The 2016 Golden Globes were packed full of the pageantry, esteem and Oscar hopefuls that has come to be expected of the show that marks the start of the film awards season. On board to help tone down the formality of it all was now four-time Golden Globe host Ricky Gervais. Gervais led the show back-to-back-to-back from 2010 to 2012, and returned to the Beverly Hills Hotel after a four-year-break Jan. 10.
Gervais is known for his quick wit and extremely controversial humor that never fails to leave the audience stunned. Even so, while his humor might make him some enemies in the audience, the shock factor draws in viewers from home. In fact, I never miss a year when Gervais hosts, and to this day I still go back and watch his past Globes monologues. This year he took a few expected jabs at Caitlyn Jenner, Bill Cosby and of course Mel Gibson (as a Gervais tradition). To be honest, it seems as though Gervais went soft this year, perhaps finally listening to the network when after having been told to cool if for the past three years. He did make some much needed remarks on equal pay for women, mentioning that he of course got paid the same as Tina Fey and Amy Poehler did last year, joking that it wasn’t his fault that they wanted to share. Overall, Gervais was received well by a crowd that was finally used to his antics, but I have to say that he was still unable to match the bar set by Fey and Poehler.
On to the nominations: wins and snubs for the year! The Golden Globes, while not the biggest awards show, celebrates some of the best in television and film. It almost serves as a little reminder after the Emmys, and a precursor to the Oscars. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association chose an amazing lineup of films and TV shows to applaud for the year. In television, “Mr. Robot” took home the award for best drama series. The show is centered around a young hacker, played by the immensely talented Rami Malek, and his fight against corporate America. Airing on the USA network, this show received tremendous buzz this year, both critically and among the public. For best comedy series, “Mozart in the Jungle” took home the globe, leaving many who watched at home confused. This lesser known show is centered around the conflict facing a New York orchestra when their old director is replaced by a younger troublemaker who is bound to bring drama. The show is only available on Amazon Video which is why it seems to have slipped under everyone’s radar, and due to its unique premise, I hope that it gets more public appreciation. The show’s lead actor, Gael Garcia Bernal also received a Globe for playing the young conductor.
On the film side of things, the most important comment I have to make is that it is finally Leo’s year. I have a good feeling about this one. This year, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in “The Revenant” alongside Tom Hardy. He played a frontiersman in the 1800s, trying to get home after his hunting team left him for dead. Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, “The Revenant” was shot in frigid and extreme conditions. Every day was a danger and a struggle for both the cast and crew, and the resilience exhibited by DiCaprio and Hardy must be highly lauded. The film is characterized by the emotional and physical strength that it emulated and if you like bears, prepare yourself because nothing says the American West like a good bear wrestle. Leo’s acting skills as well as his bear wrangling prowess earned him the Globe for best actor in a drama, and I think this is only the beginning. Leo has also received a nomination for the Screen Actors Guild Award and will compete once again with Michael Fassbender, Bryan Cranston and Eddie Redmayne for the win. While he has some strong opponents, no other film demanded the kind of rigor that “The Revenant” exhibited, and I believe that will give him an edge over the rest. Coupled with his nomination (and probable win) for the SAG award, I think this year will be Leo’s best shot at an Oscar.
In other news, Kate Winslet also took home a Globe, prompting some “Titanic” excitement in that both Jack and Rose went home with an award that night. The win was well deserved for her role as Joanna Hoffman in “Steve Jobs,” but she was not the only actress with promise. Alicia Vikander had quite a year with stellar performances in “Ex-Machina” and “The Danish Girl,” both of which were nominated. Vikander is definitely one to watch this awards season as well as for many to come.