By Luis Reyes
You read it here first last week in Latin Heat, as was predicted, Jennifer Lopez, Antonio Banderas and Ana de Armas have been nominated for the Hollywood Foreign Press Golden Globe Awards in the major acting categories it was announced yesterday Monday Dec 9th.
Jennifer Lopez, who is on her way to an Oscar nomination, following her Independent Spirit award nomination, has received a Golden Globe nomination in the Best performance by an actress in a supporting role in any motion picture category for Hustlers, The multi talented Lopez’s portrayal of hard edged Bronx born stripper Ramona Vega has impressed critics and public alike. Since its release in September, Hustlers has become Lopez’s biggest hit film to date with a worldwide box office gross of more than $150 million dollars
Antonio Banderas takes the Golden Globe nomination for Best performance in a Motion Picture for his role as an aging film director in crisis in Pedro Almodovar’s Pain and Glory, which is also nominated for Best Foreign language film.
Ana de Armas who is on a rising star trajectory was nominated for a Golden globe for Best performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy for her work in Knives Out. Her performance as nurse Cabrera was singled out amongst a stellar ensemble of veteran actors including Christopher Plummer, Daniel Craig, Jamie Lee Curtis and Don Johnson
Director Sam Mendes who is English of Peruvian/ Trinidadian descent was also nominated as Best director as was his film 1917 in the Best picture drama category.
The Golden Globes will be handed out in a star studded televised ceremony on Sunday January 5th on NBC.
Perhaps, this year will be the year Latinos will for once have more nominations as we make our way to having a not so White or Black an Oscars 2020, more inclusive with a few shades of Brown.
In my previous article on awards season, in writing about the film Queen and Slim, an impressive first feature directorial debut by Cuban born, naturalized US citizen Melina Matsoukas, I failed to mention the memorable portrayal of Benito Martinez (TV’s The Shield) as the kindly Kentucky Sheriff who unknowingly aids the fleeing couple on the run. A modern day Bonnie and Clyde and Thelma and Louise, Queen and Slim is a reflection on modern race relations, law enforcement, gun violence and internet relationship issues in America.