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

The competition:
Daniel Craig (Knives Out) plays private investigator Benoit Blanc. This is Craig’s first Globe nomination. He is joined by costar Ana de Armas, and his film contends for Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical.

Roman Griffin Davis (Jojo Rabbit) plays young Nazi Jojo Betzler. This is Davis’ first nomination. His film contends for Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) plays fading actor Rick Dalton. He has eleven previous nominations, with wins for “The Aviator,” “The Wolf of Wall Street,” and “The Revenant.” His film is nominated in several other categories, including Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical.

Taron Egerton (Rocketman) plays famed musician Elton John. This is his first Globe nomination. His film also contends for an original song and for Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical.

Eddie Murphy (Dolemite Is My Name) plays comedian Rudy Ray Moore. He won a Globe in 2006 for “Dreamgirls” and was previously nominated for “48 Hrs,” “Trading Places,” “Beverly Hills Cop,” and “The Nutty Professor.”

Additional notes: DiCaprio and Egerton are both nominated for individual SAG Awards, and DiCaprio and Davis contend as part of their ensembles. The winner of this category sometimes goes on to be nominated for an Oscar, and two victors – Jean Dujardin and Jamie Foxx – have actually won the Oscar.
Who should win? This is far from DiCaprio’s best performance, in my opinion, and I also wasn’t astounded by Egerton as I expected to be. Craig surprised me in an unusual turn so unlike most of what he’s done before. I’d be very happy if Davis got the recognition he deserves for a fantastic effort. The deserving winner here, however, is Murphy, who was terrific in a comic role that still felt like something completely new for him.
Who will win? It’s a three-way race between DiCaprio, who I’m picking, Egerton, and Murphy, who I’d like to see win.