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Two years prior, the Golden Globes and the group responsible for organizing them, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), were shunned in Hollywood. After numerous reports of corruption, racism, and even sexual assault within their organization, the ceremony was boycotted by the entertainment industry and no longer broadcasted by its longtime partner, NBC.
The ceremony proceeded without an audience or broadcast, raising a similar question to the philosophical “if a tree falls in a forest” dilemma. It appears that there was a reaction: winners like Nicole Kidman and Rachel Zegler took to social media to share their victories while also reprimanding the voters. In the chaotic and cutthroat race of awards season, even a blemished victory can be seen as a chance for recognition.
In the end, it’s not like the awards suddenly lost their prestige. For a long time, the fact that the HFPA membership consisted of lesser-known individuals and their debatable choices (such as Pia Zadora’s controversial win in the 80s amidst bribery allegations, or The Tourist receiving a best picture nomination despite being a critical disaster starring Johnny Depp) was often ridiculed by those in the industry, yet they still eagerly attended the annual January event known for its heavy drinking.
With the rise of social awareness, it has become increasingly difficult to ignore more serious accusations, such as actor Brendan Fraser’s accusation that former HFPA president Philip Berk groped him at a professional gathering. Critics suggested that this could signal the downfall of a once-revered Hollywood organization known for its questionable practices.
However, the impact of a thorough PR revamp is remarkable. After a hesitant comeback on television last year – which was still boycotted by certain nominees, such as Fraser – this year’s Golden Globes are making a grand statement of being not only back, but completely transformed: with new voters, a fresh mindset, and even a couple of additional award categories. Hollywood, on the other hand, will be making a dazzling return, demonstrating that a prestigious ceremony for self-congratulation cannot be stopped. Not even a questionable one.
There is now a brand new voting population.
The Golden Globes were once known for being organized by the HFPA, but the specifics of their involvement remained unclear. The HFPA is a non-profit group of entertainment journalists who represent outlets outside of the US. With a membership of only about 100 people, it was much easier to influence than the 10,500-member academy who votes for the Oscars, making it a less prestigious organization.
Their questionable reputation was accepted until 2021, when the HFPA’s ethical and demographic composition was exposed by an investigation by the LA Times, revealing a lack of diversity including no black members. The association has now been dissolved and replaced with a selected group of 300 global journalists, with 47% being female and only 40% being white, according to the new owners of the Globes – private equity firm Eldridge Industries and Dick Clark Productions. This year’s nominations, which mostly consist of critically acclaimed films such as Barbie and Oppenheimer, Past Lives, Anatomy of a Fall, and The Zone of Interest, indicate that the new group does not want to be looked down upon.
Barbie may be the one to surpass.
Barbie has received nine nominations for this year’s Golden Globe awards, putting her in the lead among all other contenders. This ties her with the musical Cabaret from 1972 for the second-highest number of nominations in history. The only film ahead of them is another 70s classic, Nashville, with 11 nominations.
Some may argue that Barbie’s three nominations are in a less significant category, such as best original song, while one is in the recently established and vaguely defined category of cinematic and box office achievement. This category includes less prestigious works like The Super Mario Bros Movie and Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour. (When the Oscars proposed a similar award for best popular film a few years ago, it was eventually abandoned due to criticism and confusion – two traits that the Golden Globes have never shied away from.)
Don’t assume Barbie’s nomination haul guarantees a good night for Team Gerwig, however, particularly with fierce competition from Poor Things in the comedy/musical categories: from its record-breaking 11 bids, Nashville won a single award… for best original song.
“Do not make your Oscar predictions too soon.”
However, for those vying for the ultimate achievement – the Oscar – the Golden Globes may not hold as much weight. While it was once believed that the Globes were a reliable indicator of Oscar success, there has been a notable divergence in recent years. Critics now turn to industry guild awards and the Baftas for a better understanding of who may take home an Oscar. In the past two decades, only eight films that won Best Picture at the Oscars also won the equivalent prize at the Golden Globes.
In the previous year, global voters favored Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin over the eventual Oscar-winning film Everything Everywhere All at Once. They also preferred the performances of Austin Butler and Angela Bassett over Oscar winners Brendan Fraser and Jamie Lee Curtis. In the year prior, Jane Campion’s unique western film The Power of the Dog was chosen over the more conventional Oscar winner Coda. In other instances, they selected The Social Network over The King’s Speech, The Grand Budapest Hotel over Birdman, Brokeback Mountain over the surprising Oscar winner Crash, and so on.
They have the potential to be more fashionable than you may believe.
If, similar to numerous reviewers and movie enthusiasts, you believe that those selections are a positive reflection of the struggling and less esteemed ceremony, here’s something that often goes unacknowledged about the Golden Globes: they occasionally exhibit better and more daring preferences than one may assume.
This particular group has recognized the brilliance of David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive by nominating it for best picture in 2001, a recognition that cannot be claimed by the Oscars. They have also awarded talented actors such as Isabelle Huppert for her daringly controversial performance as a conflicted rape victim in Paul Verhoeven’s Elle, and Sally Hawkins, who was not nominated for Oscars or Baftas, for her unique comedic role in Mike Leigh’s Happy-Go-Lucky.
The comedy/musical category at the Globes has allowed for recognition of timeless films and performances that may have been overlooked by the more serious-minded Academy. While Marilyn Monroe never received an Oscar nomination, she did receive a well-deserved Globe for her role in Some Like It Hot.
3
They are really into the number 3.
Barbra Streisand
Despite previous issues involving diversity, the Golden Globes achieved a milestone 26 years before the Oscars. The Academy only recognized a woman for best director in 2010, with Kathryn Bigelow winning for her film The Hurt Locker. However, the Golden Globes had already honored a woman back in 1984. This accomplishment was not a stretch for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, as the winner was Barbra Streisand for her first directing effort, the self-promoting musical Yentl. Interestingly, the Oscars did not even nominate Yentl for consideration by their directors’ branch.
La Streisand has earned the most Golden Globe awards, with a total of 10, for her accomplishments in acting, filmmaking, and songwriting. (Meryl Streep, with eight wins, holds the record for acting alone.) In the year that La Streisand won an Oscar, James Cameron was preferred by globe voters over Kathryn Bigelow. Since then, only Chloé Zhao and Jane Campion have joined La Streisand on the list of women who have won a Golden Globe for directing. Greta Gerwig and newcomer Celine Song from Past Lives are both hoping to join them this year.
They did not have a host prior to 2010.
In the past, the appeal of the Golden Globes has been its reputation for being a more lively and boisterous version of the Oscars. Instead of traditional seating in a theater, guests are seated at dinner tables and alcohol is readily available. This leads to entertainingly drunken speeches and chaotic mishaps, such as the time Elizabeth Taylor was too intoxicated to open the envelope for the award she was presenting or when Renée Zellweger was in the restroom when her best actress win was announced.
The event was kept simple, with only awards and no flashy performances or host, in order to maintain a casual atmosphere. However, in 2010, they decided to add a tradition of having more relaxed hosts, such as Ricky Gervais and the popular duo Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. This year, the role has been given to lesser-known comedian, Jo Koy, who is of Filipino-American descent. While it is a significant opportunity, it is not nearly as high-pressure as hosting the Oscars.
Additionally, they are not exclusively focused on movies.
As the Oscars’ ratings have decreased alongside a decline in movie theater attendance, the Golden Globes have attracted more viewers through their recognition of television shows. While the Emmys are still considered the most prestigious award for TV, the Golden Globes, known for their preference for new and different nominees, offer a more thrilling experience.
This organization has awarded prestigious series awards to popular shows such as Brideshead Revisited, Twin Peaks, Girls, and the original British version of The Office, despite not receiving Emmys. This year, viewers can find out if this pattern continues with new series like The Last of Us and Jury Duty, or if previous winners Succession and Abbott Elementary come out on top once again.
In the midst of a crowded awards season, the Golden Globes stands out with its newly added category for television standup comedy. The nominees, such as Ricky Gervais, Amy Schumer, and Chris Rock, make it a unique and sought-after feature, as no other major ceremony offers the same recognition.
Source: theguardian.com
