Golden Globes 2020 winner list predictions

The Golden Globes set the agenda for who will dominate the Hollywood’s awards and get close to an Oscar. Leigh Paatsch and Siobhan Duck reveal who they think will take out the awards.

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It was a year that brought Meryl Streep to the small screen and drama unfolded again behind the curtains of Buckingham Palace. Sexual harassment and nuclear disaster were portrayed in gripping fashion.

There will be no shortage of deserving winners at the 2020 Golden Globes, but who will carry off the prizes?

On Monday Australian time, the biggest buzz in the film world will be coming from a star-studded awards dinner in Los Angeles.

In recent times, The Golden Globes set the agenda for who will dominate the Hollywood awards season, which traditionally culminates at the Oscars in February.

With no Australians seriously in winning contention this year, the biggest point of interest for film fans will be the emergence of a clear frontrunner for the coveted Best Picture Oscar.

At this point, The Irishman looks in prime position to fill that slot. However, as has always been the case with the Globes, you just never know until the envelope is opened …

Here’s how we rate them:

GOLDEN GLOBES – TV CATEGORIES

BEST TV SERIES, DRAMA

Big Little Lies

The Crown 

Killing Eve

Morning Wars

Succession

And the winner is … Morning Wars

This is a hard one to call because basically it’s a three-horse race between Morning Wars (known as The Morning Show in America), The Crown and Succession. But, in this post #metoo era, a show about the complexities of sexual harassment in the entertainment industry that also happens to be produced by two women, is sure to be rewarded.

Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon in a scene from the TV series Morning Wars.

BEST ACTRESS IN A TV SERIES, DRAMA

Jennifer Aniston, Morning Wars

Olivia Colman, The Crowd

Jodie Comer, Killing Eve

Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies

Reese Witherspoon, Morning Wars

And the winner is … Jennifer Aniston

Who doesn’t love Jennifer Aniston? The Globes will want to reward the former Friend for her triumphant return to the small screen. Aniston turned her nice-girl persona on its head as Alex Levy, an insecure breakfast TV host who is left reeling when her co-host is revealed to be a predator. The only pity here is that an Aniston win will deny viewers the supreme pleasure of watching Olivia Colman at the dais. The Brit has a proven track record for delivering hilarious off-the-cuff speeches.

Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell in a scene from the TV series Morning Wars.

BEST ACTOR IN A TV SERIES, DRAMA

Brian Cox, Succession

Kit Harington, Game of Thrones

Rami Malek, Mr. Robot

Tobias Menzies, The Crown

Billy Porter, Pose

And the winner is … Brian Cox

The great tragedy here is that Steve Carell was not nominated for his brilliant performance as a disgraced breakfast TV host in Morning Wars. Instead, expect to see Cox nudge out Billy Porter who has already won an Emmy in this category. Succession became one of the most talked-about shows of 2019 and if it fails to win the best drama category, then the show is likely to come out on top here. Cox is a deserving winner; he is masterful as Logan Roy, a media mogul who rules over his company and his family with an iron fist.

Brian Cox in a scene from Succession.

BEST TV SERIES, MUSICAL OR COMEDY

Barry

Fleabag

The Kominsky Method

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

The Politician

And the winner is … Fleabag, of course

There is no way that any show can beat Fleabag. Mrs Maisel took out the gong in 2018, The Kominsky Method won it last year, which means, given the way the Globes love to spread the love around, it’s Fleabag’s year to shine. Add to that is the fact that this was Fleabag’s final season and it will be the last opportunity to herald a show that was such a game-changer.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge in Fleabag. The comedy series was named one of the top ten TV shows of the year by the Associated Press.

BEST ACTRESS IN A TV SERIES, MUSICAL OR COMEDY

Christina Applegate, Dead to Me

Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Kirsten Dunst, On Becoming a God in Central Florida

Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll

Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag

And the winner is … Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Christina Applegate, Rachel Brosnahan, Kirsten Dunst and Natasha Lyonne will be able to take full advantage of the free champagne at the Globes as there’s no way anyone of them will be getting up to make a speech. As the writer and star of the darkly funny Fleabag, this one has Waller-Bridge’s name all over it.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge in a scene from Fleabag.

BEST ACTOR IN A TV SERIES, MUSICAL OR COMEDY

Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method

Bill Hader, Barry

Ben Platt, The Politician

Paul Rudd, Living with Yourself

Ramy Youssef, Ramy

And the winner is … Paul Rudd

This one was hard to call because none of these performances was particularly special. Although Living with Yourself was a dud which tried way too hard to be clever, Paul Rudd did a serviceable job with the material he was given. Plus, he’s a nice guy who will, no doubt, make an entertaining speech. So that’s a win for us too.

Paul Rudd in a scene from Although Living with Yourself.

BEST LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TV

Catch-22

Chernobyl

Fosse/Verdon

The Loudest Voice

Unbelievable

And the winner is … Chernobyl

This category is filled with worthy contenders but the dramatic and compelling treatment of the 1986 nuclear disaster will be hard to beat. Chernobyl has drawn some criticism for adding a little too much fiction to fact, but it certainly provides five tension-filled, memorable episodes of television.

Jared Harris in a scene from Chernobyl.

BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TV

Christopher Abbott, Catch-22

Sacha Baron Cohen, The Spy

Russell Crowe, The Loudest Voice

Jared Harris, Chernobyl

Sam Rockwell, Fosse/Verdon

And the winner is … Russell Crowe

Although Jared Harris was utterly brilliant as the scientist who fought against Soviet bureaucracy to control the devastation of the Chernobyl disaster, our very own Rusty piled on the pounds and went bald to play Roger Ailes. And we all know how Hollywood loves to reward an actor who uglies up for a role! In fairness, Russell gave a creepy and compelling performance underneath all those latex prosthetics and deserves the accolade.

Russell Crowe as Roger Ailes in a scene from the limited series, The Loudest Voice.

BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TV

Kaitlyn Dever, Unbelievable

Joey King, The Act

Helen Mirren, Catherine the Great

Merritt Wever, Unbelievable

Michelle Williams, Fosse/Verdon

And the winner is … Michelle Williams

This award should go to Merritt Weaver for an understated and moving performance as a determined and religious police detective hunting for a serial rapist. But Michelle Williams will take home her second Globe (she won her first playing Marilyn Monroe in the movie My Week with Marilyn) for yet another portrayal of a real-life entertainment figure. Certainly, Williams gave a showstopping performance as dancer Gwen Verdon.

Sam Rockwell plays Bob Fosse and Michelle Williams plays Gwen Verdon in Foxtel drama series, Fosse/Verdon.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TV

Alan Arkin, The Kominsky Method

Kieran Culkin, Succession

Andrew Scott, Fleabag

Stellan Skarsgard, Chernobyl

Henry Winkler, Barry

And the winner is … Andrew Scott

Not since Sex and the City’s Mr Big has an unobtainable love interest without a name had viewers swooning this way. Fleabag’s “hot priest” became one of the most talked-about characters on television and that’s thanks largely to Andrew Scott’s warm and engaging performance.

Andrew Scott in a scene from Fleabag.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TV

Patricia Arquette, The Act

Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown

Toni Collette, Unbelievable

Meryl Streep, Big Little Lies

Emily Watson, Chernobyl

And the winner is … Patricia Arquette

As a rule of thumb, if the opportunity to fill Meryl Streep’s trophy cabinet with another award arises then Hollywood will generally oblige. There’s no doubting Streep was one of the better parts about the second season of Big Little Lies, but surely this one has to go to Patricia Arquette who has already won an Emmy for her chilling portrayal of a woman who forces her adult daughter to pretend to be a disabled child.

Patricia Arquette attends Hulu's The Act FYC event at Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood, California.

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GOLDEN GLOBES – MOVIE CATEGORIES

BEST MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA

1917

The Irishman

Joker

Marriage Story

The Two Popes

And the winner is … The Irishman

The Martin Scorsese-directed The Irishman went down in the books of most media pundits as the best movie of 2019. As the Golden Globes membership is comprised entirely of media types, it is no great stretch to see voters follow suit. It is a majestic film on all the fronts that count, and not simply for reconnecting Scorsese with both his best form and finest collaborators (here’s hoping he and De Niro reconvene once more before they’re done). The magnificent trio of 1917, Joker and Marriage Story do not deserve to be remembered as also-rans, however.

Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Ray Romano in a scene from The Irishman.

BEST MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Dolemite is My Name

Jojo Rabbit

Knives Out

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Rocketman

And the winner is … Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

A very evenly matched line-up, with only the wonky jukebox musical Rocketman totally out of contention. Sometimes, the obvious winner just has to be the winner, and Once Upon a Time simply ticks too many boxes for Globes voters to resist. The movie has old-school star power (Pitt, DiCaprio), a filmmaker at the top of his game (Quentin Tarantino), a major box-office record, and paints Hollywood in a nostalgic glow that stays with viewers for ages after.

Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio in Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood.

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE

Bong Joon Ho – Parasite

Sam Mendes – 1917

Todd Phillips – Joker

Martin Scorsese – The Irishman

Quentin Tarantino – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

And the winner is … Bong Joon Ho

A win for the Korean master Bong Joon Ho will not be the boilover many assume. In fact, it could be the most valid indicator yet that his astonishing Parasite – a sleeper hit around the world – has a genuine shot at taking out the Best Picture Oscar next month. Ho’s direction is indeed superb, and just might sway voters who felt Scorsese took too long and scenic a route to wrapping up The Irishman.

Bong Joon-ho attends the 9th AACTA International Awards at Mondrian Los Angeles on January 03, 2020 in West Hollywood, California.

BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA

Christian Bale, Ford v Ferrari

Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory

Adam Driver, Marriage Story

Joaquin Phoenix, Joker

Jonathan Pryce, The Two Popes

And the winner is … Joaquin Phoenix

Of all the decorated nominees in this category, it is only Phoenix who pushed on towards something as unconventional as it was extraordinary. In a remarkable feat of genuine method acting, Phoenix held a (cracked) mirror up to the shifting emotional, psychological and physical states of his frazzled character. Remarkably, there is faint talk of an upset, with either Banderas or Driver capitalising on Phoenix’s one weakness: his ‘difficult’ reputation. Can’t really see it happening though.

Joaquin Phoenix in a scene from Joker.

BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA

Cynthia Erivo, Harriet

Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story

Saoirse Ronan, Little Women

Charlize Theron, Bombshell

Renée Zellweger, Judy

And the winner is … Renée Zellweger

It only took a sample size of a few seconds as the late, great entertainer Judy Garland for Zellweger to become a hot fave on the awards circuit this season. While the sight of Zellweger in full flight as the gifted songbird is irresistible, so too is the prospect her Judy may crack and fall to pieces at any moment. Of the others, only Johansson can count herself truly unlucky to miss out. Her work in Marriage Story would win every statuette available in any other year.

Renée Zellweger in a scene from new movie: Judy.

BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Daniel Craig, Knives Out

Roman Griffin Davis, Jojo Rabbit

Leonardo DiCaprio, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Taron Egerton, Rocketman

Eddie Murphy, Dolemite is My Name

And the winner is … Eddie Murphy

Murphy’s wired and inspired turn as a long-forgotten star of stage, screen and, umm, strip clubs was without doubt the comeback of the year. Seriously, Murphy has not been this great in decades. And he wants the world to know about it too: having cosied up to Globes voters for months to make the field, win, and then land a Best Actor Oscar nomination. While Craig has his admirers for the edge he brought to Knives Out, it is DiCaprio who has the best hope of raining on Murphy’s planned parade.

Eddie Murphy in a scene from Dolemite Is My Name.

BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Ana De Armas, Knives Out

Awkwafina, The Farewell

Cate Blanchett, Where’d You Go, Bernadette

Beanie Feldstein, Booksmart

Emma Thompson, Late Night

And the winner is … Awkwafina

Awkwafina was a total revelation in The Farewell, working in a completely different mode to her hilarious Crazy Rich Asians breakthrough. Though better known for her way with a punchline, it was Awkwafina’s array of quiet and natural reactions to a possible death in the family that made the movie so treasured by those who saw it. Of the others, De Armas is the only knockout hope, though her chances are reduced by the sheer size of the star-studded Knives Out cast.

Awkwafina in a scene from the movie The Farewell.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE

Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Anthony Hopkins, The Two Popes

Al Pacino, The Irishman

Joe Pesci, The Irishman

Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

And the winner is … Brad Pitt

With mesmerising calm and charisma, Pitt made every scene his own in Tarantino’s homage to a lost Los Angeles. One minute, his laconic stuntman Cliff Booth could be going toe-to-toe with martial arts legend Bruce Lee. The next, he could be staring deep into the evil eyes of every member of the Manson Family. It is such a flawless display, no other nominee stands a chance. Pitt has never been an awards magnet, but all that changes here (and again on Oscars night).

Brad Pitt stars in the movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE

Kathy Bates, Richard Jewell

Annette Bening, The Report

Laura Dern, Marriage Story

Jennifer Lopez, Hustlers

Margot Robbie, Bombshell

And the winner is … Laura Dern

On first look, there is no real clear standout pick in an even field of honourable nominees. Look harder, and you can get a two-horse race going between Dern and Lopez. Hustlers was close to a career best for Lopez, and she has a genuine shot at winning. However, Dern’s powerhouse display as a steely divorce lawyer is work of a much higher calibre. Oh, and as a multiple Globes winner (and 9-time nominee) it is clear voters here just larrrrrve Laura.

Laura Dern, left, and Scarlett Johansson in Marriage Story.

Originally published as Golden Globes 2020 winner list predictions