So…Golden Globe Nominations

by Kevin Powers

So, the 72nd Golden Globe nominations dropped last week. Some shocks, some surprises, some of this, some of that. As one of the stepping stones to the big Oscar show in early-March, mid-January's Globes provide a glimpse into the possible Oscar lineup. Many of the nominees of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's annual awards go on to Academy glory. With a much more expansive range of big awards among the worlds of both film and television, the Globes are always a blast to watch. Back again to host on January 11th, 2015, are Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. It's gonna be a fun show.

I'm going to focus only on movies here. I am caught up on so few new shows, that I would just end up writing about "True Detective" and "Fargo" and nothing else. I have my own personal 2014 Top Five in TV post in the works, so you can have my TV ramblings then.

The Nominees (In Movies)

My reactions are underneath in orange. 

Best Motion Picture, Drama

"Boyhood"

"Foxcatcher"

"The Imitation Game"

"Selma"

"The Theory of Everything"

Well, you know, "Gone Girl" is not here and that really gets to me. Granted, I've not seen everything yet. In fact, the only one of these five that I have seen is "Boyhood," which was great but has lost steam with me recently. "Selma" seems to be the hot item right now, but I think "Boyhood" may take this one. It is winning with critics' associations all over the country. 

Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy

"Into the Woods"

"Birdman"

"The Grand Budapest Hotel"

"St. Vincent"

"Pride"

Now, I've seen three of the five here. Fairy tale musical "Into the Woods" releases at Christmas, and I haven't even heard of "Pride." I am so happy to see "The Grand Budapest Hotel" here. It's looking good to make the Best Picture field now, which is awesome. And "St. Vincent" is my heart-warming favorite. But "Birdman" takes this one, steadying its place on Oscar night. 

Best Director

Ava DuVernay, "Selma"

Wes Anderson, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

Alejandro González Iñárritu, "Birdman"

David Fincher, "Gone Girl"

Richard Linklater, "Boyhood"

This is a tough one. I have not seen "Selma" and can't speak to DuVernay's talents, but the rest of these are really well-made films. Linklater has a good idea on his hands with "Boyhood," but I can't say his execution as a director is award-worthy. Fincher and Anderson are my two favorite working filmmakers, who made incredibly great movies. However, Iñárritu is the winner here (and on Oscar night). His work on "Birdman" is seriously unparalleled this year. 

Best Screenplay, Motion Picture

Wes Anderson, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

Gillian Flynn, "Gone Girl"

Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Armando Bo, "Birdman"

Richard Linklater, "Boyhood"

Graham Moore, "The Imitation Game"

Screenplay is a tough one this year. I really have no clue, but I'm going to say that Linklater has a real shot here as does the crew who wrote "Birdman." Then again, Gillian Flynn's adaptation of her own novel is astounding and will most likely win the Adapted Screenplay category come Oscar time. Too close to call for me. 

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama

Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything"

Steve Carrell, "Foxcatcher"

Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Imitation Game"

David Oyelowo, "Selma" 

Jake Gyllenhaal, "Nightcrawler"

Alas, another category filled with movies I haven't seen yet. At least this proves that all of these are to be seen. Gyllenhaal's performance in "Nightcrawler" is powerfully intense, but it is the only one I've seen. I've been hearing a lot about Carrell lately, and I think Redmayne and Cumberbatch are pretty much locked in for Oscar noms. 

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy

Michael Keaton, "Birdman"

Bill Murray, "St. Vincent"

Ralph Fiennes, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

Christoph Waltz, "Big Eyes"

Joaquin Phoenix, "Inherent Vice"

How great to see Bill Murray and Ralph Fiennes here. I honestly thought "Grand Budapest" was going to end up forgotten with such an early release date, then I remembered how good it is. Fiennes would be a great win here, as would Murray. "Inherent Vice" waits in the wings as my most anticipated film of the year, which will most likely not be here until January. Keaton is winning this one, though, and will almost certainly sneak into the Oscar race. 

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama

Julianne Moore, "Still Alice"

Rosamund Pike, "Gone Girl"

Reese Witherspoon, "Wild"

Felicity Jones, "The Theory of Everything"

Jennifer Aniston, "Cake"

All of these performances have been talked up a lot this week. I think there is quite a bit of surprise around the Jennifer Aniston nomination. Other than that, I believe this could end up being the Oscar lineup. Rosamund Pike's performance is the only one I've seen at this point, and I am most likely not coming off her bandwagon. 

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy

Julianne Moore, "Maps to the Stars"

Amy Adams, "Big Eyes"

Emily Blunt, "Into the Woods"

Helen Mirren, "The Hundred Foot Journey"

Quvenzhane Wallis, "Annie"

What a joke of a category! Filler filler filler. Where's the edge? Rose Byrne from "Neighbors" is the one I would've like to have seen. Tim Burton's "Big Eyes" is one I definitely want to catch come Christmas; "Annie" as well, though I feel like that nomination exists only for show. No offense the young Wallis, but I can't imagine her performance in this is truly award-worthy. The Globes missed the boat on her a couple years ago when she nabbed an Oscar nom at 7-years-old for my number two pick in 2012, "Beasts of the Southern Wild."

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Ethan Hawke, "Boyhood"

Robert Duvall, "The Judge"

Edward Norton, "Birdman"

J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash"

Mark Ruffalo, "Foxcatcher"

I deliberately avoided "The Judge" due to some major bad press and some incredibly redundant, beggy TV spots leading up to its release. Duvall doesn't have a chance. The rest of these are extremely powerful performances, and I'm at a loss for picking a favorite. Hawke was my favorite thing about "Boyhood," and Edward Norton is the best part of "Birdman." But I believe the power of J.K. Simmons' maniacal music professor in "Whiplash" is just unmatched. He wins here and on Oscar night. 

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Jessica Chastain, "A Most Violent Year"

Keira Knightly, "The Imitation Game"

Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood"

Meryl Streep, "Into the Woods"

Emma Stone, "Birdman"

I'm so happy to see Emma Stone on the list. Her performance is my favorite here, though I've only also seen Patricia Arquette in "Boyhood." Arquette is solid and has a good chance here. I can't comment on the others, but "A Most Violent Year" looks great from the trailer I recently saw. I think Meryl, once again, is being nominated for being in a movie. Tough call on this one for me. 

There you have it. The major nominees in the motion picture categories for the 2014 Golden Globes. I still have plenty to see, but this is certainly providing a definitive list of movies to catch in December and January. 

Happy Award Season! It has arrived.