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Many questions loom ahead of this year’s Golden Globes. Just three months ago, Harvey Weinstein, the man who was known to significantly influence and manipulate voters and throw the splashiest Globe after-parties was outed as a sexual predator by more than 100 women. The claims resulted in his own marriage breakdown, his former studio sensationally collapsing and many major actors and directors, too, accused of misconduct. Louis C.K., Kevin Spacey, James Toback, Brett Ratner, the list goes on. The domino fall was loud, powerful, widespread and marked the beginning of a turn for women.
This year’s awards also mark almost one year of President Donald Trump in office. As we look back at the legislation he has amended, cut or ignored – and in the wake of the commander-in-chief labelling himself a “stable genius” on Twitter – eyes will be watching Steven Spielberg’s latest film The Post. Starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, the biopic tells the story of The Washington Post’s first female publisher Katharine Graham as she races to expose a massive government cover-up in 1971. The newspaper drama is said to draw parallels with the Trump administration’s attacks on journalists and their “fake news”. Streep and Michelle Williams (who is nominated for her role in controversial thriller All The Money In The World), will arrive with female activists on the carpet.
For Australians – and on a lighter note – we’ll be looking to Margot Robbie. Her small-budget film, I, Tonya, in which she produced and starred in is nominated for three golden statues: Allison Janney for Best Supporting Actress, Robbie for Best Actress and Best Musical or Comedy. The 26-year-old will be hoping for at least one gong to see her Oscars chances upped, her box office sales bumped and her career reach a new high.
But the biggest question of the night: How will Hollywood celebrate amid the Weinstein watershed? How will first-time late-night host Seth Meyers address an industry in turmoil? “You want to make sure that you don’t lose track of the fact that people’s work is being celebrated. That’s what the point of the evening is for,” Meyers said. “But there’s also a lot of real estate for nominees and winners to talk about the things that matter to them and I’m glad that this show allows them to the space to do that.”
Will Oprah Winfrey – a cornerstone to the black women’s movement and who is accepting the lifetime achievement award – echo the anti-Trump sentiment of Streep’s speech last year? What will presenters Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie and Reese Witherspoon say? And what questions will the 89 journalists on the carpet ask to the sea of actresses – and activists – draped in black in a show of solidarity and protest against systematic sexism?
Direct from The Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom, stay tuned…
