The controversial Golden Globes are back in full force and many stars attended the event and recognized the HFPA this year. I don't know how the HFPA might influence the Academy's members choices, but I believe the big deal here is about who won and got a platform and screen time for a speech. Good speeches make wonders in the Oscar campaigning trail and we had very good ones.
Highlight wins for Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) and Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once) who really NEEDED to win in order to solidify their Oscar chances just in time for the Oscar voting process. More shocking wins: Argentina, 1985 which I really didn't see coming; and The Banshees of Inisherin winning over Everything Everywhere All at Once in the Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical category.
Best Motion Picture – Drama: The Fabelmans
A pleasant surprise! I was expecting Elvis (a movie I didn't like that much outside Butler's performance and some production and costume design elements) to win here. Spielberg is the legend and it is back at the "Best Picture WINNER" talk after being silence by the multiple critics wins of Everything Everywhere All at Once and The Banshees of Inisherin - Oscar voters aren't professional film critics and it seems The Fabelmans has an appeal of its own. It's a story many people working in the industry might relate at some point.
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama: Cate Blanchett, Tár
Blanchett seems almost unstoppable in her awards run for her (second) finest performance ever in Tár. After winning the so-called Volpi Cup for Best Actress (Venice Film Festival) and the trifeca (NYFCC, LAFCA and National Society of Film Critics awards) the Australian actress scores a big win in one of the most mediatic award shows in the world. A nomination seems secure to say the least!
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama: Austin Butler, Elvis
Not surprise, unlike many folks who truly believed Bredan Fraser would have an easy win here. Elvis is HFPA cup of tea: a biopic, with a tremendous lead performance, from a director with an over-the-top style that translates into the screen. Considering I was predicting Elvis to win Best Motion Picture - Drama, a Butler win here was a non-brainer. What it means? Well, considering Butler's performance in the critics awards circuit, he didn't get as many Best Actor prizes as Colin Farrell or Brendan Fraser, but he was often award with the Breakthrough Performance/Actor ones instead. In terms of the televised awards, I believe he can have a much stronger showing: he's a good looking and promising young actor, his performance is impressive and there are great reactions around Elvis during the guilds screenings, so I am prepared in case he takes the lead from now on.
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: The Banshees of Inisherin
Well... biggest lession here is: never mess with Searchlight! The company really has a great campaigning power. I was very secure about an Everything Everywhere All at Once win here, with Banshees as the 2nd option, but I thought the hype around The Daniels' movie was too strong to be beaten. This alignes the HFPA more with critics tastes, considering The Banshees of Inisherin is slightly less acessible for general audiences than EEAO as it solidifies its status as a major Best Picture frontrunner for the Oscars, considering it also bet EEAO in the Best Screenplay category!
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once
She needed this win and I was cautious about her chances here because of Margot Robbie in Babylon - she is one of the "it girls" of the moment, Babylon is the kind of movie HFPA loves and Michelle Yeoh is a POC actress who could be a victim of ethnic bias. Still, it proves her power and it puts her neck and neck with the titanic Cate Blanchett (Tár) in the Best Actress Oscar race! A wonderful performance that shows her range - the role she long deserved in a Hollywood production.
Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: Colin Farrell, The Banshees of Inisherin
No surprise here. He's taking the lead in the Best Actor race.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Surprising! I was not expecting a MCU movie to nab a win in the acting department. I never took Angela Bassett's Oscar chances for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever that seriously because of "genre bias", but she is 100% deserving of such an honor. She has a great "Oscar clip" with the "I am the Queen of the most powerful nation in the world" and she delivered a graceful acceptance speech at the Golden Globes. Will her long overdue 2nd Oscar moment coming? Sounds likely.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once
The cleanest sweep in the acting categories of the year. A comeback narrative and a delightful (and moving) performance. He had me at "In another life, I would have really liked just doing laundry and taxes with you"... and I guess he got all the world with him.
Best Director — Motion Picture: Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans
I really loved this win. He's a legend and The Fabelmans is his most personal and sensitive work in years - in fact, I believe the success of last year's new adaptation of West Side Story also contributed for a "it's time for him to win again" cinematic dream.
Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language: Argentina, 1985 (Argentina)
Shocking! I had it at #4 in this category. Vote split between the clear frontrunners? RRR took Best Song, so there was clearly love for that one, and Decision To Leave and All Quiet On the Western Front are Oscar-caliber contenders... Still, it felt refreshing. A good shocker is always welcome.
Best Motion Picture – Animated: Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Well deserved! And Netflix is campaigning it madly, so... I love this win, since Pinocchio is one of my favorite movies of the year.
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture: Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin
A very strong nominees shortlist, but I feel the most interesting and buzzy script has won. Everything Everywhere All At Once's screenplay wins for the originality and Women Talking's screenplay wins for its gripping message, but Banshees feels the most balanced.
Best Original Score – Motion Picture: Justin Hurwitz, Babylon
Rich sounds compose Babylon's score - it's pure musical electricity and I understand why the HFPA went for this one. It's a titanic score!
Best Original Song – Motion Picture: “Naatu Naatu”, Kala Bhairava, M. M. Keeravani & Rahul Sipligunj, RRR
No pop-star was able to stop "Naatu Naatu" from winning. The song is a hit and it will go all the way until it finishes in the Academy Award for Best Original Song nominees shortlist.
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