The first is a refined, talky literary drama, the second a gaudy musical spectacular. Last night The Hours and Chicago dominated their respective categories at the 60th annual Golden Globes in Los Angeles. In so doing, they positioned themselves as joint frontrunners for the Academy Awards, where they will finally be pitched head to head.
The Hours won for best dramatic film, while Nicole Kidman was named best dramatic actress for her role as anguished novelist Virginia Woolf. In the parallel category, Chicago was named best musical or comedy film and the best musical or comedy actor and actress awards were won, respectively, by its stars Richard Gere and Renee Zellweger.
Although long regarded as the key Oscar pointer, the Globes differs from the Academy Awards in the way it splits its nominess. At times this can cause confusion. Jack Nicholson, for instance, appeared rueful after winning the best dramatic actor award for his role in the acidly amusing About Schmidt. "I don't know whether to be happy or ashamed, because I thought we made a comedy," he said. The film, scripted by Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, also won for best screenplay.
Elsewhere Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper won best supporting actor and actress respectively for their work on Spike Jonze's ingenious Adaptation while Martin Scorsese was named best director for his arduous assignment on the sprawling Gangs of New York. "Maybe 'dream comes true' is a cliche," shrugged Scorsese. "But cliches are true."
The big losers of the night were seen to be Daniel Day-Lewis, who went unrewarded for his barnstorming performance in Scorsese's film, and Julianne Moore, who had been tipped for the best dramatic actress award for her acclaimed work in Todd Haynes's Far From Heaven.
The globe for best foreign film went to Pedro Almodovar's Talk to Her. Alone among the assembled winners, Almodovar used his speech to call for peace and caution against a war with Iraq. This may prove the only chance he has, as Almodovar will not be attending this year's Academy Awards. Despite rave reviews and healthy box office, Talk to Her was surprisingly passed over as a candidate for this year's Oscars.
The Academy awards are announced on March 23.
FULL LIST OF GOLDEN GLOBE FILM AWARDS
Best picture - drama: The Hours
Best picture - musical or comedy: Chicago
Best actor - drama: Jack Nicholson (About Schmidt)
Best actor - musical or comedy: Richard Gere (Chicago)
Best actress - drama: Nicole Kidman (The Hours)
Best actress - musical or comedy: Renee Zellweger (Chicago)
Best supporting actor: Chris Cooper (Adaptation)
Best supporting actress: Meryl Streep (Adaptation)
Best director: Martin Scorsese (Gangs of New York)
Best screenplay: Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor (About Schmidt)
Best original score: Elliot Goldenthal (Frida)
Best original song: The Hands That Built America, by U2 (Gangs of New York)
Best foreign film: Talk to her (Spain)
Cecil B DeMille lifetime achievement award: Gene Hackman
