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 anything 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:
Christian Bale (American Hustle)
Bruce Dern (Nebraska)
Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)
Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis)
Joaquin Phoenix (Her)

Two films submitting as comedy help their actors out a lot - Michael Keaton (Birdman) and Joaquin Phoenix (Inherent Vice). Those two Oscar contenders will likely be joined by Bill Murray (St. Vincent) and Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel). On the music side of things, Chadwick Boseman (Get on Up) and Mark Ruffalo (Begin Again) have decent shots, and voters might also warm to James Corden (Into the Woods), Bill Hader (The Skeleton Twins), or Chris Rock (Top Five). It’s also possible that Christoph Waltz (Big Eyes) could end up here.

Current predictions:
James Corden (Into the Woods)
Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel)
Michael Keaton (Birdman)
Bill Murray (St. Vincent)
Joaquin Phoenix (Inherent Vice)