The loves and likes of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association change as quickly as a 6-hour news cycle these days, but some of their choices for the 2020 Golden Globes were, to say the least, questionable. As longstanding awards watchers are well aware, the HFPA loves to spread the wealth so when films such as “Ford v. Ferrari” only land an acting nod for Christian Bale or “Jojo Rabbit” misses out on screenplay or a directing nomination it isn’t that big of a deal in the context of the larger awards season. It’s when they completely ignore a celebrated project or snub any female director or screenwriter where you have to wonder exactly what they were thinking.
READ MORE: “Marriage Story,” “The Crown” & “Chernobyl” top 2020 Golden Globe Awards nominations
Keeping that in mind some thoughts on the more unique choices the Golden Globes made for 2020.
Snub: “When They See Us”
Nothing. Not a nod. Nada. Zip. Zilch. And, oh boy, does this look bad all around. Ava DuVernay‘s celebrated mini-series was completely overlooked after 12 Emmy nominations and numerous accolades including a Gotham Award win last week. And considering its network, Netflix, led all companies with 17 nominations (including film nods), there are not a lot of excuses for the members to make. Boy, they are going to get a lot of well deserved anger for this one.
Snub: “Pose”
The HFPA are so fixated on the “next hot thing” when it comes to television that they somehow didn’t nominate the superior second season of the FX drama after rewarding the first season a year ago. Billy Porter earned his second nomination for Actor in a TV Series – Drama, but FX must be scratching their heads on how this one played out.
Snub: “This Is Us”
One day they love you, one day they don’t. After two straight years of Drama nods and nominations over that period for lead Sterling K. Brown, Mandy Moore and Chrissy Metz, the HFPA got bored with the hit NBC drama and somehow forgot it existed.
Surprise: Um, Cate Blanchett
Wow, what a moment for the anals of Golden Globe history. The already long-forgotten and critically dismissed Annapurna Pictures production “Where’d You Go Bernadette” found its star, Cate Blanchett, earning her 10th Globe nom in the Best Actress in a Film – Musical or Comedy category. Then again, they nominated her for 2001’s “Bandits,” so maybe we shouldn’t have been that surprised. Although, did United Artists Releasing actually campaign her for this? Did her personal publicist? Do the HFPA actually think she’s gonna trek to LA from Australia to sit through a whole telecast where she has absolutely no chance to win for a movie everyone dismissed in a minute?
Surprise: “Joker”
Todd Phillips‘ blockbuster is a dicey player this awards season. Joaquin Phoenix is likely a lock for SAG, BAFTA and Oscar nominations, but a Globe nod for Best Picture – Drama wasn’t guaranteed. And Phillips for Director? Over Greta Gerwig (more on that later), Noah Baumbach or Taika Waititi, among a slew of others? And in a wide-open year for Original Score, was Hildur Gudnadottir on the top of your list for a nod? Maybe, maybe not. But, overall, this was a Globes bounty for “Joker” that WB could have only dreamed of.
Surprise: NEON
Not only did the mini-major earn more nominations than peers Focus Features, A24 and Fox Searchlight, but it found the celebrated “Parasite” earning a Film Not In The English Language nomination (it was not eligible for Best Drama), Best Director and Best Screenplay nods. Throw in “Portrait of a Girl on Fire” also landing the Non-English nomination (it’s not even France’s Oscar submission, fellow nominee “Les Miserables” is) and NEON had a massive morning.
Snub: “Watchmen”
Only some superheroes, eh HFPA? Overlooking the buzzworthy HBO series in the Drama Series category is embarrassing, but snubbing Regina King, last year’s Best Supporting Actress winner for “If Beale Street Could Talk,” is somehow worse. Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston‘s performances in “The Morning Show” are objectively more worthy overall? You can do better HFPA.
Surprise: “Richard Jewell”
The surprise here wasn’t that Kathy Bates got nominated in the Supporting Actress category. The surprise was that it didn’t earn more. Reportedly the HFPA had gone absolutely gaga for Clint Eastwood’s latest melodrama and many consultants thought the esteemed filmmaker, star Paul Walter Hauser and the film itself could earn key nominations. Instead, only Bates made the cut. The film’s Oscar hopes now land with SAG who announce their nominees on Wednesday.
Snub: Adam Sandler, “Uncut Gems”
Listen, the Safdie Brothers latest isn’t necessarily an easy watch if you’re not down for it. The fact it missed out on Motion Picture – Drama and Directing nods didn’t shock many. On the other hand, Adam Sandler not earning an acting nomination in a crowded field was certainly disappointing. Especially as it seemed as though they were ready to send him an invite. Like other contenders, however, his hopes may live and die with the SAG Awards.
Surprise: “The Lion King”
Beyonce earning an Original Song nomination was a given, but the Disney Studios film earning an Animated Film nod, um, wasn’t? The Playlist can confirm the studio did not submit it for the Globes in this category and it’s not recognized as such for the Oscars. It also opens an entire can of worms in comparing Favreau’s version to the original animated classic, a discussion which the studio barely avoided during its release. For a company that has become adept at balancing multiple animated nominees like no other, this scenario will certainly be one of their tougher challenges.
Snub: Greta Gerwig, “Little Women”
Congratulations to Saorise Ronan and Alexandre Despalt for their acting and original score nods for “Little Women.” The HFPA did the bare minimum they could with those nods to recognize Greta Gerwig‘s critically acclaimed adaption. It’s head-scratching considering how the film not only fits into one of their beloved genres (period pieces) but features an ensemble of young ingenues you’d assume they’d want at their party including Florence Pugh (shockingly snubbed in supporting) and Emma Watson. Gerwig, on the other hand, was once again ignored in the Directing category (Natalie Portman famously noted her omission for “Lady Bird” during the Globes telecast) and didn’t make the screenplay cut either. Well, Louisa May Alcott isn’t for everyone, I guess.
Snub: “Game of Thrones”
Granted, one of the biggest television hits of the decade never won the Best TV Series – Drama honor from the HFPA, but it was nominated five times including the previous four years. That meant nothing this year it seems as only Kit Harrington earned a nomination in its last outing (over Maise Williams or Emilia Clarke? Really?). Guess when you’ve awarded HBO 15 other nominations it doesn’t really matter anymore, does it?
Snub: Robert De Niro, “The Irishman”
Martin Scorsese’s latest had a banner day earning five key nominations. The one nod it missed out on that Netflix is likely smarting over, however, is Best Actor – Drama. It’s one of the most competitive Oscar categories and “The Irishman’s” Robert De Niro didn’t make the cut. Granted, the aforementioned Sandler, Hauser, Robert Pattinson and Matt Damon didn’t either. But to miss out when there are 10 actor nominees overall including the Musical or Comedy contenders? It’s an issue when you’re looking for every angle to snag that Best Picture win in February.
Surprise: “Catch-22”
Wait, did anyone watch this besides the HFPA? The Hulu mini-series earned two, just two nominations…for Sound Editing and Special Visual Effects. The HFPA not only gave star Christopher Abbott a nod but a Mini-Series or TV movie nom over “When They See Us,” “El Camino,” “True Detective,” “Years and Years,” “Catherine the Great” and “Deadwood: The Movie.” Is this how you get executive producer George Clooney to attend the ceremony?