The 2026 Golden Globes transpired in a whirl of glamor, hit-or-miss humor, and tear-jerking speeches. It was nothing new, but nonetheless, the results are in, and I have no shortage of opinions. But with 28 categories — including their newest podcasting category — there are simply too many to discuss. To give a few thoughts on my Golden Globes viewing experience, here are the winners I agree with the most and the one that made me feel the most … underwhelmed.

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy went to Timothée Chalamet for his role in “Marty Supreme.” My first note is that the Golden Globes should definitely invest in nicknames for these way-too-long category titles. My second note is that this result feels rather expected but deserved nonetheless. 

In all the chaos of the movie, Chalamet’s performance as Marty manages to hold everything together. Chalamet somehow makes you want to root for Marty despite all the crazy, truly debatable choices he makes. It reminds me of Matt Damon in “The Talented Mr. Ripley.” Objectively, you know Ripley is awful, but something about Damon’s characterization makes you hope he gets out okay in the end anyway. Chalamet’s performance is the same. Mostly, you hate Marty, but you still want him to win. It’s an impressive balance to achieve.

Of course, in “Marty Supreme,” Chalamet is surrounded by other actors who also gave impressive performances, such as Odessa A’zion or Gwenyth Paltrow. But really, Chalamet ties the whole movie together, making it digestible amidst its hecticness. Without Chalamet’s ability to ground the film, watching “Marty Supreme” would have been even more overwhelming. 

He also managed to make ping-pong seem interesting, so I have to give him credit for that. 

However, in the award ceremony’s last presentation of the night, Best Motion Picture — Drama went to Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet.” If it had been up to me, “Hamnet” would not have been my winner. But, I’ll preface this the same way I prefaced my Letterboxd review; period dramas are not my thing, which makes me predisposed to disliking “Hamnet.” Do with that what you will. 

My main qualm was really that “Hamnet” felt like a fever dream. The pacing made me feel as if I was on a broken roller coaster, switching between frustratingly slow and absurdly fast. Further, most of the side plots often went unexplained and instead of feeling fully formed, they felt forgotten and unimportant. All together, these effects made “Hamnet” confusing. However, the ending partially brought the movie back together for me. It was a quiet ending to a devastating movie. It might have verged on cliche, but it managed to hit me right where it hurts. 

In the grand scheme, I suppose I can understand “Hamnet” winning, but my selection would’ve been Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value.” 

It explores themes similar to those in “Hamnet” — parenthood, sacrifice in the name of art, and what family really means. “Sentimental Value,” though, was more subtle than Hamnet, but at times, it was just as experimental. There were really inventive, kooky shots, along with some very metaphorical voiceover dialogue. But to me, all of the oddities added to the film, whereas in “Hamnet,” the more unique choices felt distracting and confusing. 

“Sentimental Value,” in the end, felt more compelling to me. The characters were easier to cling to, and every step of the way, I felt myself more plagued by their hardships and invested in their lives. I left “Hamnet” moved, sure, but also confused and lost. I left “Sentimental Value” actually reflecting on the things it made me feel. I was content yet contemplative, in that quiet way that comes from endings that aren’t happy or sad. It has one of those endings that remind you things don’t have to be perfect to be loved. 

So, if I was Golden Globes Foundation, I would have picked “Sentimental Value,” for the way it made me not just feel but think. 

Of course, I am not the Golden Globes Foundation. And even if I disagree or I agree wholeheartedly, everybody and everything that won does carry its own merit for winning. If anything, my favorite thing about the Golden Globes is just getting to add new things to my watchlist. Additionally, awards season isn’t quite over yet. With Oscar nominations officially released and the award ceremony taking place in March, there’s still plenty of time for new winners to emerge and more recognition to be handed out.