Golden Globe Musings: Best Director – Motion Picture

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:
Ridley Scott (All the Money in the World)
Christopher Nolan (Dunkirk)
Steven Spielberg (The Post)
Guillermo Del Toro (The Shape of Water)
Martin McDonagh (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri)

This is a category that mostly draws from Best Motion Picture - Drama nominees and a well-received Comedy/Musical honoree or too, and, on occasion, a big name whose film likely just missed out on a slot in the drama race. It also sometimes happens that foreign films, ineligible for the two top categories, are honored here, and that’s likely to be the case with Alfonso Cuaron (Roma) this year. It’s hard to imagine Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born) not getting in, and, unless awards season turns out differently than most are expecting, Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman) and Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite) will be nominated too. Even if he doesn’t make it all the way to Oscar, Damien Chazelle (First Man) feels like a solid bet to round out this list. Comedy helmers Peter Farrelly (Green Book) and Adam McKay (Vice) are possible, as are Barry Jenkins (If Beale Street Could Talk) and Steve McQueen (Widows). He isn’t likely to get in for acting, but Clint Eastwood (The Mule) is a Globe favorite in this category and could easily show up.

Current predictions:
Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman)
Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite)
Damien Chazelle (First Man)
Alfonso Cuaron (Roma)
Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born)