USA: Films 'Dreamgirls' and 'Babel' do well at Golden Globe awards

The Oscars got their front-runners on Monday (January 15): "Dreamgirls" and "Babel" are likely to duke it out for best film while Helen Mirren and Forest Whitaker take the lead in the fight for best actress and best actor. All won Golden Globes and with that the vital momentum needed to move toward the big prize, the Feb. 25 Oscars. Meryl Streep won the award for best actress in a comedy for her portrayal of a wicked fashion editor in "The Devil Wears Prada." It was sixth Golden Globe of Streep's career. "Thank you everybody, thank you so much. I'm really thrilled. I think I've worked with everybody in the room," said Streep as she accepted her award. "Dreamgirls" won three awards, more than any other film, including best supporting actor and actress for Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson. Director Clint Eastwood's searing drama about the World War Two battle for Iwo Jima from the Japanese point-of-view, "Letters from Iwo Jima," won the Golden Globe award on Monday for best foreign language film. Director Martin Scorsese left the Globes a happy man, too -- he was named best director for "The Departed," giving his film a chance for wider glory. Although he has created classic films like "Raging Bull" and "Taxi Driver," Scorsese has never won an Oscar for best film or best director. British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, who plays a dim-witted reporter in "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," was given the award for best actor in a film musical or comedy. Helen Mirren won the best actress in a drama award for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in "The Queen." When Forest Whitaker's name was announced as winner of best drama for his portrayal of the brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, he jumped up. "I thank God, and the ancestors who let me stand on their shoulders every day and guide me, whispering in my ear," he said. "Babel" earned only one award -- best film drama. It entered the Golden Globes as the most nominated movie, with seven nominations. A story about the globalisation of pain and suffering, "Babel" was filmed in five languages in four countries and is far from traditional Hollywood fare. Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger -- on crutches after breaking a leg skiing -- closed the ceremony, without allowing a memorable movie quote go unused. "We thank you for watching, and on behalf of the Golden Globes: 'Don't forget next year, we'll be back,'" said Schwarzenegger. It is expected to go up against "Dreamgirls," director Martin Scorsese's gangster drama "The Departed," quirky family film "Little Miss Sunshine and "The Queen," which stars Mirren, when Oscar nominations are announced on Jan. 23.

ITN Source | January 17, 2007

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