly confident about The Martian getting in a la Gravity: Scott's resurgence, Damon in the lead role, all make it convincing that a 'sci-fi' film could make it into the nominees. The Big Short may well get in too through the attention and acclaim it's getting. As for Spy and Trainwreck I see as just category fillers here.

Best Director – Motion Picture
Todd Haynes, Carol
Alejandro Iñárritu, The Revenant
Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
George Miller, Mad Max
Ridley Scott, The Martian

from thefilmstage.com

screenrant.com Could this garner Scott's long-awaited Oscar?

craveonline.com

Thoughts: HAYNES MUST WIN. Or if not Haynes, Miller. If not Miller, Scott. Of course Inarritu and McCarthy have probably imprinted excellent directorial marks on their respective films so really, if all goes well, I can't complain about anyone winning. Haynes is my very personal choice, Miller would be a great feel-good win for his whole body of work, Scott would be a perfect choice to reward a long career with a deserving win.

Analysis: In terms of implications for the Oscars, would not be surprised to see this being the final 5 being chosen. Though the likes of Hopper, Fukunaga, O'Russell, and especially Ryan Coogler could always slip in. Based on all the awards attention thus far I think Haynes is the frontrunner and that pleases me very, very much. Surprised by Speilberg's snub here; perhaps they just didn't like his direction of Bridge of Spies that much though personally I thought it was fantastic and definitely deserving of recognition here.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
Cate Blanchett, Carol
Brie Larson, Room
Rooney Mara, Carol
Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

#MARAFORLEAD #MARAFOROSCAR

Thoughts: NO CATEGORY FRAUD makes Calvin a very happy bunny today. Blanchett and Mara here have seem to be given what I like to call the 'Hurt-Julia' treatment, hopefully unlike Kiss of the Spiderwoman this will follow into nominations for both. I wouldn't mind THAT much if Mara gets into the Academy Awards via Casey Affleck style (a clear lead being put in the supporting category) so long as she wins but this double-nomination is just sending cheery chills down my spine. Larson is essentially a lock at this point (and possibly to win), as well as Ronan; the latter is terrific in Brooklyn and she's been storming through all the precursors thus far, so I'm really happy she's back in the Oscar mix once more. Really happy that Vikander has been nominated too as by all accounts she has the greatest emotional pull in The Danish Girl. Shame Charlotte Ramplin

Analysis: I doubt this will be the final Academy lineup due to the absence of Oscar favourites Jennifer Lawrence and Meryl Streep. Carey Mulligan's absence is conspicuous which is a shame, but oh well, I blame it on the lacklustre reception for Suffragette. If she misses out on the BAFTAs too though she'll be entirely out of the race, which is a shame since she was brilliant in both that and Far From the Madding Crowd. Vikander and Mara are likely to be category frauded but in the end so long as these great actresses get awards attention I'll be fine with that.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy 
Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
Melissa McCarthy, Spy
Amy Schumer, Trainwreck
Maggie Smith, Lady in the Van
Lily Tomlin, Grandma

theguardian.com

Thoughts: Lawrence was always a sure thing. I like her a great deal but I hope this time round, unlike American Hustle (although re-watches have led me to appreciate the performance as a whole more) she actually has a performance to back up the hype. McCarthy was just doing her usual schtick in Spy which was fine though hopefully she won't get in because it was just an average comic performance. I've heard excellent reviews for Schumer and Tomlin, and as for Smith let's just say I'm really glad she's back in the game; one of my favourite actresses, I hope this signals alongside the inevitable BAFTA nom, that she'll be back at the Oscars.

Analysis: I think Lawrence is definitely winning this here and carrying on the momentum to the Oscars. Smith and Tomlin have definitely done wonders for their veteran status prospective noms here by getting nominated here. Wouldn't rule McCarthy and Schumer out thus far but, well, let's just say I wouldn't bet on them.

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Jane Fonda, Youth
Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
Helen Mirren, Trumbo
Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

Her first nom for The Hateful Eight perhaps? From The Guardian

Thoughts: For once I'm not too fussed about a supporting player riding the awards momentum of a film not really centered on them as Kate Winslet is excellent in Steve Jobs and I would certainly not mind her getting nominated for the Oscar. Escastic about Vikander 1: getting nominated and 2: being nominated in supporting, which is what I really think she is in Ex Machina since the film is almost always centred on Domnhall Gleeson's character's perspective. I do need to check out Mirren and Fonda's supposed scene-stealing turns in their respective films, and as for Leigh I can't wait. By all accounts she's gonna be amazing

Analysis: Quite an eclectic bunch and I don't think they'll all make it into the nominations. What I do like is that they're all clearly supporting, so no category fraud here once more. Makes me very happy indeed.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl
Will Smith, Concussion

leodicarpio.it

Thoughts: DiCaprio is winning the Oscar this year, I repeat, the memes shall end and the gong will be his. The critical reception has been very enthusiastic regarding his performance and I'm sure it's warranted. Have only seen Fassbender out of this lot and I'm not particularly enthused for various reasons, one being he's not even being nominated for his best performance this year (Macbeth people, come on), and secondly I was hoping that the incredible Ian McKellen, and also fantastic Jason Segel, Tom Courtenay, Tom Hardy and (surprise snub here) Johnny Depp would've made it in. Smith is a surprise but maybe not, after all the awards love him when he goes into 'serious' mode. Once again real-life figures seem to be the main recurring figure of the nominees for Best Actor.

Analysis: At this point I think Redmayne, Fassbender and DiCaprio are dead certs. Cranston's carrying incredible momentum to his first prospective Oscar nomination, and if Trumbo keeps up this pace I could see him becoming a lock himself. Smith I think is holding that tenuous last place with Depp and Damon to be a potential frontrunner/losers. As I said before no one's taking DiCaprio's honours this year so everything else is just a formality.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Christian Bale, The Big Short
Steve Carell, The Big Short
Matt Damon, The Martian
Al Pacino, Danny Collins
Mark Ruffalo, Infinitely Polar Bear

Matt Damon in The Martian from Vanity Fair

Thoughts: Hoping Matt Damon wins here as it's a career-best performance by him, that increasingly impresses me with each and every re-watch. Pacino is a pleasant surprise; he doesn't give anything near his masterful 70's work in Danny Collins but it's definitely much better than a lot of his recent 21st Century fare, and his performance as an ageing rockstar is an enjoyable, funny performance with moments of surprising depth. Bale and Carell intrigue me by being nominated as leads in what I've seen thus far as being a strictly ensemble piece; I will certainly need to check it out. Haven't seen Infinitely Polar Bear but definitely need to check it out.

Analysis: Of these 5 I think only Damon has any real chance of getting an Oscar nod, though I could see Bale and Carell slipping into supporting. As I said before no one's taking DiCaprio's honours this year so everything else is just a formality.

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Paul Dano, Love & Mercy
Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation
Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Michael Shannon, 99 Homes
Sylvester Stallone, Creed

screenrant.com

slashffilm.com

Thoughts: I loved Dano in Love and Mercy as a young Brian Wilson and am very pleased he's been getting awards attention, but frankly he's  not supporting at all, but rather co-lead with John Cusack (who by the way is being criminally overlooked in the grand scheme of awards). So glad Rylance is getting in, and ditto for Elba, since both are just the most underrated actors who seriously need more credit for their work in general. Stallone in Creed is possibly the most intriguing performance of the year thus far, and as for Shannon the whole trailer put me off seeing the film a bit, but I do hope Shannon is good, as I like him a great deal as an actor.

Analysis: Dano is commiting category fraud which is unlikely to sustain him all the way to the Oscars, but like Daniel Bruhl in Rush if that's what it takes to get an actor attention for the Oscars (although in Bruhl's case it didn't work out), then so be it. The other 4 I could easily see all making the final lineup, though the winner seems very unclear at this point. I'd put my money on Rylance but the lack of love for Bridge of Spies elsewhere makes me second-guess that prediction. Not as surprised as some to see the Spotlight players miss out as the voters might just have been very divided on who they liked best out of the ensemble. Surprised to see Dano and Shannon instead of Hardy for The Revenant but who knows, maybe DiCaprio really does dominate the whole film.

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Emma Donoghue, Room
Tom McCarthy, Josh Singer, Spotlight
Charles Randolph, Adam McKay, The Big Short
Aaron Sorkin, Steve Jobs
Quentin Tarantino, The Hateful Eight

Thoughts: Sorkin's screenplay for Steve Jobs was very solid so have no issue with him being nominated at all. The other four nominees I've yet to see but they're all bar Donoghue (who's been getting lots of raves) established talents, so hey I'm all up for it.

Analysis: Surprised Bridge of Spies and Carol didn't make it here, as they both had successes which resided so much on the strength of their screenplays. Otherwise though, looks like these five are the prime contenders for screenplay awards.

Best Animated Feature Film
Anomalisa
The Good Dinosaur
Inside Out
The Peanuts Movie
Shaun the Sheep Movie

from Forbes.com

Inside Out is going to win here and deservedly so, so I won't say anything more.

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 No. 3” Youth
“Writing’s on the Wall” Spectre

Thoughts: See it's not just me who likes the new Bond song! Anyway I have a strong feeling See You Again is going to be the big winner across all Original Song categories in light of the strong emotional pull it has for audiences worldwide. Love the Love and Mercy shoutout. Also it's crazy to think that 50 Shades of Grey could be nominated for anything other than a Razzie but there you go.

Analysis: Furious 7 will win. Shame 'Let No Man  Steal Your Thyme' from Far From the Madding Crowd couldn't find its way in.

Best Original Score
Carter Burwell, Carol
Alexandre Desplat, The Danish Girl
Ennio Morricone, The Hateful Eight
Daniel Pemberton, Steve Jobs
Ryuichi Sakamoto Alva Noto, The Revenant

Thoughts: Having heard snippets/all of these soundtracks I have to say each and every one carries with it such a distinctive, beautiful sound to it. Having said that Carter Burwell should, probably will win it as his score for Carol is such a beautifully nuanced piece of musical masterpiece.

Analysis: I think given Burwell criminal lack of awards attention in the past that this will be his time to shine, though don't be surprised if Morricone, this year being a significant anniversary for him, snatches the honours out of his hands.

Best Motion Picture, Foreign Language 
The Brand New Testament
The Club
The Fencer
Mustang
Son of Saul

Can't really comment as I've seen none of them yet but by all accounts Son of Saul will be winning this by quite a large margin.