by Nathaniel R
Colman Domingo presenting "Best DIrector" to Steven Spielberg
An awards shows on a Tuesday night? Chaos. But we kinda liked it. As the 80th Golden Globes evening began on the red carpet we learned (among other things) that red was the color of the moment, Jenna Ortega choreographed her own (viral) dance for Wednesday, Letitia Wright's favourite movie is I Tonya (of all things!) and Margot Robbie can cry on cue as precisely as Nelly does in Babylon. The night that followed was hit and miss. The hits were familiar: the palpable joy that so many stars expressed at being back in rooms together, the sight of very enthusiastic and possibly drunk tables (Abbott Elementary, Banshees of Inisherin, The Fabelmans and Everything Everywhere All At Once showcased most prominently), and as ever moving speeches, and even a few stellar presenter “bits”.
There were misses, too, including at least four absent winners (Zendaya, Costner, Seyfried, Blanchett) which always brings the mood down...
I'm gonna say something very controversial. I'll actually get in trouble for this. 'Rihanna, you take all the time you want on that album, girl. Don't let these fools on the internet pressure you into nothing.'
A little messy surprise emotion and the struggle to get to the stage due to back pats, hugs, and outstretched hands like we're at a rock concert, are an electric part of awards shows. So we wouldn't trade them for "edited" packages in a second... but why make the path to the stage such a bizarrely labyrinthine effort and whose idea was that tight sharp turn staircase to the side?
Finally, though we’re fans of Jerrod Carmichael (watch his brilliant special “Rothaniel” if you haven’t. Immediately!) his conversational confessional style was a weird fit with the demands of the Globes hosting. Nice frequent costume changes,though! His brief interjections were the best part of his hosting, including one very risky Scientology-skewering joke directed Tom Cruise's way while holding Tom's three returned Globes.
Since we’re talking about the first glitzy awards show of the season, let’s give out our own awards as to the night’s best:
I think she was serious, she said 'Then Jennifer why don't you just wear a pair of crocs?'
BEST PRESENTER - Jennifer Coolidge, squeezed into a sparkly black gown and big Monica Vitti hair, greeted the crowd with her breathy hilarious trademark “hi, hello” and launched into a bit about her anxiety about presenting that was the funniest moment of the night.
Runner up: Natasha Lyonne towards the end of the show for the perfect deadpan vibe while quipping about making it quick while pontificating at length about "time". Second runner up: Silliness from Nicole Byer and Ana Gasteyer.
my hot dog lover, Jamie Lee Curtis
BEST SPEECH: Michelle Yeoh for ferocity and truth-telling about her career in Hollywood, the personalized non list-reading thank you to her co-stars, and "I can beat you up" to the track playing to rush her speech.
Runner up: Jennifer Coolidge again, bringing the hilarity back after her presenting bit.
In order for that destiny to manifest, I think that it requires courage, to have faith, it requires patience (as we just heard), and it requires a true sense of yourself. It's not easy because the path is circuitous and it has many unexpected detours.
BEST (RARE) CASE MADE FOR READING A SPEECH: Angela Basset, is the queen of enunciation, so you know she'll give a SPEECH. Normally we cringe the second any winner reaches for a piece of paper, or nowadays, their phone. But Angela Basset who had a lot of important ground to cover in her acceptance for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, managed to say it all.
BEST GENUINELY-MOVED GUSHING [TIE] We got a perfect bookend! Ke Huy Quan memorably thanked Steven Spielberg at the kick-off of his teary speech, for his big break in Hollywood (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom) before discussing his miraculous comeback nearly 40 years later and what that meant to him. Then, late in the evening Spielberg, who is an old pro at winning awards, was genuinely moved to be honored at 76 for telling his own story, which he'd put off for years via The Fabelmans.
BEST SINGULAR GUSHED SENTIMENT: Jeremy Allen White (The Bear) blurting "I love acting" randomly inbetween a frenzied list of names as they attempted to play him off the stage.
BEST USE OF THE GLOBES AS A "GIVE ME AN OSCAR" PLATFORM: Michelle Yeoh
Brad I love you"
-Austin Butler on stage
BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE: Brad Pitt, right up front for Babylon, who was shouted out by several fawning or flirting presenters.
MOST SURPRISING WIN: Argentina 1985 took Best Non-English Language Film despite a Globe win for RRR in Original Song and all the Oscar buzz for Germany's All Quiet on the Western Front.
THE LIST OF WINNERS
FILM
The Banshees of Inisherin and Abbott Elementary won the most awards for movies & tv, respectively(3)
Picture – Drama The Fabelmans
Actress – Drama Cate Blanchett, Tár
Actor – Drama Austin Butler, Elvis
Picture – Musical or Comedy The Banshees of Inisherin
Actress – Musical or Comedy Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Actor - Musical or Comedy Colin Farrell, The Banshees of Inisherin
Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Director — Motion Picture Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans
Picture – Non-English Language Argentina, 1985 (Argentina)
Picture – Animated Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Screenplay – Motion Picture Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin
Original Score – Motion Picture Justin Hurwitz, Babylon
Original Song – Motion Picture “Naatu Naatu,” Kala Bhairava, M. M. Keeravani, Rahul Sipligunj (RRR)
TELEVISION
Television Series – Musical or Comedy Abbott Elementary
Actress in a Series - Comedy Quinta Brunson - Abbott Elementary
Actor in a Series - Comedy Jeremy Allen White - The Bear
Television Series – Drama House of the Dragon
Actress in a Series - Drama Zendaya - Euphoria
Actor in a Series – Drama Kevin Costner, Yellowstone
Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series - Drama or Comedy Julia Garner, Ozark
Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series - Drama or Comedy Tyler James Williams - Abbott Elementary
Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television The White Lotus: Sicily
Actress in a Limited Series / Movie Amanda Seyfried, The Dropout
Actor in a Limited Series / Movie Evan Peters, Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Actress in a Supporting Role in a Limited Series / Movie Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus
Actor in a Supporting Role in a Limited Series / Movie Paul Walter Hauser, Black Bird