Predictions For The 71st Annual Golden Globes (Film)

The 71st Annual Golden Globes will air this Sunday, so I thought it be fun to venture a few guesses as to who the winners might be. Granted, the folks who hand out these awards (the Hollywood Foreign Press Association) can be rather surprising sometimes (remember Avatar winning Best Drama?), but for the most part, they tend to follow popular choices. So without further ado, let’s dive right in.

Best Picture, Drama
12 Years a Slave
Captain Phillips
Gravity
Philomena
Rush

What should win: Gravity

What will win: 12 Years a Slave

Gravity was easily the best film of the year, with nothing coming close to topping this thrilling journey of a pair of astronauts trying to make it back to Earth after debris destroys their shuttle. However, there’s no denying that 12 Years a Slave is the absolute clear favorite, having taken a vast majority of the Best Picture awards from critics, so don’t be surprised when this picks up yet another win on Sunday night. We can always pray for an upset, but the chances are slim.

Best Picture, Comedy/Musical
American Hustle
Her
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska
The Wolf of Wall Street

What should win: Her

What will win: Her

This is a rather interesting category to predict. The battle here will be between Her and American Hustle. However, given that Spike Jonze’s outstanding romantic comedy has been more popular at the critics’ awards, that’s where I believe the HFPA will lean. What’s interesting though is that the experts over at Gold Derby are overwhelmingly predicting American Hustle to take the category, which I suppose is possible, but I find it hard to lean that way since it’s only managed to win one Best Picture award (the NYFCC), compared to Her‘s six. Of course, there’s always the chance that a split vote could give us another winner. Perhaps Inside Llewyn Davis will slip through and claim a victory?

Best Director
Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips
Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
Alexander Payne, Nebraska
David O. Russell, American Hustle

Who should win: Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity

Who will win: Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity

There’s no question that Cuaron’s brilliant work on Gravity is one of the many elements that makes it the masterpiece that it is, making him the clear choice to take this category. There’s also the fact that’s he’s been the clear favorite throughout awards season, taking the most most Best Director wins by far. It’s always been Cuaron vs. McQueen, so there is a slight chance that the latter could pull an upset, but it would be kind of shocking if he did at this point.

Best Actor, Drama
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Idris Elba, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips
Matthew McConaghey, Dallas Buyers Club
Robert Redford, All is Lost

Who should win: Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club

Who will win: Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again, the transformation that McConaughey has undergone in the last couple of years has been remarkable. His last few roles have shown that the man has suddenly learned how to act, culminating in his career-defining performance in Dallas Buyers Club. He would be very worthy of taking this category and the Oscar, but there’s no denying that the clear favorite is Chiwetel Ejiofor for his outstanding performance in 12 Years a Slave. Ejiofor is just as worthy, making this a win-win situation should either of these great actors’ names be called on Sunday night.