Weakest outing by Fey and Poehler. Some jokes hit like a completely game Joaquin Phoenix, others completely edgy and provocative like the Cosby reference, to... the North Korea bits. I guess that Tina Fey still loved Margaret Cho as 'Johnny Mountain', but it really didn't work. The phone thing felt like an Ellen bit. Then Gervais had an extended time on stage. That was strange.
As for awards:
Keaton was my #3 in the Comedy/Musical actor category (behind Ralph Fiennes and Joaquin Phoenix), but what a speech. Given that Eddie Redmayne won in Drama, I find it tough to think you can compare those two on stage and how the room felt about both of those wins, to not think that this is Keaton's to lose. Redmayne even seemed drowned out by the respect for Gyllenhaal, Oyelowo, and Cumberbatch. Not to mention Cooper is in the race and Carell is still there too. The bloodbath for Best Actor is the nomination process. But I think it's Keaton barring some absurd late momentum by American Sniper in the way of The Pianist and Adrien Brody.
Common gave one of my favorite speeches of the night. I'm concerned about how Paramount pushes Selma, but I hope the song gets nominated and continues to win stuff. He and John Legend are great advertisements and voices for how this is the film for 2014.
Boyhood is still in front and pretty much nailed its message. This was an experience and incredibly unusual film process for everyone involved. Arquette's to lose and well as Linklater. It was actually interesting seeing the 'family' of Boyhood be a much closer family at their table than what the story permitted on screen. Hawke and Arquette holding hands at their table with Ellar Coltrane in between them. That's really sweet. Hard to hate them as winners. Like, I don't want to hear anything about basic Harvey Weinstein biopics for the next 6 weeks.
Birdman for Screenplay and The Grand Budapest Hotel for Comedy/Musical was a surprise. You'd figure it would be a swap. I am convinced TGBH momentum is real. Fox Searchlight better determine what their first position is, as it has both films. AGI is certainly there with Anderson and Linklater for Screenplay, but the Screenplay has most recently recognized Anderson and Linklater not to mention Birdman's more the actor's film than these personal works by RL and Wes. Who knew these Texas indie filmmakers in the 90s would possibly going head to head at the Oscars in multiple categories?
None of The Imitation Game. Let it stay that way.
TV stuff is surprising if you also don't realize just how obsessed the Globes are with freshman shows. But The Affair is in a pretty open Drama category (oh, Mad Men, get your awards mojo back) and somebody needs to beat Modern Family at the Emmys. Who knew the biggest threats to Modern Family's Emmy run would be two shows on websites that feature trans people (with female show-runners)?
Leviathan winning was good and to me has sat better with me as a viewer than Ida. The political nature of it being about modern Russia in a time where the country is going down the tubes financially and getting increasingly reactionary is an interesting development for it as far as 'representing' the country for awards.
Simmons, Arquette, and Moore are on lock. I think Amy Adams nailed the last Best Actress spot, but I hate that half of her nominations have been something of filler. Actually, only Doubt is an outright coattail- she's good to great in the rest. Our generation's Deborah Kerr, clearly. Ugh, why couldn't she have won for Junebug? Anyway, barring no shocks but underwhelming choices in Best Actor (like if Carell holds over Gyllenhaal or Cooper and Oyelowo misses), Keaton's the only one on shaky ground. But he totally owns a room. Note: If Keaton, Moore, Arquette, and Simmons all win- this is the first in a long time all of the acting winners won for playing original characters.
Updated On: 1/12/15 at 08:03 PM
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