The 2019 Golden Globes – Picks And Comments

I’m EXCITED! Award season is about to commence my absolute favourite time of the year. The city of angels comes alive Sunday, January 6th when the Hollywood Foreign Press pat each other on the back handing out little gold statues in order to celebrate 76th Golden Globe Awards.

Unpredictable talented duo, Sandra Oh and Andy Samberg host the often surprise-filled ceremony that covers both film and television categories.

Considered a serious stepping stone for winners towards an Oscar nomination the Globes are less authoritative to their Academy counterparts where anything can happen from shock winners to offbeat acceptance speeches including actress (Christine Lahti) announced while she was visiting the loo, raising a few eyebrows she bounced out on stage telling the audience just that.

Best ing Actress

AMY ADAMS – VICE
CLAIRE FOY – FIRST MAN
EMMA STONE – THE FAVOURITE
RACHEL WEISZ – THE FAVOURITE
REGINA KING – IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
Claire Foy incredible in anything certainly the best thing in dismal First Man.
Tough to separate Stone and Weisz in the terrific Favourite, two actors in the same film often cancel each other out. Adams and King are front-runners.
My Pick – AMY ADAMS

Best ing Actor

ADAM DRIVER – BLACKKKLANSMAN
MAHERSHALA ALI – GREEN BOOK
RICHARD E. GRANT – CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME
SAM ROCKWELL – VICE
TIMOTHY CHALAMET – BEAUTIFUL BOY
No Sam Rockwell quinella after winning last year. Young Chalamet solid in a sadly underseen film while veteran Grant is deserving for an amazing career alone, this role suits his articulate energy. Ali, no. Driver close call with Grant.
My Pick – ADAM DRIVER

Best Actor Musical – Comedy

CHRISTIAN BALE – VICE
JOHN C. REILLY – STAN & OLLIE
LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA – MARY POPPINS RETURNS
ROBERT REDFORD – OLD MAN AND THE GUN
VIGGO MORTENSEN – GREEN BOOK
Legendary Robert Redford mentioned this is his last film, odds in his favour with sympathy vote. Bale transforming himself physically, mentally for the role of Dick Cheney is absorbing. Musical maestro Miranda a real contender.
My Pick – CHRISTIAN BALE

Best Actress Musical – Comedy

CONSTANCE WU – CRAZY RICH ASIANS
CHARLIZE THERON – TULLY
ELSIE FISHER – EIGHTH GRADE
EMILY BLUNT – MARY POPPINS RETURNS
OLIVIA COLMAN – THE FAVOURITE
Hardest category as all five outstanding in their respective films. Theron unforgettable in low-key Tully. Enigmatic. Blunt practically faultless as the umbrella flying singing nanny. Wu or Fisher could surprise. Maybe Colman.
My Pick – EMILY BLUNT

Best Actor Drama

BRADLEY COOPER – A STAR IS BORN
JOHN DAVID WASHINGTON – BLACKKKLANSMAN
LUCAS HEDGES – BOY ERASED
RAMI MALEK – BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
WILLEM DAFOE – AT ETERNITY’S GATE
World went Queen crazy all over again when Rami Malek perfectly incarnated Freddie Mercury. Hedges is truly wonderful as is veteran Dafoe who may surprise. Favourite Cooper has the edge over Denzel’s son, JD Washington.
My Pick – BRADLEY COOPER

Best Actress Drama

GLENN CLOSE – THE WIFE
LADY GAGA – A STAR IS BORN
MELISSA McCARTHY – CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME
NICOLE KIDMAN – DESTROYER
ROSAMUND PIKE-A PRIVATE WAR
Overdue winner Rosamund Pike reliable in everything. Australia’s own Kidman, always a chance and well-loved, McCarthy, tones down comedy for immaculate seriousness. Close, simply remarkable as is mesmerising, GaGa.
My Pick – GLENN CLOSE

Best Animation Film

THE INCREDIBLES 2
ISLE OF DOGS
MIRAI
RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET
SPIDER-MAN INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE
Instant Japanese classic Mirai, should not be dismissed amongst these more accessible, terrific animated gems. Isle of Dogs stop-motion brilliance. A cool character study of friendly neighbourhood spiderman should swing a win.
My Pick – SPIDER-MAN

Best Director

ADAM McKAY – VICE
ALFONSO CUARON – ROMA
BRADLEY COOPER – A STAR IS BORN
PETER FARRELLY – GREEN BOOK
SPIKE LEE – BLACKKKLANSMAN
If Bradley Cooper wins actor, unlikely to double up here, if not, he’s top pick. Erratic editing, sharp satire, grandiose ensemble genuine showcase for McKay. Cuaron, Farrelly, may surprise. Controversial Lee, should prepare his speech.
My Pick – SPIKE LEE

Best Film Musical – Comedy

CRAZY RICH ASIANS
THE FAVOURITE
GREEN BOOK
MARY POPPINS RETURNS
VICE
Crazy Rich Asians, global phenomenon, trailblazing, deserved to win, however The Favourite, brought me to high agitated emotions, a masterpiece. Green Book, no. Vice, maybe. Poppins, reinvigorates all delightful Disney elements.
My Pick – THE FAVOURITE

Best Film Drama

A STAR IS BORN
BLACK PANTHER
BLACKKKLANSMAN
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
Unprecedented momentum believe it or not is with Black Panther, top notch diverse Marvel superhero adventure may double up as an ode to the late comic maestro, Stan Lee. Rest are in equal running, A Star is Born quite popular.
My Pick – A STAR IS BORN (reluctantly) Blackkklansman a better film.

My Quick Picks –

Best Screenplay – THE FAVOURITE
Best Score – Marc Shaiman; MARY POPPINS RETURNS
Best Song – Shallow; A STAR IS BORN (Aussie Troy Sivan should really win)
Foreign Film – GIRL (Belgium, Netherlands)

Television is not my speciality and many of the shows or nominated performers are yet to screen in Australia either free to air or streaming.

Australian Yvonne Strahovski (Handmaids Tale) has strong competition in best-ing actress category from Thandie Newton (Westworld).

Alison Brie in retro wrestling series GLOW is my pick as an actress in a comedy – musical. Former Pet Detective Jim Carrey a top chance for his obscure series Kidding, however, chameleon Sacha Baron Cohen remodelled himself into various characters for, Who is America.

Favourite Henry Winkler may step up again after an Emmy win for, Barry, while often forgotten Jason Bateman hopefully will snag a win for Ozark.

SHANE A. BASSETT | @Movie_Analyst