While honoring films and TV, Globes are seen more closely as an Oscar thermometer. The traditional awards season, however, was interrupted by the coronavirus, from the release of films through streaming services to the sliding of the calendar for these events in 2021.
After one of the most criticized nomination decisions, “Minari” – an American production about a Korean family in Arkansas – was voted the best foreign language film, as this is how HFPA chose to classify it.
On television, Netflix’s “The Crown” was voted the best drama by voters on the globe for the second time (the last in 2017) amid a wave of victories by British talents, including Josh O’Connor and Emma Corrin for playing the Prince Charles and Princess Diana. “Schitt’s Creek” followed his Emmy win last season, earning another trophy for best comedy.
Most significantly, the broadcast followed a report from the Los Angeles Times on the questionable ethical behavior of members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association – the group that presents the awards and has long been the subject of such controversies – as well as its complete lack of black members, which generated criticism from several important Hollywood figures.
The first two awards of the night, notably, went to black stars: Daniel Kaluuya, for the historical drama “Judas and the Black Messiah”; and John Boyega, for an edition of the Amazon anthology “Small Ax”. The animated feature film award also went to a film with a predominantly African-American cast, “Soul”, which premiered on the Disney + streaming service. The film was also honored for best original soundtrack.
Neither of them directly addressed the controversy, although Fey and Poehler did, asking HFPA to address the lack of inclusion in their ranks, during an alternative monologue in which Fey referred to the group as “90 non-black international journalists” and “Europeans” weird. “
Few award winners or presenters have referred to HFPA issues, although “This is Us” star Sterling K. Brown began his introduction by saying, “It’s great to have a black back at the Golden Globe.”
The empty ballrooms were occupied by masked rescuers, while the nominees watched from home. The cuts, however, featuring all the nominees had an awkward quality and Kaluuya’s feed went through technical difficulties before it could be accepted.
The organizers of the awards stated in advance that they would address the latter concern during the broadcast, but three members spoke of doing better only in the broadest of terms. “We hope for a more inclusive future,” concluded Turkish journalist Ali Sar.
NBC, which pays millions each year for broadcast rights to the ceremony on television, made no comment on HFPA and the latest concerns surrounding it.
Politics, not surprisingly, entered the ceremony. Mark Ruffalo made a passionate appeal for the environment and for greater harmony after the “horrible black storm we live in”, while writer and director Aaron Sorkin cited the importance of defending democracy in the light of the Capitol insurrection on January 6.