Well, I didn’t do so well with my Golden Globe predictions (9 out of 14), but the GG’s are known for being unpredictable, so I knew there would be some surprises.
Here are some of my observations about the awards and show:
-Ricky Gervais is getting called on the carpet for instilling a negative tone to the evening. They say he was mean-spirited, insulting and derisive. They also forgot to mention he was funny. I mean, come on…he was standing in a room filled with rich and famous actors, most of whom are surrounded daily by kiss-asses who tell them the sun revolves around them. Add to that the fact that they were all gathered in that room to congratulate themselves and to tell each other how brilliant and gorgeous they are. Well, if you’re beautiful, rich, pampered and famous and can’t take a joke, then either get a thicker skin or get out of the limelight. Because Ricky did what he was hired to do: be funny and make the show entertaining. Love you, Ricky—but good luck getting another job in this town.
-Chris Colfer’s acceptance speech (for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series) was my favorite moment of the night: heartfelt, moving and poignant, it encapsulated, for me, why they give these awards and why we watch them.
-Jane Lynch (Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series) was hilarious, spoofing her own fame and pretending to be arrogant and jaded. Classic.
-Diane Warren’s acceptance speech for Best Song was the complete opposite of all the speeches given by the front-of-camera talent, as she seemed exceedingly nervous and unpolished. And yet her speech came across as the most real, especially when she dedicated it to her murdered friend Ronnie Chasen. An actor would have milked the moment, but Warren’s sincerity spoke volumes.
-After the Emmys, where Temple Grandin made such an impression during the telecast when Claire Danes won for playing her in a movie, I was expecting something interesting when I saw she was there to support Danes again. And, sure enough, when Danes won, Temple was exuberant—happier than anyone else in the room—and spontaneously gave Danes a great big bear hug, which you could tell caught the actress by surprise. But there was no way to script a moment like that, or to fake that kind of enthusiasm and joy. That was great television.
-I am a big fan of Natalie Portman (Best Actress in a Drama) and am thrilled that she is getting recognized this year for her work, but I was truly disappointed with her acceptance speech, where she really had little of substance to say and came across like a schoolgirl with a crush. She’s better—and smarter—than that. And I hope she redeems herself on Oscar night.
-Ok, I loved Chris Colfer’s speech, but my favorite win of the evening was Trent Reznor (along with Atticus Ross) winning for Best Score. He is a genuine rock star, but a far cry from being beloved or accepted by the mainstream. His music (with group Nine Inch Nails) is alternative, dark and intense—everything that old fogey awards voters seem to hate. I mean Danny Elfman (from alt rock band Oingo Boingo) has been at it much longer than Reznor, and he still has yet to notch a major award for composing. Let’s hope the Globes’ awarding of true talent will pave the way for the Oscars to break from their comfort zone and honor a real outsider—who just happens to have done the best work of the year.
-Not sure what was up with Melissa Leo (Best Supporting Actress in a Drama), whose speech came across to me as humorless and rambling. She may have really hurt her chances for Oscar.
-Loved seeing Katey Segal win for Sons of Anarchy.
-The best presenters of the night, which should surprise nobody, were Tina Fey and Steve Carell. I know they were asked to host the Oscars (at least Fey was) and turned it down. It’s a shame, because they are just perfect.
-Colin Firth and Christian Bale. This is their year, finally. Two actors who I have loved and admired for years and whose work has always gone under the radar. It’s about time and richly deserved.
-Not sure what Robert Downey, Jr. was doing or thinking during his ill-conceived sex-themed banter about the nominees for Best Actress in a Drama. Whatever it was, it came across as awkward, unfunny and just plain weird.
-Finally, Hailee Steinfeld was so poised and elegant that she made the world’s biggest pop star seem like an awkward child. She just may have propelled herself to Oscar.