(Los Angeles) The Golden Globes kicked off Sunday with box office heavyweights barbie And Oppenheimer as big favorites, for a ceremony in search of renewal, eager to forget the accusations of racism and corruption which have weighed it down in recent years.
From the first minutes of the evening, actor Robert Downey Jr mischievously welcomed the reforms accomplished, after the dissolution of the journalists’ association which was at the heart of the scandals.
“To the Golden Globes journalists: thank you for changing the rules of your game, and therefore your name,” said the actor, rewarded for his supporting role in Oppenheimer.
Released the same weekend, the two films gave rise to the viral phenomenon “Barbenheimer”, which pushed many spectators to watch the two films in theaters. As a result, the duo boasts $2.4 billion in box office revenue and 17 Golden Globe nominations.
The presenter of the evening, Jo Koy, focused his first jokes on the duo.
“I don’t want you to think I’m a pervert, but it was a little weird to be attracted to a plastic doll,” said the comedian, before ironically speaking about the three hours of “Oppenheimer », comparable to a series.
“I loved it, especially the first season,” he joked.
Directed by Greta Gerwig, barbie takes advantage of the doll’s global aura to deliver a scathing satire on misogyny and highlight the emancipation of women.
The film leads the way with nine nominations and is notably tipped to win the prize for best comedy and best screenplay. With the biggest theatrical receipts of the year, it is also the favorite for a new award created to honor box office success.
Oppenheimerwhich also attracted the crowds last summer, has eight nominations and seems well on its way to the prize for best dramatic film.
This feature film, which could recognize Christopher Nolan as best director, dissects the life of the scientist, played by Cillian Murphy, responsible for leading American research on the thermonuclear bomb through his rivalry with a powerful politician in the form of Robert Downey Jr.
The two actors are serious candidates for the best actor and best supporting role awards.
Scandals
The hype surrounding the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon is timely for the Golden Globes, recently bought and reformed by private investors.
Long considered a springboard to the Oscars, Hollywood’s former favorite party, renowned for its relaxed atmosphere, has been undermined by corruption and racism scandals in recent years.
To get out of this bad situation, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), which had created these awards and focused the accusations of ethical breaches and amateurism, was dissolved.
The new organization has greatly diversified the jury, inviting critics from all over the world. Enough to convince the American channel CBS to rebroadcast the 81e ceremony on Sunday.
“The Globes have made a new start,” assured AFP the producer of the ceremony, Glenn Weiss.
The presence of many stars this year seems to suggest that a large part of Hollywood is ready to move on.
In addition to cinema heavyweights like Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon), producer Oprah Winfrey and music stars Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa and Taylor Swift, also nominated, all walked the red carpet.
The Golden Globes are hoping for a renewed interest, after the double strike of actors and screenwriters which paralyzed the industry for six months. Deprived of promotion during the social movement, many stars could want to make up for lost time and promote their film with a view to the Oscars.
Double for Bradley Cooper?
Besides the “Barbenheimer” duo, Maestro by Bradley Cooper lies in ambush.
With this biopic of the conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein, the American can claim the double best director and best actor, which would be a first.
Native American actress Lily Gladstone, for her part, covets the award for best actress in a dramatic film, thanks to her role in Killers of the Flower Moon. A historical fresco where Martin Scorsese retraces the massacre of a tribe by white despoilers, which has seven nominations.
On the comedy side, it’s Emma Stone who holds the lead for this award, with her role as the female Frankenstein in Poor creaturescrowned best film at the Venice Film Festival.
Finally, in the television categories, the drama series Successionchronicle of the power struggles within a family at the head of a media empire, and the comedy The Bearwhich explores the back kitchen of a Chicago restaurant, are favorites.