#1. Three Billboards gets some love



While the lingering effect of Martin McDonagh's Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is still yet to be determined, the Golden Globes lit a spark under the film as it captured wins for Best Pictre - Drama, Best Actress - Drama (Frances McDormand), Best Supporting Actor (Sam Rockwell) and Best Screenplay (McDonagh). This mightily impressive showing may not tip the scales when it comes to the Oscars, which is still nearly 2 months away, but in a year filled with wide-open races all across the board, anything's possible.


#2. Lady Bird continues its climb



Lady Bird has been a steady riser throughout this long and arduous awards season run. And while its still unclear if Greta Gerwig's debut film has the cache to capture the year's most prestigious honor, the Hollywood Foreign Press showed its full support by awarding wins for Best Film - Comedy/Musical and Best Actress - Comedy/Musical. This pair of statues signifies a relectance to waver in a year where no obvious frontrunner exists, making this the most intriguing awards season in recent memory.


#3. Are some contenders just space-fillers?

 

A trio of Best Picture contenders were completely shut out last night. There was no room in the winners circle for The Post, Get Out, Dunkirk and Call Me by Your Name, bringing the legitimacy of their chances at a Best Picture win into question. My personal belief is that Steven Spielbergh's The Post still has an outside chance at the "big one", but the other three should just be happy to receive a nomination. Get Out doesn't feel like an Oscar inclusion, Moonlight's recent recognition brandishes a recent over-done familiarity with Call Me by Your Name, and the Academy has a history of turning a blind eye to Nolan's work. This could truly be a three-headed race with Three Billboards, Lady Bird and The Shape of Water, with everyone else on the outside looking in.


#4. James Franco silences Tommy Wiseau with his win



After James Franco's more or less expected win at last night's Globes in the Best Actor - Comedy/Musical category, he eloquently demanded his co-star and brother Dave to join him on stage. Also b-lining for the spotlight was The Room creator, Tommy Wiseau, whose so-bad-it's-good effort provided the inspiration for Franco's critically adored work. Yet, as Wiseau reached for the microphone, James Franco delivered a defensive effort that would impress any NFL organization. Franco went on to thank just about everyone, including Wiseau, for the win, who didn't want to hear what Wiseau had to say? Despite the silencing, Franco seems primed for an Oscar nomination as The Disaster Artist's success continues to surprise.


#5. Where does The Shape of Water really stand?

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It's no secret that I'm in the corner for Guillermo del Toro's lovely sci-fi romance, The Shape of Water, for this year's Best Picture crown. And after the film garnered 7 nominations in all from the Globes, it was in the driver's seat for running away with the evening. I predicted 4 wins, which would have cemented the film's stature in the year's biggest race, but the film only mustered up half of that total. Winning for Best Score from composer Alexandre Desplat, hardly a statement-making award, and Best Director (del Toro), The Shape of Water watched longingly as Three Billboards and Lady Bird delivered more impressive showings, but I wouldn't count out del Toro's brilliant work just yet.