The Golden Globes: Brent Predicts The Winners–And Who Should Actually Win

Here are my predictions for who will take home a Golden Globe this Sunday, January 11th. I give you who I think will win. Who I want/think should win. And most importantly, who was left off the ballot (which happens every year, courtesy of the Hollywood Foreign Press). You’d think they’d stop snubbing the talent at some point? Right? RIGHT?!?

Courtesy of circlecinema.com

MOVIES

Best Motion Picture – Drama

Foxcatcher
The Imitation Game
Selma
The Theory of Everything
Boyhood

Should Win – The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything
Will Win – Boyhood
Snubbed – American Sniper

The biggest missing piece to this category is director Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper. The film was brilliantly done. Eastwood is at the top of his directing game (at age 84). I just don’t get award season snubs like this one. Anyway, onto the nominees – I loved both The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything. Selma is probably the most important piece of film of 2014, with racial tensions extremely high and the lack of equality in this country astonishing low. It was hard to tell if what I had just seen onscreen happened yesterday, or more than 50 years ago. Foxcatcher, although good, was quite depressing. Boyhood was drab. It really was. But, it will win because of the process in which it was filmed. Over the course of 12 years, director Richard Linklater checked in with “the actors” to tell the story of a young man and his family. It just didn’t do it for me. The Imitation Game was brilliant. The Theory of Everything made me cry. American Sniper should have been nominated. Alas, I don’t get a real vote.

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

The Grand Budapest Hotel
Into The Woods
Pride
St. Vincent
Birdman

Should Win – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Will Win – Birdman
Snubbed – Begin Again

Again, let me start with the snub. From the director who brought us Once, Begin Again was a beautiful piece of musical film making. No, it is not a traditional musical where the actors break out in song; but the actors sing, and sing quite well. And damn it all to hell, Adam Levine’s “Lost Stars” is the best non-Taylor-Swift-song to be released in 2014. Okay, now that I have that out of my system… I loved British films this year. The Grand Budapest Hotel and Pride lead the way for my personal wishes and desires in this category. Unfortunately, Birdman will probably win. Why? I have no idea. This is the sort of movie The Hollywood Foreign Press votes for. It was terrible… *sigh* *louder audible sigh*. Into the Woods was a pretty good adaptation of the Broadway show that won Bernadette Peters some fancy awards. They just sang for 30 minutes too long. I watched this film Christmas day with my girlfriend, mom and step-dad (who grew up in Brooklyn and was a longtime Broadway critic). We all felt the same way about Into the Woods: The last 30 minutes felt like 2 hours. The only thing that saved that film for me was James Corden (of Gavin and Stacey fame) and Anna Kendrick. They’re adorable and I love them.

Director

Ava DuVernay, Selma
David Fincher, Gone Girl
Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman
Richard Linklater, Boyhood

Should Win – Ava DuVernay, Selma
Will Win – Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Snubbed – Chris Rock, Top Five OR Angelina Jolie, Unbroken OR Clint Eastwood, American Sniper

Every year I tell myself I won’t get upset over movie award snubs. And every year I get upset. I have no stake in these films. I just think that greatness should be awarded. Sure, we all have different opinions about what is good and what isn’t. So, let me just say that all three directors in my snubbed list should have nominations and hopefully they get their chance when the Academy Award nominations are released. This is a pretty cut-and-dry category. I’d like to see Ava DuVernay win. Women are historically snubbed in most areas of the award process. Ava deserves this award for Selma. Richard Linklater will win it only because he filmed a movie for 12 years.

Courtesy of PopSugar

Best Actor – Drama

Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game
David Oyelowo, Selma
Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything
Jake Gyllenhaal, Nighcrawler

Should Win – Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything
Will Win – Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything
Snubbed – Bradley Cooper, American Sniper OR Robert Downey Jr., The Judge

I liked each of the nominated actors’ performances. Eddie Redmayne’s portrayal of Stephen Hawking was what acting should be. Redmayne became Hawking. It was poignant and beautiful. It was heartbreaking. It will win him some awards. Benedict Cumberbatch is becoming my new favorite actor. Jake Gyllenhaal was good, but not great. I loved David Oyelowo as Dr. Martin Luther King. And Steve Carrell was creepy, which in and of itself was some good acting. But Eddie Redmayne was brilliant.

Courtesy of Hitflix.com

Best Actress – Drama

Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Jennifer Aniston, Cake
Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon, Wild

Should Win – Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Will Win – Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Snubbed – Scarlett Johansson, Under the Skin

This category was won as soon as Julianne Moore’s performance of a college professor beginning to lose herself in Still Alice played in theaters. Felicity Jones played the part of Mrs. Hawking well. Her performance showed the complexities of loving someone with a critical illness. Jennifer Aniston has tried and succeeded to stay relevant since Friends ended. Rosamund Pike’s performance as CRAZY was one of the stand-out performances of the year. And Reese Witherspoon seemed to capture the essence of real-life adventurer, Cheryl Strayed. But it was Julianne Moore battling Alzheimer’s disease that hit the hardest.

Best Actor – Musical or Comedy

Michael Keaton, Birdman
Bill Murray, St. Vincent
Joaquin Phoenix, Inherent Vice
Ralph Fiennes, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Christoph Waltz, Big Eyes

Should Win – Ralph Fiennes, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Will Win – Michael Keaton, Birdman
Snubbed – James Corden, Into the Woods

I know people liked Birdman. I tried to like it, I honestly did. I just couldn’t get into it. But, my thoughts don’t hold any weight with the HFP, so Michael Keaton will win. I’m glad the Batman of my childhood is finding success. I just wish it was with a better movie. I really enjoyed Ralph Fiennes in The Grand Budapest Hotel. And I’m glad they’re making a sequel. Bill Murray is still Bill Murray, which makes me happy. I’m not sure why Joaquin Phoenix is still around. He was brilliant in last year’s Her. This year he was just Joaquin Phoenix playing Joaquin Phoenix, which shouldn’t be award-worthy. Here’s the thing about Christoph Waltz: he’s good. He’s actually really good. I just want him to play something other than the villain.

Best Actress – Musical or Comedy

Emily Blunt, Into The Woods
Amy Adams, Big Eyes
Helen Mirren, The Hundred Foot Journey
Julianne Moore, Maps To The Stars
Quvenzhane Wallis, Annie

Should Win – Julianne Moore, Maps To The Stars
Will Win – Amy Adams, Big Eyes
Snubbed – Jenny Slate, Obvious Child

This category (Musical or Comedy) is actually weaker than its sister category (Drama), which doesn’t bode well for the Academy Award nominations. Amy Adams is the same character throughout Big Eyes, even when she resolves to leave her fame-stealing husband. There is no character development. Emily Blunt is good, but her character is killed off 30+ minutes before the movie ends. Helen Mirren is her glorious self and would have been up for the win, had it not been for Julianne Moore’s hauntingly sad portrayal of an aging actress abused by her more-famous actor mother. The only reason this performance is nominated in the Musical or Comedy section is because the film Maps To The Stars is a satirical look at the ravages of Hollywood. I’m actually not sure why Quvenzhane Wallis, star of last year’s wonderfully acted Beasts of the Southern Wild, is nominated for Annie. The film is a mess and the young starlet can’t sing. They should have nominated Jenny Slate, who carried Obvious Child, a movie you didn’t hear about this year. Which is a pity, as it was so good.

Courtesy of filmreviewonline.com

Best Supporting Actor

Robert Duvall, The Judge
Ethan Hawke, Boyhood
Edward Norton, Birdman
Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons, Whiplash

Should Win – Robert Duvall, The Judge OR J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
Will Win – Edward Norton, Birdman
Snubbed – Lee Pace, The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies OR Adam Levine, Begin Again

Look, I still don’t know why everyone liked Birdman… And I’m not sure why Edward Norton deserves to win, but he will. And it makes me sad. Robert Duvall played the hell out of his aging judge, who bitterly loves and hates his son, played by Robert Downey Jr. Ethan Hawke is filmed over a 12-year period. Kudos to him. Mark Ruffalo was nomination-worthy as an Olympic wrestler. J.K. Simmons is my other choice for “Should Win.” He plays the sort of music teacher that makes kids not want to join band. And yes, my love of The Hobbit means I have to include someone, somewhere in this write-up. Lee Pace delivers as the complex King Thranduil. His wife was murdered. He was forced to give his dead wife’s star jewels to Thrór, Kind Under the Mountain/Erebor. He wants the jewels back. And unbeknownst to movie-goers, he gets them back (wait for the Extended Edition blu-ray to come out). Adam Levine should have been nominated for his voice alone.

Courtesy of Time

Best Supporting Actress

Emma Stone, Birdman
Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Jessica Chastain, A Most Violent Year
Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game
Meryl Streep, Into The Woods

Should Win – Anyone other than Patricia Arquette
Will Win – Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Snubbed – Tilda Swinton, Snowpiercer

Patricia Arquette will win because she was good in Boyhood. All the other actresses nominated were “better,” but I have a feeling that the allure of Boyhood will get her the win. I will say that the reason I went to see Snowpiercer was because of a Stephen King tweet. It told me to go see Snowpiercer. So I did. With my girlfriend. She wasn’t thrilled. But there was a shining moment for the movie, and that was the acting of Tilda Swinton as a psychotic government figure aboard a train that never stops.

Best Screenplay

Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Armando Bo, Birdman
Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl
Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Graham Moore, The Imitation Game

Should Win – Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Will Win – Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Snubbed – The Coen Brothers, Unbroken

Best Foreign Film

Force Majeure
Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem
Ida
Leviathan
Tangerines

Should Win – Leviathan
Will Win – Ida
Snubbed – Deux Jours, Une Nuit

I watched them, without subtitles. So these choices are solely based on who I did the best voice-overs for.

Courtesy of Marvel

Best Animated Feature

Big Hero 6
Book of Life
The Boxtrolls
How to Train Your Dragon 2
The Lego Movie

Should Win – Big Hero 6
Will Win – The Lego Movie
Snubbed – Penguins of Madagascar

I didn’t like Book of Life or The Boxtrolls. I liked How to Train Your Dragon 2. I loved The Lego Movie. I loved Big Hero 6 even more! The end.

Best Original Song

“Big Eyes” (Lana Del Rey) – Big Eyes
“Glory” (John Legend and Common) – Selma
“Mercy Is” (Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye) – Noah
“Opportunity” (Greg Kurstin, Sia Furler, Will Gluck) – Annie
“Yellow Flicker Beat” (Lorde) – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1

Should Win – “Glory” (John Legend and Common) – Selma
Will Win – “Glory” (John Legend and Common) – Selma
Snubbed – “Lost Stars” (Adam Levine) – Begin Again

All I have to say is where in the f#@% is Adam Levine’s “Lost Stars” from Begin Again?!?

Best Original Score

Alexandre Desplat – The Imitation Game
Jóhann Jóhannsson – The Theory of Everything
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross – Gone Girl
Antonio Sánchez – Birdman
Hans Zimmer – Interstellar

Should Win – Jóhann Jóhannsson – The Theory of Everything
Will Win – Alexandre Desplat – The Imitation Game
Snubbed – Howard Shore – The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies

I bought the soundtracks to the following movies on iTunes: The Theory of Everything, The Imitation Game, and The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies.

Courtesy of Netflix

TELEVISION

Best Drama Series

The Affair
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
The Good Wife
House of Cards

Should Win – Game of Thrones
Will Win – House of Cards
Snubbed – Derek, The Walking Dead, Sherlock, Penny Dreadful

There were a lot of good drama series on TV last year. Only 3 are represented as nominees. I lost interest in The Good Wife after Will Gardner died. The Affair is not my cup of tea. Downton Abbey is still good. Just not great. Although, did you see the video of Lady Edith, Mrs. Patmore, and Mrs. Hughes playing Cards Against Humanity? Game of Thrones should win. I didn’t know people were still watching House of Cards, but apparently they are and apparently it was so good that it’s the favorite in Vegas to win the category. Any of the snubs should have made the list instead of The Affair. I would love to see some Sherlock love.

Best Comedy Series

Girls
Jane the Virgin
Orange is the New Black
Silicon Valley
Transparent

Should Win – Orange is the New Black
Will Win – Orange is the New Black
Snubbed – Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Last Man Standing

There are only 3 funny shows nominated: Orange is the New Black, Silicon Valley, and Transparent. But what the hell HFP??? Where is Brooklyn Nine-Nine? By far the funniest show on TV. Yes, Orange is the New Black is good. Yes, it deserves to win. But so did that ragtag group of detectives from the 99 Precinct in Brooklyn. Maybe I’m just getting old? Maybe I’m turning into my dad? He actually thought that The Office was a waste of airtime… I don’t care what anyone says or how they argue: Girls is not funny.

Courtesy of Variety

Best Miniseries or TV Movie

Fargo
The Missing
The Normal Heart
Olive Kitteridge
True Detective

Should Win – The Missing
Will Win – True Detective
Snubbed – The Honorable Woman

Fargo was entertaining and was mainly carried by Martin Freeman (who seems to be excellent in everything). The Missing was some of the best television this year. True Detective will win because it’s the type of show that wins these types of awards. I couldn’t watch more than one episode of Olive Kitteridge. And honestly, I feel that TV movies should have their own category. While The Normal Heart was well done, there was more to take in every week with the Miniseries (sans Olive Kitteridge).

Best Actress in a Drama Series

Claire Danes, Homeland
Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Ruth Wilson, The Affair
Robin Wright, House of Cards

Should Win – Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder
Will Win – Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder
Snubbed – Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black

Claire Danes returned to top form for season 3 of Homeland, but it won’t be enough to recover from a poor acting job in Season 2. I loved Julianna Margulies in the first 27 seasons of The Good Wife, but really, how much longer can this show go on for? Ruth Wilson – no. Robin Wright will always be Princess Buttercup to me, so I can’t badmouth her performance in House of Cards. Viola Davis keeps getting better and better with each new role. This is a promising outlook on her upcoming projects. And finally, has anyone at the Hollywood Foreign Press actually seen Orphan Black?

Courtesy of Interfacetalent.com

Best Actor in a Drama Series

Clive Owen, The Knick
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
James Spader, The Blacklist
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Dominic West, The Affair

Should Win – Clive Owen, The Knick
Will Win – Clive Owen, The Knick
Snubbed – BENEDICT EFFING CUMBERBATCH!!!!, Sherlock

Liev Schreiber should not be nominated. Kevin Spacey should not be nominated. Dominic West should not be nominated. James Spader plays the hell out of Red. But Clive Owen’s portrayal of fictional Dr. John W. Thackery in a early twentieth century New York hospital – who is addicted to cocaine. But where the hell was Benedict’s nomination? Hmm? Hmmm? Still waiting, HFP…

Courtesy of NY Times

Best Actress in a Comedy Series

Lena Dunham, Girls
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
Taylor Schilling, Orange is the New Black

Should Win – Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Will Win – Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Snubbed – Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

Ok. Lena Dunham – Not funny. Edie Falco – Not funny. Taylor Schilling – Great acting, not comedic. Julia Louis-Dreyfus – NEEDS TO FINALLY WIN, Not funny. Gina Rodriguez – Sort of funny.

Best Actor in a Comedy Series

Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Louis C.K., Louie
Ricky Gervais, Derek
William H. Macy, Shameless
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Should Win – Ricky Gervais, Derek
Will Win – Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
Snubbed – Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine-Nine

If you have not seen Ricky Gervais’ Derek on Netflix, stop reading this and go and stream the first 2 seasons. They are funny, heartbreaking, touching, inappropriate and everything good about a Gervais-written show. I tried to get through the most recent seasons of the other nominated actors’ shows, but I couldn’t muster the strength to watch more than a few episodes apiece. Jeffrey Tambor in Transparent is award-worthy, but someone like Andy Samberg, last year’s winner, was so much better in the sophomore season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. And he’s missing from the nominee list. As is most of the good talent this year.

Courtesy of NY Daily News

Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie

Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Honorable Woman
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Freak Show
Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge
Frances O’Connor, The Missing
Allison Tolman, Fargo

Should Win – tie: Frances O’Connor, The Missing / Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Honorable Woman
Will Win – Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge
Snubbed – Cicely Tyson – The Trip to Bountiful

There were some great performances, but the best performance didn’t even get nominated. Please go and watch The Trip to Bountiful for Cicely Tyson’s wonderful portrayal of Mrs. Watts.

Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie

Martin Freeman, Fargo
Woody Harrelson, True Detective
Matthew McConaughey, True Detective
Mark Ruffalo, The Normal Heart
Billy Bob Thornton, Fargo

Should Win – tie: Martin Freeman, Fargo / Matthew McConaughey, True Detective
Will Win – Matthew McConaughey, True Detective
Snubbed – Benedict Cumberbatch – Sherlock: His Last Vow

Bilbo. Matthew McConaughey (Because really…Does he ever play anyone but himself?). And Sherlock Holmes. ‘Nuff said.

Courtesy of flavorwire.com

Best Supporting Actress

Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black
Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Freak Show
Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
Allison Janney, Mom
Michelle Monaghan, True Detective

Should Win – Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black
Will Win – Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Freak Show
Snubbed – Janet McTeer, The Honorable Woman

I’m calling this one for Kathy Bates in American Horror Story: Freak Show only because of the season-long facial hair. I really, really want Crazy Eyes to win, though.

Best Supporting Actor

Matt Bomer, The Normal Heart
Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
Colin Hanks, Fargo
Bill Murray, Olive Kitteridge
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan

Should Win – Matt Bomer, The Normal Heart
Will Win – Matt Bomer, The Normal Heart
Snubbed – Andre Holland, The Knick

All you need to know is that everyone did plus work individually, but no one will move you like Matt Bomer in The Normal Heart. If you want to be moved, leave the other 4 performances behind and get ready for feelings.

So, how’d I do? Do you think I guessed correctly? Do you think you can beat me? Here’s the deal: If you think you can beat me, post in the comments below your predictions for the winners before the show airs on  Sunday night. Everyone who beats my score will have their name entered into a hat, and I will personally pay the name drawn from the hat $5. A crumpled $5 bill will be mailed to the selected winner who beats me. Make sure you post your predictions in the comments below. Good luck!

Not you. Me. I’m wishing myself good luck!

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