The much-anticipated Golden Globe nominations are in and as always, we look into the crystal ball to try to guess who will be the winners and losers.
“The Banshees of Inisherin,” a darkly comic story of a shattered friendship set against the backdrop of the Irish civil war, led the nominations for the 2023 Golden Globes. It scored eight nods, including best picture in the musical or comedy genre, as well as for Martin McDonagh’s directing and screenplay.
“Everything Everywhere All at Once,” an innovative sci-fi fable that unfolds across a multiverse, followed close behind with six nominations. “The Fabelmans,” Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical examination of his childhood; “Babylon,” a Rabelaisian look at Hollywood’s silent era; and “Elvis,” a biopic of the rock legend, each had five nominations.
The Globes are usually seen as a hint as to what we can expect for the Oscar and other awards and trophies.
Unlike the Oscars, the Golden Globe separates comedies and musicals from dramas, allowing the group to broaden its field of honorees. Dramas up for best picture include “The Fabelmans” and “Elvis” (not listed as a musical despite containing nearly two-hours’ worth of music), as well as “Tár,” an indie about sexual harassment in classical music. There was also room for two blockbusters that theater owners hope can rescue the embattled exhibition business — “Top Gun: Maverick,” the year’s biggest hit, and “Avatar: The Way of Water,” which opens on Friday, carrying with it enormous expectations.
Best comedy or musical will be a fight between “The Banshees of Inisherin,” “Babylon,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” “Triangle of Sadness” and “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.”
“Abbott Elementary,” a sitcom about the teachers and students in a Philadelphia public school, earned the most nominations of any TV show with five. Those included nods for best television series (musical or comedy), as well as for creator Quinta Brunson’s lead performance.
Five shows — “The White Lotus,” “Dahmer,” “The Crown,” “Pam & Tommy” and “Only Murders in the Building” — scored four nominations apiece. “The Crown” is one of five contenders for best TV series (drama), joining veterans such as “Better Call Saul” and “Ozark,” as well as two new hits, “House of the Dragon” and “Severance.”
To capture the best TV comedy prize, “Abbott Elementary” will need to fend off “Only Murders in the Building,” “Hacks,” and two new shows that have established passionate fanbases, “The Bear,” a dramedy set in the culinary world, and “Wednesday,” a spinoff of “The Addams Family” that has become a megahit for Netflix.
There were some notable snubs and surprises as well. Perhaps not surprising, Will Smith, whose reputation has been damaged after he assaulted Chris Rock during the Oscars telecast, was shut out of the best actor race for his work in “Emancipation.” Amazon’s sprawling and expensive “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” also came up short, failing to earn a single nomination.
But the big headline is that in a year when female auteurs such as Sarah Polley (“Women Talking”) and Gina Prince-Bythewood (“The Woman King”) created some of the most critically acclaimed films, the best director category is entirely comprised of men. Spielberg and McDonagh will vie for the directing trophy against Baz Luhrmann (“Elvis”), Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) and James Cameron (“Avatar: The Way of Water”).
The show will once again air on NBC, which is bringing the broadcast back on a one-year, trial basis. Stand-up comic Jerrod Carmichael will serve as the show’s host. It will be back in person, though it lost its prime Sunday night slot and will instead air on Tuesday, Jan. 10, on NBC and Peacock.
See the full list of nominees here.
