After the tumultuous year that has just ended, it may feel hard to be surprised by anything at this point, but the Golden Globes this morning wanted to prove this idea wrong.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association provides pre-dawn distraction to insomniacs around the world and today rolled out nominations for the seemingly semi-virtual bicoastal ceremony February 28 on NBC. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are back this year for the fourth time, their first since 2015, after skipping hosting duties for Donald Trump’s entire reign of terror.
Plus, the nominations would inevitably be more intriguing than usual after the coronavirus pandemic wrecked production schedules. Heavyweights like last year’s big winners Succession and The wonderful Mrs. Maisel were then out of the mix.
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Golden Globes nominations announced (live)
In that context, and with a minor audio glitch, former Globes winners Sarah Jessica Parker and Taraji P. Henson announced the contenders from their respective homes. It turned out to be a very good morning for people like One night in Miami director Regina King, Sacha Baron Cohen and Borat Later film film, The crown, The Mandalorian and Sound of Metal‘s Rice Ahmed.
Also, Norman Lear and Jane Fonda have already plucked an HFPA feather in their step, even for today. The Living Legends will receive the Carol Burnett Award and the Cecil B de Mille Award for Hollywood Impact at the 78th Golden Globes later this month. However, for some living legends like Sophia Loren, Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, some living legends to come and others overlooked, this morning was a disappointment
Here are the big notes and surprises for this year’s Globes nominations from the less than 90-member HFPA:
Tom Hanks – Last year’s multiple Oscar winner and Cecil B de Mill winner braved the Battle of the Atlantic Greyhound and into America after the civil war News of the world, but his double shot fired blanks with the HFPA today
I can destroy you – Michaela Cole’s poignant and sometimes hilarious drama of sexual assault and the aftermath of the BBC and HBO was one of last year’s most acclaimed shows and topped my Top 10 New Shows of 2020. Crickets this morning when it came to Globes nominations, scathing crickets
Spike Lee – Da 5 Bloods had excellent performances from Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters and Chadwick Boseman, among others, but that just wasn’t enough for the passionate Vietnam War film or the trailblazing director to receive any love. Shocker.
Zendaya – The Euphoria excellent performance of the star with John David Washington in lockdown movie Malcolm & Mare was completely shut out
Meryl Streep – Tell me, after 32 previous Globes nominations, how can you host an awards ceremony and not nominate Meryl?
Bridgerton – The complete absence of the Shonda Rhymes-produced blockbuster from the Regency era from today’s nominations proves that the Golden Globes is not just a popularity contest. Otherwise, Netflix’s Bridgerton would have been cleared in all categories this morning and probably February 28th
Sophia Loren – The screen icon returned with the praised Life ahead. The Netflix movie got stuck at Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Song noms, so it’s a total head scratcher as to why the megastar itself turned out to be a dead end with Globes voters.
Never have I ever – Mindy Kaling’s co-created coming of age drama was a breakthrough global hit on Netflix, but nada in terms of nominations
Al Pacino – In a long career full of highlights, Pacino’s nomination today is unintentionally comical Hunters seems like a bad joke and a big surprise – or not when you look at the history of the Globes.
Steven Yeun – Winner Sundance Grand Jury 2020 Threatening got a big thumbs up this morning from the AFI and the National Board of Review and was nominated for best foreign film this morning, but the film’s protagonist was left empty-handed today.
The midnight sky – In addition to a Best Original Score, Motion Picture kink, it looks like it was pretty dark for the George Clooney-directed and Netflix post-apocalyptic drama starring
Chris Rock – The comedian was at his best as the aspiring Kansas City crime boss in season four of Fargo. In Rock’s case, it turns out that crime doesn’t pay off for Globes voters
Rack – The Christopher Nolan-directed thriller was the only major game in town and theaters during the early part of the pandemic. When it came to broad categories, today, like the main plot of the movie, it felt like that past never happened.
Lakeith Stanfield – Daniel Kaluuya was rightly nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Black Panther leader Fred Hampton. So what was the nod for Judas and the Black Messiah Co-star? You know Black History Month, right?
Ben Affleck – There was a great urge to The way back actor. A push that this AM hit a roadblock without recognition