As 2023 nears its end, the world of movies is brimming with anticipation for the upcoming awards season. The Golden Globes, now with a fresh home on CBS after a tangle of controversies, sparked both excitement and skepticism. With a revamped voting body and a switch in networks, speculation run high about the impact on nominations and winners for this year’s awards. Despite often taking a different path than The Oscars, the Golden Globes sometimes serve as a crystal ball. Further, foretelling potential Academy Award contenders.

Past years had shown occasional alignment between the two. The success stories of Green Book and La La Land hinted at the Golden Globes’ sway on future Oscar predictions. With the 2024 Oscars on the horizon, the Golden Globes remain a beacon. Furthermore, offering insights into Hollywood’s darlings and the potential stars of the showbiz sky.

The Best Film battle

In the race towards the awards season glory, two standout movies took the spotlight: Martin Scorsese’s gripping tale Killers of the Flower Moon and Christopher Nolan’s compelling Oppenheimer. Scorsese’s movie, recounting the tragic Osage Nation history, faced initial doubts but soared high after winning accolades from critics and esteemed awards like the NYFCC and NBR. Meanwhile, Oppenheimer, focused on the atomic bomb’s genesis, is also anticipated to secure a string of nominations. Finally, lauding its direction, script, and stellar performances.

The tug-of-war between these cinematic giants appears primed to influence the battle for the 2024 Oscars’ Best Picture title. While flicks such as Barbie, Poor Things, The Holdovers, and Maestro might charm audiences and gather praise, it is hard to overlook the brewing showdown between Oppenheimer and Killers of the Flower Moon. Nevertheless, with its strong presence across categories and predicted wins in acting fields, Oppenheimer currently holds a slight edge. 

The battle for Best Actor: A clash of talents and performances

In the acting ring, it will be a showdown between Cillian Murphy and Leonardo DiCaprio. Both have dazzled audiences with their performances in Oppenheimer and Killers of the Flower Moon. Murphy’s portrayal of a multifaceted character gives him a slight edge, despite being a first-time nominee. The penchant for awarding actors in roles based on real-life figures sways the odds in Murphy’s favor, although DiCaprio’s exceptional act keeps the competition intense.

However, the competition had a potential surprise contender in Bradley Cooper, whose compelling transformation as Leonard Bernstein in Maestro caught the eye. With previous Oscar nominations and a strong reception at Maestro’s Venice Film Festival premiere, Cooper poses a considerable challenge to the frontrunners. Amidst the fierce battle, other talented contenders like Colman Domingo in Rustin, Paul Giamatti in The Holdovers, and Jeffrey Wright in American Fiction fight for their shot at recognition in this tightly contested category.

Race to the Best Actress throne

When Poor Things clinched the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, it appeared as if Emma Stone had a strong hold on the coveted Best Actress award at the Oscars 2024. With her commendable record of nominations and a win, she was the star shining bright in Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest film. Yet, the emergence of Lily Gladstone into the category flipped the script, introducing a contender that could challenge Stone’s predicted victory.

Gladstone’s standout performance in Killers of the Flower Moon outshone even the luminaries like Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. Her breakthrough drew significant support. Among the other competitors like Carey Mulligan in Maestro and Sandra Hüller in Anatomy of a Fall and The Zone of Interest, Margot Robbie faces a potential oversight despite her prominent role Barbie. The early rave reviews for Fantasia Barrino in The Color Purple, arriving after its initial release, add another layer of unpredictability to the category.

Directorial duel: A showdown for the Best Director

In the Oscars 2024 race for Best Director, it is a heavyweight battle between Christopher Nolan and Martin Scorsese. Nolan, despite his exceptional body of work, had only received one prior nomination, hoping for his moment with Oppenheimer. Meanwhile, Scorsese, with a whopping nine nominations but just a single win, aims for more gold with Killers of the Flower Moon. The awards season lies at crossroads. It is torn between recognizing Nolan’s long-overdue brilliance or granting Scorsese further accolades to match his stature.

Amidst the mix are other incredible directors like Greta Gerwig, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Jonathan Glazer, each bringing their unique flair. However, all eyes are on the intense rivalry between Nolan and Scorsese. Moreover, the outcome could sway the overall Best Picture category. Yet, early predictions hint at Nolan’s virtuoso direction in Oppenheimer granting him the honor. This would possibly mark a fitting moment for his exceptional craft.

The quest for Supporting Actress supremacy

Once considered an easy prediction, the Best Supporting Actress category took an unexpected turn when Lily Gladstone shifted to the Best Actress contest. This twist left the nominations and potential winner’s slot wide open for a flurry of contenders. In this unpredictable race, Da’Vine Joy Randolph from Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers stole the spotlight with her portrayal of a grieving school cook.

Danielle Brooks shone brightly in The Color Purple, while Emily Blunt in Oppenheimer proved herself a formidable competitor. Julianne Moore’s stellar act in May December and Jodie Foster’s promising edge over other contenders like Penelope Cruz and Taraji P. Henson make for an intense showdown in the category.

Clash of the titans for Best Supporting Actor

Back in 2009, Robert Downey Jr. was close to snagging the Best Supporting Actor award at the Oscars. Although, it slipped through his fingers to Heath Ledger for his role in The Dark Knight. Now, after 15 years, he returns to the same category with a solid shot at victory, starring in Oppenheimer. This time around, the tables have turned, and he is the one in a Nolan movie vying for Oscar glory. The buzz around him is strong, especially considering he has not claimed this award yet. Some might say he is owed one.

The real contenders shaping up the race are Oppenheimer and Killers of the Flower Moon, where Robert De Niro shines in a standout performance. Ryan Gosling’s nod for Barbie could make a splash. Meanwhile, Mark Ruffalo is anticipated to edge out Willem Dafoe for the Poor Things nomination. Joining the competition is Charles Melton from May December, receiving high praise since its release. More so, he secured the Best Supporting Performance at the Gotham Independent Film Awards.

Which other Oscar battle do you think can be chalked up with the Golden Globes nominations? Share in the comments below.