2021 Golden Globes Predictions
BY CHARLIE HOBBS
It is a truth universally forgotten that the Golden Globes are not an awards body that should be taken seriously. Long granted stature by their position as awards season’s true opener, the Globes are openly and famously run—this is not a secret, despite perennial indignance—by a deeply random assemblage of people known as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. This organization counts 87 members (none of whom are Black, as the Los Angeles Times recently revealed) who regularly accept lavish gifts from film studios and make their nominations accordingly. Celebrities attend in droves, it seems, because the televised ceremony doubles as big, fancy, free party for themselves and their friends. Many of the nominations this year as in years past are bought and paid for, sprinkled amidst the true contenders like legacy students at a liberal arts college.
Despite knowing that there is nothing to seek from the impending show other than various levels of disappointment and disinterest—and honestly having watched very little of what’s on hand here—we are prepared not only to predict who will win but also speculate on who should and could win and who should have been nominated in the first place…
BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
The Father
Mank
Nomadland
Promising Young Women
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Will Win: Nomadland
Dark Horse: Trial of the Chicago 7
Should Win: Nomadland
Should’ve Been Here: Minari, Possessor
Minari’s absence from the category is conspicuous and while there is little that I can add to what has been already said on the matter I do believe that it should win were the nominating system remotely just or sensical. Nomadland, a gorgeous and soft if politically toothless piece, deserves the gold more than its peers—it’s not even a competition, which sucks! Competition is good. Promising Young Woman feels like more of a contender in Best Actress and Screenplay, in particular because the finished project as a film is rather artless. But Mank and The Trial of the Chicago 7, two films so immensely dull I could not bring myself to finish, those ones I fear have a chance. I love and respect Fincher, but that love and respect is on pause as Mank threatens more worthy work. Aaron Sorkin and his dialogue and his timeliness can go to Hell. I would say his potential winning would turn me into the Joker but I’m realizing as I write this that I actually don’t care that much. If the Golden Globes really wanted to cater to me specifically they would have nominated the excellent Possessor but it seems genre work is only notable on television.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Riz Ahmed Sound of Metal
Chadwick Boseman Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Anthony Hopkins The Father
Gary Oldman Mank
Tahar Rahim The Mauritanian
Will Win: Chadwick Boseman
Dark Horse: Gary Oldman
Should Win: Riz Ahmed
Should’ve Been Nominated: Delroy Lindo Da 5 Bloods
Chadwick Boseman will only be recognized after his death. I know this is often the way, and he deserves every award he will receive in the coming months. But Riz Ahmed gave the greatest performance of the year of any man and I just think that we should remember that! I would also like to pretend that Delroy Lindo was nominated instead of Gary Oldman because wouldn’t that just be so much nicer…
BEST MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Hamilton
Music
Palm Springs
The Prom
Will Win: Borat
Dark Horse: Hamilton
Should Win: Palm Springs
Should’ve Been Nominated: Emma, Black Bear
I will keep it brief and call it now that Borat Subsequent Moviefilm will absolutely sweep the musical or comedy categories. Nothing to be done about it! Better that than Hamilton! In fact I am grateful! But Emma and Black Bear should be here too, obviously replacing The Prom and Music. Sia you will never be prestige.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Maria Bakalova Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Kate Hudson Music
Michelle Pfeiffer French Exit
Rosamund Pike I Care A Lot
Anya Taylor-Joy Emma
Will Win: Maria Bakalova
Dark Horse: Anya Taylor-Joy
Should Win: Michelle Pfeiffer
Should’ve Been Nominated: Cristin Milioti
Maria Bakalova will win of this I am sure, but there is some competition. Anya Taylor-Joy is supremely hot right now and always, although she will likely get her recognition for The Queen’s Gambit. In my dreams I will see French Exit someday soon and be vindicated in my suspicion that Michelle Pfeiffer deserves it all. Justice for Cristin Milioti, who is the best thing amongst many amazing things in Palm Springs.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Sacha Baron Cohen Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
James Corden The Prom
Lin-Manuel Miranda Hamilton
Dev Patel The Personal History of David Copperfield
Andy Samberg Palm Springs
Will Win: Sacha Baron Cohen
Dark Horse: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Should Win: Andy Samberg
Should’ve Been Nominated: Josh O’Connor Emma
My deepest fear is that the powers that be will somehow feel they have rewarded Borat Subsequent Moviefilm enough in the preceding categories (I do not even feel it needs so much rewarding, simply take refuge in who I presume won’t win as a result) and resurrect the Hamilton sweep that was 2016. A Lin Manuel Miranda acceptance speech may seem to these people exactly what we need during these trying times, but I cannot entertain such an idea…. This is the last we will speak of it.
BEST MOTION PICTURE – FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Another Round
La Llorona
The Life Ahead
Minari
Two of Us
Will Win: Minari
Dark Horse: Another Round
Should Win: Minari
Minari should not be in this category but in Drama. Because it is here it is here that it should win. If it doesn’t win I would guess Another Round is its greatest competition. Don’t see that for them though. HFPA has to be smarter than that for once… Perhaps I am silly for hoping.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE
Glenn Close Hillbilly Elegy
Olivia Colman The Father
Jodie Foster The Mauritanian
Amanda Seyfried Mank
Helena Zengel News of the World
Will Win: Amanda Seyfried
Dark Horse: Glenn Close (because why else would she be here…. There’s an agenda….)
Should Win: Amanda Seyfried
Should’ve Been Nominated: Youn Yuh-jung Minari
I want Amanda Seyfried to win so many awards so badly. It is likely clouding my objectivity. Based on these nominees I actually do think she will win, unless—and I do fear this unless as many fear apocalypse and rapture—the HFPA is running a malevolent campaign to get Glenn Close on the stage. And here I must invoke Hunter Harris’s “Glenn Close cannot win an Oscar for Mawmaw”. The rule stands for the Golden Globes as well as the Oscars. It cannot happen like this! Youn Yuh-jung should be nominated in her place!
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE
Sacha Baron Cohen The Trial of the Chicago 7
Daniel Kaluuya Judas and the Black Messiah
Jared Leto The Little Things
Bill Murray On the Rocks
Leslie Odom Jr. One Night in Miami…
Will Win: Daniel Kaluuya
Dark Horse: Jared Leto
Should Win: Daniel Kaluuya
Should’ve Been Nominated: Paul Raci Sound of Metal
Clear cut Daniel Kaluuya win. That Jared Leto is his biggest threat is so dark-sided, so deeply unsettling that I close my eyes and pretend Paul Raci is nominated for Sound of Metal instead.
BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
Emerald Fennell Promising Young Woman
David Fincher Mank
Regina King One Night in Miami…
Aaron Sorkin The Trial of the Chicago 7
Chloé Zhao Nomadland
Will Win: Chloé Zhao
Dark Horse: David Fincher
Should Win: Chloé Zhao
Should’ve Been Nominated: Spike Lee
Where is Spike Lee? Where is Da 5 Bloods? Why are people pretending that Aaron Sorkin is a good director? Why would anyone but Chloé Zhao win this award?
BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
Emerald Zennell Promising Young Woman
David Fischer Mank
Aaron Sorkin The Trial of the Chicago 7
Christopher Hampton, Florian Zeller The Father
Chloé Zhao Nomadland
Will Win: Emerald Fennell
Dark Horse: Aaron Sorkin
Should Win: Lee Isaac Chung Minari
Should’ve Been Nominated: Lee Isaac Chung Minari
I unfortunately could not care less who wins this so long as it is not Aaron Sorkin… Lee Isaac Chung should be nominated and win but again the HFPA simply does not deem that fit.
BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
“The Crown”
“Lovecraft Country”
“The Mandalorian”
“Ozark”
“Ratched”
Will Win: “Lovecraft Country”
Dark Horse: “Ozark”
Should Win: “The Crown”
Not to reveal that I do read Gold Derby, but the Golden Globes have a tendency to award hot new work in the television categories whenever possible. That gives “Lovecraft Country”—a show that fell the fuck off, remaining watchable only due to the performances of its leads who are NOT EVEN NOMINATED Which we will get to—an edge over the long-unrecognized “Ozark”. Despite all of this, “The Crown” should win if only for begging the question amongst many still-married parents: Why are we still doing this?
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Olivia Colman “The Crown”
Jodie Comer “Killing Eve”
Emma Corrin “The Crown”
Laura Linney “Ozark”
Sarah Paulson “Ratched”
Will Win: Emma Corrin
Dark Horse: Laura Linney
Should Win: Emma Corrin
Should’ve Been Nominated: Jurnee Smollett “Lovecraft Country”
Emma Corrin is the hot young new girl playing the hottest youngest most beloved role perhaps ever put to film. Yet again her biggest competition should be Jurnee Smollett, inexplicably not nominated while a certain Ryan Murphy production sits pretty. To be clear, there is no love lost between Sarah Paulson and myself.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Jason Bateman “Ozark”
Josh O'Connor “The Crown”
Bob Odenkirk “Better Call Saul”
Al Pacino “Hunters”
Matthew Rhys “Perry Mason”
Will Win: Josh O’Connor
Dark Horse: Jason Bateman
Should Win: Josh O’Connor
Should’ve Been Nominated: Jonathan Majors “Lovecraft Country”
If Emma Corrin can be expected to win, and she can, then Josh O’Connor must follow. The snivel to her snob, he often had me catching myself in sympathy for Prince Charles and that is no easy feat! And again, his biggest competition in the form of Jonathan Majors sits unnominated.
BEST TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
“Emily in Paris”
“The Flight Attendant”
“The Great”
“Schitt’s Creek”
“Ted Lasso”
Will Win: “Schitt’s Creek”
Dark Horse: ”The Flight Attendant”
Should Win: “The Great” ??? Who cares
Should’ve Been Nominated: “Ramy”
The source of much controversy considering Emily in Paris’s nomination over “I May Destroy You,” I must in fairness say for Emily that “I May Destroy You” is a dramatic miniseries and never would have been nominated in this category. Emily did not steamroll Micaela Coel but she did steamroll “Ramy,” which for some reason only ever sees nominations for its lead actor and rarely for the sublime supporting cast and show as a whole. It doesn’t matter—just as Borat will sweep the film categories I suspect “Schitt’s Creek” will get to be intolerably twee one last time.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Lily Collins “Emily in Paris”
Kaley Cuoco “The Flight Attendant”
Elle Fanning “The Great”
Jane Levy “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist”
Catherine O’Hara “Schitt’s Creek”
Will Win: Catherine O’Hara
Dark Horse: Kaley Cuoco
Should Win: Catherine O’Hara
Should’ve Been Nominated: Anna Konkle & Maya Erskine “Pen15”
And despite my distaste for Schitt’s Creek, I will never deny Catherine O’Hara her flowers. Kaley Cuoco nominated for “The Flight Attendant”, exactly the type of show built for the Golden Globes comedy category, could sneak in and that would not be the worst thing in the world! Lily Collins’s nomination should be sliced down the middle and given to Anna Konkle and Maya Erskine of “Pen15”, that much is clear.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Don Cheadle “Black Monday”
Nicholas Hoult “The Great”
Eugene Levy “Schitt’s Creek”
Jason Sudeikis “Ted Lasso”
Ramy Youssef “Ramy”
Will Win: Jason Sudeikis
Dark Horse: Eugene Levy
Should Win: Ramy Youssef
Again, I expect Eugene Levy to win this for Schitt’s Creek and again I do not begrudge him that! But Jason Sudeikis has the hot fun new show and you know how the Globes are… anyway Ramy Youssef won last year and should be doing so again.
BEST TELEVISION LIMITED SERIES, ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
“Normal People”
“The Queen’s Gambit”
“Small Axe”
“The Undoing”
“Unorthodox”
Will Win: “The Queen’s Gambit”
Dark Horse: “The Undoing”
Should Win: “Small Axe”
Should’ve Been Nominated: “I May Destroy You”
HERE is where the “I May Destroy You” snub occurred, and while it remains egregious it should be said that this category is incredibly strong. But because “I May Destroy You” should in my opinion win this award I must suggest that “The Undoing” be the show to forfeit its place. Because that will not happen I expect “Queen’s Gambit” to win off of clout alone, while “Small Axe” deserves the world!
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES, ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Cate Blanchett “Mrs. America”
Daisy Edgar-Jones “Normal People”
Shira Haas “Unorthodox”
Nicole Kidman “The Undoing”
Anya Taylor-Joy “The Queen’s Gambit”
Will Win: Anya Taylor-Joy
Dark Horse: Nicole Kidman
Should Win: Micaela Coel “I May Destroy You”
Should’ve Been Nominated: Micaela Coel “I May Destroy You”
And here is where Anya Taylor-Joy will collect her award, almost certainly. Micaela Coel should be there and should win—do I sound like a broken record? Isn’t this fun? Is it weird that I am delighted Daisy Edgar-Jones pulled a nomination but Paul Mescal didn’t?
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES, ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Bryan Cranston “Your Honor”
Jeff Daniels “The Comey Rule”
Hugh Grant “The Undoing
Ethan Hawke “The Good Lord Bird”
Mark Ruffalo “I Know This Much is True”
Will Win: Mark Ruffalo
Dark Horse: Hugh Grant
Should Win: Don’t Care
Should’ve Been Nominated: Paul Mescal <3
I really don’t care on this one. I am surprised Paul Mescal was not nominated. I imagine Mark Ruffalo might win because he won the Emmy. But Hugh Grant could also win! Ok!
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SUPPORTING ROLE
Gillian Anderson “The Crown”
Helena Bonham Carter “The Crown
Julia Garner “Ozark”
Annie Murphy “Schitt’s Creek”
Cynthia Nixon “Ratched”
Will Win: Gillian Anderson
Dark Horse: Annie Murphy
Should Win: Gillian Anderson
Should’ve Been Nominated: SO many people probably… Weruche Opia from “I May Destroy You” comes to mind…
This is where it should be clear how utterly nonsensical the Golden Globes are… Gillian Anderson and Julia Garner competing against Annie Murphy… what. If any Schitt’s Creek cast member will lose tomorrow I think it will be Murphy, as she is no match for the stunning sexual charisma of Gillian Anderson. These are qualities Anderson thankfully does not imbue into her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher, but again the Globes vote more on the vibes of the performer than on the performance itself. As for who should be here, Weruche Opia as one of the besties on I May Destroy You comes to mind…
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SUPPORTING ROLE
John Boyega “Small Axe”
Brendan Gleeson “The Comey Rule”
Daniel Levy “Schitt’s Creek”
Jim Parsons “Hollywood”
Donald Sutherland “The Undoing”
Will Win: Daniel Levy
Dark Horse: Daniel Levy
Should Win: Joyn Boyega
Should’ve Been Nominated: Paapa Essiedu “I May Destroy You”
As does Paapa Essiedu, the other bestie on “I May Destroy You.” His performance is one of such sadness and truth and joy and vibrancy that I shudder to think he and his aforementioned castmates should receive snub after snub. I would love to see John Boyega win, but this is Daniel Levy’s to lose