Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

The competition:
Christian Bale (Ford v Ferrari) plays cantankerous race car driver Ken Miles. He has won two Globes, for last year’s “Vice” and for “The Fighter” in 2010. He was also nominated for “American Hustle” and “The Big Short.” He is the lone representative of his film.

Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory) plays faded film director Salvador Mallo. He has two previous film nominations, for “Evita” and “The Mask of Zorro,” and two TV bids. His film is nominated for Best Foreign Film.

Adam Driver (Marriage Story) plays theater director Charlie Barber. He was nominated last year for “BlacKkKlansman.” His film is the nominations leader and contends for Best Motion Picture – Drama.

Joaquin Phoenix (Joker) plays clown Arthur Fleck. He won a Globe in 2005 for “Walk the Line,” and has also been nominated for “Gladiator,” “The Master,” “Her,” and “Inherent Vice.” His film contends for several awards, including Best Motion Picture – Drama.

Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes) plays Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who travels to Vatican City from Argentina. Pryce has one previous Globe nomination, for the 1993 TV movie “Barbarians at the Gate.” His film contends for several awards, including Best Motion Picture – Drama.

Additional notes: Bale, Driver, and Phoenix are also nominated for SAG Awards this year. The winner of this award has gone on to win the Oscar all but twice in the past fifteen years.
Who should win? Bale was a great fit for the role and did well, and the same goes for Banderas. Phoenix was incredible to be sure, and Driver was great too, though I’d really love to see Pryce, a hard-working actor who turned in a wonderful performance, take this. Luckily, there’s not a bad choice to be found here.
Who will win? It’s possible Driver could upset, but I think that Phoenix holds a firm enough lead.