Golden Globes: Snubs & Surprises

It seems as if Marielle Heller‘s "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" has become the disappointment of awards season thus far. Not only did the film and Melissa McCarthy's performance get snubbed by the Independent Spirit Awards a few weeks back, but now the Golden Globes have completely snubbed the film in favor of "Bohemian Rhapsody."

I will say this, "Bohemian Rhapsody" receiving a Best Motion Picture nomination (Drama) is a huge momentum swing for the Freddie Mercury biopic, which garnered mixed reviews and was the victim of a major backlash because of the film's supposed de-queering of its subject. 

Another blatant omission is the Hollywood Foreign Press Association failing to nominate Pawel Pawlikowski‘s masterful "Cold War" for Best Foreign-Language Film? 

The fact that Bohemian Rhapsody — which features numerous musical moments — was submitted by 20th Century Fox as a drama and was actually nominated by the HFPA was a risk worth taking, it seems, for Fox.

Viola Davis and "Widows" not being nominated basically confirms what we all knew: the film's lack of connecting with general audiences was a major red-flag for awards season. Critics over-hyped the film, pure and simple.

A “First Man” snub for Best Picture was foreseen, as it too did not connect with audiences, but Claire Foy is in for Supporting Actress, and Justin Hurwitz's Original Score as well. However, the major sigh of relief for me today was “Green Book” making it in as a Best Picture – Musical or Comedy and acting nods for Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali. Hell, a directing nomination for Peter Farrelly and a Screenplay nod was just the icing on the cake. That gives “Green Book” five nods tying it with “A Star is Born” and “The Favourite.”

"The Favourite," one of the year's very best films, was an all-around hit for Fox Searchlight, with all three of its main actresses nabbing nominations (Olivia Coleman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz) — it also garnered a Screenplay nod and a Best Motion Picture – Drama nomination. However, its director, Yorgos Lanthimos did not receive a Best Director salute.

And last, but certainly not least, a shout-out to Nicole Kidman’s incredible work in "Destroyer." A performance that will likely be snubbed by The Academy, which is such a dutiful downer considering how this performance is easily one of the best of Kidman's incredible career. It's surely better than her performance in "The Hours," which won her the Oscar. As far as unfair acting snubs this awards season go, Kidman might just take the cake.

Best Motion Picture — Drama
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
If Beale Street Could Talk
A Star Is Born

Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
Crazy Rich Asians
The Favourite
Green Book
Mary Poppins Returns
Vice 

Best Director — Motion Picture
Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born
Alfonso Cuaron, Roma
Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman
Peter Farrelly, Green Book
Adam McKay, Vice 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama
Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born
Willem Dafoe, At Eternity’s Gate
Lucas Hedges, Boy Erased
Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody
John David Washington, BlacKkKlansman

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama
Glenn Close, The Wife
Lady Gaga, A Star Is Born
Nicole Kidman, Destroyer
Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Rosamund Pike, A Private War

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
Christian Bale, Vice
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mary Poppins Returns
Viggo Mortensen, Green Book
Robert Redford, The Old Man and the Gun
John C. Reilly, Stan and Ollie

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
Emily Blunt, Mary Poppins Returns
Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Elsie Fisher, Eighth Grade
Charlize Theron, Tully
Constance Wu, Crazy Rich Asians

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture
Mahershala Ali, Green Book
Timothee Chalamet, Beautiful Boy
Adam Driver, BlacKkKlansman
Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Sam Rockwell, Vice

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture
Amy Adams, Vice
Claire Foy, First Man
Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk
Emma Stone, The Favourite
Rachel Weisz, The Favourite

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Roma, Alfonso Cuaron
The Favourite, Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara
If Beale Street Could Talk, Barry Jenkins
Vice, Adam McKay
Green Book, Peter Farrelly, Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie 

Best Original Score – Motion Picture
A Quiet Place
Isle of Dogs
Black Panther
First Man
Mary Poppins Returns

Best Foreign-Language Film:
Capernaum
Girl
Never Look Away
Roma
Shoplifters