Sweat, blood and tears

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Sweat, blood and tears

Tuesday, 07 January 2020 | AP

Sweat, blood and tears

At the 77th Golden Globes, winners seized their moment to speak their minds about current events, including the wildfires in Australia, rising tensions with Iran, women’s rights and the importance of LGBT trailblazers

The 77th Golden Globes were meant to be a coronation for Netflix. Instead, a pair of big-screen epics took top honours, 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 favorites as Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story, the leading nominee with six nods, and Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman. Both are acclaimed Netflix releases but collectively took home just one award, for Laura Dern’s supporting performance as a divorce attorney in Marriage Story. The Irishman was shut out. 1917 also won best director for Mendes. The film was made in sinuous long takes, giving the impression that the film unfolds in one lengthy shot. “I hope this means that people will turn up and see this on the big screen, the way it was intended,” said Mendes, whose film expands nationwide on Friday.

Though set around the 1969 Manson murders Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was classified a comedy and had an easier path to victory than the more competitive drama category. Brad Pitt won for best supporting actor, his first acting Globe since winning in 1996 for 12 Monkeys, padding his front-runner status for the Oscars. Tarantino also won best screenplay. “I wanted to bring my mom but I couldn’t because any woman I stand next to they say I am dating so it’d just be awkward,” Pitt said.

Ricky Gervais, hosting the NBC-telecast ceremony for the fifth time, began the evening with an expletive-laden plea against hypocrisy, telling winners to stick to thanking their agent and their god. Gervais opened the show by stating that Netflix had taken over Hollywood, given its commanding 34 nominations coming into the Globes. As it turned out, he was wrong. Netflix won only two awards: Dern’s win plus one for Olivia Colman’s performance in The Crown.

Michelle Williams was an exception, where the talk mostly avoided politics despite fears of war amid increasing tensions with Iran. The actress used her acceptance speech to speak out about the coming US election, the status of women and abortion rights. “I’m grateful for the acknowledgement of the choices I’ve made and also grateful to have lived at a moment in our society where choice exists, because as women and as girls things can happen to our bodies that are not our choice,” Williams said as she accepted the Golden Globe for best actress in a limited television series for her role on FX’s Fosse/Verdon. “I wouldn’t have been able to do this without employing a woman’s right to choose. To choose when to have my children and with whom,” Williams said. “When I felt supported and able to balance our lives, knowing as all mothers know that the scales must and will tilt towards our children.”

Best actor has been this year’s most competitive category, with nominees including Adam Driver (Marriage Story) and Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory). But Joaquin Phoenix won for his loose-limbed performance in the divisive but hugely popular Joker. Phoenix gave a rambling speech that began with crediting the HFPA with the vegan meal served at the ceremony.

Tom Hanks, also a nominee for his supporting turn as Fred Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, received the Cecil B DeMille lifetime achievement award. The Carol Burnett Award, a similar honourary award given for television accomplishment, went to Ellen DeGeneres. She was movingly introduced by Kate McKinnon who said DeGeneres’ example guided her in her own coming out. “The only thing that made it less scary was seeing Ellen on TV,” said McKinnon. Hanks’ speech had its own emotional moment when he caught sight of his wife and four children at a table near the stage and choked up. “A man is blessed with the family’s sitting down front like that,” Hanks said.

Fleabag, Succession, Chernobyl win top Globes

Real-life stories ruled the Golden Globe TV honours, as Olivia Colman’s portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II, Michelle Williams’ turn as Broadway star Gwen Verdon and the nuclear disaster drama Chernobyl won top honours.

Fleabag, which dominated last fall’s Emmy Awards, was honoured as best comedy series and its star-creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge claimed the best actress award. She credited her co-star, Andrew Scott aka the show’s “Hot Priest,” for their much-lauded chemistry. Former President Barack Obama also got a shout out from Waller-Bridge for putting Fleabag on his 2019 best-of list. “As some of you may know, he’s always been on mine,” she said, playfully, referring curious viewers to season one of her series.

The broadcast networks, including Globes host NBC, didn’t have a chance: All of them were shut out of the nominations in an unprecedented sign of the small-screen’s shift to cable and streaming in attention and prestige. The growth in streaming platforms, including Apple and Disney Plus, is a dominant media story. But while streamers performed well at the Globes with Netflix’s The Crown and Amazon’s Fleabag they didn’t shut out cable contenders including FX’s Fosse/Verdon and HBO’s Succession.

Succession, about a media empire beset by family infighting, won the best drama series award. Brian Cox, who stars as the patriarch, was honoured as best actor. “I want to apologise to my fellow nominees for winning this. I’m sorry. I never thought this would ever happen to me,” the veteran actor said.

Well-wishes send to Australia from the stage

Australian communities battling wildfires were given several messages of support at the Golden Globes, with Ellen DeGeneres, Patricia Arquette and Australian-born Cate Blanchett among those sending best wishes. Russell Crowe couldn’t be there because he was helping fight the flames. The wildfires have so far scorched an area twice the size of the US state of Maryland. They have killed at least two dozen people and destroyed about 2,000 homes. Crowe’s statement read, “Make no mistake, the tragedy unfolding in Australia is climate change-based. We need to act based on science, move our global workforce to renewable energy and respect our planet for the unique and amazing place it is. That way, we all have a future.”

DeGeneres took time at the top of her speech accepting the Carol Burnett Award to honour those fighting the fires. Patricia Arquette mourned “the continent of Australia on fire.” Phoebe Waller-Bridge said she would auction off her Globe outfit and have the proceeds go to firefighter relief.

Blanchett said she wanted to give a special call-out to the volunteer firefighters fighting the blazes. “When one country faces a climate disaster, we all face a climate disaster,” she said. Pierce Brosnan said everyone was behind Australia: “Stay strong. We’re with you. God bless.”

Joaquin Phoenix said he appreciated the well-wishes but said, “We have to do more than that.” He said voting for change is fine, but sometimes people have to take matters into their own hands. He criticised those in the room for flying private planes to Palm Springs for the awards. “I’ll try to better and I hope you will, too.” he said.

The starry comments came despite an admonishment by host Ricky Gervais to the crowd to not talk about politics. “You’re in no position to lecture the public about anything,” Gervais declared at the top of the show. “You know nothing about the real world.”

Plenty of pink, puffy sleeves and shimmer

There were plenty of pink, puffy sleeves and a touch of neon on the Golden Globes red carpet as the stars shimmered and shined on one of the award season’s biggest nights for fashion.

Pink had a moment in soft hues for Kirsten Dunst (Rodarte) and Dakota Fanning. Isla Fisher and Tiffany Haddish went for bold hot pink, while Margot Robbie showed off a burst of encrusted colour in a strapless top with a white column skirt below by Chanel, her hair loose and beach wavy. Priyanka Chopra Jonas and her husband Nick Jonas made a stylish appearance at the red carpet. Dressed in a pink off-shoulder ensemble, Priyanka looked no less than any diva and it was her diamond neckpiece which grabbed the maximum attention. On the other hand, Nick look dapper in a black suit.

And then there was Jennifer Lopez, in Valentino Couture with a huge gold and emerald green bow at the bodice, her hair piled high in high braided bun and her jewels — all 145 carats of Colombian emeralds and 58 diamonds — courtesy of Harry Winston. The Lopez look included a voluminous white gown under that statement bow. While she toted plenty of fabric, Gwyneth Paltrow was travelling light in a bronze, two-piece Fendi look of sheers over sheers. Skin was exposed with a statement necklace thrown into the mix.

Reese Witherspoon (white Roland Mouret), Jennifer Anniston (black Dior) and Nicole Kidman were among the stars who went classic Hollywood. Charlize Theron took a risk that paid off with a draped sash on one shoulder in neon green and a black bustier underneath.

Chokers were abundant, from Theron to Cynthia Erivo, the latter wearing a huge blue stone at the center of her short necklace.

Jodie Comer, from Killing Eve, sported another fashion trend of the evening — puffy sleeves — in emerald green. Kidman represented for the reds in a strapless look with subtle draping and a short train. So did Scarlett Johansson in a longer train and bustle bow custom look in crimson from Vera Wang and Olivia Colman in custom raspberry from the Emilia Wickstead Collection (big sleeves, check).

Gugu Mbatha-Raw stunned in metallic golden yellow sequin dress from Gucci, her hair cropped, while Zoe Kravitz went for dots — smaller ones on top and large ones on the bottom of her dress, courtesy of Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello. Kravitz wasn’t the only star to reach for a pattern. Taylor Swift showed up in a power print from Etro. It was a custom look in navy silk jacquard with a floral design of huge blooms. Cate Blanchett went architectural in a Mary Katrantzou gown. Michelle Williams was dressed in Louis Vuitton, a custom look in soft orange with one dropped shoulder.

And the men? Andrew Scott, the “hot priest” from Fleabag, left his cream tuxedo jacket unbuttoned for interviews and wore a huge smile on his face during his first trip to the Globes, a dark curl falling over his forehead.

Billy Porter, the Pose nominee and fashion trailblazer, failed to disappoint in an epic long train in cream. It was adorned with white feathers and attached to a tuxedo jacket in the same hue. It’s a custom look by Alex Vinash and — bonus — the train zips off. “It is a dinner and I do have to sit down,” he smiled. Porter’s gear took three months to create, well before nominations were announced. “It’s really odd to have to work on clothes before you’re even nominated,” he said.

The gender-bending star and singer carried a mirrored bag by Emm Kuo, with a diamond dragon fly on one lapel by Tiffany & Co.

Fred Leighton had a big night, providing jewels for Meryl Streep, Aniston, Kidman, Dunst and Rooney Mara, to name a few. So did Harry Winston, who also adorned Helen Mirren ($4 million worth), and Joey King, along with a slew of others. King wore one of the evening’s most interesting looks: An optical swirl of black and white stripes. It was a short dress with a ruffly cape effect and a delicate high collar that continued the lines. The designer was Iris van Herpen Haute Couture.

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