Monthly Archives: February 2021

2021 Golden Globes Awards Predictions

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Ah, the sights and sounds of another Award Season are upon us. And if it feels like the last one was a lifetime ago, on account of the pandemic that took over the world soon after last year’s Academy Awards, rest assured that you’re not alone in that feeling.  Oh and if you’re also wondering just how exactly an Awards Season is going to work within this continuing pandemic, you’re again, not alone. But happen it apparently will. 

And so naturally, it’s only fair that I give my predictions – half of which will likely be wrong but hey, that’s half the fun. Let’s face it, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) is kind of nutty and random as hell at times. And so trying to predict what they’ll do is like trying to predict lottery numbers. But man is it fun to try. And so without further ado, here are my predictions for the 2021 Golden Globe Awards.

FILM

Best Motion Picture – Drama                                                              

  • The Father
  • Mank
  • Nomadland
  • Promising Young Woman
  • The Trial of the Chicago 7

Will Win – I hear the argument that Mank, a Hollywood film about Hollywood, is right up the HFPA’s alley and Nomadland has been one of the most critically acclaimed and lauded films of the year. However, when it comes to the Globes, in particular, I tend to go with the gut and my gut is saying voters are going to swing in the direction of the Aaron Sorkin led The Trial of the Chicago 7. It has all the elements that appeal to voters – it’s based on a real-life event, it features a stellar ensemble cast, and it mixes light humor with real human tragedy. So it’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 for the win.

Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama

  • Viola Davis –  Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
  • Andra Day – The United States vs. Billie Holiday
  • Vanessa Kirby – Pieces of a Woman
  • Frances McDormand – Nomadland
  • Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman

Will Win – While Ms. Davis is always a formidable opponent in any acting category, unfortunately, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was more Chadwick Boseman’s vehicle than hers. And while I’m glad the Shia Lebouf scandal has not hurt Vanessa Kirby’s deserving award nominations, I don’t see her pulling off the win. And Andra Day, let’s be honest, is in the “just happy to be nominated” spot. This means that this is likely a battle between Frances McDormand and Carey Mulligan. And while it may seem foolish to ever bet against a powerhouse like McDormand, I’m putting my money on Mulligan’s darkly twisted performance in Promising Young Woman to take this.

Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama

  • Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal
  • Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
  • Anthony Hopkins – The Father
  • Gary Oldman – Mank
  • Tahar Rahim – The Mauritanian

Will Win – It’s going to be bittersweet when Chadwick Boseman posthumously receives his first-ever Golden Globe award. Now let me be very clear, having seen Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, this will not be a “we’re sad that you’re dead, so we’re giving you this award”. Boseman delivered a stellar and utterly devastating performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and deserves to be lauded accordingly. The only potential spoiler to this is if HFPA voters turn out to love Mank even more than we imagine, and award Gary Oldman.

Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical

  • Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
  • Hamilton
  • Palm Springs
  • Music
  • The Prom

Will Win – I know what all the pundits are saying – that there’s no way the HFPA voters will resist awarding one of the most critically acclaimed and lauded musicals in recent years. I don’t buy it though. I believe when you factor social relevancy, along with critical buzz and acclaim, it’s hard to bet against Borat. So Borat it is for me.

Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical

  • Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
  • Kate Hudson – Music
  • Michelle Pfeiffer – French Exit
  • Rosamund Pike – I Care A Lot
  • Anya Taylor-Joy – Emma

Will Win – This may be one of the more slam dunk categories of the night. It’s not easy to steal the attention away from Sacha Baron Cohen when he’s being his most outrageous. But that’s exactly what Maria Bakalova did, seemingly coming out of nowhere to own the Borat sequel. Bakalova for the win.

Best Actor – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical

  • Sacha Baron Cohen – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
  • James Corden – The Prom
  • Lin-Manuel Miranda – Hamilton
  • Dev Patel – The Personal History of David Copperfield
  • Andy Samberg – Palm Springs

Will Win – With a double nomination, it seems a safe bet to go with Baron Cohen, as he’s unlikely to win Supporting Actor. However, a little nagging voice is telling me to not sleep on Dev Patel here. So I’ll play it safe and predict Sacha Baron Cohen for the win, but won’t be too surprised if Dev Patel pulls off a surprise win.

Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture

  • Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy
  • Olivia Colman – The Father
  • Jodie Foster – The Mauritanian
  • Amanda Seyfried – Mank
  • Helena Zengel – News of the World

Will Win – HFPA voters love Olivia Colman. That’s obvious by now. And judging by the number of nominations it received, they are obviously fans of The Father. So it’s hard to bet against Colman. I hear the overwhelming arguments in Seyfried’s favor and I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if she won but I’m going to go with the gut on this one and say Olivia Colman for the win.

Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture

  • Sacha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7
  • Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah
  • Jared Leto – The Little Things
  • Bill Murray – On the Rocks
  • Leslie Odom Jr. – One Night in Miami

Will Win – Another category with a clear favorite. It’s hard to bet against Kaluuya here, who delivers an electrically mesmerizing performance as the late Black Panther activist, Fred Hampton. On a personal note, while I like Sacha Baron Cohen and loved The Trial of the Chicago 7, were it up to me, I’d have singled out Yahya Abdul-Mateen II instead, for his brilliant performance of Bobby Seale.

Best Director

  • Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman
  • David Fincher – Mank
  • Regina King – One Night in Miami
  • Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7
  • Chloe Zhao – Nomadland

Will Win – First, score one for diversity and women’s power as for the first time in Globes history, three women are nominated in the Director category. Saying this, a tiny part of me feels for Fincher who is way overdue in my opinion for a Director win. As to who will win, it certainly seems like Regina King is a sure bet in any category she’s ever nominated in. But I can’t imagine even she’s this much of a badass to pull this off and so I’m going to go with the consensus on this, and what the early predictors have shown, and pick Chloe Zhao to take it home.

Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language

  • Another Round
  • La Llorona
  • The Life Ahead
  • Minari
  • Two of Us

Will Win – The last few years have been pretty straightforward in the Foreign Language category. Think Roma and of course, Parasite. And this year is likely shaping up to be no different. Look to Minari to take this and ride the wave to the Academy Awards.

Best Animated

  • The Croods: A New Age
  • Onward
  • Over the Moon
  • Soul
  • Wolfwalkers

Will Win – Admittedly, since I haven’t been as invested in the animated films this year, I’ll defer to the pundits on this one and go with Soul, as that seems to be the overwhelming consensus.

TELEVISION

Best Television Series – Drama

  • The Crown
  • Lovecraft Country
  • The Mandalorian
  • Ozark
  • Ratched

Will Win – The Crown was always going to be a heavy favorite in this category, but I believe this latest season in particular and all the buzz it generated, has made this win an almost sure thing. But of course, it is the Globes, so don’t be surprised when the unexpected happens. Still, I’m putting my money on The Crown.

Best Actress – Television Drama

  • Olivia Colman – The Crown
  • Jodie Comer – Killing Eve
  • Emma Corrin – The Crown
  • Laura Linney – Ozark
  • Sarah Paulson – Ratched

Will Win – Yes, HFPA voters love Olivia Colman but the particular breakout of The Crown’s much buzzed about season, was Corrin. And so it’s hard to bet against here. That said, if there is potential for an upset, we should watch out for Paulson. It’s clear that HFPA voters were more in love with Ratched than many critics and that may sway the votes Paulson’s way.

Best Actor – Television Drama

  • Jason Bateman – Ozark
  • Josh O’Connor – The Crown
  • Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul
  • Al Pacino – Hunters
  • Matthew Rhys – Perry Mason

Will Win – This one is a toss-up for me. I don’t feel like there’s a clear favorite here and so it can go either way. My feeling is that it may be a battle between Al Pacino because HFPA voters love awarding legendary actors in television categories and Matthew Rhys, who has gotten incredible buzz for his performance in the Perry Mason reboot.

Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical

  • Emily in Paris
  • The Flight Attendant
  • The Great
  • Schitt’s Creek
  • Ted Lasso

Will Win – Schitt’s Creek appears to be riding an incredible wave, much like Fleabag did a year ago and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel the previous two years, and so it’s hard to bet against them. Would be hilarious if Emily in Paris pulls out the shocking win, if for no other reason than for the outraged reactions it should illicit. But yeah, I’m going with Schitt’s Creek.

Best Actress – Television Comedy or Musical

  • Lily Collins – Emily in Paris
  • Kaley Cuoco – The Flight Attendant
  • Elle Fanning – The Great
  • Jane Levy – Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist
  • Catherine O’Hara – Schitt’s Creek

Will Win – Continuing on the assumption that Schitt’s Creek is going to continue riding the high that began at last year’s Primetime Emmy Awards, I’m going to say this is going to be a win for Catherine O’Hara. Possible spoiler – Kaley Cuoco, who’s a double nominee as an executive producer of her show, The Flight Attendant.

Best Actor – Television Comedy or Musical

  • Don Cheadle – Black Monday
  • Nicholas Hoult – The Great
  • Eugene Levy – Schitt’s Creek
  • Jason Sudeikis – Ted Lasso
  • Ramy Youssef – Ramy

Will Win – The Globes don’t often do repeat winners, so that reduces Ramy Youssef’s chances. Once again, this could very likely turn into an Emmy’s repeat of a clean sweep for Schitt’s Creek and Eugene Levy’s gets the win. But a little voice in my head is saying to not count out Jason Sudeikis. So head says Levy, but the gut is saying Sudeikis.

Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

  • Normal People
  • The Queen’s Gambit
  • Small  Axe
  • The Undoing
  • Unorthodox

Will Win – Before there was Bridgerton, the biggest buzz surrounding Netflix, was all about The Queen’s Gambit. Which sucks for Normal People who I suspect had this in the bag, were it not for the former. I still think it’s a tight race though. While I believe Anya Taylor-Joy’s win for Leading Actress in a Limited Series is a done deal, I still think there’s the possibility of a Normal People win here. So I’m going to be a coward and play it safe and say Normal People or The Queen’s Gambit for the win.

Best Actress – Limited Series or Made for Television Movie

  • Cate Blanchett – Miss America
  • Daisy Edgar-Jones – Normal People
  • Shira Haas – Unorthodox
  • Nicole Kidman – The Undoing
  • Anya Taylor-Joy – The Queen’s Gambit

Will Win – Talk about a category with some heavy hitters. However, it won’t matter. This one is a slam dunk for Anya Taylor-Joy.

Best Actor – Limited Series or Made for Television Movie

  • Bryan Cranston – Your Honor
  • Jeff Daniels – The Comey Rules
  • Hugh Grant – The Undoing
  • Ethan Hawke – The Good Lord Bird
  • Mark Ruffalo – I Know This Much is True

Will Win – This is another category that feels like a toss-up for me where any one of these men could win and I wouldn’t be particularly surprised. But if I go by my gut, which for the record, has steered me wrong many times when it comes to the Globes, (because did I mention that they’re very unpredictable), I’d say this may come down to Bryan Cranston or Mark Ruffalo.

Best Supporting Actress – Series, Limited Series or Made for Television Movie

  • Gillian Anderson – The Crown
  • Helena Bonham Carter – The Crown
  • Julia Garner – Ozark
  • Annie Murphy – Schitt’s Creek
  • Cynthia Nixon – Ratched

Will Win – Gillian Anderson was Margaret Thatcher. Do I need to say any more? Yeah, Gillian Anderson’s got this one in the bag.

Best Supporting Actor – Series, Limited Series or Made for Television Movie

  • John Boyega – Small Axe
  • Brendan Gleeson – The Comey Rule
  • Dan Levy – Schitt’s Creek
  • Jim Parsons – Hollywood
  • Donald Sutherland – The Undoing

Will Win – The pundits seem to be leaning toward John Boyega, which would be a nice win for him. But it’s hard for me to dismiss a legendary actor like Donald Sutherland in a category like this. It’s just the type of category where HFPA voters will swing more in the favor of an industry legend like Sutherland.

5 Essential Films, Albums and Books for Black History Month

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Image Courtesy Pixabay

It’s February, which means it’s officially the start of Black History Month. Yes, every month should be Black History Month because we should always be learning and educating ourselves about history. However, because emphasis on said history is during February, I feel it’s only right that I acknowledge it with a specific post.

There is, understandably, a plethora of resources and literature on various black history topics, which means there is no way to make a definitive list. However, I wanted to share the films, music, and books that I believe all tell a significant aspect of black history. The following are the five essential films, albums, and books I think everyone should watch, listen to and read this month.

Image Courtesy Unsplash

Films

  • The Color Purple – We all remember the catch-phrases and memorable moments. But at its core, The Color Purple is a celebration of the strength of black women and a tale of sisterhood – familial and other. Heartbreaking, heartwarming, and timeless, The Color Purple is a must-watch for everyone at least once in your lifetime.
  • Malcolm X – For many years and generations, Malcolm X stood as a complex and complicated figure of the civil rights movement. Some viewed him as angry, too militant, while others considered him righteous and misunderstood. The film Malcolm X, adapted from Alex Haley’s equally brilliant The Autobiography of Malcolm X, finds Spike Lee at his directorial best, creating a formidable, yet nuanced film made all the better with one of the finest acting performances by Denzel Washington.
  • Do the Right Thing – Another Spike Lee Joint, Do the Right Thing is particularly relevant right now in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests that have swept the world. Set against the backdrop of a hot, sweltering Brooklyn summer day, the film tells the story of how one incident of racial injustice lights a match that helps bring to the forefront long-held racial tensions and animosities that had been simmering in the community. Not unlike the reaction to the murder of George Floyd.
  • Hidden Figures – The erasure of black and brown people from the history books has been a long-standing point of discussion. And it is just one of the reasons this film is a must-see. The simple truth is not many knew the names Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, and Mary Jackson concerning the first moon landing. And were it not for the work of Margot Lee Shetterly, the source material for the film, we may still not know about their legacy.
  • BlacKKKlansman – A black police officer, in the 1970s, with the help of his Jewish partner, infiltrates the Ku Klux Klan. This probably sounds like the setup for a Dave Chappelle skit. Instead, it’s the very true story of Officer Ron Stallworth, as told in the film BlacKKlansman. Depicted with a biting wit and absurd humor, the film reminds us of the very frightening and disturbing history of the KKK and white supremacy in general, but more importantly, how the seeds that were previously sewn continues to exist today.
Image Courtesy Pexels

Albums

  • What’s Going On? by Marvin Gaye – Inspired by various acts of civil unrest at the time, Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On stands the test of time as one the seminal social justice albums of the late 60’s – early 70s era. The album explored a range of social topics that sadly are all too prevalent today – police brutality, racial injustice, poverty and economic disparity, and more. What’s Going On is an excellent album for understanding what was happening across the U.S. during that era and what is, in many ways, still happening.
  • Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music by Ray Charles – A black performer, in the 1960s, reworks classic songs written and previously performed by white artists and makes it his own. Flip the script on this – white artist performs songs written by black artists and it would have been just another day in the recording industry at that time. The former was unheard of. But it’s exactly what Ray Charles did. He made the sounds of country and western music his own and did it brilliantly while earning immense commercial and critical success.
  • Legend by Bob Marley and The Wailers – The compilation of Bob Marley’s, along with The Wailers, greatest hits, Legend is truly a summation of the black man and woman’s story. Everything from slavery, colonialism, identity, self-love, national pride, and more. It is essential listening for everyone.
  • The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill – Was it a fluke, a flash in the pan, a case of shining too bright too fast? Whatever the case may be for why we never again received such a masterpiece from her, we are eternally grateful for the one she did create. Mixing R&B, Soul, Funk, Reggae, and fierce Rap flow, Hill delivered a powerful odyssey of the black woman’s story. Love, hurt, sex, motherhood, and sexuality all blended into one against a backdrop of finding one’s voice.
  • I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You by Aretha Franklin – The album that launched Ms. Franklin’s career into the stratosphere. Bold, brash, confident, and passionate, her voice soared as she sang about love, respect, social change, and more. The ultimate power of I Never Loved a Man… is the strength and confidence Aretha exuded for a time when women of color, in particular, were meant to or made to feel anything but small, weaker, and cowed.
Image Courtesy Unsplash

Books

  1. The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin – Written in the format of two letters, The Fire Next Time is an intense exploration of race and racial identity, particularly for a black man in America. The first letter is Baldwin writing to his nephew on the 100th anniversary of Emancipation and the second, is an examination of race and religion via the intersection of the black Christian church and the growing Islamic movement of the 60s. Both are told with stark and unapologetic honesty and grit that is a hallmark of much of Baldwin’s work.
  • Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley – We’ve probably all seen at least part of the epic 1977 television miniseries adaptation of the film. And it’s a worthy adaptation. However, you know what say, the book is usually better than the film, and it’s definitely worth giving this one a read. The story of Kunta Kinte, Roots help put a personal face to the history of millions of African American descendants of slavery.
  • The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander – There’s an expression that’s used by many black people – “slavery’s not over, it’s just now called the prison system”. And this is the impetus of Alexander’s The New Jim Crow that meticulously and brilliantly traces the intersection of slavery, the Jim Crow era, mass incarceration of black men, and racism. This is an essential read for anyone trying to understand the core of the police reform movement, which is integral to the Black Lives Matter movement.
  • The Black Woman, An Anthology by Toni Cade Bambara – Drawing on a collective of strong female voices, some of whom became groundbreaking successes in their own right, e.g. Alice Walker, The Black Woman is a collection of poems, essays, and short stories that explores a wide array of themes that affect black women in unique ways. Everything from race and body image, sex, politics, economic disparity, and more.
  • A Promised Land by Barack Obama – Whether or not you are a fan of his policies or believe he could have and should have done more during his 8 years as the leader of the free world, what is undisputed, is that the former President holds a distinction no one else does. As the first black, and person of color in general, to hold the office of the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama’s journey is unique to that of any other former president. On one hand, he was theoretically at one point the most powerful man in the country and perhaps the world, and yet, on the other hand, he was still a black man in America, occupying a space that had thus far only been reserved for white people. And that alone makes his a fascinating story and one worth telling.