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Los Angeles — The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is known for playing by its own mysterious rules, and this year's Golden Globe nominations proved no exception. Notable snubs and surprises:
Depp dipps
Depp was part of one of the Golden Globes' most flagrant celebrity-lusting episodes when he and Angelina Jolie-Pitt were nominated for the abominable The Tourist. So it's more than a little shocking that HFPA wouldn't jump at the chance to send a nomination Depp's way for portraying Whitey Bulger in Black Mass — a performance that's actually getting praised. Jolie-Pitt was also overlooked for By the Sea, which she wrote, directed and starred in alongside husband Brad Pitt. Perhaps the allure of the A-list has lost its luster.
Comedy category celebrates ...comedies!
The Golden Globes have typically had a pretty loose definition of "comedy" when it comes to the movie nominations. Nominees over the past few years have included Her and My Week with Marilyn — films with comedic moments, sure, but certainly not traditional comedies. It was refreshing, therefore, to see the HFPA this year nominate actual comedies Trainwreck and Spy." Leading ladies Amy Schumer and Melissa McCarthy also scored acting nominations for the pics.
The year of Vikander continues
Swedish actress Alicia Vikander has been on the rise for a couple of years now. While she was a likely nominee for her role as the wife of transgender artist Lili Elbe in The Danish Girl, it was quite a surprise to also see her recognized for her supporting performance in Alex Garland's elegant thriller Ex Machina, where she plays the beguiling Artificial Intelligence creation Ava.
An unexpected spotlight for Ruffalo
Mark Ruffalo gave one of the year's finest performances in the ensemble drama Spotlight as the excitable reporter Michael Rezendes, but the HFPA went a different direction in honoring Ruffalo, picking out his performance as a bipolar adult in the little-seen indie Infinitely Polar Bear. In fact, Spotlight received no acting nominations from the HFPA despite its best drama nomination and its rising status as one of the Oscar race's top contenders.
Rampling overlooked
Veteran actress Charlotte Rampling has been a big part of the best actress conversation for her work in the affecting marital drama 45 Years, but was locked out of the best actress, drama category, possibly because Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett were both nominated as leads in Carol. Carey Mulligan was also passed over in the category for Suffragette.
Stallone comes out swinging
Just like Rocky Balboa, Sylvester Stallone was considered a bit of an underdog in the awards race. But the vet snagged a supporting nomination for reprising his iconic character in Creed — the sole nomination for the film.
Call him Mr. Robot
USA Network's cult conspiracy show Mr. Robot took the TV categories by storm with unexpected nominations for the show and actors Rami Malek and Christian Slater.
Straight outta nominations
The N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton got a boost on Wednesday when it was included among the Screen Actors Guild Award nominees for best ensemble drama. Yet the critically loved box office hit about the influential hip-hop group got no love from the HFPA.
Smiling on a crazy ex
Being a Crazy Ex-Girlfriend isn't always a liability. Actress Rachel Bloom scored nomination for her performance in the charming freshman show that's part sitcom, part musical.
The bridge to nowhere
Steven Spielberg's well-regarded Cold War thriller Bridge of Spies received only one nomination for Mark Rylance's supporting performance as a Soviet spy. Star Tom Hanks, a four-time Globes winner, Spielberg and the film seem to be out of the larger awards conversation completely.
