The 2022 Golden Globes Nominees (And Who The Winners SHOULD be)

Like the clip suggests, golden globes are dumb as hell. It's basically just an excuse for actors to get drunk and give an occasional incredible clip like this. 

That said, I don't mind using them as an excuse to talk about the movies and TV shows that I thought were great this year. 

TV

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy

Anthony Anderson, "Black-ish"

Nicholas Hoult, "The Great"

Steve Martin, "Only Murders in the Building"

Martin Short, "Only Murders in the Building"

Jason Sudeikis, "Ted Lasso"

For my money's worth, I think Hoult should win this. The Great is a really good show and Hoult, to me, is the star. He has such a brilliant delivery of every single line and nails what is a very emotionally complex role. The Martin-Short combo was outstanding in OMitB, which was one of the better shows of the year. But to me, their performances aren't as impressive. I haven't watched a ton of Black-ish, but I know their ratings have gone down this season by a chunk. Lastly, Sudeikis obviously rocks as Lasso, but I don't this he was as sharp this season compared to last. And I think that is more a product of this season's arc versus him specifically. I wouldn't be surprised if he wins, though. 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series -- Musical or Comedy

Hannah Einbender, "Hacks"

Elle Fanning, "The Great"

Issa Rae, "Insecure"

Tracee Ellis Ross, "black-ish"

Jean Smart, "Hacks"

I'd have to go with Jean Smart on this. Hacks was a huge pleasant surprise and It made me thrilled to see Smart get a lead after so many killer supporting roles lately. Einbender is the next up for me, followed by Issa Rae. Fanning is really good in the Great, but Hoult really steals the show like I mentioned before. 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series -- Drama

Brian Cox, "Succession"

Lee Jung-jae, "Squid Game"

Billy Porter, "Pose"

Jeremy Strong, "Succession"

Omar Sy, "Lupin"

This is a really hard one to pick from. Strong-Cox is a crushing duo, and the former was really good towards the end of this season. Lupin is sneaky incredible and a really cool adaptation of a story I didn't think I would love. I'm not caught up on Pose, but Porter is a very charismatic force from what I had watch. I think, though, Lee would be my pick. He had to perform across the widest range of emotions and did a fantastic job doing it.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series -- Drama

Uzo Aduba, "In Treatment"

Jennifer Aniston, "The Morning Show"

Christine Baranski, "The Good Fight"

Elisabeth Moss, "The Handmaid's Tale"

Mj Rodriguez, "Pose"

Out of this group, Moss is the most likely winner in my brain. If I had to pick who SHOULD win, I think I'd go with Uzo Abuda. She crushed this reboot series and she did a great layered performance. 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Paul Bettany, "WandaVision"

Oscar Isaac, "Scenes From a Marriage"

Michael Keaton, "Dopesick"

Ewan McGregor, "Halston"

Tahar Raheem, "The Serpent"

To me, this is Michael Keaton's award to lose. He is so fucking good in the role of Fenix and elevated the already great show to another level. The Serpent was a little disappointing and Scenes from a Marriage was depressing as shit. The performances were fine, but not jaw dropping. I will forever be anti Paul Bettany for screwing us out of a scoop, so he is off my list. But McGregor was actually pretty impressive in what I would describe as a just ok show.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Jessica Chastain, "Scenes From a Marriage

Cynthia Erivo, "Genius: Aretha"

Elizabeth Olsen, "WandaVision"

Margaret Qualley, "Maid"

Kate Winslet, "Mare of Easttown"

This is Winslet's to lose if you ask me. Mare was pretty solid drama and I think Winslet did a pretty good job immersing herself into a dirtbag role and she just felt real. Like a real person you or I might know and not an extremely awarded Australian actress. Genius: Aretha was a bit of a bummer, but Erivo was great as she always is. Qualley crushed 'Maid' and I think a lot of you would love that show. Olsen & Chastain were solid, but I don't think they're on the level of Winslet. 

Best Television Series Drama

"Lupin"

"The Morning Show"

"Pose"

"Squid Game"

"Succession"

This is either Successions or Squid Game's award to lose. The Morning Show & Pose both exist, there is no denying that. Lupin is fantastic entertainment! But Squid game was a revelation for good reason and Succession is the definition of prestige TV. I think this season of Succession is the weakest of the 3 but man, that finale crushed. It's also weird to talk critically about succession because the worst of succession is still far better than 95% of everything else on TV. 

Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

"Dopesick"

"Impeachment: American Crime Story"

"Maid" (Netflix)

"Mare of Easttown" (HBO)

"The Underground Railroad" (Amazon Prime Video)

Again, Dopesick was a revelation. It may have been a little better served if it was told chronologically, but I understand why they didn't do it that way. It's incredibly well acted and I think it serves the dual purpose of being informative while providing great drama. it almost reminds me of 'Chernobyl' in that sense. Mare and The Underground Railroad are the only two that are even in the conversation along with it to me, and neither were as good. 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Jennifer Coolidge, "White Lotus"

Kaitlyn Dever, "Dopesick"

Andie MacDowell, "Maid"

Sarah Snook, "Succession"

Hannah Waddingham, "Ted Lasso"

This is Dever's to lose. Not to keep caping for Dopesick, but she was SO good in that. One of the best performances and humanizing/accurate portrayals of addiction I can remember seeing. Honestly, all the nominees here did a great job, but Dever was the most impressive. 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Billy Crudup ("The Morning Show")

Kieran Culkin ("Succession")

Mark Duplass ("The Morning Show")

Brett Goldstein ("Ted Lasso")

Oh Yeong-su ("Squid Game")

Oh was responsible for all of the most emotionally moving scenes from Squid Game. The Marble scene….Mannnnnnnnn that crushed me. It would be him or Culkin, who really stepped up his game this season of Succession to me. Maybe giving CGI human Goldstein would be kind of funny. Again, the Morning Show exists and that's just fine. 

Best Television Series -- Musical or Comedy

"The Great"

"Hacks"

"Only Murders in the Building"

"Reservation Dogs"

"Ted Lasso"

I would easily recommend any of these 5 shows to anybody. All 5 are really witty, have solid dramatic moments and really good acting. It's really hard to pick between them, but I think I would go with Hacks. It is such a brilliant dramedy and it's hard to poke a hole in any aspect of it whatsoever.

MOVIES

Best Motion Picture -- Musical or Comedy

"Cyrano"

"Don't Look Up"

"Licorice Pizza"

"Tick, Tick … Boom!"

"West Side Story"

I think 'Licorice Pizza' is the best of this bunch(have not seen 'Don't Look Up' yet but hearing above average things). That said, I feel like 'West Side Story' is maybe the best movie that fits the spirit of the category. 'Tick…Tick…Boom!' was a little disappointing and Cyrano is an acquired taste to be sure. 

Best Motion Picture -- Drama

"Belfast,"

"CODA"

"Dune" 

"King Richard" (Warner Bros.)

"The Power of the Dog" (Netflix)

These were all good movies, but 'Belfast' is the standout. Extremely well shot, expertly acted and an awesome story for those of you that like a nice slice-of-life. 'the Power of the Dog' is picking up a lot of award steam, but it is a painfully slow burn of a movie. 'King Richard' was elevated comfort food that featured the second best performance of Will Smith's career. CODA was also phenomenal and is a great movie to go in tandem with last year's 'Sound of Metal'. Dune was awesome as well, but not my favorite of the year. 

Best Motion Picture -- Foreign Language

"Compartment No. 6"

"Drive My Car"

"The Hand of God"

"A Hero"

"Parallel Mothers"

I am painfully ignorant of this category with the exception of 'Drive My Car' which was exceptional. 

Best Screenplay -- Motion Picture

Paul Thomas Anderson, "Licorice Pizza"

Kenneth Branagh, "Belfast"

Jane Campion, "The Power of the Dog"

Adam McKay, "Don't Look Up"

Aaron Sorkin , "Being the Ricardos"

Out of these, my pick would be 'Being the Ricardos'. It was classic Sorkin with plenty of sharp, fast-moving dialogue and a well built narrative. Personally, I find him to be a much stronger writer in the non-political subject matter as well. My second place pick would probably be Licorice Pizza for what it's worth. 

Best Original Song -- Motion Picture

"Be Alive" from "King Richard" - Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Dixson

"Dos Orugitas" from "Encanto" - Lin-Manuel Miranda

"Down to Joy" from "Belfast" - Van Morrison

"Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)" from "Respect" - Jamie Alexander Hartman, Jennifer Hudson, Carole King

"No Time to Die" from "No Time to Die" - Billie Eilish, Finneas O'Connell

to be honest, none of these really stood out except "Dos Orugitas". The rest were just ok at best. 

Best Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture

Ben Affleck, "The Tender Bar"

Jamie Dornan, "Belfast"

Ciarán Hinds, "Belfast"

Troy Kotsur, "CODA"

Kodi Smit-McPhee, "The Power of the Dog"

This is Ciaran Hinds' award to lose in my opinion. Affleck was solid in 'The Tender Bar', but also did this weird Boston-esque accent despite playing a Long Islander. Might not be his fault, but it threw me off. Dornan and Kotsur would be the closest competition as they both did incredible work. Smit-McPhee was solid at acting "touched", but he didn't do anything crazy impressive to me. Hinds was just fantastic and made me wish that I had an old Irish grandfather to guide me through love and heartbreak as a kid. 

Best Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture

Caitríona Balfe, "Belfast"

Ariana DeBose, "West Side Story"

Kirsten Dunst, "The Power of the Dog"

Aunjanue Ellis, "King Richard"

Ruth Negga, "Passing"

DeBose or Balfe for me. The former was the best individual actor in 'West Side Story', and the latter delivered some crushing scenes in 'Belfast'. I'd give Balfe the edge because without her performance, Belfast is a WAY worse movie. 'West Side Story' was much more of an ensemble success. Dunst would be after that because she gave her career-best work to 'The Power of the Dog'

Best Actor in a Motion Picture -- Musical or Comedy

Leonardo DiCaprio, "Don't Look Up"

Peter Dinklage, "Cyrano"

Andrew Garfield, "Tick, Tick … Boom!"

Cooper Hoffman, "Licorice Pizza"

Anthony Ramos, "In the Heights"

Again, I haven't seen 'Don't Look Up' yet so keep that in mind. Among the rest, I'd say that Cooper Hoffman impressed the most. Considering it was his rookie performance, I was blown away by how natural he felt. He was maybe not the best subjective performance, though. I think I would give that to Ramos because he had the hardest job. Acting, signing, dancing and doing all 3 at a very high level.

Best Motion Picture -- Animated

"Encanto"

"Flee"

"Luca"

"My Sunny Maad"

"Raya and the Last Dragon"

'Flee' is probably going to win this matchup. It's the best actual story, it's animated beautifully and is just different from your standard pixar fare. 'Raya and the Last Dragon' was interesting in that it was way more of a pre-teen oriented movie with plenty of action. Luca was substandard from Pixar, but Encanto is really a delight. 

Best Actor in a Motion Picture -- Drama

Mahershala Ali, Swan Song"

Javier Bardem, "Being the Ricardos"

Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Power of the Dog"

Will Smith, "King Richard"

Denzel Washington, "The Tragedy of Macbeth"

The only performance here that I haven't seen is the one I wana see the most, Denzel. Apparently, that is the best Shakespearean adaptation of a movie ever made, so I wana be sure to reserve this spot for him. Out of the remaining 4, I think Smith gave the best performance. He is one of those superstars that kind of makes you stop and go "That's Will Smith" any time you see him in a role but he really got lost in this one. Cumberbatch would be the next best after him with Ali following. Bardem was very solid, but definitely not as strong as Kidman was across from him. 

Best Actress in a Motion Picture -- Drama

Jessica Chastain, "The Eyes of Tammy Faye"

Olivia Colman, "The Lost Daughter"

Nicole Kidman, "Being the Ricardos"

Lady Gaga, "House of Gucci"

Kristen Stewart, "Spencer"

It's either Stewart or Nicole Kidman. Spencer is literally nothing without Stewart and her strength in the role, melodramatics or not. Kidman, though, really blew me away as Lucille Ball. Owned the screen and dominated every scene she was part of. I don't think Gaga or Chastain were on the level of those two, but Colman did cut a rug as she always does. 

Best Actress in a Motion Picture -- Musical or Comedy

Marion Cotillard, "Annette"

Alana Haim, "Licorice Pizza"

Jennifer Lawrence, "Don't Look Up"

Emma Stone, "Cruella"

Rachel Zegler, "West Side Story"

Like with Cooper Hoffman, I was really impressed with the rookie performance from Haim. She's a much more seasoned entertainer, but acting in PTA movie is about as demanding a job as there is for any actor. She doesn't have the capital to win this, but man is it impressive. Out of all of these, Stone might have been the most impressive. Cruella was a movie which had "why are they making this" written all over it. Stone made it her own and carried it into being one of my favorite live-action adaptations/sequels of a cartoon that I can remember. 

Best Director -- Motion Picture

Kenneth Branagh, "Belfast"

Jane Campion, "The Power of the Dog"

Maggie Gyllenhaal, "The Lost Daughter"

Steven Spielberg, "West Side Story"

Denis Villeneuve, "Dune"

This is a tough category. 'Belfast' is the best movie Branagh ever made and was incredibly well directed. 'Dune' was one of the craziest sci fi spectacles ever put to screen. 'The Lost Daughter' was incredible drama work and a super impressive debut from Maggie Gyllenhaal. 'The Power of the Dog' is, if nothing else, a visual work of art and about as slow bleeding of a wound as there is. And I was CRAZY impressed with Spielberg and how he navigated West Side Story. I mentioned this in the review, but he just did a great job conducting the movie to the best that probably anyone could. It would come down to that or 'Dune' for me.

Best Original Score

"The French Dispatch"

"Encanto"

"The Power of the Dog"

"Parallel Mothers"

"Dune"

As much as wanted to love the score to 'Dune' since I am a big Zimmer guy, I didn't love it. I think my vote would go to Encanto& my write in vote would go to 'Eternals'. Regardless of what you think about the movie, Game of Thrones alum Ramin Djawadi made what I think is the best score in all of Marvel.