Hollywood’s highly anticipated award season kicked off in early January with the Golden Globes, which presents awards for international film and television. While not on the same level as winning the Oscars, the Golden Globes is one of the most prestigious awards for those in the film industry, as is often considered alongside awards such as a Tony, Emmy or Grammy.
Some of the most buzzworthy categories at the Globes include “Best Motion Picture,” “Best Performance by a Male/Female Actor” and “Best Original Score/Sound.” Given the amazing year in film, securing a nomination in even one of these categories is difficult. Noteworthy films at this year’s Globes that have snagged multiple nominations were “Challengers,” “Emilia Perez,” “The Substance,” “The Brutalist” and “Wicked.”
Nikki Glaser, this year’s host at the Globes, brought a refreshing form of comedy to the ceremony. Comedians at big ceremonies can often be a hit or miss, with the 2022 Oscar incident of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock over “insulting” his wife being evidence of that. Luckily, Glaser smoothly danced the line between comedy and playful insult and had the audience and celebrities laughing every step of the way. Her quips about Hollywood’s overuse of Ozempic to her parody of “Wicked” were highlights.
However, the results of the Globes had mixed reactions from general audiences. “Wicked,” one of the most important films in recent pop culture, didn’t win any big category, only managing to secure the win for “Cinematic and Box Office Achievement,” an award added last year.
“The Brutalist” won “Best Motion Picture — Drama,” a surprise to no one given its incredible depiction of an immigrant trying to achieve success in the U.S. “The Substance” brought horror back to the big screens and landed Demi Moore her first and well-deserved Globe for “Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.” Moore had never won an award in her 45 years of acting, which made her award speech all the more powerful. In her speech, she detailed how her producer described her as a “popcorn actress” — an actress who tends to play more shallow roles — a stereotype she was able to overcome with her career longevity.
However, “Emilia Perez” swept the Globes, sparking outrage due to the nature of the film. The film won “Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy,” “Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture,” and “Best Original Song — Motion Picture.”
The main controversy lies within its forced attempt to be woke. The movie follows a cartel leader in Mexico who wants to transition into a woman with help from a Mexican lawyer. While the premise sounds promising, they failed to cast Mexican actors in a movie about Mexicans and often brushed over real-world issues that they Mexicans actually face, such as narco violence. This led to a movie that was perceived as unauthentic by many fans but somehow won over the Golden Globes.
This year’s Golden Globes proved to be anything but predictable. From Glaser’s hosting and lighthearted jabs to the surprising array of winners, the ceremony left audiences buzzing. Regardless of where viewers stand on the controversies, the Globes continue to be an exciting kickoff to Hollywood’s awards season.
