Golden evening of surprises
A celebration of underdogs, second chances
By Ruben V. Nepales
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 18:34:00 01/13/2009
Filed Under: Entertainment (general), Cinema, Awards and Prizes
BEVERLY HILLS, California—The 66th Golden Globe Awards was a night of wonderful surprises, a celebration of underdogs and second chances that inspired moving, tearful acceptance speeches.
Believe it or not, “Slumdog Millionaire,” one of the night’s biggest winners, was at one point in theatrical release limbo. It actually faced a prospect of a straight-to-video release.
Destined for the role
Kate Winslet had reluctantly given up the part in “The Reader,” which won her a Best Supporting Actress award (she also won the Best Actress-Drama for “Revolutionary Road”). Due to a scheduling conflict, she turned down the role with regret. Nicole Kidman took over the challenging role of a Nazi war crime suspect who ages from 36 to 68. Nicole got pregnant so she had to beg off. Kate told us that on New Year’s Day last year, when the phone rang, she told her husband, director Sam Mendes, that it must be her talent agent with the news that the role is being offered back to her. She was right. By the time, she was already free to do it.
Down and out
Mickey Rourke debunked Sunday night the myth that there are no second chances in Hollywood. Before Darren Aronofsky offered him the role that won him a Best Actor-Drama in “The Wrestler,” Mickey was down and out, reportedly relying on $200 weekly handouts from a friend. He had apparently even asked a pal in construction for a job. Darren really wanted Mickey for the aging wrestler role but it was subsequently given to Nicolas Cage who was deemed as a more bankable, reliable star.
Darren downsized the budget so he was able to hire back Mickey. As a result of the acclaim for his performance, Mickey is a hot star again. Among the roles being lined up for him is a role in the second “Iron Man” movie.
Incidentally, Darren, the man who made possible Mickey’s resurgence, told us earlier that he loves Filipino food like lumpia and adobo. He and his wife, actress Rachel Weisz, said they frequent an upscale Filipino restaurant in their home base, New York. Darren was in the Philippines shooting a movie many years ago. He said his stay was made memorable by a quake while he was in his hotel room.
Heath Ledger’s posthumous victory was also one of the most genuinely moving moments in the ballroom.
Sweet moment
Colin Farrell’s Best Actor-Comedy/Musical triumph for a film that was shown early last year, way before the awards season was a sweet moment, a stunning proof that good performances will be remembered.
Sally Hawkins was in terrible pain from a set accident when she introduced “Happy-Go-Lucky” to us in Toronto last year. In fact, she had to beg off from her interview because of the extreme pain she was in. She had surgery right after the festival. So her win as Best Actress-Comedy/Musical was a sweet ending to the ordeal she went through while promoting the movie.
“Mamma Mia’s” Dominic Cooper jumped over the railing to congratulate Sally when she won.
Red carpet impressions
The ladies told me that among the women with the best gowns were Anne Hathaway (seems the hands-down favorite), Eva Mendes, Kate Beckinsale, Salma Hayek, Megan Fox, Beyonce Knowles, Cameron Diaz, Renee Zellweger, Drew Barrymore (blonde, evoking Marilyn Monroe) and Isla Fisher, Sacha Baron Cohen’s wife.
Billy Ray Cyrus graciously stood aside as his daughter, Miley Cyrus, posed for the screaming photographers.
Inside the ballroom, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie tried to be unobtrusive as they returned to their table while Sigourney Weaver was introducing a nominated film. Of course, all eyes in that side of the ballroom were on the hot pair, so they politely retreated to the back to avoid creating any more distraction.
The schmoozing during the commercial breaks was at a fever pitch as usual. People wandered freely to chat up friends. It still impresses us every year that somehow, people manage to go back to their seats in time when the show resumes after the breaks.
A funny thing happened on Alec Baldwin’s way to the ballroom. A brooch on my wife Janet’s gown got caught with Alec’s suit. After freeing himself from the brooch’s grasp of his suit, Alec asked Janet, “Are you okay?” He then quipped, “I am even ripping off women’s clothes!” Alec went on to win Best Actor in a TV Series-Comedy or Musical.
From our perch, we observed how some nominees poured champagne on their glasses and drank after they’ve lost in their categories. But the “Mad Men” cast made toasts whether they won a category or not.
Sweetest couple
Zac Efron and Fil-Am actress Vanessa Hudgens were among the sweetest couples in the house. Vanessa rubbed Zac’s back after he came back from his presenter duties. They held hands as they talked to hottie Megan Fox, who looked very elegant.
We chatted with Zac and Vanessa at the Warner Bros./InStyle after-party. Zac, who will be starring in a musical film version of “Footloose,” made some dance moves while a live band played.
As usual, since we were working on the red carpet, we arrived late in our table and so missed the dinner. We made do with the bread. Most stars came late, too, because of the red carpet interview action. Perhaps that was why the “Mad Men” cast asked Jonathan Rhys Meyers to pass the bread basket from his table to their table. The winners of the Best TV Series-Drama ate the bread with gusto.
When the show was over, the guests spilled into four after-parties within The Beverly Hilton Hotel. Almost everywhere you turned, there was a recognizable celeb.
|
