Golden Globes honor best in film, TV

With an open bar and a less formal atmosphere than the Oscars, the 72^nd annual Golden Globes got underway from The Beverly Hilton in California Sunday. The annual honors are handed out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for excellence in film and TV.

Co-hosts Amy Poehler and Tina Fey got the evening off to a light note, with topical jokes about Bill Cosby and North Korea. Of “The Interview,” Miss Poehler said that the scandal and North Korean hack of Sony forced “us all to pretend we wanted to see it.”

Of “Boyhood,” shot over a period of several years, Miss Poehler said of star Patricia Arquette, that there are “still great roles for women over 40 provided you get them when you’re still under 40.” (Miss Arquette would have the last laugh when her name was announced for an award.)

The first award was handed out by English actor Benedict Cumberbatch and Jennifer Aniston for best supporting actor in a drama. The award was handed out to J.K. Simmons for his film “Whiplash.”

Best supporting actress in a miniseries went to Joanne Froggatt for “Downton Abbey”’s fourth season.

Best miniseries/drama was handed out by Jennifer Lopez and Jeremy Renner to “Fargo,” the cable series adaptation of the Coen Bros. Oscar-winning 1995 film. Billy Bob Thornton won best actor in a miniseries for the same show. 

Best actress in a TV musical or comedy was awarded to Gina Rodriguez for “Jane the Virgin.”

“Transparent” won for best comedy series.

Best musical score for a motion picture (drama) was bestowed upon “The Theory of Everything” composer Johan Johanson, a native of Iceland. 

John Legend and Common took home the prize for original song for their work on “Glory” for the civil rights drama “Selma.” Mr. Legend said eloquently that he “is” Rosa Parks, the police officers shot in New York as well as various civil rights heroes who have fallen. “’Selma’” is now,” he said.

Matt Balmer won as best supporting actor for his role in “A Normal Heart.” 

The statue for best actress in a comedy or musical was won by Amy Adams for “Big Eyes,” the Tim Burton film about a painter who claimed the work of another. She was presented the award by Ricky Gervais, who laughed while sipping on a tall glass of wine as he announced the nominees.

“How to Train Your Dragon 2” won the best animated film.

Jared Leto, who presented the award for best supporting actress in a motion picture to Patricia Arquette for “Boyhood,” said from the dais, “Je suis Paris,” referencing the Twitter hastag that has gone viral in the wake of last week’s shootings at the Charlie Habdo satirical newspaper.

SNL alumni Bill Hader and Kristin Wiig presented the award for best screenplay to Alejando Gonzales Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Armando Bo and Alexander Dinelaris for “Birdman,” which stars Michael Keaton as a faded movie star.

“9 to 5” stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin jointly presented the Golden Globe for best actor in a comedy or musical series to Jeffrey Tambor for his role as a transgendered individual in the show “Transparent.” He dedicated his award to the transgender community and thanked them for their “courage and inspiration.” He added, “Thank you for letting us be a part of the change.”

The award for best foreign film was given to “Leviathan” from Russia.  

The Golden Globe for best actress in a miniseries went to Maggie Gyllenhaal for “The Honorable Woman.” It was Miss Gyllenhaal’s first win on three nominations. Of the long-held belief that there are so few quality roles for women, Miss Gyllenhaal said the “wealth of roles for actionable women in television and film” was a positive step. She then thanked her mother and her daughters, “who will one day be great women.”

The Golden Globe for best drama television series went to “The Affair.” 

Katherine Heigl and David Duchovny handed the award for best actor in a drama series to Kevin Spacey for “House of Cards,” the dark political thriller series set in Washington, D.C. Mr. Spacey, who won for his eighth nomination, thanked Netflix, where the show airs — and which has ventured into original content beyond the films and TV shows it offers for streaming. Mr. Spacey paid tribute to Stanley Kramer in his acceptance speech. “I just wish my films could have been better,” Mr. Spacey said Kramer told him. He closed his speech by saying “I just want to be better” too. 

Don Cheadle and Julianna Margulies presented the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime award to George Clooney. Miss Margulies, in her intro, recalled kissing Mr. Clooney during the time the two starred on TV’s “E.R.” Mr. Cheadle, who starred with Mr. Clooney in the “Ocean’s” films, then joked to doing the same, which drew laughs from the audience. The two actors proudly announced Mr. Clooney has been nominated for more Globes in more categories than anyone in history. 

Mr. Clooney’s honor was for not only his film work but for his humanitarian efforts in raising awareness for the genocide in Darfur. The crowd offered a standing ovation as he took to the stage to officially receive the award.

“I thought they were going to roast me,” Mr. Clooney joked. He gave accolades to Mr. Cheadle and Miss Margulies before honoring his colleagues in the room. “I don’t recall what awards Lauren Bacall won, but I do know she said, ’Put your lips together and blow,’” he said of the relative unimportance of trophies over the privilege of creating art seen by millions. Mr. Clooney also thanked his new wife, Amal Alamuddin, saying “I could not be more proud to be your husband.”

Mr. Clooney capped his speech referring to the Paris terror attacks, saying, “We will not walk in fear.”

Harrison Ford presented the award for best director to Richard Linklater for his visionary film “Boyhood,” which followed a young man’s journey from childhood into adolescence. The film was shot over the course of several years, allowing star Ellar Coltrane to age along with the film’s protagonist Mason. Mr. Linklater dedicated his award to “families everywhere … who are just trying to do their best.”

For best actress in a television drama, Ruth Wilson walked away with the gold for “The Affair.”

Earlier winner Amy Adams announced that Michael Keaton won the best actor award in a comedy or musical for “Birdman.” Mr. Keaton, best known for ’80s comedies and his Batman collaborations with Tim Burton, has only been nominated for a Golden Globe once before — in 2003 for his role in the HBO drama “Live From Baghdad.” Mr. Keaton referenced his real name, Michael John Douglas, in his speech, talking about his young life in Pennsylvania. “I don’t remember when my father didn’t work two jobs or my mother wasn’t saying the Rosary.” He broke down when thanking his own son, Sean, whom he referred to as his best friend.

Robert Downey Jr. presented the award for best picture, comedy or drama to “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” The film’s whimsical director, Wes Anderson, accepted the award and humorously thanked nonfamous, unsung members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Last year’s Academy Award winner for best actor, Matthew McConaughey, presented the best actress in a drama to Julianne Moore for her role in “Still Alice,” in which her character suffers from early-onset Alzheimer’s. 

Gwyneth Paltrow announced the nominees for best actor in a drama. She opened the envelope and called out the name of Eddie Redmayne, who portrays physicist Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything.” “This was a huge privilege,” Mr. Redmayne said. Hawking has “lived passionately and with good humor” despite his obstacles, Mr. Redmayne said. He thanked his new wife for allowing him to cut short the couple’s honeymoon to attend the ceremony.

Hollywood legend Meryl Streep had the honor of announcing the best picture in the drama category. “Boyhood” from Texan director Mr. Linklater was announced to a cheering room. Mr. Linklater, who previously won for best director, handed over his speech to the film’s producer, Jonathn Sehring. 

The ceremony closed with comedian Margarte Cho impersonating a North Korean dictator saying, “I will host next year. Goodnight!”