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Golden Globes Film Predictions: Will The Night Shine on ‘Spotlight’?

The 73rd Golden Globes will take place this Sunday, January 10. The first Golden Globe Awards were held in 1944 in Los Angeles and have become a good predictor for the Academy Awards that are announced in February.

Event:  73rd Annual Golden Globes Awards

Date: January 10, 2016; NBC will air the Golden Globes from 8-11 PM ET/5-8 PM PT.

Location: International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California.

Here are some of my favorite movie categories and my predictions on who will take home the award:

Golden Globes – Best Picture – Drama Odds

Spotlight -275
The Revenant +300
Carol +550
Mad Max: Fury Road +1400
Room +1600

Spotlight is a pretty strong favorite to win the Best Picture award this year. The movie focuses on allegations against John Goeghan, an unfrocked priest who was accused of molesting more than 80 boys. It stars a fantastic cast with Mark Ruffalo, Liev Schreiber, Rachel McAdams, and Michael Keaton. Distributed by Open Road Films, the film was directed by Thomas McCarthy, who also directed Win Win, which was favorably received by critics. However, McCarthy’s last flick, The Cobbler, starring Adam Sandler, was a limited release that was panned by critics and flopped at the box office. With Spotlight, McCarthy had an A-list cast to work with, but does have some stiff competition with the incredibly gripping The Revenant, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, which was based on a true story.

While the action-packed ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ was a tremendous commercial success and ‘Carol’ received dozens of industry and critics’ awards, including being named one of the Top 10 films of the year by the American Film Institute, I don’t think any of these movies, nor Room, will pull an upset on Spotlight.

Golden Globes – Best Actor – Drama Odds
Leonardo DiCaprio -500
Michael Fassbender +450
Eddie Redmayne +1200
Bryan Cranston +2500
Will Smith +2800

All five of these nominated actors were given the nod for true-life performances, and Vegas seems to have Leonardo DiCaprio as a runaway favorite, thanks to his portrayal of the 1800s frontiersman Hugh Glass in ‘The Revenant‘. It’s DiCaprio’s 11th overall nomination and he’s won twice, the latest for his performance in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ (2014). You can’t count out Michael Fassbender yet, who nailed the role of Steve Jobs. It’s Fassbender’s third Golden Globe nomination, but he hasn’t won yet. Eddie Redmayne won last year for his amazing portrayal of Stephen Hawking in ‘The Theory of Everything’, and is now up for his fourth Golden Globe nomination. Hollywood’s love child Bryan Cranston is nominated for his role as Dalton Trumbo, an aspiring screenwriter who was blacklisted in Hollywood. The question is, will the dog Will Smith – who has five nominations, but no wins – finally get his day thanks to the best acting job of his career as Dr. Bennet Omalu in ‘Concussion’?

I would love to see Smith come home with the trophy, but I actually believe that Fassbender’s going to walk away with it.

Golden Globes – Best Actress – Drama Odds
Brie Larson -200
Cate Blanchett +300
Saoirse Ronan +500
Rooney Mara +1000
Alicia Vikander +1600

This is Brie Larson’s first career Globe nomination (‘Room’), but she is only marginally favored over Cate Blanchett (‘Carol’), who has 9 career nominations and 3 wins, her last one for ‘Blue Jasmine’ (2013). Alicia Vikander (who is also up for her role in ‘Ex Machina’), Rooney Mara and Saoirse Ronan are all on their second Golden Globe nomination. While Blanchett and Mara were memorable in ‘Carol’, Larson’s extremely powerful performance gives her the slightest edge in this close contest.
Golden Globes – Best Supporting Actor Odds
Mark Rylance +100
Sylvester Stallone +110
Idris Elba +150
Michael Shannon +1600
Paul Dano +2200

The lines on this category are a little fuzzier. Will the legendary Sylvester Stallone pick up a Golden Globe for the same role that saw him earn his first two Golden Globe noms? Sly was nominated for his acting and directing in 1976 for ‘Rocky’ and resurrected his role as Rocky Balboa in ‘Creed’. Or will the award go to Mark Rylance who is up for two Globes, here for his role on ‘Bridge of Spies’ and the other for his role on ‘Wolf Hall’. It’s Michael Shannon’s first time on the ballot, while Idris Elba is up for a sixth time and has already won for his role on ‘Luther’. Paul Dano, who gave a great performance in the Brian Wilson biopic ‘Love & Mercy’, deserves a nod, but Stallone and Rylance overpower the list. Look for history to repeat itself as Stallone walks away with another Rocky trophy.

Golden Globes – Best Supporting Actress Odds
Jennifer Jason Leigh +110
Kate Winslett +175
Alicia Vikander +225
Helen Mirren +450
Jane Fonda +1200

This is a category with four veteran actresses – Jason Leigh, Mirren, Winslett and Fonda – against the newcomer Vikander, who has been nominated twice this year. While I think that Vikander had a breakout year and the legendary actresses have proven once again why they are the best of the best, I think Kate Winslett is going to pull this one out.

Golden Globes – Best Picture – Musical/Comedy Odds
The Martian +110
The Big Short +150
Joy +350
Trainwreck +1400
Spy +2800

As a Melissa McCarthy fan, I love her and her goofy movies, but even though ‘Spy’ had some great moments it won’t take this award at all, especially being up against ‘The Martian’ and ‘The Big Short’. ‘Trainwreck’ and ‘Joy’ are very respectable movies, but it truly was the year of ‘The Martian’ (3 nominations this year) and ‘The Big Short’ (4 noms). This race is close, between Ridley Scott’s ‘The Martian’ at +110 and Adam McKay’s ‘The Big Short’ at +150, but I think ‘The Martian’ will edge it out for the win.

Golden Globes – Best Actor – Musical/Comedy Odds
Matt Damon -200
Al Pacino +350
Steve Carrell +450
Christian Bale +500
Mark Ruffalo +4200

If ‘The Martian’ is favored as Best Comedy Movie, does that mean that its star, Matt Damon, will walk away with the best actor award? Not necessarily, because this category is slammed with incredible actors who have all put on tremendous performances. Yes, Damon’s an extremely strong and favored contender, but Al Pacino still has it with his 17 career Globe nominations, this one for Danny Collins. Christian Bale, who has been nominated before for his roles in ‘American Hustle’ and won for his role in ‘The Fighter’, is nominated for ‘The Big Short’. His co-star Steve Carell, who has proven himself as a dramatic actor with several roles, including his role in ‘Foxcatcher’ for which it earned him his last Golden Globe nomination, was nominated as well. I’m going to go on a limb with this one and say to watch out for the dark horse, Mark Ruffalo, who was outstanding as a bipolar father in ‘Infinitely Polar Bear’. He could topple Damon’s sure thing.

Golden Globes – Best Actress – Musical/Comedy Odds
Jennifer Lawrence +100
Amy Schumer +150
Lily Tomlin +300
Maggie Smith +1400
Melissa McCarthy +1600

Again, I love Melissa McCarthy and ‘Spy’ was a great role for her, but I’d be surprised if Jennifer Lawrence doesn’t take this category for ‘Joy’. Amy Schumer is enjoying her first nomination, while Lily Tomlin has had seven overall, but no wins yet. Maggie Smith pulls away from the crowd with 12 nominations and 3 wins, but look for Jennifer Lawrence to take it from Amy, who has still had a fantastic career year.

Golden Globes – Best Animated Feature Film Odds
Inside Out -600
Anomalisa +700
The Good Dinosaur +900
The Peanuts Movie +2000
Shaun the Sheep +3200

‘Inside Out’. ‘Nuff said.

Golden Globes – Best Director Odds
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu +175
Ridley Scott +180
Tom McCarthy +225
George Miller +650
Todd Haynes +850

Looks like a three-sided coin flip between Inarritu, Scott and McCarthy. If I had to take an educated guess on this one, I’d go with Ridley Scott for ‘The Martian’.

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All of the Golden Globes Categories

(Motion Picture)

Best Motion Picture – Drama

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

Best Director

Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama

Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy

Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama

Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy

Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture

Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture

Best Screenplay

Best Original Score

Best Original Song

Best Foreign Language Film

Best Animated Feature Film

Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement in Motion Pictures

(TV)

Best Drama Series

Best Comedy Series

Best Actor in a Television Drama Series

Best Actress in a Television Drama Series

Best Actor in a Television Comedy Series

Best Actress in a Television Comedy Series

Best Mini-Series of Motion Picture made for TV

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for TV

Best Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for TV

Best Supporting Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for TV

Best Supporting Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for TV

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Written by Lisa Iannucci

Lisa Iannucci has been interviewing professional athletes and Olympians, sports writers and film/tv personalities for more than a decade. Her book, A Film & TV Lover's Travel Guide is now available: https://www.amazon.com/Location-Film-Lovers-Travel-Guide/dp/149303085X

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