I have a confession to make. Yeah, yeah The Oscars are considered the “Super Bowl” of Awards shows, but The Golden Globes tend to be my favorite of all the awards shows out there. Maybe it’s because they celebrate both film and TV, meaning that many more of my favorite people are in the room. Maybe it’s because they split the movie awards into Comedy and Drama, giving more films and performances the chance to be honored. Maybe it’s because out of all the awards bodies, the Globes are the ones most likely to think outside the box and honor new shows (they were the first champion of Mad Men after all). Maybe it’s because that many celebrities + free-flowing champagne = the potential for all sorts of shenanigans.
Wait. I KNOW it’s because of the free-flowing champagne induced shenanigans.
The nominations for the 2014 Golden Globes were announced this morning and I found myself faced with a peculiar feeling. And that feeling was…happiness and excitement. Definitely not one I am used to feeling on Nomination Days. I’m used to feeling RAGE. Perhaps I am growing less grumpy in my old age or perhaps the fact of the matter is that The Globes got WAY more right this year than they did wrong. Sure…there were some moments that had me perplexed (NO MAD MEN), but there were more moments that had me squealing with joy (MONICA POTTER Y’ALL!). Let’s break down the categories, shall we?
Best Television Series — Drama
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
The Good Wife
House of Cards
Masters of Sex
The shocker here is the exclusion of awards darling and winner of this category for the past 2 years Homeland. I’ve only watched the first nine episodes of the show, so obviously I am behind, but I have really heard NOTHING good about Season Three. So props to the HFPA for not just sticking to the shows they have honored in the past just cause they are the trendy ones. Mad Men is out of this category for the third year in a row (Again SO WEIRD because like I said…the HFPA were the first ones to reward this show), so while I am MAD, I am not surprised. Thrilled to see The Good Wife here because this season has been AMAZING. But really the favorite in this category HAS to be Breaking Bad for its masterful final season. Though House of Cards could be a spoiler if the HFPA is feeling tricksy.
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
This Category is where the HFPA REALLY shook things up, with only ONE returning nominee from last year, in the form of Bryan Cranston, who lost last year to Homeland‘s Damian Lewis. This makes me quite happy, as it really irks me when the same people get nominated every year because it feels like the nominators don’t even WATCH submission tapes (LOOKING AT YOU SAG AND EMMY).
I called it the moment that The Blacklist premiered…James Spader would get a Golden Globe nomination for his performance. So you can imagine I felt quite smug when his name was called this morning. I just started watching Masters of Sex and while I think Bill Masters is KIND OF the worst, I think Michael Sheen does brilliant work. The nomination for Liev Schreiber is the only one that strikes me as ODD, but the Globes ALWAYS have at least one WTF nominee. Who is usually a famous person. BUT JON HAMM THOUGH. I guess I am resigned to the fact that his awards days are over.
Bryan Cranston has to be the favorite here for his brilliance in Breaking Bad, but watch out for Spader. He has an extensive history with the Globes and they LOVE HIM. I would not at ALL be surprised if he walked away with the trophy.
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
With two-time winner for Homeland Claire Danes out-of-the-way (seriously guys, they must have HATED season 3), I really feel like this is ANYBODY’S to win. Once again, the Globes did a clean sweep of this category, with only Juliana Margulies returning from last year’s crop. I could hear screams of joy from my friends all over the world when Tatiana Maslany’s name was called. I PROMISE I will watch at least SOME of Orphan Black before the Globes so I will GET IT. I am QUITE surprised that Taylor Schilling is the sole nominee from the buzzy Orange Is The New Black, considering that it is a show I really thought the Globes would embrace. I’m very sad that Lizzy Caplan didn’t get in for Masters of Sex, but this is a TOUGH category.
My pick to win is Kerry Washington. If there is any organization that would embrace a show as crazy as Scandal it is this one. Plus Kerry has movie star cred, which the HFPA loves and oh yeah…she’s fucking brilliant as Olivia Pope. She’ll need to watch her back for Maslany, but for now, I give this one to the Gladiator. It’s handled.
Best Television Series — Comedy Or Musical
The Big Bang Theory
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Girls
Modern Family
Parks and Recreation
AT LONG LAST PARKS AND RECREATION GETS A NOMINATION FOR SERIES. YOU GUUUUUUUUUYYYYYYYS.
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you KNOW how we feel about Parks and Rec. Will it win? Probably not. But it got recognized and we’ll take it. Yes, I yawn at the inclusion of The Big Bang Theory. Modern Family is always a given in this category. And the HFPA loves Girls, as it won this category last year. And I imagine it will win again. But with the exclusion of Glee and nomination for Parks and the SUPER surprise nomination for newbie Brooklyn 99, there will be no table flipping gifs here today.
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 And Recreation
WE WILL NOT REST UNTIL QUEEN AMY WINS A TROPHY FOR PLAYING LESLIE KNOPE.
*mic drop*
(Also, subbing in Edie Falco for Tina Fey and you have the EXACT same line-up as last year. Lazy.)
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
Aside from the surprise nomination for Andy Samberg, this category bores me. And the nomination for Michael J. Fox is a bit of a joke to me. Unless the show has MAGICALLY gotten better. Next please.
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
*INSERT YEARLY RANT ABOUT HOW THE GOLDEN GLOBES LUMP COMEDY, DRAMA, AND MINI-SERIES SUPPORTING PERFORMANCES INTO ONE CATEGORY*
Seriously. It’s atrocious. How can you compare them? You can’t.
Considering how tough it is for ANY supporting actor to break through in this race (if you notice, you’ll see there are exactly ZERO traditional comedy nominees here), I was BEYOND thrilled to see Josh Charles on this list. He has been truly exquisite this season on The Good Wife and it is high time he got some recognition for it. Aaron Paul HAS to be the favorite here…or, depending on how much they loved Behind The Candelabra, Rob Lowe could steal it. But man. How much would I LOVE to see Charles take this?
A LOT.
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, The White Queen
Hayden Panettiere, Nashville
Monica Potter, Parenthood
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
With the category FINALLY breaking free of the stranglehold that Dame Maggie Smith has had on it for the past few years, this one is anybody’s to lose. I may a bit biased, but if anyone other than Monica Potter wins, it will be a travesty. She has been nothing short of phenomenal as Kristina Braverman for YEARS and if a cancer arc is what it took to finally get her some recognition, then I am FINE with it.
Seriously people. Watch Parenthood. For me.
I’m skipping the Mini-Series and TV movie category, cause I know very little about them except that things got nominated.
Best Motion Picture — Comedy Or Musical
American Hustle
Her
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska
The Wolf of Wall Street
Erm. I promise I will see most of these before the show so I will have an opinion. I’m DYING for American Hustle, does that mean anything?
The snubs here are two movies that AREN’T EVEN COMEDIES ANYWAY: August: Osage County and Before Midnight. A:OC picked up an ensemble nod for the SAGs, so don’t count it out of the Oscar Race just yet, especially with Harvey Weinstein behind it.
Best Motion Picture — Drama
12 Years a Slave
Captain Phillips
Gravity
Philomena
Rush
I feel this will come down to a fight between Gravity and 12 Years A Slave. Technical wizardy blockbuster vs. gut wrenching art piece. WHICH WILL TRIUMPH??? I honestly don’t know.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — 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
Hot DAMN this is a tough category. In fact, sub in either Bruce Dern or Christian Bale for Idris Elba and you likely have your Oscar Slate. You’ll hear us talk more about Ejiofor and Hanks next week (#spoilers) but both are brilliant in their films. I get the sneaking feeling this one is going to go to Matthew McConaughey though. Between the dramatic weight loss and the career resurgence (HE CAN ACT?!) he is in the midst of, I feel he has the momentum. I have yet to see Dallas Buyers, but I hear his performance is the stuff legends are made of.
Best Performance by an 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
Take out Queen Winslet and sub in Meryl and this will probably be your Oscar Ballot. Of these, I have only seen Gravity so far, which saddens me. But Cate Blanchett’s name has basically been engraved on the Oscar since Blue Jasmine came out, so expect her to take this one. Unless sentiment swells up for Thompson or Dench.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Comedy Or Musical
Christian Bale, American Hustle
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis
Joaquin Phoenix, Her
Leo is an EIGHT time Golden Globe nominee, winning once in 2005 for his work in The Aviator. Buzz for Wolf of Wall Street is just now picking up, after an “it may not be ready for its release date” scare. The Globes CLEARLY love him. Will he take home a second Globe? As long as they seat Kate Winslet at his table, I really don’t care. #NEVERLETGO
Best Performance by an 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
Let’s get this out-of-the-way first. Like I said earlier, neither Before Midnight nor August: Osage County are COMEDIES. Go home, Hollywood Foreign Press. You’re drunk.
That being said, I am BEYOND thrilled to see Julie Delpy recognized here, though I don’t understand how you can nominate her and NOT Ethan Hawke. Ridiculous. I imagine this one will be between former Doubt co-stars Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. I hope Meryl wins, if only for the fact that her acceptance speeches are always nothing short of delightful.
Best Performance by an 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
The erstwhile Jordan Catalano has been picking up all the critics awards for his work in Dallas Buyers Club, so I imagine that streak will continue, though he’s got tough competition in the form of Fassy (whose BRUTAL performance is forever seared on my brain) and Abdi (ditto). I was mildly surprised not to see Tom Hanks here for Saving Mr. Banks. I didn’t see Rush, but I have heard Bruhl (who probably knocked OUT Hanks) was wonderful.
Best Performance by an 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
This will come down to the movie star legend vs. the unknown. Julia Roberts vs. Lupita Nyong’o. The work Julia Roberts does in August: Osage County is among the best she has done in her entired career. BUT LUPITA. Her Patsey was unforgettable and I certainly hope that the Globes are able to see past Julia’s star wattage to see that Lupita’s performance is one for the ages.
Plus, Barbara is a LEADING role anyway, but let’s not argue about category fraud.
The BIG snub here is Oprah for The Butler, as many had called the Supporting Actress race OVER when it was released. I still wouldn’t count her out cause she’s, you know, OPRAH…but this was a definite blow.
Best Director — Motion Picture
Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity
Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips
Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
Alexander Payne, Nebraska
David O. Russell, American Hustle
Cuaron vs. McQueen. Sorry everyone else.
Best Original Song — Motion Picture
“Atlas,” Catching Fire
“Let It Go,” Frozen
“Ordinary Love,” Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom
“Please, Mr. Kennedy,” Inside Llewyn Davis
“Sweeter Than Fiction,” One Chance
ANY EXCUSE TO EMBED THIS:
If “Let It Go” doesn’t win, stuff WILL be thrown at my television.
Also, Taylor Swift got another nomination so I hope she is ready for any shade Tina and Amy throw her way in the name of hating women.
*eye roll*
And those are our nominees! Who are YOU most excited about? What was the biggest snub? Let us know in the comments.
I will never understand the constant nominations for Sofia Vergara. I think she’s very good, but there are SO MANY FANTASTIC actresses in supporting roles on TV right now. And especially here where drama’s in the running, too? Do. Not. Get.
BUT HOORAY FOR PARKS & RECREATION!!!!!
Cause they want her to show up on the red carpet looking hot.