Golden Globes: 5 reasons why ‘Poor Things’ will find riches in Best Film Comedy/Musical

This year’s Golden Globe race for Best Film Drama ironically lacks any drama of its own. Christopher Nolan’s 20th century historical account “Oppenheimer” holds an overwhelming lead in Gold Derby’s official odds, suggesting that a chance of an upset is pretty much “near zero.”

But awards fanatics need not fret. The contest for Best Film Comedy/Musical appears to be agonizingly close between Greta Gerwig’s box office bonanza “Barbie” and Yorgos Lanthimos’ science fiction / horror sex comedy “Poor Things.” It’s no laughing matter.

In all seriousness, I am going to attempt to make a call in this most difficult match-up. Here are five reasons why “Poor Things” will win the Golden Globe for Best Film Comedy/Musical on Sunday, January 7.

1. It has the most overall support at the Globes.
I know what you’re thinking. You’re wondering how I can say that when “Poor Things” has seven nominations and “Barbie” has nine. Remember that three of those “Barbie” bids are for Best Song and another is for the newly created (and somewhat questionable) Cinematic and Box Office Achievement Award. If you remove those four from the picture, “Barbie” is technically two noms behind “Poor Things.” The fact that “Poor Things” managed to score two Best Supporting Actor citations (for Willem Dafoe and Mark Ruffalo) plus Best Score might give it a slight edge over “Barbie.”

2. It has more snob appeal.
Let’s face it. The voters always want to look cool in the eyes of the viewers. If the television audience had its say, “Barbie” would win by a landslide. By going with the more artistic and sophisticated “Poor Things,” the Golden Globes can remind viewers that posh and pompous trumps pedestrian and popular. It’s perhaps why “The Banshees of Inisherin” was able to overcome eventual Oscar champ “Everything Everywhere All at Once” in this category last year. “Barbie” is nothing like “Banshees.” So “Everything” hints that the Globes will go with “Things” this year.

3. Emma Stone is expected to beat Margot Robbie for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical.
Why does this matter? Because lead performers who win at the Globes often come from pictures that also win, particularly in the Comedy or Musical sweepstakes. Colin Farrell in “The Banshees of Inisherin.” Rachel Zegler in 2021’s “West Side Story.” Sacha Baron Cohen in 2020’s “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.” Saiorse Ronan in 2017’s “Ladybird.” Stone in 2016’s “La La Land.” So if Stone lands the Globe again, it’s a good sign of “Poor Things” to come (as in away with the Comedy or Musical Globe).

4. “Barbie” is likely to get the Cinematic and Box Achievement Award as a consolation prize.
It has been speculated that this new award was actually created specifically to honor “Barbie.” While I’m not endorsing this theory, I do theorize that the Globe voters will realize that this gives them an easy out. They can check off “Poor Things” for Comedy or Musical and “Barbie” for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement. Both films receive major recognition and everyone’s happy. The Globes will truly achieve what they set out to do.

5. There’s nothing else that can beat “Poor Things.”
I didn’t mean to dismiss the other contenders, as they’re all outstanding and might have a shot in any other year. “Air” is lucky to have made it into the game. The category placement of the marvelous “May December” may hurt its chances. And “American Fiction” and “The Holdovers” hold their best prospects of Globe gold in Best Actor nominees Jeffrey Wright and Paul Giamatti, respectively. With all due respect, that leaves “Poor Things” the likely winner of a most richly deserved Golden Globe for Best Film Comedy/Musical.

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