While it has been unlikely for big summer blockbusters to be the favorites heading into the Award season, this isn’t the case for the two films that ruled 2023’s summer. Debuting on the same day, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie took the world by storm, becoming a cultural phenomenon, which was held high by both fans and critics.
The two films are once again set to go toe-to-in the upcoming Golden Globes, as Ryan Gosling and Robert Downey Jr. are set to face each other for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role accolade.
Time for the 2nd Round as Barbie’s Ryan Gosling Goes Against Oppenheimer’s Robert Downey Jr.
With the controversial Hollywood Foreign Press Association disbanded and the Globes making an effort to be inclusive, the plethora of nominations received by Barbenheimer was par for the course. And while the films are set to face off in a variety of categories, the one that has garnered the most attention is the battle between Robert Downey Jr. and Ryan Gosling.
Although Gosling’s nomination was a little surprising compared to Downey Jr., as nods for comedic roles are quite unlikely, it isn’t completely unheard of, with one example being RDJ in Tropic Thunder. Following his impeccable comedy, which isn’t surprising coming from Gosling, who previously showcased his comedic prowess in The Nice Guys, it’ll be a fierce battle between him and Robert Downey Jr.
Greta Gerwig Scores Her First Best Director’s Nod While Christopher Nolan Scores His Third
Another engrossing battle between the two films is set to take place in the Best Director – Motion Picture category, which was bound to happen. Gerwig, who has been notably snubbed for her previous two acclaimed films, Little Women and Lady Bird, becomes the 10th woman in Golden Globes’ 80 years of history to score a Best Director nod. On the other Christopher Nolan, who had multiple Best Director nods under his belt, scored his third nomination, whose trophy cabinet is still yet to welcome a Golden Globe.
While Barbie is leading the Awards ceremony with nine nominations, closely followed by Oppenheimer, which received eight nods, Martin Scorsese and Yorgos Lanthimos aren’t too far behind. With both Killers of the Flower Moon and Poor Things earning seven nominations each, it’s going to be one competitive night for cinema. And it’s quite possible both Ryan Gosling and Robert Downey Jr. may fall short of the accolade, as the two will go up against Robert De Niro and Willem Dafoe, who have been impeccable in their own right.
But one thing most can agree on is that whoever wins, 2023 has been one damn good year for cinema, and everyone will hope original films once again become the norm moving forward.
