Drama Carol leads Golden Globe race

“On one hand, analysing the Golden Globe nominations in the context of Oscar impact is folly”, said Variety co-awards editor Kristopher Tapley. And it got an ensemble cast nom at the SAG Awards nominations yesterday but no love at the Globes. There’s only one supporting actor and actress award for the entirety of television, which the Globes otherwise split into three categories: drama, comedy, and limited series or movie. Despite this perceived advantage, 2015 marks the first time in 10 years that the network has not led the Golden Globes nominations race.

“Carol” is up for greatest drama towards Pioneer-period film “The Revenant”, psychological thriller “Room”, Catholic Church abuse probe “Spotlight” and thriller “Mad Max: Fury Road”, a shock contender in the class, which not often sees a blockbuster motion nominee. He essentially played himself in the film, though he had to pull off some comedic scenes as Hader’s best friend in the flick. Also absurd in the Best Picture, Musical/Comedy category: Including the 2-star disappointments “Joy” and “Trainwreck”.

Blanchett was nominated for the ninth Golden Globe of her career this morning for her lead actress performance in the 1950s romantic drama Carol while Miller received two Globe nominations – best director and dramatic motion picture – for Mad Max: Fury Road. Interestingly, sci-fi film The Martian somehow managed to grab a nomination for Best Motion Picture, Comedy, and Best Actor In A Motion Picture, Comedy for Matt Damon – now that’s range.

Over on the TV side of things Jamie Lee Curtis got herself a “Best Performance By an Actress in a Television Series” nominee for her work on “Scream Queens”.

The Big Short and Revenant both received four nominations; and Room, Ridley Scott’s The Martian, Tarentino’s The Hateful Eight, and The Danish Girl each received three. Truthfully, I think all the nominations do. Surging was Adam McKay’s finance farce “The Big Short”, which earned four nominations, including best picture, comedy.

After the Screen Actors Guild Awards passed over Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo on Wednesday, the Globes did, too. Leading ladies Amy Schumer and Melissa McCarthy also scored acting nominations for the pics. The Globes have a musical/comedy category, yet ignored films about musicians. “Til then, we’ve got a month to accept the Globes’ oddities for what they are: a double-edged sword with as much power to elevate underdogs as shut out the deserving”. Al Pacino (“Danny Collins”), Maggie Smith (“The Lady in the Van”), Jane Fonda (“Youth”) and Helen Mirslren (“Trumbo”) all earned nods.

Agent amusing: The Musical/Comedy category’s always a wild card, as very few musicals open each year and few good comedies either, sadly. Bummer. Happy for Michael Shannon (“99 Homes”).

-Series, Musical or Comedy: “Orange is the New Black”, “Silicon Valley”, “Transparent”, “Veep”, “Casual”, “Mozart in the Jungle”.

Outlander itself, based on the hugely successful books by Diana Gabaldon which mix historical fiction with romance and time travel, has been shortlisted for Best TV Series or Drama, alongside Empire, Game of Thrones, Mr Robot and Narcos.