‘Change’ is the anthem at diverse ceremony
‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ crowned, ‘The Americans’ takes a bow; more roles for women encouraged
“Bohemian Rhapsody” won best picture, drama, and “Green Book” won for best picture, musical or comedy, at the 76th annual Golden Globes ceremony on Sunday night.
On the TV side, “The Americans” won best drama and “The Kominsky Method” won best comedy from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” won for limited series or TV movie.
“The Americans,” in particular, felt deserving for its stately final season, in which a seemingly grand story about two Russian spies living in America in the 1980s proved itself not a geopolitical epic but rather an epic of family dynamics. It was subtly devastating and beautiful, and has deserved the honors cast upon it, even without the unnerving accidental allegory that surfaced from its narrative.
Befitting a year in which the field of nominees was notably diverse, the list of film winners emerged without a single award-hoarding winner, though “Green Book” also won for its screenplay and supporting actor Mahershala Ali. And “Rhapsody” about the rock band Queen and its singer Freddie Mercury, also earned a best actor award for Rami Malek, who played the flamboyant frontman.
Glenn Close won best actress, drama, for “The Wife” and Regina King won supporting actress for her work in “If Beale Street Could Talk.” Meanwhile, acting awards on the musical and comedy side were given to Olivia Colman who won for her work on “The Favourite” and Christian Bale for playing former Vice President Dick Cheney in “Vice.”
“What do you think, Mitch McConnell next?” Bale said while collecting his statue.
In TV, lead acting awards in drama went to Sandra Oh, one of the telecast’s hosts, for “Killing Eve,” and Richard Madden for “Bodyguard.” On the comedy side, Rachel Brosnahan won for “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and Michael Douglas won for “The Kominsky Method.” Supporting actor honors went to Ben Whishaw for “A Very English Scandal” and Patricia Clarkson for “Sharp Objects.”
The binary comedy/drama categories may explain the absence of the innovative “Atlanta” from the 10 nominated TV shows.
“Roma” won a directing award for Alfonso Cuarón as well as foreign language film, which felt all but certain considering its absence from the drama category was inexcusable. The two wins certainly position it as a strong player for the forthcoming Academy Awards.
And that’s most of what was worthy of celebration.
Way too long
The Globes has long played the part of drunk uncle among award shows, noted for its looseness. But usually that looseness is tied to the event, not the preparation. This show appeared to air because air time had already been paid for.
To wit, three stars (including Houston native Jim Parsons) of TV’s “Big Bang Theory” came out early in the telecast to present an award for actor in a TV drama. The patter included a mumbled “joke” about Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, two rappers who have nothing at all to do with TV.
That award went to House Stark, Madden from “Bodyguard.”
On an evening of inoffensive cliché, he “didn’t see this coming at all,” which isn’t true because he pulled from his tux a piece of paper bearing names worthy of thanks.
Then, presumably because presenters are scarce in Hollywood, the same bored trio handed out the best TV drama award — kind of a big one — without a word of introduction beyond reciting the category and nominees.
For what it’s worth, that award went to “The Americans.” No big deal, just the biggest TV award of the night.
And then the show returned to its trudge, which somehow ran past three hours even without any musical performances, stunts or sketches. But hey, who doesn’t like seeing advertisement reruns?
Nice but unfunny
Hosts Andy Samberg and Sandra Oh were a perfect fit for such a telecast, as they nattered half-heartedly through a 13minute introduction that was toothless and not very amusing. They “roasted” some prominent nominees for being wonderful and served up a few jokes that floated with the grace and eloquence of a fish flopping on the deck of a boat. A minor point awarded to Oh when she got choked up about looking out on the audience at the “faces of change.”
Maya Rudolph and Amy Poehler were a rare highlight among presenters. I don’t know if they wrote their bits or if they were written for them — including a funny and gently damning onscreen marriage proposal — but they produced some rare comic energy. Nearly as good were presenters and spouses William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman. “Witty banter,” he said. “Witty banter,” she said. “Witty banter,” he said. Then they handed out a trophy.
Jeff Bridges — winner of the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award — warrants note for bringing up Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller in a stoner reference.
A point, too, to Steve Carell for his sweet and thoughtful remarks about American treasure Carol Burnett, who won the first ever Carol Burnett Award, a TV version of the Cecil B. DeMille Award that goes to film folks for lifetime achievement.
Upon receiving her lifetime achievement award, Burnett said, “I’m so glad we had this time together.”
She was referring not to this particular Sunday night, but rather to her lifetime in TV.