Golden Globe Film Awards Surprise Critics After a Strange Year

The complete list of nominations for the 78th Golden Globe Awards was announced on Wednesday. This year's list surprised many critics who wondered about many of the nominations.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the group that makes the nominations, appeared to make some unusual choices for a very strange year. U.S. theaters have been closed much of the year because of the COVID-19 health crisis.

This year, nominations were announced before all of the movies have been released. Some of the nominated movies and performances are not yet available to the U.S. public.

At least one critic said this year's Globe nominations tested our understanding of what exactly a film is. Steve McQueen's "Small Axe" film series was nominated in a television category. At the same time, the filmed version of the Broadway play "Hamilton" on Disney+ was eligible in the film groups and got two nominations.

In another surprise, director Spike Lee and his highly praised film "Da 5 Bloods" failed to be nominated.

The best motion picture drama nominees include "The Father," directed by Florian Zeller; "Mank," directed by David Fincher; "Nomadland" directed by Chloé Zhao; "The Trial of the Chicago 7" directed by Aaron Sorkin; and "Promising Young Woman," directed by Emerald Fennell.

Best foreign language film nominees include "Another Round," "La Llorona," "The Life Ahead," "Minari," and "Two of Us."

The awards will be held on both of America's coasts for the first time, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association said. Tina Fey will appear live in New York and Amy Poehler will appear in California.

The event has already been delayed by about two months. It is set to take place on February 28.

Fey and Poehler hosted the Globes together before. This time, they will do so from either side of the country. Fey will host from New York's Rainbow Room, while Poehler will be at the Globes' usual home, the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Nominees will likely appear from places around the world.

I'm John Russell.

John Russell adapted this story from reports by the Associated Press. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 

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Words in This Story

category – n. a group of people or things that are similar in some way

eligible – adj. able to be chosen for something : able to do or receive something

nominee – n. someone or something that has been chosen as a candidate for a job, position, office, honor, award, etc. : someone or something that has been nominated