Are you ready for some Hollywood Foreign Press Association fun? Yes, it’s that time of year again. That moment when Hollywood convenes on the ballroom of the Beverly Hilton to watch 80 or so members of the HFPA crown the winners of the 2020 Golden Globes. Of course, they’ll also see Tom Hanks and Ellen DeGeneres honored with the Cecile B DeMille and Carol Burnett Awards, respectively. But, again, despite the millions they give to deserving charities, film conservation groups and press advocacy organizations it’s still the HFPA. They are giving just their second television lifetime achievement award, the Burnett honor, to…DeGeneres. And they asked Ricky Gervais to host for the fifth (and please lord) last time. If that’s not a searing indictment of questionable taste in 2020 I’m not sure what else is.
READ MORE: Snubs and Surprises of the 2020 Golden Globes nominations
In any event, as always there are a number of things we know about the HFPA when it comes to voting for winners this year. First and foremost, the HFPA does not like to be wrong. They want to either influence the Academy in their choices or align with them. That means “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” and “The Irishman” will likely take the top honors. Then again, they are known to adore “Marriage Story” as well. They will reward Noah Baumbach‘s drama where they can and may even surprise in a category or two. Moreover, they also love “Parasite.” Don’t be surprised if it goes home with more than one honor.
As for the television awards, do you really think “The Morning Show” and Apple TV Plus isn’t leaving the Hilton with at least one statue? If not, you don’t know our party animal friends at the HFPA.
Keeping that in mind, some educated predictions for you to consider.
_____
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show”
Olivia Colman, “The Crown”
Jodie Comer, “Killing Eve”
Nicole Kidman, “Big Little Lies”
Reese Witherspoon, “The Morning Show”
Who Will Win: Olivia Colman
Who Should Win: Olivia Colman
Upset: Jennifer Aniston
Lowdown: Listen the HFPA might no be able to help themselves and give it to Aniston but don’t discount their love for Colman. She’s not just a two-time nominee, but a two-time winner including a stunning upset in 2018 in the Supporting Actress (Television) category.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE
Tom Hanks, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”
Anthony Hopkins, “The Two Popes”
Al Pacino, “The Irishman”
Joe Pesci, “The Irishman”
Brad Pitt, “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood”
Who Will Win: Brad Pitt
Who Should Win: Brad Pitt or Joe Pesci
Upset: Tom Hanks
Lowdown: It’s going to be incredibly hard for the HFPA to screw this one up. I mean the reaction shot from Aniston.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE
Kathy Bates, “Richard Jewell”
Annette Bening, “The Report”
Laura Dern, “Marriage Story”
Jennifer Lopez, “Hustlers”
Margot Robbie, “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood”
Who Will Win: Jennifer Lopez
Who Should Win: Jennifer Lopez or Margot Robbie
Upset: Laura Dern
Lowdown: Listen, they could still go for Dern, but she’s already won four Globes. JLo on the other hand? That’s a headline and a dare to the Academy to join them.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Daniel Craig, “Knives Out”
Roman Griffin Davis, “Jojo Rabbit”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood”
Taron Egerton, “Rocketman”
Eddie Murphy, “Dolemite Is My Name”
Who Will Win: Taron Egerton
Who Should Win: Taron Egerton or Eddie Murphy
Upset: Leonardo DiCaprio
Lowdown: Murphy is absolutely in play here as is DiCaprio. That being said, they find it very hard to turn down the opportunity to reward an actor in a musical (Ryan Gosling, Hugh Jackman, Johnny Depp).
BEST MOTION PICTURE – ANIMATED
“Frozen II”
“How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World”
“The Lion King”
“Missing Link”
“Toy Story 4”
Who Will Win: “Toy Story 4”
Who Should Win: “How To Train Your Dragon 3”
Upset: “Frozen II”
Lowdown: This is a tough one. “Frozen II” could pull it out, but chances are they reward the more critically acclaimed “Toy Story” sequel. If they go with “The Lion King” that will be a moment.
BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
Bong Jong Ho, “Parasite”
Sam Mendes, “1917”
Todd Phillips, “Joker”
Martin Scorsese, “The Irishman”
Quentin Tarantino, “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood”
Who Will Win: Quentin Tarantino
Who Should Win: Bong Joon Ho
Upset: Bong Joon Ho
Lowdown: The guess is that they go with Tarantino here, but it’s very close. Director Bong could absolutely win and they might surprise with either Mendes or Scorsese. There will be drama in the room when this one is announced for sure.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Christian Bale, “Ford v. Ferrari”
Antonio Banderas, “Pain & Glory”
Adam Driver, “Marriage Story”
Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”
Jonathan Pryce, “The Two Popes”
Who Will Win: Joaquin Phoenix
Who Should Win: Antonio Banderas or Adam Driver
Upset: Adam Driver
Lowdown: The HFPA is known to love “Marriage Story.” The question is whether they love it enough to ignore Phoenix despite the fact they rewarded his director with a coveted nomination. We still think they go with the “Joker” star, but Driver would not be as a big a surprise as some viewers, at least, might think.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Ana De Armas, “Knives Out”
Awkwafina, “The Farewell”
Cate Blanchett, “Where’d You Go, Bernadette”
Beanie Feldstein, “Booksmart”
Emma Thompson, “Late Night”
Who Will Win: Awkwafina
Who Should Win: Awkwafina
Upset: Ana De Armas
Lowdown: In theory, De Armas fits the profile of a “surprise” winner the HFPA can’t resist. That is if the category is a television one. On the film side, she might not have enough clout to pull it off. Instead, we think Awkwafina will triumph although absolutely anything is possible here. I mean, even Blanchett could win it.