Odd Golden Globe Nominations This Century
Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 10:32AM by Brian Zitzelman
The Golden Globes take the spotlight again tomorrow night, however briefly. As the Oscars shine with prestige, the Globes remain its bratty little brother; he seems well behaved, but does enough wild things (drinks, watches too much tv, dresses down) that he'll never escape his elder sibling's shadow. And annually he let's strange nominees slip out the gate...
This is not to say that Oscar doesn’t occasionally include films and performances that are immediately forgotten or unworthy, but nobody beats the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for oddball picks, both deserving and not. So, if you’re curious why the Globes are such an easy punching bag for movie hounds, while nonetheless being a delight for their originality, here are a few of the most peculiar nods of this century. Not all of these are laughably bad -some reveal a daring and interest in films outside the 'prestige' norm, yet in the world of film awards, they are indeed odd...
2000 – Jim Carrey nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Comedy/Musical in How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The Foreign Press loves Carrey, nominating him year-after-year in this period, beginning with Liar Liar. Coming off two straight wins in this category, Carrey got a nod for this atrocious, gawky work. A film best left ignored.
2001 – John Cameron Mitchell nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Comedy/Musical in Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Kicking off 2001 with a Sundance win and earning more accolades from regional critics and even the Independent Spirit Awards, Mitchell getting this more glamorous nod helped introduce a cult classic to a number of its devotees. The Academy however likes its LGBT characters in more traditionally tragic affairs.
2003 (and 2004)– Uma Thurman nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Drama for Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Kill Bill Vol. 2
Some fans thought Thurman lost out on Oscar recognition due to the Tarantino revenge drama being split in two; Globe voters felt generous and opted to show admiration to each part.
2003 – Jamie Lee Curtis nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Comedy/Musical Freaky Friday
Comedy isn’t respected the same way dramas are but the Globes get to show their admiration with a full slate of work that leans that way. This allows for fun, fantastic pieces of acting like Curtis’ to be discussed and valued as something more than a passing fancy.
2004 – The Phantom of the Opera nominated for Best Picture-Comedy/Musical
If there’s one thing the Foreign Press does more than nominate prestige dramas that make no waves elsewhere, it’s nominate prestige musicals that make no waves elsewhere.
2005 – The Producers nominated for Best Picture-Comedy/Musical
Wash, repeat.
2006 – Bobby nominated for Best Picture-Drama
This Emilio Estivez directorial effort centered on those living, loving and working in the vicinity of Bobby Kennedy on the night of his death came and went to little fanfare. It did, however, manage this Best Picture shout-out, along with being able to brag that it got Nick Cannon, Lindsay Lohan, Ashton Kutcher, Helen Hunt, Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Fishburne, Demi Moore, Martin Sheen, Sharon Stone and many more all in one project together.
2007 – John C Reilly nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Comedy/Musical in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
In the recent history of screwy, showy comedic turns, Reilly’s idiot-musician doesn't resonate as loudly as most. The film did subpar box-office and the general lack of nominations for all thing Apatow makes this one’s recognition all the more noticeable.
2009 – Nine nominated for Best Picture-Comedy/Musical
See Producers, The.
2010 – Everyone other than the winner in Best Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical (Alice in Wonderland, Burlesque, Red, The Tourist)
I mean, what the hell happened this year?
2011 – Brendan Gleeson nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Comedy/Musical in The Guard
Another prime notice of solid work in a movie too peculiar for Oscar admiration, Gleeson was also nominated in 2008 for his magnificent In Bruges performance.
2012 – Salmon Fishing in the Yemen nominated for Best Picture-Comedy/Musical
A film made by airplanes, for airplanes.
2013 – Kate Winslet nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Drama in Labor Day
Most never saw Jason Reitman’s first flop, as those that did largely laughed at in the wrong way. One can’t help but think Winslet made it into this five as a sign of career-quality versus film-quality.
2014 – Christoph Waltz nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Comedy/Musical in Big Eyes
Because he’s a 2-time Oscar winner dammit (?)
What are some of your favorite examples of odd Globe nominations, deserving or otherwise? And which do you think qualify this year from the nomination slate?
Reader Comments (28)
When I realized how much of a joke the Golden Globes are this year, 2010 was a reminder of that.
Jim Carrey won two GGs in a row but in different categories. If by "this category" you mean Best Actor then you're right, but if you mean two Best Musical/Comedy Actor awards it's wrong because he won Best Drama Actor for "The Truman Show", and the following year Best Musical/Comedy Actor for "Man On The Moon".
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Some of these aren't as surprising in the context of their years, but the love for SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN will never not be hilariously bizarre.
One reform I've been suggesting for the Globes? Three categories instead of two.
Drama (Average prestige level: 100%. Average quality level: 75%.)
Performance Musical (Your musician biopics AND your Sing Streets go here)/Dramedy (Stuff like The Martian, (Average prestige level: 75%. Average quality level: 60%.)
Non-Performance Musical/Comedy.
Drama: Same 5 for everything.
Performance Musical/Dramedy: Picture: Everything but Deadpool transfers over. The Lobster probably takes the fifth slot. Actor: Everyone but Ryan Reynolds from Comedy transfers over here. Andy Samberg MIGHT take slot 5. Actress: EVERYONE transfers over.
Comedy: Picture: Deadpool, Love & Friendship, The Nice Guys, Hail Caesar, Everybody Wants Some!. Actor: Ryan Reynolds, Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Blake Jenner, Kevin Hart (for the concert film). Actress: Kate Beckinsale, Mila Kunis, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig (both for Ghostbusters), Lily James.
The nods for Uma, JLC, and JCM were brilliant. I'm glad at least the Globes went for Jim Carrey for The Truman Show. Grinch was a big hit, so it's not very surprising they went for it I suppose.
Burlesque deserved that nomination, damnit!
That is a hilariously mismatched category that year, though. It's like they all knew The Kids are All Right would win anyways so they just threw darts at the wall to decide on the other four.
Tom Cruise in Tropic Thunder or Jennifer Jones for the Towering Inferno or Julia Roberts Charlie Wilson's War.
WTF NOMINATIONS:
BEST PICTURE DRAMA: Sunshine; The Man Who Wasn't There; Closer; Kinsey; The Great Debaters; The Ides of March; Hacksaw Ridge
BEST PICTURE COMEDY/MUSICAL: All of 2010 (except Kids Are All Right); St. Vincent; My Week with Marilyn; It's Complicated; Mamma Mia (What?!!!!); ACROSS THE UNIVERSE!!!
FAVORITE NOMINATIONS:
BEST PICTURE DRAMA: Carol; A History of Violence; Constant Gardener; Hotel Rwanda; Mulholland Drive
BEST PICTURE COMEDY/MUSICAL: Best in Show; Chicken Run; Legally Blonde; Pride; Eternal Sunshine; In Bruges; 50/50; Bridesmaids; The Squid and the Whale
WTF Nominations:
Aniston in Cake; Taylor-Johnson; Cruise in Tropic Thunder; Ferrell in The Producers; Smith in Concussion; DiCaprio in J. Edgar; Pacino in Danny Collins; Judd and Kline in De-Lovely; Mirren in the 100 foot Journey; Johansson in A Love Song for Bobby Long!!!!!
FAVORITE PERFORMANCE NOMINATIONS:
Buscemi in Ghost World; Garfield in the Social Network; Dano in Love and Mercy; DiCaprio in Catch Me if you Can; Ejiofor in Kinky Boots; Hackman in Royal Tenenbaums; Cusack in High Fidelity; Chastain in a Most Violent Year; Blunt in the Devil Wears Prada; Hall in Vicky Cristina; Lane in Under the Tuscan Sun; Witherspoon in Legally Blonde; Swinton in the Deep End of the Ocean; Evan Rachel Wood for Thirteen
I mean, Supporting Actor is the perennial weird one. Michael Douglas in Wall Street 2? Travolta in Hairspray? Cruise in Tropic Thunder?
And even weirder than Uma's nods, David Carradine popped up at the HFPA.
Travolta for Hairspray...
Arlo: The recurring "eh, we'll just nominate the dramedies" attitude that took over afterward was disheartening. If Hollywood Awards generally don't care about ACTUAL comedies being good, why should the public care about going to them and the filmmakers making them care about making them good?
I mean, I liked R.E.D. actually, though Globe worthy? Same with The Tourist.
I know EVERYONE hates it, but I don't. *lol*
Sonja: I think because that year was maybe the weakest year for comedies EVER this decade, and they hadn't quite fully switched to the "nominate the dramedies and performance musicals" mind set, a mind set I'd argue, depending on who you are, either A: killed any ACTUAL value to this category or B: showed that creating a third split was necessary to maintain the interest of quality filmmakers in MAKING comedies and non-performance musicals. What would an honest version of that category (meaning "no dramedies or performance musicals") look like in 2010?
The Trotsky and Four Lions, no questions those should have been there. And filling the rest would honestly be Iron Man 2, Easy A and Machete. Scott Pilgrim has to slot in as a performance musical (there was no Non-Performance Musical in 2010), but it'd probably get a slot alongside The Kids Are All Right.
"Burlesque deserved that nomination, damnit! "
I second this, really.
Yes BURLESQUE is awesome. End of story.
Jamie Lee Curtis is really good in Freaky Friday.
It may not be that odd of a nomination since they love her in general, but Nicole Kidman's nomination for "Birth" always stands out among the category of "magnificent work too peculiar for the Academy that the Globes recognize." So sad that it was like her only mention that year, but at least it was a biggie. Critics really killed that movie (only to apologize for it later).
Rachel Weisz for The Deep Blue Sea as well!
Burlesque is fantastic and deserves its nomination (and lest we forget the HFPA rightfully awarded Diane Warren for original song)
SARAH JESSICA PARKER for THE FAMILY STONE
AMY ADAMS for BIG EYES (and winning!!)
Odd!
GG luv em Movie Stars, the bigger the higher chances they will get nom, no matter of their performances or the critical receptions...
I wld've replaced Winslet's slot for Labor Day for Brie Larson for Short Term 12 in 2013, & Chastain w Rebecca Hall's Christine this year.
But strange tt Thurman was snubbed by Oscar for Kill Bill (such an iconic role!!)
I know Evan Rachel Wood had traction and was kind of a package deal with Holly Hunter, it was still interesting to see the Globes nominate her since they don't nominate children as often as other awards bodies. I mean, Lucas Hedges, Hailee Steinfeld, Keisha Castle-Hughes all missed out despite traction and other nominations.
I'd definitely also add Cillian Murphy's Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy nomination for Breakfast on Pluto
The Globes always have some really fun nods, as well as batshit crazy disgusting noms. But that's what makes them fun lol
As for the 2010 Best Picture - Musical/Comedy nominees, yes, there were a scant number of contenders but it's not an excuse for a lineup. I looked it up and they could have nominated "Easy A", "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World", "Beginners" (unless this was ruled as a Drama), "Four Lions", "It's Kind of a Funny Story", "Kick Ass", "Super", "Tucker and Dale vs. Evil", even somewhat lukewarmly received "The Other Guys" and "Due Date" would've been better. And if they were REALLY daring and creative, why not "Exit Through the Gift Shop".
CLARA'S HEART is among the worst films I've ever seen in my life, and the nomination for a pre-puberty Neil Patrick Harris is extremely awkward, although his mom was obviously beaming as they read his name as a nominee. I have recorded all the Golden Globes since 1988 and its often fun to go back and remember the good AND the bad.
Here are a few highlights (lowlights?) in my opinion:
2015
BEST ACTRESS MUCIAL / COMEDY - Quevenzhane Wallis ("ANNIE")
2011
BEST ACTRESS DRAMA - Halle Berry ("FRANKIE & ALICE")
BEST ACTOR MUSICAL / COMEDY - Kevin Spacey ("CASINO JACK")
BEST ACTOR MUSICAL / COMEDY - Johnny Depp ("ALICE IN WONDERLAND")
2010
BEST ACTOR DRAMA - Tobey Maguire ("BROTHERS")
BEST ACTRESS MUSICAL / COMEDY - Julia Roberts ("DUPLICITY")
BEST SCREENPLAY - Nancy Meyers ("IT'S COMPLICATED")
2009
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Ralph Fiennes ("THE DUCHESS")
2008
BEST PICTURE DRAMA - "THE GREAT DEBATERS"
2007
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Ben Affleck ("HOLLYWOODLAND")
BEST DIRECTOR - Clint Eastwood ("FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS" & "LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA")... really, he needed both?
2006
BEST ACTOR MUSICAL / COMEDY - Johnny Depp ("CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY")
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - Shirley MacLaine ("IN HER SHOES")
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Will Ferrell ("THE PRODUCERS")
2005
BEST ACTRESS DRAMA - Scarlett Johanssen ("LOVE SONG FOR BOBBY LONG")
BEST ACTRESS MUSICAL / COMEDY - Emmy Rossum ("PHANTOM OF THE OPERA")
BEST ACTOR MUSICAL / COMEDY - Kevin Spacey ("BEYOND THE SEA")
2002
BEST ACTOR DRAMA - Kevin Spacey ("THE SHIPPING NEWS")
BEST ACTOR MUSICAL / COMEDY - Hugh Jackman ("KATE & LEOPOLD")
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Hayden Christensen ("LIFE AS A HOUSE")
2001
BEST PICTURE DRAMA - "SUNSHINE"
2000
BEST ACTRESS MUSICAL / COMEDY - Sharon Stone ("THE MUSE")
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - Natalie Portman ("ANYWHERE BUT HERE")
--- AND A FEW TO TAKE IT BACK A LITTLE FURTHER ---
1999
BEST PICTURE MUSICAL / COMEDY - "THE MASK OF ZORRO"
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - Sharon Stone ("THE MIGHTY")
1997
BEST ACTRESS MUSICAL / COMEDY - Glenn Close ("101 DALMATIONS")
1995
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - Sophia Loren ("READY TO WEAR")
1991
BEST ACTRESS DRAMA - Susan Sarandon ("WHITE PALACE")
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Hector Elizondo ("PRETTY WOMAN")
Crazy how many people who make this list for me are repeat offenders... Johnny Depp, Sharon Stone & Kevin Spacey.
Ooookkkkk...... BURLESQUE is horribly trashy, THE TOURIST makes me wanna call Jolie and ask her WTF she was thinking ( not Depp, cause for the past years he`s really unwatchable in anything), It doesn`t matter if the film is bad , Winslet is always great, Thurman totally deserved Oscar recognition, Stone was great in THE MIGHTY, she`d deserved an Oscar nod as well, and SUNSHINE is a very good film.
I guess I should say that my comments aren't necessarily that the performances / actors are bad. I can be a fan of Sharon Stone... just find "THE MIGHTY" nomination (and "THE MUSE" nomination) to be something only the Globes would ever go so far as to nominate.
I can also get behind the fact that BURLESQUE doesn't deserve the bad reputation it seems to have... but how do you get that Best Picture nomination but NOT nominate Cher? If you are embracing that cheeze-tacular... Cher is the best part! Kick Jolie to the curb! ;-)
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