Photo Credit: Penske Media
They’re not what they used to be but can still be fun to watch.
Zoe Zusman, Staff Writer
The Golden Globes happened last week, marking the beginning of the 2024 awards season for the entertainment industry. While I’m not the biggest fan of awards, I realize they are important for the movie industry, and that winning a big award could mean the start of one’s career. But how do the Golden Globes play into that? Are they really as big as they used to be, or are they now just the laughingstock of the industry?
To put it simply, the Golden Globes’ prime is far behind us. Ever since the 2021 scandal that revealed the unethical practices of the Hollywood Foreign Press and the fact that not a single Black individual was involved in award voting, the Golden Globes is now seen as one of the biggest jokes in the industry. What was once a prestigious awards show has become something that many higher-ups in the industry now shun. With that in mind, know that the awards are not at all a predictor for the Oscars.
In my opinion, one of the most interesting things is how each category is narrowed down in various awards shows. For example, the Golden Globes has two separate categories for actors and actresses in dramas and comedies. As a result, more films get nominated and recognized in the Golden Globes, whereas in others like the SAG Awards, BAFTAs, and Oscars, there is just one award between both categories. This gives the Golden Globes the unique opportunity to award the greatest variety of accolades among the awards shows.
This year at the Globes, Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer) and Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers) won Best Actor for their drama performances and comedy performances, respectively. In the Critics’ Choice Awards, however, Giamatti took home the overall Best Actor award. Similarly, Lily Gladstone and Emma Stone won Best Actress at the Globes for drama and comedy respectively, but Stone took the Critics’ Choice Best Actress award in the end. Dramas do not always sweep the awards season.
Some of my favourite wins of the night: Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri for Best Actor/Actress in a Musical or Comedy TV Series (The Bear); Christopher Nolan for Best Director (Oppenheimer); Lily Gladstone for Best Actress (Killers of the Flower Moon); Cillian Murphy for Best Actor (Oppenheimer); and Billie Eilish’s What Was I Made For for Best Original Song. The Golden Globes may not be all that they used to be, but it can still be fun to watch your favourites win.
