10 LGBTQ+ Movies That Could Get Golden Globe Nominations This Year
Ladies, Gentlemen, and distinguished others, awards season is about to kick into full gear.
The Golden Globe nominations will be announced tomorrow, and as usual, there are a few movies with LGBTQ+ themes and actors hoping to hear their name.
Some of these movies are just about guaranteed to get a nomination, or even several, and others are more long shots, but we're hoping for as many of them as we can get. Whether it's great performances of queer characters by straight actors, some much-deserved recognition for queer filmmakers, or even a queer actor playing a queer role, we've got several hopes for LGBTQ+ representation at this year's Globes, which will be held on Sunday, February 28. Here are the LGBTQ+ movies, actors, and filmmakers we're hoping will get some recognition this Golden Globe season.
"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"
The film is guaranteed to get nominations, as is Viola Davis as the legendary Mother of the Blues Ma Rainey, Chadwick Boseman as Levee, and possibly one or two of the supporting actors. It's simply one of the best movies of the year filled with some of the best acting performances of these storied actors' careers. Look for this movie to be called several times throughout the morning.
"The Prom"
Ryan Murphy could get his first film Golden Globe nominations in the Motion Picture categories (He has 5 TV nominations and one win) for this musical about fading Broadway stars who go to a small town to help a lesbian teen who just wants to go to prom. The film will probably score noms for Best Picture - Musical or Comedy, and for Best Actress with Meryl Streep's standout performance. Nicole Kidman is also likely to get a nod for Best Supporting Actress. Newcomer Jo Ellen Pellman has an outside shot at a Supporting Actress nomination, as well. Strangely, James Corden is also getting a lot of buzz for his performance that many queer people found to be deeply offensive. But, most award voters are straight, and they love the kind of performance he gave.
"The Half of It"
Alice Wu was just nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for her screenplay to this Netflix high school lesbian movie. While it's a bit of a dark horse, it sure would be great to see her get some recognition for this beautiful and quiet coming-of-age story about a girl who helps a boy write love letters to the girl he likes, and who she also has a crush on.
"Supernova"
How can the Globes resist perennial favorites Stanly Tucci and Colin Firth, especially when they're playing gay lovers? Award shows love to celebrate straight actors for playing gay, and if Corden doesn't get a nomination for The Prom, look for one of these men to potentially swoop in.
"Ammonite"
While a lot lesbians and queer women didn't exactly love Ammonite, critics have praised both Kate Winslett and Saiorse Ronan as paleontologist Mary Anning and Charlotte Murchison, the young woman she falls in love with. Both actresses have a whole room filled with awards, so voters will definitely have them on their minds, but was the movie good enough to get nominations in a year filled with powerful performances by women?
"The World to Come"
This movie just premiered at Sundance so who knows if it's been seen by enough voters, but both Katherine Waterston and Vanessa Kirby have already been building awards buzz for their performances. It's unlikely that Ammonite and The World to Come, both lesbian period romances, will both get nominations, so if you hear Winslett or Ronan's name, we probably won't be hearing Waterston or Kirby's.
"Happiest Season"
The movie that divided the queer internet was also one of the biggest hits of the winter and could get some recognition from voters who want to celebrate the first major studio lesbian Christmas movie. The best hopes for noms for this film are Kristen Stewart as Abby, Clea Duvall for directing, and if queer women get our way, Aubrey Plaza for Best Supporting Actress (although that's admittedly the longest long shot on the list).
A girl can hope.
"The Mauritanian"
Jodie Foster in her first starring role since Hotel Artemis, is of course going to get voters' attention, and especially when she's starring as the lawyer who defended one of the men accused of planning the 9/11 attacks. Foster is a Hollywood legend and gives a great performance, so she might get a nomination here.
"The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Lee Daniels directing a biopic about bisexual music icon Billie Holiday is the perfect award bait, and according to early buzz, Andra Day is stunning in the lead role. Is there room for both Ma Rainey and Billie Holiday on the Golden Globe stage?
"Disclosure"
Disclosure isn't just one of the best LGBTQ+ documentaries in recent memory, it's one of the best documentaries period. Everyone from Jen Richards, to Brian Michael Smith, to Alexandra Billings, to Laverne Cox and Tiq Milan make appearances discussing the history, present, and future of trans representation on screen. If Disclosure isn't among the nominees for Best Documentary it'll be among the biggest snubs of this award season.
