2023 has been a tough year for cinema, especially in Hollywood. Strikes by actors and writers have halted the production and commencement of new projects for a considerable period. This crisis has compounded the challenges faced by major studios dealing with big-budget superhero movies.
However, this hasn’t made it a bad year for cinema. In fact, considering the quality of many recent works, it could be considered a strong year for film and series.
This is perfectly reflected in the recent nominations for the 2024 Golden Globes, which have praised films like “Oppenheimer” and series like “The Last of Us.” Yet, there are some productions missing from the final list of nominees, so we’ve compiled a small list of absentees that we would have liked to see at the ceremony.
Poker Face
Alright, the series starring Natasha Lyonne scored a nomination for its lead, but it’s such an intriguing production that we miss seeing it in more categories. For many, it’s one of the best series of 2023, and it unquestionably should have been nominated for Best Musical or Comedy Series. It seems unfair, although it probably won’t affect its creator, Rian Johnson, who seems to be in an absolute state of grace.
Robot Dreams
The Best Animated Film category is always highly competitive, and this year they did well in highlighting anime with the wonderful “Suzume” and “The Boy and the Heron.” However, many of us were hopeful that the Spanish film “Robot Dreams” by Pablo Berger would make it among the nominees after winning the award for Best European Animated Film. But well, we know Hollywood’s treatment of European cinema.
Mrs. Davis
It’s puzzling to see another series snubbed, like “Mrs. Davis.” Damon Lindelof’s latest script (known for “The Leftovers,” “Watchmen,” “Lost”) is a monumental feat that, despite its craziness, makes absolute sense in today’s world. However, perhaps due to its limited popularity among the audience, it has been completely overlooked in the Golden Globe nominations. But yes, objectively, it deserved more than one nomination.
The Creator
One of the big surprises of 2023 was “The Creator,” a science fiction film of grand proportions but with a classic style that captivated the world with its strong script and wonderful execution under Gareth Edwards’s direction. It didn’t entirely go unnoticed by the audience and certainly ended up being very profitable, but it would have been nice if it had found a place at the Golden Globes. I guess making genre films still poses a challenge for major filmmakers.
Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
It’s clear that 2023 has been a wonderful year for animated cinema, but that has led to great animated films being left out of the awards race. Another of the most notable absences, beyond Pablo Berger’s “Robot Dreams,” has been “Ninja Turtles: Mutant Chaos,” a great surprise that took the animated formula of Spider-Man to another dimension.
Perfect Days
It seems that with the nominations for anime and “Past Lives”, the Golden Globes have covered their Asian quota. Otherwise, it’s inexplicable that “Perfect Days,” a Japanese film by Wim Wenders that has been a hit worldwide, isn’t nominated in any category. Perhaps it’s due to lack of awareness, but certainly, it’s one of the most interesting films of 2023.
Nolly
Finally, another series that has been overlooked but deserved some nominations — at the very least, for Best Leading Actress — is “Nolly.” This UK miniseries tells the story of the reign and downfall of Noele Gordon, who was a long-time ITV soap opera star. Starring a brilliant Helena Bonham Carter, it’s a gem that deserved the recognition it merits at the Golden Globes.
