The 2020 Golden Globes take place in Hollywood on Jan. 6, 2020. Ten films received Best Picture nominations in two different categories (Drama and Musical/Comedy) for the 76th installment of the awards given out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.”1917,” “The Irishman,” “Joker,” “Marriage Story,” and “The Two Popes” received nominations for Best Motion Picture – Drama. “Rocketman,” “Jojo Rabbit,” “Knives Out,” “Dolemite Is My Name,” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” also received nominations for Best Motion Picture – Â Musical or Comedy.
Hollywood has been buzzing over the last week since the the 2020 Golden Globes nominations were announced. This is officially the beginning of awards season. It’s the equivalent of March Madness in Hollywood because everyone can’t wait to see which stars will get upset, and which underdogs will come out of nowhere to snatch the most coveted prizes in show business.
If the Oscars are Hollywood’s version of the Super Bowl, then the Golden Globes are akin to the College Football Playoffs.
Best Motion Picture (Drama)
1917
The Irishman
Joker
Marriage Story
The Two PopesBest Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy)
Dolemite Is My Name
Jojo Rabbit
Knives Out
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Rocketman
Several top directors had their films recognized for Best Picture this year, including Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, Sam Mendes, Noah Baumbach, and Todd Phillips.
At the same time, lesser-known but equally talented directors Craig Brewer, Dexter Fletcher, Fernando Meirelles, Taika Waititi, and Rian Johnson also saw their films receive nominations.
Best Picture
This year’s nominated films cover historical events such as World War I and World War II, along with Jimmy Hoffa and the Teamsters.
Sam Mendes began his career directing plays in London. He’s best known for his auspicious debut as a filmmaker with “American Beauty” in 1999. Mendes returns to the big screen with the World War I drama, “1917”.
Martin Scorsese’s long-awaited film, “The Irishman” has plenty of controversy attached to it regarding the de-aging process of stars, Joe Pesci and Robert DeNiro. Netflix produced the film, which originally appeared in theaters for a month before debuting on the streaming service the day before Thanksgiving.
Todd Phillips is known for comedies such as the “Hangover” franchise, but he directed a dark and deviant origin story for the “Joker.”
Noah Baumbach’s latest film, “Marriage Story” is currently available on Netflix. It’s lazy to describe it as a millennial version of “Kramer vs. Kramer,†but if anyone has been through an ugly divorce, they’ll tell you that the film is almost too real.
“Rocketman” is sort of an autobiographical musical about the life of Elton John. The best way to describe the entertaining film is that it’s a musical for people who don’t like musicals.
Meanwhile, both Quentin Tarantino and Taika Waititi pushed the boundaries of reality with films about Hollywood in 1969 and Nazi Germany during WWII.
“Knives Out” is a classic murder mystery about the death of a very wealthy man and his squabbling kin.
Best Actress: Scarlett, Charlize, and Saoirse
There’s no guarantee an actor or actress will win an award by playing a historical figure. However, it’s definitely a way to garner attention from both critics and fans.
In “Harriet,” Cynthia Erivo portrays Harriet Tubman, the former slave turned abolitionist who risked her life to rescue other slaves with the underground railroad.
Renee Zellweger tackled superstar Judy Garland in “Judy,” which specifically focuses on a washed-up Garland who’s trying to overcome an addiction to pills and booze while fighting to support and keep her children.
Best Performance by an Actress (Drama)
Cynthia Erivo (“Harriet”)
Scarlett Johansson, (“Marriage Story”)
Saoirse Ronan (“Little Women”)
Charlize Theron (“Bombshell”)
Renee Zellweger (“Judy”)
Charlize Theron plays real-life news anchor Megyn Kelly, who exposed Fox News founder Roger Ailes for sexual harassment.
Saoirse Ronan received a Golden Globe nod for her portrayal of Jo March in the latest adaptation of the classic novel, “Little Women,” by Louisa May Alcott. Greta Gerwig directed the eighth film version of the Alcott novel.
Best Actor: Bale, Banderas, Driver, Phoenix, Pryce
Joaquin Phoenix is the favorite to win the Oscar for his role of the Joker in “Joker.” The origin story is dark and twisted, and an emotional rollercoaster.
Christian Bale plays Ken Miles, a hot-tempered race-car driver tasked with winning the Le Mans endurance race for the Ford company in “Ford v Ferrari.”
Antonio Banderas crushed his performance in Pedro Almodovar’s latest film “Pain and Glory.” Banderas plays the role of a creatively bankrupt director who struggles with his own inner turmoil and addiction during moments of heavy self-reflection.
Best Performance by an Actor (Drama)
Christian Bale (“Ford v Ferrari”)
Antonio Banderas (“Pain and Glory”)
Adam Driver (“Marriage Story”)
Joaquin Phoenix (“Joker”)
Jonathan Pryce (“The Two Popes”)
Adam Driver pulled off a heartbreaking, yet commanding performance in “Marriage Story.” Driver plays a self-absorbed playwright caught in a bitter divorce with his actress wife (Scarlett Johansson).
Jonathan Pryce, who dazzled audiences as a consummate character actor, finally gained recognition for his role of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio who will end up becoming Pope Francis. Pryce more than holds his own in scenes with Anthony Hopkins as Pope Benedict.
Are the 2020 Golden Globes Rigged?
Art is subjective. How do you properly award artists for their work when there’s no real metric to measure greatness? That’s the most difficult element when trying to handicap awards shows like the Golden Globes. The universal sentiment is that the Golden Globes are rigged.
“The Golden Globes are really determined by access to filmmakers and gift baskets,” said an anonymous television producer who has worked in the trenches of Hollywood for the last two decades. “I’m not kidding. Studios and agents bribe them (the Hollywood Foreign Press) with gift baskets. The best gift basket usually wins.”
If you spend enough time in a sportsbook, you’ll hear plenty of conspiracy theories. Like how the NFL is rigged by officials, or how the NBA is rigged to boost television ratings. While some of those narratives sound enticing while bogged down in a losing streak, the burden of proof is still missing.
When it comes to the 2020 Golden Globes, be very wary because Hollywood really comes down to a popularity contest. The best art doesn’t always win, despite what everyone thinks.
With that said, it’s our professional opinion here at OG that you should be extremely cautious when wagering on the Golden Globes and other Hollywood awards shows. In the true sense of the word, you’re gambling for entertainment purposes only.