70th annual Golden Globe awards prove 2012 a good year for entertainment

After a remarkable year for both television and film, Hollywood’s finest gathered at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 13 to recognize the talent of 2012 at the 70th annual Golden Globe awards.

The show kicked off with a hilarious opening from the two “Saturday Night Live” alums and co-hosts of the night, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Together, they cracked witty jokes throughout the show, pleasing viewers at home and making Seth MacFarlane’s hosting performance at the Oscars seem extremely weak in comparison.

"Only at the Golden Globes do the beautiful people of film rub shoulders with the rat-faced people of television," Poehler kidded during the opening.

In television, “Girls,” “Homeland” and “Game Change” were the night’s main winners.

“Homeland” was once again able to achieve Best TV Series Drama, somehow triumphing over popular and more deserving shows such as “Downton Abbey” and “Boardwalk Empire.”

This year in film, The Academy refused to acknowledge Ben Affleck’s talent as a director for the movie “Argo” and snubbed him from the Best Director category at the Oscars. Luckily, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognized Affleck’s dedication as both a director and actor in the film, and awarded him the Best Director Golden Globe along with naming his film Best Motion Picture Drama.

“Les Misérables” raked in a total of three awards throughout the night. The film was named Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical, and Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman were also victorious winning Best Leading Actor and Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. With Hathaway’s praiseworthy performance as Fantine and Jackman’s convincing portrayal of Jean Valjean, viewers were delighted with the decision.

“[Hathaway] definitely deserved the Golden Globe,” sophomore Sarah Liddie said. “She put a lot of hard work and research into her role, so I was glad she won.”

Jennifer Lawrence and Jessica Chastain dominated the Best Actress categories, with Lawrence awarded Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy and Chastain bestowed Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama. The two wins brewed a heated competition between the two actresses’ fan bases as they were both nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for the Academy Awards; however, Lawrence ended up taking the Oscar.

“After watching the Golden Globes I really wanted [Lawrence] to win at the Oscars because I thought she was really believable in ‘Silver Linings Playbook,’ and she's also hilarious and down to earth,” sophomore Jackie An said.

Daniel Day-Lewis was rightly named Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama for playing the ex-president in “Lincoln;” however, no competition formed between him and Hugh Jackman because Lewis was already a shoo-in for Best Leading Actor at the Oscars with his extremely strong performance as the 16th president.

More memorable moments of the night include Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell presenting the award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. The two, also former “Saturday Night Live” stars, hilariously ad libbed their entire introduction.

"Judi Dench! I mean, where did she come from? A former police officer, and now here, in her first movie,” Ferrell said.

The 42nd U.S. president, Bill Clinton, also came out to present a clip for “Lincoln,” raising the surprised audience to a standing ovation.

"Wow, what an exciting special guest! That was Hillary Clinton's husband!" Poehler quipped after the clip.

With killer co-hosts, impressive wins and entertaining presenters and guests, the 70th annual Golden Globe awards were a huge success.

Next year’s Golden Globe awards have a lot to live up to.