Although Barbenheimer was the biggest box office success of 2023, the upcoming year brings a different type of competition as the two popular films vie for recognition at the Golden Globes this weekend.
Both Greta Gerwig’s Barbie comedy from Mattel and Christopher Nolan’s drama about the atomic bomb, Oppenheimer, have received the most nominations this year with eight and seven respectively. Though they are mostly nominated in different categories – comedy/musical and drama – it is expected that these two films will dominate the awards ceremony. In the previous year, the two movies collectively earned more than $2 billion at the worldwide box office.
The upcoming Globes ceremony is expected to generate significant commercial interest, which is greatly needed after recent scandals in 2021 highlighted corrupt behavior and a lack of diversity within the organization. The 2022 event was lacking in both celebrity attendance and television network coverage as a consequence, and although last year’s ceremony saw a star-studded return, doubts about the future remain.
Over the past year, the Globes have transformed into a profit-making group and have gained 215 new voters, increasing their total membership to 310. In the beginning of 2021, they only had 87 members with none being Black. However, currently, 58% of the members identify as ethnically diverse. The president, Helen Hoehne, has declared it as the most culturally diverse major awards organization in the industry.
The voters currently come from 76 different countries and the nominations for this year feature an impressive selection of international films such as Anatomy of a Fall, Fallen Leaves, The Boy and the Heron, and The Zone of Interest.
This year marks several groundbreaking achievements, including the recognition of Ali Wong and Steven Yeun, stars of Beef, as the first actors of Asian descent to be nominated in the limited TV series category. Additionally, Lily Gladstone, star of Killers of the Flower Moon, is the first Native actor to be nominated for best actress and is predicted by many to win.
The upcoming award season will feature a tough competition between Scorsese’s historical drama and Oppenheimer for the top drama award. These two films are considered to be the top contenders, while their lead actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Cillian Murphy will also be vying for the best actor award. They will be facing stiff competition from Bradley Cooper, who is highly praised for his portrayal of Leonard Bernstein in the biopic Maestro.
Barbie is up against some tough competition in the comedy and musical categories, including Poor Things, Yorgos Lanthimos’s unique sequel to The Favourite which reunites him with Emma Stone, and The Holdovers, a holiday-themed story featuring Paul Giamatti.
Gerwig, Nolan, and Scorsese will be in competition for the title of best director.
According to predictions, the last season of Succession will be successful in the drama category on television. For comedy awards, it is expected that Abbott Elementary and The Bear will be the frontrunners.
During the award ceremony, there will be two additional categories announced: best stand-up comedian on TV and an award for box office success. This could potentially result in Taylor Swift receiving her first Golden Globe for the film adaptation of her popular Eras tour.
It has been a chaotic rush to find a host after the announcement of comedian Jo Koy in late December, with only two weeks until airtime. Koy stated to Variety this week that he plans to make jokes but also wants to keep the celebration going. The entertainment industry was greatly affected and shaken, not just the writers and actors, so Koy wants to focus on celebrating and enjoying the moment. He sees this as a great opportunity for everyone involved.
The upcoming Globes ceremony will be the first major red-carpet gathering since the conclusion of the writers’ and actors’ strikes and the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict. In October, the Globes made a donation of $75,000 to the Committee to Protect Journalists as a response to the ongoing conflict. A statement was released expressing solidarity with those affected by the tragic and distressing events.
In past events, famous figures like Meryl Streep and Michelle Williams have delivered speeches about political issues like the presidency of Donald Trump and limitations on abortion. The previous year also featured a unique video statement from Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
During the Sunday ceremony and on the red carpet, no political activity has been officially reported, unlike in previous years when celebrities have displayed ribbons to show their support for different causes.
The upcoming evening guarantees a nostalgic touch of elegance from the Golden Globes, as it has been confirmed that A-list celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Florence Pugh, Angela Bassett, and Will Ferrell will be presenting awards. In addition, winners will receive gift bags estimated to be worth $500,000, which includes a luxurious five-day voyage on a yacht through Indonesian waters valued at $50,000.
According to LA Times, the producer Ricky Kirshner stated that viewers are excited to watch their beloved celebrities, TV shows, and movies, and the purpose of the event is to celebrate and enjoy. He also believes that viewers are not interested in past events.
The Golden Globes are considered a significant indicator of potential Oscar nominees, which will be revealed on January 23rd.
Source: theguardian.com
