Awards season is now officially underway: On December 9th, Mindy Kaling and Morris Chestnut announced the nominees for the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, which will be presented on January 5th. If you haven’t been paying attention to the best of film and television this year, the Globes often provide a quick overview of what you should catch up on.
The frontrunners on the small screen, however, were all completely unexpected: It takes that critics and voters can’t get enough of “The Bear” (five nominations), “Only Murders in the Building” (four) and “Shōgun” (four). probably not worth mentioning. And on the film side, where the Globes are seen as an important precursor to the Academy Awards, the top contenders are the ones that Oscar prognosticators have been raving about for a while: “Emilia Pérez” (ten nominations), “The Brutalist” (seven) and “Conclave” (six). But what about the surprises, the good and the bad? Who was taken by surprise? And who sneaked in?
Here’s a quick rundown of the ten biggest shocks of the Golden Globes nominations:
Surprise: Kate Winslet is so good that people thought about her twice
Judges thought Winslet, who has already won five Golden Globes, had a good shot at a nomination or two this year: She played dogged war photographer Lee Miller in the biopic “The Photographer” and a fictional dictator in the HBO “The Regime” series. But since neither project received good reviews, there was a risk that they could be passed over. Although she had already received an Emmy nomination for “The Regime”. But now it turns out that the Globes still love Kate: She was nominated for both performances – significantly, the only nomination of the two productions.
Disappointment: “Sing Sing” only receives one nomination
Cheers to Colman Domingo, who was deservedly nominated for his role as an incarcerated man taking part in a prison theater program. But this A24 drama — based on the real-life institution “Rehabilitation Through the Arts” — otherwise failed to score points with Globe voters. “Sing Sing” was not considered in the Best Film (Drama) category. Even more disappointing is that Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin, who plays himself, was not mentioned in the supporting actor category. Did the fact that Domingo was the only star among the cast hurt the film’s chances with the Globes’ notoriously star-loving electorate? It certainly looks like it.
Surprise: women can make films!
Most years we’re lucky to have a female filmmaker among the Best Director nominees at the Oscars. So kudos to the Globes. Others may complain that Jon M. Chu (“Wicked”) and Denis Villeneuve (“Dune: Part Two”) weren’t selected. But why not be happy that Coralie Fargeat and Payal Kapadia made it?
Fargeat’s second feature, “The Substance,” did very well with five nominations overall – she also received a nomination for screenplay – while Kapadia’s “All We Imagine as Light” (which is also nominated for Best Non-English Film) received the Critics continue to delight. (“All We Imagine as Light” just won the International/Non-English Film award from both the New York Film Critics Circle and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association). These two works, which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival, were very successful in the art scene. And it’s gratifying that the Globes saw fit to honor the women behind these films. So pay attention, Academy jury!
Disappointment: Marianne Jean-Baptiste’s stunning performance in “Hard Truths”
Speaking of the jury, Marianna Jean-Baptiste was recognized by both New York and LA critics for her performance in Mike Leigh’s latest film, Hard Truths. The veteran actress, who starred in Leigh’s award-winning 1996 film Lies and Secrets, is unforgettable as Pansy: a bitterly evil woman who makes life miserable for everyone around her. Many of us probably woke up this morning just as angry as Pansy when we saw that Jean-Baptiste wasn’t nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama). This type of nomination could have significantly increased her chances of getting an Oscar nomination. But it’s okay, Pansy: We still love you, even if the Globes didn’t.
Surprise: Pamela Anderson’s “The Last Showgirl” comeback story
So who was nominated if Jean-Baptiste was passed over? Most likely it was Pamela Anderson who blew Globe viewers away with her nomination for the Vegas dancer drama “The Last Showgirl.” We’re favoring Jean-Baptiste over everyone else in the Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama) category – without taking away from some absolutely wonderful performances – so we’re in no way picking on Anderson. In fact, she’s great in the role of an aging showgirl whose time on stage is soon coming to an end. “The Last Showgirl” is a “The Wrestler”-esque story, but Anderson is vulnerable and raw and plays a great comeback role.
Surprise: “The Day of the Jackal” makes the list with little fanfare
Although the Peacock series was well-reviewed, it barely caused a stir among TV pundits. Still, the Globes devoured the series, giving it two nominations – one for Best Drama Series and one for Eddie Redmayne in the role of the expert assassin. The propulsive thriller, based on the 1971 novel by Frederick Forsyth and made into two English-language films, has already been renewed for a second season. Hopefully this will give Globe voters a chance to soon appreciate Lashana Lynch’s equally outstanding work.
Disappointment: Danielle Deadwyler ignored again
This is the second time that Deadwyler has been left out of the Golden Globe nominations. For her portrayal of Mamie Till, the grieving, determined mother of her murdered son Emmett in “Till – Fight for the Truth”, she did not make it into the selection in 2022. And while most thought she would be nominated for her strong performance in the film adaptation of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, she was once again left off the list – this time in supporting roles. Even if, like us, you feel that The Piano Lesson isn’t as strong as other recent Wilson adaptations – namely Fences and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – Deadwyler was the standout in her role as an introverted but resilient sister who stands up to her bully brother (John David Washington). She’s too good an actress to continue to be overlooked. Your time will come, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Surprise: “The Gentlemen” sneaks into sixth place in the comedy/musical category
Five series seemed set for the best comedy/musical series: “Abbott Elementary,” “The Bear,” “Hacks,” “Nobody Wants This” and “Only Murders in the Building.” But what is the sixth? “Shrinking”? “Undercover in a retirement home”? “Agatha All Along”? No: It was the Netflix spin-off of Guy Ritchie’s 2019 crime comedy The Gentlemen, starring Theo James as the heir to a lucrative (and coveted) cannabis empire. The series was largely passed over at the Emmys, making the high-profile nomination at the Globes the series’ most impressive recognition to date. Still, we suspect that in five years, The Gentlemen will be the title that’s hard to remember in this environment.
Disappointment: Meryl Streep
Nobody has to cry for Meryl Streep. She has three Oscars, three Emmys and nine Golden Globes. She is loved by everyone. She’s fine. Still, considering how lavishly Only Murders in the Building was showered with nominations during its acclaimed run, it was a bit strange that Meryl wasn’t among the supporting actress nominees. After all, she was nominated at last year’s Globes for her role as failing actress Loretta Durkin. Nonetheless, we’re pretty sure Streep is far from heartbroken — and, hey, it’s a sign that the Globes don’t always choose the biggest names in a given category.
Surprise: The Globes are…getting better?
For years, it’s been fun to make fun of the Golden Globes for screwing up their nominations and picking the weirdest and just plain wrong candidates. But in recent years, the Globes have been a little less confusing in their selections. For the most part, the new nominees are pretty respectable. Honestly, that might be the biggest surprise right now. We’re still remembering all your past screw-ups, folks – but for now at least you’ve done pretty well. Keep it up.