Golden Globe Awards 2009 - Slumdog Millionaire Sweeps up 4 Awards
The Golden Globe awards were announced a few hours early and, not to my surprise, Slumdog Millionaire wins the awards in all the categories it was nominated to - "Best Motion Picture - Drama", "Best Director - Motion Picture", "Best Screenplay - Motion Picture" and last but not the least "Best Original Score - Motion Picture". Slumdog Millionaire faced tough competition from the biggies in the nomination list like, Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon etc. But still the independently produced "Slumdog Millionaire seems to have swept the jury off their feet.The tally will be seen as a significant boost to the film's chances at next month's Oscars, for which it is already heavily favoured.
"Your mad, pulsating affection for our film is much appreciated," a glowing Boyle said as he accepted the award. He thanked his family before starting to break down.
"It's an absolute honour," said Beaufoy, accepting the award. "We really weren't expecting to be here in America at all at one time," he added. "So it's just amazing to be here."
For Boyle, 52, best known for his cult 1996 film Trainspotting as well as The Beach and 28 Days Later, the win marked his first Golden Globe.
Last week, Slumdog picked up five awards at the US Critics Choice Awards, including best picture and best director. The awards are seen as one of the most reliable predictors of success at next month's Academy Awards.
A short review of the important categories and winners:
1. Best Motion Picture - Drama
The nominees were The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, The Reader, Revolutionary Road and Slumdog Millionaire. Of these movies I've seen only Slumdog Millionaire and I needn't see the others to see that this award is well deserved. A rare blend of "feel good cinema" and "cinematic aesthetics". I have reviewed the movie earlier(Slumdog Millionaire Review) and I had a fleeting suspicion that that would end up winning the Golden Globes and even The Oscars. From what I hear The Curious Case of Benjamin Button may pose tough competition to Slumdog Millionaire. Lets wait and see.
2. Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
The nominees were Anne Hathaway(Rachel Getting Married), Angelina Jolie(Changeling), Meryl Streep(Doubt), Kristin Scott Thomas(I've Loved You So Long) and Kate Winslet(Revolutionary Road). The award went to Kate Winslet(her first) for her(I haven't seen the movie, just read a review) subtle and heart warming performance in Revolutionary Road.
3. Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
The comeback by the 80s bad boy Micky Rourke in the emotional drama "The Wrestler" got him the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama. I heard he really deserve that award as he pulled off an amazing performance in the movie. From what I saw from the trailers, that's absolutely true. The other nominees were Leonardo DiCaprio(Revolutionary Road), Sean Penn(Milk), Frank Langella(Frost/Nixon), and Brad Pitt(The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).
4. Best Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
I saw two out of the five nominations in this category and the award went to another movie. Beating the biggie "Burn After Reading" and immensely enjoyable "In Bruges" Woody Allen's Vicky Christina Barcelona bagged the award. The other two nominations were Happy-Go-Lucky and Mamma Mia!.
5. Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
At last a category where I have seen the majority of movies. Colin Farrell's bumbling Scottish assassin in "In Bruges" bagged the award phasing out his strong competition in the likes of Dustin Hoffman(Last Chance Harvey), Brendan Gleeson(In Bruges) and James Franco(Pineapple Express). In Bruges is a great film that I saw completely unexpectedly and I loved every minute of it. I may well do a (late)review if I get the time.
6. Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Kate Winslet is on a roll. She bagged the "Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama" and now this. The other nominees were Amy Adams(Doubt), Penélope Cruz(Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Viola Davis(Doubt), and Marisa Tomei(The Wrestler).
7. Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
No points for guessing this one. The result of this award was announced even before the nomination. Heath Ledger snatched a posthumous award for his memorable interpretation of The Joker in Dark Knight. I wasn't aware he had such potential until I saw the movie, and the movie world will sorely miss him(May he rest in peace). He will be remembered forever for his role in Dark Knight. I'm surprised why he didn't get nominated for the "Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture" cause as far as I know Dark Knight was Heath Ledger's film way more than it was Christian Bale's. The other nominations were Robert Downey Jr for Tropic Thunder(which was a pretty good performance), Tom Cruise for Tropic Thunder(wonder why he got a nomination for that), Ralph Fiennes(The Duchess) and Philip Seymour Hoffman(Doubt).
8. Best Director - Motion Picture
No surprise in this one either as the jury is clearly in love with Slumdog Millionaire. Danny Boyle bags this Golden Globe for his immensely enjoyable Slumdog Millionaire(Review) He won the award fair and square competing with David Fincher(The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Ron Howard(Frost/Nixon), Sam Mendes(Revolutionay Road) and Stephen Daldry(The Reader).
9. Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Again Slumdog Millionaire performs its magic and bags the Best Screenplay award too and it goes to Simon Beaufoy. Excellently crafted screenplay is one of the many strengths of Slumdog Millionaire. The other nominations are the usual The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Doubt, Frost/Nixon, and The Reader
10. Best Original Score - Motion Picture
A.R Rahman bags his first Golden Globe for the soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire. This was not even a competition. The soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire is totally different, refreshing and addictive. I had reviewed the soundtrack long back and predicted many wins for the soundtrack(Slumdog Millionaire Soundtrack Review). I hope its one of the many awards he is about to get. He won the award beating many big names like James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer. A nomination for Clint Eastwood for Original Soundtrack took me by surprise. How many skills does the man have?.
11. Best Animated Feature Film
Wall-E bagged this Golden Globe with his adorably cute robotic antics and great animation beating Kung Fu Panda and Bolt.
"Your mad, pulsating affection for our film is much appreciated," a glowing Boyle said as he accepted the award. He thanked his family before starting to break down.
"It's an absolute honour," said Beaufoy, accepting the award. "We really weren't expecting to be here in America at all at one time," he added. "So it's just amazing to be here."
For Boyle, 52, best known for his cult 1996 film Trainspotting as well as The Beach and 28 Days Later, the win marked his first Golden Globe.
Last week, Slumdog picked up five awards at the US Critics Choice Awards, including best picture and best director. The awards are seen as one of the most reliable predictors of success at next month's Academy Awards.
A short review of the important categories and winners:
1. Best Motion Picture - Drama
The nominees were The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, The Reader, Revolutionary Road and Slumdog Millionaire. Of these movies I've seen only Slumdog Millionaire and I needn't see the others to see that this award is well deserved. A rare blend of "feel good cinema" and "cinematic aesthetics". I have reviewed the movie earlier(Slumdog Millionaire Review) and I had a fleeting suspicion that that would end up winning the Golden Globes and even The Oscars. From what I hear The Curious Case of Benjamin Button may pose tough competition to Slumdog Millionaire. Lets wait and see.
2. Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
The nominees were Anne Hathaway(Rachel Getting Married), Angelina Jolie(Changeling), Meryl Streep(Doubt), Kristin Scott Thomas(I've Loved You So Long) and Kate Winslet(Revolutionary Road). The award went to Kate Winslet(her first) for her(I haven't seen the movie, just read a review) subtle and heart warming performance in Revolutionary Road.
3. Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
The comeback by the 80s bad boy Micky Rourke in the emotional drama "The Wrestler" got him the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama. I heard he really deserve that award as he pulled off an amazing performance in the movie. From what I saw from the trailers, that's absolutely true. The other nominees were Leonardo DiCaprio(Revolutionary Road), Sean Penn(Milk), Frank Langella(Frost/Nixon), and Brad Pitt(The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).
4. Best Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
I saw two out of the five nominations in this category and the award went to another movie. Beating the biggie "Burn After Reading" and immensely enjoyable "In Bruges" Woody Allen's Vicky Christina Barcelona bagged the award. The other two nominations were Happy-Go-Lucky and Mamma Mia!.
5. Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
At last a category where I have seen the majority of movies. Colin Farrell's bumbling Scottish assassin in "In Bruges" bagged the award phasing out his strong competition in the likes of Dustin Hoffman(Last Chance Harvey), Brendan Gleeson(In Bruges) and James Franco(Pineapple Express). In Bruges is a great film that I saw completely unexpectedly and I loved every minute of it. I may well do a (late)review if I get the time.
6. Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Kate Winslet is on a roll. She bagged the "Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama" and now this. The other nominees were Amy Adams(Doubt), Penélope Cruz(Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Viola Davis(Doubt), and Marisa Tomei(The Wrestler).
7. Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
No points for guessing this one. The result of this award was announced even before the nomination. Heath Ledger snatched a posthumous award for his memorable interpretation of The Joker in Dark Knight. I wasn't aware he had such potential until I saw the movie, and the movie world will sorely miss him(May he rest in peace). He will be remembered forever for his role in Dark Knight. I'm surprised why he didn't get nominated for the "Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture" cause as far as I know Dark Knight was Heath Ledger's film way more than it was Christian Bale's. The other nominations were Robert Downey Jr for Tropic Thunder(which was a pretty good performance), Tom Cruise for Tropic Thunder(wonder why he got a nomination for that), Ralph Fiennes(The Duchess) and Philip Seymour Hoffman(Doubt).
8. Best Director - Motion Picture
No surprise in this one either as the jury is clearly in love with Slumdog Millionaire. Danny Boyle bags this Golden Globe for his immensely enjoyable Slumdog Millionaire(Review) He won the award fair and square competing with David Fincher(The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Ron Howard(Frost/Nixon), Sam Mendes(Revolutionay Road) and Stephen Daldry(The Reader).
9. Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Again Slumdog Millionaire performs its magic and bags the Best Screenplay award too and it goes to Simon Beaufoy. Excellently crafted screenplay is one of the many strengths of Slumdog Millionaire. The other nominations are the usual The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Doubt, Frost/Nixon, and The Reader
10. Best Original Score - Motion Picture
A.R Rahman bags his first Golden Globe for the soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire. This was not even a competition. The soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire is totally different, refreshing and addictive. I had reviewed the soundtrack long back and predicted many wins for the soundtrack(Slumdog Millionaire Soundtrack Review). I hope its one of the many awards he is about to get. He won the award beating many big names like James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer. A nomination for Clint Eastwood for Original Soundtrack took me by surprise. How many skills does the man have?.
11. Best Animated Feature Film
Wall-E bagged this Golden Globe with his adorably cute robotic antics and great animation beating Kung Fu Panda and Bolt.
