Globes Feels

Despite the overdue outing of the HFPA as a scummy organization that plays favorites, rejects diversity in its membership, and has the taste of someone who orders their sushi from a convenience store, I tuned into the show since we are officially kicking off awards season. I’ve set a rule of myself about not getting upset, at least in this blog, about what wasn’t nominated; I already exorcised those demons in my article after the nominations, which you can read here. With that in mind, I’ll be going category by category how I felt with each winner being announced, and what that may mean for the rest of awards season, and what I’m hoping for. I wrote this while watching, so you may be able to sense my frustration at not just the results, but that the Globes somehow mismanaged their time without actually having any nominees present at the ceremony.

1. Best Supporting Actor – Any Motion Picture

• What won: Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah

• How I feel: 1st award of the night is the RIGHT CHOICE. This is the best supporting performance of the year in one of the best movies of the year – from one of the best actors of his generation.

• What it could mean: Better mean this movie will get more attention as awards season goes in other categories because it certainly deserves them, and I hope that Daniel Kaluuya continues to win. I may be setting myself up for disappointment.

2. Best Picture – Animated

• What won: Soul.

• How I feel: 2/2 making the right choice has me nervous – the heartbreak is coming.

• What it could mean: Soul was always the runaway favorite for Best Animated, and still is, but I’m hoping it might actually crack Best Picture at the Oscars.

3. Best Screenplay – Any Motion Picture

• What won: Aaron Sorkin, Trial of Chicago 7.

• How I feel: This is fine, but I am worried this is the start of a run for this movie tonight. If the awards for Chicago 7 stop here that’s ok. I love Sorkin’s writing, but this movie was missing the lightning bolt it could have been if directed by another person.

• What it could mean: TBD. Definitely places this as the frontrunner for screenplay awards, but if this movie takes home multiple awards tonight, better movies like Judas and The Black Messiah, Nomadland, Mank, Da 5 Bloods, and Minari could be in trouble in future awards.

4. Best Original Song – Any Motion Picture

• What won: The Life Ahead

• How I feel: No lie this award means nothing to me. I do wish Judas had gone 2/2 though because that movie rocks.

• What it could mean: If this movie sweeps this category going forward, I won’t care all that much. Haven’t heard any. There was a song in Trial of the Chicago 7?

5. Best Score – Any Motion Picture

• What won: Soul.

• How I feel: Ok I guess. The Tenet score absolutely slaps, but Soul’s music plays such an important part of the story and is the engine behind its most moving sequences.

• What it could mean: Soul is an event and will be dominating all kinds of awards going forward. Who knows what other categories it could spoil in future awards shows?

6. Best Actress – Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical

• What won: Rosamund Pike, I Care A Lot

• How I feel: Remember how we talked about the HFPA playing favorites? This category is always wonky, so you have to take it with a grain of salt.

• What it could mean: I really hope that Rosamund Pike doesn’t spoil better performances from better performances in better films this year, but it is fascinating the presumed frontrunner didn’t win here. Maria Bakalova was the presumed favorite, but she could also slot into supporting actress for her work in Borat – the real intrigue will be which of all these nominees will be nominated for future awards.

7. Best Picture – Foreign Language

• What won: Minari (USA, lol).

• How I feel: I won’t further litigate the fact that this is an American production where they happen to speak Korean, and just how under-nominated this movie is, but winning the only thing it was nominated for is a wonderful thing.

• What it could mean: Go on to win great things, Minari. You’re off to a great start. Now, the thing to see is which actual foreign movie will take its place in the category going forward - my money is on Another Round.

8. Best Supporting Actress – Any Motion Picture

• What won: Jodie Foster, The Mauritanian.

• How I feel: I agree with you Jodie, I think they made a mistake. Your movie seems like a very very ok drama. Should have been Amanda Seyfried, and I was expecting the Globes-y nonsense of rewarding Glenn Close.

• What it could mean: Chaos is reigning already. Love me some Jodie Foster, but they chose not the career pick (Close), nor the best pick (Seyfried), but the random pick from a movie most of us haven’t seen. Chaos is a ladder though, so here’s hoping Seyfried will climb it going forward.

9. Best Actor – Motion Picture, Drama

• What won: Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

• How I feel: RIP Chadwick, thanks for a terrific career that was cut short. This is more than just rewarding that career, however, your turn as Levee was the best lead performance this year.

• What it could mean: I hope this performance wins all it can, and it’s off to the right start. Go get ‘em, Chadwick and Ma Rainey.

10. Best Director – Any Motion Picture

• What won: Chloe Zhao, Nomadland.

• How I feel: This is the right choice – I love David Fincher and his films, but the director of the superior film has won.

• What it could mean: The heavyweight favorite has struck her first blow; what will be just as interesting is what challengers emerge as awards go on.

11. Best Picture – Musical/Comedy

• What won: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.

• How I feel: I would have preferred Palm Springs, but this is fine. Baron Cohen cut to the bone of the ails of our current society with his particularly incisive brand of humor, and it’s the “buzzy” choice. I get it, even though Maria Bakalova was overlooked by this same silly organization this very night.

• What it could mean: Not sure we’ll be seeing too many of these films going forward, but I hope this doesn’t sink Palm Springs’ chances of any kind of screenplay recognition; it’s quite smart.

12. Best Actor – Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical

• What won: Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

• How I feel: See in this category this feels like the right pick, so maybe I’m as conflicted as the HFPA??

• What it could mean: Hard to say – maybe this helps Baron Cohen compete for Chicago 7 in future awards shows, because I really don’t see Borat winning acting awards at any *real* show.

13. Best Actress – Motion Picture, Drama

• What won: Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holliday

• How I feel: CURVEBALL ALERT. The “should win” felt like it was Frances McDormand, but I was fully expecting Carey Mulligan. Maybe McDormand got the memo because she didn’t even attend, although she could have done so from home. What a queen.

• What it could mean: Guess I better watch this movie now – the Globes are usually pretty telling of future winners for the acting categories.

14. Best Picture - Drama

• What won: Nomadland.

• How I feel: Pumped. This is certainly among the best films of “2020”, so soak it up.

• What it could mean: I would recommend this movie for sure, but understand that you’re inf for a slow, beautiful, meditative experience that is quite artistic, but not quite mainstream. I’m drawn to and appreciate that, but I’m shocked the HFPA are and do as well. The heavyweight favorite struck another punch tonight. Keep an eye out for contenders that both were and weren’t nominated here in future awards shows. I think I’m reeling not from the curveballs, since there seemed to be only a few, but from the fact that this wacky awards show seemed to make the right picks. If I’m used to them being wrong, how can I accept when they’re right?