More highlights and sidelights at the Golden Globes
BRIE Larson AP
Aside from the major triumphs scored by Leonardo DiCaprio, Denzel Washington and Sylvester Stallone at the Jan. 11 Golden Globe awards, other significant feats similarly deserve to be highlighted:
First, Brie Larson’s best dramatic actress award for her harrowing and deeply moving performance in “Room” has impressed many people with its psychological power and subtlety.
Even more amazing is the fact that Larson is only 26 years old, but has already chalked up attention-calling stellar portrayals in films like “Short Term 12,” “The Spectacular Now,” “21 Jump Street,” “Don Jon” and “Trainwreck.”
Clearly, before she was tapped to play her star-making role in “Room,” Larson had already impressed other directors with her unique combination of beauty, talent and versatility.
In addition, she’s also a film director in her own right, despite her relatively young age, with two notable short films, “Weighing Down” and “The Arm,” to her credit.
Aside from the Golden Globes, her portrayal in “Room” has been nominated for the Bafta, SAG, Indie Spirit and Critics’ Choice awards for best lead actress. No doubt about it, this new star is well-prepared for even bigger thespic challenges and should be here to stay!
The best actress Golden Globe for comedy and musical films was won by frequent winner Jennifer Lawrence, who’s previously been honored by various award-giving groups for her portrayals in “Silver Linings Playbook” and “American Hustle.”
The fact that both Larson and Lawrence are still in their 20s augurs well for the future of filmmaking, especially in terms of performance!
Also uniquely instructive in Lawrence’s case is the fact that most of her award-winning performances have been in films directed by her mentor, David O. Russell (“Silver Linings Playbook,” “American Hustle,” “Joy”). Small wonder, then, that she went out of her way to frequently thank him after winning her Golden Globe trophy!
Another big victory was clinched in the best foreign film category by Laszlo Nemes’ “Son of Saul”—the first time that a movie by a Hungarian director has triumphed at the Golden Globes.
What made it win? The powerfully compelling film is about a Hungarian prisoner working during World War II in a crematorium at the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp.
To bury the corpse of a boy he thinks is his son, he tries to make off with the body—and find a rabbi to bury it!
Another attention-calling award at the Globes was the best original score honor won by Ennio Morricone. The award caused a stir among veteran film artists, because Morricone is now 87 years old!
Despite his advanced age, Morricone continues to compose songs and scores for the movies, as witnessed by his being cited anew for “The Hateful Eight.”
A glance back at his seven-decade-long career informs us that Morricone has been nominated for film honors multiple times and won an Oscar for “The Mission,” and Golden Globes for “The Mission,” “The Legend of 1900” and “The Hateful Eight.”
Morricone’s new victory in the “autumn” of his creative years proves that, to the determinedly productive and prolific artist, age is really just a number!
