Benjamin Lee 

The Brutalist, Emilia Pérez and Shōgun triumph at the Golden Globes

The low-budget immigration saga and the Netflix crime musical picked up major film wins while the historical epic dominated television awards
  
  

group stands behind mic
Karla Sofía Gascón and the cast and crew of Emilia Pérez at the Golden Globes. Photograph: Rich Polk/GG2025/Penske Media/Getty Images

The Brutalist, Emilia Pérez and Shōgun won big at the 82nd Golden Globes, the unofficial kick-off to this year’s awards season.

The low-budget epic The Brutalist, a drama telling the story of a Holocaust survivor turned immigrant architect in the US, won three awards: best film in the drama category, best actor for Adrien Brody and best director for the actor-turned-film-maker Brady Corbet. At the end of his speech, Corbet paid tribute to the film-maker Jeff Baena, who died this week.

Brody, who previously lost out on a Globe for The Pianist before winning the Oscar, called the film “a story about the human capacity for creation”. He said he had thought this would not be a “moment afforded” to him again before saying he hoped the film would inspire those who are immigrants.

The Netflix crime musical Emilia Pérez, the most nominated film of the night, took home four awards, for best film – musical or comedy, female supporting actor for Zoe Saldaña, original song, and film not in the English language. In his first acceptance speech of the night, Audiard said: “I don’t have sisters so maybe this is why I made a film about sisterhood. If there were more sisters in the world, it might be a better place.”

Saldaña beat out her co-star Selena Gomez and Wicked’s Ariana Grande for her win.

There was also a surprise in the female actor in a drama category, with the Brazilian star Fernanda Torres winning out against Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie and Kate Winslet for her performance in the fact-based 70s drama I’m Still Here. She dedicated the award to her mother, the actor Fernanda Montenegro, who was nominated at the Globes 25 years ago for her role in Central Station.

Demi Moore won for female actor in a musical or comedy for The Substance, beating out Cynthia Erivo and Mikey Madison. “I really wasn’t expecting that!” she said before adding that she hadn’t won anything before. She told a rousing story about a lack of confidence she suffered from after being told she was just a “popcorn actress” rather than someone who would be taken seriously.

Sebastian Stan lost out on the award for male actor in a drama yet won the Globe for male actor in a musical or comedy for A Different Man. His speech addressed the importance of acceptance for those with disabilities. “This was not an easy movie to make,” he said before saying “we can’t be afraid or look away”.

After winning a TV award at last year’s ceremony, Kieran Culkin was named best supporting male actor for his role in Jesse Eisenberg’s comedy A Real Pain. In his speech, he joked that he was a bit drunk after doing a tequila shot with Mario Lopez. He won despite competition from his Succession co-star Jeremy Strong and Gladiator II’s Denzel Washington.

The historical epic Shōgun dominated the TV drama categories, winning for drama series and also scoring historic wins for lead male actor, Hiroyuki Sanada, lead female actor, Anna Sawai, and supporting male actor, Tadanobu Asano. It follows a groundbreaking night at the Emmys where the show picked up a record number of awards.

The breakout Netflix hit Baby Reindeer picked up two awards for limited series and supporting female actor for Jessica Gunning. In his acceptance speech, its creator and star, Richard Gadd, said the show succeeded because “we need stories that speak to the complicated and difficult nature of our times”.

Yet Gadd lost out on male actor in a limited series to Colin Farrell for his role in the Batman spin-off series The Penguin. “I’m here on the backs of the talents of so many people over the years,” he said in his speech. Referring to his transformed appearance in the show, Farrell added: “I guess it’s prosthetics from here on out!”

After winning the Emmy for the role, Jodie Foster also won for female actor in a limited series for True Detective: Night Country in a starry category that also included Kate Winslet and Cate Blanchett. It was her fifth Golden Globe.

Hacks was named best comedy series and its star Jean Smart took home her second award for playing the lead, beating out Kathryn Hahn and Ayo Edebiri, while Jeremy Allen White won the lead male actor in a comedy for The Bear. White, who is currently filming a Bruce Springsteen biopic, wasn’t in attendance.

The Latvian adventure Flow was the surprise winner of the animated film category, beating out Inside Out 2 and The Wild Robot. The hit papal election thriller Conclave won for best screenplay while Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross picked up the original score award for Challengers.

While Wicked was shut out of the main categories, it was handed the award for cinematic and box office achievement, a category that was created last year and first won by Barbie.

The show’s host, Nikki Glaser, who was nominated tonight for her stand-up special, called it “Ozempic’s biggest night” in her opening monologue. Glaser gained viral fame last year for her eviscerating contribution to the Tom Brady roast but reassured attendees: “I am not here to roast you tonight.”

She did take some pot shots though at celebrities in general (“you can really do anything except tell the country who to vote for”), the misfiring Joker sequel and Timothée Chalamet (“you have the most gorgeous eyelashes on your upper lip”) while sharing her love for Babygirl (“I gave it two fingers up”) and making reference to Diddy’s parties.

Glaser is the first solo female host in Globes history and takes on the role a year after the comedian and actor Jo Koy received damning reviews for his turn. She received an enthusiastic response in the room but lost out on the award for best standup comedy on television to Ali Wong, who took home an award last year for her role in Beef.

Nominated films that came away empty-handed included Anora, Dune: Part Two and A Complete Unknown while television shows that were unrewarded included Abbott Elementary, Only Murders in the Building, Disclaimer and Mr and Mrs Smith.

Last year’s ceremony was dominated by wins for Oppenheimer and Succession. This year’s Oscar nominations will be announced on 17 January.

 

Leave a Comment

Required fields are marked *

*

*