Golden Globes Reactions

Biggest snubs in the “Best Director” category

The argument is simple: if a movie is nominated for Best Motion Picture in any category, its director deserves a nomination as well.

For example, “Dune: Part Two” is recognized in the Best Motion Picture: Drama category, so Denis Villeneuve should be in the running for Best Director. After all, who does the Golden Globes think brought that cinematic masterpiece to life?

The same applies to “Challengers” and “Wicked.” Both films earned nominations for Best Motion Picture: Musical or Comedy, yet their directors, Luca Guadagnino and Jon M. Chu, were glaringly absent from the Best Director category.

It’s especially puzzling given that Zendaya (“Challengers”) and Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”) secured nominations for Best Actress, and both films received multiple nods overall.

Another notable snub is Ridley Scott. While “Gladiator II” didn’t make the Best Motion Picture shortlist, Scott’s direction which captured the massive scale of the film certainly warranted some recognition.

This isn’t to dismiss the incredible talent of the directors who were nominated—especially considering the Globes limit the category to just six slots.

However, it feels like there’s a missed opportunity to celebrate directors whose films excel across various genres and leave a significant mark on the cinematic landscape. -Madison Rush

Madison Rush is a third-year majoring in public relations. To contact her, email mkr5957@psu.edu.

Challengers should win Best Original Score

The soundtrack and score of the hit summer movie “Challengers” deserves not only a golden globe but every Academy Award in the world.

Never in all my years of film watching and analysis have I seen a soundtrack that encapsulates the plot and emotions of the characters so well.

Created by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, the original techno, synth-heavy score matches the energy and pacing of the plot, emphasizing the upbeat nature of a tennis match.

It sounds like adrenaline and heartbeats pumping, sonically displaying the back-and-forth game of the tennis players’ love triangle.

“Challengers” might have tough competition against “Dune: Part Two” and “The Brutalist” but it stands out as the frontrunner in this award season. - Allison Curley

Allison Curley is a second-year majoring in digital and print journalism. To contact her, email amc9204@psu.edu.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo should not be in different categories

“Wicked” stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have both been nominated, for Golden Globes, great news for fans of the film but the puzzling part comes in the fact that they are nominated in different categories.

Cynthia has been nominated for best lead actress in a comedy or musical while Grande has been nominated for best supporting, a decision which does not make much sense when considering their roles within the film.

The film follows just as much of Glinda’s story as it does Elphaba. Saying Ariana has a supporting role within this film devalues her role and performance as a whole.

This is part of a dangerous precedent being set where actors can be set into award categories despite whether or not they fit within that category. It is not right for a lead to be put into a category of supporting performers as the lead will have an advantage simply because they had more screen time in their film.

Sure, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo being in different categories gives them both a shot at winning the award but doing so is simply doing wrong by the film and what the story of “Wicked” is.

“Wicked” is a show with two leads and the Golden Globes should recognize it as such. Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, the original Glinda and Elphaba were both nominated for their performances at the 2004 Tony Awards, the difference being that they were both nominated for best lead actress, a decision the Golden Globes should have also gone along with.

Nikolai Wagner is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To email him, contact njw5648@psu.edu.