Golden Globes: war epic ‘1917’ surprise winner as Tarantino bags comedy prize for ‘Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood’
- At Golden Globes, Universal’s World War I drama ‘1917’ upset Netflix for best picture
- The Globes are the first major awards gala of the year, followed by BAFTAs, SAG Awards then Oscars
The 77th Golden Globes were meant to be a coronation for Netflix. Instead, a pair of big-screen epics took top honours Sunday, as Sam Mendes’ technically dazzling World War I tale 1917 won best picture, drama, and Quentin Tarantino’s radiant Los Angeles fable Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood won best film, comedy or musical.
The wins for 1917 were a surprise, besting such favourites as Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story (the leading nominee with six nods) and Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman. Both are acclaimed Netflix releases but they collectively took home just one award, for Laura Dern’s supporting performance as a divorce lawyer in Marriage Story. The Irishman was entirely shut out.
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1917 also won best director for Mendes. The film was made in long takes, giving the impression of it unfolding in one lengthy shot.
Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood had easier path than the more competitive drama category. Brad Pitt won for best supporting actor, his first acting Globe since winning 1996 for 12 Monkeys, padding his front-runner status for the Oscars.
Joaquin Phoenix cemented his Oscar front runner status by winning the best drama actor prize for his radical turn in Joker, a dark and controversial take on the comic book super-villain.
Phoenix, like several A-listers, used his speech to address climate change and the Australian wildfires, continuing until producers played him off with music.
He also thanked director Todd Phillips, saying: “You convinced me to do this movie and you encouraged me to give everything and to be sincere. And I’m such a pain in the ass.”
Renee Zellweger also burnished her Oscar credentials with an expected win for biopic Judy, portraying Judy Garland in her later years.
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Oscar nominations voting is already under way, but does not close until Tuesday.
Stars arriving under bright California skies in couture gowns and extravagant jewels were greeted by British comic Ricky Gervais’s signature cutting one-liners.
“Let’s go out with a bang, let’s have a laugh at your expense, shall we?” joked Gervais, hosting the awards for the fifth and final time, before tearing into the industry with a no-holds-barred monologue.
Gervais tackled topics haunting the entertainment sector including #MeToo, lack of diversity, and the streaming wars, to name but a few.
An off-colour joke about British actress Judi Dench and the critically slammed film Cats was bleeped out by censors.
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Elton John’s “I’m Gonna Love Me Again” won best original song for Rocketman, a musical biopic about the legendary British musician’s life, and Taron Egerton won best musical/comedy actor for his starring role.
Tom Hanks welled up thanking his family as he accepted a lifetime achievement award.
Among the Globes handed out on the TV side, HBO hit Succession won best drama, fending off Netflix’s flagship The Crown. Its star Brian Cox won for best actor.
But Crown star Olivia Colman scooped best actress for her turn as Queen Elizabeth.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge added a best comedy actress Globe to her Emmy win for her show Fleabag, which also won overall top comedy honours.
Netflix – which has disrupted the film industry in recent years – began the night far ahead of the traditional Hollywood studios with 17 Globe movie nominations.
“This show should just be me coming out, (saying) ‘You win everything, Netflix, good night,” joked Gervais.
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But the streaming giant, which has spent billions to lure the industry’s top filmmaking talent, flopped to end with just one movie win.
The Irishman, a favourite to win best picture that cost Netflix US$160 million to make, did not convert any of its five nominations.
Associated Press and Agence France-Presse
