The 66th Annual Golden Globes ( & copy; HFPA)
Nowadays not only are performers and artists competing for awards but awards shows are competing to be the first "important" awards show of the bloated but compressed awards season. The relatively new Broadcast Film Critics Awards narrowly beat out the veteran Golden Globes this year by delivering their statuettes on January 8th. The Golden Globes , given out by the Hollywood Foreign Press, held their ceremonies last night. But both organizations came to the same conclusion: Slumdog Millionaire was the best film, and had the best director and best screenplay. This makes the film an early favorite for the Oscars . Both of these awards are given out by entertainment journalists and both seek to be the bellweather for what's to come from the Academy Awards. What has always made the Golden Globes unpredictably entertaining is the fact that the nominees get to eat and drink during the ceremony making for some occasionally drunken moments.
Here are a few random observations about this year's Golden Globe ceremony. Oddities on the red carpet: Steven Spielberg interviewed with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler; Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore giggling, holding hands, and looking unbelievably cute together; former footballer Tiki Barber as one of the interviewers; and Rachel Griffiths not dealing very well with a question about Heath Ledger's passing. Best presenter: Ricky Gervais. Best acceptance speeches: Mickey Rourke (Best Actor Drama for The Wrestler ) who thanked his dogs; Bruce Springsteen (Best Song for The Wrestler ) for taking pleasure in beating Clint and for just being Bruce; Sally Hawkins for being genuinely surprised and delighted winning Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical for Happy-Go-Lucky ; and Tracy Morgan, inspired by Obama, taking over the microphone when 30 Rock won best TV comedy. Colin Farrell also accepted his Best Actor Comedy ( In Bruges ) with a genuine sense of pride. He also offered his nominated co-star Brendan Gleeson "half a hemisphere" from his award. Tina Fey -- reveling in a sense of validation -- had fun taking digs at her online detractors when she won for 30 Rock . I was kind of hoping she'd accept as Sarah Palin. Did it seem like no one thought Hawkins had a shot in hell of winning because she was seated so far back in the room and took forever to get to the stage? Emma Thompson showed support for her fellow British actress and later tried to hustle Kate Winslet to the stage when Winslet started to stop and kiss everyone on her way up to the stage. Wondering what actress slipped and fell in the past causing the show to now escort all women up the steps to accept their award (oddly though, Mickey Rourke is the only one to slip on those steps this year, maybe everyone needs a helping hand up those steps). Ugliest dresses belonged to Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lopez but there was a lot of competition. Did Don Cheadle's tie look vinyl and possibly able to function as a bib? Did Demi Moore call Christopher Nolan "Christian" possibly getting him confused with Batman star Christian Bale? Was anyone else embarrassed that Martin Scorsese was up there heaping overblown praise on Steven Spielberg for his Cecil B. Demille award? Kate Winslet winning both a Best Supporting Actress ( The Reader ) and Best Actress Drama Award ( Revolutionary Road ) in one night but I have to confess I can't see why Revolutionary Road is getting such acclaim. Least surprising award winner: Heath Ledger for his performance as The Joker in The Dark Knight . Most surprising winner: the animated film Waltz with Bashir taking best foreign film and Ari Folman's pointed remarks about his film's relevance in light of what's going on in Gaza right now.
Well the rest of the show is a blur (although I do vaguely recall Sasha Baron Cohen and Rainn Wilson delivering jokes that fell totally flat). As usual it went on too long. But it is nice that for the most part winners were not booted off the stage thirty seconds into their acceptance speeches, after all awards shows are supposed to be about those whose work is being honored. But it would have been nice if a few winners cut themselves short before thanking everyone in the hair dressing department.
