The 67th Golden Globes kicked off awards season in Hollywood, with “The Office” star Ricky Gervais hosting the ceremony. Many of his jokes and quips failed to hit the mark though, as the majority of them were made at the expense of those in the room, causing extremely mixed results. Beatles star Sir Paul McCartney in particular seemed unimpressed.
Despite the rain, the stars turned out in glamorous dresses and smart tuxedos to receive the first sweep of awards for this year. There were high hopes around the room, in particular from Up In The Air and Julie & Julia star Meryl Streep, nominated twice in the same category.
The big winner at this year’s Golden Globes however was blockbuster Avatar, winning best dramatic picture and best director for James Cameron.
The Hangover, a comedy about a stag night gone wrong, took home the Globe for best musical or comedy. Producer and director Todd Phillips said “we didn’t expect this, we are truly honoured.”
Mo’Nique started the proceedings winning best supporting actress for the upcoming emotional drama Precious. “Thank you God for this amazing ride, I am in the midst of my dream.”
The supporting actor award went to little known Christoph Waltz for his part in the Quentin Tarantino blockbuster Inglorious Basterds.
Best dramatic actor for motion pictures went to Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart. The whole room stood and the applause grew. “You’re really screwing up my under appreciated status here,” he joked. The best actress award went to Sandra Bullock for her role in The Blind Side.
Crazy Heart received the award for best original song, with “The Weary Kind” written by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett.
Meryl Streep walked away with best actress in a musical or comedy for her performance in Julie & Julia. “I’ve played so many extraordinary women that I’m being mistaken for one… and this year I got to play one of the most beloved women in America, Julia Child.”
The best actor for this category was awarded to Robert Downey Jr for his role in the Guy Ritchie motion picture Sherlock Holmes. His acceptance speech was a lively blow-by-blow of thanks to the studio, producers, and his wife “because I could be busing tables at the Daily Grill right now.”
There were high expectations for Up In The Air, starring George Clooney, and was nominated for six awards but only managed to win in the screenwriting category, clearly disappointing from director Jason Reitman.
Pixar blockbuster Up nabbed the award for best animation and best original score. Best foreign language film was awarded to The White Ribbon, a German drama about the years leading up to World War I.
Britain failed to win anything, despite several nominations including for actors Hugh Laurie, Colin Firth, and Helen Mirren.
American TV series “Dexter” also produced two winners, John Lithgow for best supporting actor and Michael C Hall for best TV series dramatic actor, who won his first globe after four previous nominations.
Kevin Bacon received the best actor in a mini-series reward for “Taking Chance”, beating the English and Irish quartet of nominees. The best TV comedy actor award went to Alec Baldwin for “30 Rock”.
“Mad Men”, a series about an advertising agency in the 1960s, received best TV series drama.
The best actress in the drama category was awarded to Julianna Margulies for “The Good Wife”, and the musical or comedy actress award was presented to Toni Collette for the “United States of Tara”.
Drew Barrymore won the award for best mini-series actress for her role in “Grey Gardens”. “Mo’nique, you set the bar in your speech and you are the most eloquent beautiful human being… I have grown up here, and this is for all the people who love me and wished the best for me along the way,” she said.
“Grey Gardens” also received the Globe for best mini-series beating “Little Dorrit” and “Into the Storm”. Best supporting actress for a TV series was awarded to Chloe Sevigny for “Big Love”.
“Glee”, currently airing on E4, was deemed to be the best musical or comedy series. Ryan Murphy, the creator of the series said: “This is for anybody and everybody who got a wedgie in high school.”
The awards, chosen by around 90 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, generally hint towards the big winners at the Oscars in March, which promises big things for Avatar but potential disappointment for Up In The Air.
The ceremony was also interspersed with appeals for donations to help after the earthquake in Haiti. Stars such as Nicole Kidman and Maggie Gyllenhall urged viewers to donate to the relief efforts. Many of the stars also wore red and gold ribbons in memory of those killed.