The headline for the Golden Globes -- that NBC set themselves up for, given the fact that the peacock put all its money on Ricky Gervais, rather than the star studded crowd -- is that Ricky was tepid at best. Last year's telecast was a piece of overblown controversy that seemed scandalous if only because the audience (in the Beverly Hilton, that is -- the nominees and other celebs) was either more drunk or simply more boisterous. Last year people at the various tables actually made noises. Last night it was as if they were all on mute or were forbidden to clap. The prep-school boy in me wonders if Hollywood actually pulled together to remain silent and let Ricky flop (and it wasn't a flop, it just wasn't a "10" when NBC and Gervias himself were promising nothing short of a "15"). But this would require the most impossible of things: getting liberals to agree and act.
I can't simply ignore the television winners...
There were a few moments in the evening that were pure HFPA. Perhaps the Laura Dern and Matt LeBlanc victories demonstrate this most clearly. "Enlightened" and "Episodes" are both solid shows -- as are Dern and LeBlanc as performers. But here was a moment where the HFPA decided to go off the radar and declare to winners of their own. It's doubtful either will be winning too many more trophies throughout the year. Yet, this is often refreshing -- as it was with Claire Danes first Globe for "My So-Called," Kerri Russel's victory for "Felicity," "Party of Five" and "Nip/Tuck" winning best series -- and the lovely year where "Twin Peaks" nearly swept. These victors would see no such level of success come Emmy time.
Otherwise the winners were just. Danes and "Homeland" were to be expected. As were "Downton Abbey," "Modern Family," Kate Winslet, Peter Dinklage, Kelsey Grammer, and the "could it have possibly been anyone else?" win for Jessica Lange. I've not seen "Luther" but I shall certainly give it a view now that won lead actor for a mini-series or television movie. If you're going to beat Hugh Bonneville, then I must investigate.
And then there was film...
I'm a notoriously lousy shot when it comes to picking Golden Globe winners. Last night I handed over and voted with my heart during our little Golden Globe Fete and consequently REALLY lost. But there were some telling moments last night, as well as some genuine surprises. The question is how this will all shake out come Oscar time. The categories will combine, new-comers will arrive at the races (I'll devote an entire entry to this topic alone) and the victors needn't remain the same.
Michelle Williams bests Kristen Wiig
The issue here is that My Week with Marilyn is neither a musical nor a comedy. If it's a comedy, so is Descendants and The Help. If it's a musical, so is Shame! Marilyn was nothing short of a true drama. I have no problem with Michelle Williams winning. Truth be told, I thought her performance was the best actress performance of the year. Period. It's the categorization so Harvey's ladies can double-down that I find irksome. There have been probably ten nominatable performances this year on the women's side. Williams' win last night might have killed Wiig's chance at anything beyond a writing nomination. Some may have considered this an impossibility, but a win last night could have proven otherwise. I'll keep my fingers crossed with KW next Tuesday morning.
Jean DuJardin - The man to beat?
In a year that looked as if Clooney and Pitt would be duking it out for best actor come Oscar time. It seems there's a third dog in the fight -- a charming one that can dance. Roberto Benigni is the constant comparison for DuJardin -- but this is false. Benigni was at the dance as a writer, director, actor, producer. He was the Italian equivalent of Warren Beatty or Laurence Olivier. His victory had far more to do with the film achievement than it had to do his acting prowess. With DuJardin it's quite the other way -- this is a true award for acting and charm. Like the Williams win, I wonder if DuJardin's predictable success at the Globes locks out the other, worthy comedians: Owen Wilson and Joseph Gordon Levitt most notably. 50/50 will have it's script nomination. Midnight in Paris will have that and more. But will their lead males make it to the game? My suspicion is a maximum of one. I'd be surprised if it weren't Wilson. My apologies to JGL -- and those of you that know me, know how much it pains me to deny that dapper chap anything.
Are Clooney and Pitt out? (While I'm at it, I may as well discuss The Descendants.)
The tit for tat nominations of Ides by Pitt and Moneyball by Clooney with Pitt's cane was one of the kinder, loftier moments of the night. Second only -- it seems -- to Michelle Williams' speech. When Clooney won and immediately pointed out his affection and respect for Pitt -- well, it was world class. However, does topping Pitt mean that Brad stands no chance at the Oscars, that it's Clooney vs. DuJardin and that the Frenchman takes all?
My gut says yes. Mon dieux! Cursed Malcolm Gladwell and his Blink decisions.
However, there is a political structure to these things. If Hollywood drops into self-preservation mode, they can easily side-step a DuJardin win and toss the statue to Clooney or Pitt. Clooney has an Oscar. Folks, from time to time, like to bring up the lunacy that it's "only" for supporting -- as if winning best supporting actor is a piece of cake -- when it time and again proves the most difficult category when it's not saluting someone's lifetime achievement. But is the Academy simply going to hand George a statue every time he makes two movies?
By that logic, does Pitt not win? He made two films this year and has never won. At some point, he will have to awarded. He could have had a statue for The Departed if we were operating by today's rules about the amount of producers permitted to win. Babel and Benjamin Button were not Brad's time. Had he even earned a supporting nom for Inglorious Basterds (and it should have been categorized as supporting) odds are Waltz would still have won. This year gives the Academy the chance not only to award Pitt for a solid performance in a great film -- it gives the Academy the chance to highlight what a great film Moneyball is with one statuette. Adapted Screenplay may be within reach but Pitt would be a true coup.
George, George, George... Everyone is a fan and his success seems never-ending. There are blips along the road -- but then he comes back with the one-two-punch of Ides of March and The Descendants and he's right back on top. Much like last year with The Fighter, I seem to be in the vast minority when it comes to The Descendants. As an endless admirer of Alexander Payne, I'm truly surprised by the extent to which this particular film is being lauded. It was missing a component for me.
And yet -- it took Picture! I'd be stunned if it repeated this success. This seems far more Scent of a Woman, The Hours, Atonement to me. "Enjoy your trophy -- for a month." In so many words. Let's not belittle Alexander Payne's win. He's a great film maker and an amazing writer. But all last night's win demonstrated was that the drama nominees may well be out of the race.
Is supporting all tied up?
Looks like it is. Waltz and Monique had it tied up. As did Leo and Bale. Looks like Plummer and Spencer have it nailed down. Christopher Plummer's victory is a life-time coming and he entered the year an odds on favorite before Beginners was even released. Considering Captain von Trapp has never won, now's the time to Coburn him up.
Octavia Spencer is no surprise. Melissa McCarthy would have been amazing. Jessica Chastain has had a remarkable year. But for so many people, The Help's best maid is Octavia -- a long time actress, slugging it out in supporting roles for years. If anyone were to overtake her for the Oscar it would be a true shock.
Woody and Marty --
I will keep my remarks about screenplay and director to a minimum as I want to jinx nothing. They will both be obvious nominees -- Woody more than likely a double nom as writer and director -- Marty a double nom as director and best documentary feature.
I'll say no more.
Meryl...
Saying that Meryl Streep won the Golden Globe for Iron Lady comes as no surprise -- except that the award seemed Viola Davis'. Not only did it seem this way to a young blogger who looks a helluva lot like Matthew J. McCue -- it sure as hell seemed that way to Meryl herself.
I would love to see Viola win the Oscar as she is a remarkable performer who anchors The Help in true emotionality that reins it in from being an outright comedy and keeps it as genuine as possible. Since her turn in Doubt -- opposite the Meryl -- her Oscar time seemed fast coming. It may swing itself around in the upcoming month. I'm still waiting to see what Oscar does with The Help. I doubt Octavia will be the only one headed home with a statue.
But why chastise Meryl for winning? The truth is Meryl hasn't won an Academy Award since 1982's Sophie's Choice. Yes, she is always nominated. But the cry of woe from so many movie and award fans is that she always wins. On the contrary, she nearly always loses. She had a crack at it for Adaptation and Julie and Julia. Perhaps Iron Lady is the ticket for Oscar number three. The Academy may be weary of continually awarding people for playing Brits (whether or not they are actual Brits themselves). But the amount of winners who have either been British or playing a member of British royalty or politics far exceeds turns as Americans of any import. Whether this counts against Meryl -- and which horse Harvey chooses to back -- given that both Marilyn and Iron Lady are his -- will be the decider.
Spielberg...
Of course the Globes gave Mr. Spielberg the award for best animated feature. They weren't going to let him go home empty-handed and The Adventures of Tintin is a great film -- particularly when you consider that this is the Hollywood Foreign Press handing out the accolade. But in a year of two films -- one of which is the remarkable War Horse one wonders whether it's a lock out for Steven.
Concluding...
I'm hoping, as I do each year, that there is a significant shake-up between the Globe nominations and the Oscar nominations -- but one rarely sees more than one surprise. Furthermore, that surprise is rarely something that isn't already buzzing around in the air somewhere between the Globe nom announcement and this brief bit of lag time before the Oscar nominations.
So much of what we saw last night is a lock. The Artist may well have it tied down. Whether they can wrangle actor, director, score, or supporting actress -- considering most best pictures have at least 4 -- usually more like 6 -- Oscars in total -- is another story.
Here's hoping things get and stay more exciting than last night's broadcast.
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