Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Olivia Colman led the night's British winners at the Golden Globes, as host Ricky Gervais stunned the audience with jokes about Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein, and was silenced multiple times during the broadcast.
Brian Cox, Taron Egerton, and Elton John are also among the Brits who walked away from the 77th Golden Globes with at least one trophy in hand.
Gervais hosted the ceremony for the fifth and – we are told – last time, poking fun at this year's nominees and lamenting the duration of the ceremony in his trademark fashion.
The Golden Globes can serve as a predictor of how certain films and actors are expected to fare during the Oscars next month – although the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which is in charge of the Golden Globes, doesn't always see eye to eye with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organisation behind the Oscars.
Here are the biggest talking points from the 2020 Golden Globes:
British performers had an excellent night
Phoebe Waller-Bridge took home the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy, while Fleabag itself was crowned Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy. Olivia Colman, meanwhile, won Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series – Drama for The Crown. Sam Mendes won Best Director – Motion Picture for 1917, which also earned the award for Best Motion Picture – Drama. Succession's Brian Cox earned the trophy for Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series – Drama, while Rocketman star Taron Egerton accepted the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Speaking of Rocketman, Elton John and Bernie Taupin won Best Original Song for "I'm Gonna Love Me Again". All in all, a great night for British performers.
Ricky Gervais hosted for the last time
True to form, the comedian poked fun at Leonardo DiCaprio, Cats, and a few other people. In his opening monologue, he questioned the very principle of watching movies (now that "everyone's watching Netflix) and delivered this zinger: “You can binge watch the entire first season of [Gervais's show] After Life. That’s a show about a man who wants to kill himself after his wife dies of cancer. It has a second season though, so he obviously doesn’t kill himself in the end – just like Jeffrey Epstein." He was muted multiple times for swearing during the broadcast.
The Irishman was snubbed
Martin Scorsese's crime film was considered a strong contender this awards season, but that assessment might change in light of the Golden Globes. The Irishman had scored five nominations but failed to win in any category. Of course, there's always the possibility that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will completely disagree with the HFPA, but it begs the question: is The Irishman not a strong contender after all?
Things take an interesting turn for Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood and Joker
Also also considered strong Oscar contenders, Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood and Joker did well – though perhaps not as well as they could have. Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt and Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood itself won a total of three trophies out five nominations – with Tarantino missing out on Best Director – Motion Picture, while Leonardo DiCaprio lost to Taron Egerton in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy category.
As for Joker, it scored two wins out of four nominations, with Hildur Guðnadóttir winning Best Original Score while Joaquin Phoenix took home the trophy for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama. It was also up for Best Motion Picture – Drama, which went to 1917, while Todd Phillips missed out on Best Picture – Motion Picture (a category won by Sam Mendes).
Acceptance speeches were political
Several winners chose to highlight the ongoing wildfires in Australia – including Russell Crowe, who couldn't pick up his award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television in person, but prepared a message about climate change that was read out by Jennifer Aniston. Patricia Arquette criticised Donald Trump's policy toward Iran, while Michelle Williams dedicated her speech to women's right to choose.
Follow the ceremony as it happened here:
The complete list of 2020 Golden Globe nominees
Every contender for awards at tonight’s ceremony, from The Irishman to Game of Thrones
Who will win and who should win at this weekend’s Golden Globes
As the most surreal of all the awards shows approaches, Adam White trawls through the nominees and makes his forecast
The Golden Globes used to be a joke – now it is one of the most prestigious awards shows on the planet
How has an event organised by an obscure club of expat journalists, where tipsy A-listers briefly set down their vodka to accept their awards, come to be one of Hollywood’s most important bellwethers, asks Ed Power
When are the Golden Globes and how can you watch them?
Ricky Gervais is hosting the ceremony for the fifth time
Find a full list of winners here.
