Golden Globe 2021 Nominations Trying Hard To Be Inclusive?

In the bid to be inclusive, are the Golden Globes stretching the outer limits of excellence? Must have Blacks, must have women, must not exclude Asians, and so on

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Golden Globe 2021 Nominations Trying Hard To Be Inclusive?
It feels good to see Pakistan’s Riz Ahmed nominated for the Golden Globe best actor for his performance in The Sound Of Metal. I didn’t think that highly of his performance and I said so in my review. But it is a healthy sign to see two Muslim actors Riz and Tahar Rahim nominated in the best actor category, one of them being from our neighbouring country.

Sadly, neither Riz nor Tahar will win. The award will be given hands down to Chadwick Boseman for the weirdly titled Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (no the sequel is not called Pa Rainey’s Brown Backside) not only because Chadwick is no longer with us, but also because he IS really really good in the film, and no one can take that away from Boseman.

And to top it all, our own Dev Patel is nominated in the Best Actor Comedy/Musical category for his portrayal of the literary master in The Personal History Of David Copperfield. Delighted as I am to see Patel take on the West, I am afraid he looked nothing like Copperfield. Imagine Brad Pitt playing Barak Obama, and you get the picture?


For best actress, Frances McDormand in Nomadland is a given. She is beyond that certain age which was earlier considered right for leading roles. She is non-glamorous. And above all she is brilliant.

The most heartening development is the sudden surge of women in the best director’s list. I don’t know what happened. But after the no-show of women in last years’ nominations suddenly 3 out of 5 nominees are women directors: Chloe Zhao for Nomadland, Regina King in One Night in Miami and Emerald Fennell in Promising Young Woman. If the truth be told, only one of these three nominees make the cut, and I am not telling which.

In the bid to be inclusive are the Golden Globes stretching the outer limits of excellence? Must have Blacks, must have women, must not exclude Asians, and so on…In the meanwhile, please note: no Indian film, actor or technician figure in any of the nomination lists. Before anyone cries foul, let me clarify, if we are not there it’s because we don’t deserve to be.



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