It is just weeks into the new year, but awards season is already in full swing. This year kicked off on the 5th January with the Golden Globes. Hosted by Ricky Gervais for a record fifth time, many of the biggest films of the last twelve months took home honours. Newly-knighted Sir Sam Mendes’ war epic 1917 took home both Motion Picture and Director accolades, while Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood won Best Comedy, Screenplay and Supporting Actor for Brad Pitt. Renée Zellweger’s performance in ‘Judy’ earned her the Leading Actress gong in the Globes, Critics Choice Awards and the SAG Awards. Fleabag also triumphed in all three ceremonies, winning Best Comedy Series and Comedy Actress for its creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
Meanwhile, this year’s BAFTA nominees were announced amid more criticism over its lack of diversity. Biopic Rocketman is up for Best British Film while it’s star Taron Egerton is nominated for Leading Actor. Margot Robbie is nominated twice for Supporting Actress for both Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood and Bombshell. Killarney-born Actress Jessie Buckley is nominated for Leading Actress for her performance in Wild Rose. The controversial awards are set for February 2nd.
Of course, it all leads up to the Academy Awards. While being praised for greater diversity in comparison to the BAFTAs, once again the awards have come under fire for the all-male Best Director nominees. Despite being snubbed for the award, Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women is up for six awards, including Leading Actress for Saoirse Ronan, her fourth Academy nomination, and a debut Supporting Actress nomination for rising-star Florence Pugh. Scarlett Johansson is nominated in both Leading and Supporting Actress categories for Jojo Rabbit and Marriage Story. Her co-star Laura Dern and Joker’s Joaquin Phoenix are also nominated following their success in both the Globes and Critics Choice Awards.
Gemma Farrell – Film & TV Writer
