Golden Globes 2019: five biggest surprises

The 2019 Golden Globes threw up plenty of surprises during last night’s ceremony in Los Angeles.

The first major film and TV awards show of the year was presented by Killing Eve actress Sandra Oh and comedian Andy Samberg, who put on “the kindest yet most accurate roast Hollywood’s had in a while”, says E! News.

It was a big night for British stars, with awards handed to Olivia Colman (The Favourite), Christian Bale (Vice), Richard Madden (The Bodyguard) and Ben Whishaw (A Very English Scandal).

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But there were several upsets too...

A Star is Born snubbed

Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut A Star is Born had been tipped to sweep up at the Golden Globes, after getting rave reviews and five nominations. Yet the film, starring Cooper and Lady Gaga, was “totally rebuffed in the major categories, walking away with just a single prize, ultimately, for original song”, says Variety. The movie was also up for Best Drama, Best Actress in a Drama, Best Actor in a Drama and Best Director.

Bohemian Rhapsody reigns

In the end, it was another musical, Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, that took home Best Drama - a decision that has proved controversial. And Rami Malek, who stars as Freddie Mercury, beat Cooper to win Best Actor in a Drama. “If it managed to earn an Oscar nomination for best picture, it would make some dubious history,” says the Los Angeles Times. Director Bryan Singer was fired from the movie during filming and it earned “generally negative reviews for its formulaic and, at times, fictional storytelling”, says the newspaper.

Glenn Close beats Lady Gaga

“Few winners were seen as more certain than Lady Gaga as Best Actress in a Drama,” says The Daily Telegraph. But in another blow to the team behind A Star is Born, the US singer was pipped to the post by Glenn Close for her performance as the spouse of a Nobel Prize-winning author in The Wife. The veteran actress received a standing ovation for her speech.

Divisive Green Book wins big

The “night of major upsets” also saw controversial movie Green Book claiming three trophies including Best Comedy, says The New York Times. The road trip movie, starring Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali, was a “box office disappointment” and left some viewers “appalled by its reliance on racial cliches”, notes the newspaper.

Disney and Pixar edged out

The animated feature film category has long been dominated by Pixar and Disney, but this year it was Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, from Sony and Marvel, that took home the gong. The flick, which also beat Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs, is the first superhero film ever to win the category.