Overview
Ah, film and television awards season. For those that like watching screen-based entertainment — aka everyone, admit it — it's the medium's sporting moment. Contenders grace our cinemas and TVs, various organisations nominate various flicks and shows for awards, and audiences watch. And, oh boy do we watch. We watch when Meryl Streep gives a kickass speech calling out fear and intolerance as she's being honoured, and when Kristen Wiig steals the best comic moment, as this year's Golden Globes proved. We watch when Ryan Gosling gives a heartfelt thanks, Jimmy Fallon struggles without the teleprompter, and when Isabelle Huppert leaps to her feet to clap for herself, too.
And, whether your top film of the year won all of the shiny ornaments (hello La La Land) or one of your fave new television programs missed out a gong (sorry Stranger Things), we can still watch all of the best and the rest once the ceremonies are over. Indeed, this year's Globes winners have gifted us all with quite the must-watch list of both quality efforts to catch up on, and others coming to screens near us soon. Here's our pick of their picks. Get viewing.
BIG SCREEN MUST-SEES
MOONLIGHT
Where do we start with the second feature from writer/director Barry Jenkins, and the other film that awards groups have been showering with love for months before it took out the Best Picture, Drama category at the Golden Globes? The way that Jenkins layers three chapters of a young man's life — and of his attempts to forge his identity and come to terms with his sexuality as a child, teen and man — is nothing short of remarkable, both in terms of his complex themes and his poetic images. And then there's the disarming performances. Prepare to add Mahershala Ali (who missed out on a Best Supporting Actor award) and Andre Holland, who viewers of House of Cards and The Knick might recognise, to your favourite actors list.
GLOBES:
Won: Best Picture — Drama
Nominated: Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture (Mahershala Ali), Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (Naomie Harris), Best Director of a Motion Picture (Barry Jenkins), Best Original Score (Nicholas Britell), Best Original Screenplay (Barry Jenkins).
LA LA LAND
If you haven't seen Damian Chazelle's modern-day musical yet, you really should hop — or dance, more appropriately — to it. The visually vibrant, emotionally layered ode to the way life and love don't always go as planned just nabbed all seven Golden Globes it was nominated for, cleaning out the Musical or Comedy movie category (Best Picture, Actress and Actor), and taking home Best Director, Screenplay and Score. It's also likely to do something similar at the Oscars next month, so prepare to keep hearing about this Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling-starring swooning, crooning charmer.
GLOBES:
Won: Best Picture — Musical or Comedy, Best Actress — Musical or Comedy (Emma Stone), Best Actor — Musical or Comedy (Ryan Gosling), Best Director (Damien Chazelle), Best Original Score (Justin Hurwitz), Best Screenplay (Damien Chazelle)
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
Speaking of actors given a worthy showcase, Casey Affleck, younger brother of Ben, gets his moment to shine in Manchester by the Sea. He plays a Boston janitor who seeks isolation to cope with a past tragedy, but is forced to return to his home town — and leave his lonely comfort zone — to take care of his teenage nephew. With Michelle Williams and Moonrise Kingdom's Lucas Hedges also in stellar form, and You Can Count On Me and Margaret writer/director Kenneth Lonergan in charge, be prepared for one of the affecting, astute and insightful ruminations on grief and pain (and, also intermittently amusing, too), that you're likely to see.
GLOBES:
Won: Best Actor — Drama (Casey Affleck)
Nominated: Best Picture — Drama, Best Supporting Actress — Drama (Michelle Williams), Best Director — Drama (Kenneth Lonergan), Best Screenplay — Drama (Kenneth Lonergan)
ELLE
One of the most legitimately divisive awards contenders this year boasts two things that make it worth your time: Isabelle Huppert and an intriguing examination of its rape/revenge-focused central premise. To be honest, the exceptional performance by newly minted Best Actress in a Drama winner Huppert is reason enough, and whether you love, hate or fall somewhere in the middle on the film itself, you'll always be intrigued. Movies directed by Total Recall, Showgirls and Starship Troopers' Paul Verhoeven have a knack for doing that — in fact, Elle also won the Globes' Best Foreign Lanuage Film category.
GLOBES:
Won: Best Actress — Drama (Isabelle Huppert), Best Foreign Language Film
ZOOTOPIA
The importance of embracing difference wasn't just something Meryl Streep talked about. It was also the central message of one of 2016's best animated flicks. From the sci-fi contemplations of Your Name to the origami-oriented efforts of Kubo and the Two Strings, last year was a great year for animated fare — and Zootopia easily belongs in their company. A bunny tries to become a cox, a fox attempts to be seen as something other than sly, and adults and children alike both learn lessons and are entertained.
GLOBES:
Won: Best Animated Feature Film.
FUTURE SMALL SCREEN BINGES
ATLANTA
You've loved him on Community and as Childish Gambino, but you haven't seen fresh Golden Globes winner Donald Glover like this before. Atlanta might've earned him a gleaming statue in the comedy section — and for Best Music or Comedy Series, too — but it's a dramedy filled with thoughtful and comedic moments. And really, when you're taking on the rap scene of titular city, complete with the struggles of class, a balance of harrowing moments and levity is exactly what you'd expect.
GLOBES:
Won: Best Musical or Comedy TV Series, Best Actor — Musical or Comedy (Donald Glover)
THE NIGHT MANAGER
Turning The Night Manager into a success wasn't difficult — but just because something is easy, doesn't mean that it isn't excellent. All of the winning elements are there: a top notch cast that includes Golden Globe winners Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie and Olivia Colman (plus Aussie actress Elizabeth Debicki), great source material from noted spy-centric author John le Carré;, and an ace director in the form of Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier (In A Better World, A Second Chance). Oh, and the kind of thrills that come when an everyman gets thrust into the world of espionage, and forced to cosy up with a philanthropist that's also an arms dealer.
GLOBES:
Won: Best Actor in a Mini-Series (Tom Hiddleston), Best Supporting Actor in a Mini-Series (Hugh Laurie), Best Supporting Actress in a Mini-Series (Olivia Colman)
Nominated: Best Mini-Series or TV Film
THE CROWN
Think tabloid magazines love the British royal family? Sure, they do, but not half as much as writer and playwright Peter Morgan. The Crown is his second effort to focus on Queen Elizabeth II, with the 2006 Helen Mirren-starring drama film The Queen proving the first, and now his Netflix series jumping back to the monarch's early years. John Lithgow stars as Winston Churchill, former Doctor Who Matt Smith steps into the young Prince Phillip's shoes, and Golden Globe Best Actress in a TV Drama winner Claire Foy plays Her Royal Highness.
GLOBES:
Won: Best Drama TV Series, Best Actress in a Drama TV Series (Claire Foy)
Nominated: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama TV Series (John Lithgow)
THE PEOPLE V O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY
Speaking of art recreating life, there's no prizes for guessing what the latest season of American Crime Story focused on. However, if you think you know all there is to know about this tale, think again. And, prepare to be surprised not only by how involving this true crime dramatisation is, but at the acting talent on display. Sarah Paulson is everything in this, but expect to be unable to tear your eyes away from Cuba Gooding Jr, John Travolta and David Schwimmer as well.
GLOBES:
Won: Best Mini-Series or TV Film, Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Film (Sarah Paulson)
Nominated: Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Film (Courtney B. Vance), Best Supporting Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Film (John Travolta), Best Supporting Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Film (Sterling K. Brown)
GOLIATH
Remember how great it was to watch Billy Bob Thornton in weekly doses in the first season of the Fargo television series? Remember how, even when he's in a terrible film (we're talking about you, Bad Santa 2), he's usually the best thing in it. All of that should get you excited about Amazon's legal drama Goliath, which just won Thornton Best Actor in a Drama from the Globes TV nods. He plays a washed up lawyer who likes a drink and doesn't love his job, only to find his world turned upside down when he takes on a wrongful death lawsuit.
GLOBES:
Won: Best Actor in a TV Series — Drama (Billy Bob Thornton)