Cinema: “Top Gun”, “Avatar” and Spielberg in the running for the Golden Globes

PublishedJanuary 11, 2023, 02:56

Movie theater: ‘Top Gun’, ‘Avatar’ and Spielberg up for Golden Globes

From Steven Spielberg to James Cameron to Guillermo del Toro, many Hollywood heavyweights attended the Golden Globes in person on Tuesday, despite the scandals.

Steven Spielberg arrives at the Golden Globes ceremony on January 10, 2023 in Beverly Hills.

AFP

Presenter of the evening, the African-American comedian Jerrod Carmichael opened with a joke recalling the accusations of racism, sexism and corruption aimed at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), which presents these awards .

“I’ll tell you why I’m here. I’m here because I’m black,” he said. “I’m not going to say it’s a racist organization, but they didn’t have a single black member until George Floyd died. So do what you want with this information,” he added.

Shunned by the gratin and deprived of television last year, the Golden Globes are back on NBC. The American network agreed to broadcast the 80th edition following a series of reforms by the HFPA to improve its diversity and prohibit its members from accepting gifts from the studios.

Brad Pitt attended

Many big names were present on the red carpet on Tuesday evening, including director Steven Spielberg, whose semi-autobiographical “The Fabelmans” is the favorite for the award for best dramatic film, and actor Eddie Murphy, who must be distinguished for his entire career. They were attended by directors Guillermo del Toro and James Cameron, as well as actress Margot Robbie. On Twitter, the HFPA also announced the presence of Brad Pitt and Rihanna, in the running for awards.

But the ceremony is rather low profile: most of the “following-parties” usually organized by the studios to drown their winners under champagne will not take place.

In the face of controversy, ‘Avatar: The Way of the Water’ producer Jon Landau has defended his presence on the red carpet this year. “I think the HFPA reacted to the criticisms aimed at it and acted,” he told AFP, praising the organization for its reforms.

Spielberg, Cruise, Cameron

The ceremony must however deal with two absent marks. Brendan Fraser, nominated for his role as an obese, reclusive teacher in “The Whale”, accuses a former president of the HFPA of having sexually assaulted him and boycotts the event.

Producer of “Top Gun: Maverick”, Tom Cruise was also to be absent, following returning his three Golden Globes to protest once morest the scandals. His feature film will nevertheless try, along with the other huge box office success of 2022 “Avatar: the way of the water”, to prevent “The Fabelmans” from winning the prize for best dramatic film.

“Tar”, which takes place in the world of classical music, and the biopic “Elvis”, regarding the king of rock’n’roll might also create a surprise. Their respective stars – Cate Blanchett as the ruthless conductor, and Austin Butler as the remarkable Elvis Presley – are among the favorites for the acting awards.

On the comedy side, the Irish tragicomedy “The Banshees of Inisherin”, which depicts the abrupt end of a friendship on a small Irish island in the 1920s, will compete in eight categories, a first for twenty years. The film notably confronts the surreal and hair-raising “Everything Everywhere All At Once”.

In-Game Prestige

Faced with controversy, the HFPA notably renewed the Golden Globes jury, including 103 new entrants – who are not full members of the association – including many women and people from ethnic minorities.

After recent controversies, the prestige of these awards is on the line at this ceremony. In the past, a success at the Golden Globes was a valuable marketing tool, capable of launching a winning campaign towards the supreme prize of the Oscars.

But if the film posters once more highlight the nominations for the Golden Globes, unlike last year, their power of influence seems to be permanently diminished, according to columnist Pete Hammond, of the specialized site Deadline. “When every article regarding the Globes talks regarding scandal (…) it does not make them as credible, I think, for the voters of the Oscars,” he concludes.

(AFP)