Actors Emma Stone (left) and Ryan Gosling attend their hand and footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre on December 7 David Njoku Jersey , 2016 in Hollywood, California. Photo: CFP
Hollywood’s elite hits the red carpet on Sunday for the Golden Globes, launching a fiercely-contested awards season that looks set to reward escapist fantasy and gritty drama in equal measure.
The Globes has a reputation for delighting in its eccentric picks so its record in predicting Oscars glory has been patchy over the years, but it is a huge draw for the stars and remains for many a solid bellwether for Academy Awards success.
Leading the pack of films vying for top honors is Damien Chazelle’s La La Land, a tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood musicals set in modern-day Los Angeles.
It picked up seven nominations, and pundits see it as the overwhelming favorite for best comedymusical film, ahead of 20th Century Women Jabrill Peppers Jersey , Deadpool, Florence Foster Jenkins and Sing Street.
La La Land is also in a strong position to pick up awards for its stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, best director for Chazelle and best score and song, according to a poll of experts by awards website Gold Derby.
Placing bets
“La La Land could win all of its categories. It’s either the frontrunner or in second place, I believe, in all seven. The safest for them are comedymusical best picture, Emma Stone and for score Danny Shelton Browns Jersey ,” Gold Derby managing director Chris Beachum told AFP.
“They could win for Gosling, director and song but the Globes voters tend to want to spread things out more than that. You don’t generally see a movie winning more than three or four.”