ZCZC
BFF-12
ENTERTAINMENT-US-FILM-TELEVISION-GLOBES
Hollywood prepares to toast winners at Golden Globes
LOS ANGELES, Jan 5, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Hollywood’s biggest party, the Golden
Globes, kicks off the showbiz awards season Sunday, with streaming giant
Netflix expected to be popping champagne corks through the night.
Stars will don couture gowns and extravagant jewels before they hit the red
carpet at the luxury Beverly Hills hotel where the calendar’s second-most
important — but rowdiest — prize-giving gala takes place.
Victory at the Globes ensures key momentum for the Oscars, which are a
little more than a month away.
Netflix and its expensively assembled roster of A-listers are far ahead of
the traditional studios with 17 Globe film nominations.
The streaming giant secured an equal number of nods in the often-overlooked
television categories, where it also leads the pack, ahead of HBO at 15.
Netflix has two frontrunners to scoop the night’s most prestigious film
prize, best drama — Martin Scorsese’s gangster epic “The Irishman” and
heart-wrenching divorce saga “Marriage Story.”
“Certainly Netflix is pouring everything they can into this and has a good
shot in the drama category,” said Deadline’s awards columnist Pete Hammond.
“That would be a big deal for Netflix, definitely.” Vatican drama “The Two
Popes” is also in contention for the streamer, while Warner Bros. dark comic
tale “Joker” and Universal war epic “1917” round out the category.
Netflix only began producing original movies in 2015, but has spent
billions to lure the industry’s top filmmaking talent — and to fund lavish
awards season campaigns.
It also has Eddie Murphy’s comeback vehicle “Dolemite Is My Name” in the
best comedy or musical race — unlike the Oscars, Globes organizers split
films into two categories.
But “Dolemite” is expected to face stiff competition from frontrunner “Once
Upon a Time… in Hollywood.”
Quentin Tarantino’s homage to 1960s Tinseltown has resonated with the 90-
odd veteran entertainment reporters of the Hollywood Foreign Press
Association (HFPA), which doles out the prizes.
In 2019, they correctly picked the Oscar winner in every film category
except for best musical score.
“Last year, they had by far the best track record of any other show,” said
Hammond.
Oscar nominations voting is already under way, but does not close until
Tuesday, meaning Academy members may be tempted to wait for the Globes to
conclude before casting their ballots.
“Momentum is ready to be built out of this,” added Hammond.
– Firing line –
British comedian Ricky Gervais returns for a record fifth time as Globes
host.
His provocative barbs have both riled and delighted Hollywood stars in
previous years.
MORE/MSY/0922 hrs
ZCZC
BFF-13
ENTERTAINMENT-US-FILM-TELEVISION-GLOBES-2-LAST
This time, he has promised to “go after the general community” rather than
individuals, telling the Hollywood Reporter that “pretension and hypocrisy”
will be in his firing line.
The starry list of award presenters include nominees Brad Pitt, Leonardo
DiCaprio (both from “Once Upon a Time…”) and Jennifer Lopez (“Hustlers”).
In the drama acting categories, Joaquin Phoenix is leading a crowded field
for his radical portrayal of the villainous anti-hero in “Joker.”
But Adam Driver’s intense turn in “Marriage Story” has generated
significant buzz, while the ever-popular Antonio Banderas has been hailed for
a career-best performance in “Pain and Glory.”
Renee Zellweger looks in a formidable position to pick up the best actress
gong with Judy Garland biopic “Judy.”
Newcomer Apple will be hoping to make waves in the television categories,
where its #MeToo drama “The Morning Show” has multiple nominations.
But it must fend off Netflix’s flagship “The Crown,” boasting a new cast
led by Oscar winner Olivia Colman.
– Hollywood heavyweights –
And early signs suggest a breakthrough year for Asian filmmaking.
Asian-American actress Awkwafina is favorite to collect best comedy actress
for “The Farewell,” while South Korean black comedy “Parasite” is expected to
bag the award for best foreign language film.
Bong Joon-ho, the filmmaker behind “Parasite,” goes head-to-head with
Hollywood heavyweights Tarantino and Scorsese in the best director category.
But the HFPA drew stinging criticism for its failure to nominate any female
directors.
HFPA president Lorenzo Soria defended the all-male list, insisting that
members of his organization “don’t vote by gender” but “by film and
accomplishment.”
Sam Mendes (“1917”) and Todd Phillips (“Joker”) round out the category.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0922 hrs