The Golden Globe Awards were their typical fun self last night. This is always the awards show where people starve themselves until they sit down at their tables and then start tossing back the champagne. What a good combo! I'm speculating this has something to do with the fact that the Globes usually have better acceptance speeches than the other "formal" awards shows. I mean if I were drinking on an empty stomach I'd have a lot of enlightening things to say too. And that's part of the Globes charm, it's a little tipsy.
The night started off on a good note with new host Ricky Gervais filling the position. Ricky didn't hold back and as a viewer I appreciated that a lot in the form of LAUGHING. I did not hear as much laughter coming from the audience. I am curious if there was laughing and I did not hear it or if the Hollywood types in the audience were uncomfortable by Ricky's humor. Whatever the case it was fine for me. The best Ricky moment of the night came in the form of his Mel Gibson introduction. At the podium Ricky was holding a glass of beer and said "I like to drink as much as the next man. Unless the next man is... (pause)... Mel Gibson!" And he held out his arm like a Barker Beauty to show Mel's entrance to the stage. Mel took it in stride, which was great because that could have been a tough moment. I laughed my butt off though. Mel's personal struggles with drinking withstanding, that was just funny.
The night’s winners did not disappoint either. The night’s first award went to Mo'Nique for Supporting Actress, which she won because of her role in the movie "Precious,” based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire. The moment Mo'Nique won was a beautiful one. She accepted her award with grace and she made me tear up a little. I have not seen "Precious" but I do know the premise of the movie and it seems a very well deserved win for her. Other winners included Christoph Waltz for Supporting Actor which he won for his role in "Inglourious Basterds." The awards for Actor and Actress in a Musical or Comedy went to Robert Downey Jr. and Meryl Streep respectively. Downey won for his role in "Sherlock Holmes" and gave a very funny acceptance speech where he primarily thanked himself. Streep won for "Julie & Julia" and her speech, which is usually hysterical, wasn't as funny as normal and I was kind of bummed.
The winning continued with Jeff Bridges (“Crazy Heart”) and Sandra Bullock (“The Blind Side”) winning for Best Actor and Actress in a drama. Jeff Bridges received a standing ovation from the room, which was a really cool moment. It was a room of people paying respect to one of the longest working dramatic actors of our time, who rarely gets the recognition he deserves. Bullock gave a grateful speech, the end of which had one of my favorite moments of the evening. She said to her husband, Jesse James, "It's no wonder my movies got better after meeting you because I finally know what it is for someone to have my back." (Insert "awes" here).
As far as winners in television go there were some very well deserved. A visibly frail Michael C. Hall accepted the award for Actor in a Drama Series for his lead role in “Dexter.” Hall recently announced his battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, though he is said to be in remission now. He was wearing a knit cap, evidence of his struggles but gave a grateful speech and I was so glad to see him win. This was Hall's third nomination and being a big fan of the show "Dexter" I was proud he won. Other winners for their roles in television included Julianna Margulies (“The Good Wife”) for Actress in a Drama Series. Actor and Actress in a Musical or Comedy went to Alec Baldwin (“30 Rock”) and Toni Collette (“United States of Tara”). Drew Barrymore (“Grey Gardens”) finally won an award; she always seems overlooked. She won for Actress in a Miniseries or Movie. In Drew's speech she said she had been in that room since she was 7-years-old. It's easy to forget she's been around as long as she has. Actor in a Miniseries or Movie went to Kevin Bacon (“Taking Chance”). For Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Movie John Lithgow won for his role last season on "Dexter." He amusingly referred to enjoying the last 6 months of being able to freak people out. (He played a serial killer). Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Movie went to Chloe Sevigny (“Big Love”).
The big television awards of the night went to Drew Barrymore's "Grey Gardens" for Miniseries or Movie, "Glee" won for Series, Musical or Comedy, and "Mad Men" won for Series Drama. In movies "Up" won for best Animated Film, "The White Ribbon" for Foreign Language, and "The Hangover" won for best Musical or Comedy. I have to interject that recognizing comedy is one of the many reasons I tend to prefer the Globes to the Oscars. Why don't they think funny people can act? I digress. "Avatar" won for best Picture, Drama. I found that to be surprising. Usually big movies like that do not get recognized at awards shows like this. I think the amazing technology James Cameron used to create this film couldn't be ignored. Speaking of James Cameron he won for Director, a big honor. And lastly the famed Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award went to a very deserving Martin Scorsese. Leonardo Dicaprio and Robert De Niro gave the award to Scorsese and both gave a great introduction to the legendary director. Scorsese himself made a great speech about what drives him as a director.
The night was a great glimpse into the world of movies and television. Most of us do not work in that glamorous industry. I always find it intriguing to see actors and actresses in their own skin and putting their own personalities in front of us when they make their speeches. I like the Golden Globe Awards for so many reasons too. It's one of the few "Big Deal" awards shows that recognize actors and actresses in television. I don't think those people are any less skilled than film actors. I like the Globes because they don't bore us with a zillion technical awards we couldn't care less about. And, of course, people get drunk and say stupid shit. Hey, they ARE just like us!
BYLINE:
Bry Schulz is a writer, photographer, and mother who really hates squash. Not necessarily the game but definitely the vegetable. Email Bry at bry@zoiksonline.com.
0 comments:
Post a Comment