The 2018 Golden Glob nominations were announced on Monday and among the many shoo-ins and usual suspects were some serious upsets and players that came out of left field. Here are the biggest snubs and surprises this season.
“The Big Sick” — Snub
Kumail Nanjiani and and Emily V. Gordon’s’s warm-hearted yet heartbreaking film was completely snubbed in this year’s nominations, although it had the potential to be nominated in several categories. The film stole critics’ and fans’ hearts, but maybe the summer release wasn’t fresh in voters’ minds?
“Boss Baby” — Surprise
Alec Baldwin’s “The Boss Baby” got a surprise nomination in the animated feature category, beating out fierce competitors like “Despicable Me 2” and “The LEGO Batman Movie.”
Luca Guadagnino, “Call Me By Your Name” — Snub
Much ink has been spilled over this sumptuous Italian gay romance from Sony Pictures Classics. Some people say Best Supporting Actor Globes nominee Armie Hammer is too old for Best Actor nominee Timothee Chalamet. Some say the film is not gay enough, or the parents are too supportive. But pretty much everyone agrees Guadagnino delivered a dazzling and transcendent love story. If only there were Golden Globe nominations for dancing gifs.
Denzel Washington, “Roman J. Israel, Esq.” — Surprise
Proving yet again how much the Globes care about star power, Washington was nominated for his performance in “Roman J. Israel, Esq,” despite mixed reviews for the film. Maybe this is the start of something.
Greta Gerwig, “Lady Bird” — Snub
While Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird” snagged nominations in the Best Screenplay, Best Actress and Best Picture categories, the director herself was shut out. In fact, not a single woman was nominated in the director category. Do Golden Globes voters think “Lady Bird” directed itself?
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” — Surprise
This Amazon original series from Amy Sherman-Palladino has definitely been a treat for fans and critics hoping to see something new and different from the “Gilmore Girls” showrunner. But being ranked among “Black-ish,” ” “Master of None,” “SMILF” and the returned “Will & Grace” for top TV comedy/musical is a pretty big shock for a brand-new series.
“SMILF” — Surprise
Speaking of new shows: this freshman comedy snuck up on voters thanks to the charm of Frankie Shaw as a Boston single mom.
“Veep” — Snub
Where the heck was “Veep”? The Globes treated the awards-show darling like a second-in-command.
“Get Out” — Snub
It received two nominations for Best Actor and Best Picture — Comedy or Musical, but nothing for Jordan Peele’s directing or screenplay.
Ansel Elgort, “Baby Driver” — Surprise
Despite big box-office success and unexpected summer magic, no one thought Edgar Wright’s heist film had the gas to make it to awards season — even the iPod wearing, street-dancing, mostly mute titular character played by Ansel Elgort. But he may be singing a winners tune in January.
“The Leisure Seeker”/Helen Mirren — Surprise
HUH?
“Call Me by Your Name” — Snub
Once again, “Call Me by Your Name” was a sure bet for a Best Screenplay Nomination along with “Lady Bird” and “Three Billboards,” but “The Post” and “Molly’s Game” slid in instead. The screenplay has received acclaim since it premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and has enchanted people all over the world, which is why it’s such a surprise that it received no nomination.
Katherine Langford, “13 Reasons Why” — Surprise
This endearing and occasionally controversial series about teen suicide has an incredibly strong ensemble (don’t get us started on Michele Selene Ang as the Type A Courtney Crimsen), but it’s mostly a showcase for its terribly troubled protagonist Clay, played by Dylan Minnette. Imagine our pleasant surprise, then, to see Katherine Langford — the show’s posthumous narrator and subsequent suicide victim — get recognized for her strong seres guidance and flashback work.
Tiffany Haddish, “Girls Trip” — Snub
Who isn’t rooting for this magical underdog? Haddish slayed her “SNL” turn and won over the New York Film Critics to take their best supporting actress prize for “Girls Trip.” It’s disappointing not to see her run-up to Academy Award nominations extended, but we always have Oscars and SAG.
Carrie Coon, “The Leftovers” — Snub
Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrota’s beautiful three-season meditation on life, purgatory and abandonment was criminally underrated during its run, so snubbing Coon doesn’t exactly surprise us. But the work she did in the final season, particularly the final episode, felt like a deserved reckoning to her talents. Clearly not. This is one she’ll have to win in the hereafter.
Michelle Williams, “All the Money in the World” — Surprise
Not many have seen the film, which booted Kevin Spacey and replaced Christopher Plummer — but director Ridley Scott still promised to finish it in time for its Christmas release. It’s not too surprising Michelle Williams received a nomination for the movie — it’s just surprising she received one for this one over her role in “The Greatest Showman.”
Holly Hunter, “The Big Sick” — Snub
Michael Showalter’s charming romantic, um, medical drama accomplishes a lot: boy meets girl, arranged Pakistani marriages get In the way, mystery illness and comas do as well, standup comedy is somehow a major thread. All of the hat-wearing seemed balanced, though, by the sure-footed Souther grit of Hunter’s concerned mom. More like The Big Snub.
Hong Chau, “Downsizing” — Surprise
Hong Chau may have been the best part of “Downsizing,” but it’s still a surprise that the movie got any kind of nomination. Especially because she took the place of Holly Hunter in “The Big Sick,” which was an obvious prediction for most.
Julia Louis-Dryfus, “Veep” — Snub
Julia, Julia. Where for art thou, Julia? Not only was “Veep” knocked out of the game this year, but its beloved leading lady didn’t get the attention she usually does for her one-of-a-kind comedic chops
Frankie Shaw, “SMILF” — Surprise
Hey, if “SMILF” itself is in, then Frankie Shaw deserves to be in too. But since the show’s addition to the line-up was out of left field, then Shaw’s was definitely a shocker.
Winona Ryder, “Stranger Things” — Snub
Winona Ryder’s performance in the sophomore season of the Netflix hit was totally stirring. But stranger things have happened than electrifying acting being ignored by an award show. Even if the actress was up for the same statue the previous year.
Joseph Fiennes, “The Handmaid’s Tale” — Snub
There’s no denying Elisabeth Moss was the absolute best part of the first season of Hulu’s thrilling drama. But that doesn’t mean Joseph Fiennes didn’t deserve a nod for the part he played in amping up the creepy factor in the series’ dystopian future.
Freddie Highmore, “The Good Doctor” — Surprise
“The Good Doctor” has dominated Nielsen ratings in the key demo since it premiered this fall. But it was surprising to see the drama has also struck enough of a cord with HFPA to earn leading actor Freddie Highmore some Globes love. Enjoy your very first nom, Highmore.
“Transparent” — Snub
“Transparent” has been a reliable at the Globes since earning a win for the series and its star, Jeffrey Tambor, in its first season, and has been included in the noms every season since. This year, things took a turn and the snub might be related to the sexual misconduct accusations posed against Tambor.
Geoffrey Rush, “Genius” — Surprise
Geoffrey Rush grabbed a nod for his performance in Nat Geo’s anthology series “Genius,” which is a pretty big shock, considering the allegations of “inappropriate behavior” during an Australian play back in 2015 that recently emerged against the actor.