As questionable as the sponsoring organization is, and as wrongheaded as some of its choices (Don Cheadle as best actor in a comedy?), the 70th Golden Globes Sunday rose above its sketchy past to really become one of the great Hollywood events in years.
The stage was set by the brilliant hosting of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, whose monologue was light , sharp, funny and free of malevolence in a way that Ricky Gervais was not (and Sacha Baron Cohen reminded us later in a purposely boorish presenting of the best animated film).
But because of the unexpected nature of their choices, Hollywood can applaud one of their own, Ben Affleck, with best picture and director honors for “Argo,” even as he never even got an Oscar nomination for direction.
They can also, perhaps prematurely, honor “Girls,” opening the door to a new generation’s voice, with Lena Dunham winning best comedy and best woman in a comedy, delivering one of those rising star speeches of gratitude that also has a joke that proves her worth in comedy: Thanking chad Lowe because she promised herself if she was ever in a position she would do so (because his then-wife Hilary Swank years ago famously did not).
There was a huge surprise in one presenter — Bill Clinton introducing “Lincoln,” as one former president to another, followed by the funniest team, Kristin Wiig and Will Ferrell, playing a couple of awed dolts who obviously hadn’t seen any of the nominated movies they are (badly) describing.
And there was that remarkable Jodie Foster speech. You may wonder why a lifetime achievement award would come prematurely for a woman who only appeared in a couple great movies (but a lot of moneymaking blockbusters). She rose to the occasion with the kind of speech that is hardly ever made in Hollywood any more, one that defined herself in her own terms, addressed her family with emotion to which all could relate, allude to her sexual orientation in a way that took into account she would be surprising nobody by “coming out,” and in there as well, possibly a statement of retirement from acting (which she later retracted apparently).
Derided by people as rambling and incoherent, it was a moment that was riveting in “Star is Born” way that most aren’t. And yet it was just the longest and most prominent among a number of eloquent speeches, such as those from best actor winners Daniel Day Lewis and Jessica Chastain. Old Hollywood was heralded by Kevin Costner and Anne Hathaway in their acceptance speeches.
The element of surprise was balanced with the expected — as with the sweep of “Homeland” in TV drama or foreign press enthusiasm for “Les Miserables.”
The usual hobnobbing between TV and movie stars — at the only major event that combines them — was a good backdrop, as it usually is. But some years, that’s the only thing to recommend the show. This year it was not.