By John Jurgensen
A year of Hollywood wins and woes fueled the Golden Globes in
Los Angeles on Sunday night, as the films "Birdman," "Boyhood" and
"Selma" landed awards, Amazon and Netflix solidified their standing
in television, and a hacking scandal offered an irresistible target
for hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
Awards were spread among front-running films. "Boyhood," which
followed its characters in real time over the course of 12 years of
filming, earned awards including best director, for Richard
Linklater, and best supporting actress, for Patricia Arquette.
Alejandro González Inárritu, who directed and co-wrote the movie
"Birdman," about an aging superhero actor who goes to Broadway, won
best screenplay. Civil-rights drama "Selma" won best original
song.
Bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the Globes
play an annual side role in calibrating Oscars race. The last two
Golden Globe winners for best motion picture drama,--"Argo" and "12
Years a Slave"--went on to win the top prize at the Oscars.
The Globes is the rare awards telecast that features nominees
from both the film and television industries. And as television has
risen in prestige and attracted top movie stars, its categories
have taken on more weight (while serving as a barometer for the
Emmy Awards, held later in the year).
Amazon.com Inc. proved it has clout in a new era of television.
Its original series "Transparent," about a transgender parent, won
for best television series, comedy or musical. Lead actor Jeffrey
Tambor won for his portrayal of a character who transitions from
Mort to Maura.
Amazon proved it has clout in a new era of television. Its
original series "Transparent," about a transgender parent, took the
prize for best television series, comedy or musical. Lead actor
Jeffrey Tambor won for his portrayal of a character who transitions
from Mort to Maura. Amazon, a first-time nominee, edged out
dominant competitor HBO and streaming rival Netflix, which was
nominated for original series "Orange Is the New Black."
Not to be outdone, Netflix racked up a win on the drama side
when Kevin Spacey received a best-actor trophy for his turn as a
diabolical politician in the series "House of Cards."
Ben Fritz contributed to this article.
Write to John Jurgensen at john.jurgensen@wsj.com
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