Well it was a long night for those of us having to wait until 1.00am in the UK to see events taking place at this years' HFPA awards. There was some questions about who, if anybody, would bother to turn up after events of last year. Thankfully, memories are short when there is adoration and goodie bags involved and by 5.30am GMT, we'd seen most of what we needed and with notes in hand, could slope off for a quick nap, before coming back here and reliving it all for those who never had the access, an NBC invitation, or the inclination to virtually attend. Anyhow, here's to the results, and comment, when deemed relevant.
Some of the best film and TV shows of the past year were honoured at the ceremony in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles.
Best motion picture - drama
As mentioned in my review of the Steven Spielberg biopic in all but name, this isn't the best film of the year, as evidenced by there being at least two chances of being picked, dependent upon how the HFPA view your project. The Fabelmans qualified as a 'Drama', yet the likes of 'The Banshees of Inisherin' qualified as 'Musical or Comedy'. Of the list available, however, this was quite clearly the most deserving.
WINNER: The Fabelmans
Avatar: The Way of Water
Elvis
Tár
Top Gun: Maverick
Best motion picture - musical or comedy
This one was harder to call, despite my enduring fondness for anything Martin McDonagh chooses to do. Personally, this was a two horse race between Banshees and The Triangle of Sadness, which may have been a little too eclectic for the voters.
WINNER: The Banshees of Inisherin
Babylon
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Triangle of Sadness
Best actress in a motion picture - drama
Quite right, as Blanchett's performance was incredible. One good job does not make a classic however, which seems to echoed by Tár not doing better overall.
WINNER: Cate Blanchett - Tár
Olivia Colman - Empire of Light
Viola Davis - The Woman King
Ana de Armas - Blonde
Michelle Williams - The Fabelmans
Best actor in a motion picture - drama
I am the least confident about this choice, but suspected the good feelings for Brendan Fraser might swing it in his direction. Elvis is the only film on the list I have actually seen, so by default, I would have to agree.
WINNER: Austin Butler - Elvis
Brendan Fraser - The Whale
Hugh Jackman - The Son
Bill Nighy - Living
Jeremy Pope - The Inspection
Best actress in a motion picture - musical or comedy
My heart cried out for Emma Thompson to win this, but really, we can't really complain about the final choice, even if I didn't enjoy the film itself as much as others.
WINNER: Michelle Yeoh - Everything Everywhere All At Once
Lesley Manville - Mrs Harris Goes to Paris
Margot Robbie - Babylon
Anya Taylor-Joy - The Menu
Emma Thompson - Good Luck To You, Leo Grande
Best actor in a motion picture - musical or comedy
Having yet to have the opportunity to watch Babylon, I'd say this was a fair result, though not sure why Farrell got the nod over Gleeson for the nomination. They both should have been included.
WINNER: Colin Farrell - The Banshees of Inisherin
Diego Calva - Babylon
Daniel Craig - Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Adam Driver - White Noise
Ralph Fiennes - The Menu
Best supporting actress in any motion picture
Not seen the MCU sequel, but would have been gunning for Kerry Condon personally.
WINNER: Angela Bassett - Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Kerry Condon - The Banshees of Inisherin
Jamie Lee Curtis - Everything Everywhere All At Once
Dolly de Leon - Triangle of Sadness
Carey Mulligan - She Said
Best supporting actor in any motion picture
Gleeson at least gets a nod here as support and I'm surprised he didn't win it. Everybody loves Ke Huy Quan though. Bless him, he was properly thrilled too.
WINNER: Ke Huy Quan - Everything Everywhere All At Once
Brendan Gleeson - The Banshees of Inisherin
Barry Keoghan - The Banshees of Inisherin
Brad Pitt - Babylon
Eddie Redmayne - The Good Nurse
Best director - motion picture
This was a tough one, but I think Banshees just edges it for me, but with the message and spin on the marketing for The Fabelmans and allegedly how personal it is for Spielberg, this went some way to pipping everyone else.
WINNER: Steven Spielberg - The Fabelmans
James Cameron - Avatar: The Way of Water
Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert - Everything Everywhere All At Once
Baz Luhrmann - Elvis
Martin McDonagh - The Banshees of Inisherin
Best screenplay - motion picture
Yep, no argument here. Plain as the nose on your face, I suspect.
WINNER: Martin McDonagh - The Banshees of Inisherin
Todd Field - Tár
Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert - Everything Everywhere All At Once
Sarah Polley - Women Talking
Steven Spielberg, Tony Kushner - The Fabelmans
Best motion picture - animated
Not seen it, couldn't say. I would have thought Marcel would nick it, what with all of the good feeling about it. Perhaps a more aggressive marketing campaign is necessary before the Oscars arrives.
WINNER: Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Inu-Oh
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Turning Red
Best motion picture - non-English language
Still to see this, Close and Decision to Leave so wouldn't be so bold as to pick. RRR and All Quiet were both outstanding, however.
WINNER: Argentina, 1985 - Argentina
All Quiet on the Western Front - Germany
Close - Belgium/France/Netherlands
Decision to Leave - South Korea
RRR - India