2015 Golden Globe Nominations Analysis

We here at A Little Nerd Music (just in time for the actual event!) bring you our well researched and thoughtful opinions on who we think will be going home a winner in each category.  Ok, to be honest we haven’t seen EVERY one of the nominees.  But we went at this like a logic puzzle in high school math.  Hopefully this helps in your Golden Globes office pool.

MOTION PICTURES

Best Drama

“Boyhood”
“Foxcatcher”
“The Imitation Game”
“Selma”
“The Theory of Everything”

Christina: I would love for Boyhood to win considering the sheer amount of work and foresight that went into making it, and I think it will take the top prize.  Selma could also get an added boost considering the current social climate.

Kelly: I think this will come down to Selma, Boyhood, or The Theory of Everything and either one of those will sweep it.  Because I haven’t seen any of these, I’m just going to pick The Theory of Everything.

Best Comedy/Musical

“Birdman”
“The Grand Budapest Hotel”
“Into the Woods”
“Pride”
“St. Vincent”

Christina: Birdman is probably the closest there is to a sure thing this year.  A very outside shot for The Grand Budapest hotel.

Kelly: I’ve only seen Into the Woods and I really want it to win, but I know that Birdman will probably win.

Check out more predictions behind the cut!

Best Director

Wes Anderson, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Ava Duvernay, “Selma”
David Fincher, “Gone Girl”
Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu, “Birdman”
Richard Linklater, “Boyhood”

Christina: Richard Linklater, because can you really argue any other direction put more work into their film?

Kelly: Because of the sheer scale of this production, I’m going to pick Boyhood.  Didn’t it take, like, 12 years to film?

Christina: He’s lucky casting choices he made twelve years ago didn’t come back to bite him in the you know what.

Best Actress in a Drama

Jennifer Aniston, “Cake”
Felicity Jones, “The Theory of Everything”
Julianne Moore, “Still Alice”
Rosamund Pike, “Gone Girl”
Reese Witherspoon, “Wild”

Christina: I saw a grand total of zero of these movies, but everyone I’ve talked to says Julianne Moore was great.  So I’ll go with her.

Kelly: I clearly didn’t see enough movies this year.  I’m going to just pick someone, and I pick Reese Witherspoon.

Best Actor in a Drama

Steve Carell, “Foxcatcher”
Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Imitation Game”
Jake Gyllenhaal, “Nightcrawler”
David Oyelowo, “Selma”
Eddie Redmayne, “The Theory of Everything”

Christina: Eddie Redmayne, because he was able to show the progression of Hawking’s illness through pure acting.  He deserves the award for that alone.

Kelly: As much as I want Eddie Redmayne to win because I think he’s adorable, I think that David Oyelowo is going to take this one home.

Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy

Ralph Fiennes, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Michael Keaton, “Birdman”
Bill Murray, “St. Vincent”
Joaquin Phoenix, “Inherent Vice”
Christoph Waltz, “Big Eyes”

Christina: Michael Keaton.  Can we talk about the irony of him receiving critical acclaim for playing an older washed up actor best known for playing a superhero?

Kelly: From the buzz surrounding the movie, I’m going to pick Michael Keaton for Birdman.

Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy

Amy Adams, “Big Eyes”
Emily Blunt, “Into the Woods”
Helen Mirren, “The Hundred-Foot Journey”
Julianne Moore, “Maps to the Stars”
Quvenzhane Wallis, “Annie”

Christina: My gut is going with Emily Blunt, but I think Amy Adams also has an outside shot.  With each nomination, Quvenzhane Wallis just makes me feel like a failure in life.

Kelly: Emily Blunt NEEDS to win this!  She is amazing in Into the Woods and her singing ability absolutely blew me away.

Best Supporting Actress

Patricia Arquette, “Boyhood”
Jessica Chastain, “A Most Violent Year”
Keira Knightley, “The Imitation Game”
Emma Stone, “Birdman”
Meryl Streep, “Into the Woods”

Christina: Patricia Arquette.  Bet she didn’t see this nomination coming a decade ago.

Kelly: As much as I loved Meryl Streep’s portrayal of The Witch, I think that Patricia Arquette is going to win this one.

Best Supporting Actor

Robert Duvall, “The Judge”
Ethan Hawke, “Boyhood”
Edward Norton, “Birdman”
Mark Ruffalo, “Foxcatcher”
JK Simmons, “Whiplash”

Christina: From the buzz my guess would be JK Simmons, with the dark horse to unseat him being Edward Norton.

Kelly: I want to pick Mark Ruffalo because he’s The Hulk!  And also because I have no idea who to pick.  I’m a terrible entertainment podcaster.

Best Animated Feature

“Big Hero 6”
“The Book of Life”
“The Boxtrolls”
“How to Train Your Dragon 2”
“The Lego Movie”

Christina: The Lego Movie for that “blooper” of Morgan Freeman alone.

Kelly: I actually didn’t see any of these movies either, but I want to choose The Lego Movie because I heard it was awesome.

TELEVISION

Best TV Comedy/Musical

“Girls”
“Jane the Virgin”
“Orange is the New Black”
“Silicon Valley”
“Transparent”

Christina: “Orange is the New Black” with an outside shot for “Transparent.”  Online media is getting a lot of well deserved attention this awards season.  What could this mean for traditional networks?

Kelly: I think Orange is the New Black is the new big thing, especially because online media is taking over.  Just, please, please, not Jane the Virgin.  How did this even get nominated?

Best TV Drama

“The Affair”
“Downton Abbey”
“Game of Thrones”
"The Good Wife"
“House of Cards”

Christina: Honestly, none of these shows have ever really caught my attention.  Half the time I think they’re just working off last year’s ballot without really looking at all the great shows that are on television nowadays.  But if I had to guess it would be “House of Cards.”

Kelly: I feel like Game of Thrones is going to win this because of the popularity of it, however, considering Julianna Margulies always wins stuff, I wouldn’t be surprised if The Good Wife won.

Best Actress in a TV Drama

Claire Danes, “Homeland”
Viola Davis, “How to Get Away With Murder”
Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife”
Ruth Wilson, “The Affair”
Robin Wright, “House of Cards”

Christina: Viola Davis, no question.  But how did Eva Green not get a nomination for “Penny Dreadful”?  And I don’t get how Ruth Wilson gets nominated for “The Affair” but not for her outstanding work on Luther.

Kelly: As I said above, Julianna Margulies always wins this crap, but considering how much my co-host and many others love How to Get Away With Murder, I think Viola Davis is going to win this one.

Best Actor in a TV Drama

Clive Owen, “The Knick”
Liev Schreiber, “Ray Donovan”
Kevin Spacey, “House of Cards”
James Spader, “The Blacklist”
Dominic West, “The Affair”

Christina: Kevin Spacey, most likely.  I’ve actually seen both “Ray Donovan” and “The Blacklist” though, and both Schreiber and Spader have scene stealing performances.

Kelly: I think it’s going to come down to Kevin Spacey or James Spader and Spader is going to take it.  From what I’ve heard, The Blacklist is awesome.

Best Actress in a TV Comedy

Lena Dunham, “Girls”
Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”
Gena Rodriguez, “Jane the Virgin”
Taylor Schilling, “Orange is the New Black”

Kelly: Can we have Julia Louis-Dreyfus win so we can see her make out with someone again?  And as I said before, please, please, not Jane the Virgin.

Christina: I agree with Kelly.  And just please please please not Lena Dunham.

Best Actor in a TV Comedy

Louis CK, “Louie”
Don Cheadle, “House of Lies”
Ricky Gervais, “Derek”
William H. Macy, “Shameless”
Jeffrey Tambor, “Transparent”

Christina: I think Jeffrey Tambor is a pretty good bet in this category.  His performance has been one of the best on “television” this year.

Kelly: I actually really liked William H. Macy in Shameless.  His character is crazy and weird and, I assume, nothing like who he really is, but his performance makes me believe it.  I always think that the actor is great when you forget it’s the actor and only see the character and I see that with him.  That being said, I haven’t seen any of these other actors.  I still want to go with William H. Macy.

Best Miniseries or TV Movie

“Fargo”
“The Missing”
“The Normal Heart”
“Olive Kitteridge”
“True Detective”

Christina: Ugh, this might be the toughest category this year.  I think “The Missing” is the only option without a distinct shot at winning.  It will probably come down to “Fargo” or “True Detective.”  My personal vote would be for “True Detective.”

Kelly: The Normal Heart was absolutely robbed during the Emmys and therefore I want it to win this category so badly! It is a truly great film.

Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie

Maggie Gyllenhaal, “The Honorable Woman”
Jessica Lange, “American Horror Story: Freak Show”
Frances McDormand, “Olive Kitteridge”
Frances O’Connor, “The Missing”
Allison Tolman, “Fargo”

Christina: While I don’t think “Olive Kitteridge” will get a best miniseries win, I think it’ll get it’s recognition here with a win for Frances McDormand.

Kelly: This is going to Jessica Lange.  I have also heard that Allison Tolman is really great in Fargo, but I really believe this is going to Jessica Lange.

Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie

Martin Freeman, “Fargo”
Woody Harrelson, “True Detective”
Matthew McConaughey, “True Detective”
Mark Ruffalo, “The Normal Heart”
Billy Bob Thornton, “Fargo”

Christina: I’m a little surprised Benedict Cumberbatch didn’t get a nomination here for “Sherlock,” but I’m also not super disappointed.  Mark Ruffalo has a chance thanks to being the only nominee who doesn’t have to worry about vote splitting, but I the award will probably go to Matthew McConaughey.  Alright alright alright.

Kelly: This might be a long shot because of everyone else, but I want Mark Ruffalo to win for The Normal Heart.  However, I think it might go to either Woody Harrelson or Matthew McConaughey for True Detective.

Best Supporting Actress in a TV Show, Miniseries, or TV Movie

Uzo Aduba, “Orange is the New Black”
Kathy Bates, “American Horror Story: Freak Show”
Joanne Froggatt, “Downton Abbey”
Allison Janney, “Mom”
Michelle Monaghan, “True Detective”

Christina: Oh, another tough one.  I’ve got to go with Uzo Aduba.  No clue why.

Kelly: I actually think this will go to Allison Janney.  I’m not sure why I think that, but I just do.  I, unfortunately, haven’t seen any of these shows, but Mom is getting a lot more attention than I ever thought it would.

Best Supporting Actor in a TV Show, Miniseries, or TV Movie

Matt Bomer, “The Normal Heart”
Alan Cumming, “The Good Wife”
Colin Hanks, “Fargo”
Bill Murray, “Olive Kitteridge”
Jon Voight, “Ray Donovan”

Christina: I’d love Matt Bomer to win, and I actually think he might.  His biggest challenge will be Bill Murray.  That being said, Jon Voight is also great on Ray Donovan.

Kelly: Oh, this is a tough one because I could actually see any of them winning….and I want Matt Bomer to win!  However, I think it will come to Jon Voight or Alan Cumming.