Analysis/Thoughts: Golden Globe Awards Nominations for 2016 (and Oscar implications)

Any film/television programme/performance I've seen highlighted in gold


Best Motion Picture, Drama

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


Analysis: the likes of Fences, Jackie, and Loving missing out on all the non-acting categories, and Sully being snubbed across the board, seems to indicate that their campaigns and love for their films will be directed to the performances, from this point out. Lion is a bit of a surprise, gaining quite a lot of love across various categories, so I think momentum is picking up for it to do well in upcoming awards season. It joins Manchester by the Sea and Moonlight as the 'small-scale' films which seem to be gaining more and more recognition, and more and more momentum day by day, especially Moonlight. The love for Hell or High Water is rising to the extent that I can see it making a big push as a dark horse Best Picture contender alongside Moonlight. I'd say the biggest surprise of all is Hacksaw Ridge. The Globes have liked Mel Gibson and his films in the past, but I didn't expect them to take to this as much as they did. Another film that gains momentum in the Best Picture race while others falter.


Who's In?: All of these seem like strong Best Picture contenders now.


Who's Out?: Fences, Jackie, and Loving aren't quite out of the race yet but their chances of getting in are slimmer, Arrival will be fine I think for the timebeing as long as its technical nominations keep coming in. Silence hasn't gotten anything at the Globes, which to some might spell disaster, but remember, 5 years ago True Grit got snubbed across the board for the Globes since no one had seen it, and it ended up being quite successful with its Oscar noms. Sully seems to be slightly out of it now but maybe the Globes just haven't liked Eastwood's stuff in recent years (see: American Sniper).


Thoughts: I really, really, really liked (and am quite close to loving) Hell or High Water and I thought Moonlight was absolutely incredible on all levels, so I couldn't be happier for both films, especially since neither film is particularly 'awards-baity' fare. Again, Hacksaw Ridge is still the most anticipated film I've yet to see, and Lion and Manchester by the Sea intrigue me more and more with all the critical and awards acclaim they're getting.


Snubs?: Again I can't comment since I've yet to see three of the nominees, but I'd have liked to see Arrival get in since they did seem to like the film, or some dark horse contenders unlikely to get Oscar love like Eye in the Sky or Captain America: Civil War (which yes, I know would never happen in a million years). As it is however, I'm happy enough that 2 of my top 10 (especially Moonlight, my #2) have gotten such added momentum to their Oscar runs.


Winner? (Prediction): Moonlight


Best Motion Picture, Musical, or Comedy

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


Analysis: What a surprise to see La La Land here, who'd have thunk it? Jokes aside, I feel it's going to be a surefire win unless something like Florence Foster Jenkins pulls a Grand Budapest Hotel and upsets the frontrunner (though it's unlikely since La La Land has an even more passionate campaign behind it than Birdman two years before). Those two where the two films I knew would get in, 100%, 20th Century Women isn't surprising at all since it's gotten loads of love for its central performance and ensemble. Deadpool and Sing Street are surprises, although the former being the feel-good surprise blockbuster hit of the year and the latter being a slightly under-the-radar but successful indie musical film make it less a shock in retrospect.


Who's In?: Only La La Land, everything's still up in the air for Florence Foster Jenkins and 20th Century Women and the other nominees are probably not going to get Oscar nommed.


Who's Out?: The Founder not getting in here might hinder not only its own slim chances of Oscar success but also for its leading man, Michael Keaton. I thought The Jungle Book might get some love here but apparently not, might take till next year's Beauty and the Beast for these Disney live-action remakes to get some awards love. Rules Don't Apply takes another hit to its extreme awards campaigning.


Thoughts: Nice to see superhero films get love, and I hope this bodes well for the genre in the future. Equally happy for Sing Street, a film I loved minor flaws and all, though it is bizzare how none of its songs, or Jack Reynor got any love. I liked Florence Foster Jenkins well enough and don't mind seeing it here, and as for the other two we shall see. Also, glad to see each of these films are really 'comedies' or 'musicals'.


Snubs?: I'd have liked to see Love & Friendship,  Everybody Wants Some!!!, Keanu and Swiss Army Man to get some awards love here as they're hilarious fare which deserve more love, but I'll content myself with the dark horse nomination for Sing Street. I'd have loved to have seen Hunt for the Wilderpeople, which is my favourite film of the year so far, get a nomination and pull an upset, but I was never expecting it to get in; shame, though, it's a brilliant film that deserves more universal attention (in fact I'd say the audience acclaim for it has been far stronger than the critical/awards attention).


Winner? (Prediction): La La Land




Best Director, Motion Picture

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


Analysis: The only nominee here whose films didn't have a Best Motion Picture nod here is Ford, which is not that strange, it's a commonplace thing for a film to split votes in the Best Picture race and have its director come out on top, and I'd imagine Nocturnal Animals just missed out on a Best Motion Picture (Drama) nod. Chazelle, and Jenkins are in as expected, and we can look forward to see them dueling it out throughout this awards season. Lonergan and Gibson are riding some glowing critical praise and surprise nominations all-round to awards success, and I'll imagine it could lead to them getting into the Oscars.


Who's In?: Chazelle and Jenkins are locks, Lonergan is on his way to being one, and Gibson and Ford find themselves as dark horse contenders for that Oscar nom now.


Who's Out?: Prospects for Denzel Washington to get double-nominated for directing and acting in Fences seem slimmer now. Garth Davis (Lion) and David McKenzie (Hell or High Water) could still continue to get love, but it's conceivable that their films will get more love than their direction.  


Thoughts: Extremely happy for Jenkins; I got to attend a premiere screening of Moonlight with him in attendance and listening to him speak afterwards, he loves and knows so much about film and I'd love to see him get that Oscar nom. Ford's direction in Nocturnal Animals is half very good, half awful so I'm on the fence (or fences, shall we say eh Denzel) about whether or not I like his nod; I'd prefer it if it was, 'Tom Ford, nominated for the West Texan-section of Nocturnal Animals. The other three have been praised worldwide for their work in their respective films so I see no reason (yet) to question their nominations


Snubs?: Dennis Villenueve is the first name that comes to mind; since the Globes seemed to like Arrival a lot anyway, I imagine he just missed out. Hopefully missing out here won't hurt his prospects too much.


Winner? (Prediction): Damien Chazelle, La La Land




Best Performance By an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama

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




Analysis: Interesting set of nominees in that none of them star in a film nominated for a Best Motion Picture Globe, and only Adams is in a film that's gotten a substantial amount of love from the organization. All five of these ladies are strong contenders, but the Best Actress field is an INCREDIBLY broad and expansive one this year, so it remains to be seen if them getting nominated here bodes anything concrete for BAFTAs and Oscars.


Who's In?: I'd say Portman's a lock even though her film as a whole has underwhelmed on the awards scene thus far, and Negga is too (though Jeff Nichols films haven't had much luck thus far). Huppert is an interesting case, she's won the Boston Online Film Critics Association Awards, the Gotham Awards, SFFCC, etc. so from a critics standpoint she's a darling thus far, so I'd say she has the momentum of a lock for now, but we'll have to see how much the other awards organizations love her. Chastain's film hasn't been a financial or critical success far as I'm aware but she could get in, and Adams has been winning awards, but also getting snubbed in just about equal degrees all over the place.


Who's Out?: Again the field is so wide that someone like Jennifer Lawrence for Passengers or Taraji P. Henson for Hidden Figures could find their way into the awards race soon enough. So no one, really, but I imagine these five nominees are a relatively solid five to go for.


Thoughts: I loved both performances of Adams and Negga, the former giving my favourite performance of the year so far - fourth year in a row we've had a groundbreaking performance set out of space. Negga's work is incredibly quiet and understated, and I absolutely adored every second of it; one can only hope this leads to a breakout awards season for her, because she really is a tremendous talent. Chastain, Huppert and especially Portman have all gotten reviews that intrigue me to some extent.


Snubs?: Would've been cool to see Marion Cotillard get some credit for holding Allied together completely, Mary Elizabeth Winstead for doing likewise with 10 Cloverfield Lane and Sasha Lane, Elle Fanning and Helen Mirren getting some love for their work in American Honey, The Neon Demon and Eye in the Sky, but for the timebeing I'm just happy that two of my favourites this year, Adams in Arrival and Negga, have gotten in.






Winner? (Prediction): Natalie Portman, Jackie (though watch out for Negga).






Best Performance By an Actress in a Motion Picture, 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




Analysis: Stone and Bening are the two names that've been in awards conversation from the very start so their presence here is very much expected. Streep's film is getting quite a bit of love across the board, more than I expected, and this might translate to a 20th Oscar nom with her 30th (I believe) Golden Globe nomination, plus she's also getting her Cecil B. Demille award this year (well-deserved). Steinfeld is a surprise, it's nice to see her back in the awards race for such an atypical sort of film (from what I've heard this is the 2016 equivalent of Logan Lerman getting a Globe nom for Perks of Being a Wallflower), and the critical failure of Rules Don't Apply don't seem to have hurt Collins from getting her first Globe nom.

Who's In?: Stone and Bening are locks, Streep is making a case for being an Oscar lock (if the Florence Foster Jenkins love continues then yeah, why not). Steinfeld and Collins are probably not getting in but more due to the nature of their films than anything else.

Who's Out?: I don't know if the Brits will give her a bit of a helping hand but it seems like Kate Beckinsale (Love & Friendship) is out of this, and I have a feeling that Jennifer Lawrence for Passengers was campaigned it was in this category, so she's losing some momentum if my suspicions are correct.

Thoughts: Only seen Streep. I liked her, it's not one of her greatest performances but given the unpredictability of this year's Best Actress race I don't mind her getting love here and there for her film. Haven't seen any of the other nominees unfortunately, but I'm happy to see Stone get so much love which will strengthen her career, I've always liked Bening, and Steinfeld and Collins are talented young actresses who hopefully can parlay these noms and their films to future success.

Snubs?: Beckinsale. 'Nuff said, I'm not a fan of her in general but she's downright brilliant in Love & Friendship.





Winner? (Prediction): Emma Stone, La La Land.





Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama

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








Analysis: Affleck and Washington are in of course, continuing their sparring match across awards season. It'd have been weird not to see either of them in here, and Edgerton is also not much of a surprise, although I was predicting he'd miss out whilst Negga got in. Garfield is riding that Hacksaw Ridge love now which I wasn't 100% sure about since reviews for Silence have claimed his work their is superlative too, but it seems like if he's going to make a splash in awards season, it'll be for Desmond Doss. Mortensen is the HUGE surprise, firstly because he'd been pegged to campaign in Comedy/Musical before, secondly because his film was extremely small-scale and under-the-radar, lastly because he hadn't gotten many precursors beforehand.

Who's In?: Affleck and Washington, of course, and Garfield and Edgerton are close to solidifying their runs for their Oscar debuts.

Who's Out?: Tom Hanks, for the second year in a row, seems to be taking it easy and letting everything come what may. He's not out of the race yet but he's on his way to doing so. For some reason I thought the Globes might be the time for the awards front to either show Chris Pine some love for Hell or High Water, or for Jeff Bridges to be granted a category shift to Lead. Neither circumstance occurred, so it looks like Pine will be sitting this out while Bridges will firmly be placed in the supporting category. Also, again I don't think Garfield will be nominated for Silence, though who knows, he could go all DiCaprio in Blood Diamond on us.

Thoughts: Edgerton's performance, which I was expecting to be kind of awful based on the trailers, was a very pleasant surprise. He gives a very nuanced, understated performance that kind of reminded me of Donald Sutherland in Ordinary People in a very strange way, in terms of how he took potentially 'big' Oscar-y scenes and made them very internalized, hopefully unlike Sutherland he'll translate that to a nom. As I've mentioned, can't wait to see the other guys, Mortensen seems fascinating, Affleck and Washington are two I want to see all the hype about, and again I cannot frikking' wait to see Hacksaw Ridge.

Snubs?: I'd like to see Bridges placed in the correct category at some point, or for Pine to get in, and Gyllenhaal for Demoliton would've been a nice way to reward a great performance in an inadequate film, but otherwise can't complain too much.





Winner? (Prediction): Denzel Washington, Fences


Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical, or Comedy

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

Analysis: Woop, finally a category where I've pretty much seen all the contenders! I pretty much forgot completely about The Lobster, thought that was a 2015 release, and Farrell took what I thought would be the other half of Gosling's double nomination. Jonah Hill and Ryan Reynolds are surprises, though the latter not so much when you consider the overwhelming success of his film, which won't translate to much beyond the Globes, but still, good on them. Grant is in as expected, though I suspect Paramount will switch back to supporting for the rest of his campaign, and of course Mr Gosling making his return to the category.

Who's In?: Gosling I'd say is closing in on a lock, and Grant is too, albeit in supporting.

Who's Out?: The other three chaps - Farrell, Hill and Reynolds - don't look like strong awards contenders outside of this, and I was incredibly surprised to see them make it in over Michael Keaton for The Founder. That film has, depending on your viewpoint, floundered or remained entirely unseen and this could hurt Keaton's chances for a 'I'm back, gimme the Oscar' campaign.

Thoughts: Hill gave a very enjoyable performance, arguably a career-best (though I'm tempted to place his Donnie Azoff ahead), Reynolds carried his madcap film incredibly well and I'm glad to see his passion project bear some fruit - I almost kind of want him to win just to see him accept the award in his Deadpool suit. Grant here is not only being campaigned in the right category, but entirely deserves it; it's the first Hugh Grant performance I've truly liked, and I would really like it if his hilarious and moving performance gets a win. Farrell's film was fine and he was fine too, not quite on par with his last nomination + win in the category, as Ray in In Bruges, but then again few films are.

Snubs?: Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe for Swiss Army Man and Don Cheadle for Miles Ahead were never getting in, but I just have to throw some love towards my top 3 for the year, and also Julian Dennison for Hunt for the Wilderpeople just to get that underrated breakthrough comedic turn some love.





Winner? (Prediction): Hugh Grant, Florence Foster Jenkins

Best Performance By an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

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


Analysis: Definitely the most surprising category of all. Ali was always going to get in (I'd say he's the frontrunner for the Oscar now), as was Bridges in some capacity, and Patel's been getting some Supporting love for some time now, but Taylor-Johnson got the nomination for Nocturnal Animals when I was expecting Michael Shannon to get all the plaudits for, and Helberg rode the Florence Foster Jenkins love to a surprise nomination.


Who's In?: Ali, of course, and Bridges and Patel I'd say. Though again, the lack of Liam Neeson who still seems like a dead cert, and dark horse success story this awards season in Ben Foster from Hell or High Water, and of course Michael Shannon, means that films with multiple contending nominees could continue to clash for the 'locked' spots in the awards race.


Who's Out?: Helberg was probably just a momentary, taste of the month sort of nomination, so in his place I could see Lucas Hedges for Manchester by the Sea get in if the awards season continues to be kind towards the film, or maybe Aaron Eckhart can regain some of that pre-awards season momentum he had for either Sully or Bleed for This, though that's unlikely. The supporting casts for Jackie and Fences seem unlikely to get in at this point though.


Thoughts: I didn't hate Helberg but he did have some very off moments in Florence Foster Jenkins and wasn't doing a particularly inspired spin on his usual comedic routine, so I do kind of mind his nomination. I preferred Shannon in Nocturnal Animals but Taylor-Johnson was a brilliant ball of sleaze too, so good on him. Bridges, as I've mentioned, is category fraud, but I liked him a hell lot, and Ali's performance is my #2 in Supporting this year, so make of that what you will.


Snubs?: Some Our Kind of Traitor love or Jack Reynor for Sing Street, a posthumous nod for Alan Rickman in Eye in the Sky, or more Moonlight love wouldn't have gone amiss, and I hear Hugo Weaving is brilliant in Hacksaw Ridge, but all in all I can't complain since Ali and Taylor-Johnson got in.


Winner? (Prediction):  Mahershala Ali, Moonlight


Best Performance by Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

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


Analysis: Outside of Spencer (I'd expected Janelle Monáe to get in since she's had a banner debut year thus far), all is as expected. Davis, Kidman, Harris and Williams have been awards staples thus far and as expected they all get in. From here on it seems to be a combat between the big, verging on lead substantial roles of Davis and Spencer, and the small supportive roles of Harris (who filmed her role in three days), Kidman and Williams (who's apparently only got 10 minutes of screentime).         


Who's In?: The aforementioned quartet should be safe enough bets to be competing for the Oscar, and Spencer if she gets a few more accolades could do a reprisal of The Help awards run, sans the win (it's Davis' to lose).


Who's Out?: Felicity Jones might not get in for A Monster Calls as many had previously predicted, and Greta Gerwig's 20th Century Women campaign is somewhat hindered, but neither is out of the race yet, especially Gerwig. Though Mirren might get in for Best Supporting for Eye in the Sky since the Golden Globes love her, but guess she's sitting out this year, too.


Thoughts: Harris is my supporting win for Moonlight. She gives an incredibly powerful performance in it, and I'm glad she's all but a lock for an Oscar nom that'll propel her to bigger roles, though I daren't say better as her performance as a drug addicted mother in Moonlight is career-height level good. Davis' performance in that Fences second trailer already has me so psyched for her, and Kidman, Spencer and Williams have all had very good, very positive reviews that has me interested.


Snubs?: Some love for The Neon Demon ladies, or hey, maybe even Kate McKinnon for Ghostbusters, but all in all I can't complain since I haven't seen four of the other nominees.


Winner? (Prediction):  Viola Davis, Fences

Best Screenplay, Motion Picture

La La Land
Nocturnal Animals
Moonlight
Manchester by the Sea
Hell or High Water


Analysis: All as expected besides perhaps Nocturnal Animals. All the other films are essentially surefire Best Picture nominees barring a last-minute slippage from Manchester by the Sea, and the screenplays have been among the most highly commended aspects of Moonlight, Manchester by the Sea and Hell or High Water.         


Who's In?: La La Land, Moonlight and Manchester by the Sea. I'd say Hell or High Water too despite the fact Sicario was snubbed last year despite the film otherwise gaining quite a bit of love.


Who's Out?: Because the category here is not defined into Best Adapted/Best Original screenplay, it's hard to tell. Out of these choices, only Nocturnal Animals is an adadpted screenplay, which means that the likes of Fences, Allied and A Monster Calls are not out of it yet. Hacksaw Ridge, Jackie, Loving, and Lion could be, but probably because their awards campaigns are being focused elsewhere. Again I can imagine despite missing out here, Silence winning the Oscar for Scorsese and Jay Cocks.


Thoughts: The scripts to Moonlight and Hell or High Water are brilliant, even if the latter is a bit heavyhanded at certain points (though not without good reason), and I fully support their nominations. The screenplay to Nocturnal Animals is a bit weak overall, even its strongest bits do have slightly stilted and awkward moments, so I can't support its nomination. I'm sure there's a reason the screenplays to the other two are doing so well.


Snubs?: As aforementioned, Arrival out of the main contenders, Loving would've been a better choice than Nocturnal Animals, and I'll throw in a shout out to the excellent, innovative screenplays to Hail, Caesar! and Swiss Army Man.


Winner? (Prediction):  Manchester by the Sea


Original Score, Motion Picture

Moonlight
La La Land
Arrival
Lion
Hidden Figures


Analysis: Again, all very much as expected as all these films gained love in this set of nominations, have gained love over awards season, and the snippets I've heard from all of them have been very 'awards-worthy'.     


Who's In?: All of them. Daring, I know, but this could very well be the final set of nominees.


Who's Out?: Out of filmswhich I've heard Oscar buzz about its soundtrack, Hacksaw Ridge could be out, but it also could be a dark horse entry. I'd say The Neon Demon/Cliff Martinez are out tonight, I'm afraid.


Thoughts: Moonlight and Arrival have two of my favourite soundtracks of the year so far, the former so serene, the latter so out of this world and contemplative, so good on them. La La Land IS about music so I guess that goes without saying, and based on their trailers Lion and Hidden Figures fare well in this regard (on a separate note, Hans Zimmer + Pharrel Williams on the latter? The thought of that makes me strangely happy).


Snubs?: Hard to pick out snubs for this sort of category, but I'd say The Neon Demon deserved a shout-out, and again Swiss Army Man for that matter.


Winner? (Prediction):  Moonlight


Best Motion Picture, Animated

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


I actually haven't seen any of these yet, so I won't comment, but I'll predict Zootopiawinning.


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


Again, haven't heard any of these in their entirety, the category should be interesting to watch this year with the abundance of animated films and La La Land, but may I politely inquire how Drive it Like You Stole It isn't on here?


Best Motion Picture, Foreign Language

Divines
Elle
Neruda
The Salesman
Toni Erdmann


I've been really bad with animated and Foreign Language films this year, but I'lld predict Elle or Toni Erdmann since those are the two films I've heard the most buzz about.


For television, I'll comment a bit on what I have seen...


Best Television Series, Drama

The Crown
Game of Thrones
Stranger Things
This Is Us
Westworld


Horray, Stranger Things! This makes me very, very happy indeed. Happier than Dustin here. I also can't wait to check out The Crown and Westworld.


Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy

Atlanta
Blackish
Mozart in the Jungle
Transparent
Veep


Glad to see Donald Glover's passion project get love.


Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

American Crime
The Dresser
The Night Manager
The Night Of
The People v. O.J.: American Crime Story


The Night Manager is brilliant, The Night Of is supposedly brilliant, OJ is flawed but ultimately a very strong and compelling miniseries I'm glad is getting love.


Best Performance By an Actor in a Television Series, Drama

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


Haven't seen any of them but glad to see Billy Bob getting good telly work nowadays. Now if only the film industry would get him good roles again...


Best Performance By an Actor in a Television Series, Musical, or Comedy

Anthony Anderson, Blackish
Gael Garcia Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle
Donald Glover, Atlanta
Nick Nolte, Graves
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent


For some reason, all of these underrated actors (I'd say Nolte is a bit underrated nowadays) getting some love pleases me a lot.


Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television

Riz Ahmed, The Night Of
Bryan Cranston, All the Way
Tom Hiddleston, The Night Manager
Courtney B. Vance, The People v. O.J.: American Crime Story
John Turturro, The Night Of


Likewise here. I won't mind if Riz Ahmed gets killed off after 10 minutes in Rogue One if I find he gives an amazing (as my friends have allegedly told me) performance as advertised in The Night Of. Vance is very good (albeit supporting), Hiddleston is excellent, both great choices.


Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television

Sterling K. Brown, The People v. O.J.: American Crime Story
Hugh Laurie, The Night Manager
John Lithgow, The Crown
Christian Slater, Mr. Robot
John Travolta, The People v. O.J.: American Crime Story


Travolta was a bit OTT but still quite effective in OJ, I'd have preferred David Schwimmer to get in but no major qualms with his nomination. Glad to see Hugh Laurie's back with the Globes post-House, especially for his brilliant turn as villainous Richard Roper in The Night Manager. Brown gives a solid, understated portrayal that I'm glad hasn't been overshadowed in OJ, and Lithgow and Slater are two underrated talents I love are getting mini-career resurgences with their respective miniseries. In particular, I'd like to see how Lithgow acquits himself as ol' Churchill.


Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series, Drama

Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
Claire Foy, The Crown
Keri Russell, The Americans
Winona Ryder, Stranger Things
Evan Rachel Wood, Westworld


Why all the hate for Ryder, people? I preferred Millie Bobby Brown of course, she's absolutely amazing, but isn't Ryder too? (that Christmas lights scene is among the best-acted scenes of the year). Foy, and Wood have been acclaimed for career-best turns in their respective series so no surprise their.


Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Actress in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television

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


So apparently Thandie Newton is not only good, but great in Westworld? Inconceivable; as if I needed more incentive to check it out...only seen Colman, who is fantastic in The Night Manager.


Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Felicity Huffman, American Crime
Riley Keough, The Girlfriend Experience
Sarah Paulson, The People v. O.J.: American Crime Story
Charlotte Rampling, London Spy
Kerry Washington, Confirmation


Paulson is very good in OJ and she'll probably win here. Glad to see a diversity of genres/types of roles in this category here, where an old-timer like Charlotte Rampling can vy with the up-and-coming Riley Keough (WITNESS HER ascension!)


Best Performance By an Actress in a Television Series, 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, Blackish


Need to check out all of these.