Golden Globes predictions: Who will win; who should win

The Golden Globes are chosen by a small group of 80-odd full and part-time journalists in Los Angeles — how hard can they be to predict?

Pretty hard, sometimes. Where the tastes of the 6,000-plus Oscar voters tend to even out and make sense, there's often something confounding about the priorities and agendas of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's motley assortment of voters. But knowing that they like big stars, they like to be on winning teams and they like to spread the wealth to keep everybody happy, TheWrap has taken a look at Sunday's categories to offer our predictions.

Also read: Golden Globe Nominations:The Complete List

We've also indicated what we think deserves to win — though to be fair, these are less proclamations of what should win than suggestions of where our personal votes would go.

(In a healthy majority of cases, by the way, our own choices agree with what we think the HFPA will chose. So as much as we love to mock them, their taste isn't too bad.)

Awards editor Steve Pond tackled the film categories and television editor Jethro Nededog handled the TV side.

See photos: 37 Biggest Snubs and Surprises: Golden Globes 2015 (Photos)

Best Motion Picture, Drama
The nominees: "Boyhood," "Foxcatcher," "The Imitation Game," "Selma," "The Theory of Everything"

The scuttlebutt would suggest that HFPA voters might well like Morten Tyldum's "The Imitation Game" better than they like Richard Linklater's "Boyhood"; the question is whether they will go with their taste, or opt for the film that feels more eventful this year. But the fact that Linklater got a best director nomination and Tyldum didn't gives the edge to "Boyhood" – which, to my mind, feels historic and fresh in a way nothing else does.

Will win: "Boyhood"
Should win: "Boyhood"

Also read: 'It's 'Birdman' vs. 'Boyhood' in Indie Spirit Award Nominations

Best Actor, Drama
The nominees: Steve Carell, "Foxcatcher"; Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Imitation Game"; Jake Gyllenhaal, "Nightcrawler"; David Oyelowo, "Selma"; Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything"

Will win: Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything"
Should win: Redmayne

Best Actress, Drama
The nominees: Jennifer Aniston, "Cake"; Felicity Jones, "The Theory of Everything"; Julianne Moore, "Still Alice"; Rosamund Pike, "Gone Girl"; Reese Witherspoon, "Wild"

Probably more than at the Oscars, Jennifer Aniston has a real shot at swiping this award out from under favorite Julianne Moore. The HFPA really loves big stars; plus, Moore won a Golden Globe a couple of years ago for "Game Change," so they don't have that "we owe her" thing that will help her at the Oscars, where she's 0-for-4. Still, Moore's performance is quietly undeniable – and the voters reportedly love her in "Maps to the Stars," so this will be a way to recognize two performances.

Will win: Julianne Moore, "Still Alice"
Should win: Moore

See video: Jennifer Aniston Gets Quizzed on Jennifer Aniston in TheWrap's Rapid-Fire Round (Video)

Unless the voters indulge in their love of big musicals and give an upset victory to "Into the Woods," or love Wes Anderson more than we know and give it to "The Grand Budapest Hotel," this should be a relatively easy win for "Birdman." It may be too weird for a number of the more conservative voters, but it has an unmistakable energy and originality that makes it one of the key movies of 2014, and the HFPA should realize that.

Will win: "Birdman"
Should win: "Birdman"

Best Actress, Comedy or Musical
The nominees: Amy Adams, "Big Eyes"; Emily Blunt, "Into the Woods"; Helen Mirren, "The Hundred-Foot Journey"; Julianne Moore, "Maps to the Stars"; Quvenzhane Wallis, "Annie"

Moore was a hoot in David Cronenberg's viciously dark comedy "Maps to the Stars," but she can't go home with two awards, right? Blunt is the star of a big musical, and Globe voters tend to love big musicals. Adams took a tricky role that could have put her in the shadow of her co-star, and became the luminous heart of her film.

Will win: Emily Blunt, "Into the Woods"
Should win: Amy Adams, "Big Eyes"

Best Actor, Comedy or Musical
The nominees: Ralph Fiennes, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"; Michael Keaton, "Birdman"; Bill Murray, "St. Vincent"; Joaquin Phoenix, "Inherent Vice"; Christoph Waltz, "Big Eyes"

Only one of these men would have been made the cut if the Globes combined the drama and comedy acting categories the way the Oscars do.

Will win: Michael Keaton, "Birdman"
Should win: Keaton

Best Supporting Actress
The nominees: Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood"; Jessica Chastain, "A Most Violent Year"; Keira Knightley, "The Imitation Game"; Emma Stone, "Birdman"; Meryl Streep, "Into the Woods"

How could I ever vote against my favorite contemporary actress, Jessica Chastain? Just this once, I guess I would, because Patricia Arquette makes a powerful case that "Boyhood" could just as easily have been called "Motherhood." Voters will likely resist their own urges to give Meryl her ninth Globe and agree.

Best Supporting Actor
The nominees: Robert Duvall, "The Judge"; Ethan Hawke, "Boyhood"; Edward Norton, "Birdman"; Mark Ruffalo, "Foxcatcher"; J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash"

Simmons has been a juggernaut through the critics' awards; his is a bandwagon that Globes voters will want to be on. I might be inclined to vote for Hawke or Ruffalo just to be different.

Will win: J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash"
Should win: Ethan Hawke, "Boyhood"

Also read: 'Whiplash' Villain JK Simmons: 'I Have No Illusions About Being a Movie Star'

Best Director
The nominees: Wes Anderson, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"; Ava DuVernay, "Selma"; David Fincher, "Gone Girl"; Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, "Birdman"; Richard Linklater, "Boyhood"

Will win: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, "Birdman"
Should win: Richard Linklater, "Boyhood"
Best Screenplay
The nominees: Wes Anderson, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"; Gillian Flynn, "Gone Girl"; Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Armando Bo, "Birdman"; Richard Linklater, "Boyhood"; Graham Moore, "The Imitation Game"

Films with multiple nominations tend not to be shut out at the Globes, which means this could be a category in which the voters can reward "The Imitation Game" or "The Grand Budapest Hotel." I'd reward "Boyhood" for sketching a life in small moments.

Will win: Wes Anderson, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Should win: Richard Linklater, "Boyhood"

See photos: Golden Globes 2015: The Nominees (Photos)

Best Original Score
The nominees: Alexandre Desplat, "The Imitation Game"; Johann Johannsson, "The Theory of Everything"; Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, "Gone Girl"; Antonio Sanchez, "Birdman"; Hans Zimmer, "Interstellar"

Will win: Antonio Sanchez, "Birdman"
Should win: Sanchez

Best Original Song
The nominees: "Big Eyes" from "Big Eyes," by Lana Del Rey and Dan Heath; "Glory" from "Selma," by John Legend and Common; "Mercy Is" from "Noah," by Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye; "Opportunity" from "Annie" by Greg Kurstin, Sia Furler and Will Gluck; "Yellow Flicker Beat" from "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1," by Lorde

"Glory" and "Big Eyes" both work brilliantly in their films, and I'm guessing the former wins narrowly. But if I had a vote, I would do everything in my power to make sure that the unstoppable, eloquent and essential Patti Smith walked onstage at the Golden Globes.

Will win: "Glory" from "Selma"
Should win: "Mercy Is" from "Noah."

Best Animated Feature Film
The nominees: "Big Hero 6," "The Book of Life," "The Boxtrolls," "How to Train Your Dragon 2," "The Lego Movie"

Will win: "Big Hero 6"
Should win: "The Lego Movie"

Best Foreign Language Film
The nominees: "Force Majeure" ("Turist") (Sweden); "Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem" (Israel); "Ida" (Poland/Denmark); "Leviathan" (Russia); "Tangerines" ("Mandariinid") (Estonia)

In a strong field, I'd go with the massive, overpowering and brutally dark "Leviathan." But I expect voters to go with something a touch friendlier, either the probing character study "Force Majeure" or the austere but stylish "Ida," by far the biggest hit of the field.

Will win: "Ida"
Should win: "Leviathan"

Also Read: TheWrap's 19 Most Anticipated TV Shows of 2015: From 'Better Call Saul' to 'Westworld'

Best Television Series, Drama
Nominees: "The Affair," "Downton Abbey," "Game of Thrones," "The Good Wife," "House of Cards"

The HFPA loves to be ahead of the curve, but "The Affair" won't win this year. It was buzzy, but wasn't for everybody. And although "The Good Wife" is a strong contender, I feel network shows aren't getting the votes. This is a race between "Downton Abbey" and "House of Cards." In the end, the Netflix offering had a stronger season.

Will win: "House of Cards"
Should win: "House of Cards"

Also read: TheWrap's 19 Most Anticipated TV Shows of 2015: From 'Better Call Saul' to 'Westworld'

Best Actress in a Television Series, Drama
Nominees: Claire Danes, "Homeland"; Viola Davis, "How to Get Away With Murder"; Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"; Ruth Wilson, "The Affair"; Robin Wright, "House of Cards"

Will win: Viola Davis, "How to Get Away With Murder"
Should win: Davis

Best Actor in a Television Series, Drama
Nominees: Clive Owen, "The Knick"; Liev Schreiber, "Ray Donovan"; Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"; James Spader, "The Blacklist"; Dominic West, "The Affair"

The real battle here is between Spader and Spacey. Both have been nominated twice for their present roles on NBC's "The Blacklist" and Netfix's "House of Cards," respectively. There has been a groundswell of support for Spader in the industry, which believes his work on "Blacklist" has been constantly under appreciated and the HFPA may bend to the pressure.

Will win: James Spader, "The Blacklist"
Should win: Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"

Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Nominees: "Girls," "Jane the Virgin," "Orange Is the New Black," "Silicon Valley," "Transparent"

Will win: "Transparent"
Should win: "Transparent"

Also read: 'Transparent' Review: Jeffrey Tambor Will Break Your Heart in Amazon's Binge-Worthy Show

Greg Gayne/The CW

Best Actress in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical
Nominees: Lena Dunham, "Girls"; Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"; Gina Rodriguez, "Jane the Virgin"; Taylor Schilling, "Orange Is the New Black"

Sorry, Lena Dunham and Edie Falco are yesterday's news. Taylor Schilling suffers from being surrounded by a much more talented supporting cast. That leaves newcomer Gina Rodriguez and perennial favorite Julie Louis-Dreyfus. I think the HFPA will land on Rodriguez, a new talent who's also Latina. Check and check.

See video: 15 Outrageous Shonda Rhimes Moments: Best & Worst of 2014 (Video)

Best Actor in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical
Nominees: Louis CK, "Louie"; Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"; Ricky Gervais, "Derek"; William H. Macy, "Shameless"; Jeffrey Tambor, "Transparent"

This race is a snore-fest with some of the same old picks of yesteryear, except for Jeffrey Tambor. His win in this category is undeniable. Not only is he a fresh name, but he's a strong contender for an Emmy in this transformative role. And the HFPA loves to be first.

Will win: Jeffrey Tambor, "Transparent"
Should win: Tambor

Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
Nominees: "Fargo," "The Missing," "The Normal Heart," "Olive Kitteridge," "True Detective"

Will win: "True Detective"
Should win: "The Normal Heart"

See video: NBA Stars Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley Audition for 'True Detective' in Parody (Video)

Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie
Nominees: Maggie Gyllenhaal, "The Honorable Woman"; Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story: Freak Show"; Frances McDormand, "Olive Kitteridge"; Frances O'Connor, "The Missing"; Allison Tolman, "Fargo"

This is the most competitive category of the TV Globes. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Frances O'Connor and Frances McDormand certainly delivered very strong performances. Jessica Lange and Allison Tolman are high on my list, as well, for the uniqueness they brought to their characters. I think the HFPA will probably go with McDormand's gritty portrayal of a woman in the depths of painful depression.

Will win: Frances McDormand, "Olive Kitteridge"
Should win: McDormand

Again, this race boils down to "Fargo" vs. "True Detective." That said, it then further boils down to the perceived leads for each show: Matthew McConaughey and Billy Bob Thornton. My belief is that the HFPA will lean heavier toward "True Detective."