Hot on the heels of yesterday’s SAG nominations, the Foreign Press Association today announced their own Golden Globe nominations. As you’ll have predicted with weary acceptance, I’ve implored my lacklustre thinking cells to consider what the announcement means to 2014’s Oscars race.
I guess in many ways, you could say that today was yesterday’s tomorrow. And if you’re not saying that then can I recommend that you take the longest, hardest look at yourself in the nearest mirror (although the vicinity of the mirror is optional, I’m simply trying to endorse your very own convenience. My pleasure).
For the less able of you, I’m hacking on about the fact that a mere day after the SAG award nominations were announced, we have a complete and, indeed, longer set of filmy names to look at and consider. The dear, dear Golden Globes used to be a firm statement of intent upon the awards season, but has recently taken a lengthy sojourn to backlash city. Luckily for you however, my perpetual insistence to remain behind the times means that I’m still keen to consider them as a chief indicator for the Academy awards.
A real list of the nominations is here and my thoughts are down there:
1. It’s a shoot-out between Gravity and 12 Years a Slave
Ok, so we’ve probably known this for a good while now, but the Best Picture will more than likely be picked between these two. Having considered their best film nominations and nods for Cuaron and McQueen, and utterly cleared your mind of words like ‘argo’ and ‘zerodarkthirty’, they are dead certs for Best Picture nominations at the Oscars.
At this point, their competition seems to consist primarily of American Hustle, which looks like a jocular performers’ romp as opposed to a heavyweight contender, and Captain Phillips which is perhaps a little to Argo-ish to pick up the votes it will require. Nebraska is certainly a dark (black and white, indeed) horse, but it’s been a hell of a long time since Bruce Dern’s win at Cannes and it’s a pony that may well have bolted a long time ago.
2. Idris Elba is the Mandela
Idris Elba in ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’ (Credit: The Weinstein Company)
Call me a disgusting old cynic but absorb these card, hold spoonerific facts:
a) Nelson Mandela exited this earthy realm on 5th December 2013;
b) Golden Globe nomination ballots closed on 9th December 2013; and
c) Idris Elba was Golden Globe nominated for his role as Nelson Mandela on 12th December 2013.
Hey. Hey.
Now the bounce may not quite last until March, but may well secure Elba his first Academy Award nomination come the 16th January. And, for fear of reprisals, that’s all I’ve got to say about that.
3. The Best Original Song category could be an utter star-off
Coldplay, U2, Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake. No, it’s not the playlist for Radio 2’s upcoming ‘Middle of the Road’ Music Festival. They’re all nominated for a Golden Globe this year for their Original (the term is, of course, used in its lightest terms) Songs. Great news for my dad; a bummer for the rest of us.
If it makes it any easier to bear, Jon Bon Jovi, Keith Urban and Taylor Swift (I know…AGAIN) were all nominated last time around without troubling the Academy’s crimson carpet, so there is yet hope that Chris Martin and Bono can leave their dinner jackets in one of their many walk-in wardrobes.
4. Aha. There may be a Partridge amongst the paparazzi
While Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa’s dismally weak jokes meant that it was never in danger of a shock Oscar call-up, Steve Coogan may well still get an invite. As ventured in this very blog, his splendid screenplay for Philomena has impressed the Foreign Press Association sufficiently to garner a screenplay nod and this should be a good indicator that the Academy will duplicate the honour.
5. There’s still hope for my Mads
With 2012’s The Hunt inexplicably earning a Best Foreign Language Film nomination (yes, I know that it probably isn’t inexplicable and no, I don’t want your boring explanation as to why that is) and likely to do the same at the Oscars, there is yet a slim hope that the masterful Mads Mikkelsen may muster a mention from the Academy.
Ok, so it’s true that the last couple of days weren’t overly kind to him and the Best Actor category is, as ever, looking very strong (it’s got ruddy dead Nelson Mandela in it for crying out loud), Mikkelsen’s stock is pretty strong at the moment after his lead A Royal Affair was nominated last year and now that he’s Hannibal shitting Lecter. Stranger things may or may not have happened.
My super apologies, but I just can’t justify spunking reams of cyberspace on listing the nominees in full, so Wikipedia will have to be your friend. I’ll be back in due course with more films For Your Consideration, reviews and the Oscar nomination news. As no serious person ever says in all sincerity, peace out y’all.
Bloscars 