It’s always a little tough writing about the Golden Globes as a South African critic because local reviewers will have only watched around half of the films nominated. The Oscars are always easier as they end off the awards season and by then media screenings for the all the English-language films will have been done. Nevertheless, it’s interesting to use the Globes to speculate about what the Academy might do. Ten years ago, the Globes were used as an easy prediction for the Oscars. Not so anymore.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association gave La La Land a record seven Globes, with the musical winning in all categories it was nominated in, including best picture – comedy or musical, best actress (Emma Stone) and best actor (Ryan Gosling) in that genre, as well as best director (Damien Chazelle), best screenplay, best original score, and best song.
As expected, Casey Affleck (Ben’s little bro) picked up the award for best actor in a drama for Manchester by the Sea, while one of the surprises of the night was Isabelle Huppert’s award for best actress in a drama, for Elle, which also won best foreign-language film.
This year’s Globes have led the way in diversity, with Moonlight – the story of a black man coming to grips with his sexuality – winning best picture, drama. Viola Davis won best supporting actress for Fences. On the small screen, Donald Glover won best actor in a comedy or musical series for Atlanta, which also won the best comedy series award. Tracee Ellis Ross won the best actress in a comedy series award for “black-ish”.
Here is the full list of winners, announced on 8 January 2017 (sourced from NYT).
MOVIES
Best picture, drama: “Moonlight”
Best picture, comedy or musical: “La La Land”
Actress, drama: Isabelle Huppert, “Elle”
Actor, drama: Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the Sea”
Actress, comedy or musical: Emma Stone, “La La Land”
Actor, comedy or musical: Ryan Gosling, “La La Land”
Supporting actress: Viola Davis, “Fences”
Supporting actor: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, “Nocturnal Animals”
Director: Damien Chazelle, “La La Land”
Screenplay: Damien Chazelle, “La La Land”
Animated film: “Zootopia”
Foreign language film: “Elle” (France)
Original score: Justin Hurwitz, “La La Land”
Original song: “City of Stars,” “La La Land”
TELEVISION
Best series, drama: “The Crown,” Netflix
Best series, comedy or musical: “Atlanta,” FX
Best television movie or mini-series: “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” FX
Actress, mini-series or television movie: Sarah Paulson, “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”
Actor, mini-series or television movie: Tom Hiddleston, “The Night Manager”
Actress, drama: Claire Foy, “The Crown”
Actor, drama: Billy Bob Thornton, “Goliath”
Actress, comedy or musical: Tracee Ellis Ross, “black-ish”
Actor, comedy or musical: Donald Glover, “Atlanta”
Supporting actress: Olivia Colman, “The Night Manager”
Supporting actor: Hugh Laurie, “The Night Manager”