GOLDEN GLOBE

Minus The Glow

    Traditionally, a glitzy ceremony with Hollywood A-listers in attendance, the Golden globe this year was lusterless. The event took place behind closed doors at a hotel in Los Angeles, with no stars or audience. Following a series of rows over its dubious practices and lack of diversity over the past years, publicity firms, studios and celebrities choose to distance themselves from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), which awards the Globes. Results were announced via social media.

    The Power of The Dog won the two biggest awards- Best Film (Drama) and Jane Campion won the Best Director. Will Smith took home his first Golden Globe. He won the Best Film Actor (Drama) for King Richard. Nicole Kidman won her fifth Golden Globe for Best Film Actress (Drama) for Being The Rivardos. Steven Spielberg's remake of West Side Story won major awards- Best Film (Comedy)Musical), Best Film Actress (Comedy/Musical) for Rachel Zegler and Best Supporting Actress (Film) for Aruana FeBose. Andrew Garfield one Best Film Actor (Comedy/ Musical), for tic, tick....Boom!

    In the TV category, Succession fetched three wins - for Jeremy Strong and Sarah Snook who won Best Actor(Drama) and Best Supporting Actress. It also won the Best Drama Series. Jason Sudeikis won Best TV actor (Comedy/Musical) for Ted Lasso. Hacks won big in the TV comedy category. Squid Game picked up an early win for O Yeong-su who won Best Supporting Actor (Television).

    The reason, however, is not as much the Covid-19 pandemic as it is the industry-wide boycott of HFPA. Like the heat the Academy and the Oscars have faced due to scant representation for people of colour in the nominations and winner lists, the Golden Globes have also received flak. It mostly comes down to HFPA, a non-profit group of International film journalists and photographers working with the entertainment industry, to choose what and whom to award. The LA Times report kicked off conversation and scrutiny about racism, financial propriety and dubious journalistic ethics in the Golden Globes and the awards season as a whole. WarnerMedia, Netflix, Amazon, actors and others have also boycotted the ceremony. Tom Cruise returned his three trophies in solidarity. Ava DuVernay, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo Regina King, and Kerry Washington also spoke against the issue plaguing HFPA.

    HFPA announced an extensive timeline of sweeping reforms that included an overhaul of byelaws, changes that address ethics and code of conduct and improvements in diversity and inclusion in its membership in order to 'once Again Partner Meaningfully with Hollywood'.