2021 Golden Globes Predictions: The Crown, Mank and More

 2021 Golden Globes Predictions

 

In a slightly delayed Globes Lineup, I predict what heavy hitters will sweep and what surprises may be in store.

There’s a few movies on the Globes watchlist that escaped my eyes last year but even so I reckon there’s some easy winners, and some dark horses...

 

 

Television- 

 

Best Miniseries or TV Film- The Queen's Gambit (Netflix) 

 

I think it’s easy to say that Queen's Gambit was probably the big one hit wonder of 2020 when it came to miniseries. I was surprised not to see anything from ITV make the cut, as more and more British dramas are being picked up for American services during the pandemic. Perhaps David Tennant's turn as Des Nielsen or the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire centred Quiz? Either way, The Queen's Gambit is easily the favourite to win this. It faces some strong competition; especially from Steve McQueen's Small Axe, although each episode of that show could’ve easily qualified for the feature film awards. While I am yet to get around to seeing the Chess-Mania of this Netflix one off, I have heard it’s surprisingly gripping. 

Dark Horse- Normal People (Hulu)

Possible Snubs - Des (ITV) 

 

Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or TV Film- John Boyega, Small Axe 

 

I think this award is quite a tough one to call. I can honestly saw that while I know all the nominees as actors, I didn’t see any of the aforementioned shows. However, I do know that Boyega's chapter of Small Axe was very well received and Boyega himself is overdue some long awaited accolades as a screen presence. So combining all those things, John Boyega seems to be the leading horse in this race. It’s also possible that if he wins this award, Small Axe may do a mini sweep of three or four of the smaller awards, including Best Miniseries.

Dark Horse- Brendan Gleeson, The Comey Rule. Gleeson is one of those long working and under-appreciated talents in the industry, having missed out on a golden globe four times previously. Perhaps the Globes will feel it’s well earned. Add to that, Gleeson is playing President Trump and any big stab at a then-incumbent President is usually a brave step. Don’t be surprised if Gleeson makes a surprise snatch.

Possible Snubs- Definitely Daniel Mays for Des. Underrated and under-viewed. 

 

 

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or TV Film- Gillian Anderson, The Crown

 

This one is a nail-on in my eyes. Gillian was the selling point of Season 4 of The Crown and every scene she stole, reminded audiences just how broad her talents are. Playing Margaret Thatcher is no easy feat. In my eyes, she completely outshines the Meryl Streep performance that won the Oscar in 2012, so by default Gillian deserves just as much. The perfect balance between capturing the real figure, and getting just enough of a caricature of her for the performance to be surreal. Give her the Globe now.

Dark Horse- Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown. Don’t underestimate Gillian's opponent. Helena's role as Princess Margaret takes a slight back seat in the latest season but when she does get focus, she shines brighter than ever before. The Margaret-centred plots of Season 4 were easily some of the most emotional and memorable of the bunch, so don’t be too surprised if Margaret comes before Thatcher... 

Possible Snubs- No one in particular that I would say rivals The Crown's nominees, although Netflix efforts like The Queen's Gambit had a varied supporting cast to choose from. However, I think the Globes got this one quite spot on. 

 

Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Film- Ethan Hawke, The Good Lord Bird

Pretty much a blind choice from me here, as I haven’t seen any of the nominees, although I’ve heard Hawke's performance in this get quite a bit of chatter. He’s up against plenty of big names including Brian Cranston and Mark Ruffalo however so chalk this up as one of my least confident predictions.

Dark Horse- As far as I’m concerned, anyone could win this, but if I had to pick a second choice I’d go with Jeff Daniels for The Comey Rule, due to Daniels' past as a comedic actor and the series' controversial political subject matter. 

Possible Snubs-Without a doubt, even if the series itself wasn’t nominated, David Tennant should’ve seen a nomination for Des. I’m sure that BAFTA will make up for it, but his performance was, as always, worthy of Global Acclaim. 

 

 

Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Film- Anya Taylor Joy, The Queen's Gambit

 

Not an easy choice, but I could see Queen's Gambit doing its own little sweep of the TV awards. Anya Taylor-Joy is definitely among the upper echelon of this new generation of talent, this Golden Globe could symbolise a turning point in her career. However, she’s got some stiff competition so it really could go either way.

Dark Horse- Nicole Kidman has been killing it on the small screen lately so I wouldn’t be shocked if she makes a little awards season appearance for her part in The Undoing. 

Possible Snubs- Nothing in particular, but the nominees that are here are all in with a shot.

 

 

Best Actor in a TV Series: Musical or Comedy- Jason Sudeikis- Ted Lasso.

 

Absolute guess work from me here. I could see this being an unpredictable one, with Ramey Youssef probably the clear favourite. I went with Sudeikis purely because it was the only show I was familiar with. Ted Lasso has been somewhat of a sleeper hit for Apple TV and it’s picked up quite a bit of praise as both a laugh fest and a heart warmer, so even if the acting doesn’t get the accolades I expect to got a good shot of one or two awards. 

Dark Horse- Literally any of the nominees, though I have a sneaky feeling about Ramy Youssef. 

Possible Snubs- Not even a mention for Ricky Gervais' continued excellence on Netflix with After Life, although with his history with the awards show and its establishment this may be a purposeful omission. That being said, if he was in this list he would shoulders above when it comes to a layered performance. 

 

 

Best Actress in a TV Series: Musical or Comedy- Lily Collins- Emily in Paris 

 

Once again it’s a pretty even race, but I see Netflix being a particular winner in the streaming wars when it comes to award season. Emily in Paris wasn’t ground breaking but I think it got the attention it was after, and Lily Collins is always a joy, so this one was purely down to reputation for me.

Dark Horse- Anyone’s up for it.

Possible Snub- Nothing springs to mind. 

 

 

Best Actor in a TV Series: Drama- Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul

 

Every year fans of Better Call Saul stress how underrated Odenkirk has been. Overlooked constantly for the last few years, despite carrying this Breaking Bad spin off from a cool idea to a consistent and near eclipsing standalone show. Maybe this is the year. Maybe not, but I can’t see a better time for Bob Odenkirk to get his due. 

Dark Horse- Don’t be surprised if The Crown makes a sweep of the acting accolades and Josh O'Connor gets this one. He’s probably the odds on favourite but I think his performance is just a bit less vital to the success of The Crown in comparison with Odenkirk and Saul. Who knows.

Possible Snub- None of note, although there’s a distinct lack of diversity in these TV acting noms. There’s plenty of black actors with leading TV roles to choose from, so it does seem a bit of a step backwards.

 

 

Best Actress in a TV Series: Drama- Emma Corrin, The Crown  

 

I cannot stress this enough. Emma Corrin was incredible in this series. How do you capture the heart of the woman who captured the heart of a whole nation? Ask Emma Corrin, she managed it with that perfect blend of tragic heroine and lovable introvert. Unlike her fellow nominee, Olivia Colman, Emma has only got one shot at this, coming in one season before the bi-annual recast. She deserves this, on performance alone. 

Dark Horse- Olivia Colman is an award magnet, so she’s surely got the best odds, but this season really wasn’t about The Queen all that much. It was Emma's season. If it goes to Olivia it’ll be a bit of a mistake in my eyes. Emma's strongest competitor is probably Jodie Comer,the only non Netflix performance in this category. 

Possible Snubs- They’ve got this list pretty spot on, but I sure hope this time next year I see It’s a Sin's Lydia West nominated, she’s incredible right now. 

 

Best Television Series: Musical or Comedy- Ted Lasso

 

As I said, I’ve just got a feeling about Ted Lasso. It’s not a very compact category this year but Ted Lasso has been a bit of a hit for Apple in the streaming wars so I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets a tip as the best Comedy. 

Dark Horse- Emily in Paris. Like it or not Netflix is getting itself competing in pretty much every other award category so why not comedy? Schitt's Creek is the long running series that may get the award for its longevity.

Possible Snubs- After Life on Netflix got wide critical appraise so it’s a surprise to see it miss out on a nomination again, but I’m not sure how it’s been received oversees. 

 

Best Television Series: Drama- The Mandalorian 

 

Call me a crazy, devoted Star Wars nerd. You’d be right. But I feel like this will be the big talk of awards night. The night a Star Wars TV show won the best TV drama award and Disney Plus picked up its first major accolade. Is it deserving? Absolutely. There’s no doubt in my mind this was the most incredible piece of programming released in 2020. It was the show on everyone’s lips. The edge it has over Netflix? It’s release strategy. Binge watching isn’t the same as weekly form storytelling. Mandalorian got people talking for 8 weeks straight, and with good reason. Aside from being the most visually epic thing outside of the cinema since Game of Thrones left with a whimper, Mandalorian is also responsible for making Disney Plus a competitor, and for making Star Wars beloved again. 

Dark Horse- The critics choice will be The Crown, and let’s not forget just how good that series was this year too. But I ask you this, what scene in The Crown season 4 competes with that Mandalorian finale ?

Possible Snubs: Once again , every show you expect made its way into the nominations. Nothing for me. 

 

Film-

 

Best Foreign Language Film- Minari 

 

Not as easy a choice as last year's category, but with A24 producing and with Steven Yeun starring as he aims for a more serious dramatic role, Minari is probably the bookies choice for best foreign film. 

Dark Horse- La Llorona, not to be confused with the recent Curse of La Llorona, is a rare appearance at the Golden Globes for a horror movie. It would be an important night for horror fans if this Spanish speaking horror went and won the award, and with a lot of fans calling it the best horror movie in recent years, it’s possible.

Possible Snubs- Having spent too long trying to catch up on last years foreign film picks, I haven’t got around to seeing any newer additions, so nothing to add for this one.

 

 

Best Animated Feature- Soul 

 

Soul was exactly what the World needed. An uplifting, if slightly existentialist, Disney family movie released over the holidays on streaming. Soul has to be the winner of Best Animated Feature purely for the fact it has beautiful animation. Pixar is constantly upping its own quality visually, and Soul features some of its most breathtaking motifs and vistas to date. 

Dark Horse- Pixar has a double  Chance with their other movie of 2020, Onward. Personally I think Soul was a better movie, but Onward had a very different and equally moving message at its core. Both are heavy contenders. Don’t rule out The Croods 2 which seems to have flown completely under the radar yet had a few diehard supporters who insist its a well made and superior animation to the first. 

Possible Snubs- No surprise that Scoob didn’t make the cut, although I will advocate for Spongebob 3. I thought in terms of animation style it was a big step up, even if the story etc was a little on the lacking side. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best Original Song- Hear my Voice, Celeste and Daniel Pemberton, The Trial of the Chicago 7 

 

A tough one to call. Music is an important part of storytelling. Celeste has been one of the breakout stars of the last year and her song in this awards-buzz movie is as emotive and thought provoking as the film itself. It faces tough competition but I can see this being the top dog. Add to that, the relevancy of the song in today's world, the need to be heard above a cacophony of noise and I think the combination makes for a globes winning track. 

Dark Horse- Everything I praised Hear my Voice for can also be said about another nominee. Fight for You from Judas and the Black Messiah. Equally soulful and with similar messages. I’d say the chances are pretty 50/50 but I give the edge to Celeste's track for the overall bigger buzz around the movie itself.

Possible Snubs- No other songs that could compare to the nominees. One might assume a comedy entry from the Eurovision movie, but it really wouldn't feel at place with the high prestige of this list.  

 

Best Original Score- Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Mank 

 

An absolute stalwart of the industry. Trent Reznor has scored more top quality movies than some of the most respected classical composers. With Ross, he has produced a score that elevated Mank from a purely visual to completely sensory experience. Like the film itself, the score is a faithful recreation of the Hollywood Noir, complete with sounds and motifs that transport you to a long lost but not completely forgotten time. 

Dark Horse- Reznor and Ross have a double Chance of winning as they both also worked on Soul. Soul's score was jazzy and colourful with just the right amount of bittersweet. Like Mank, Soul was raised by its music. Don’t rule out Ludwig Goransson's work on Tenet, which captured the bombastic mind bending physics of a Christopher Nolan experiment very well, and matched up with most efforts Nolan's usual collaborator Hans Zimmer had painted over the years. 

 

 

Best Screenplay- Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7

 

This is a must—win for me. Trial of the Chicago 7 was one of the best written movies of the last few years. Aaron Sorkin is the master of clever screenwriting. Without his talent for words, his penchant for dramaturgy and his unique blend of hair pulling intensity and smirk-inducing wit , the Trial of the Chicago 7 would not be the hit that it is. 

Dark Horse- Mank could do a big sweep if the cards are right. Jack Fincher could become the first person to win a golden globe 18 years posthumously. David Fincher made the movie as a passion project, based on a screenplay his father Jack wrote many years ago before dying in 2003. The script is a tight affair and definitely oozes with commitment and interest. 

Possible Snubs- mostly spot on from the Globes here, although it would’ve been nice to see a nomination for Guy Ritchie, who produced one of his tightest screenplays in years for The Gentlemen. His best work since Snatch.

 

 

Best Director- David Fincher, Mank 

 

A very stacked category. It’s always hard to call. If I was a betting man I might say Emerald Fennell is the likely candidate. I do think there’s a high chance we see a female Director win this year, with three female directors up for this award. However, if I had to choose the best directing job I saw in 2020, it would probably be Fincher. Mank was his baby, his absolute passion project. A family legacy, and a committed recreation of golden age Hollywood. Even if he doesn’t win best Director, Mank deserves at least one or two of its globe nominations to win.

Dark Horse- Emerald Fennell for Promising Young Woman. Fennell is an up and coming voice in film with experience both sides of the camera, and her work here makes her a very good candidate for this award. Don’t be surprised if new trumps old. 

Possible Snubs- Christopher Nolan is rarely omitted. Tenet may not be his best movie, but many were expecting he would make it to nomination based on his creativity in spectacle alone. Understandable, but slightly harsh. Tenet was no inception, but Nolan has yet to produce a film that isn’t visually and narratively enthralling. 

 

 

Best Supporting Actor - Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7

 

If it were possible I’d want the entire ensemble cast of this film to share the award. Every single actor was at their top game, but I understand the focus on Sacha in particular. This was the performance of his career. Unlike his co-stars, we’ve never seen this come out of him quite so transformatively before. He was a perfect casting for the role and he added a real human quality to it. Definitely one of the standout performances of the year. 

Dark Horse- Daniel Kaluuya in Judas and the Black Messiah. It’s not out here yet but the film looks like it’ll live up to the hype and Kaluuya is always a top class actor, his performance is getting a lot of critical praise. 

Possible Snubs- Robert Pattinson deserved a shout for his performance in The Devil all the Time. Skin-crawling, slimy and masterful. He was probably the most memorable element of the Netflix film which has quickly become under appreciated. 

 

Best Supporting Actress- Olivia Colman, The Father

 

I haven’t seen The Father but you just know Olivia Colman has a good chance of another award here. As usual, Olivia is supposed to be on top form with an emotionally heightened performance. If you’re a betting man this is kind of like putting your money on Red Rum to win the national. 

Dark Horse- There’s some big names competing for this one, including Mank's Amanda Seyfried who captured Marion Davies' starry eyes perfectly, and Glenn Close who was supposedly one of the more redeeming features of Hillbilly Elegy.  

 

 

 

 

Best Actor, Musical or Comedy- Dev Patel, The Personal History of David Copperfield 

 

 

This one is a strange category, with some extremely different performances competing against one another. However, Dev Patel always shines and to see the David Copperfield film get a nomination at all was surprising. It’s possible Patel has got a good shot here.

Dark Horse- Maybe the Globes will applaud bravery and political satire with Borat's Sacha Baron Cohen, maybe they’ll opt for the recorded musical performance of Lin Manuel Miranda? It really could go any way.

 

Best Actress, Musical or Comedy- Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm 

 

This is a must win. Maria Bakalova was the surprise highlight of Borat 2. A debut role, and a ballsy one at that, with all the best scenes, stunts and cringe worthy moments going to Bakalova's character. 

Dark Horse- The Globes may opt, snobbishly, to instead give the award to a more classical performance in Anya Taylor Joy for Emma, but I think this would be a big oversight. 

Possible Snubs- With a few Netflix originals getting surprise noms, I was surprised to not see Millie Bobby Brown's Enola Holmes. It would’ve counted as a comedy for the Golden Globes and she carried an entire full budget adventure on her young shoulders so I think she deserved a little nod in this category. 

 

Best Actor, Drama- Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

 

Even without the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman, this would be a career high performance. The added context only heightens what is already a show-stopping role. Boseman's passion feels like his entire life force is on show the entire time. Not since Heath Ledger in 2008 has it been so necessary for a posthumous award to be given.

Dark Horse- As sure as I am Bosewick has won this one, he has some big competition. Gary Oldman gives his all every time he’s on screen, and Mank is no exception. Anthony Hopkins is also in with a chance for his heartbreaking role in The Father. 

 

Best Actress, Drama- Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman

 

Perhaps one of the hardest ones to call. The choices for Best Actress are as wide an array of talent as any category this year. I think the buzz surrounding Promising Young Woman, and its particular focus on the performance of Mulligan, mean she has a good chance of winning the Golden Globe. 

Dark Horse- That being said, Viola Davies gave her all in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. The wide acclaim of Bosewick's performance has sometimes slightly overshadowed her commanding and strong persona in the film. Don’t rule out Vanessa Kirby either, who has been getting lots of praise for her emotional role in Pieces of a Woman. 

Possible Snubs- Wunmi Mosaku for His House. It’s not strictly a drama, but where do you place Horror in the strange genre-placing of the Golden Globes? His House hasn’t received any big awards buzz and it’s a real shame. The best horror of 2020, with some incredible direction, and Mosaku's performance was shoulders above what you’d expect in a British indie horror. 

 

 

Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy- Hamilton 

 

I don’t even think Hamilton should count here, being a stage show from 2015 that was recorded, but the discourse is already past. Hamilton will probably win this award, and it’s hard to deny its popularity and importance. It transcends mediums. 

Dark Horse- if it were up to me, Borat 2 would clinch this in a shock victory. You never know, maybe it’ll happen. 

 

 

Best Motion Picture, Drama- The Trial of the Chicago 7

 

Hard to call 100% but out of the films on offer, I think the overall best motion picture should be Sorkin's Trial of the Chicago 7. One of the highlights of 2020 cinema, and one of my favourites of the year, it was a combined effort of Director, ensemble cast and all production roles. 

Dark Horse- I could be wrong, and perhaps the overall aesthetics of David Fincher's Mank will win over the Globes, for me those are the two best shouts. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biggest Winners and Losers: 

 

So that’s that. We will know for sure in just over 2 weeks time. Maybe I got a few right, maybe I got them all right. Maybe I was miles off. Awards shows are often unpredictable and don’t always go for the supposed odds on favourites. Check out the stats below to see which productions I see being the big winners on the night.

 

TV:

 

The Crown (2), The Queen's Gambit (2), Ted Lasso (2)

 

FILM:

 

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (4), Mank (2), 

 

 

STREAMING WARS:

 

Netflix (13), Apple TV (2), Disney+ (2), Amazon (2)