(We apologize about the formatting of this article, we had to discuss this over GChat, and thus the spacing came out weird. We’ll make sure this doesn’t happen on future posts!)
BEN: Oh, The Golden Globes. My favorite awards ceremony, just because of how seriously some people take them. People don’t realize that the Hollywood Foreign Press (who run the Globes) are a tiny committee most interested in promoting star power, especially when it comes to the film acting categories.
NINA: And this year, the HFPA made some totally left-field choices – snubbing things like Mad Men and Game of Thrones, throwing James Spader into the mix (why?) and excluding the late, great James Gandolfini from a nomination for Enough Said because “he can’t come to the show.” Keepin’ it classy, guys. Let’s go over some snubs, shockers, and just the rest of the insanity you can expect from the Globes.
BEST MOTION PICTURE DRAMA
12 Years a Slave
Gravity
Captain Philips
Rush
Philomena
BEST MOTION PICTURE MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Nebraska
American Hustle
The Wolf of Wall Street
Inside Llewyn Davis
Her
BEN: The sad thing is, I am horrifically behind in my movie-watching this season, so I have a LOT of catching up to do. That being said, both film categories, Drama and Comedy, have some pristine nominees, which is rare some years. With films like Wolf of Wall Street and Nebraska being declared “comedies,” which is a vague genre term in this context.
NINA: I have to agree. None of these seem… particularly funny, especially a bleak Coen Brothers movie (Inside Llewyn Davis). Whatever. The movies this year are pretty stacked.
BEN: Agreed. Hopefully between the two of us, we’ll spend these next two months really diving into the nominees to get a taste of this film season.
NINA: We will. Although, I have to admit, there were still some surprises in these categories – supposed critical hits like Saving Mr. Banks and Dallas Buyer’s Club were left out in the cold.
BEN: But those actors received love in their own respective categories, which I suppose makes up for it, which leads us to…
BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE DRAMA
Chiwetel Ejiofor, “12 Years a Slave”
Idris Elba, “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”
Tom Hanks, “Saving Mr. Banks”
Matthew McConaughey, “Dallas Buyers Club”
Robert Redford, “All Is Lost”
Idris Elba, “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”
Tom Hanks, “Saving Mr. Banks”
Matthew McConaughey, “Dallas Buyers Club”
Robert Redford, “All Is Lost”
BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Christian Bale, “American Hustle”
Bruce Dern, “Nebraska”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Oscar Isaac, “Inside Llewyn Davis”
Joaquin Phoenix, “Her”
Bruce Dern, “Nebraska”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Oscar Isaac, “Inside Llewyn Davis”
Joaquin Phoenix, “Her”
BEN: Damn if these categories aren’t stacked with names. DiCaprio, Hanks, Redford, Phoenix. You name it. So many big names, I can’t even predict anyone at this point.
NINA: It would be interesting to see a DiCaprio victory somewhere, and we can basically rest assured that Chiwetel Ejiofor will leave with something.
BEN: Suffice it to say, both very very strong categories.
BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE DRAMA
Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”
Sandra Bullock, “Gravity”
Judi Dench, “Philomena”
Emma Thompson, “Saving Mr. Banks”
Kate Winslet, “Labor Day”
Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”
Sandra Bullock, “Gravity”
Judi Dench, “Philomena”
Emma Thompson, “Saving Mr. Banks”
Kate Winslet, “Labor Day”
BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Amy Adams, “American Hustle”
Julie Delpy, “Before Midnight”
Greta Gerwig, “Frances Ha”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Enough Said”
Meryl Streep, “August: Osage County”
Amy Adams, “American Hustle”
Julie Delpy, “Before Midnight”
Greta Gerwig, “Frances Ha”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Enough Said”
Meryl Streep, “August: Osage County”
BEN: Again, lots of big names, not too many surprises based on the list of films this year.
NINA: Actually, I’ll have to disagree with you on that one. Though these nods are well deserved, Greta Gerwig and Julie Delpy scoring Best Actress nominations is definitely a little bit of a curveball – both movies were smaller indies and weren’t nearly as huge as the rest of the films here.
BEN: I suppose they needed more room to fill out the Comedy Category. And Before Midnight did get HUGE critical acclaim upon release. Greta Gerwig is fine in Frances Ha though, nothing to rave about to be honest.
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Barkhad Abdi, “Captain Phillips”
Daniel Brühl, “Rush”
Bradley Cooper, “American Hustle”
Michael Fassbender, “12 Years a Slave”
Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”
Barkhad Abdi, “Captain Phillips”
Daniel Brühl, “Rush”
Bradley Cooper, “American Hustle”
Michael Fassbender, “12 Years a Slave”
Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Sally Hawkins, “Blue Jasmine”
Jennifer Lawrence “American Hustle”
Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave”
Julia Roberts, “August: Osage County”
June Squibb, “Nebraska”
Sally Hawkins, “Blue Jasmine”
Jennifer Lawrence “American Hustle”
Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave”
Julia Roberts, “August: Osage County”
June Squibb, “Nebraska”
NINA: Interesting to see Bruhl and Leto get nods even though their films didn’t. It is lovely to see that Sally Hawkins, who’s been turning out great work for years, got recognized as the down-to-earth, scattered sister to Cate Blanchett’s broken woman in Blue Jasmine. I am also the least shocked ever that J-Law is back in play.
BEN: Even among names like Lawrence and Fassbender, we have a lot of acclaimed performances with smaller names getting recognized, like June Squibb and Daniel Bruhl.
NINA: Fassbender should win- just my two cents. His performance in 12 Years a Slave was the most harrowing, horrifying thing I’ve ever seen, and the guy deserves an award for the excellent work he’s been doing throughout his career.
BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
“The Big Bang Theory”
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”
“Girls”
“Modern Family”
“Parks & Recreation
“The Big Bang Theory”
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”
“Girls”
“Modern Family”
“Parks & Recreation
BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
“Breaking Bad”
“Downton Abbey”
“The Good Wife”
“House Of Cards”
“Masters Of Sex”
“Breaking Bad”
“Downton Abbey”
“The Good Wife”
“House Of Cards”
“Masters Of Sex”
BEN: Someone please cancel Big Bang Theory and Modern Family so that they stay off these lists. Because aside from them, we have Girls, Parks and Rec, and my vote for Best New TV Show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine! SO glad to see them recognize one of the best comedies on the air right now!
NINA: Drama is a WEIRD category this year. No Mad Men. No Game of Thrones. Masters of Sex is having a good freshman year, though. I don’t personally watch Downton, but reviews of the recent seasons have been so poor, so it’s disappointing to see those two shows, coming fresh off of great seasons, get completely ignored. AND DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON JON HAMM but we will get there. It is nice to see Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but… with all those other established shows? Is it really getting put along Veep and Parks?
BEN: Veep getting left off this year is a bit odd, I’ll give it that, but I fully support it being on the same list as those shows. It’s a consistently funny show with a fantastic ensemble cast. It may just come as a bit of a surprise since it’s barely through its first season. And can we just crown Breaking Bad and call it a day?
NINA: All right, I’ll agree with you, even the Veep snub is totally egregious, and since Mad Men and Game of Thrones got no love, fine, let’s crown Breaking Bad.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad”
Liev Schreiber, “Ray Donovan”
Michael Sheen, “Masters of Sex”
Kevin Spacey, “House of Cards”
James Spader, “The Blacklist”
Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad”
Liev Schreiber, “Ray Donovan”
Michael Sheen, “Masters of Sex”
Kevin Spacey, “House of Cards”
James Spader, “The Blacklist”
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Jason Bateman, “Arrested Development”
Don Cheadle, “House of Lies”
Michael J. Fox, “The Michael J. Fox Show”
Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”
Andy Samberg, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”
Jason Bateman, “Arrested Development”
Don Cheadle, “House of Lies”
Michael J. Fox, “The Michael J. Fox Show”
Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”
Andy Samberg, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”
BEN: Sigh, take it away, Nina.
NINA: IT MAKES ME WANT TO PUNCH KITTENS THAT JAMES SPADER IS NOMINATED FOR THE FUCKING BLACKLIST AND JON HAMM IS AMAZING I CANNOT WITH THESE AWARDS ANYMORE KSFJOSIDLKHFALSKFJHS
Also, Liev Schreiber?!? What are we even DOING anymore?! The other three, fine.
BEN: ….Great! Again, excited about Andy Samberg hanging out on that list, along with the surprise of seeing Michael J. Fox, whose show wasn’t favored some much by the critics. A bit of a weak category for Comedy actors, with my vote going to Bateman or Samberg, but Jim Parsons will win because why the fuck not.
NINA: I also think Andre Braugher should be the one getting a nod for Brooklyn, but I love Samberg, so it’s cool. Nice to see Jason Bateman make an appearance too! Nothing will ever make me understand why Jim Parsons is still a thing.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife”
Tatiana Maslany, “Orphan Black”
Taylor Schilling, “Orange Is The New Black”
Kerry Washington, “Scandal”
Robin Wright, “House Of Cards”
Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife”
Tatiana Maslany, “Orphan Black”
Taylor Schilling, “Orange Is The New Black”
Kerry Washington, “Scandal”
Robin Wright, “House Of Cards”
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Zooey Deschanel, “New Girl”
Lena Dunham, “Girls”
Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”
Amy Poehler, “Parks & Recreation”
Zooey Deschanel, “New Girl”
Lena Dunham, “Girls”
Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”
Amy Poehler, “Parks & Recreation”
BEN….Wait a second, why wasn’t Orange is the New Black nominated for Best Drama?!?!?! Seeing Taylor Schilling here is wonderful, but the show should really be recognized outside of her performance, as great as it is.
NINA: Also, isn’t that show a comedy?! It’s a comedy! Listen, the Golden Globes have no idea what’s going on right now. I completely agree that OITNB deserved better, because that show is amazing, and there are SO MANY good performances on that show beyond Schilling. It’s great to FINALLY see Tatiana Maslany recognized for her insanely good work on Orphan Black, though. If you’re playing seven different characters with twelve different accents all on one show, you deserve some recognition.
BEN: I agree with that. Comedy Actresses are the same as always, no surprises there it seems.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jacqueline Bisset, “Dancing on the Edge”
Janet McTeer, “White Queen”
Hayden Panettiere , “Nashville”
Monica Potter, “Parenthood”
Sofia Vergara, “Modern Family”
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Josh Charles, “The Good Wife”
Rob Lowe, “Behind the Candelabra”
Aaron Paul, “Breaking Bad”
Corey Stoll, “House of Cards”
Jon Voight, “Ray Donovan”
BEN: The Globes just get lazy after a while and throw Drama, Comedy, and Mini-Series into one big vat to select their nominees.
NINA: Seriously. I’m really apathetic about this category, actually. Do we even need to discuss it? Go Aaron Paul, I guess.
BEN: Yes. Go Aaron Paul!!!
NINA: Also, I think it goes without saying that, since we skipped Miniseries-related things, that I want Coven and Jessica Lange to win everything. Since Ben now isn’t locked into Breaking Bad on Sunday nights, we’ll be covering the Globes together this year! Even though the nominations were totally weird, we at least have Tina and Amy to look forward to.
(Pop) Culturally Informed 