With the Golden Globe nominations last week, there were plenty of worthy nominations, including “A Star is Born” “Vice” and “BlackPanther” but as always, there were some films and performances that were noticeably snubbed.
Toni Collette for “Hereditary”
It’s rare for a horror film to get any nominations (“Black Swan” and “Get Out” being recent exceptions), but this summer’s “Hereditary” is certainly worthy. Focusing on a family as they process their unimaginable grief, Toni Collette gave a powerhouse performance. It’s one of those rare roles that require her to gives everything she has, and she’s up to the challenge.
If you haven’t yet seen “Hereditary” I strongly recommend that you stay away from spoilers, because the trailers and marketing completely blindside audiences as to what the film’s second half contains. It’s dark, uncomfortable, shocking and really powerful. I strongly recommend everyone watch “Hereditary” (which will be available to stream on Amazon Prime by the end of the month). I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Collette will receive a rightfully deserved Oscar nomination.
“Sorry to Bother You”
Photo courtesy of movieweb.com
Without a doubt my favorite movie of 2018, “Sorry to Bother You” is a biting satire that equal parts funny and unpredictable. Commenting on corporate America, the African American experience and consumerism (among other things), I was certain that Boots Riley’s film would be in contention for Best Comedy or Musical, as well as Best Screenplay and Best Actor for LakeithStanfield.
I suspect that last year’s “Get Out” stole some of this movie’s thunder, but they really are entirely different. “Sorry to Bother You” is another movie with a really surprising and out-of-left-field twist that I didn’t see coming. It’s funny, smart and incredibly unique. I’m hoping that “Sorry to Bother You” can at least get a Best Original Screenplay nomination at the Oscars. If you’re thinking about checking out “Sorry to Bother You” the film is available to stream for free with a Hulu account.
“Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again”
Photo courtesy of huffingtonpost.com
Was “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” a perfect movie? Certainly not, but it was a really fun theater experience. Watching it in a packed theater of ABBA fans (and Meryl Streep fans) was the best theater experience of the summer. Following the style of “The Godfather Part II” the “Mamma Mia” sequel spends half of its time following Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) following her mother Donna’s (Streep) death, and the other half flashes back to a young Donna(played by “Baby Driver’s” Lily James) during the summer where she met three potential lovers.
The music was fun, the performances were lighthearted but effective and it’s a fun watch. With some of the year’s bigger musicals being submitted in the Best Drama category (“A Star is Born” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” both thought they’d have a better chance at prestige as dramas), I was sure that “Mamma Mia 2” would at least get nominated for Best Comedy or Musical andBest Actress for Lily James. Since it was omitted, the only musical in the top category is “Mary Poppins Returns.” It’s unlikely that the ABBA sequel will receive any Oscar nominations, so the Golden Globes were its big chance to shine.
Ethan Hawke for “First Reformed”
Photo courtesy of theatlantic.com
Ethan Hawke stars as a priest struggling with his faith in“Taxi Driver” screenwriter Paul Schrader’s “First Reformed.” It’s a small, quiet and deliberately paced film that some may see as boring, but I found incredibly interesting. It raises questions about faith, environmentalism and the future of our planet. Featuring a lot of dialogue heavy scenes, it’s the kind of movie that rewards your attention.
As he struggles with his faith following a bad diagnosis, Hawke meets Amanda Seyfried (in her second mention on this list) whose husband is taking his environmental activism to the extreme. This leads Hawke down a road of questioning his purpose and man’s negative impact on the planet. “First Reformed” doesn’t wrap everything up into a tidy ending; questions are left unanswered and viewers are required to think about it to come up with their own conclusion. In the current age of over-explaining everything, Schrader’s film is a welcome change. I was certain Hawke would be nominated for Best Actor, andI’m still hoping he gets the recognition he deserves come Oscar Nomination Day.“First Reformed” is also available to stream for free on Amazon Prime.
Were there any other snubs that surprised you? What movies and performances are you rooting for at this year’s Golden Globe Awards? Let me know in the comments below and make sure to watch the ceremony, hosted by Andy Samberg and Sandra Oh, on January 6, 2019 at 8 p.m.