Anna Daniels
Awards season kicks off with the Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 5, 2020. And while there are plenty of expected films recognized, there are also a few more surprising nominees. Here are a few of those which could take home an award on Sunday, but are very unlikely to do so at the more-prestigious Academy Awards.
‘Cats’
The entirety of Cats (2019) has been a whirlwind journey from its origins to the present. From the A-list cast members brought on, to that horrifying first trailer, to Taylor Swift’s talk of “cat school. All led up to the abysmal reactions and box-office failure of the adaptation of one of the biggest Broadway hits.
But perhaps even more surprising was that before the film was even out in theaters, it received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song. Swift and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Beautiful Ghosts” is up for the award. Regardless of if it wins, we have a feeling the Artist of the Decade won’t be attending the Academy Awards in Feb. 2020.
‘Knives Out’
Rian Johnson’s latest film, Knives Out, has earned a total of three nominations. In addition to Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Daniel Craig and newcomer Ana de Armas are up for Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy in the lead Actor and Actress categories, respectively.
Despite this, we just can’t see Knives Out winning at the Oscars, if it gets any nominations at all. Though not strictly a comedy, mysteries aren’t the typical fare for the Academy. While it boasts a strong cast, captivating plot, and is just generally a good time, the big difference between what makes an Oscar-winning movie and a Golden Globe-winning one is highlighted here.
‘Bombshell’
This is the case of a highly anticipated film that didn’t live up to expectations. Bombshell, which follows the scandal surrounding Fox News titan Roger Ailes that took place just a few years ago, was on everyone’s minds when the first trailers dropped in 2019. But now it’s barely part of the conversation.
The well-received performances of Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie have earned them nominations at the Golden Globes. However, as a box-office bomb, Bombshell is unlikely to make it to the Oscars. And even if it does, it’s almost certainly not taking home any prizes.
‘Booksmart’
As often happens, some of the most highly praised films of the year just aren’t Academy Awards material. Such is the case for Booksmart, a fun, dynamic teen comedy directed by Olivia Wilde that lit up the big screen in early 2019.
Star Beanie Feldstein is nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and she’s absolutely deserving. Sadly, this just isn’t the kind of film the Academy takes notice of. It’s unfortunate, but luckily, plenty of other awards shows have taken note.
‘Late Night’
Yet another film that falls into the category of “very good, but not Academy good” is Late Night. The comedy, which stars and was written by Mindy Kaling, is about a young woman who joins the writing staff of the only late-night talk show hosted by a woman. And it’s a fun, impactful movie with a lot to say.
Emma Thompson portrays the host in question, and she, too, was nominated Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. And though Thompson could be nominated at the Oscars, we have a feeling this is another movie the Academy will overlook entirely.
Written by: Cheat
