Stars gathered Sunday night on Cipriani 42nd Street, with its soaring marble columns and high ceiling, for the National Board of Review’s annual film awards gala, where they were toasted for their work in some of the hottest films of the past year. But it was another awards show later in the week that got everyone talking.
The Golden Globes – which NBC declined to air last year after a Los Angeles Times investigation documented financial and ethical failings at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and revealed it had no black members – returns Tuesday night, according to the Foreign Press Association presented his reform plans. And the question now is who will emerge from the nominees.
“I’m excited to see how it goes,” said director Martin McDonagh, whose Irish drama The Banshees of Inisherin was nominated for eight Globes and plans to enter. “I have some thoughts on that that I might share when I get up there. I think it’s the beginning of a process that hopefully goes in the right direction.”
“We will be there to support our film,” said Joseph Kosinski, the director of Top Gun: Maverick, as he gestured to the film’s cinematographer, Claudio Miranda, standing next to him. The film is nominated for two Globes, including Best Drama. And, added Mr. Kosinski, “it will be nice to see some old friends again.”
Danielle Deadwyler won a Gotham Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for her role as Emmett Till’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, in Till, but was not nominated for a Golden Globe. She said she had no plans to watch the show live — “I don’t have a TV,” she said bluntly — but that she’d probably Google the winners afterwards.
But she has one other potential nomination in mind this year — an Oscar for Best Actress — and she had a proposal for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organizes the annual Academy Awards.
Steven Spielberg gets personal in The Fabelmans
The director’s latest film, starring Michelle Williams, focuses on Sammy Fabelman, an aspiring filmmaker who bears a close resemblance to Spielberg himself.
“Mixed-gender categories,” she said. “That’s what I’m here for. Because what does this mean for non-binary people? Why is there a point to choose?
“We should smash them,” she added.
At a time of declining viewership for awards shows — just 6.9 million people watched the Globes’ broadcast in 2021, a record low compared to the 91.6 million who watched this year’s Super Bowl on CBS — it’s reasonable to look at yourself asking how much the Globes or any awards matter, ultimately doesn’t matter.
“It means more people are seeing the film,” said Mr. McDonagh. “Being in the conversation helps all of that.”
“I think it’s important to recognize people,” Ms Deadwyler said. “But they always make it seem like a race. It would be great if it could be recognized in the same way that Nobel Prizes are recognized — just say, ‘Oh, hey, this person did something meaningful for society.’”
Numerous honors were presented at the National Board of Review ceremony on Sunday night – 18 in total, including Best Actor and Best Actress awards for Colin Farrell (“The Banshees of Inisherin”) and Michelle Yeoh (“Everywhere at Once” ) – a traditionally boisterous and irreverent gathering that is not televised and where the winners are announced in advance.
There was also plenty of socializing in the banquet hall and at the three open bars before the dinner portion of the evening – fish and cucumber salad – began. Ms. Deadwyler, “Till” director Chinonye Chukwu and Janelle Monáe, who won Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” posed for a group photo. Sheila McCarthy wrapped an arm around a grinning Jessie Buckley, her Women Talking co-star. Actress Ariana DeBose, in a black velvet pantsuit, hugged a grinning Steven Spielberg, whom she later presented with a best director award for The Fabelmans.
And when it came time for the speeches — “Morning Joe” co-host Willie Geist acting as moderator — freed from the airtime restrictions of the Oscars or the beep censors of national television, the stars delivered remarks that often contradicted the 10-minute mark approached. The speeches were occasionally sprinkled with profanity, but were primarily used to thank dozens of members of cast, crew, and creative teams.
But there were a few notable moments amid the long list of credits.
A visibly emotional Gabriel LaBelle was honored for his outstanding performance in The Fabelmans as a character based on the young Mr. Spielberg. Mr. LaBelle, reading from a folded piece of paper he pulled from his pocket, spoke for about seven minutes as he thanked Mr. Spielberg for trusting him with “well, your life.”
“I feel like I owe you my first born child or something,” he said.
The wide-eyed 20-year-old actor also thanked his father – who was in attendance – for “tying my tie,” among other notable contributions.
Mr Farrell, who accepted the Best Supporting Actor award on behalf of his absent Banshees of Inisherin co-star Brendan Gleeson, told the story of his first meeting with Mr Gleeson in a room at the Chelsea Hotel. Mr. Farrell had been sober for a year and a half, and Mr. Gleeson offered him “a drink” – which turned out to be a choice of a bottle of still or sparkling water from his fridge.
“And I was like, ‘Aww, this is a man who’s going to take care of you,'” said Mr. Farrell, who accepted his own Best Actor award about an hour later.
Daniel Craig also made a surprise appearance to honor his co-star in Glass Onion, Ms. Monáe, as she accepted her award for Best Supporting Actress. He remarked that “her dedication to her art, her craft and her delicious fabulousness is impressive”.
After a standing ovation for Mr. Spielberg – as the evening approached his fifth hour – the event finally concluded just after 11pm when the cast and creative team of Top Gun: Maverick accepted the award for Best Picture.
“It honors the cast and crew who have worked so hard“ Herr Kosinski, the director, had said earlier that evening on the carpet. “That’s why awards have value.”
Quick Question is a collection of stories from red carpets, gala dinners and other events that lure celebrities from their hiding places.
Comments are closed.