Remember how the Golden Globes managed to be surprising and thrilling for a few minutes last year, when “Slumdog Millionaire” grabbed all the major prizes and vaulted from dark horse to Oscar favourite?
Yeah, that was last year. This year’s Globes were all about the blue people. As James Cameron’s “Avatar” continues its phenomenal box-office run — it’s now grossed $491 million in the U.S. alone — the HFPA rolled over and let James Cameron scratch its collective belly, offering trophies for Best Picture (Drama) and Best Director. (At least the song didn’t win.)
Other awards went more or less as expected. Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep won acting prizes for drama (“Crazy Heart”) and comedy (“Julie & Julia”), while Robert Downey Jr. and Sandra Bullock mirrored them in the opposite categories for “Sherlock Holmes” and “The Blind Side”. Christoph Waltz and Mo’Nique took the supporting prizes, “The Hangover” was crowned Best Comedy or Musical, “The White Ribbon” won the foreign-language award and “Up” walked off with Animated Feature. You can see the whole list here.
Shut out entirely were “The Hurt Locker” and “(500) Days of Summer”, which doesn’t appear to bode well for their Oscar chances. Of course, that’s only if you believe the HFPA is a reliable predictor of Academy taste, rather than a freakshow collective of vaguely disreputable media hangers-on that have somehow transformed themselves into tastemakers.
It’s all about perspective, really.
I thought you were going to quote Cher in your hidden caption…”As you can see I got the memo on how to dress like a serious actress…”
I was surprised, and disappointed, that Hurt Locker didn’t win best picture and director, but also that Sandra Bullock won best actress in a drama over Gabourey Sidibe and Carey Mulligan. Not to knock Bullock’s successful year, but weren’t the the other two favorites going in, or did they split the “we’re taking this seriously” vote?
@ Chris — the Globes are always a popularity contest, and Bullock’s as popular as they come in Hollywood. Sidibe’s performance is awfully passive, and I’d be surprised if the HPFA even finished their “Education” screeners.
I’m more confused about how Robert Downey Jr. ended up landing in the Comedy category, myself.
Say what you will, I just like how the Guvernator introduced the sci-fi film Aveduh.