‘Slumdog’ wins four Globes; Ledger honored
By BLOOMBERG NEWS
BEVERLY HILLS – "Slumdog Millionaire" won four Golden Globes including best drama, vaulting the Indian love story into front-runner status at next months Academy Awards.
The movie, distributed by Fox Searchlight, captured the best director award for Danny Boyle and was honored for its screenplay and score in a ceremony telecast by NBC last night from Beverly Hills, California.
The Golden Globes, chosen by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, signal films and actors that may be honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Slumdog, an independent production that lacks bankable stars, beat out pictures starring Brad Pitt, Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio.
"The world is becoming smaller, and just because a movie isnt from the United States doesnt mean it cant do well here," Jorge Camara, president of the association, said in an interview. "A good movie is a good movie anywhere."
"Slumdog" almost didnt get distribution, and at one time was set to be released direct-to-video. News Corp.s independent film studio picked up the movie after Time Warner Inc. closed its small-picture divisions, Slumdog producer Christian Colson told reporters.
The amazing team at Fox Searchlight came to the rescue and here we are, Colson said. Alls well that ends well, I guess.
Nominees for best drama included Pitts' "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Frost/Nixon," "The Reader," and "Revolutionary Road," starring Winslet and DiCaprio.
Another underdog was Mickey Rourke, who won the Globe for best actor in a drama. His comeback role as a washed-up fighter in "The Wrestler" was refined to more closely follow the actors real-life travails.
"I tried to beat the system and it beat the s--- out of me, Rourke said of his time battling personal demons that he attributes to his upbringing. It took 13, 14 years for the doors to open up again."
Rourkes competition included Pitt in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Sean Penn for "Milk," DiCaprio in "Revolutionary Road" and Frank Langella in "Frost/Nixon." Colin Farrell was recognized as best actor in a comedy or musical for In "Bruges."
Kate Winslet won twice, for best actress in a drama in "Revolutionary Road," and for best supporting actress in a motion picture in "The Reader." Her wins, coming after five previous nominations, mark the first time an actor has received Golden Globes for two different films.
"I'm in shock," Winslet said in her first acceptance speech, for "The Reader," in which she plays a woman on trial for Nazi war crimes after World War II. "You'll have to forgive me, I'm not used to winning."
"Happy-Go-Lucky" star Sally Hawkins won for lead actress in a comedy or musical. "Vicky Christina Barcelona" won for best comedy. "Wall-E," from Walt Disney Co.'s Pixar, won for best animated feature.
Heath Ledger won a posthumous Golden Globe for his supporting role as the Joker in Time Warner Inc.'s Batman sequel, "The Dark Knight." The actor, who died almost one year ago at age 28, was a rising star prior to his death from an accidental drug overdose.
"I was very happy to see Heath Ledger win," said director Steven Spielberg, who received the Cecil B. DeMille award for outstanding contribution to entertainment. "I hope that gives some more momentum to ’Dark Knight.’ "
The posthumous recognition of Ledgers performance was in keeping with the somber mood in Hollywood, which faces an industry downturn and the possibility of its second strike in two years.
Last year's show was canceled because of the Hollywood writers strike. With the U.S. in recession, the Globes took place as the entertainment industry battles declines in box- office sales, television ratings and DVD purchases, as well as the possibility of a strike by the Screen Actors Guild, threatening next months Oscar's telecast.
"We hope that unions are supported to protect people especially in this time," Laura Dern said, after winning a supporting-actress Golden Globe in a TV series, miniseries or movie for "Recount." She said she seeks an agreement with the studios that respects the work of actors. "I am very hopeful that can be done without strikes."
A year ago, actors said they would boycott the Golden Globes telecast in support of the Writer's Guild of America. In place of the telecast, the names of winners were read at a 30- minute news conference by the hosts of television entertainment shows.
Now a divided Screen Actors Guild is considering labor action after failing to reach a contract with studios. The unions board meets today to discuss a possible strike authorization vote.
"Doesn"t feel like a great time to do it," actor Paul Giamatti said, in an interview, of the chances of an actors strike. He received the best-actor award for television miniseries in HBO's "John Adams," which also won awards including best miniseries and best actress for Laura Linney.
Ledger, born in Perth, Australia, earned fame and an Oscar nomination with his portrayal of Ennis Del Mar in 2005's "Brokeback Mountain." His diabolical portrayal of the villain Joker focused attention on the Batman film, released six months after he died.
"He will be eternally missed but he will never be forgotten," Christopher Nolan, the director of "The Dark Knight," said in accepting the award on Ledgers behalf.
Complete list of winners at the Golden Globes held by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association:
MOTION PICTURES:
—Picture, Drama: "Slumdog Millionaire."
—Picture, Musical or Comedy: "Vicky Christina Barcelona."
—Actor, Drama: Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler."
—Actress, Drama: Kate Winslet, "Revolutionary Road."
—Director: Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire."
—Actor, Musical or Comedy: Colin Farrell, "In Bruges."
—Actress, Musical or Comedy: Sally Hawkins, "Happy-Go-Lucky."
—Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight."
—Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet, "The Reader."
—Foreign Language Film: "Waltz With Bashir."
—Animated Film: "Wall-E."
—Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, "Slumdog Millionaire."
—Original Score: A.R. Rahman, "Slumdog Millionaire."
—Original Song: "The Wrestler" (performed by Bruce Springsteen, written by Bruce Springsteen), "The Wrestler."
TELEVISION:
—Series, Drama: "Mad Men."
—Actor, Drama: Gabriel Byrne, "In Treatment."
—Actress, Drama: Anna Paquin, "True Blood."
—Series, Musical or Comedy: "30 Rock."
—Actor, Musical or Comedy: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock."
—Actress, Musical or Comedy: Tina Fey, "30 Rock."
—Miniseries or Movie: "John Adams."
—Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Laura Linney, "John Adams."
—Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Paul Giammatti, "John Adams."
—Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Laura Dern, "Recount."
—Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Tom Wilkinson, "John Adams."
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Cecil B. DeMille Award: Steven Spielberg.
