Golden Globe Nominations
Thursday, December 10, 2015 at 7:56AM 
"Previously on The Precursors..." Gotham, Spirit, OFCS, NBR, NYFCC, LAFCA, BSFC, SAG
The shiny round fun began at 8:00 AM for the Globes annual film and television party with the nominees split, sometimes ungracefully, into Comedy/Musical and Drama categories. Except those pesky supporting actors! They have to share everything because who needs character actors (see also rampant category fraud every year plus SAG's unfortunate Ensemble rules) . America Ferrerra, Angela Bassett, Chloe Moretz and Dennis Quaid were on hand to read the nominations aloud.
Ready? Clicking on any of the names or titles will take you to previous articles about them. We are happy to report that director Todd Haynes' latest masterpiece (dude is a genius if you haven't heard) Carol led the nominations with 5 in total.
Full nomination list with commentary after the jump...
COMEDY/MUSICAL FILMS
SPY won two well earned comedy nominations
Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
The Big Short
Joy
The Martian
Spy
Trainwreck
Though armchair pundits tend to decry the labelling of anything not strictly going for laughs as "comedy" we don't mind so much. Consider it the classic definition which is something closer to "of light and humorous character" so The Martian is just fine here though it's probably a poor strategy since nominations for Drama would have helped the Oscar quest more.
What's Missing? The year's absolute best comedy (we'll-accept-no-argument-otherwise) Sean Baker's Tangerine.
You know I'm not flying to LA for the ceremony, right?
Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
Melissa McCarthy, Spy
Amy Schumer, Trainwreck
Maggie Smith, The Lady in the Van
Lily Tomlin, Grandma
This category could have gone a great many ways but this is a strong lineup. Especially happy to see Lily Tomlin here as huge fans of Grandma and hope against hope that she sneaks a win though Schumer is probably the juggernaut given her year.
Who's missing? For the first time in Earth's 4.5 billion year history, the Globes have snubbed Meryl Streep. But Ricki & The Flash didn't make much of an impact and they also steered clear of Sandra Bullock's flop Our Brand is Crisis.
Mark Ruffalo was a surprise nominee. But weirdly no actors from Spotlight were nominated FOR Spotlight.
Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Christian Bale, The Big Short
Steve Carrell, The Big Short
Matt Damon, The Martian
Al Pacino, Danny Collins
Mark Ruffalo, Infinitely Polar Bear
Having seen The Big Short at AFI we're rather stunned by how well it's going over between the Globes and SAG. It's an awfully scattered movie but I guess the anger over the subject, along with the megawatt cast and the comic distance (Margot Robbie in a bathtub), really helps it connect with people. Still this feels like a strange quintet does it not? Or is that just because we weren't too fond of Infinitely Polar Bear which got the "lowest profile / surprise" slot.
Who's missing? Joaquin Phoenix (Irrational Man) Bill Hader (Trainwreck), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Robert De Niro (The Intern) all seemed feasible in what has been a strangely weak year for male leads
Best Animated Feature Film
Anomalisa
The Good Dinosaur
Inside Out
The Peanuts Movie
Shaun the Sheep Movie
The only category in which my predictions went 100% but that's easy because only Oscar goes for the foreign films in the animated category and there are so few films in the running this year that we might not even get a full five as nominees over there.
DRAMA FILMS
Best Motion Picture, Drama
Carol
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
Room
Spotlight
With the drama category always being so competitive it was really difficult to detect what they might or might not love. I whiffed on my predictions expecting love for Brooklyn & Bridge of Spies but am thrilled to see Mad Max Fury Road continue on its berzerker spree toward the awards finish line. I'm still so nervous about its Oscar chances because what precedent is there for it? Maybe only The Dark Knight and Skyfall (as umpteenth film in a genre series that is suddenly taken seriously)
What's missing: Brooklyn is the most glaring one, especially since it's about building your life in a new country with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association knows more than a little something about.
Best Director – Motion Picture
Todd Haynes, Carol
Alejandro González Iñárritu, The Revenant
Todd McCarthy, Spotlight
George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
Ridley Scott, The Martian
Last year the Globe lineup for this category was much stronger than what Oscar came up with. Given the wealth of talent they chose this year they might beat Oscar for taste again this year. At least in this category.
Who's missing: Lenny Abrahamson is the only director of a Drama nominated picture that wasn't included but he still has a good shot at an Oscar nom.
Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
Cate Blanchett, Carol
Brie Larson, Room
Rooney Mara, Carol
Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl
Three cheers again for the Globes for denying Category Fraud this year and forcing Mara & Vikander to compete here. And they made it. We always thought they would with Oscar if campaigned that way too. At least previously. Now the confusion stirred up with showing up in different places at different precursors could spell trouble.
Who's missing: Charlotte Rampling and Carey Mulligan both could have used the boost here.
Will LEO win gold for suffering?
Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Eddie Redymane, The Danish Girl
Will Smith, Concussion
The only mild surprise here was Will Smith though that shouldn't have been surprising at all given the HFPA's love of mega stars. Also he's good in the movie. Also what the hell is going on with Trumbo. No one seemed enthused about it even 48 hours ago (and it's been screening for a long time) and now it's swimming in nominations here and at SAG.
Who's missing: Though the Globes are very very fond of fresh meat in TV they can sometimes be resistant to new stars in movies. Notice the absence of Michael B Jordan for Creed.
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Jane Fonda, Youth
Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
Helen Mirren, Trumbo
Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs
Jennifer Jason Leigh's horrifically ugly murderess started with a bang at the NBR and now the Globes throw another spotlight on her. Will Oscar bite? They never have with JJL and this is a really in your face star turn. Usually they need women to be a touch more likeable, even if they're "bad". We'll see. We'll also see on Jane Fonda. The Globes love mega-celebrities and she qualifies and she's been campaigning. But given all the attention paid to leading roles in the supporting categories these days it's tougher and tougher to get in for something small.
Who's missing: Who isn't? There are always a wealth of candidates for supporting categories without having to pull in from lead.
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Paul Dano, Love and Mercy
Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation
Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Michael Shannon, 99 Homes
Sylvester Stallone, Creed
Elba, Rylance, and Shannon transfer over from SAG. Dano and Stallone seem like good bets for Oscar. This might actually match 5/5 with Oscar unless fans of Room's Jacob Tremblay or The Revenant's Tom Hardy rally.
Who's missing? What keeps happening to the Spotlight guys??? First a SAG shut out (except for ensemble) and now this? Are there just too many of them with no consensus around who is the MVP? I'll help: it's Michael Keaton.
A Hateful rehearsal... somehow they didn't cut the fat from its 3 hour running time.
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Emma Donoghue, Room
Tom McCarthy, Josh Singer, Spotlight
Charles Randolph, Adam McKay, The Big Short
Aaron Sorkin, Steve Jobs
Quentin Tarantino, The Hateful Eight
The absence of Phyllis Nagy's treatment of Carol will make us crazy so we have to zoom past this category as if we never saw it.
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Carter Burwell, Carol
Alexandre Desplat, The Danish Girl
Ennio Morricone, The Hateful Eight
Daniel Pemberton, Steve Jobs
Ryuichi Sakamoto, Alva Noto, Bryce Dessner, The Revenant
Best Original Song – Motion Picture
"Love Me Like You Do," Fifty Shades of Grey
"One Kind of Love," Love and Mercy
"See You Again," Furious 7
"Simple Song #3," Youth
"Writings on the Wall," Spectre
"One Kind of Love" and "Simple Song #3" seem like extraordinarily good bets for Oscar play. The rest. Hmmmm...
The Fencer is Estonia according to the Globes but it's repping Finland for the Oscars
Best Foreign Language Film
The Brand New Testament, Belgium, France and Luxembourg
The Club, Chile
The Fencer, Estonia
Mustang, Colombia
Son of Saul, Hungary
All of these films are eligible for Oscar consideration in the same category which isn't always true of Globe foreign nominees. But I'd be surprised if the emotionally ugly & brutal The Club finds its way to Oscar.
TV COMEDY/MUSICAL
Best TV Series, Musical or Comedy
Casual, Hulu
Mozart in the Jungle, Amazon Video
Orange Is the New Black, Netflix
Silicon Valley, HBO
Transparent, Amazon Video
Veep, HBO
One thing that is very very true of the Globes is that when it comes to TV they are way more interested in freshman work than the Emmys are.
Best Actress in a TV Series, Comedy
Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Jamie Lee Curtis, Scream Queens
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie
Fun fun fun category, don't you think?
Best Actor in a TV Series, Comedy
Aziz Ansari, Master of None
Gael García Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle
Rob Lowe, The Grinder
Patrick Stewart, Blunt Talk
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
It's Tambor's to lose.
TV DRAMA
The Globes took a long lascivious look at OUTLANDER. They liked what they saw
Best TV Series, Drama
Empire, Fox
Game of Thrones, HBO
Mr. Robot, USA Network
Narcos, Netflix
Outlander, Starz
They've strayed far from Emmy territory so good on them. There is so very much television on so very many different channels that it doesn't make sense for every group to honor the same shows. 
Best Actor in a TV Series, Drama
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
Wagner Moura, Narcos
Bob Odenkirk, Better Caul Saul
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Just thrilled to see Rami Malek make a showing for Mr Robot which also landed in best series. He somehow makes that impenetrable character endearing despite his dislike of everyone and his social awkwardness
Eva Green does bravura stylized work in "Penny Dreadful" - an absolutely worthy nominee
Best Actress in a TV Series, Drama
Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder
Eva Green, Penny Dreadful
Taraji P. Henson, Empire
Robin Wright, House of Cards
Now we're talking. What an amazing set of actresses. Balfe and Green are both brilliant on their shows and have not been given the industry credit for it yet. This is so infinitely superior to the SAG lineup it's ridiculous.
TV MINISERIES & SUPPORTING CATEGORIES (COVERING EVERYTHING)
Best TV Movie or Limited-Series
American Crime, ABC
American Horror Story: Hotel, FX
Fargo, FX
Flesh and Bone, Starz
Wolf Hall, PBS
Best Actress in a Limited-Series or TV Movie
Kirsten Dunst, Fargo
Lady Gaga, American Horror Story: Hotel
Sarah Hay, Flesh and Bone
Felicity Huffman, American Crime
Queen Latifah, Bessie
We knew Lady Gaga would happen and the Globes do love Ryan Murphy shows. But it still feels weird to see it in print.
Best Actor in a Limited-Series or TV Movie
Idris Elba, Luther
Oscar Isaac, Show Me a Hero
David Oyelowo, Nightingale
Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall
Patrick Wilson, Fargo
Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Limited-Series or TV Movie
Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black
Joanne Froggat, Downton Abbey
Regina King, American Crime
Judith Light, Transparent
Maura Tierney, The Affair
Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Limited-Series or TV Movie
Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
Damien Lewis, Wolf Hall
Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
Tobias Menzies, Outlander
Christian Slater, Mr. Robot
WHICH ARE YOUR FAVORITE NOMINATIONS? Who are you most sad missed out today?
Reader Comments (117)
Nathaniel
It's not the first time golden globes snubing meryl streep
She was not nominated for ironweed too!
Of course we all know she has always been golden globes darling and I think she deserves to be nominated this year
may we please get a headline that CAROL scored the most nominations!
Why on earth do they cram every supporting performance on television into one category? If they don't want separate supp. categories for drama, comedy and miniseries/movie, then at least separate by series and miniseries/movie. It's insane and unfair to cram all those performances together.
go JON HAMMMMMMMM
It should be noted with regards to category placement that one of the other major precursors, The Baftas, usually place leads in the correct place, so I imagine Vikander and/or Rooney will show up in lead there also. My guess is that Vikander gets shut of lead in favour of Rampling, but gets a supporting nod for Ex-Machina at Baftas.
I wish the Emmys were as bold as the Globes.
Peggy Sue -- when it comes to TV awards they are definitely more willing to change it up from season to season... but like a degree of infinity.
Rami -- i hadn't thought of that. we'll see
You know the biggest travesty of the year? It's that te best performance of the year by a landslide is gonna be totally ignored.
I am talking about Benicio F*cking Del Toro, an unforgettable menacing complicated haunting delicate terrifying star turn in Sicario.
Shame on You, GGs, and Sags and critics groups.
Love love love Rachel Bloom's nom for Best TV Actress in a Comedy!
I hope it shines a bigger light on "My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" and helps them get a second season!
Listen, I love me some Orange is the New Black, but I don't understand the Uzo love. She's great. She's GREAT. But there are at least 5 stellar women in that cast, and globally, awards show by awards show, she's the only one who gets recognized.
Thrilled for the Carol love, Jennifer Jason Leigh and the correct category placement for Mara and Vikander. Eternally mourning the shutout of the best drama on TV - The Leftovers - and it's incredible cast (especially Theroux, Carrie Coon, Regina King).
No Redmayne? That's surprising.
Deborah -- i have the same issue with it. Think she's great on teh show but that show has such a deep bench and the MVPs change with each season and it's like no one else gets any attention.
I'm glad they didn't go for category fraud but I want Charlotte Rampling to get an Oscar nomination damn it! Hope it isn't precluded by an overstuffed field.
Eh, it's really rich of you - self-proclaimed hater of category frauds - to say amen to The Martian being placed in the comedy/musical category.
Rachel Bloom!! So happy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is getting recognized.
The Martian has a montage of Matt Damon tearing apart a space ship set to Abba's Waterloo: It's a comedy.
Absolutely glorious choices!!! Bless the HFPA
BVR - Redmayne is nominated.
Why is Martian ok in Comedy and Mad Max ok in Drama?
I'm so delighted for Rachel Bloom's nomination too. I grew up in West Covina and my brother still lives there, and the show does a great job of representing the large Filipino population of the area. I just hoped the show also got nominated.
Best comedy of the year: "Mistress America." Would have at least liked to see Gerwig up there as she was for "Frances Ha."
I'm happy for Flesh & Bone even though I've never seen a second of it. I do plan on catching it when it's finally released on DVD. I'm also quite happy about Crazy Ex-Girlfriend getting it's most vital nomination.
Bummed that Brooklyn didn't get more love.
Right now, if MMFR isn't nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, it's going to be perceived as a bigger snub than TDK or even Brokeback Mountain losing to Crash.
Best Picture, more than ever, looks like Spotlight vs Mad Max and with George Miller taking advantage in Best Director, over Ridley Scott.
Still to see how much is the AMPAS going to love Mad Max, but there's a great chance it might end with between 9 to 12 nominations and most likely, the most nominated film (which normally equals a BP win). I don't see it losing Film Editing, it's likely to win Direction and several technicals. Even if it is snubbed at Screenplay and Actress, nomination-wise, there's a great chance it might end as a 6-8 Oscars Best Picture winner.
It's truly the underdog of the race. No one saw it coming to become such a big player.
Watch out at Supporting Actor... it's Rylance vs. Stallone.
Vikander really should've just gone for a double nomination with Danish Girl and Ex Machina. The HFPA seems determined to make it happen despite her campaigns. She seems in major danger now of canceling herself out all over the place, with maybe 30% of her votes going to Danish a Girl in Lead, 30% to Danish Girl in supporting, and 40% to Ex Machina in supporting (is anyone considering that a lead performance?).
When you're new and unfamous and competing against so many major players in a competitive year, you need all your votes in one place, gurl. I see major parallels to ScarJo in 2003; at this point, I'd predict a similar shutout.
...but could she WIN the supporting globe for Ex Machina? I could totally see it. They do love their femme fatales...
they done good you guys. they done SO good :)
I used to be excited about this year, and now it seems ... thin? Jennifer Lawrence is not even an actress.
Mad Max, all shiny and chrome!
What a delightful surprise.
The biggest snub has to be Johnny Depp for Black Mass. I mean, it's the Globes. And it's Johnny Depp. And he has actual buzz and traction for this performance. Crazy.
Steve: of course he is. Dont know why I missed him.
There's Helen Mirren again.
Elizabeth Banks omission - heartbreaking
Streep's omission - gratifying
Vikander's inclusion for Ex Machina - intoxicating
Keaton's omission - disappointing
Stallone's inclusion - horrifying
Carol's leading - amazing
Lol, as a Finn I had no idea that The Fencer is representing Estonia for the Globes. All the newspapers were like "such a glorious moment for Finnish film industry! First Globe nomination since 1956!". I should probably watch the film at some point, I am afraid I do not support the Finnish film industry much...
Okay but for real, is Harvey going to campaign Rooney for lead? Or is this confusion really going to cost her a nomination? It's safe to say she and Cate would be safe bets at this point, so why keep continuing a derided campaign? The love is there and both could definitely be there together, but not unless Harvey clearly advises voters to channel all the votes in one rightful category. Will he change it now that he knows the love is there?
FINALLY golden globe nominee Melissa McCarthy woot!
Also, the Carol love is bliss
Has there ever been so many double nominees?
Idris Elba,
Mark Rylance
Lily Tomlin
Alicia Vikander
I suspect Idris is the lone black nominee of the season. Jason Mitchell and Michael B Jordan should really be made room for. Happy for Michael Shannon. I see him getting Philip Seymour Hoffman level opportunities and praise in the future.
Sad to say Rampling's campaign at a nomination is probably dead if that's how the nominations will play out come Oscar's time :(
I have a feeling the movie is so small and not many people have seen it, but I think it's definitely one of the best performances this year. Just her last scene exudes so much anger, hate, doubt, and paranoia. And to believe she hasn't even been nominated for an Oscar AT ALL is disgraceful. So for those who can, please see "45 Years"!!!
Happy for Rachel Bloom's nomination, but was also rooting for Donna Lynne Champlin in supporting because she is a great singer and she makes Paula sympathetic (and that British accent!!!). However, Globe has a moronic supporting selection process.....
I love Crazy Eyes as anyone, but the MVP for me this season is Taryn Manning as Pennsatucky.
I'll tell you why the Spotlight guys aren't getting traction: there is no consensus. Ask a room full of cinephiles who was best in show and you'll hear five names yelled at once.
Some love Keaton, some Ruffalo, and increasingly I'm talking to people who love Schreiber's prickly, muted work. And frankly, some of the actors have active detractors, like those who think Ruffalo was overly mannered and jittery.
That's why McAdams - not the standout in most people's estimation - might be the most likely nomination. I suppose sometimes it's good to be the only woman in an entire movie :/
Charlotte Rampling is the Marion Cotillard/Emmanuelle Riva this season. I still think she's going to get that Oscar nomination (the film hasn't even opened stateside yet so voters will likely catch up with it over the holidays). Who she replaces, I don't know, cause right now the likely five are Blanchett/Larson/Ronan/Vikander/Mara, in my opinion. Out of the category frauders, I think Alicia Vikander is the most f***ed. With her getting supporting nominations for both The Danish Girl AND Ex Machina left and right ANDleading nominations for The Danish Girl (and frankly, both of those performances are LEAD) there's no telling where she'll end up, which could spell trouble.
And those supporting categories are just a mindf***. I think Winslet and Rylance are the only true locks in their respective categories while Elba/Shannon/Mirren (sigh) are the more probable ones. I have no idea what happens to the Spotlight trifecta (Keaton/Ruffalo/McAdams) come Oscar time since no one really has a consensus. Exciting year!
That's Miss Eva Green to you.
The most interesting development is Maggie Smith's statement saying that she's showing up?!!
Maura Tierney!!!!!
Even though they snubbed my girl I quite love the TV noms. I suspected Mr Robot might do well but pleased to see my prediction come true!
And go JJL!!! I really need her to get an Oscar nom!
I am most happy about Carol and most sad about Phyllis. It's a bittersweet morning for me.
6 of the 10 Golden Globe Best Picture Nominated films revolve around women. We're evolving. I'm happy.
These nominations are SO MUCH better than SAG... but why, for the LOVE OF GOD is Helen Mirren here again?! In Trumbo??? Granted, I haven't seen it...so I shouldn't be talking shit, but all I've heard is she's incredibly "OK" in the movie, which tends to be her forte. Ugh. I just hate hearing that stupid title too lol...taking up spots of more worthy nominees. Like, what compels you to vote for Helen Mirren in Trumbo over like... Kristen Stewart, or Elizabeth Banks, or people not even eligible in this category... lol. *Praying she's snubbed for the Oscar just like she was for the nightmare of Hitchcock, but can that luck strike twice??*
And Mark Ryffalo is NOT today's Sarah Silverman... the comedy/musical category was SO thin, especially on the actor side, that they could've said someone was nominated for farting on camera and I would've believed them. Tbh, they did better than the obvious choices they had (Robert Denior, The Intern; Bradley Cooper, Burnt).
Yay for Melissa McCarthy! Finally a GG nominee.
Honestly, when they were announcing supporting actress, and he said "Alicia Vikander..." I was like ARE YOU SERIOUS, HOW DID SHE STILL END UP HERE, but it's for a different movie... lol. Which kind of just feels weird. "So...we put you in lead and now you might not get an Oscar nom, but here's double noms from us!! kisses"
The TV nominees are great, I'm shocked Mo'Nique and Jean Smart missed out, but that crammed "everything supporting is eligible here" is always a weird category.
Carol finally expands (a bit) tomorrow and in the tradition of Harvey Surgical Precision & Flawless Timing it'll have 5 Golden Globe Nominations on its poster.
Just curious, where do folks live who've actually seen CAROL? I'll bet NYC and LA, or limited U.K., and some places that had film festivals, and screeners, cuz it doesn't even open anywhere near here until Christmas. Given the complete obsession with it on this site, I really hope it's as good as you say.;)
Yes, Pam, Los Angeles here. And while I loved every part of the film individually, the sum of those parts didn't blow me away. I do plan to see it at least twice more before Christmas, though, which may remedy that.
For all the starf***ing love HPA showered Johnny Depp in previous years (yes, I remember The Tourist), the fact that he missed the cut could only mean trouble for his Oscar chance right?