Golden Globe Musings: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

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:
Bryan Cranston (Trumbo)
Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)
Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs)
Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl)
Will Smith (Concussion)

There are some major heavy-hitters in this race, and I think that they should do especially well here even if they don’t make it all the way to the Oscar derby. At the head of the pack are Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea) and Denzel Washington (Fences). I think that beloved actor Tom Hanks (Sully) should have no trouble finding a place here, and Joel Edgerton (Loving) also has a pretty good shot. Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge) is a decent bet, and he may even net two nominations, contending for “Silence” as well. Other possibilities include Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Snowden), Jake Gyllenhaal (Nocturnal Animals), Michael Keaton (The Founder), and Will Smith (Collateral Beauty). I’d love to see Chris Pine (Hell or High Water) recognized, but I’m not sure he’ll be able to make it happen. It would also be interesting to see Nate Parker (Birth of a Nation) make it in despite the negative press he’s received recently.

Current predictions:
Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea)
Joel Edgerton (Loving)
Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge)
Tom Hanks (Sully)
Denzel Washington (Fences)