The Golden Globe nominations were announced earlier today in Hollywood by Dennis Quaid, America Ferrera and Chloe Grace-Moretz, with many of the expected films winning nominations.

The ceremony itself takes place on January 10th, 2016 and will determine how the films will get on in the upcoming Academy Awards. There's been one or two upsets, mind, but it's been a largely predictable list.

So, let's talk predictions. We begin with...

 

 

 

BEST FILM (COMEDY / MUSICAL)

The Big Short

Joy

The Martian

Spy

Trainwreck

 

To be honest, it's crazy that The Martian or Joy are in this category. It really is. Sure, The Martian had its comedic moments - but it's by no means a straightforward comedy like Trainwreck or Spy. That said, both it and Joy are strong contenders here. Our best guess, however, is that Trainwreck will snag it here. 

 

 

BEST FILM (DRAMA)

Carol

Mad Max: Fury Road

The Revenant

Room

Spotlight

 

This really is a group of death situation. They're all excellent films and each one has an opportunity to win it. Any other year, if these films were on their own, they'd be the clear favourite. Given how HFPA are known to favour slightly more outsider work than the usual, we're thinking Room could win here. If not Room, then we're thinking maybe Mad Max: Fury Road or Spotlight. We haven't seen The Revenant yet so we can't make a decision there.

 

 

 

BEST ACTRESS (DRAMA)

Cate Blancett - Carol

Brie Larson - Room

Rooney Mara - Carol

Saoirse Ronan - Brooklyn

 

 

Again, this is a very strong category. Much as we loved Saoirse Ronan in Brooklyn, we'd put her as least likely to win. It's more likely that Cate Blanchett or Brie Larson will win here. We expected the other lead in Carol to go into Best Supporting, but pitting the two of them together doesn't really make sense.

 

BEST ACTRESS (COMEDY / MUSICAL)

Jennifer Lawrence - Joy

Melissa McCarthy - Spy

Amy Schumer - Trainwreck

Maggie Smith - The Lady In The Van

Lily Tomlin - Grandma

 

 

Most likely Amy Schumer's going to win out here. Early word on Joy isn't great so that takes J-Law out of the race. McCarthy is doubtful because it's rare that an out-and-out comedy wins here. Lily Tomlin and Maggie Smith could potentially win it as well, but Schumer looks like the strong favourite here.

 

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Jane Fonda - Youth

Jennifer Jason-Leigh - The Hateful Eight

Alicia Vikander - Ex Machina

Kate Winslet - Steve Jobs

 

We haven't seen Jennifer Jason-Leigh in The Hateful Eight yet, so it's hard to gauge this category. Kate Winslet was fantastic in Steve Jobs and, to be honest, looks like the winner here. Our guess is she'll probably win here, although there could be an upset with Jane Fonda in Youth.

 

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Paul Dano - Love & Mercy

Idris Elba - Beasts Of No Nation

Mark Rylance - Bridge of Spies

Sylvester Stallone - Creed

 

Sylvester Stallone's our favourite to win this. Creed was an out-and-out delight of a film so there's no reason why Stallone shouldn't win this. Idris Elba, we're suprised he's here as we thought he'd have been more of a lead.

 

 

 

BEST ACTOR (DRAMA)

Bryan Cranston - Trumbo

Leonardo DiCaprio - The Revenant

Michael Fassbender - Steve Jobs

Eddie Redmayne - The Danish Girl

Will Smith - Concussion

 

 

Again, we haven't seen The Revenant yet so we're at a loss. However, going on early reviews we've read, it looks like this will FINALLY be Leonardo DiCaprio's year. Failing that, we'd put Fassbender in as the next favourite. Bryan Cranston is a dark horse, to be sure, but it's unlikely. Same goes for Eddie Redmayne as well.

 

 

BEST ACTOR (COMEDY / MUSICAL)

Steve Carrell - The Big Short

Christian Bale - The Big Short

Matt Damon - The Martian

Al Pacino - Danny Collins

Mark Ruffalo - Infinitely Polar Bear

 

 

This category's a bit of a mixed bag, to be quite honest. The obvious frontrunner is, of course, Matt Damon in The Martian. However, what we're hearing about The Big Short has us thinking that either Bale or Carrell could snag it here. Al Pacino in Danny Collins is a legacy thing and we've no idea why Mark Ruffalo's in there.

 

BEST DIRECTOR

Todd Haynes - Carol

Allejando Gonzalez Innaritu - The Revenant

Todd McCarthy - Spotlight

George Miller - Mad Max: Fury Road

Ridley Scott - The Martian

 

This is a pretty interesting category. It all depends on whether HFPA goes for spectacle, technical achievements or just which is the best film with the director attached. If there was justice in the world, it'd go straight to George Miller and Mad Max: Fury Road. Not only that, it's unlikely that Innaritu will win two years on the hop with The Revenant.

 

 

 

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Room

Spotlight

The Big Short

Steve Jobs

The Hateful Eight

 

Our own Emma Donoghue is in contention with some of the biggest hitters working today, namely Aaron Sorkin and Quentin Tarantino. We haven't seen The Hateful Eight or The Big Short yet, but the word is good on both of them. Room does have a very decent chance of winning here, we think.

 

 

 

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

Love Me Like You Do - Fifty Shades of Grey

One Kind Of Love - Love & Mercy

See You Again - Furious 7

Simple Song No.3 - Youth

Writing's On The Wall - Spectre

 

How Sam Smith got a look in here is pretty incredible, to be quite honest. The song was absolute muck. Brian Wilson looks like the strongest favourite here with Wiz Khalifa a close second. If Sam Smith wins, we riot.

 

 

BEST FOREIGN FILM

The Brand New Testament

The Club

The Fencer

Mustang

Son of Saul

 

 

Son of Saul looks to be the clear favourite, going on aggregated reviews and what way HFPA has voted in the past. It's done reasonably well, financially, too so that's always a big plus. Mustang was chosen as France's entry for Best Foreign Film in the Oscars, so that could easily win out here as well. Most likely, however, is Son of Saul.

 

BEST ANIMATED FILM

Anamolisa

The Good Dinosaur

Inside Out

The Peanuts Movie

Shaun The Sheep

 

Inside Out, we think, is the clear and undisputed winner here. Anamolisa, although it has strong credentials, can't withstand the sheer force that is Pixar / Disney. Peanuts Movie, as we predicted, is there for the nostalgia factor and Shaun The Sheep is the international entry. The Good Dinosaur was OK, but a nomination? Really?

 

 

So that's our predictions for the 2016 Golden Globes' film categories. We'll have the TV predictions as well, but in the meantime, we want to hear from you. Who's your favourite to win? Let us know in the comments below!