By Hunter Grasdal, Third Year, Liberal Arts
The first major award ceremony of the year took place at the beginning of the month. Let’s take a look at everything from the attendees to the wins and snubs, and ponder the question: how did it go?
In the coming weeks, award ceremonies such as the Oscars, the Critics Choice Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards will take place. Movies and TV shows released over the past year will be coming together to see who takes home the big awards. Now that the 82nd Golden Globes have taken place, the question is what can be expected next? Have the Golden Globes predicted an accurate outcome of this year’s future winners, or will the tide turn?
Most people’s opinion of an award ceremony such as the Golden Globes depends on if the people, TV-shows and films they are cheering for win, and I am exactly the same. I was already disappointed at the lack to nominations and recognition for Dune: Part Two, especially in the director category. Denis Villeneuve’s adaption of Dune comes from a place of love and admiration of the source material. The cinematography, the costumes, the script and world building, in my opinion, Villeneuve’s Dune films are up there with The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I remember leaving the cinema after Dune: Part Two, anticipating the award sweeps it would be doing, and I am now sat looking around me asking an invisible audience “Did no one else see this movie?” It seems strange that a movie that was so critically acclaimed, and has been so highly praised throughout the year, is now heavily ignored and treated as insignificant. The Oscars have yet to take place, so let’s all light a candle.
Emilia Pérez won best motion picture in a musical or comedy, and best motion picture in a non-English language. In the first category, the movie was up against critically acclaimed movies such as Challengers, Anora and Wicked. People were quite confused why Emilia Pérez took home the award, as the movie is rated lower than the three previously mentioned on Rotten Tomatoes, IMDB, and Letterboxd. Many feel that the movie is offensive in its portrayal of trans people, and although it is marketed as good representation, there is some scathing criticism. Drew Brunett Gregory wrote about in her article, ‘I do not think only trans people can tell trans stories, but I’m curious when we will cease to be a metaphor. I’m curious when cis people who are fascinated enough to make movies about us will also be fascinated enough to learn anything about us.’
If awarding Emilia Pérez is the Golden Globes’ attempt to be seen as a progressive institution, perhaps highlighting the movies which come from a genuine place of respect and understanding of the trans community is the better move. There is also a question on its representation of Mexicans. The movie is set in Mexico, but is not filmed in Mexico, the majority of the cast are not Mexicans and the director is French. Not that the French can’t make Mexican movies, but it is factors like this which makes people feel conflicted about the movie’s ethics and authenticity. Zoe Saldana won for supporting actress for her performance, which is genuinely deserved. Though the script and music fail her at certain points, her performance was one of the few highlights of the movie.
Demi Moore won her first award ever for her performance in Coralie Fargeat's sophomore film, The Substance. Also starring Margaret Qualley, The Substance is a horror film about Hollywood film star Elizabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), who is fired from her job due to her age. Using a drug she is able to create a much younger ‘more beautiful’ version of herself (Margaret Qualley). In her acceptance speech, Moore said ‘In those moments, when we don’t think we’re smart enough, or pretty enough, or skinny enough or successful enough, or basically just not enough, I had a woman say to me: ‘Just know, you will never be enough, but you can know the value of your worth if you just put down the measuring stick.’’ Some of the most heart-warming words I have heard in ages. Demi Moore winning her first award at age 62, for a performance in a movie about how unfair and harsh the entertainment industry treats women in regard to their age, is a beautiful full circle moment.
The host of this year’s Golden Globes, Nikki Glaser, had a good handful of hilarious moments in her opening monologue. Calling the Golden Globes ‘Ozempic’s biggest night’, taking a diss at Joker 2 for receiving zero nominations. Talking about Babygirl, a quite sexually charged movie, she said: ‘I loved that movie, I give that two fingers up.’ At one point she turned to Glen Powell: ‘You were in everything: Twister, Hit Man, my head when I’m having sex with my boyfriend. Thank you so much for the assist, I’ll see you tonight!’ She asked Ariana Grande to ‘hold her finger’, recreating the viral ‘holding space’ meme from the Wicked press tour, and the audience abrupted into laughter. She was a delightful host, and for all I care, can host every Golden Globe from now on.
Other notable happenings were The Brutalist winning for Best Motion Picture Drama, Brady Corbet for Best Director and Adrien Brody Best Actor. Kieran Culkin won for his performance in A Real Pain, and his speeches are always a highlight. Challengers won Best Original Score and those techno beats could get me out on a tennis court any day.
And so the Golden Globes come to a close, and may the rest of the award season favour us all. Regardless of what emotions we’re left with, I think we can all agree that Ayo Edebiri looked absolutely fantastic. The queen of Ireland and the people’s princess was truly glowing.
What are your thoughts on The Golden Globes?
