The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards

I just finished watching this year’s Golden Globe ceremony, once again connected via Skype with my best friend Vittorio in Italy, who soldiered on through the entire show in spite of the 6 hours of delay that sent him to bed in the wee hours of the morning.

Watching these shows with him is always a vastly more enjoyable experience.  It is truly the next best thing to being in the room together, which at this point looks like it will hardly ever happen.

Anyhow, the show itself was quite good, had a few surprises (at least for me, since I hadn’t been checking the favorites to win for any category at all), and waltzed along nicely towards an on-time ending, something the Academy Awards always get blasted for not being able to achieve.  I didn’t find the ceremony to be boring or too long, but I have to say that I still prefer the extras the Oscars usually broadcast, like clips and performances.

Ricky Gervais, back in the host seat after a scorching (and well deserved and excellently delivered) public bashing of several industry players last year, was in great shape, and killed it.  They should have him present everything in my opinion.  What’s the worst that could happen?  That people would actually want to tune in and watch the show?  I’d say to the Academy, take a page from the Foreign Press (for this only perhaps) and add some spice to your broadcast and people will flock to it.  Just look at the ratings for the Globes!!

Ok, so given that it’s pretty late for me too now, here are the night’s winners (underlined) with some comments (in italics):

Best Motion Picture – Drama

The Descendants (2011)
The Help (2011)
Hugo (2011/II)
The Ides of March (2011)
Moneyball (2011)
War Horse (2011)

Hard to say because I have only seen The Descendants and The Help, but given how good the winner was, I’m glad it won.

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

The Artist (2011)
Bridesmaids (2011)
50/50 (2011)
Midnight in Paris (2011)
My Week with Marilyn (2011)

Here too I only saw 2 movies, Bridesmaids and Midnight in Paris, but from what I’ve heard of The Artist, I’m glad it won.  I can’t wait to see that movie, really.  The producer’s acceptance speech was touching and the little dog was adorable!!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

George Clooney for The Descendants (2011)
Leonardo DiCaprio for J. Edgar (2011)
Michael Fassbender for Shame (2011)
Ryan Gosling for The Ides of March (2011)
Brad Pitt for Moneyball (2011)

Clooney’s performance was the only one I saw, and I loved it.  I think he was the favorite here because of the comedy/drama split.  Dujardin’s competition might prove harder at the Oscars, but I have the feeling that Clooney will go home with his second Oscar this year.  His acceptance speech here was funny and simple.  Well done!

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady (2011)
Glenn Close for Albert Nobbs (2011)
Viola Davis for The Help (2011)
Rooney Mara for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Tilda Swinton for We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

Blessed be the Gods that allowed for this small miracle to happen.  The best living actress finally won a big award for a role she was born to play, which will hopefully position her as the front runner at the Oscars.  If she wins there, it would only be her third time ever, which is a travesty when one considers the breadth of her work.  Viola was stunning in The Help, but whenever there’s Meryl, it’s Meryl.  Period.  And her speech here was funny, nice, and gracious as always.  I love her!!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Jean Dujardin for The Artist (2011)
Brendan Gleeson for The Guard (2011)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt for 50/50 (2011)
Ryan Gosling for Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)
Owen Wilson for Midnight in Paris (2011)

Dujardin was the odds on favorite and rightfully (from what I’ve heard) won.  Wilson’s work was the only one I saw, but even so, I can safely say that the right performer was awarded here.  Also, he’s easy on the eyes…

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Michelle Williams for My Week with Marilyn (2011)
Jodie Foster for Carnage (2011)
Charlize Theron for Young Adult (2011)
Kristen Wiig for Bridesmaids (2011)
Kate Winslet for Carnage (2011)

Williams didn’t have much competition in this category, since I’ve read that her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe is uncanny.  Hopefully she won’t spoil it for Meryl at the Oscars…

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Christopher Plummer for Beginners (2010)
Kenneth Branagh for My Week with Marilyn (2011)
Albert Brooks for Drive (2011)
Jonah Hill for Moneyball (2011)
Viggo Mortensen for A Dangerous Method (2011)

One of the least contended races this year, for the Oscar as well, ever since Beginners came out.  Having loved both the movie and Plummer, I was rooting for him and loved to see him win.  By the way, the guy recently turned 82 and he seems in better shape than I am!!

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Octavia Spencer for The Help (2011)
Bérénice Bejo for The Artist (2011)
Jessica Chastain for The Help (2011)
Janet McTeer for Albert Nobbs (2011)
Shailene Woodley for The Descendants (2011)

Another barely contested race, Spencer has had this award (and likely the Oscar) in the purse since this past summer.  She looked so cute and adorable on stage!

Best Director - Motion Picture

Martin Scorsese for Hugo (2011/II)
Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris (2011)
George Clooney for The Ides of March (2011)
Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist (2011)
Alexander Payne for The Descendants (2011)

Here’s one that while definitely deserved (I mean, it’s Martin Scorsese!!) left me wondering if they were using it to spread the wealth and make everyone happy, since the Foreign Press split the Best Pictures and Director awards.  They awarded 2 movie, but neither director won here.  Hmm, smells fishy to me…  Anyway, happy for Scorsese.  His work is always top notch.

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

Midnight in Paris (2011): Woody Allen
The Artist (2011): Michel Hazanavicius
The Descendants (2011): Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
The Ides of March (2011): George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon
Moneyball (2011): Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin, Stan Chervin

No complaints here.  Allen made one of the best movies of the year and of his career.  A win here is a vindication and some well deserved recognition for one of our greatest maestros.

Best Original Song - Motion Picture

W.E. (2011): Madonna, Julie Frost, Jimmy Harry("Masterpiece")
Albert Nobbs (2011): Brian Byrne, Glenn Close("Lay Your Head Down")
Gnomeo & Juliet (2011): Elton John, Bernie Taupin("Hello Hello")
The Help (2011): Mary J. Blige, Thomas Newman, Harvey Mason Jr., Damon Thomas("The Living Proof")
Machine Gun Preacher (2011): Chris Cornell("The Keeper")

I haven’t even heard this song but my friend said it was good.  I don’t really care, and I like Madonna, but again I smell favoritisms here, since Madonna is a perennial favorite of the FPA.  Whatever.  Her speech, however, felt rambling and uncentered, and her dress was pretty but not well tailored at all (it was way too tight at the chest).

Best Original Score - Motion Picture

The Artist (2011): Ludovic Bource
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011): Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
Hugo (2011/II): Howard Shore
War Horse (2011): John Williams
W.E. (2011): Abel Korzeniowski

Given that we’re dealing with a silent movie here, the score must be pretty amazing, since it’s the movie’s only aural guide.  Well deserved I’d say.  A little puzzling, however, the recognition here for Madonna’s widely panned (and even derided) W.E.  Its score was really one of the 5 best of 2011?  Really?

Best Animated Film

The Adventures of Tintin (2011)
Arthur Christmas (2011)
Cars 2 (2011)
Puss in Boots (2011)
Rango (2011)

I smell fish again.  The favorite and the one that received the best reviews was definitely Rango, but Tintin was directed by Spielberg, another favorite of the FPA, which likely didn’t want to send him home empty handed given that they weren’t going to award his War Horse.  Oh well, it’s the Golden Globes after all, they don’t have a reputation for being trampy for nothing.

Best Foreign Language Film

A Separation (2011)(Iran)
The Flowers of War (2011)(China)
In the Land of Blood and Honey (2011)(USA)
The Kid with a Bike (2011)(Belgium)
The Skin I Live In (2011)(Spain)

The only comment I have here is once again for how odd it is to see Angelina Jolie’s directorial debut when it’s been widely panned by critics everywhere.  How can the FPA find it so compelling?  Could it be because they L-O-V-E both Angelina and her beau Brad Pitt?  Hmm, there goes that smell again…

Best Television Series - Drama

"Homeland" (2011)
"American Horror Story" (2011)
"Boardwalk Empire" (2010)
"Boss" (2011)
"Game of Thrones" (2011)

So conflicted here, since I’ve loved 4 out of the 5 nominees.  Homeland’s victory is well earned though.  Such a compelling show.

Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy

"Modern Family" (2009)
"Enlightened" (2011)
"Episodes" (2011)
"Glee" (2009)
"New Girl" (2011)

I had 3 horses in this race, but the best one definitely won.  Modern Family is often hysterically funny and always totally charming.

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

"Downton Abbey" (2010)
”Cinema Verite” (2011) (TV)
"The Hour" (2011)
"Mildred Pierce" (2011)
”Too Big to Fail” (2011) (TV)

No comment, I saw none of the contenders.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama

Kelsey Grammer for "Boss" (2011)
Steve Buscemi for "Boardwalk Empire" (2010)
Bryan Cranston for "Breaking Bad" (2008)
Jeremy Irons for "The Borgias" (2011)
Damian Lewis for "Homeland" (2011)

I don’t watch Boss but I love Grammer, so I’m glad he won, however, Buscemi was great in Boardwalk Empire, Irons is magnetic in The Borgias, and Lewis was hypnotic in Homeland.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama

Claire Danes for "Homeland" (2011)
Mireille Enos for "The Killing" (2011)
Julianna Margulies for "The Good Wife" (2009)
Madeleine Stowe for "Revenge" (2011)
Callie Thorne for "Necessary Roughness" (2011)

So glad she won!!  Danes is off the charts good in Homeland.  Loved her dress too.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy

Matt LeBlanc for "Episodes" (2011)
Alec Baldwin for "30 Rock" (2006)
David Duchovny for "Californication" (2007)
Johnny Galecki for "The Big Bang Theory" (2007)
Thomas Jane for "Hung" (2009)

I was surprised here (and LeBlanc seemed as well) but pleased.  He was quite good and a revelation for me.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy

Laura Dern for "Enlightened" (2011)
Zooey Deschanel for "New Girl" (2011)
Tina Fey for "30 Rock" (2006)
Laura Linney for "The Big C" (2010)
Amy Poehler for "Parks and Recreation" (2009)

So, so, so happy Dern won.  Both Poehler and Linney are fantastic in their shows, but Dern was a revelation in Enlightened, a show so sweet and relaxing to watch, it’s almost cathartic.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Idris Elba for "Luther" (2010)
Hugh Bonneville for "Downton Abbey" (2010)
William Hurt for "Too Big to Fail" (2011) (TV)
Bill Nighy for "Page Eight" (2011) (TV)
Dominic West for "The Hour" (2011)

Once again, no comment for lack of knowledge.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Kate Winslet for "Mildred Pierce" (2011)
Romola Garai for "The Hour" (2011)
Diane Lane for "Cinema Verite" (2011) (TV)
Elizabeth McGovern for "Downton Abbey" (2010)
Emily Watson for "Appropriate Adult" (2011)

Winslet, who looked stunning, at this point should have won every award under the sun for her role in Mildred Pierce, which I’m sure is more than justified.  However, again, I saw none of the nominees.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Peter Dinklage for "Game of Thrones" (2011)
Paul Giamatti for "Too Big to Fail" (2011) (TV)
Guy Pearce for "Mildred Pierce" (2011)
Tim Robbins for "Cinema Verite" (2011) (TV)
Eric Stonestreet for "Modern Family" (2009)

Dinklage has also won an Emmy for this role, so hopefully HBO won’t kill off his character any time soon…

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Jessica Lange for "American Horror Story" (2011)
Kelly Macdonald for "Boardwalk Empire" (2010)
Maggie Smith for "Downton Abbey" (2010)
Sofía Vergara for "Modern Family" (2009)
Evan Rachel Wood for "Mildred Pierce" (2011)

One of the nicest surprises of the night for me.  I was sure they were going to award Maggie Smith, who is an acting legend, and Kelly Macdonald was astoundingly good in Boardwalk Empire, but Lange raised American Horror Story to a level it wouldn’t have risen to without her.

Three general observations:

1. I’ve always liked Morgan Freeman’s work but until tonight’s montage of his movies I had never realized how vast his repertory actually is.
2. Jane Fonda looked stunning for a woman her age – or any age…
3. Madonna showed everyone her poor sense of humor when she bit back at Gervais for making fun of her.  Her first comment was funny.  Her second was unkind and uncalled for.  Her last just made her look pitiful.

And finally, a special mention for the hottest tickets of the night: Gerard Butler, Ashton Kutcher (so cute with his new haircut!!), Adam Levine, Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Bradley Cooper, and Ryan Kwanten (!!!).