The film and television world will convene on January 8 and there are certainly some peculiar nominations up for the awards this season. Here is a brief look at some of the biggest categories and the odds for who will win them.
Best Picture (Musical or Comedy)
La La Land is rightfully a massive favorite to win this globe, as this year has been lacking in the comedy department. Hollywood loves Hollywood and La La Land is the early fave to win best picture at the Academy Awards as well.
The rest of the noms are pretty questionable, as 20th Century Women, Florence Foster Jenkins and Sing Street are all fine movies but not worthy of winning an award of this caliber. The real shocker is probably Deadpool, which becomes the first Marvel movie to be nominated for a major award that doesn’t involve CGI or musical composition. If we are talking from a pure humor standpoint, Deadpool is probably the funniest movie of the bunch, but it’s an R-rated superhero movie, which means a big win is unlikely.
Best Picture (Drama)
This category looks a lot more competitive than the musical/comedy, as there will likely be a battle between Manchester by the Sea and Moonlight.
Manchester by the Sea continues Kenneth Lonergan’s stellar filmmaking that builds on fully developed characters to drive along a compelling and relatable narrative. The film follows Lee Chandler after his older brother passes away and leaves him as the sole guardian of his 16-year-old nephew. The film manages to incorporate an amazing amount of subtle complexity into the plot while feeling extremely real.
Moonlight deals with the issue of identity, something that has been done to death in cinema, but does so in a complex but relatable way. It’s one of those movies that perfectly encapsulates the social consciousness of America and the difficulties growing up no matter the social or economic level.
Best Actor (Drama)
This award feels like it should already be handed to Casey Affleck for his performance in Manchester by the Sea. This may finally be the movie in which Affleck removes himself from his brother’s shadow, as his performance is elegant, complex and stunningly true to life. Affleck's portrayal of Lee Chandler feels less like a movie and more like a look into a true-to-life person who has been affected, both good and bad, by his past.
The only other actor in contention seems to be Denzel Washington for his performance in Fences. Washington plays Troy Maxson, who despite being an excellent baseball player in his young days never made it big, as the major leagues’ color barrier had yet to be broken. Washington’s performance is that of a charismatic patriarch who, despite being funny and outgoing, has a bitterness about him due to his circumstances.
Best Actress (Drama)
Few portrayals stand out in this category, but Natalie Portman’s well-acted, though slightly mechanical at times characterization of former First Lady Jackie Kennedy takes the cake. The film follows Jackie from her time in the White House and her life after the assassination of JFK. Portman’s performance goes a long way to humanizing one of the most important figures in modern American history and showing the depth of a person who has lost her partner.
Amy Adams’ role in Arrival may be overlooked as the token sci-fi nomination, but her nuanced performance as a linguist who is part of a team deciphering an alien species’ language is wonderful. The story manages to focus on a singular character and her personal growth despite the entire arch being a sweeping, global narrative.