As many film critics expected, the leaders in the number of Golden Globe nominations were the moral adventure comedy “Barbie” and the harsh historical drama “Oppenheimer.” Greta Gerwig’s commercially successful film received 9 nominations, and Christopher Nolan’s much more serious existential film received 8 nominations.
Actors Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie pose for a photo on the red carpet during the presentation of the movie “Barbie” in Mexico City, Mexico, on July 6, 2023.
In the television section, the undisputed favorite was the television series “Succession” with 9 nominations. The main plot of the television series is that a media mogul must hand over control of the company to his eldest son, but the media empire is torn apart by a ruthless struggle for power.
“Descendants” is followed in the television section of the Globes with five nominations each by the comedy-drama series “The Bear” and the detective comedy “Only Murders in the Building.”
Live past and present
The new owners of the Golden Globe have maintained the traditional division of feature films into two sections: “dramas” and “comedies/musicals.”
The first features heavyweights of the year such as the criminal investigation Anatomy of a Fall, winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes; “Killers of the Flower Moon,” a dark historical crime story from Martin Scorsese with Leonardo DiCaprio; biographical film of composer Leonard Bernstein “Maestro” (Maestro) directed by actor Bradley Cooper; Christopher Nolan’s biopic about “father of the nuclear bomb” Oppenheimer; a very unusual film about the Holocaust “The Hotspot” directed by Jonathan Glazer.
Irish actor Cillian Murphy on the red carpet at the UK premiere of the film ‘Oppenheimer’ in London on July 13, 2023.
The inclusion in this category of American director Celine Song’s debut melodrama “Past Lives” about the fate of a young Korean girl living in North America can be considered a surprise.
In the comedy/musical category, favorites include Barbie, The Holdovers, Alexander Payne’s witty and warm comedy, and Poor Things, a puppet fantasy from maverick Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos.
In the non-English language film category, along with “Anatomy of a Fall” and “Zone of Interest”, appears the elegant and moving melodrama “Fallen Leaves” by Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki.
Among the actresses, favorites include Annette Benning, who played a record-breaking swimmer in “Nyad,” Carey Mulligan, the companion of the great composer (“Maestro”) and Lily Gladstone, a Native American in Scorsese’s tragic epic “Killers.” of the Flower Moon”.
But the best chances probably lie with German Sandra Hüller, who performed brilliantly in two roles: Anatomy of a Fall and Zone of Interest.
Actors in the “drama” section include Bradley Cooper (“Maestro”), Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”) and Leonardo DiCaprio (“Killers of the Flower Moon”).
Actor and director Bradley Cooper attends the 2023 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 1, 2023.
Paul Giamatti (The Leftovers), Nicolas Cage (Dream Scenario) and Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction) are candidates to win the Acting category in a Musical/Comedy category.
A tenacious rivalry is also expected between the “comedy/musical” actresses. People often mention Emma Stone (“The Unfortunates”), Margot Robbie (“Barbie”) and Natalie Portman (“May. December”).
The New York Times found it unusual that The Color Purple, based on the Broadway version and endorsed by Oprah Winfrey, was not included in the best comedy/musical category.
Diversification underway
It has not yet been announced who will receive the career achievement awards. These names, one in the cinematographic field and another in the television field, will be made public in the next two or three weeks, as well as the name of the presenter of the future ceremony.
The upcoming 81st Golden Globes ceremony on January 7, where the awards will be announced, will be unique in many ways. This event, according to a long tradition, opens the winter awards season.
The uniqueness of the current Golden Globes comes from the complete structural renovation of the ceremony. For starters, it has a new owner. As reported, in June, California officials agreed to a multi-tiered plan to reorganize the ceremony.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) is practically bankrupt. The history of this organization and the ceremony it invented dates back to 1944, when the Golden Globes statuettes were first distributed, which over time became a powerful tool for journalists to access movie stars. .
Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) President Helen Hone attends the 81st Golden Globe Awards nomination ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on December 11, 2023.
But over the past two or three decades, movie audiences have accumulated many complaints about the HFPA, which many in Hollywood consider deeply corrupt and unworthy of the lofty mission it has taken on.
The scandal culminated a couple of years ago when NBC refused to broadcast the ceremony, for which the HFPA paid a substantial sum each year.
It all ended with Eldridge Industries and Dick Clark Productions purchasing the ceremony and all the know-how and developments that come with it for an amount that is still kept secret.
Dick Clark Productions is part of the Penske Media conglomerate, which controls major Hollywood publications, which in turn rely heavily on advertising revenue from big-budget blockbusters.
One of the main complaints against the HFPA was that it was closed to minority journalists and lacked a democratic mechanism for admitting new members, making it look like a mafia clan.
From now on, the winners will not be chosen by 90 HFPA members, as before, but by 300 journalists from different countries, and the new owners promise to actively respect the principle of ethnic and gender diversification.
American actor Wilmer Valderrama (center) speaks during the Golden Globe nominees announcement at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, December 11, 2023.
The “red carpet” awaits the stars
The new Golden Globes show will debut in January on the CBS network and the Paramount+ streaming platform. Two new categories have also been added. One for television comedies and the other for box office hits.
The latter category will include blockbuster films, meaning those that have grossed at least $100 million at the US box office and at least $150 million at the global box office.
It is curious that by highlighting blockbusters as a special category, the Globes follow a path already tried and rejected by the Film Academy (AMPAS).
In 2018, the Oscars added a “popular film” category in an effort to stimulate interest among the general public. But the innovation caused strong rejection in the film community and the Film Academy backed down.
Let’s see if this category takes root at the Golden Globes. It is significant that Taylor Swift’s concert film has entered the new category, and if the super-popular singer graces the January 7 ceremony with her presence, the show’s ratings they will undoubtedly increase.
The nominations were announced by comedian Cedric the Entertainer and Wilmer Valderrama, star of That ’70s Show and From Dusk Till Dawn.
Cedric “The Entertainer” (L), Helen Hone and Wilmer Valderrama attend the 81st Golden Globe Awards Nomination Ceremony on December 11, 2023 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
The 2023 Golden Globes ceremony was hosted by comedian Jerrod Carmichael. According to press reports, it was watched by 6.3 million viewers, an increase of 10 percent. less than in 2021.
Last year, NBC refused to broadcast the ceremony. By comparison, the Oscars ceremony has been watched by an average of 19 million viewers in recent years.
The blockbuster category received eight nominations and the rest received six nominations each, one more nomination than before. The organizers’ calculations are obvious. The more nominations, the more stars will be invited to the ceremony and the inevitable “red carpet.”
Last year, due to a scandal with the HFPA, more than twenty nominated actors refused to attend the ceremony. This time, the nominees include crowd favorites like Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, Matt Damon, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and Annette Bening.
However, this time their arrival may be prevented by a strike by hotel workers, including the Beverly Hilton hotel, where the Globes ceremony traditionally takes place.
The Unite Here union includes housekeepers, receptionists, doormen and other hotel staff. Representatives of the strikers reported that they were close to reaching a compromise agreement with the hotel owners.
Organizers position the Golden Globe as “a dress rehearsal for the Oscars.” We remind you that voting for the Film Academy nominations will begin on January 11. And the Oscar ceremony itself will take place on March 10, 2024.
