On Sunday, January 25, stars of film and television gathered in Los Angeles for the 61 Annual Golden Globe Awards.Presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press, the Globes have gained credibility over the past decade due to the caliber of stars that attend. The red carpet was rolled out and one by one the celebrities arrived.
The show began with the presentation of Best Supporting Actor, which was awarded to Tim Robbins for his role as a troubled friend in “Mystic River.”
Renee Zellweger, who had gained 20 pounds for her role in the “Bridget Jones” sequel, won Best Supporting Actress for “Cold Mountain.”
The Globes split movies and television into comedy and drama categories, except for supporting roles which are grouped together.
“Mystic River” picked up another award when Sean Penn, who was not present, won Best Actor in a Drama. However, Clint Eastwood, who directed the film, was more than willing to accept the award on Penn’s behalf.
Charlize Theron won Best Actress in a Drama for her role as prostitute turned serial killer, Aileen Wuornos, in “Monster.”
In the comedy category, Bill Murray won Best Actor for playing an aging actor in “Lost in Translation,” and Diane Keaton received the Best Actress Globe for “Something’s Gotta Give.”
The race for Best Director was extremely tight, but the honor went to Peter Jackson for “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” which also won Best Drama Picture.
Best Comedy Picture was given to Sofia Coppola’s breakout hit “Lost in Translation.”
Switching to the small screen, HBO’s mini-series “Angels in America” picked up five Golden Globes, including Best Actor for Al Pacino, Best Actress for Meryl Streep, and Best Mini-series. HBO also won awards in the comedy and drama categories. Sarah Jessica Parker received the Best Actress in a Comedy statue for her role as Carrie in “Sex and the City” and Frances Conroy won Best Dramatic Actress for “Six Feet Under.”
Anthony LaPaglia won Best Dramatic Actor for CBS’s “Without a Trace” and FOX’s hit show “24” won Best Drama Series.
The biggest surprise of the night was the little show from the BBC called “The Office,” which won Best Comedic Series, beating out shows like “Will and Grace” and “Arrested Development.”
The Golden Globes have long been considered a foreshadowing for the Academy Awards, but unlike the Oscars, the Globes have a more laid back atmosphere. The stars are treated to dinner and are encouraged to show their casual style.
Despite the informal dress code, many stars still felt the need to dress up. Uma Thurman glowed in a lavender, floor-length gown and Nicole Kidman arrived in a guilded flapper-inspired dress that was quite revealing.
The most interesting fashion statement of the night was Johnny Depp, who arrived in a bohemian pinstriped suit with matching hat.
In the end, The Golden Globes are a night of fun, fashion, and surprises that cannot be beat.