‘Bugonia’ trailer: Emma Stone goes on a wild ride in dark comedy
A high-profile CEO (Emma Stone) is kidnapped by conspiracy theorists who believe she’s an alien out to destroy Earth in the dark comedy “Bugonia.”
Another Golden Globes, another Emma Stone nomination.
Stone, who was born in Scottsdale, was nominated for best performance by a female actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy, for “Bugonia,” in which she plays an ice-cold CEO kidnapped by a conspiracy theorist (played by fellow nominee Jesse Plemons) who believes she is an alien. Nominations were announced Monday, Dec. 8, by Marlon Wayans and Skye P. Marshall.
It’s the ninth Golden Globes nomination for Stone, who won in 2017 for “La La Land” and in 2024 for “Poor Things” ― in both cases, roles for which she went on to earn Oscars for best actress.
Can Emma Stone win an Oscar for ‘Bugonia’?
It’ll be more difficult for Stone to win the Academy Award this time around; Jessie Buckley is considered a lock for her performance in “Hamnet.” (No, Oscar nominations aren’t even out yet, but this is how Hollywood works, for better or worse. It’s a lot like politics. Also, the Golden Globes divides film nominations into two categories: drama and musical or comedy. Thus, Buckley is in a different category from Stone.)
That’s not to dismiss Stone’s work in “Bugonia” in any way. She is outstanding in a complex role, going from hard-edged to vulnerable to scheming and more, sometimes in the same scene. Also, she’s really funny. It’s just the latest in a steady stream of challenging roles Stone has taken on since becoming an Oscar winner. Sometimes when an actor wins an Academy Award, they get cautious, safe, scared to take chances.
Stone has gone in the opposite direction. She is not afraid to get weird, and that has made her the most interesting actor in Hollywood.
Who will Emma Stone have to beat to win a Golden Globe?
The Golden Globes’ musical or comedy category for best actress is wide open. In addition to Stone, the other nominees are Amanda Seyfried for “The Testament of Ann Lee,” Chase Infiniti for “One Battle After Another,” Cynthia Erivo for “Wicked: For Good,” Kate Hudson for “Song Sung Blue” and Rose Byrne for “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.”
It’s a strong category, with lots of diversity in the types of performances. Stone has as good a shot as anyone.
How to watch the Golden Globes
6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11 on CBS (Channel 5). Streaming on Paramount+.
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