#7 Golden Globes 09: The Winners And The Losers

The Golden Globes were on last Sunday and what a night it was. Laughs, tears and disappointed faces, were from start to finish. And their was some very embarrassing moments… ok, it was only Kate Whistled who made a fool of her self. From who won the awards at the Golden Globes, it really shows America that the British are coming. With Danny Boyle’s ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ snatching four awards such as ‘Best Director’, ’Best Motion Picture’, ‘Best Original Score’ and ‘Best Screenplay’. Whilst a teary Boyle went to except his award, I don’t think he imagined it to do so well.

Even thought ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ took the most awards on the night, it was Aronofsky’s ‘The Wrestler’ which took two awards for ‘Best Actor’ (Mickey Rourke) and ‘Best Song’. I myself am a big Mickey Rourke fan ever since I saw him in Rodriguez/ Miller’s ‘Sin City’ (2005) and ‘Rumble Fish’ (1983), so it was fantastic to see him walk away with something. In the animation side, Pixar’s ‘Wall-E’ rightfully won ‘Best Animation’ whilst ‘Waltz With Bashir’ landed ‘Best Foreign Film’.

Now a few posts ago, I posted a blog talking about if Heath Ledger deserved an Oscar for his role as The Joker in Nolan’s ‘The Dark Knight’. Well whilst announcing the nominations for ‘Best Supporting Actor’, it was obvious to who would win it. A very deserving Heath Ledger won over Tom Cruise, Robert Downy Jr and Ralph Fiennes. Whilst Christopher Nolan went on stage to except Ledger’s award (even though it has been reported that the award will go to Matilda when she is old enough to understand it’s significant), Robert Downey Jr had a rather bitter look on his faced like he was surprised that Leger won. Christopher Nolan gave a brilliant acceptance speech that touched every one, even if he couldn’t stop looking at the Golden Globe.

Finally Kate Winslet won the most awards for herself with a grand total of two, you heard it two. After winning the second one Winslet was barely able to walk on stage and was breathless. You would have thought that after thirty wins and fifty nominations (awards over all) she would graciously walk on stage and say her thanks and be done with it but apparently she decided to make a fool of hear self. The two awards she won was ‘Best Actress’ for her performance in ‘Revolutionary Road’ and ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for ‘The Reader’. I would have thought Anjolina Jolie would have won ‘Best Actress’ for Clint Eastwood’s triumphant ‘Changling’, I mean two awards in on night share the love Kate.

Below is just a couple of the winners taken from Empire Magazine, head over there to see the full listings.

Best Motion Picture – Drama

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

Frost/Nixon

The ReaderRevolutionary Road

Slumdog Millionaire

Best Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture – Drama

Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married

Angelina Jolie - Changeling

Meryl Streep - Doubt

Kristin Scott Thomas - I've Loved You So Long

Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road

Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture – Drama

Leonardo DiCaprio - Revolutionary Road

Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon

Sean Penn - Milk

Brad Pitt - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role In A Motion Picture

Amy Adams - Doubt

Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Viola Davis - Doubt

Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

Kate Winslet - The Reader

Best Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role In A Motion Picture

Tom Cruise - Tropic Thunder

Robert Downey Jr. - Tropic Thunder

Ralph Fiennes - The Duchess

Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt

Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight

Best Director – Motion Picture

Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

Stephen Daldry - The Reader

David Fincher - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon

Sam Mendes - Revolutionary Road

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture

Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire

David Hare - The Reader

Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon

Eric Roth - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

John Patrick Shanley - Doubt

Oliver Hunt

#4 Heath Ledger: Oscar Worthy?

The late Heath Ledger is properly most famous for being a gay cowboy, no the Joker, wait or was it Bob Dylan? Who knows, but word around the internet is that people want his performance in last years The Dark Knight to win him an Academy Award. However you must first consider that the Joker was not his greatest role. Much like how the Joker was not Jack Nicolson’s best performance either (it was One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest). What about some of Heath’s best films such as, Candy, I’m Not There and of course Brokeback Mountain.

Back in 06, Heath was up for ‘Best Performance From A Leading Role’ at the Academy Awards, for his fantastic performance in Ang Lee’s classic Brokeback Mountain (2005), but on the night it was taken by Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote (2005). So if Heath can’t get an Oscar for properly (if not) the best roles of his career then should he win one for The Dark Knight? Is it sympathy vote? If he had not died last year would everyone still love him as much as they do know (I still would because I love the movie and character, but I don’t speak to every one)?

I personally think he should get an Oscar for all his late films that he did (mainly Candy) even though he has won numerous awards such as ‘Best Actor’ at the Austrian Film Institute. The nominations for 09’s Academy Awards have not been named as of yet, but when they are up I will do a blog of who I think should win. Until then I personally think you should watched some of Ledger great films (just not A Knights Tale).

Oliver Hunt