Golden Globes 2018 Nominations: Recap/Breakdown

The Post, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and
The Shape of Water lead the way with 6 nominations each

Best Picture – Drama:

• “Call Me by Your Name”
• “Dunkirk”
• “The Post”
• “The Shape of Water”
• “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”

Recap: Well, all five of these films are close to being locks for a Best Picture nomination, especially Call Me By Your Name, Dunkirk and The Post. They've ticked all the boxes in terms of being very Oscar-y films, and have the reviews and critics' accolades to back it up. The Shape of Water and Three Billboards are a bit more niche-y, auteur's films that have managed to find huge acclaim at this point in the year, and given the love given to the films through the rest of the nominations this is a huge boost overall.

Snubs?: I would have thought Darkest Hour or Phantom Thread might have been able to sneak in here, or even Molly's Game given their love for Sorkin, but it looks like these three films will hinge their awards successes on their lead performances. Was hoping for Detroit to maybe get in but that's a lost cause now.

Thoughts: I've seen all of the nominees bar The Post. Three Billboards, Dunkirk and The Shape of Water all make my top 10, and Call Me By Your Name is just on the edge, so I'm very happy with these.

Who will win?: Dunkirk 

Best Picture – Comedy or Musical:

• “The Disaster Artist”
• “Get Out”
• “The Greatest Showman”
• “I, Tonya”
• “Lady Bird”

Recap: as expected. The Disaster Artist is building up its reputation as a serious awards contender, Lady Bird continues its recent hot streak, and Get Out is admirably hanging in there - glad they went for this category for it. I, Tonya has gotten good reviews for the film itself and great ones for its performances, so no surprise there. I suppose I wasn't fully banking on The Greatest Showman getting in but it's the one big musical film this year, so I guess no surprises there. 

Snubs?: Kind of surprised not to see The Florida Project here but maybe they couldn't decide whether it was a comedy or drama. Battle of the Sexes I sort of expected to get in, but maybe the lukewarm reviews and lacklustre box-office performance wrote it off. Globes usually like Linklater too so I thought Last Flag Flying might have an outside chance, and John Carroll Lynch's Lucky really deserved to get in, but oh well. Lastly, this snub might have killed off any chance of Oscar success for The Big Sick. 

Thoughts: The Disaster Artist and Get Out are in my top 5 of the year and I loved both just about equally. I very much look forward to seeing if Lady Bird lives up to expectations, and the other two I await with differing levels of anticipation.

Who will win?: Toss-up between Lady Bird and The Disaster Artist. 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – 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.”

Recap: Well hello again Denzel - despite bad reviews for the film itself, it seems he's stood out enough to convince the Globes to hand over another nomination. The others are all the usual suspects, Day-Lewis with his final performance (so it would seem), Hanks, Oldman (although given his less than savoury comments about the Globes in the past I'm surprised, he was snubbed for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and breakout star Chalamet (really happy for him). 

Snubs: Surprised to see Jake Gyllenhaal left off in favour of Washington, given that he's in a much more Oscar-baity film and by all accounts a much better one. Robert Pattison and Chadwick Boseman were kind of long shots to get in, so not really 'snubs', but I wouldn't have been that surprised to see either on the list.

Thoughts: I've only seen Chalamet and he's very good indeed, and I wouldn't mind him winning since based on his interviews, he'd give a very nice and articulate speech. 

Who will win?: I don't think it'll be Oldman considering the HFPA's anymosity. So Chalamet. 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – 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”

Recap: They didn't have all the time in the world, but All the Money in the World clearly made some sort of impact on the Globes since they've nominated Michelle Williams and Christopher Plummer in the acting categories, and Ridley Scott in the director category. I hope it's a good film given the unfortunate circumstances that's been impacting it. The other four nominees are very much predictable ones - Chastain, Hawkins, McDormand and Streep all have very awards-friendly roles in acclaimed films (especially Hawkins and McDormand). 

Snubs: Annette Bening for Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool looked like a sure thing earlier on this year but looks like support for it's died down, unfortunately. I was hoping for a big surprise like Florence Pugh in Lady Macbeth, but you can't have everything I guess. 

Thoughts: Seen two of these performances, Hawkins and McDormand, who are both fantastic, and seeing Chastain tomorrow. I'm sure Streep will be good at the very least - she rarely isn't - and Williams is fairly consistent when she's given emotionally driven roles.

Who will win? McDormand. As much as the Globes love Streep, they really like McDormand too and she hasn't won eight times. 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or 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”

Recap: Elgort is the big surprise here, especially since this is Baby Driver's only nomination - and the first performance ever to be nominated from an Edgar Wright film, I believe (what took them so long?) I don't think it means anything, but good on him. Carell's nomination is expected, though it might conflict with his contention in the supporting category at the Oscars. Franco's nomination was a given, Jackman's was too I suppose, and Kaluuya is a pleasant surprise. 

Snubs: Harry Dean Stanton guys! Anyway, that unlikely nomination for Lucky aside, can't think of any other performance that could have and should have made the cut - I'd have liked Kumail Nanjiani to get in for The Big Sick over Elgort but I can't really complain since Elgort was good too.  

Thoughts: Happy for the Kaluuya nomination, it's the momentum he needs to mount a dark horse Best Actor nomination campaign. Him and Franco were both superb, and oh so different performances, and Carell's no slouch either. I liked Elgort, but given my feelings towards the film I don't really mind if he got in or not. As for Jackman, much as I hope he's great in The Greatest Showman I wish he was getting love for Logan (though not in this category, obviously). 

Who will win? Franco's got this in the bag (please invite Tommy). 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy:

• Judi Dench, “Victoria & Abdul”
• Helen Mirren, “The Leisure Seeker”
• Margot Robbie, “I, Tonya”
• Saoirse Ronan, “Lady Bird”
• Emma Stone, “Battle of the Sexes”

Recap: Dench is both a surprise and not a surprise, the film bombed financially and critically but she's Dame Judi Dench. Mirren too, but again she's Dame Helen...(you get my drift). The other three were always going to be in the category, and Robbie and Ronan are pretty much locks for the Oscars, as is Stone to a slightly lesser extent. 

Snubs: I thought Jennifer Lawrence should have gotten in for the utter farce of Mother but I digress.

Thoughts: I've only seen Stone out of this lot who was terrific, and I'm glad she's had such a great run these past few years. I'm sure the rest are good to great, they're all great talents.

Who will win?: Ronan seems to be the obvious choice but I'm actually going for Robbie.  

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture:

• 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”

Recap: Well this is where there were more than a couple of surprises. Dafoe getting in was expected, as was Rockwell. Hammer getting in instead of Michael Stuhlbarg though, is surprising to me given that Stuhlbarg has more of the 'Oscar-y' sort of role they go for as well as veteran status (though maybe the Academy will pull a Nocturnal Animals and nominate Stuhlbarg instead). Jenkins getting in is a surprise given the fact he's in a genre film, but they do show love for these consistent character actors occasionally. And Plummer, Christopher Plummer. Having not even seen the film...I'm impressed. A few days of work replacing a shunned Kevin Spacey, if this is testament to his unseen performance then he is really the most efficient actor in Hollywood.

Snubs: Will Poulter for Detroit was never going to happen. Still hurts, though. I've been slowly getting through Mudbound and Jason Mitchell is really good too, and I was hoping that Patrick Stewart would have an outside chance of getting in for Logan. Also I was expecting Ben Mendelsohn for Darkest Hour to get in, but looks like this'll be Oldman's show. 

Thoughts: Again, I wish Poulter was here, but oh well. I loved Dafoe, Hammer and especially Rockwell in their respective films, and loved their respective films to boot, and though Jenkins has a less substantial role, he's still really funny and heartwarming in his role and I'm happy for him - he's one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood due to his modesty and low-profile. 

Who will win?: Rockwell. Dafoe's been winning everywhere else but this could be their time to give love to another veteran character actor. 

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

• Mary J. Blige, “Mudbound”
• Hong Chau, “Downsizing”
• Allison Janney, “I, Tonya”
• Laurie Metcalf, “Lady Bird”
• Octavia Spencer, “The Shape of Water”

Recap: Quite surprised to see Chau and Spencer get in, the former because her film's gotten divisive reviews and the latter because she's not really noted to be the highlight of the film. Blige is here as expected, as are the warring mother figures of Janney and Metcalf who seem to be the frontrunners for the Oscar.

Snubs: No one comes to mind, really. Holly Hunter would have been very deserving but they didn't seem to like The Big Sick. Lesley Manville from Phantom Thread appeared to be a likely inclusion, or maybe one of the ladies from The Beguiled. I'd have been delighted to see Tilda Swinton for Okja or Ana de Armas from Blade Runner here, but that'd never have happened. 

Thoughts: So, Blige...I'm getting through Mudbound and she hasn't really impressed me in any scene she's in yet. Haven't seen any of the others besides Spencer, who is good as usual (but when is she ever not good?)

Who will win?: Janney. It's close between here, Metcalf and Blige, though. 

Best Animated Film:

• “The Boss Baby”
• “The Breadwinner”
• “Coco”
• “Ferdinand”
• “Loving Vincent”

Okay, I haven't seen any of these yet...but how was The Lego Batman Movie or Your Name snubbed? I'm really looking forward to Coco in particular, though. 

Who will win?: Coco 

Best Director – Motion Picture:

• 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”

Recap: McDonagh is a surprise here, given that he's thus far had more of a reputation of 'great writer' in Hollywood, but good on him. Scott is a BIG surprise considering the circumstances of his film, though maybe it's just that which contributed to his nomination. Del Toro, Nolan and of course, Speilberg are here as expected for their respective films. 

Snubs: Was expecting Denis Villeneuve to maybe get in for Blade Runner 2049 considering the universal acclaim for his direction, Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird since her film as a whole has been so universally acclaimed, Luca Guadagnino but then again the Globes don't seem to have loved Call Me By Your Name as much as everyone else, longshot Jordan Peele, and even longer shot Kathryn Bigelow. I'd also expected dark horse inclusions of Sean Baker (The Florida Project) and P.T. Anderson for Phantom Thread but their films were snubbed on the whole, so no real surprise I guess. 

Thoughts: The direction is one of the highlights of Three Billboards and one of its more underrated aspects, so I'm glad McDonagh got his dues here. Del Toro's direction is fantastic as well, but I have to say Nolan's direction of Dunkirk is on a whole other level. I'm sure Speilberg will deliver, and I hope Scott has/does too. 

Who will win?: Nolan. 

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture:

• Guillermo Del Toro, Vanessa Taylor, “The Shape of Water”
• Greta Gerwig, “Lady Bird”
• Liz Hannah, Josh Singer, “The Post”
• Martin McDonagh, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”
• Aaron Sorkin, “Molly’s Game”

Recap: Of course Aaron Sorkin is here, as per usual. The other four nominees are scripts which have been acclaimed as one of the most valuable aspects of their films, expect maybe The Shape of Water which is arguably more of a visual darling. 

Snubs: Definitely did not expect The Shape of Water to get in over the likes of Call Me By Your Name, Get Out and The Disaster Artist, though maybe they're just favouring Original screenplays here. 

Thoughts: The script was actually one of the weaker aspects for The Shape of Water for me, still good on the whole but with a few weak links in terms of the period setting and being slightly too 'on the nose'. Three Billboards has a great screenplay, and I sure hope Sorkin, Hannah/Singer, and Gerwig have similarly knocked it out of the ballpark too. 

Who will win? Gerwig. 

Best Original Score – Motion Picture:

• Carter Burwell, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”
• Alexandre Desplat, “The Shape of Water”
• Johnny Greenwood, “Phantom Thread”
• John Williams, “The Post”
• Hans Zimmer, “Dunkirk”

Recap: The big surprise here is Johnny Greenwood. Otherwise having John Williams and Hans Zimmer in there seems like almost a pre-requisite, and to be honest, Burwell and Desplat have essentially become mainstays of these awards too. All for films which rely very heavily on their scores to set the tone.

Snubs: Zimmer could have been double-nominated for his work on Blade Runner 2049 too which would have been cool. Otherwise, I can't think of any obvious snubs, besides maybe Call Me By Your Name which also had a pretty lovely score by Sufjan Stevens. 

Thoughts: Out of the three I've seen, Burwell and Desplat deliver strong, eloquent work on their respective films that really helps add to the emotional power of them. But what Zimmer's done on Dunkirk is so close to his career-high of The Thin Red Line that I have to say, he should win, no question.

Who will win? Zimmer. 

Best Original Song – Motion Picture:

• “Home,” Ferdinand
• “Mighty River,” Mudbound
• “Remember Me,” Coco
• “The Star,” The Star
• “This Is Me,” The Greatest Showman

I don't like commenting too much on this category at this point, but I will say that I've enjoyed 'This is Me' whenever and wherever it's being played, and where on earth is 'Mystery of Love' by Sufjan Stevens for Call Me By Your Name?

Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language:

• “A Fantastic Woman”
• “First They Killed My Father”
• “In the Fade”
• “Loveless”
• “The Square”

Haven't seen any of these, unfortunately. Would have liked to see Foxtrot get in, but I would need to watch these films first.