Golden Globes 2019: A Star Is Born’ and ‘Vice’ Lead Nominations

Sandra Miska

Awards season is officially here, and out of all the shows to hit the airwaves in the coming weeks, none quite capture the spirit of Hollywood as the Golden Globes, the booze-fueled ceremony presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association honoring the best in the worlds of film and television. Television darlings Andy Samberg and Sandra Oh are set to host the 76th Golden Globes Awards, which will air live on NBC Jan. 6.

“Vice,” Adam McKay’s somewhat comedic look at the life and career of former vice-president Dick Cheney, comes out on top this year with six nominations, including Best Motion Picture – Comedy. The film’s lead, method actor Christian Bale, who has been generating buzz for over a year since the first photos of his astonishing transformation have surfaced, is the frontrunner for Best Actor – Comedy. His on-screen wife Amy Adams also earned a nomination, and McKay earned two, for both his directing and writing.

In the comedy film category, “Vice” has competition from the period romp “The Favourite,” which has earned five nominations. Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone, who played rivals for the affections of Queen Anne (lead actress nominee Olivia Colman), will now battle for the Best Supporting Actress statuette. “Green Book,” the 1960’s dramedy about the unlikely friendship between a world-class African-American jazz musician (Mahershala Ali) and his white driver (Viggo Mortensen), also garnered five nominations, including ones for its actors. Rounding out the category are audience favorite “Crazy Rich Asians,” and family film “Mary Poppins Returns.”

When it comes to Best Motion Picture – Drama, moving remake “A Star Is Born” is the top contender, with five nominations. Bradley Cooper, who broke hearts as an alcoholic country musician, has not only been recognized for his acting, but for his directing as well. His lead actress shares in his glory, earning a nod herself for Best Lead Actress – Drama. Competition in this category includes another music drama, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” for which Rami Malek has earned a much-deserved lead actor nod, as well as the groundbreaking action film “Black Panther,” Spike Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman,” and Barry Jenkins’ “If Beale Street Could Talk.”

On the television side, FX’s slow-burning crime miniseries ““The Assassination of Gianni Versace” has earned the most nominations, four. Trailing behind with three apiece are two other limited series, HBO’s Amy Adams vehicle “Sharp Objects,” and the under-the-radar Amazon Hugh Grant project “A Very English Scandal.”

Last year’s big winner in the TV comedy category, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” scored three nominations for its just-released second season, competing with freshman series “The Kominsky Method” and “Barry,” which both earning three nods apiece, as well as another newcomer, “Kidding,” and NBC favorite “The Good Place.”

In a surprise twist, 2018’s Best Drama Series, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” failed to earn a nomination in the category this year, although actresses Elisabeth Moss and Yvonne Strahovski are contenders. This exclusion made room for new series “Homecoming,” “Killing Eve, “The Bodyguard” and “Pose,” as well as one last nomination for “The Americans.”

The 76th Golden Globes Awards will take place at the Beverly Hilton and air live on NBC.