Making Sense of a Crazy Night at the Golden Globes

Let’s get some form of optimistic logic from the core of the shell-shocked state coming out of those Golden Globes results. I know, that’s not possible. Believe me, it is. It’s certainly not all good news for the masses. But there is some delicious food for thought amidst the spilled liquor.

Although every Motion Picture Drama winner, since the Academy expanded their field, has made the Best Picture cut, only 3 of those actually won the Oscar. Each without a director win I might add – which seems comfortingly appreciated in this case.
Huge, crowd-pleasing speeches resonate with AMPAS voters much, much more than perhaps you realize. Glenn Close’s Golden Globe winner’s speech for The Wife (genuine female empowerment, pay attention) was interrupted with a standing ovation. Respected, admired, loved, for so long – her first Academy Award is well and truly on its way.
Let’s not forget that Alfonso Cuaron won yet another Best Director prize. The term unstoppable is so fitting now in an awards race so open and unpredictable. Roma also took the Foreign Language Film award, ineligible in the Drama category because of the language spoken. That’s an issue in itself if we’re going to talk about universality.
As the top Motion Picture honors went, contentious is an understatement. Comedy / Musical victor was the race drama Green Book, and music biopic Bohemian Rhapsody stole Drama. Go figure. ‘Stole’ feels like the correct word. I’m not even going to mention the terrible reviews and the director’s behaviour.
If Beale Street Could Talk and First Man popped back out of the sand with extremely popular wins. Both films have had shaky, varied awards seasons. First Man, in particular, looked dead and buried – perhaps still is – but its technical flair is keeping it in the conversation. Incidentally, in the Best Original Score race, it would seem Nicholas Britell (If Beale Street Could Talk) is Justin Hurwitz’s biggest competition.
Lady Gaga looks to still be on track for some gold, so don’t panic yet. Golden Globes aside, A Star Is Born has been up there all season, but hardly dominated when it comes to wins. That is, except “Shallow” for Best Original Song, which is as sure thing as you can get. Take a step back, nothing has changed there.
One more thing. A bit of context is very important. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is made up of near-enough 100 wine-spilling, so-called journalists, from over 50 countries around the world (wow, diversity, bravo); whereas the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences is a professional organization of close-to 7,000 members – an institution of voters undergoing serious demographic rejuvenation. The Oscars look pretty fucking good right now, huh…