‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ tops movie categories

Martin McDonagh’s “The Banshees of Inisherin,” a darkly comedic tale of friends in conflict, led the field of nominees for the 80th Golden Globe Awards announced Monday morning, garnering eight nods.

“Banshees” stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as drinking buddies living off the coast of Ireland in the early 1920s, whose close ties increasingly fray.

The film is in the running for Best Musical or Comedy Film along with “Babylon”, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” and “Triangle of Sadness”.

In the race for best dramatic film, the contenders are “Avatar: the way of the water”, “Elvis”, “The Fabelmans”, “Tár” and “Top Gun: Maverick”.

Nominees for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama include Brendan Fraser, recognized for his blistering performance as the 600-pound literature professor in Darren Aronofsky’s ‘The Whale’.

Fraser said he would not attend the Globes ceremony after he was allegedly groped in 2003 by Philip Berk, a former chairman of the group behind the show. Berk denies the allegation.

“The Whale” drew criticism as awards season approached, in part because Fraser wore a big suit for the role. In reviews, some critics accused the film of fatphobia or playing on harmful stereotypes about people with bulky bodies.

The Globes also recognize achievements in television. ABC’s sitcom “Abbott Elementary” led the TV side with five nods, including Best Comedy Series.

The Golden Globes are trying to move forward after a tough few years for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organization that organizes the ceremony.

The press association came under scrutiny last year after the Los Angeles Times published an expose detailing allegations of ethical issues and revealing that the organization had no black voting members. since at least 2002.

In response, NBC said it would not air the show this year. The press association ultimately decided to hold the event privately, with a small audience and winners announced on social media.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has since diversified its voting membership, and NBC has restored television broadcasting. (NBC News and the entertainment division of the NBC broadcast network are both units of NBCUniversal.)

But it remains to be seen how the show will be received by critics and viewers. In general, ratings for Hollywood award shows have declined in recent years as younger viewers move away from linear television and audience tastes change.

However, high-profile nominations for box office hits like “Top Gun: Maverick” and multiverse adventure “Everything Everywhere All at Once” could help lure viewers. James Cameron’s “Avatar” sequel, which premieres this weekend, is also set to be a huge hit around the world.

Two big-name actors some expected to receive nominations have been left out of the running.

Tom Cruise failed to get a nod for reprising his role in the ‘Top Gun’ sequel. Will Smith, who made international headlines earlier this year after slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars, didn’t earn a nomination for new Apple TV+ slavery drama “Emancipation.”

Including popular TV series could also help the Globes attract viewers this year.

The nominees for Best Drama Series are “Better Call Saul,” “The Crown,” “House of the Dragon,” “Ozark,” and “Severance.”

In the category of best comedy series, the nominees are “Abbott Elementary”, “The Bear”, “Hacks”, “Only Murders in the Building” and “Wednesday”.

Some of the nominees were announced live on NBC’s “TODAY” show and Peacock, the NBCUniversal-owned streaming service.

The three-hour Golden Globes telecast will air live coast-to-coast at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 10. The host will be acclaimed comedian Jerrod Carmichael, who won an Emmy Award this year for his HBO stand-up special “Rothaniel.” “

“Carmichael’s comedic talents have entertained and delighted audiences while providing uplifting moments that are so important in the times we live in,” Helen Hoehne, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, said in a statement last week. .