Golden Globes 2018: A Few Days Left!

Happy new year everyone! And we all know what this means? The award season begins! 
Starting off with the Golden Globes on Sunday, January 7th and fisnishing off with the Oscars on March 4th, it's going to be two busy months for Hollywood!

Here are the key dates to have in mind: 
Jan. 4 – Writers Guild of America nominations announcement
Jan. 5 – Oscar nomination ballots sent to voters
Jan. 5 – Producers Guild of America voting begins
Jan. 7 – Golden Globes
Jan. 11 – Critics Choice Awards
Jan. 11 – Directors Guild of America nominations announcement
Jan. 12 – Oscar nomination ballots due
Jan. 20 – Producers Guild of America Awards
Jan. 21 – Screen Actors Guild Awards
Jan. 23 – Oscar nominations announcement
Jan. 26 – ACE Eddie Awards
Jan. 27 – Art Directors Guild Awards
Feb. 3 – Directors Guild of America Awards
Feb. 11 – Writers Guild of America Awards
Feb. 18 – BAFTA Awards
March 3 – Film Independent Spirit Awards
March 4 – Oscars

So, the first awards that will certainly set the tone for the rest of the race, are the Golden Globes. The 75th ceremony that will be hosted by Seth Meyers that guarantees good comedy, however difficult that might be now for Hollywood facing so many serious issues. The nominations announced on December, certainly raised some eyebrows for Hollywood Foreign Press Association's specific focus on some films and dismissal of others. Now that the dust has settled and we are closer to Sunday, some nominees clearly seem to be in the front of the race and some others are neck to neck. There will surely be some surprises though, as it always happens. So, let's have a look at these front-runners and outsiders and see if we can guess Sunday's winners right! Starting off with the main Film Nominations:​

​Best Motion Picture - Drama
Dunkirk
The Post
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Call Me By Your Name ​

The Shape of Water and The Post seem like very likely to win, with a total of 7 and 6 nominations each, but Call Me By Your Name might surprise us and take home the award. As the film was snubbed from the Screenplay and Director categories, the HFPA might want to balance the scale here. 

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
The Disaster Artist 
Get Out
The Greatest Showman
I, Tonya
Lady Bird

On this category, Lady Bird seems to be a front-runner, with Get Out closely following, again two films with no Best Director represantation, so perhaps a way for the HFPA to redeem themselves would be to award one of the two flms. However, I woulnd't be surprised if they will choose to go "bold" and award I, Tonya, although they might try to do that with Margot Robbie on the Best Actress category. 

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

Here we have once again Meryl Streep being a serious threat to the rest of the ladies, however it is almost certain that Sally Hawkins will take home the award.

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.

Here we have Timothée Chalamet leading the race with his amazing performance in Call Me By Your Name, HOWEVER despite what everyone thinks, I am not sure that he will manage to win. I think that Armie Hammer will get the recognition for this film. In this category, I believe that Gary Oldman has a pretty good shot, as he is playing a historical figure and well... he is Gary Oldman. If he loses this, at least he will probably be recognised at the BAFTAs. There is also Daniel Day-Lewis' last role ever, so there might be some recognition there? And of course there is Denzel who always has great chances in winning because he is Denzel - the male Meryl Streep! 

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

Well, this one is between Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan, with Ronan leading the race. My gutt says it's going to be Margot, but who knows? At this point it's anyone's game.

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

In this category, I believe that James Franco has a certain win, although new-commers Ansel Elgort and Daniel Kaluuya might make a surprising win!

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture
Hong Chau - Downsizing
Allison Janney - I, Tonya
Laurie Metcalf - Lady Bird
Octavia Spencer - The Shape of Water
Mary J. Blige - Mudbound

This category has some supporting actress veterans with front-runners being Allison Janney and Laurie Metcalf, with the latter having slightly better chance in winning.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any 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

This is a tough category. The front-runner seems to be Jenkins, but Hammer is strongly praised for his performance in Call Me By Your Name, making him a strong competitor. And then there is one of the most talked about roles this year. Christopher Plummer in All The Money In The World. Replacing Spacey weeks before the film's release, Plummer is a very strong contentant and might be a way for the HFPA to send a message by awarding him? It might seem risky but what is agreed by all is Plummer's impeccable performance in the film. 

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

With the exception of McDonagh, this is a clasical Hollywood directors list that is -surprise- all men, all white; that said, the category doesn't seem to have a clear front-runner. We might say that del Toro and Spielberg have a lead due to their films multiple nominations, but nothing is certain. It might be Nolan who did an amazing directorial job in Dunkirk, a film based on its direction and cinematography, or Scott, that managed to re-shoot his film to avoid being associated with a scandal, or finally McDonagh who managed to find his way back after the amazing 2008 In Bruges. Who knows? It is open season for everyone.

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

Here I think that Lady Bird has a big shot at winning, being the "it" indie film in this race, but also Molly's Game or Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri might have a shot at winning.

Let us not forget though, that the Golden Globes are a double treat, as not only Motion Pictures are awarded but also Television Series! And it has been a vet busy year in Television. Here are the main categories:

Best Television Series – Drama
The Crown
Game of Thrones
The Handmaid’s Tale
Stranger Things
This is Us

A very tough category that could fit even more titles; although The Crown is a big front-runner, the fact that it won again last year, might mean that it's Stranger Things time? I am not so sure as the second season was no welcomed as warmly by critics as the first one. Then, we have Game of Thrones that had their best season to date and will not be present next year due to the fact that the next season is due to arrive in 2019 - could they be the winners? This Is Us is a critic and fan favorite but can all these compare to The Handmaid's Tale?  Especially after the EMMY triumph? I think that this year it is Hulu's turn and The Handmaid's Tale will snatch many awards including this one....

Best Television Series – Comedy
Black-ish
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Master of None
SMILF
Will & Grace

Could Black-ish make it this year? It has been constantly praised for the performances but has yet to win for the show itself. Master Of None was a bit hit at the EMMY, mainly due to its writting and Ansari's perfomance, but can it make it for the big win? Also, what is Will & Grace doing here? Do not get me wrong, I really loved that show, but a revival? Seriously? Aren't fresher shows to be included in this category? What about GLOW? Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt? Grace & Frankie? It seems that the most original, fresh shows in this category are The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and SMILF. My money is on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel - it is written by Amy Sherman-Palladino (Glmore Girls) after all...

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Jason Bateman - Ozark
Sterling K. Brown - This is Us
Freddie Highmore - The Good Doctor
Bob Odenkirk - Better Call Saul
Liev Schreiber - Ray Donovan

Strong category, with Sterling K. Brown being a front-runner, and Freddie Highmire or Jason Baterman potential surprise winners. 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
Caitriona Balfe - Outlander
Claire Foy - The Crown
Maggie Gyllenhaal - The Deuce
Katherine Langford - 13 Reasons Why
Elisabeth Moss - The Handmaid’s Tale

A very strong category, with Claire Foy having a serious chance to win second year in a row with The Crown's phenomenal second season performance, who goes head to head with Elisabeth Moss who already has won an EMMY for her performance. However, these two can be overshadowed by Katherine Langford, the break-out star of 13 Reasons Why who could make the surpise win!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
Anthony Anderson - Black-ish
Aziz Ansari - Master of None
Kevin Bacon - I Love Dick
William H. Macy - Shameless
Eric McCormack - Will and Grace

Aziz Ansari is a front-runner for this category, but we might see William H. Macy snatch the award, as a veteran and Golden Globe favorite.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
Pamela Adlon - Better Things
Alison Brie - Glow
Rachel Brosnahan - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Issa Rae - Insecure
Frankie Shaw - SMILF

In this category, I believe that Alison Brie is a front-runner, however if HFPA goes for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in the comedy category, there is serious chance that Rachel Brosnahan wins this one. Another nominee with chance at winning is Issa Rae, with Insecure, however I think that Brie overshadows this category.

Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Big Little Lies
Fargo
Feud: Bette and Joan
The Sinner
Top of the Lake: China Girl

Here we have an almost certain winner - Big Little Lies was the EMMY sensation and it seems that it will continue this course in the Golden Globes as well. Potential threats could be Top Of The Lake: China Girl or The Sinner.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Robert De Niro - The Wizard of Lies
Jude Law - The Young Pope
Kyle MacLachlan - Twin Peaks
Ewan McGregor - Fargo
Geoffrey Rush - Genius

Here, everyone is betting on Jude Law as a sure win, however I do believe that Ewan McGregor's dual part at Fargo might get him the Golden Globe.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jessica Biel - The Sinner
Nicole Kidman - Big Little Lies
Jessica Lange - Feud: Bette and Joan
Susan Sarandon - Feud: Bette and Joan
Reese Witherspoon - Big Little Lies

I believe this category is favored towards Nicole Kidman however, Jessica Biel might be a strong competitor. 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
David Harbour - Stranger Things
Alfred Molina - Feud
Christian Slater - Mr. Robot
Alexander Skarsgard - Big Little Lies
David Thewlis - Fargo

In this category, I believe that Skarsgard is a big front-runner, given the EMMY history, but how cool would it be if David Harbour would win??

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Laura Dern - Big Little Lies
Ann Dowd - The Handmaid’s Tale
Chrissy Metz - This is Us
Michelle Pfeiffer - The Wizard of Lies
Shailene Woodley - Big Little Lies

Yet another strong category, where Laura Dern and Ann Dowd are front-runners, however there might be a surprise coming from the Big Three's number 2 a.k.a. This is Us Chrissy Metz, who gave an amazing performance in This Is Us second season.  

There you have it! This year's potential winners and outsiders. Six days left till the award season begins and it will be an intense season!