In addition to the golden statuettes awarded to the cream of Hollywood, this 80th edition offered its share of highlights.
All-Hollywood rushed to the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on Tuesday night to attend the 80th Golden Globes ceremony. After years of disgrace, linked to accusations of racism and corruption within its jury, the prestigious ceremony has had a facelift (new jury, new reforms) and hoped to restore its image. And the evening offered what is expected of an award ceremony: in addition to the golden statuettes awarded to the cream of American television and cinema, this 2023 vintage offered its share of highlights.
Between an irreverent presenter, long speeches and the lingering shadow of Will Smith’s slap at the last Oscars, here are five sequences that marked this ceremony, which opens the awards season in the United States.
• Confront racism
If the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), which awards the Golden Globes, hoped to turn the page on the controversies of recent years, it was without counting on the teasing of the presenter, Jerrod Carmichael. The African-American comedian immediately quipped about the lack of diversity:
“I’ll tell you why I’m here. I’m here because I’m black,” he said, calling himself “the black face of a beleaguered white organization.”
Willingly irreverent, the actor recounted his dismay when the role of conductor of the evening was offered to him. Doubts quickly disappeared given the check for “500,000 dollars” offered by the organization, he joked, narrating a conversation with one of her friends. “She said to me, ‘Dude, you better put on a nice suit and take the cash from these white people’.”
• The intimidating Michelle Yeoh
As often, almost all the acceptance speeches have eaten up the allotted time. The ceremony, which was supposed to last only three hours, finally exceeded by twenty minutes.
The producers have tried to dismiss the stars who dragged on, thanks to a little melody played on the piano. But most continued their thanks as if nothing had happened.
In this role, it is the Malaysian Michelle Yeoh who shone the most. Best Actress in a Comedy for her role as a laundromat owner immersed in parallel universes in Everything Everywhere All At Onceshe did not hesitate to pull out the bullying card.
“Shut up, please,” she said mockingly, recalling the many fight scenes that punctuate the film. “I can screw you up, this is serious.”
• The shadow of Will Smith
Will Smith wasn’t invited, but his slap in the face of comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars last year continues to be talked about in Hollywood. The sequence, during which the actor had burst on stage to hit the comedian when the latter had allowed himself a joke on the hairless skull of his wife, is now an endless source of jokes.
Jerrod Carmichael has thus claimed to have presented during a commercial break an award for “best representation of masculinity on television” to the actor. Eddie Murphy, rewarded for his entire career, gave a layer a little later:
“There is a real plan you can follow to achieve success, prosperity, longevity and peace of mind,” he told a hilarious audience. “There are three things: pay your taxes, mind your own business, and keep the name of Will Smith’s wife out of your fucking mouth.”
• Tom Cruise, mocked
And since the absent are always wrong, Tom Cruise, whose film Top Gun: Maverick was named, was also entitled to his share of jokes at his expense. The American actor returned his three Golden Globes to the HFPA in 2021, in protest at the scandals.
In the middle of the evening, Jerrod Carmichael came back on stage with three statuettes in hand, to represent these awards.
“Hey guys, I found this,” he told the audience, before commenting on Tom Cruise’s membership in the Church of Scientology.
“Maybe we should take those three things and trade them in for the return of Shelly Miscavige,” the host added, referring to the cult leader’s wife, who hasn’t been seen in public for ages. years.
• LGBTQ representation
Honored with a special career award, series producer Ryan Murphy (Nip/Tuck, Glee, Laid) took the opportunity to deliver a vibrant plea to better represent the LGBT community on screen.
He notably asked the public for a “standing ovation” for MJ Rodriguez, the star of his series. Laidwho became the “first transgender actress to win a Golden Globe” in 2022 without being able to celebrate her victory – because of the scandals, the ceremony took place without an audience or television.
“My mission has been to take the unseen, the unloved and turn them into the heroes I hoped for, but never saw, in pop culture,” he said.
The Golden Globes notably rewarded director Steven Spielberg: the American filmmaker received the prize for best director for his very intimate The Fabelmans, which also won Best Drama Film. He co-starred with the Irish tragicomedy The Banshees of Inisherin. The film, which tells the abrupt end of a friendship on an imaginary island in the 1920s, won three Golden Globes, including Best Comedy and Best Actor for Colin Farrell. On the television side, the spin-off of Game Of Thrones entitled House of the Dragon was crowned best drama series. The trophy for best musical or comic series was awarded to Abbott Elementary.
