Golden Globe Musings: Best Director – Motion Picture

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, 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, especially this year, it’s hard to know which films and performances will end up being honored.

Last year’s nominees:
Martin Scorsese (The Irishman)
Todd Phillips (Joker)
Bong Joon Ho (Parasite)
Sam Mendes (1917)
Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)

This is a category that mostly draws from Best Motion Picture - Drama nominees and a well-received Comedy/Musical honoree or two. The big question this year is if multiple women can break through here. An all-male lineup is guaranteed not to happen thanks to Chloe Zhao (Nomadland), and she may be joined by Regina King (One Night in Miami), Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman), Kelly Reichardt (First Cow), or Eliza Hittman (Never Rarely Sometimes Always). Male frontrunners include David Fincher (Mank), Aaron Sorkin (The Trial of the Chicago 7), Florian Zeller (The Father), Spike Lee (Da 5 Bloods), Lee Isaac Chung (Minari),  and Paul Greengrass (News of the World).

Current predictions:
David Fincher (Mank)
Chloe Zhao (Nomadland)
Regina King (One Night in Miami)
Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman)
Aaron Sorkin (The Trial of the Chicago 7)