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Film

'1917' scoops top prize at Golden Globes

January 6, 2020

World War I epic "1917" has taken home the award for best drama at the Golden Globes, beating front-runners "Marriage Story" and "The Irishman." Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood" was also honored.

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Sam Mendes holds up his award
Image: Reuters/NBC Universal/P. Drinkwater

Wartime tale 1917 scooped the prize for best drama film and best director for Sam Mendes at the 77th Golden Globe Awards on Sunday.

"Goodness me, that is a big surprise," the British director said of his shock win.

1917, which follows two young soldiers sent on an impossible mission, defeated other contenders The Irishman and Marriage Story — both considered favorites — as well as The Two Popes and Joker.

Read moreTarantino's back with 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood'

Joaquin Phoenix in Joker
Joaquin Phoenix was widely lauded for his portrayal of Arthur Fleck in 'Joker'Image: picture-alliance/dpa//Warner Bros. Entertainment/N. Tavernise

Renee Zellweger's performance in Judy, in which she plays actress Judy Garland near the end of her life, scored her the prize for best actress in a film drama. Joaquin Phoenix won the best actor gong for his turn as a deeply disturbed stand-up comedian in Joker.

Noah Baumbach's divorce drama Marriage Story led all movies with six nominations, but in the end only won in the best supporting actress category for Laura Dern. Martin Scorsese's The Irishman had five nods, but ended the night empty handed. 

Read moreFilms with female leads earn more at box office

Quentin Tarantino's Los Angeles fable Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood took the prize for best film in the comedy or musical category, as well as best screenplay and best supporting actor for Brad Pitt.

Best actor in a musical or comedy went to Taron Egerton for his portrayal of British pop singer Elton John in Rocketman, while Awkwafina won the best actress prize in the same category for her performance in Chinese-American family drama The Farewell

In the TV category, HBO hit Succession won best drama, while British series Fleabag won top comedy honors and the best comedy actress prize for Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Brad Pitt and Leonardo Dicaprio in Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood
Brad Pitt (left) was honored for his role in Tarantino's 'Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood'Image: Imago Images/Zuma Press/Columbia Pictures

Oscars predictor?

The Golden Globes, which are handed out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, come just a week before the announcement of the nominees for the Academy Awards (Oscars). The Globes are often seen as a predictor for the Oscars, which take place this year on February 9.

This year's Globes was hosted for the fifth time by British comedian Ricky Gervais, who opened the event with a cutting monologue in which he declared movies irrelevant, pretended to confuse actor Joe Pesci with Baby Yoda and hailed Netflix's domination in Hollywood. This year the streaming service had a formidable 34 nominations. 

Parasite named best foreign film

Parasite, a black comedy thriller from South Korean director Bong Joon Ho, won in the best foreign film category. It beat France's Les Miserables, Pedro Almodovar's Pain and Glory, Chinese-American family drama The Farewell and France's Portrait of a Lady on Fire.

"Once you overcome the inch-tall-barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films,'' Bong said through a translator.

This image released by Neon shows Woo-sik Choi, from left, Kang-ho Song, Hye-jin Jang and So-dam Park in a scene from "Parasite."
'Parasite' also won the Cannes Palme d'Or in 2019Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Koch Film

Tom Hanks, also a nominee for his supporting turn as Fred Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement. Comedian Ellen DeGeneres was also given the Globes' newest award for lifetime achievement in television.

nm/cmk (AFP, AP)

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