Actress Natalie Portman arrives at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, US, Jan 8, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

Gibson's visceral war drama Hacksaw Ridge is up for best drama and director awards, and marks his return to form a decade after a drunken, anti-Semitic rant that made the Oscar-winner a Hollywood outcast.

"There could be a big comeback moment that the Globes might want to present. I wouldn't be surprised to see Mel pick off the best director prize," Pete Hammond, awards columnist for entertainment website Deadline.com, said.

"That would be right in line with what the Golden Globes have done in the past - honoring big names," he said, recalling last year's surprise Globe award to Sylvester Stallone.

Jimmy Fallon hosts Sunday's three-hour spectacle, broadcast live on NBC television, in what is seen as a safer choice after seven years in the hands of acerbic Briton Ricky Gervais and the zinger-prone duo of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

The genial Fallon, who hosts NBC's late night The Tonight Show says his brand of humor is more subtle.