Golden Globe Predictions

In the family of "prestigious" award shows, the Golden Globes are the loud, trashy, loveable aunt who shows up to every reunion a little tipsy and then proceeds to get completely wasted. They are known for being a huge party that worships Hollywood's biggest stars, and I don't think that will be changing this year. Check out my predictions below!

Film

Best Motion Picture, Drama: Boyhood

• I think this is between Boyhood, the ambitious critical darling, and The Imitation Game, the standard British biopic. The Theory of Everything is overshadowed by Imitation, I fear Selma has not been seen enough, and Foxcatcher should just be happy to be there.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama: Jennifer Aniston, Cake

• The only actress I can't picture winning this is Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything). Julianne Moore (Still Alice) has the overdue factor, Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) is the breakthrough star in a big hit, and Reese Witherspoon is America's Sweetheart making a comeback. But I think Jennifer Anistion has the edge because of the surprise factor -- she came out of nowhere with this film almost no one has seen -- and because people generally want good things for her. She gets the star vote.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything

• This is a crowded category. All of these performances and actors have significant fans. Ultimately though, I think it will go to Eddie Redmayne due to the simple fact that he is one of the Oscar frontrunners, alongside Michael Keaton (in the Comedy/Musical category). But I wouldn't be surprised if he lost either.

Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy: Birdman

•  People love Birdman. A lot. The Grand Budapest Hotel is another much-loved film, but it is a dark horse here. It lacks the direct connection to showbiz that I think has made Birdman such a big hit with awards bodies.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy: Emily Blunt, Into the Woods

• This is a crapshoot. I should probably predict Amy Adams because many people think she is O-V-E-R-D-U-E for an Oscar (and the Oscars definitely matter here). But people aren't crazy about Big Eyes and Adams just won a Globe last year, so it's possible that Blunt, the star of a major hit and Best Musical/Comedy nominee, will come out on top.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy: Michael Keaton, Birdman

• Ralph Fiennes could be a surprise winner if the HFPA goes for Grand Budapest Hotel in a big way (like by giving it a Best Musical/Comedy award), but this is most likely Michael Keaton's to lose. He's a comeback story in a Best Picture frontrunner. He's got this.

Best Animated Feature Film: The Lego Movie

• There may be no bigger frontrunner this year. No discussion needed.

Best Foreign Language Film: Ida

• Ida started its reign all the way back in May when it was released in U.S. theaters. It had a solid box-office run and has built a large fan base (relative to other foreign films) since then. It's even a threat for surprise Best Picture Oscar nod. Force Majeure and Leviathan have their fair share of supporters this year, but there's been no other foreign film like Ida this year.

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood

• People really admire the dedication of the Boyhood cast, and Patricia Arquette is routinely cited as the MVP of the cast. Even if the movie loses, she'll probably win. She does have competition though: Meryl Streep (Into the Woods) is always a threat, and Emma Stone (Birdman) could ride the Birdman wave (plus people love her in the movie and in real life).

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash

• Simmons is a veteran actor in a Sundance hit that has had a year to gather fans and gain steam. His fellow nominees (minus Robert Duvall) are in similarly big films, but none can match Simmons' precursor support.

 Best Director: Richard Linklater, Boyhood

• Birdman love aside, no director has garnered as much praise and respect this year as Richard Linklater, and rightfully so. Boyhood was a huge risk that could have ended in disaster. Instead, it ended with one of the biggest critical hits of the decade thus far. It will be shocking if the award does not go to him or Birdman's Alejandro González Iñárritu.

Best Screenplay, Motion Picture: Gone Girl

• A stacked category to be sure, but I think the twists, turns, and black humor of Gillian Flynn's zeitgesty script in combination with it's big box-office numbers will help it overcome the likes of The Grand Budapest Hotel and Birdman.

Best Original Score, Motion Picture: Alexandre Desplat, The Imitation Game

• I think they'll either be boring here (Desplat) or throw caution to the wind and pick the nominee that is -- gasp -- not eligible for the Oscars (Antonio Sanchez, Birdman).

Best Original Song, Motion Picture: "Yellow Flicker Beat" from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1

• Because the Globes aren't afraid to be young and hip sometimes. But really anyone could win. Maybe Lana Del Rey for "Big Eyes" after last year's embarrassing Oscar snub? Who knows? No one. No one ever knows what will happen with the Globes song category unless you have a "Skyfall" or "Let It Go" situation.

All right, the rest of these will receive no explanation because I do not follow TV like I follow film. Do not trust my predictions here.

 

Television

Best TV Series, Drama: The Good Wife
Best Actress in a TV Series, Drama: Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder
Best Actor in a TV Series, Drama: Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
Best TV Series, Musical or Comedy: Orange is the New Black
Best Actress in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Best Actor in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy: Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
Best TV Movie or Mini-Series: True Detective
Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Movie: Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Freak Show
Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Movie: Matthew McConaughey, True Detective
Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series, or TV Movie: Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black
Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series or TV Movie: Matt Bomer, The Normal Heart