WHAT’S a prestigious Hollywood award ceremony without the usual accessories of glitz, witty repartee (or, if hosted by Ricky Gervais, an outburst of fearless digs at A-listers) by the host/s and speeches that are so heartfelt that they move everyone to tears just like they do in the movies and TV shows?
This year’s 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards, screened live yesterday morning and last night, paid homage to the entertainment industry for another year of groundbreaking cinema and television with unparalleled performances and stimulating scripts.
The event was co-hosted by Tina Fey (30 Rock) and Amy Poehler (Parks & Recreation), who, while absolutely ravishing in their respec-tive gowns, failed to surpass Gervais’ three-year controversial legacy where he took the p**s out of Hollywood’s elite and their publicised shenanigans, all in the name of good comic fun.
Although the female tag-team did joke: “Ricky couldn’t be here… he is no longer in showbusiness.”
The first honour of the night went to Jennifer Lawrence for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical for Silver Linings Playbook.
An absent Dame Maggie Smith won Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for season two of Downton Abbey, and Ed Harris for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for Game Change.
Amid the presentations, the current president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Aida Takla O’Reilly, said a few words. At the end of her short and sweet speech, she searched out Bradley Cooper (The Hangover) in the audience and told him: “Call me, baby!”
Adele, looking ever-so gorgeous, who was her usual spontaneous funny self, took the honours for Best Original Song – Motion Picture for Skyfall. In her speech she thanked boyfriend Simon Konecki and her lovely son. How sweet!
Kevin Costner got quite nostalgic on stage when he received his award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for Hatfields & McCoys.
He reflected: “I couldn’t help thinking about the first time I came into this room (in 1991, for Dances with Wolves). It was a long time ago. I was an unknown actor… walking the red carpet. The bulbs were going… photographers were yelling for actors to look at them…. It has been a great ride.”
But the real surprise factor was when Bill Clinton, the 42nd president of the US, walked on stage to introduce Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln and got a standing ovation from Hollywood’s film and TV fraternity. That was indeed a fab coup by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Two of the funniest presenters on the night were Will Ferrel and Kristen Wiig for their spoof reviews of the movies for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical.
Jodie Foster won the Cecil B Demille Lifetime Achievement award and gave a speech befitting of her calibre and sway as an actress, director and producer in the industry.
After proudly declaring that she is 50 - and finally delcaring she’s “out and proud” following years of specu-lation about her sexuality - she went on to share her journey in the industry that started at the tender age of three.
She also expressed her sentiments about the reality TV phenomenon and commented: “My reality show would be so boring… if you had been a public figure since you were a toddler. If you had to fight for a life that was honest, normal above all odds, then you might value privacy above all else. Privacy!”
All in all, some amazing wins for Argo, Les Misérables, Homeland and Girls. Next year, maybe Sacha Baron Cohen might be considered as a host. Fey and Poehler didn’t win in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical stakes… and they weren’t a winning combo as hosts. Perhaps they mislaid their script – or Gervais hadn’t yet written it for them!