Anna Daniels
While a major war epic from Mendes — a well-regarded director who has helmed prestigious films like American Beauty, Skyfall, and Revolutionary Road — might seem like a shoo-in where awards are concerned, 1917 faced incredibly stiff competition at the 2020 Golden Globes, which makes its victory all the more surprising.
It seems 1917‘s biggest competition was The Irishman, Martin Scorsese’s latest mobster epic that managed to lure the legendary Joe Pesci out of retirement as well as score glowing reviews across the board. However, Scorsese wasn’t the only heavy-hitter squaring off against 1917 at this year’s Golden Globes – Todd Phillips’ Joker might have stirred up controversy upon its release, but it performed extraordinarily well critically and financially, and Netflix’s Marriage Story, directed by Noah Baumbach, featured bracing and real performances by Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson. On the flip side, The Two Popes might have Sir Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce on board, but the arthouse piece was arguably the dark horse of the category.
In the end, 1917 managed to edge out seriously huge competition, giving the film a big edge as we inch towards the 2020 Academy Awards. It remains to be seen whether 1917 can take home the top prize at the next big ceremony, but for now, Mendes and his talented cast can certainly rest on their laurels.
Written by: Looper
