Who'll win the Golden Globes?
It's time for the most fun awards show of the year!
The Golden Globes are handed out on Sunday, and it's always enjoyable — even more so with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler returning to host. (It airs at 8 p.m. on NBC.)
As for who'll win what in the film categories, here are my best guesses.
Picture, Drama: "12 Years a Slave," "Captain Phillips," "Gravity," "Philomena," "Rush."
"12 Years a Slave" and "Gravity" are the frontrunners — as they probably will be at the Academy Awards. I expect "12 Years a Slave" will win for its unflinching look at slavery, although "Gravity" is the more groundbreaking creation.
Picture, Musical or Comedy: "American Hustle," "Her," "Inside Llewyn Davis," "Nebraska," "The Wolf of Wall Street."
"American Hustle," all the way.
Side note: Really, Golden Globes, none of these nominees can really be categorized as comedies — dramas with comedy, yes, but not comedies. Maybe it's time to reassess what you call this grouping. Either that or nominate actual comedies.
Actor, Drama: Chiwetel Ejiofor, "12 Years a Slave"; Idris Elba, "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom"; Tom Hanks, "Captain Phillips"; Matthew McConaughey, "Dallas Buyers Club"; Robert Redford, "All Is Lost."
Chiwetel Ejiofor conveys so much emotion just through his eyes, as he reacts to the horrors in "12 Years a Slave," that he deserves the award.
Actress, Drama: Cate Blanchett, "Blue Jasmine"; Sandra Bullock, "Gravity"; Judi Dench, "Philomena"; Emma Thompson, "Saving Mr. Banks"; Kate Winslet, "Labor Day."
This is one of the more competitive best-actress races in recent years. Chances are, they'll go with Blanchett, but Bullock and Thompson are just as deserving.
Director: Alfonso Cuaron, "Gravity"; Paul Greengrass, "Captain Phillips"; Steve McQueen, "12 Years a Slave"; Alexander Payne, "Nebraska"; David O. Russell, "American Hustle."
To paraphrase a line from "Star Trek," Cuaron boldly went where no one has gone before. He should win.
Actor, 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."
Bale was utterly convincing as the sleaze-with-a-heart con man, but Dern made an indelible impression as an elderly man with encroaching dementia who believes he has won $1 million. The Hollywood Foreign Press might lean toward Dern, since this is a wonderful role for an older actor who has too often not gotten the chance to shine.
Actress, Musical or Comedy: Amy Adams, "American Hustle"; Julie Delpy, "Before Midnight"; Greta Gerwig, "Frances Ha"; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Enough Said"; Meryl Streep, "August: Osage County."
You should never count out the power of Streep, but Adams is more likely to get the trophy for her sly, sexy turn as a scam artist.
Supporting Actor: Barkhad Abdi, "Captain Phillips"; Daniel Bruhl, "Rush"; Bradley Cooper, "American Hustle"; Michael Fassbender, "12 Years a Slave"; Jared Leto, "Dallas Buyers Club."
Jared Leto. Period.
Supporting Actress: Sally Hawkins, "Blue Jasmine"; Jennifer Lawrence, "American Hustle"; Lupita Nyong'o, "12 Years a Slave"; Julia Roberts, "August: Osage County"; June Squibb, "Nebraska."
Tough call, but I'm betting that Lupita Nyong'o wins for a heartrending performance in what is her breakout role.
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