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Home > Blogs > Sir Critic on Cinema > Archives > 2009 > January > 11 > Entry
What did you think of the Golden Globes?
These reactions were typed out as I watched the show Sunday night.
Best Supporting Actress - Kate Winslet, “The Reader”
Nice to see today’s great Kate FINALLY get something. I did not care for the self-important film but her performance was very fine. Now let’s see if she gets her OTHER nomination, for “Revolutionary Road.”
Best Song: Bruce Springsteen, The Wrestler
Fine choice, though I personally prefer “Down to Earth” from “WALL-E.” Not sure Bruce is Oscar bound since he has one already for “Streets of Philadelphia,” but we’ll see.
PS I won’t be commenting on TV awards, since I don’t traffic in them.
You know, I’m really tired of “presenting” the Best Picture nominees by presenting what amount to fricken’ trailers that tell people almost NOTHING about the film.
Best Animated Film - WALL-E
The Jonas Brothers presenting? WTH????
This was “WALL-E” in a walk - or maybe a scoot.
Best Actress, Musical/Comedy: Sally Hawkins, “Happy-Go-Lucky”
Three cheers for Sally Hawkins, who is MOST deserving - I was a little worried they’d play it safer and go for the OK but less deserving Streep. This will help her Oscar chances.
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
I wrote down Ledger even before it was announced. Absolute shoo-in - and absolutely deserved. Very nice acceptance by director Christopher Nolan.
Best Foreign Language Film: “Waltz with Bashir”
No surprise here either - especially with the current Gaza conflict, this film has become very topical. I’m anxious to see it.
Funny that Elizabeth Banks and Seth Rogen come on and the annoncer doesn’t mention the film they were in. Can’t say “Porno” on the air, I guess.
Best Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, “Slumdog Milllionaire”
WELL deserved! The momentum toward Oscar continues to build and justly so for my second favorite film of the year.
Hey look, they picked the worst singer of the cast (Pierce Brosnan) to present “Mamma Mia!” Waterloo, indeed!
Best Score: AR Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
And the train rolls on, with yet another deserving win for this ebullient film although I still regret Thomas Newman was passed over for his brilliant “WALL-E” score.
Well, the Cecil B. DeMille award for Steven Spielberg gets off to a great by having our other greatest director, Martin Scorsese, present. Few people can explain the greatness of a film and its makers better than Marty.
Very nicely put package, with a great speech from Spielberg. The highlight of a rather lackluster show so far, at least as far as the movie segments go.
Best Director: Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
“Mad, pulsating affection.” Yes, that’s about right. And it’s great to see Boyle get some recognition after building such a striking, diverse filmography.
Best Actor, Musical/Comedy, Colin Farrelll, “In Bruges”
I LIKE this choice! He did indeed do some very funny work in this off-kilter comedy. This is the kind of nice freewheeling, loopy speech you don’t see at the other shows.
Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy: “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
An award for the Woody Allen film! NICE! Thank GOD “Mamma Mia” didn’t get it!
Best Actress, Drama: Kate Winslet, “Revolutionary Road”
I haven’t even seen the film, and I LOVE this choice! Winslet is one of our finest, and it’s wonderful to see her be so genuinely moved. She just surpassed Spielberg for the best moment in the show. I think that grossly overdue Oscar is finally at hand …
Best Actor, Drama: Mickey Rourke, “The Westler”
Wow, my original gut prediction was correct! Can I have your right arm, Lainie? ;) I will NOT rule out Rourke for the Oscar. Nice heartfelt, slightly coarse acceptance speech.
Best Picture, Drama: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Well, what do you know, “Slumdog!” See all my other comments on the film that will reflect my delight at its success.
Overall, there were no real jaw-dropping surprises, and the show itself was fairly ordinary as far as Golden Globes shows go - the closest it came to an OMG moment was Sacha Baron Cohen’s predictably tasteless remarks. My favorite moments were Spielberg’s award and Winslet’s OMG “Revolutionary Road” speech.
What’s your take on the show and the winners?
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Movie awards
Comments
By Zack
January 12, 2009 1:42 PM | Link to this
@amioffhere: How can Hollywood be out of touch with the viewing population when they’re making these movies? Also, the HFPA — the foreign press who decide the nominees and winners of the Golden Globes — aren’t in Hollywood, so technically your complaint’s not with them. Furthermore, THE DARK KNIGHT is the second-highest grossing movie of all time. It won four People’s Choice awards including Favorite Cast and Favorite Movie. Those all indicate to me that the viewing population — much as they may have loved Tom Cruise and Robert Downey, Jr. in “Tropic Thunder” — is probably in lock-step with the HFPA on this one.By amioffhere
January 12, 2009 12:25 PM | Link to this
Okay, this just validates what I already suspected. Hollywood is so out of touch with the viewing population. I’m sorry, Heath was great, (but imho)Tom and Robert Jr. blew him away. Robert D. Jr. was like nothing I’ve ever seen. He deserved this hands down. I am such a loss for words on how well he portrayed this character. Spellbounding, gripping, [insert adj. Hollywood would use]By Sir Critic
January 12, 2009 11:29 AM | Link to this
Cindy: Interesting point about the lack of an In Memoriam reel. I thought maybe I missed it myself, but perhaps not. Maybe that got the axe in the interest of time. The Oscars and Emmys usually do a good job of it. Maybe the HFPA felt they didn’t need to double cover. As for Button’s Oscar chances, it’s not dead but the momentum has decidedly slowed. It might win some techs (like Visual Effects) but I would be surprised to see it win any above the line awards.By Michael
January 12, 2009 10:35 AM | Link to this
Gotta love any awards show that allows alcohol to flow during the event.By Kim S.
January 12, 2009 9:38 AM | Link to this
I do like the fact that the Globes don’t have a host who tries to be charming - no offense to Mr. Jackman, but I’d rather see the Oscars go the same route. I’m glad that Sally Hawkins won, but I hated her speech. I found Winslet to be tiresome (especially declaring undying love for Leo), and I found Seth Rogen to need to be hit in the mouth, not to mention Ricky Gervais. I thought Springsteen’s speech was right on the money and I loved Mickey Rourke’s as well. The person I’ve rethought my opinion most on was Collin Farrell, who I agree looked most humble and shocked. Also glad about “Barcelona“‘s win, but surprised Cruz didn’t win as well. Agree with you about “Slumdog”. Do you think the shutout of “Button” has hurt its Oscar chances at all?By Cindy
January 12, 2009 9:18 AM | Link to this
Moments like Winslet’s second speech are why I watch award shows. She was so surprised, and thus it was heartfelt. Did you notice if there was an In Memoriam segment? Don’t the Globes usually do one? I FFed through some of it, so I suppose I could have missed it, but I doubt it. I could also be imagining the fact that they usually do it.