My Golden Globe nom favorites and what to watch this weekend

Well, we are already into December and neck-deep in awards season. The Golden Globes nominations were announced yesterday and the internet has been buzzing with debates about what the HFP (Hollywood Foreign Press) got right and what they got wrong. 

I was personally happy to see a few of my favorites make the cut. Most notably, Roma, my favorite film of the year, continues on the path to charming the pants off everyone as Alfonso Cuaron took a Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography nomination. The film also was nominated for Best Foreign Film.

Source

I was happy to see Crazy Rich Asians made a big impression on voters with a Best Actress nomination for Constance Wu and a Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy nomination. The adorable Elsie Fisher made a delightful appearance in the Best Actress category for her performance in Eighth Grade - sharing a nomination with some of the greats like Glenn Close and Nicole Kidman. 

I can't really say I understand it since the film's storyline is literally contingent on its characters' silence, but A Quiet Place landed in the Best Original Score category. I'm not complaining since John Krasinski's directorial debut is one of my favorite films of the year, but I'm surprised nonetheless. Isle of Dogs, the newest and one of my favorites from Wes Anderson, showed up in the Best Animated Film category.

BlacKkKlansman received some love with a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Adam Driver and to my surprise and delight, a Best Actor nomination for John David Washington (those Washingtons. It's in the blood). Spike Lee also received a nomination for Best Director. 

Source

Finally, though I'm sad it has to compete against my favorite film for Best Foreign Film, I was glad Shoplifters made an appearance on the list. Speaking of Shoplifters, this beautifully crafted story is currently in theaters and it's my first recommendation on what to watch this weekend. You should also check a few other titles that didn't do too shabby with some nominations of their own.

In Theaters

Shoplifters

Shoplifters made a big impression at the Sundance Film Festival at the beginning of the year where it won the top prize and has since received love from critics associations and now a Golden Globe nomination. It's no surprise this film is leaving such an impression on people. It's a beautifully told story and exceptionally shot film about an impoverished family in Tokyo. 

The film explores what it means to be a family and dances around some morally gray areas that will leave you thinking about it long after watching. You can ready my full review here. If it's not in a theater near you yet, keep your eyes peeled. This one is worth the price of admission.

The Favourite

The Favourite nearly leads the pack with 5 Golden Globe nominations this season. It received nominations for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and Best Screenplay (co-written by a woman screenwriter!). All three leading ladies, Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, and Rachel Weisz, received well-deserved Best Lead and Best Supporting Actress nominations respectively. 

The film is a trip and not for everyone, but it's an achievement nonetheless. You can read my full review here and check it out on the big screen. The production design alone is deserving of a trip to your local theater.

Can You Ever Forgive Me?

You've never seen Melissa McCarthy like this before. Based on the true story of disgraced author turned forger, Lee Israel, Can You Ever Forgive Me? is one of the best works from a female writer/director duo this year (Nicole Holofcener and Marielle Heller) and its two leads, McCarthy and Richard E. Grant, received Golden Globe nominations for their performances. It's a great pick for your weekend watching.

Source

Streaming

Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

After sweeping at the Emmy's earlier this year, the comedy from Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino continues on the path to being one of the best shows in recent memory. The show followed up its second season debut on Wednesday with Golden Globe nominations yesterday for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy and acting nominations for its stars Rachel Brosnahan and Alex Borstein.  

The show follows a vibrant, budding stand-up comedian who faces all of the challenges you would expect from trying to break into an industry that isn't exactly friendly to women, especially in the 1950s. You can watch the show's first and second seasons on Amazon Prime and trust me, you won't be disappointed.

Black Panther

If you haven't seen Black Panther yet, you should really be ashamed of yourself. But even if you have, now's a great time for a rewatch since the film received a Best Picture nomination!

After all of the drama with the now nixed "Best Popular Film" category announcement from the Academy, which Black Panther was at the center of since it lands firmly in the "blockbuster" category (a category that the Academy was trying to acknowledge), I'm glad its Golden Globe nominations (two total including Best Original Score) can serve as a reminder that good storytelling (usually) transcends awards season politics.

Black Panther is currently streaming on Netflix.

Source