Spielberg, Gyllenhaal, Haim among Jewish Golden Globe nominees

Although the Golden Globes recently have lost much of their luster, when the nominees were announced on Dec. 13, Jews were represented in several creative categories.

Steven Spielberg’s remake of “West Side Story,” based on the seminal 1950s Broadway musical and 1961 Oscar-winning film, received four nods, including Spielberg in the best director (motion picture) category. 

The veteran and multiple Oscar nominee and winner (“Schindler’s List,” 1993; “Saving Private Ryan,” 1998) will compete against Maggie Gyllenhaal, who was nominated for her directorial debut, “The Lost Daughter,” a psychological drama based on a 2006 Italian novel. Gyllenhaal has previously been nominated for an Oscar and four Golden Globes in acting categories.

British actor Andrew Garfield is nominated for actor in a motion picture (musical or comedy) for his performance as Jewish playwright, composer and lyricist Jonathan Larson in “Tick, Tick … Boom.” Larson, who wrote the book, music and lyrics to the Broadway show “Rent,” died in 1996 at age 35, the day of the show’s first off-Broadway performance. He was awarded posthumous Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for “Rent.”

Garfield, 38, an Oscar nominee for “Hacksaw Ridge,” is known for his roles as Spider-Man and in “The Social Network.”

Alana Haim, 29, received a nomination in the actress – motion picture (musical or comedy) category for her role in director Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Licorice Pizza,” her first onscreen role. Anderson directed Haim, 29, and her two older sisters in music videos of the sisters’ band, Haim. 

Hannah Einbinder earned her first Globe nomination for “Hacks,” a series about a longtime comedian (Jean Smart) who hires a young writer (Einbinder). Both are nominated in the actress in a television series (musical or comedy). Also nominated in that category is Tracee Ellis Ross for “Black-ish,” who won for the same role in this category in 2017.

Earning his first Globe nod is British actor-writer Brett Goldstein for his role in the streaming series “Ted Lasso,” in the supporting actor (television) category. He won an Emmy earlier this year for the role.

Nominated in the best screenplay (motion picture) category is Aaron Sorkin, for “Being the Ricardos,” a feature film about the lives of comedian and actress Lucille Ball and her band leader-actor husband, Desi Arnaz. Composer Hans Zimmer earned a nod for his score for the science fiction epic “Dune.”

Recently, multiple controversies have rocked the Globes, presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. A Los Angeles Times investigation earlier this year found the association had no Black members. The story also detailed ethical and financial indiscretions within the group. The group has been criticized for perceived racial  and sexual discrimination in its nominations and awards. 

The Globes are considered the kickoff to Hollywood’s award season, which features the actors, producers and writers guilds awards, the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA)  and culminates with the Academy Awards. However, the Golden Globes ceremony, slated for Jan. 9, won’t even be televised.