We bring you all the news from the 71st Golden Globes, 2014
The 71st Golden Globes were handed out at the LA tonight, and we stayed up all night – with a large supply of energy drinks and snacks – to bring you all the news from the star studded Beverly Hilton event.
The First Ladies of comedy, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, returned to host the ceremony for the second time. In their opening duologue they welcomed everyone in the room and ‘all the women and gay men watching at home’ before reminding us that, with AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, Meryl has proven that there are ‘still great roles in Hollywood for Meryl Streeps over 60′. Amy Poehler reminded us that she is nominated for her work on PARKS AND RECREATION, before brilliantly showing a shot of Jennifer Lawrence in her place. No-one was safe from the wit of Poehler and Fey as they good naturedly ripped into Tom Hanks, Martin Scorsese, George Clooney and even Netflix.
There was no truly big winner on the night, but AMERICAN HUSTLE took home the most awards. Keep reading to find out which ones…
The first award of the night, for BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, went to Jennifer Lawrence for AMERICAN HUSTLE. Larewnce breathlessly told how she fell in love with David O. Russell as a director after watching I HEART HUCKABEES, and commented on the irony that this was the man who made her career what it is.
No-one was truly surprised when BEHIND THE CANDELABRA won BEST TV MINI SERIES OR TV MOVIE. The film was not released in cinemas in the US, instead it was shown on HBO, which means that it is out of the running for most major movie award ceremonies. Producer Jerry Weintraub accepted the award for the film, praising the work of director Steven Soderbergh and the production team on the movie. Michael Douglas was also honoured for his role in the film, taking home the gong for BEST ACTOR IN A MINI SERIES OR TV MOVIE. Douglas said ‘In 1999, I was making this picture called TRAFFIC with Steven Soderbergh, one day we were doing a scene and I caught him looking at me pensively and he said “Ever thought about Liberace?” Now the paranoid actor I was, I thought I was mincing a little bit in the role I was doing. 10 years later, I get this incredible gift.’ Douglas also thanked his co-star Matt Damon; ‘The bravest, most talented actor I have ever worked with, and the only reason you’re not here is because I had more sequins’.
Among the distinguished honourees was the legendary director Woody Allen. Allen was awarded the Cecil B.DeMille Award, which honours outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment. Allen’s first screenplay was for the 1965 film WHAT’S NEW PUSSYCAT?, and his directorial debut came the following year with WHAT’S UP, TIGER LILY? Since then, Allen has directed over 40 movies, and written screenplays for over 50. Among his contribution to our cinematic lives are EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU, ANNIE HALL, MANHATTAN, the wonderful MIDNIGHT IN PARIS and this year’s BLUE JASMINE. Diane Keaton accepted the award on Woody Allen’s behalf saying ‘179 of the world’s most captivating women have been in Woody’s films and that’s because they wanted to. They wanted to because Woody’s women can’t be compartmentalized. They’ve struggled, they loved, they fall apart, they dominate, they’re funny, they’re flawed. They are the hallmark of Woody’s work. What’s even more remarkable is that there is absolutely nothing that links these unforgettable characters [other than] that they came from the mind of Woody Allen’. Keaton went on to say ‘It kind of breaks my heart to think I have known Woody for such a long time, but it also fills me with pride and affection and even love’.
One of the big awards on the night went to Steve McQueen’s 12 YEARS A SLAVE, which won BEST MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA. McQueen thanked his wife Biaca for finding Solomon Northup’s book, on which the film is based, the incredible cast of the film and Plan B Production Company for taking a chance on the film – ‘Brad Pitt, this film would not have got made without you’ – before having the assembled cast prompt him with the names he had forgotten to mention.
Ben Affleck announced the award for BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE, which went to Alfonso Cuarón for GRAVITY. ‘This is for the hundreds of people that make this film possible, who because of my thick accent end up doing what they think I said, and not what I actually said. Sandra, you are the most amazing collaborator. I want to thank you for not quitting when you thought I said “Sandra, I am going to give you herpes”, when I said “I am going to give you an ear piece”.’
Cate Blanchett won the Golden Globe for BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA, for her performance in BLUE JASMINE. When accepting her award, Cate said ‘That crept up, I had a few vodkas under my belt and here we are. I went to Magic Castle with my kids this morning and I thought that was weird. It’s been an extraordinary year for women. Woody, thank you for calling me and not one of the other women at the table.’
Matthew McConaughey scooped the award for BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA for his role in DALLAS BUYERS CLUB. McConaughey said ‘Unexpected, but graciously accepted. Respect to the other nominees in here with me, it’s great company to be in. Ron Woodruff’s story was an underdog, an underdog for 20 years; turned down 86 times, we got the right people together five years ago, put some skin to it and here it is. I am really glad it got passed on so many times or it wouldn’t have come to me’.
AMERICAN HUSTLE scooped the award for BEST MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL. Producer Charles Roven accepted the award, saying ‘One of the wonderful benefits of the motion picture business is that we get to make films about people. My producing partners and I, had the privilege of telling this particular story about the art of survival, about resilience, and about re-invention. This film wouldn’t be possible, and has to be shared with David O. Russell, whose love and passion for these flawed but indomitable characters is etched on every frame of this film’.
Amy Adams took the BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, MUSICAL OR COMEDY award home, for her performance in AMERICAN HUSTLE. Adams thanked director David O. Russell for creating roles that show princesses can punch, and refused to be played off when her speech ran long, staying on stage long enough to thank her daughter for bringing joy into her life and teaching her to let go of fear.
Leonardo DiCaprio snatched the award for BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, MUSICAL OR COMEDY for his role in THE WOLF OF WALL STREET saying; ‘This is an incredible, incredible honour. I never would have guessed for Best Actor in a comedy. Congratulations to my fellow comedians here tonight, Christian Bale, the great Joaquin Phoenix, Oscar Isaac and if any young actor wants to follow the filmography of a great artist, take a look at Bruce Dern’s work! I have to thank Mr Martin Scorsese, thank you for allowing me to stalk you into making this movie. You are not only an incredible visionary, but you put the fabric of our society on screen. Thank you for your mentorship and for encouraging me to taking risks on this movie’.
Having lost out on the Best Song Award, BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM went to FROZEN. Director Jennifer Lee said ‘To the artists of Disney and the most fearless note belting cast, we could not have done this without you’.
The gong for BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM went to THE GREAT BEAUTY, directed by Paolo Sorrentino. Sorrentino thanked his wife Daniella, his children and Italy ‘it’s a crazy country, but beautiful’.
Jared Leto scooped the award for BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR for his performance in DALLAS BUYERS CLUB, as AIDS patient Rayon. On accepting his award, Leto said ‘Let me clear up a couple of things; I didn’t use any prosthetics in this movie, that Brazilian bubble butt was all me. This is incredible, I didn’t make a film for over 6 years; I was pursuing other dreams. It is more than an honour to come back and have all this love and support. I never expected it; I never even dreamed of it… To the Rayons of the world, thanks for the inspiration’.
Emma Thompson took her shoes off to present the award for BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE (‘This red, it’s my blood’) to Spike Jonze for HER. Jonze seemed flustered, saying ‘I’m a terrible public speaker and I am bad at speaking English, and that’s the only language I know, so bear with me!’ Jonze thanked the other nominees in the category, including David O. Russell, who he called ‘a great friend, gave me great notes, watched the rough cut and told me what should be cut.’
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE went to Alex Ebert – for ALL IS LOST – reconnected with presenter P. Diddy, who he had once partied with on a boat in St Barts, before thanking J.C. Chandor for ‘letting me try, all over your movie’
The Award for BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE went to Ordinary Love from MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, written by our own U2. When accepting the award, The Edge said ‘We have been working for Mandela since the 70s, since we were teenagers and we did our first concert against the apartheid movement. It’s taken us 35 years to write this song’. Bono carried on the sentiment, saying ‘This really is personal for us. This man turned our lives upside down, right side up. A man who refused to hate, not because he didn’t have hate, but because he thought love would be better’
Words: Brogen Hayes