Award season is once again upon us, and as usual, the start of the first set of nominations come from the Golden Globes. However, the once-famed organization is now plagued with scandal and controversy. In the past, a nomination would have been greeted with a stream of celebratory tweets and fanfare, joy that their work had been recognized by The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). But now they have been identified for their lack of diversity and ethical practices, which led NBC to cancel the telecast and had top studios and stars pledging not to work with the group until it instituted reforms.
Golden Globes 2022 — A ‘Year of Change and Reflection’
However, when the 2022 nominations were announced, the president of The HFPA declared 2021 ‘a year of change and reflection,’ stating they have 21 new members. She went on to state it’s the largest and most diverse the organization has been in its 79-year history. As the Golden Globes are the first award show to release their nominations, they usually lead the way for predictions of that award season. However, it is unknown this year what influence they will have on other awards. Like most years, Netflix led with 17 nominations in its film categories with hits such as “Tick, Tick…Boom” and “Don’t Look Up.”
Unlike other award shows, the Golden Globes recognize both comedic and dramatic work separately with its categories. With the ‘Best Picture Drama’ category, the nominees are “Belfast,” “Dune,” “CODA,” “King Richard,” and “The Power of the Dog.” The predicted films are here, but “Dune” is the surprising choice. It’s more mainstream, and these films are usually shunned from awards.
The winning choice has to go to “Belfast,” as it has had glowing reviews since its debut at the BFI Film Festival, and it’s the story of its director, Kenneth Brannagh, who is a Golden Globe favorite. With ‘Best Picture Comedy,’ it allows some films to have success, as award shows like the Oscars or BAFTAs tend to favor more dramatic work. The nominations this year are “Cyrano,” “Don’t Look Up,” “Licorice Pizza,” “Tick, Tick…Boom,” and “West Side Story” — and in previous years comedy has dominated the comedy/musical category. It’s a welcome change that there are three musicals this year. The winning choice has to be “West Side Story,” as it’s an award classic with the original film winning the same category. It also helps that acclaimed director Steven Spielberg is at the forefront of the project.
“Spencer” is a career-best from Kristen Stewart, and one of 2021’s best films. (Photo courtesy Neon).
Will the Globe Winners Still Predict a Possible Oscar?
With the acting categories, the Golden Globes in the past have made some bizarre choices; but for this year they have seemed to follow the actors that were predicted. This makes the decision harder as all of the choices gave incredible performances this year. For ‘Drama,’ the choice for the ‘Best Actor’ has to go to Will Smith, who has been nominated five times before, so he is very deserving of this. Also, he is playing a real-life person, which is usually celebrated at the Globes.
This is the same reason I’ve chosen Kristen Stewart as the pick to win ‘Best Actress in a Drama.’ Stewart’s portrayal of Princess Diana has earned rave reviews since the moment the film received a standing ovation at its debut at the Venice Film Festival on September 3rd. Also, this is Stewart’s first nomination and the Globes do like to award first-timers, such in the case of Isabelle Huppert in “Elle” and Taron Egerton in “Rocketman.”
As stated, the ‘Comedy/Musical’ category gives films the chance to receive success they wouldn’t otherwise, and the same goes for the acting performances. People recognized this year that won’t be anywhere else are performances such as Emma Stone in “Cruella” and Anthony Ramos in “In The Heights.” But my pick for ‘Best Actor’ is Andrew Garfield, who delivered the performance of his career and is a contender for the Oscar race for “tick, tick…BOOM!” This is his third nomination; and this film is directed by award darling Lin Manuel Miranda, so it was bound to get some awards to love by the Globes.
The winning choice has to go to ‘Belfast,’ as it has had glowing reviews since its debut at the BFI Film Festival…”
Rounding Up the Competition
My pick for ‘Best Actress’ is Rachel Zegler. Even though she has stiff competition for the Oscar, those performances are more dramatic; so with this category she has come to the forefront. Also, the Golden Globes love a Hollywood tale, and this being her first-ever film — and performing a role she is played in high school — is truly a rag to riches tale!
The 2022 Golden Globes are scheduled for January 9th, 2022, and it is still unclear whether the ceremony will be broadcast on television. Regardless, it promises to be a ceremony of change following a year of scandal for The HFPA.
Check out the full list of the Golden Globes Nominations below:
Best Picture — Drama
“Belfast”
“CODA”
“Dune”
“King Richard”
“The Power of the Dog”
Best Picture — Musical/Comedy
“Cyrano”
“Don’t Look Up”
“Licorice Pizza”
“tick, tick…BOOM!”
“West Side Story”
Best Actress — Motion Picture Drama
Jessica Chastain, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”
Olivia Coleman, “The Lost Daughter”
Nicole Kidman, “Being the Ricardos”
Lady Gaga, “House of Gucci”
Kristen Stewart, “Spencer”
Best Actor — Motion Picture Drama
Mahershala Ali, “Swan Song”
Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Power of the Dog”
Javier Bardem, “Being the Ricardos”
Will Smith, “King Richard”
Denzel Washington, “The Tragedy of Macbeth”
Best Actress – Motion Picture — Musical/Comedy
Marion Cotillard, “Annette”
Alana Haim, “Licorice Pizza”
Jennifer Lawrence, “Don’t Look Up”
Emma Stone, “Cruella”
Rachel Zeglar, “West Side Story”
Best Actor – Motion Picture — Musical/Comedy
Leonardo DiCaprio, “Don’t Look Up”
Peter Dinklage, “Cyrano”
Andrew Garfield, “tick, tick…BOOM!”
Cooper Hoffman, “Licorice Pizza”
Anthony Ramos, “In the Heights”
Best Supporting Actress — Motion Picture
Caitriona Balfe, “Belfast”
Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story”
Kirsten Dunst, “The Power of the Dog”
Aunjanue Ellis, “King Richard”
Ruth Negga, “Passing”
Best Supporting Actor — Motion Picture
Ben Affleck, “The Tender Bar”
Jamie Dornan, “Belfast”
Ciarán Hinds, “Belfast”
Troy Kotsur, “CODA”
Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Power of the Dog”
Best Director Motion Picture
Kenneth Branagh, “Belfast”
Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog”
Maggie Gyllenhaal, “The Lost Daughter”
Steven Speilberg, “West Side Story”
Denis Villeneuve, “Dune”
Best Screenplay Motion Picture
Paul Thomas Anderson, “Licorice Pizza”
Kenneth Branagh, “Belfast”
Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog”
Adam McKay, “Don’t Look Up”
Aaron Sorkin, “Being the Ricardos”
Best Picture — Animated
“Encanto”
“Flee”
“Luca”
“My Sunny Maad”
“Raya and the Last Dragon”
Best Picture — Non-English Language (formerly Foreign Language)
“Compartment No. 6,” Germany, Russia, Finland
“Drive My Car,” Japan
“The Hand of God,” Italy
“A Hero,” Iran, France
“Parallel Mothers,” Spain
Best Score Motion Picture
Alexandre Desplat, “The French Dispatch”
Germaine Franco, “Encanto”
Johnny Greenwood, “The Power of the Dog”
Alberto Iglesias, “Parallel Mothers”
Hans Zimmer, “Dune”
Best Song Motion Picture
“Be Alive,” “King Richard”
“Dos Oruguitas,” “Encanto”
“Down to Joy,” “Belfast”
“Here I Am (Singing My Way Home),” “Respect”
“No Time to Die,” “No Time to Die”
Best Drama Series
“Lupin”
“The Morning Show”
“Pose”
“Squid Game”
“Succession”
Best Musical/Comedy Series
“The Great”
“Hacks”
“Only Murders in the Building”
“Reservation Dogs”
“Ted Lasso”
Best Television Motion Picture
“Dopesick”
“Impeachment: American Crime Story”
“Maid”
“Mare of Easttown”
“The Underground Railroad”
Best Actress — Television Motion Picture
Jessica Chastain, “Scenes from a Marriage-TV”
Cynthia Erivo, “Genius: Aretha”
Elizabeth Olsen, “WandaVision”
Margaret Qualley, “Maid”
Kate Winslet, “Mare of Easttown”
Best Actor — Television Motion Picture
Paul Bettany, “WandaVision”
Oscar Isaac, “Scenes from a Marriage-TV”
Michael Keaton, “Dopesick”
Ewan McGregor, “Halston”
Tahar Rahim, “The Serpent”
Best Television Actress — Drama Series
Uzo Aduba, “In Treatment”
Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show”
Christine Baranski, “The Good Fight”
Elizabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, “Pose”
Best Television Actor — Drama Series
Brian Cox, “Succession”
Lee Jung-jae, “Squid Game”
Billy Porter, “Pose”
Jeremy Strong, “Succession”
Omar Sy, “Lupin”
Best Television Actress — Musical/Comedy Series
Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”
Elle Fanning, “The Great”
Issa Rae, “Insecure”
Tracce Ellis Ross, “Black-ish”
Jean Smart, “Hacks”
Best Television Actor — Musical/Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson, “Black-ish”
Nicholas Hoult, “The Great”
Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building”
Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”
Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso”
Best Supporting Actress — Television
Jennifer Coolidge, “The White Lotus”
Kaitlyn Dever, “Dopesick”
Andie MacDowell, “Maid”
Sarah Snook, “Succession”
Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso”
Best Supporting Actor — Television
Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show”
Kieran Culkin, “Succession”
Mark Duplass, “The Morning Show”
Brett Goldstein, “The Morning Show”
O Yeong-su, “Squid Game”
