Golden Globes 2026: Turbulent winners and quiet politics

Introduction

The Guardian’s coverage notes that the Golden Globes ceremony ignored politics but their big winner taps today’s unhappy turbulence. Peter Bradshaw frames Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another as a “spectacular, mysterious counterculture epic” that inhales the febrile mood of reactionary hysteria while also revealing the tension and depression of those opposing it. He draws a line between the ceremony’s glitz and the real-world political climate, suggesting the awards season itself becomes a barometer for dissent and unease.

One Battle After Another

Bradshaw highlights Anderson’s film as a centerpiece of awards discourse: a cinematic achievement that dominates with four Globes, including best musical or comedy and best director for Paul Thomas Anderson. He praises Leonardo DiCaprio’s portrayal of a disheveled ex-revolutionary and notes the film’s ability to inhale and intuit the mood of a nation.

In this view, this movie is part of a broader conversation about contemporary power—comparing public figures to courtiers who stand behind a president—while acknowledging its complexity and ambivalence toward the regime.

Hamnet

Chloé Zhao’s romantically charged film wins best drama, with Jessie Buckley rewarded as best actress for her portrayal of Agnes (or Anne Hathaway) and the film’s mythic narrative about grief. Bradshaw describes Buckley as the film’s heart and soul, praising its audacious reimagining of Shakespeare’s backstory and its speculative linking of grief to Hamlet’s creation.

Marty Supreme

Josh Safdie’s exuberant comedy delivers a kinetic energy that propels Timothée Chalamet to his first Globe for actor in a musical or comedy. The review hails Chalamet’s needy hyperactivity and charismatic movie-star presence, describing his performance as exhilarating and uniquely expressive.

Context and politics

Bradshaw notes the awards’ evolving relationship with politics, including debates about diversity and the industry’s vulnerability to external pressure. He points to the tradition of awarding bodies shaping Oscar conversations while acknowledging ongoing concerns about inclusivity and independence in the media landscape.

Conclusion

Overall, the Globes’ results reflect a year of unhappiness about the political climate, yet they also spotlight brave storytelling and distinctive performances. The piece closes by highlighting the Guardian’s stance on independence and the ongoing necessity to support robust, fact-based journalism in the United States, especially when political pressure intensifies.