Golden Globe nominations: Mick LaSalle on why this race matters

Seattle-based Amazon proved itself a major player in the television space when its original program “Transparent” won the Golden Globe earlier this year for best TV series, musical or comedy and star Jeffrey Tambor won best actor.

On the film side, “Carol” led the way with five nominations, and, in a surprise twist, stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara will go head-to-head in the best actress category.

Some Globe nominees woke to find themselves with more than they expected.

That said, the comedy film category is not almost as crowded as the drama one, so that’s one way to get your film nominated. “I didn’t shower.” – “My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” star Rachel Bloom on her physical condition when finding out about her nomination for best actress in a TV comedy. “Any nominations for this film are an acknowledgement of them, their hard work and great passion”, he told ABC in a statement.

TV surprises: The addictive and romantic “Outlander” series shocked with a drama nod, and earned one for lead actress Caitriona Balfe.

Fox, shut out a year ago, landed four nominations thanks to two for “Empire”, plus Rob Lowe in the comedy actor category on its freshman “The Grinder” and Jamie Lee Curtis in its new horror-comedy “Scream Queens”. And since it’s one of the few shows where alcohol is permitted, and amusing man Ricky Gervais will be returning to host, it’s always a hilarious, live event where anything can happen. A four-time Oscar nominee (and one-time Globe winner), DiCaprio is gunning for his first Academy Award.

Rather, the Globes’ lead actor group features Bryan Cranston for “Trumbo”, Leonardo DiCaprio for “The Revenant”, Michael Fassbender for “Steve Jobs”, Eddie Redmayne for “The Danish Girl” and Will Smith for “Concussion”.

Tied with four is the Aaron Sorkin-scripted box-office disappointment “Steve Jobs”.

FX’s “The Americans”, which seems to singularly suffer the role of best stealth drama (having been ignored for almost every award in its three seasons, other than the prestigious Peabody), maintained that status by escaping Globes notice again this year. And in the “Motion Picture – Animated” category, Anomalisa, The Good Dinosaur, Inside Out, The Peanuts Movie and Shaun The Sheep Movie all received nominations.

Saoirse Ronan – Nominee for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama “Brooklyn“: “I can’t express how special it is that this little film called Brooklyn has been embraced by so many people around the world”. Until now, it was getting tons of attention at smaller award shows.

Apart from “Carol”, the other best motion picture drama nominees are “Mad Max: Fury Road”, “The Revenant”, harrowing kidnap tale “Room” and “Spotlight”, which recounts the Boston Globe’s investigation into sex abuse in the Catholic Church.

Jennifer Lawrence for “Joy”, Amy Schumer for “Trainwreck”, Lily Tomlin for “Grandma”, Melissa McCarthy for “Spy” and Maggie Smith for “The Lady in the Van”.

The Globe nominations conclude the first wave of selections for “awards season”, which included Wednesday’s SAG Awards nominations, Monday’s Grammy nominations and releases of critics’ and organizations’ best-of lists.