Golden Globe Musings: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced in just a few weeks, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anyone important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
Robert Downey Jr. (Sherlock Holmes)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (500 Days of Summer)
Matt Damon (The Informant!)
Daniel Day-Lewis (Nine)
Michael Stuhlbarg (A Serious Man)

I feel like I have no idea how the comedy categories will go this year, though I suppose last year was a bit of a conundrum (with a few surprises). Technically, the best bet is probably Robert Duvall (Get Low), though I’m not convinced his film is a comedy, and the latest reports are that it isn't, so I'm torn about putting him in my predictions. Paul Giamatti (Barney’s Version) will also probably have success here. Robert Downey Jr. (Due Date) and Jake Gyllenhaal (Love and Other Drugs) feel to me a bit too much like fillers, but they’ll probably manage slots given the kind of fare this category has honored in recent years. Then, there are a bunch of contenders, like Jim Carrey (I Love You Philip Morris), Johnny Depp (Alice in Wonderland), Stephen Dorff (Somewhere), Harrison Ford (Morning Glory), Zach Galifianakis (Due Date), and Kevin Spacey (Casino Jack). Having seen the Spacey’s film, I’m tempted to give him the edge given the fierceness of his performance. (If Duvall ends up in drama, Carrey is my alternate).

Predicted nominees:
Robert Duvall (Get Low)
Paul Giamatti (Barney’s Version)
Robert Downey Jr. (Due Date)
Jake Gyllenhaal (Love and Other Drugs)
Kevin Spacey (Casino Jack)