Bleecker Street will submit "Tender Loving Care," widely considered Mike Leigh's likely final film, in the musical or comedy categories at the upcoming 84th Golden Globes, Variety has learned exclusively.
Marion Bailey will compete for best actress in a musical or comedy, a category expected to include Julianne Moore for "The Debut," Inde Navarrette for "Obsession" and Olivia Wilde for "The Invite." Kate O'Flynn, Alice Bailey Johnson and Paul Jesson will compete in the supporting acting races, which the Globes do not split by genre. The lineup reflects the studio's broader acting strategy as it heads into the Oscar campaign.
The move comes a week after Focus Features submitted "Obsession," Curry Barker's horror breakout, in the comedy category — a classification that drew considerable confusion from awards pundits and moviegoers on social media. Leigh's submission, by contrast, is being described as a more natural fit, since it can be argued that Leigh has never made straightforward comedies or dramas but rather films about life that blend both.
"Tender Loving Care" follows Amy (O'Flynn), a London social worker who moves in with her friend and colleague Rosie (Johnson) after a breakup, while Amy's aging parents, Birdie (Bailey) and Geoff (Jesson), confront the indignities of growing older. Drunken singalongs and kitchen dancing sit alongside hospital visits, with laughs that often come with a wince.
The last time the Globes classified a Leigh film as a comedy was 18 years ago, for "Happy-Go-Lucky," when Sally Hawkins won best actress. A 21-year-old O'Flynn appeared in that film in a small role marking her first screen job. O'Flynn now arrives with momentum, having won an Emmy for supporting comedy actress for Apple TV's "Widow's Bay" and the Silver Shell for best leading performance at the San Sebastian Film Festival in September, where "Tender Loving Care" also won the Golden Shell and the best screenplay prize.
For Bailey, Leigh's real-life partner and a longtime member of his acting company, the Globes push marks overdue recognition. She previously played Sophia Booth, J.M.W. Turner's Margate landlady and companion, in Leigh's 2014 film "Mr. Turner." In "Tender Loving Care," she acts opposite her real-life daughter, Johnson, who plays Amy's best friend.
Across his career, Leigh's films have earned six Golden Globe nominations spanning three titles, with two leading actresses winning trophies. "Secrets & Lies" collected three nominations, including best motion picture drama and supporting actress for Marianne Jean-Baptiste, while Brenda Blethyn won best actress in a drama for the film. Imelda Staunton was nominated in the same category for her title role in "Vera Drake." "Happy-Go-Lucky" later landed a best motion picture musical or comedy nomination along with Hawkins' win for best actress, though neither the film nor her performance converted into an Oscar nomination.
Despite seven Oscar nominations over his career, Leigh himself has never received a Golden Globe nomination for directing or screenwriting; "Topsy-Turvy," "Another Year," "Mr. Turner" and "Hard Truths" all came up empty in those categories.
After a 50-year career, Bleecker Street is hoping to finally secure Leigh the recognition he deserves. The studio will release "Tender Loving Care" in theaters Dec. 4. The 84th Golden Globe nominations will be announced Monday, Dec. 7, with the ceremony, hosted by Nikki Glaser, set for Sunday, Jan. 10.
Photo: Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
