Christopher Nolan’s epic biopic Oppenheimer emerged as the dominant force, securing five prestigious awards, including Best Drama and Best Director for Nolan himself at the 81st Golden Globes, npr.org reports.
The blockbuster faced fierce competition from Yorgos Lanthimos’ inventive take on Frankenstein, Poor Things, which surprisingly triumphed over the highly anticipated Barbie in the Best Comedy or Musical category.
As Hollywood’s awards season commenced, Oppenheimer’s success was further highlighted with accolades for Cillian Murphy as Best Drama Actor, Robert Downey Jr. as Best Supporting Actor and Ludwig Göransson’s memorable score. Producer Emma Thomas expressed gratitude for the challenging journey of creating a three-hour R-rated film tackling one of history’s darkest events.
Poor Things, not only recognised for its comedy prowess but also for Emma Stone’s outstanding performance, clinched the award for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical. Stone, reflecting on her character Bella, described the film as a rom-com with a unique twist, emphasising Bella’s love for life itself.
Lily Gladstone made history as the first Indigenous winner in the Best Actress in a Dramatic Film category for her role in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon. Speaking in the language of her native tribe, Blackfeet Nation, Gladstone dedicated her historic win to a broader community.
The 81st Golden Globes marked a new chapter for the awards, navigating uncertainties after the dissolution of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Host Jo Koy, despite a rocky start, acknowledged the challenges and humorously addressed his rapid transition into hosting duties just 10 days before the event.
Oppenheimer and Barbie, two colossal releases of the year, engaged in a head-to-head battle throughout the ceremony. Despite Barbie‘s massive box office success, Robert Downey Jr.’s win denied a victory to Kenergy. Margot Robbie, star and producer of Barbie, dedicated their award for “cinematic and box office achievement” to moviegoers worldwide.
In a surprising upset, the Best Screenplay award went to Justine Triet and Arthur Harari for the French courtroom drama Anatomy of a Fall, breaking the Barbenheimer showdown.
The Globes, while not directly influencing the Oscars, set the stage for the upcoming nominations, with Oppenheimer and Barbie remaining frontrunners.
Other notable winners included Paul Giamatti and Da’Vine Joy Randolph for their performances in Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers. Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron pulled off an upset by winning Best Animated Film over Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
On the television front, Succession dominated, winning Best Drama Series for the third time, along with individual awards for Matt Macfadyen, Sarah Snook, and Kieran Culkin. Hulu’s The Bear secured Best Comedy Series, and Ayo Edebiri won Best Actress for her leading role.
