We’re mere hours away from the glitz, glamour and grinding teeth that accompany The Golden Globes, and one noticeable feature of the upcoming ceremony is the number of British actors primed for recognition, not to mention the UK-oriented subject matter of the films and shows in question. Though every year the “special relationship” of sorts is acknowledged, this year definitely sees a variety of Blighty’s best and brightest walking the red carpet practising their best cheesy grins. So let’s take a pollution-clogged LA bird’s eye view of the contenders on course for awards success…
Starting with the Best Motion Picture – Drama category, we have two of our finest minds celebrated with THE IMITATION GAME about Alan Turing and Stephen Hawking biopic THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING. This carries over into Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, as the strong double header of Benedict Cumberbatch and Eddie Redmayne are in the frame for their respective roles. David Oyelowo joins them in the running for his performance as Martin Luther King Jr in SELMA.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama sees Felicity Jones as Jane Wilde Hawking alongside Rosamund Pike for her role as Amy Elliott-Dunne in David Fincher’s much-lauded GONE GIRL.
PRIDE is perhaps the surprise inclusion for Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical and Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical saw the voters select Emily Blunt for her turn as The Baker’s Wife in INTO THE WOODS (surely the first time a playing card name could be etched into a gong). Helen Mirren is present as Madame Mallory in THE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY. Only one Brit is featured in the list for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, but it’s a gleaming great repressed doozy – Ralph Fiennes for his role as Monsieur Gustave H. in THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture is similarly one strong, as Keira Knightley is nominated for Joan Clarke THE IMITATION GAME.
It’s perhaps easy to overlook the rich vein of UK talent on the small screen also, with homegrown tweedfest behemoth Downton Abbey up for Best Television Series – Drama, not to mention House of Cards, which started life as an adaptation of the BBC favourite. Joanne Froggatt represents Downton’s below-stairs staff as Anna Bates in Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television. Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series has Ruth Wilson contending via her role as Alison Bailey opposite fellow counter category nominee Dominic West in The Affair. Clive Owen will have to scrub the bloody hands he acquired filming period surgical saga The Knick if the announcement is made that’s he’s beaten West, having made a splash as Dr John Thackery.
Lighter fare could net us some big prizes on the night, as controversial former Globes host Ricky Gervais’ bittersweet care home sitcom Derek sees his title character in the running. Scot Alan Cumming may successfully plead his case for The Good Wife, and his nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture as Eli Gold.
Last but not least there is the small matter of two inclusions that really came out of the blue – Martin Freeman’s small-in-stature but mighty-in-execution Lester Nygaard in the snow-covered crime comedy Fargo and BBC suspense drama The Missing, whose critical and ratings success make it a strong candiate for Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television, having only just finished airing over here.
However the night plays out, it’s clear that talented individuals are still flying the flag, whether mastering an American accent or squeezing into a corset (or if they’re really good, both). THN would like to wish them and all the nominees best of luck when the curtain goes up on Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. The 72nd Annual Golden Globes kick off at 8.00 (EST).
Source: TheWrap
