The 83rd Golden Globes ceremony kicks off this Sunday in Los Angeles, with a strong contingent of Australian talent hoping to take home the gold. The event, often dubbed Hollywood's most festive night, finds itself this year shadowed by industry anxiety and a fraught political climate.
Aussie Contenders in the Spotlight
Five Australians have secured nominations for the prestigious awards. Jacob Elordi stands out with two chances at glory. He is nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Frankenstein and for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for The Narrow Road to the Deep North.
However, the Australian most favoured by pundits is Rose Byrne. She is considered the hot favourite to win Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for her performance in If I Had Legs I'd Kick You.
The other Australian nominees include Sarah Snook for All Her Fault, Joel Edgerton for Train Dreams, and singer-songwriter Nick Cave, nominated for Best Original Song. For viewers in Western Australia, the ceremony begins at 8am Perth time on Monday.
A Tense Mood in Tinseltown
The celebratory atmosphere of the Globes is expected to be tempered this year. Hollywood is grappling with a disappointing box office year and profound uncertainty over the future of the legendary Warner Bros. studio, which has agreed to a massive $82.7 billion acquisition by Netflix.
Political tensions are also high, with many attendees opposed to the policies of President Donald Trump. Recent events like US involvement in Venezuela and a fatal shooting by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis are likely to be on the minds of many guests.
Host Nikki Glaser, a comedian known for her roasts, has promised to focus on the stars and the spectacle rather than politics. "You'd be surprised that half the room had no clue why I was saying 'Venezuela,'" Glaser remarked about her comedy warm-up routines.
Key Races and Potential Highlights
The overwhelming favourite for the night is the film One Battle After Another, which leads with nine nominations. In the dramatic acting categories, Jessie Buckley (Hamnet) is the front-runner for Best Actress, while Brazilian actor Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent) may edge out competitors like Michael B. Jordan and Joel Edgerton for Best Actor.
In the comedy/musical categories, Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme) is poised to win his first Globe, while Rose Byrne faces stiff competition from Cynthia Erivo, who will not be attending due to a West End commitment.
All eyes will also be on Iranian director Jafar Panahi if his film It Was Just an Accident wins. Panahi, who has faced persecution in his home country, was recently sentenced to a year in prison. His attendance and any potential speech would be a powerful moment.
On the television side, HBO Max's The White Lotus leads with six nominations, while Netflix's Adolescence follows with five. The ceremony, now voted on by around 400 individuals after its 2023 sale, remains a crucial launchpad for Oscar campaigns, where a memorable speech can make all the difference.
