2017 Golden Globes Predictions

The Golden Globes usher in the major awards season on Sunday, February 8. Voted on by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the awards cover both television and movies, and have unique category breakouts that distinguish them from the Oscars. The Globes usually are a little more loose and fun. It’s tough to always predict which way they’ll go. But we wouldn’t be critics if we didn’t want to try, right? So without further ado, here are our predictions for what will win this weekend.

Best Motion Picture, Drama
Moonlight
Manchester by the Sea
Lion
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water

The only one of these nominees that I haven’t seen is Lion. Thought it’s gotten plenty of solid reviews, I have to believe that this is a two-film race between the heavily emotionally affecting films Moonlight and Manchester by the Sea. Honestly, either one is worthy and I won’t feel the voters got it wrong no matter which one they choose. My vote, though, would go to another film on this list that I am very happy to see nominated and think was one of the best films of the year.

Will Win: Moonlight
My Vote: Hell or High Water

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Denzel Washington, Fences
Joel Edgerton, Loving
Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic

I simply cannot imagine a world in which this award doesn’t go to Affleck or Washington. The other actors gave fine performances and should be honored to be nominated, but Affleck and Washington were simply a cut above the rest. Ultimately, I think that it’s seeing ourselves in Affleck’s character that will garner him enough votes for the win, and I couldn’t agree more if that is the choice.

Will Win: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
My Vote: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
Isabelle Huppert, Elle
Natalie Portman, Jackie
Ruth Negga, Loving
Amy Adams, Arrival
Jessica Chastain, Miss Sloane

This race is STACKED. There were so many amazing lead performances by women this year and choosing one is going to be a rough task for voters. Having unfortunately not seen Elle, I am unsure how to gauge which way the HFPA may feel toward it. So because of that I’ll pick the performance I think feels most awards-worthy, even if it’s not my personal choice.

Will Win: Natalie Portman, Jackie
My Vote: Amy Adams, Arrival

Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
La La Land
20th Century Women
Sing Street
Florence Foster Jenkins
Deadpool

As much of a slam dunk as there can be. I might literally riot if this doesn’t go to La La Land. I have no idea how Florence Foster Jenkins got nominated for an award as it was one of the worst films I saw all year. Aside: it’s nice to see a nod here for Sing Street!

Will Win: La La Land
My Vote: La La Land

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Emma Stone, La La Land
Annette Bening, 20th Century Women
Lily Collins, Rules Don’t Apply
Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins
Hailee Steinfeld, The Edge of Seventeen

I have not seen 20th Century Women, but it’s trailer doesn’t appeal to me at all. I have to believe that La La Land is going to pick up multiple awards and this is one of them. Emma Stone’s performance is darn near perfect as she goes through a range of emotions. Her incredible acting chops are on display and coupled with her charm make her the only choice for this one. If there was going to be an upset winner here that wouldn’t bother me too much, it would be Hailee Steinfeld, who turned in one of the most underrated but great performances of the year. Her star is definitely shining brightly.

Will Win: Emma Stone, La La Land
My Vote: Emma Stone, La La Land

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Ryan Gosling, La La Land
Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool
Colin Farrell, The Lobster
Hugh Grant, Florence Foster Jenkins
Jonah Hill, War Dogs

Gosling has to be the best of this group, but I suspect that the HFPA is going to try and be hip and recognize Ryan Reynolds for his turn as Deadpool. While I did enjoy the film and agree that Ryan embodies the character perfectly, I don’t necessarily feel that it’s award worthy. Great comedy, for sure, and for that reason I think he’ll end up taking home some gold.

Will Win: Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool
My VoteRyan Gosling, La La Land

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
Dev Patel, Lion
Simon Helberg, Florence Foster Jenkins
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nocturnal Animals

Mahershala Ali has been winning every critic award possible. I would have loved for Chris Pine to see a nomination for Hell or High Water, but as much as I loved his performance, Ali’s was simply the best of the year in this category. The one real problem I have here is yet another nomination for someone from the insufferable Florence Foster Jenkins and yet no nod for John Goodman in 10 Cloverfield Lane. Goodman gave a performance worthy of recognition and it’s sad that the HFPA didn’t see that.

Will Win: Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
My Vote: Mahershala Ali, Moonlight

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea
Viola Davis, Fences
Naomie Harris, Moonlight
Nicole Kidman, Lion
Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures

She’ll win the Globe. She’ll win the Oscar. And she should. It would be unfair not to at least mention the chances of Michelle Williams, though, who if she had a little more screen time might be considered more of a threat. Her one “award moment” scene is every bit the equal of Davis’, but Davis’ work as a whole in Fences just simply blows the rest of this group away.

Will Win: Viola Davis, Fences
My Vote: Viola Davis, Fences

Best Director, Motion Picture
Damien Chazelle, La La Land
Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge
Tom Ford, Nocturnal Animals

This is a crazy close race between Lonergan, Jenkins, and Chazelle. I’ve made no secret of my love for La La Land and I believe Chazelle is worthy of this prize. However, Moonlight has been riding high winning multiple critic awards for Jenkins so it feels like a complete toss up to me. I’m going to guess the HFPA goes with Chazelle here and that next month the Academy will probably go Jenkins. We shall see.

Will Win: Damien Chazelle, La La Land
My Vote: Damien Chazelle, La La Land 

Best Screenplay, Motion Picture
Manchester by the Sea
La La Land
Moonlight
Hell or High Water
Nocturnal Animals

As with the director award, this is really a three-horse race that could go any direction. I’m going to guess that the HFPA doesn’t just shower La La Land with all of the awards and gives this one to Lonergan’s masterpiece of Manchester by the Sea.

Will Win: Manchester by the Sea
My Vote: La La Land

Best Motion Picture, Animated
Kubo and the Two Strings
Moana
My Life As a Zucchini
Sing
Zootopia

Moana has been gaining so much steam lately that I think it has the requisite momentum to unseat Disney’s earlier frontrunner of Zootopia. But regardless of which Disney film the HFPA likely picks, they’ll be wrong. Laika’s Kubo and the Two Strings was by far the best and most creative animated story told in 2016 and I’m crossing my fingers, toes, arms, and legs that it gets recognized despite my expectation that it won’t.

Will Win: Zootopia
My Vote: Kubo and the Two Strings

Best Motion Picture, Foreign Language
Divines, France
Elle, France
Neruda, Chile
The Salesman, Iran/France
Toni Erdmann, Germany

I’m abstaining from this pick since I haven’t seen any of the films yet.

Best Original Score, Motion Picture
Arrival
Lion
La La Land
Moonlight
Hidden Figures

Well… one of these is a musical, and the others are not. So…

Will Win: La La Land
My Vote: La La Land

Best Original Song, Motion Picture
“Can’t Stop the Feeling,” Trolls
“City of Stars,” La La Land
“Faith,” Sing
“Gold,” Gold
“How Far I’ll Go,” Moana

My guess here is that Moana takes both Best Animated Picture AND Best Original Song. The Lin Manuel Miranda love is strong in Hollywood and the song is definitely a good one. La La Land has my heart, though, and for me the best of the year has to be its defining track.

Will Win: “How Far I’ll Go”, Moana
My Vote: “City of Stars,” La La Land

Without having watched a ton of television this year I don’t feel comfortable picking those awards. I do have my favorites though and am hoping for strong recognition of Westworld, The Crown, and This is Us. Check back on Sunday night to see how well my picks turned out and feel free to discuss and share your own guesses in the comments. It’s a fun time of year for film lovers and it’s just getting started!

 

 

 

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