The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards

The ceremony was last night and it was a good one, all things considered. I would say there were 3 distinct parts to it: first part quick, brisk, funny, and charming; second slower and more boring (that's when Anthony Hopkins was awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award, but his speech wasn't memorable at all); last part interesting mostly because the major awards were being handed out.

It ended on time, but I think they sacrificed clips of the major acting categories to do so, and that's a pity. Go overtime if you have to, but don't rush through the most important work of the year by very talented people you're about to honor.

The big winner of the night was Brokeback Mountain, which made me very happy. I haven't seen the movie yet (probably within a couple weeks) but given the theme (two gay cowboys' love story) I rooted for it nonetheless. It was nominated for 7 awards and won 4 (almost a sweep, I would say). Three were major, Picture-Drama, Director, and Screenplay. The last one was for the Original Song.

And even better was to read this headline on CNN this morning:

'Brokeback' leads with four Globes
Big night for films dealing with homosexuality, transsexuality

I'm sure that soured a lot of religious-right stomachs. Good.

The article has a recap from the night, and this is a quote worthy of being transcribed. It's by Felicity Huffman, who won Best Actress-Drama for Transamerica, which I can't wait to see:

"I know as actors our job is usually to shed our skins, but I think as people our job is to become who we really are, and so I would like to salute the men and women who brave ostracism, alienation and a life lived on the margins to become who they really are," Huffman said.

So true, so sweet.

The Best Actor-Drama award went to Philip Seymour Hoffman, who played gay author Truman Capote, so it really was a big night for gay themed entertainment.

Another big winner was Walk the Line, which won all three awards it was nominated for: Picture-, Actor-, and Actress-Comedy or Musical (note to Joaquin Phoenix: get a new haircut and hire someone else to pick a suit for you for the Oscars, please. You looked ridiculous and pitiful).

Finally, politics were front and center, with awards going to movies like Syriana, The Constant Gardener, and Paradise Now, all dealing with corruption, political machinations, and/or the Middle East debacle.

Like I said, a nice ceremony, and I'm really pleased with all the wins. On to the Oscars now. The nominees will be announced on January 31^st.