Although they respect both movies and TV, the Globes are best watched for the Academy Awards. However, the traditional awards season has been interrupted by the coronavirus, from the release of movies via streaming services to the shift of the calendar for these events further into 2021.
After one of the more criticized naming decisions, ‘Minari’ – an American production about a Korean family in Arkansas – was named the best foreign language, as the HFPA chose to classify it.
On television, Netflix’s “The Crown” was voted the best drama by Globes voters for the second time (last time in 2017), amid a spate of victories by British talent, including Josh O’Connor and Emma Corrin for the interpretation of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. “Schitt’s Creek” topped the Emmys last season by picking up another trophy as best comedy.
More significantly, the broadcast follows the Los Angeles Times’ coverage of dubious ethical behavior by members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association – the group that awards the awards, and has long been the subject of such controversy – as well as the lack thereof. black members, who criticized a number of major Hollywood figures.
The first two awards of the evening went especially to the black stars: Daniel Kaluuya, for the historical drama “Judas and the Black Messiah;” and John Boyega, for a delivery in the Amazon anthology ‘Small Ax’. The animation award was also given to a film with a predominantly African-American cast, “Soul”, which premiered on the streaming service Disney +. The film was also honored for best original score.
No one directly addressed the controversy, although Fey and Poehler did, and appealed to the HFPA to address the lack of inclusivity in its ranks, during an alternating monologue in which Fey referred to the group. as “90 international, non-black journalists” and “European foreigners.”
Few recipients or presenters of the award referred to HFPA spending, although Sterling K. Brown, ‘This is Us’, began his introduction stronger by saying,’ It’s great to be black back at the Golden Globes . ‘
The otherwise empty ballrooms were occupied by masked first responders, while nominees watched from home. However, the exceptions with all the nominees were of poor quality, and Kaluuya’s feed experienced technical difficulties before he could deliver his acceptance.
The organizers of the awards said in advance that they would address the latter concerns within the broadcast, but three members said they would do better only in the broadest terms. “We are looking forward to a more inclusive future,” Turkish journalist Ali Sar concluded.
NBC, which pays millions annually for the right to watch the ceremony on television, has not commented on the HFPA and the latest concerns about it.
Politics, not surprisingly, entered the ceremony. Mark Ruffalo made a passionate plea for the environment and greater harmony after ‘the horrific dark storm we went through’, while writer-director Aaron Sorkin cites the importance of defending democracy in the face of the uprising on the Capitol on 6 January. .