Long perceived as Hollywood’s favorite soirée but now mired in scandal, the Golden Globes will try to reclaim its image on Tuesday during a televised red-carpet ceremony where blockbusters compete (top gun, Avatar) and more intimate films (The Fabelmans).
Traditionally, the awards ceremony in Beverly Hills has been very well attended, as it kicks off the awards season in the United States. But last year, the Golden Globes were shut down and rejected by the industry, due to accusations of racism, sexism and corruption leveled at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), which forms its jury.
After a series of reforms to renew the HFPA – which did not have black members in 2021 – the American channel NBC agreed to broadcast the 80th Golden Globes ceremony this year.
Many big names are invited, including director Steven Spielberg, whose semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans Share favorite for the award for best dramatic film, and actor Eddie Murphy, who should be highlighted throughout his career.
Inevitably “different”
African-American gay comedian Jerrod Carmichael will host the ceremony and director Quentin Tarantino is among the award presenters. But a return to favor is far from guaranteed: the contract with NBC is only valid for this year and many nominees have not yet confirmed his presence.
The Golden Globes will inevitably be “different,” far from the glitter and champagne that flowed freely before the pandemic and scandals, according to Deadline columnist Pete Hammond.
“They will be more discreet. There’s no after-party to go to. There’s none of that. Studios don’t spend a lot of money on all that,” he told AFP.
Those who walk the red carpet will have to justify their presence, facing journalists who ask for their opinion on the HFPA reforms. “It won’t just be ‘What are you wearing?'” he says.
mark away
The ceremony must already deal with two missing marks. Brendan Fraser, nominated for his role as an obese and lonely teacher in his The whale, accuses a former HFPA president of sexually assaulting him and will boycott the event. producer of Top Gun: MaverickTom Cruise should also be absent, after returning his three Golden Globes to protest against the scandals.
His feature film will try, with the other big blockbuster of 2022 Avatar: The Path of Waterto prevent The Fabelmans win the award for best dramatic film.
Tarwhich takes place in the universe of classical music, and the biopic Elvis, about the king of rock’n’roll could also surprise. Their respective stars, Cate Blanchett as the ruthless conductor and Austin Butler as the notorious Elvis Presley, are among the favorites for acting awards.
As for comedies, the Irish tragicomedy The Banshees of Inisherinwhich depicts the abrupt end of a friendship on a small Irish island in the 1920s, will compete in eight categories for the first time in twenty years.
The film confronts in particular the surreal and hallucinatory Everything everywhere at oncewhich could win acting awards for Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Lee Curtis and Ke Huy Quan.
diminished influence
In the face of controversy, the HFPA notably revamped the Golden Globes jury, including 103 new entrants, who are not full members of the association, including many women and people from ethnic minorities.
But it is above all the influence of these awards that is at stake after the recent controversies. In the past, a Golden Globes hit was a valuable marketing tool, capable of launching a winning campaign toward the ultimate Oscar prize.
In Hollywood, some industry insiders are privately hoping for a return to grace from these awards, which have been “a major cog in awards season” for 80 years, Pete Hammond notes.
Movie posters also again highlight Golden Globe nominations, unlike last year. But to the columnist, his power to influence the Oscars seems permanently diminished. “When every Globes article talks about scandal (…) it doesn’t make them as credible, I think, to Oscar voters,” he concludes.
Source: BFM TV
