From 'Nomadland' to Jodie Foster's upset, what those Golden Globes wins mean for Oscars

Brian Truitt, USA TODAY
·4 min read
From 'Nomadland' to Jodie Foster's upset, what those Golden Globes wins mean for Oscars
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High five! It was a "very nice" night on Sunday for "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm" and the other Golden Globes victors, and the already-unpredictable road to the Oscars might be taking a few odd turns.

The Globes are known for going rogue with their picks and wins there don't always equal Academy Awards glory. If that was the case, "1917" would have had a much better Oscar night a year ago. Instead, "Parasite" ruled the day after winning at the Globes for foreign-language film – the same category that the acclaimed "Minari" just won, giving it a boost. And while the suddenly infamous Hollywood Foreign Press Association is separate from the Academy's voting body, Oscar balloting starts this Friday leading up to the announcements March 15. And some folks might be paying attention to that Globes winners list.

Here's how Sunday night's ceremony might affect the Oscar race:

Golden Globes 2021: 'Nomadland' wins best drama, 'Borat 2' takes top comedy

'Borat 2': Sacha Baron Cohen salutes 'comedy genius' Rudy Giuliani in Globes speech

'Nomadland' is still the closest thing to a best picture front-runner (at least right now)

Even without a best ensemble spot at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Frances McDormand's lauded road-trip drama is a shoo-in for a best picture nomination and probably the favorite to win. The film's best drama Globes win, coupled with Chloé Zhao's best director win Sunday helps – what doesn't is the fact that since 2010, only three films ("Argo," "12 Years a Slave" and "Moonlight") took best drama at Globes and best picture at Oscars.

'The Trial of the Chicago 7' and 'Minari' are in it to win it, too (and maybe 'Borat')

"Chicago 7" and "Minari" picked up key awards Sunday and are considered best picture bait: Aaron Sorkin snagged best screenplay for "Chicago 7" and "Minari," shut out of the best drama categories, was named best foreign-language film. (As "Parasite" proved, Oscar voters are no longer turned off by subtitles.) The two movies will also duke out for best SAG cast later this month.

"Borat" might have a harder time getting into the best picture race, even in an expanded field. A fun fact in its favor: The past 10 films to win best comedy/musical at the Globes all made it.

Billie Holiday (Andra Day) takes on the feds when they don't want her to sing "Strange Fruit" in the period drama "The United States vs. Billie Holiday."
Billie Holiday (Andra Day) takes on the feds when they don't want her to sing "Strange Fruit" in the period drama "The United States vs. Billie Holiday."

Andra Day and Rosamund Pike could be real players

McDormand, Carey Mulligan ("Promising Young Woman") and Viola Davis ("Ma Rainey's Black Bottom") are best bets to get into the best actress category. Andra Day winning at Globes does wonders for her getting a spot and maybe winning the thing – a late Hulu release for "The United States vs. Billie Holiday," even with iffy reviews for the movie but accolades for her, – has been a boon for Day's chances. Same for Pike, whose dark comedy "I Care a Lot" recently hit Netflix and is one of the service's most popular movies since.

Surprise! Jodie Foster's back in contention

OK, maybe it's just because the thought of Jodie Foster Zooming into the Oscar ceremony in her pajamas with her wife and dog is too delicious. But this is a good thing, adding an old favorite into the mix. SAG nominees Glenn Close ("Hillbilly Elegy"), Olivia Colman ("The Father") and Yuh-jung Youn ("Minari") comprise the favorites to get into the supporting actress category, and perhaps Foster – a two-time Oscar winner who hasn't been a nominee since 1995 (for "Nell") – knocks one of the youngsters out, be it "Mank" standout Amanda Seyfried, "Borat" breakout Maria Bakalova or "News of the World" wunderkind Helena Zengel.

Levee (Chadwick Boseman, front) works on his own music and leaves his bandmates – Toledo (Glynn Turman), Slow Drag (Michael Potts) and Cutler (Colman Domingo) – incredulous in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom."
Levee (Chadwick Boseman, front) works on his own music and leaves his bandmates – Toledo (Glynn Turman), Slow Drag (Michael Potts) and Cutler (Colman Domingo) – incredulous in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom."

Let's just give Chadwick Boseman the Oscar already

For real, the late star is likely to run the best actor table at this point – and get your hankies ready because if his widow Taylor Simone Ledward gives more moving acceptance speeches like she did Sunday, there'll be lots of tears in Boseman's honor. The only question is, how many Academy Awards could he win? Daniel Kaluuya's supporting actor win at the Globes bodes well for the "Judas and the Black Messiah" star heading into SAGs, but Boseman is also nominated there for "Da 5 Bloods" – as well as in lead actor for "Ma Rainey" – and stands a chance at being double-nominated at the Oscars. And given how beloved Boseman is, anything's possible.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Golden Globes: How the Oscar race might be affected by award wins