The Best Actor-Drama category at the Golden Globes is one of the most competitive in years. The list includes three Golden Globe winners, one five-time nominee and one first-time nominee. Two of the actors have films also nominated for Best Picture while three have been nominated for the Screen Actors Guild.
Chiwetel Ejiorfor - "12 Years a Slave" - Ejiorfor received his fifth nomination for "12 Years a Slave." The actor has the best chances of winning the award after having taken 17 precursor awards. He was also nominated for the Critics Choice and SAG awards and the film was nominated for seven Globes making it one of the organization's favorite films. However, Ejiofor can still lose the award if the Globes decide to give him the Best Actor TV Miniseries award instead. If that happens, his front-runner position will be weakened.
Idris Elba - "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" - Elba's nomination is the surprise of the category. The actor's movie has no Oscar buzz and his performance has virtually been ignored by every single organization making this nomination irrelevant for the Oscars. However, if the Globes sway away from the consensus and decide to take a risk on Elba's performance, his campaign could regain strength.
Tom Hanks - "Captain Phillips" - Back in September it was believed that Hanks could go home with all the awards when the film premiered. However, Hanks has taken home zero awards and has been absent with most critics groups. However, he managed to get a SAG and a Critics Choice nomination solidifying his status as a big contender. Hanks has a lot of awards to win in order to emerge as front-runner. If he wins the Globe, he's be in good shape to win the Oscar.
Matthew McConaughey - "Dallas Buyers Club" - Out of all the Best Actor nominees, McConaughey is probably the biggest threat to Ejiorfor. Praised by all critics, McConaughy has already won eight critics circles. The actor was also nominated for SAG and the Critics Choice. Most organizations like to see actors transform into their characters and with McConaughy's weight loss and virtuoso performance the Hollywood Foreign Press may sway towards him.
Robert Redford - "All is Lost" - The Golden Globe is crucial for Redford this year if he wants to get nominated for the Oscar. Redford, who was once seen as a sure bet Oscar nominee, missed out on a nomination at the SAG awards making his campaign vulnerable. Having only won a single critics circle Redford has to win the Globe in order to remain in the race.
Predictions: Ejiofor has all the momentum going but with McConaughey gaining traction, the award could go either way.
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