USA: "GLADIATOR" , JULIA ROBERTS , TOM HANKS AND AL PACINO RECEIVE AWARDS AT THE GOLDEN GLOBES FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS

Record ID: 390848

  • Title: USA: "GLADIATOR" , JULIA ROBERTS , TOM HANKS AND AL PACINO RECEIVE AWARDS AT THE GOLDEN GLOBES FILM AND TELEVISION AWARDS
  • Date: 22nd January 2001
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 21, 2001)(REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) JULIA ROBERTS BACKSTAGE SAYING: "They changed them. It's a bit taller now. It used to just be orange. It's upgraded, we've both upgraded. I'm dressed nicer than I was ten years ago."
  • Embargoed: 6th February 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA9RW9M9C6ST49L8WTK1TQR74ZA
  • Story Text: Swords, drugs and rock 'n' roll captured the fancy of Hollywood on Sunday (January 21) as Roman Empire drama "Gladiator" and rock comedy "Almost Famous" each claimed Golden Globe Awards as the best films in their categories.
    The show mixed fresh faces like Kate Hudson, named best supporting actress for "Almost Famous," with top celebrities including Tom Hanks, best actor in a film drama for "Cast Away," and Julia Roberts, winning actress in a drama for "Erin Brockovich."
    It was filled with references to drug use by actors like Robert Downey, Jr., currently entangled in a legal snare for drug possession, who won best supporting actor in a television comedy for his appearances on "Ally McBeal."
    In a repeat of an episode at the Golden Globes in 1998, Renee Zellweger, best actress in a comedy for "Nurse Betty,"
    was in the restroom when her name was called, causing British actor Hugh Grant to wonder if she'd hidden under the table.
    Elizabeth Taylor also had her own troubles onstage, tearing open the winner's envelope and almost naming the winner for best film drama before she had even called out the nominees.
    In short, it was a wacky ceremony for the Golden Globes, one of the film industry's most watched events and typically viewed as a precursor to the Oscars -- the film industry's highest awards given out each March.
    Heading into the awards, "Gladiator," a film about a Roman general who falls out of power and returns to Rome as a slave and gladiator to avenge wrongs to him and his family, and "Traffic," a sobering tale of drug use in the United States, had figured to be the leading contenders for Globes with five nominations each.
    While each came out with two awards, it was "Almost Famous" that surprised many industry watchers with its two Globes -- along with the two Globes for director Ang Lee's martial arts-filled romantic drama "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."
    They had four and three nominations, respectively.
    "Almost Famous" is based on director Cameron Crowe's coming of age experience as a 16-year-old rock critic touring with Led Zeppelin. Accepting the award onstage, he thanked his mom for letting him tour with the decadent British rock legends at such an early age.
    Roberts was one of the more vocal winners, saying she was not going to leave the stage until she'd said all she wanted, regardless of whether her time ran out. She then went on to thank a long list of people who had helped her, including"Brockovich" director Steven Soderbergh.
    Among some of the first-time winners were Zellweger for portraying a star-obsessed stalker in "Nurse Betty," Benicio Del Toro, best supporting actor for his portrayal of a Mexican cop trying to stay uncorrupted in "Traffic" and Goldie Hawn's daughter, Kate Hudson, playing an avid rock fan in "Famous."
    In a surprise, Taiwanese-born director Ang Lee was named best director for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," a widely acclaimed fantasy. He beat out Soderbergh, the evening's favorite, nominated for both "Traffic" and "Erin Brockovich."
    Among the veterans taking home Golden Globes was George Clooney, named best actor in a film comedy for his portrayal of an escaped convict on the run in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
    Shortly after Clooney, Robert Downey, Jr., who has battled drug and alcohol addictions, took the stage and said: "it's nice not to be under the table tonight."
    But after winning his own award, a contrite Downey thanked the audience, said the award made him feel very humble, and would help with his self-esteem. He said people have been coming up to him on the street and offering their support, and he added: "I've been doing my part lately," he added.
    The "Globes," which are handed out by 84 voting members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, are among the movies' top honors each year and help narrow the list of front-runners heading into the all-important Academy Awards -- the year's top honors -- held in March.
    The event also attracts many top stars, which this year included Tom Hanks, Russell Crowe, Julia Roberts and Sandra Bullock, because it is seen by millions of fans on television in over 130 countries and has all the glitz and glamour Hollywood can pack into one evening.
    Del Toro took home his Globe for best supporting actor in a film portraying a Mexican cop trying to stay on the right side of the law and away from corruption in Steven Soderbergh's drama about drug wars in the United States, "Traffic."
    "I got lucky," Del Toro said on stage when accepting his award. Backstage, he told reporters that he thought the Globe and his win would probably be the first time his family got used to the fact he is an actor.
    "Even up to a few weeks ago, my godmother would call me up and say, 'It's not too late to become a lawyer,'" he said.
    Hudson, who is the daughter of actress Goldie Hawn, grabbed a Globe for best supporting actress in a movie portraying an avid rock-n-roll fan who follows an up-and-coming band in director Cameron Crowe's critically-acclaimed "Almost Famous," about the fictional band "Stillwater" on tour in the 1970s.
    Renee Zellwegger was honored in the best supporting actress in a comedy for her titular role in "Nurse Betty."
    A big upset occured in the Best Director category when "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" helmer Ang Lee bested double nominee Steven Soderbergh. Soderbergh had been given the nod for his work on "Erin Brockovich" and "Traffic," making him the favorite in the category.
    The Golden Globes also include television categories, and other early winners included Kelsey Grammer, best actor in a comedy for his role as Dr. Frasier Crane in NBC's sitcom "Frasier," and Sarah Jessica Parker, portraying a single woman living in New York and dealing with life, love and dating in HBO's "Sex and the City."
    Still to come are the Globes' top film and television awards. Atop the nominee list in best film drama category are director Soderbergh's "Traffic" about the effects of drug use and drug wars on America, and the Roman era adventure "Gladiator."
    "Traffic" and "Gladiator" led the list of Golden Globe nominees, each earning five nominations.
    Along with those films, the category includes another Soderbergh film "Erin Brockovich," starring Julia Roberts, "Wonder Boys," with Michael Douglas in the lead role, the British film "Billy Elliot" and East European film "Sunshine."
    Despite the list of top celebrities attending the Globes, Soderbergh could still end up as the night's biggest star because he has two films in the best drama category -- the first time that has ever happened.
    Among nominees for best musical or comedy film are "Almost Famous," claymation hit "Chicken Run," Lasse Hallstrom's "Chocolat," the Coen brothers' "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
    and "Best in Show."
    Leading the list of best actresses in a drama are Roberts for "Brockovich," Laura Linney for "You Can Count on Me,"
    Ellen Burstyn in "Requiem for a Dream," Icelandic pop singer Bjork in "Dancer in the Dark," and Joan Allen for "The Contender."
    Best dramatic actor nominees feature Douglas in "Wonder Boys," Crowe for "Gladiator," Hanks in "Cast Away," Geoffrey Rush in "Quills," and Spanish actor Javier Bardem in "Before Night Falls."
    Among the nominees for best TV drama are newcomer "C.S.I."
    in its first season on the air, and past nominees "ER," "The Practice," "The Sopranos" and "The West Wing."
    Best TV musical or comedy are "Ally McBeal," "Frasier,"
    "Malcolm in the Middle," "Sex and the City," and "Will & Grace."
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