Books Are All the Rage at the Golden Globes

Lion, based on A Long Way Home, by Saroo Brierley
Based on Brierley’s 2014 memoir, Lion tells the true story of the Indian-born businessman (played in the film by Dev Patel) who was separated from his birth mother at an early age before being adopted by an Australian couple. Using Google Earth as well as social media, Brierley sought out his birth village and family has an adult. The story was big news at the time, particularly in India, and the movie has gotten plenty of awards-season buzz. Lion is nominated for Best Motion Picture in the Drama category, as well as for performances by Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman, and for Dustin O’Halloran and Hauschka’s Original Score.

Nocturnal Animals, based on Tony and Susan, by Austin Wright
The late author Austin Wright’s 1993 novel Tony and Susan took a long and winding path to the big screen: the book was turned down over and over again by publishers before finally debuting to great acclaim and solid sales over 20 years ago. The movie rights were sold almost immediately, but, obviously, that adaption took a while. The novel-within-a-novel (within a movie) plot revolves around Amy Adams character Susan Morrow, who receives a manuscript for her estranged husband’s novel, forcing her to confront her past. The film and the novel both take turns into stylish suspense. Writer-director Tom Ford is nominated for both direction and screenplay, with Aaron Taylor-Johnson also receiving a nomination for Actor in a Supporting Role.

Deadpool
Surprising, but not undeserved, the adaption of the Marvel Comics character nabbed two nominations: one for Best Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy, and another for Ryan Reynolds performance as the ultra-violent, fourth-wall breaking mercenary/superhero who expanded all sorts of notions of what comic book movies can (or should) do. Though the film isn’t based on any particular story, Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn’s recent reinvention is a pretty good touchstone and a major inspiration for the adaptation’s tone.

Arrival, by Ted Chiang
Ted Chiang has an impressive array of literary prizes for a writer of his output: he’s largely written short stories and novellas, very few of which have failed to receive significant awards attention (Hugo, Locus, Nebula, etc.). Now, the film adaption of his 1998 “Story of Your Life” is itself poised to pick up awards. Amy Adams, who is nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture—Drama, plays an expert linguist who is brought in to attempt communication with the mysterious spacecraft that have landed all across the Earth. The film is also nominated for Jóhann Jóhannsson’s Original Score.

Hidden Figures, by Margot Lee Shetterly
Based on a nonfiction book, Hidden Figures tells the true story of the mathematicians who worked with NASA in the early 1960s and were instrumental in John Glenn’s barrier-breaking first orbit of the Earth. Their story has been little-known, and it’s significant for more than just the scientific breakthrough involved: Katherine Johnson, Octavia Spencer, and Mary Jackson play black women who worked in a segregated division and nonetheless made possible our future in space. Octavia Spencer is nominated for her Supporting Role, while Hans Zimmer, Pharrell Williams, and Benjamin Wallfisch received nods for the Original Score.

Fences, by August Wilson
August Wilson’s Pulitzer-prize winning 1983 play became a film this year, another adaptation that suffered a long gestation process but appears to have been worth the wait. In 2005, Wilson himself wrote the screenplay to the story of a black father struggling to raise his family in 1950s Pittsburgh, but sadly died before filming began. Wilson had insisted that the story required a black director, which was a major factor in keeping it from the screen, but a fight that was well worth it—Denzel Washington, who also stars in the film, took the reins and did a fantastic job. He is nominated for Best Performance by an Actor alongside Viola Davis, nominated in the Actress in a Supporting Role category.

The Night Manager, by John le Carré
Unlike the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes also present prizes for television. John le Carré’s highbrow spy novels have been fit subjects for any number of acclaimed movies going back to 1965, but his works (and his signature spymaster George Smiley) has been equally well suited to the TV miniseries genre, beginning with Alec Guiness’ seminal performance as Smiley in 1979. This new series has fared just as well: it’s the story of a former British soldier who also works nights at a luxury hotel before being recruited as an intelligence operative. This one is nominated for Best TV Limited Series, with acting nominations for Tom Hiddleston, Olivia Colman, and Hugh Laurie.

Mozart in the Jungle: Sex, Drugs, and Classical Music, by Blair Tindall
This web series is based on the 2005 memoir of oboist Tindall, who describes a life of high-profile concert performances in New York City. The show reworks that material into a comedy-drama about love and music in the big city. The show is nominated in the Best Television Series—Musical or Comedy category, with an acting nomination for lead Gael García Bernal.

Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin
Finally: perennial awards favorite Thrones had a bit of a creative resurgence on HBO this year, even as the world waits for Martin’s next book. The show has moved away from being a straight adaptation of the novels (largely because they’ve run out of novels to adapt), but the bloody flavor of the books remains. The show received nominations for Best Television Series in the Drama category, as well as for Lena Headey’s performance as Cersei Lannister, slowly evolving into the show’s evil hero.
Read the book, then see the movie? Or vice versa?