Hollywood's International Show Launches Awards Season

Ever since it was first launched in 1944, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Golden Globe awards night has had a raffish, unorthodox edge to it, in part because unlike most of the Tinsel Town’s award events, alcohol is served and flows freely. In the past, there were also occasional rumors that the Association members were susceptible to friendly persuasion from publicists (shock! astonishment!), such as when the glamorous Raquel Welch won for best actress.

Given its antecedents, it was hardly surprising that a subtext of this year’s Golden Globes evening was a not very subtle questioning whether the award had any meaning. For example: The actor Denzel Washington, who received the Golden Globes’ Cecil B.DeMille award, recalled in his rather disjointed acceptance speech that, some years ago, his agent had told him he had been invited to lunch by the Hollywood Foreign Press, and if he posed for pictures with the members he would win the award. And he did.

Even so, the event – the first of the awards season – continues to draw the cream of Hollywood’s television and film community who on this occasion put up with British comedian Ricky Gervais’ abuse, including calling them a variety of distasteful names, without actually lynching him.

The fact is that the Golden Globes are important in the industry because they often set certain movies, their makers and actors on the road to success in the other, more prestigious and more marketable annual contest – the Oscars. In an industry where if a thing’s worth doing it’s worth doing at least twice, and insecurity is more revenant than the movie of that name, the Oscar voters are more likely to pick a proven winner than take a chance on a perhaps more deserving movie that has not already been recognized as such.

Thus, after winning Golden Globes The Revenant, its star Leonardo di Caprio, and Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, looked set to sweep the board with 12 Oscar nominations, with the The Martian (unaccountably categorized as a comedy in the Golden Globes) hot on its heels, together with its protagonist Matt Damon for best actor. But Brie Larson from Room was going to have to contend with the Oscar’s love affair with Jennifer Lawrence, herself also a winner at the Globes for best comedy actress in Joy.

The irony is that one big reason why award shows remain television mega-draws has more to do with fashion than with movies and television shows. The fashion parade of arriving stars on the red carpet in their haute couture gowns creates a drama of its own: it’s as much a contest as what happens inside – a contest to capture attention.

A significant shift away from the usual, daringly exposed creations of past years graced the red carpet. There was a good sprinkling of plunging necklines, but Jennifer Lopez, high priestess of the less is more approach to evening wear, set the more restrained tone in an elaborate, sophisticated and stylish mustard-colored gown by Giambattista Valli.

Gold was a favored color, echoing the Globe’s award. Brie Larson was draped in a cascade of golden stardust from Calvin Klein. Sequins sparkled on Olivia Wilde’s figure hugging Michael Kors dress, and swirled on Jenna Dewan Tatum’s midnight blue Zahair Murad. One of the few bare midriffs belonged to Kate Hudson in a light hued dress with a large cut-out midsection.

Jennifer Lawrence, no shrinking violet when it comes to showing-off her physical assets, wore an elegant, all-covering red Dior gown with two discreet cutouts, accented by a massive diamond choker. And it was Jennifer Lawrence, unpredictable as ever, who expressed possibly the most curious sentiment ever uttered in an acceptance speech. In thanking film maker David O. Russell who directed her in Joy, she said, “I want us to be buried next to each other.”

Whatever the significance of the Golden Globes, with all the glitz and glamour, they triumphantly herald the subsequent award shows.