Hollywood's elite will descend on the Beverly Hilton this weekend for the 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards, a glittering ceremony that serves as the most significant bellwether for the upcoming Oscars race. With comedian Nikki Glaser returning to host for a second consecutive year, the night promises sharp wit alongside fierce competition, as established icons and rising stars battle for the coveted trophies.
The Frontrunner and the Fiercest Contenders
The film dominating the conversation is Paul Thomas Anderson's epic comedy thriller, 'One Battle After Another', which leads the field with an impressive nine nominations. Having already swept top honours from critics' circles in New York and Los Angeles, the National Board of Review, the Gotham Awards, and last week's Critics Choice Awards, the film is the clear season frontrunner. With a reported budget of around $130 million, it features Leonardo DiCaprio as an ageing revolutionary confronting his past. Despite this being DiCaprio's 15th Globe nomination, industry whispers suggest he may be pipped to the post.
In the category for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical, Timothée Chalamet is the favourite for his role in the high-energy ping-pong caper 'Marty Supreme'. The 30-year-old actor has been unabashed in his campaign, calling it his best performance yet. The film has already proven a commercial hit, grossing $60 million globally in under a month and becoming distributor A24's biggest UK box office success. The Golden Globes have a history of rewarding younger male talent, unlike the Oscars, giving Chalamet a strong chance.
Sure Bets and Potential Surprises
One of the night's most anticipated victories is for Irish actor Jessie Buckley, widely tipped to win her first Golden Globe for her portrayal of Shakespeare's wife in Chloé Zhao's adaptation of 'Hamnet'. Buckley, who rose to fame on the BBC's 'I'd Do Anything', delivers what The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw called an "unselfconsciously beguiling" performance. She and Chalamet both triumphed at the Critics Choice Awards, a strong indicator of Globe success.
Meanwhile, the Best Drama category is shaping up to be a clash between 'One Battle After Another' and Ryan Coogler's genre-bending blockbuster, 'Sinners', which has seven nominations and has grossed a staggering $368 million worldwide. A win for Coogler would make him the first Black director to claim the Golden Globe for Best Director, while star Michael B. Jordan could become only the fourth Black actor to win Best Actor in a Drama.
The Host and the Hollywood Landscape
Returning host Nikki Glaser, known for her raucous celebrity roasts, has already revealed one star is off-limits for her monologue jokes: Julia Roberts. Glaser noted that audiences in Los Angeles comedy clubs would not tolerate any mockery of "America's sweetheart," forcing her to finely tune any material about the actress.
This awards season also highlights a strategic shift at Warner Bros., which has two major contenders in 'Sinners' and 'One Battle After Another'. This comes amid reports of potential acquisition talks with Netflix, whose own awards hopefuls have failed to gain significant traction with voters this year. The results of the Golden Globes will set the stage for the Oscar nominations, which are announced on 22 January.
