Sunday, January 17, 2010

Golden Globe Showers


Ah, mid-January. And the unofficial start of "Awards Season." Each year, The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (a bunch of old guys writing critiques for the European and Asian markets), give out their version of the Oscar for Excellence in American Films and Television. Kind of an oxymoron, isn't it?

I watched the first hour tonight. Host Ricky Gervais was very funny. Even funnier were some of the award recipients and presenters. Monique, winning for Best Supporting Actress in Precious (a film I did not and probably will not, see) thanked God (though what God would have to do with one winning any type of award still eludes me - like He cares). Felicity Huffman proved herself human with a series of teleprompter flubs; Julianna Margolies and Michael C. Hall won best actress/actor awards and I was bored beyond comprehension.

It was only recently (5 minutes ago), that I discovered that not only had James Cameron won Best Director for the derivative Avatar, but the film itself won Best Picture (Drama). Seriously? Are the members of the Hollywood Press Association all teen-aged boys with ADD? Did no one in the HFPA see Moon? Was everyone so blinded by 3D and CGI that actual good filmmaking and acting were set aside? Did Monique actually believe that dress was flattering? Does anyone actually take the Golden Globes seriously?

Of course, I'm complaining about an award show that never has actually been about the "best." But still. Yes, Meryl deserved her record-breaking 7th Golden Globe for Julie & Julia, and "Glee" deserved to win Best Series (Comedy or Musical). But Avatar as Best Picture (Drama)? A bit of my soul died upon hearing that news...

So what did you think of the Golden Globes? Did you watch? Did you care? Are you as annoyed as I am by Cameron's ego-inflating wins? Curious minds want to know, as the old marketing promo goes. Leave me a comment.

More Awards Nonsense, anon.
Prospero

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was never a big watcher of award show but I now watch they so I can understand what all my blogs are writing about.

Aside from thanking God, I thought Monique gave a great thank you and Meryl's was about the best I've ever seen. I have to give props to the guy in charge of starting the music when speeches ran long - he only did it to the bad ones.

Ricky was really brutal but brought the house down with his Mel Gibson joke.

I can understand Mr King of the World winning best director but I can't believe Avatar won for picture.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the comment. I did read The Cell and liked it enough and kept reading to see what would happen next and to see if ever found out what really happened. King is a favorite going back to high school and I have read most of his stuff. I have Lindsey's story somewhere and want to read Ghost Story (on your recommendation) before starting Under the Dome.