Reacting To The Golden Globe Nominations

I've said it once and I'll say it again: It's a truly strange year. If you were to ask me which film had the edge after yesterday's SAG announcement and now the Globes, I still couldn't give you a confident guess.

"Trumbo" led yesterday's SAG nominations, the strangest occurrence I've ever seen. Today, "Carol" led the Golden Globe nominations, which is less strange, though still doesn't mean it's our frontrunner. The Globes have a long history with Harvey Weinstein, as every awards show does, so I don't know whether to chalk it up to the film's overall excellence or their affinity for Weinstein.

Similarly, "Brooklyn" a film I thought was universally beloved was not embraced as heavily here. "Room" on the other hand, showed some surprising strength, which could be good news for Brie Larson. Saoirse Ronan's surge in Best Actress critics' awards last week should not be overlooked, but if Larson starts winning, then look out.

Take a look at the full list of nominations below.

Best Picture: Drama-

• Carol
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• The Revenant
• Room
• Spotlight

Thank goodness "Mad Max" made the cut here. That Best Picture nomination seems really likely now, despite an absence with SAG yesterday. 

Best Picture: Comedy or Musical-

• The Big Short
• Joy
• The Martian
• Spy
• Trainwreck

A HUGE YAAAASSSSS FOR "SPY" MAKING THE CUT. Though I think this will be taken by "The Martian," the fact it was included here at all makes me happy (and sad because it deserves so much more awards love). 

Best Director:

• Todd Haynes, "Carol"
• Alejandro González Iñárritu, "The Revenant"
• Tom McCarthy, "Spotlight"
• George Miller, "Mad Max: Fury Road"
• Ridley Scott, "The Martian"

All of the Best Director nominees have films up for Best Picture. The only director not represented is Room's Lenny Abrahamson, who isn't as established as the names above (hence why he might've been left off). 

Best Actor: Drama-

• Bryan Cranston, "Trumbo"
• Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Revenant"
• Michael Fassbender, "Steve Jobs"
• Eddie Redmayne, "The Danish Girl"
• Will Smith, "Concussion"

I think Will Smith's slot will go to Michael B. Jordan from "Creed" come Oscar time; The Globes are notorious for nominating huge stars on the basis for being huge stars (hence Smith's inclusion here). I really wish I knew what people saw in "Trumbo," though after yesterday's SAG announcement, Cranston might be a threat for an Oscar nomination. I think this is Leo's to lose.

Best Actor: Comedy or Musical-

• Christian Bale, "The Big Short"
• Steve Carrell, "The Big Short"
• Matt Damon, "The Martian"
• Al Pacino, "Danny Collins"
• Mark Ruffalo, "Infinitely Polar Bear"

Not sure where "The Big Short" love is coming from, nor have I ever heard of "Infinitely Polar Bear," but I think we can all agree that Matt Damon will easily take this one. 

Best Actress: Drama- 

• Cate Blanchett, "Carol"
• Brie Larson, "Room"
• Rooney Mara, "Carol"
• Saoirse Ronan, "Brooklyn"
• Alicia Vikander, "The Danish Girl"

The Globes famously announced that they would ignore the Supporting Actress campaigns of Mara and Vikander, and they both found love in Best Actress where they should be campaigned. This differs from SAG, who accepts the campaign placement of its actors. "Room" having a Best Picture nomination over "Brooklyn" tells me that Larson could easily take this given the race being between her and Ronan. 

Best Actress: Comedy or Musical- 

• Jennifer Lawrence, "Joy"
• Melissa McCarthy, "Spy"
• Amy Schumer, "Trainwreck"
• Maggie Smith, "The Lady in the Van"
• Lily Tomlin, "Grandma"

They usually nominate her for everything and anything, but it seems this year we have a first: Meryl Streep is not nominated by the Golden Globes for a film she starred in (this year it was "Ricki and the Flash"). This is a pretty strong lineup, but I think they're going to give it to Schumer, who has had a pretty big year. 

Best Supporting Actor: 

• Paul Dano, "Love & Mercy"
• Idris Elba, "Beasts of No Nation"
• Mark Rylance, "Bridge of Spies"
• Michael Shannon, "99 Homes"
• Sylvester Stallone, "Creed"

The late surge for both Elba and Shannon is deserved, albeit surprising. Landing critical SAG nominations and now some here is really great. Strange that none of the "Spotlight" boys could break through; A real testament to the strength of this category. Rylance is the only nominee that's been present with every awards body thus far... is he our winner? 

Best Supporting Actress: 

• Jennifer Jason Leigh, "The Hateful Eight"
• Jane Fonda, "Youth"
• Helen Mirren, "Trumbo"
• Alicia Vikander, "Ex-Machina"
• Kate Winslet, "Steve Jobs"

WOW, Vikander got in for her amazing turn in "Ex-Machina." I have to say, I did not see that one coming whatsoever. Well deserved. Fonda is also a nice surprise; She's been campaigning a lot lately, though was left out of SAG. I hope Oscar nominates her. Though she's only onscreen for eight minutes, she's incredible. I do wish they recognized Kristen Stewart, who really was finding new life with the critics awards last week. (NOTE: Helen Mirren had both SAG and Globe nominations for "Hitchcock" back in 2012, and still missed out on an Oscar nom that year, not all hope is lost yet).

Best Screenplay: 

• Emma Donoghue, "Room"
• Tom McCarthy & Josh Singer, "Spotlight"
• Charles Randolph & Adam McKay, "The Big Short"
• Aaron Sorkin, "Steve Jobs"
• Quentin Tarantino, "The Hateful Eight"

Glaring omission of Phyllis Nagy for "Carol."

Best Original Score:

• Cater Burwell, "Carol"
• Alexandre Desplat, "The Danish Girl"
• Ennio Morricone, "The Hateful Eight"
• Daniel Pemberton, "Steve Jobs"
• Ryuichi Sakamoto, Alva Noto & Bryce Dessner, "Steve Jobs"

Best Original Song:

• 'Love Me Like You Do,' "Fifty Shades of Grey
• 'One Kind of Love,' "Love & Mercy"
• 'See You Again,' "Furious 7"
• 'Simple Song #3,' "Youth"
• 'Writings on the Wall,' "Spectre

The Globes tend to go more populist here than the Oscar's song branch does, but I'm thrilled to see 'Love Me Like You Do' here. 

Best Foreign Language Film:

• The Club
• Son of Saul
• Mustang
• The Fencer
• The Brand New Testament