‘NEW DAY IS ON HORIZON’
OPRAH’S GOLDEN MOMENT: Inspiring call to women in wake of sex harassment scandals
Oprah Winfrey for president?
Golden Globes host Seth Meyers joked about it last night in his opening monologue, but in accepting the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award, Oprah tied her life story to America’s race and class struggles and the #MeToo movement and left many of Hollywood’s elites in tears.
“What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have, and I am especially proud and inspired by all the women who have felt strong enough and empowered enough to speak up and share their personal stories,” she said.
She called on all the little girls watching at home to “know a new day is on the horizon.”
It was Oprah at her finest, her most inspirational, and one must note, many a campaign has started on less profound notes.
This was an awards show unlike any other.
With just about every celebrity dressed in black in solidarity with women who have suffered sexual abuse and intimidation, stars ranging from Barbra Streisand to Reese Witherspoon to Salma Hayek put Hollywood on notice: Business as usual is over.
In his opening, Meyers riffed on the sex abuse and harassment scandals that have forced a reckoning in Hollywood and beyond.
“For the male nominees in the room, this will be the first time in three months it won’t be terrifying to hear your name read out loud,” Meyers joked.
But after making his points, Meyers all but disappeared from the show.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s picks have long been considered predictions for the Oscars.
Last night, they rewarded the “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” a drama about a mother’s quest for justice, with awards for best motion picture-drama, best actress Frances McDormand and best supporting actor Sam Rockwell.
On the comedy-musical side, the foreign press gave its top honors to “Lady Bird” and star Saoirse Ronan.
The TV side seemed to be a weak rerun of last year’s Emmys, with “Big Little Lies” sweeping its categories, for best TV movie/limited series, actress Nicole Kidman, supporting actor Alexander Skarsgard and supporting actress Laura Dern.
“The Handmaid’s Tale” and star Elisabeth Moss likewise won for best TV series drama and best actress drama.
One innovation: Amazon’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” about a female comedian building a career in the 1950s, and star Rachel Brosnahan picked up trophies for TV comedy.
Legend Kirk Douglas, 101, appeared onstage with daughter-in-law Catherine Zeta-Jones and was greeted with a standing ovation.
Jones reminded everyone that Douglas had helped end the Hollywood Blacklist in the 1950s.
It was one of the few surprises of a Golden Globes ceremony that seemed so concerned about talking the good fight that it forgot how to honor the magic of its industry.