Arts & Culture

Golden Globes nominations

15 February 202115 February 2021By
Golden Globes nominations

With awards season around the corner, we take a look at the nominees for the 2021 Golden Globes and the biggest snubs and shocks from this year’s shortlist.

Film

History has been made for the Golden Globes in their nominations for Best Director. For the first time in its 77-year history, three out of five nominees for the Best Director – Motion Picture category are women.

This is the first time that more than one woman has made the shortlist in a single year. Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman), Chloe Zhao (Nomadland) and Regina King (One Night in Miami) are the history-makers for 2021’s Best Director shortlist. We are yet to see if this will now be the long-awaited norm for this category. Chloe Zhao is the first Asian woman to receive a nomination in the director category. Additionally, Regina King is the second Black woman to be nominated for directing. Francis McDormand and Carey Mulligan also earned lead actress nominations in their roles in Nomadland and Promising Young Woman.

However, diversity is still an area that the Golden Globes are struggling to navigate. Films with a black ensemble cast have a lack of recognition. This includes Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods and Shaka King’s Judas and the Black Messiah.

Netflix’s domination

Mank leads in the film categories with a total of six nominations this year. David Fincher’s tribute to old Hollywood is “re-evaulated through the eyes of scathing social critic and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as he races to finish the screenplay of Citizen Kane”. The film is also among many of Netflix’s nominations this year, with the streaming service earning 42 nominations, 22 of which are in film categories.

The category which is arguably the most mixed bag of nominations is the Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy category. It subsequently flows into the controversial Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy category. Hamilton, The Personal History of David Copperfield and Borat Subsequent Moviefilm did well in the musical/comedy category. Their lead actors Lin-Manuel Miranda, Dev Patel and Sacha Baron Cohen delivered strong performances. However, one of the more controversial nominees is James Corden for his role in The Prom which has received accusations of “perpetuating stereotypes of gay men”.

Who will win Best Screenplay?

The most difficult to predict category certainly comes down to Best Screenplay – Motion Picture. It features five complex and compellingly differently stories:

Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman

Jack Fincher – Mank

Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7

Florian Zeller, Christopher Hampton – The Father

Chloe Zhao – Nomadland

One of the most important nominations is for Chadwick Boseman for his final performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The posthumous nomination is the first Golden Globe for the beloved actor and a nod that his legacy and impact in the film industry will continue.

TV

As expected, several cast members of The Crown season four have all been nominated for their roles in the hit Netflix drama. This is despite the controversy around the portrayal of the royal family. Olivia Coleman received nominations in both film and TV categories. This includes one for her role in The Father and one for her role as the Queen in The Crown. Four of Coleman’s acting co-stars also received nominations for their roles in the show:

Emma Corrin – Best Actress in a Drama Series

Josh O’Connor – Best Actor in a Drama Series

Gillian Anderson – Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Movie

Helena Boham Carter – Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Movie

With its several nominations, the fourth season of Netflix’s The Crown is tipped to win Best TV Drama, beating other nominees such as The Mandalorian and Ozark.

Celebrating British talent

This has been a big year for British nominees. The gripping limited series, The Undoing, has both Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant receiving nominations for their roles. Steve McQueen’s Small Axe also received a nomination for Best Limited Series or Movie, with John Boyega receiving a nomination in for his role in one of the instalments. Other British actors who made the Golden Globes shortlist include Rosamund Pike, Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Comer, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Matthew Rhys and Nicholas Hoult.

This is a brilliant appreciation for diverse British talent by the Golden Globes. However, it does not help soothe the sting of Michaela Coel’s critically acclaimed TV series I May Destroy You being snubbed this year. In a shocking twist, the highly criticised and ridiculed Emily in Paris, starring Lily Collins, was nominated despite receiving a poor reaction from audiences earlier in 2020. Ignoring TV shows such as I May Destroy You shows the ongoing neglect of emotionally complex and deeply personal stories of creatives of colour, especially women. It is also difficult to take award shows such as the Golden Globes or institutions such as the Hollywood Foreign Press seriously when their nominations do not recognise true talent and art.

Final thoughts

The Golden Globes 2021 are having to adapt to the restrictions caused by Covid-19. They will most likely involve virtual acceptance speeches this year. The awards will be taking place on Sunday February 28, (early Monday morning for the UK). Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will also be hosting the ceremony. If the nominations are anything to go by, it may be a night full of shocks, triumphs and history-making.

Comments are closed.