A film none of us have seen scored the most nominations for the 2016 Golden Globe Awards, which were announced Thursday morning.
Carol, the story of an aspiring young photographer and her romance with an older woman going through a divorce, earned five nods, including Best Picture – Drama, Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara for Best Actress – Drama and Todd Haynes for Best Director. The film opened in limited release on Nov. 20, and has been slowly rolling out across the country between Dec. 25 and Jan. 15.
So as snarky as it may sound, it’s a bit difficult to get excited for and support a movie that is drawing wide critical acclaim (if you’ve read a top 10 movies of the year list, Carol is likely on it), but hasn’t been available to the general filmgoing public. Earning four nominations apiece were The Revenant (which doesn’t open wide until Jan. 8), Steve Jobs and The Big Short. Those are three more films that people either didn’t see or haven’t yet had the opportunity to watch.
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To me, this underscores an inherent problem with film awards and ceremonies. And look, I love the Golden Globes and Academy Awards. Those are events to me, just like the Super Bowl and NCAA Tournament. But besides a couple of my friends who are really into movies and see most of the contenders this year, I typically feel like I’m out there on an island.
I’m not sure the TV nominations were much better in terms of populist appeal. Six shows — American Crime, Fargo, Mr. Robot, Outlander, Transparent and Wolf Hall — each earned three nominations. I will shout support for Fargo and Mr. Robot to anyone and everyone who will listen, and I think those shows have broken through to some extent. But what about those other four?
Credit the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for quirky choices that run outside mainstream appeal, unlike the Emmy Awards. And the organization has also been quicker to recognize shows produced for streaming outlets. Netflix earned eight nominations, while Amazon scored five. Yet there is something to be said for nominating programs that more people watch, even if popularity doesn’t connote quality.
Fortunately, these shows are also glitzy, celebrity-packed events, which adds to the entertainment value. Add liquor, a more informal tone and a caustic wit like Ricky Gervais, who’s returning as host after a three-year break, and the Golden Globes are a whole lot of fun, regardless if you’ve seen any of the nominated movies or TV shows.
Were there any notable snubs? I think Brooklyn is one of the best movies of the year, yet it only received one nomination. Neither Mark Ruffalo nor Michael Keaton got love for their roles in Spotlight, which baffles me. (Ruffalo was nominated for Infinitely Polar Bear, which I’m presuming few of you saw.) Johnny Depp has to be pissed he didn’t get love for Black Mass.
But don’t worry about Mad Max: Fury Road; it got just two nominations, but in the important categories of Best Picture – Drama and Best Director. And Sylvester Stallone received an extremely well-deserved Best Supporting Actor nod for Creed. (Was Michael B. Jordan a Best Actor snub? Maybe, but that’s a pretty stacked category. Who would he bump out?)
The Martian is nominated for Best Musical or Comedy? OK. I mean, it was a pretty funny movie in many places. Unless Matt Damon sings and dances on Mars, and I just don’t remember, I don’t see how it’s on this list. You know what was a great comedy? Spy, which was nominated along with Melissa McCarthy in the Best Actress – Comedy category. That movie getting an award would be really cool. And Amy Schumer getting a nomination for Trainwreck puts a bow on what’s been a great year for her.
You can read the nominees for movies and TV below. You’ll have about a month to watch all of that stuff before the Golden Globe Awards ceremony. The broadcast will air live Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
Best Motion Picture, Drama
Carol
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
Room
Spotlight
Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
The Big Short
Joy
The Martian
Spy
Trainwreck
Best TV Series, Drama
Empire
Game Of Thrones
Narcos
Mr. Robot
Outlander
Best TV Series, Comedy
Casual
Mozart in the Jungle
Silicon Valley
Transparent
Orange is the New Black
Veep
Best Actor in a Limited-Series or TV Movie
Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
Damian Lewis, Wolf Hall
Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
Tobias Menzies, Outlander
Christian Slater, Mr. Robot
Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Limited-Series, or TV Movie
Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black
Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
Regina King, American Crime
Judith Light, Transparent
Maura Tierney, The Affair
Best Actress in a Limited-Series or TV Movie
Kirsten Dunst, Fargo
Lady Gaga, American Horror Story: Hotel
Sarah Hay, Flesh and Bone
Felicity Huffman, American Crime
Queen Latifah, Bessie
Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Limited-Series or TV Movie
Idris Elba, Luther
Oscar Isaac, Show Me a Hero
David Oyelowo, Nightingale
Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall
Patrick Wilson, Fargo
Best TV Movie or Limited-Series
American Crime
American Horror Story
Fargo
Flesh And Bone
Wolf Hall
Best Actress in a TV Series, Comedy
Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Jamie Lee Curtis, Scream Queens
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
Lily Tomlin, Grace & Frankie
Best Actor in a TV Series, Comedy
Aziz Ansari, Master of None
Gael Garcia Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle
Rob Lowe, The Grinder
Patrick Stewart, Blunt Talk
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
Best Actress in a TV Series, Drama
Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder
Eva Green, Penny Dreadful
Taraji P. Henson, Empire
Robin Wright, House of Cards
Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Christian Bale, The Big Short
Steve Carell, The Big Short
Matt Damon, The Martian
Al Pacino, Danny Collins
Mark Ruffalo, Infinitely Polar Bear
Best Director – Motion Picture
Todd Haynes, Carol
Alejandro G. Inarritu, The Revenant
Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
Ridley Scott, The Martian
Best Actor in a TV Series, Drama
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Rami Malik, Mr. Robot
Wagner Maura, Narcos
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs
Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
Jane Fonda, Youth
Helen Mirren, Trumbo
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
Paul Dano, Love and Mercy
Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation
Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Michael Shannon, 99 Homes
Sylvester Stallone, Creed
Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl
Will Smith, Concussion
Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
Melissa McCarthy, Spy
Amy Schumer, Trainwreck
Maggie Smith, The Lady in the Van
Lily Tomlin, Grandma
Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
Cate Blanchett, Carol
Brie Larson, Room
Rooney Mara, Carol
Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl
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