With the Golden Globe Awards quickly approaching, the hype has officially begun. Millions will be tuning in to see their favorite actors walking down the red carpet, fawning over the adorable Stranger Things cast or critiquing the latest styles. However, the ultimate question of the night is which actors and movies will win in their respective categories? Below I’ll hazard a guess on who or what will win in the major film categories.
Best Film (Drama)
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The Shape of Water
Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water is a beautiful tale of love between outsiders, with a mythical element which gives it that much-needed edge this award season. The performances are stellar by all of the actors, particularly Sally Hawkins, and the vivid colors and deep shadows of the movie make it visually pleasing. The Shape of Water has an innovative edge and has already received international critical acclaim. However, watch out for Call Me By Your Name and The Post, both of which have a chance to steal the award, as well.
Best Film (Musical or Comedy)
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Lady Bird
Greta Gerwig’s coming-of-age film is a realistic portrayal of a teenage girl’s transition to adulthood, filled with profound emotion and humor. With a near-perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes and vast critical acclaim, Lady Bird is a favorite this award season and has the strongest chance of winning the Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy. However, Jordan Peele’s Get Out has a chance, as well, for its powerful message about racism in America. The reason I did not choose Get Out for my prediction is because the film came out nearly a year ago in February of 2017, making it a less fresh option in the minds of the voters, as opposed to Lady Bird.
Best Supporting Actor
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Willem Dafoe for The Florida Project
The supporting actor category is filled with great talent, but Dafoe’s performance in The Florida Project as the secretly warm-hearted hotel manager of a rundown motel is unforgettable. With nearly universal critical claim and near certainty that he will earn an Oscar nomination for his role, it’s a safe bet to say Dafoe will snag the best supporting actor award.
Best Supporting Actress
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Laurie Metcalf for Lady Bird
Lady Bird was one of the most noteworthy films of the year by director Greta Gerwig, which in large part was due to the relationship between Lady Bird/Christine and her mother Marion McPherson. Laurie Metcalf gave a realistic and profoundly emotional portrayal of a mother in a tense relationship with her daughter. She captured the endless love mothers have for their daughters, but also the pain such a fraught relationship between a mother and a daughter can cause. The only other potential competition against Metcalf I can see is Allison Janey for her role in I, Tonya as the strict mother of the infamous figure skater.
Best Actor in a Drama
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Timothee Chalamet for Call Me By Your Name
Now, this was the toughest prediction to make as this category also holds powerhouse actor Gary Oldman for his role as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour. However, unlike with Call Me By Your Name, the Darkest Hour is only being recognized for Oldman’s performance — not the movie as a whole. As Call Me By Your Name is nominated for Best Drama at the Golden Globes, the film itself has more support overall than the Darkest Hour, giving it a much-needed advantage. Not to mention, Chalamet gives an incredibly vulnerable and emotional performance as 17-year-old Elio Perlman, which is unmatched in its frankness.
Best Actress in a Drama
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Frances McDormand for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Another tough prediction to make, but I believe Frances McDormand will walk away with the award for Best Actress in a Drama. McDormand plays the role of a mother enraged at the failure of the local police to capture the man who raped and murdered her teenage daughter. McDormand portrays the character as angry, tough and disillusioned, but ultimately heartbroken over her daughter’s death. The other most likely winner is Sally Hawkins for her role as a mute janitor who falls in love with an amphibian man in The Shape of Water.
Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy
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Daniel Kaluuya for Get Out
Kaluuya carried the film Get Out — his performance truly maintained the focus of the film, and his expressive acting resounded with audiences. If Peele will not be recognized for his work as a director, the Globes must recognize Kaluuya for his role in the film. The only true competition I see for Kaluuya is James Franco for The Disaster Artist. However, it would be a bad move for the Golden Globes if they overlooked how revolutionary Get Out is, especially after the backlash for categorizing the horror film as a comedy.
Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy
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Saoirse Ronan for Lady Bird
Ronan gives her best performance yet in Lady Bird as the outspoken, honest and ultimately lonely teenager. This movie is a gem, and it is carried by Ronan’s stellar performance. I am positive Ronan will win, especially given the praise Lady Bird has received, overall.
Best Director
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Guillermo del Toro
Without the competition of Greta Gerwig and Jordan Peele, Guillermo del Toro seems to be the most likely to win the award for Best Director. The visuals of The Shape of Water are as stunning as its story; it’s time Del Toro was recognized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for his incredible talent in the fantasy genre.
Let me know what your predictions are in the comments! Be sure to watch the Golden Globes this Sunday at 8 p.m. EST and 5 p.m. PST.
