Golden Globes: Jennifer Lawrence, 'The Revenant' and other notable takeaways

Jennifer Lawrence surprised everyone by winning the lead actress-comedy Golden Globe for "Joy."

Jan. 11, 2016 6:03 PM PT

There was the awkward Ricky Gervais-Mel Gibson moment, Jonah Hill in a bear costume and Denzel Washington belatedly realizing he had to give a speech. But beyond those viral, tweetable, Instagrammable incidents, there was also a fair amount to take away from the Golden Globes, about both the ongoing awards season and larger Hollywood culture.

What stood out? Here are five takeaways from Sunday night’s Beverly Hilton action:

Revered “Revenant.” There are few people who’ve had the kind of relationship with the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. that Alejandro G. Iñarritu has had. In 2007, the Mexican-born director’s third film, the globe-hopping “Babel,” won best motion picture drama at the Globes. Eight years later, his more intimate backstage drama “Birdman” seemed destined to repeat the feat. It was even categorized in comedy, where it had a clearer path to the podium. And it was a burgeoning Oscar favorite that would go on to win best picture at that ceremony. But when the Globes came around, the HFPA passed — it gave up the prize to “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”

That would seem to set up the director’s new film, the epic revenge tale “The Revenant,” for another empty-handed year — especially since the film was not favored against fellow drama contenders “Spotlight” and “Mad Max: Fury Road.” So what did the HFPA do? It gave “The Revenant” its top prize of best motion picture drama, and threw in a director prize to Iñarritu for good measure. Some of it is just the mercurial choices of the HFPA, but if there is a pattern, what would it be? That it likes his bigger dramas more than his smaller ones? Or feels like it really missed the boat on “Birdman”?

1/13

Comedian and host Ricky Gervais opened the show with jokes that made some laugh hysterically, and others cringe.

(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)

2/13

Jennifer Lawrence accepts the award for actress in a motion picture comedy for her role in “Joy.” “Every time I’m up here, it’s because of you,” Lawrence said of her director David O. Russell.

(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)

3/13

In the final award of the night, Alejandro G. Inarritu accepts the honor for motion picture drama for his film “The Revenant.”

(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)

4/13

Brie Larson accepts the award for actress in a motion picture drama for her role in “Room.” After a long list of folks to shout out, she said, “I’m sorry to anyone I forgot, I’ll write you a thank you card.”

(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)

5/13

As Taraji P. Henson walked to the stage to accept her award for actress in a TV drama, she passed out cookies to those around her, including one to Lady Gaga. “Cookies for everyone tonight, my treat,” she said for her winning role playing a character named Cookie in “Empire.” And just as she was asked to wrap up her speech, she refused. “I waited 20 years for this,” Henson said.

(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)

6/13

After being announced as a two-time Golden Globe award winner, Jim Carrey made it known that he isn’t just a regular person, he is a two-time Golden Globe award winner. Though, of course, his dreams won’t be fulfilled, as he said, until he becomes a three-time Golden Globe award winner.

(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)

7/13

Presenter Morgan Freeman announces the nominees for directing.

(Handout / Getty Images)

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Alejandro G. Inarritu accepts the award for director for “The Revenant.”

(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)

9/13

Presenter Andy Samberg sparks laughs.

(Paul Drinkwater / NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

10/13

Michael Keaton takes the stage to present an award.

(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)

11/13

Sophia Bush, left, and Kate Bosworth present an award onstage.

(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)

12/13

Maggie Gyllenhaal introduces the nominated film “The Room.”

(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)

13/13

Music, what music? Ridley Scott made sure to get in all this “thank yous” while accepting the award for motion picture comedy for “The Martian.”

(Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press)

Acting champions. Speaking of “The Revenant,” the movie’s star, Leonardo DiCaprio, was one of the most talked about personalities of the night, and not only because of his abrupt segue to the plight of indigenous people. DiCaprio, already a frontrunner, has now separated himself even further from the pack when he won lead actor for a drama for his turn as the, er, embattled, Hugh Glass in the survival epic film.

Skeptics like to point out that the Golden Globes are voted on by a group entirely separate from those who vote for the Oscars. But Oscar voters are watching, and a compelling actor speech can sway opinions. The evidence: the winners of lead actor-drama and lead actress-drama in each of the previous two years at the Globes went on to win the prize at the Oscars. That bodes well for DiCaprio, and it also bodes well for Brie Larson, whose turn in “Room” had her in a close battle with Saiorse Ronan of “Brooklyn.” After Sunday night, it may not be that close.

1/36

Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

2/36

Helen Mirren

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

3/36

Laverne Cox at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

4/36

Amy Adams; Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith; and Lady Gaga

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

5/36

Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

6/36

Katy Perry, Taylor Schilling and Kate Hudson

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

7/36

Christian Bale and wife Sibi Blazic

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

8/36

Regina King and Rachel Bloom.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

9/36

Dwayne Johnson and daughter Simone Alexandra Johnson

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

10/36

Saoirse Ronan

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

11/36

Julianne Moore, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jennifer Jason Leigh

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

12/36

Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

13/36

Director Tom McCarthy and his guest

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

14/36

Lily Tomlin, Denis O’Hare and Uzo Aduba

(Wally Skalig / Los Angeles Times)

15/36

Liev Schreiber and Damian Lewis

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

16/36

Brie Larson

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

17/36

From left, actresses Leslie Mann, Zendaya and Eva Longoria.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

18/36

Amy Schumer

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

19/36

Sylvester Stallone with wife and daughters

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

20/36

Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

21/36

David and Jessica Oyelowo

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, from left, Laverne Cox and Eva Longoria on the red carpet.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

23/36

Elvis Nolasco and Richard Cabral

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Wiz Khalifa

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

25/36

Lola Kirke poses on the red carpet at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Emmy Rossum and Sam Esmail

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

27/36

Zoe Kazan and Paul Dano

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

28/36

Giuliana Rancic, Debbie Matenopoulos and Ken and Tran Jeong.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

29/36

Maria Menounos

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

30/36

Ernst & Young couriers deliver the envelopes containing the winners to the 73rd Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

31/36

Carly Steel, left, Brad Goreski and Louise Roe

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times / Right - Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images)

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Fans in the bleachers watch the red carpet arrivals.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

33/36

Actor Alan Cumming documents the red carpet moment.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Liz Hernandez, left, Carly Steel and Nancy O’Dell

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Nancy O’Dell at the 73rd Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Bomb sniffing dogs walked the red carpet January 10, 2016 at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The Jobs report. It was one of the most famous unmade movies in recent memory when the Sony hacking exposed the messy process of getting it made. Then it became one of the least seen of the hyped fall movies. Now “Steve Jobs” is … back in the limelight? And earning accolades? The movie scored two major prizes Sunday when Kate Winslet was named supporting actress and Aaron Sorkin for screenplay.

Whether it can carry momentum forward for the Oscars — Sorkin is in the competitive adapted screenplay sections — is an open question. But the film can now claim a small measure of validation — “Jobs” is now a multiple Golden Globe winner, something that neither seasonal favorites “Carol” nor “Spotlight” can claim.

1/21

Golden Globe winners, including Rachel Bloom with her Golden Globe for Actress in a TV Series, Comedy or Musical, stop by the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards press room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

2/21

Actor Sylvester Stallone, winner of Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture for “Creed,” poses in the press room at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

3/21

Kate Winslet accepts her Golden Globe for Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

4/21

Director Alejandro González Iñárritu, left, and actor Leonardo DiCaprio pose with awards for Best Motion Picture, Drama; Best Director, Motion Picture; and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama, for “The Revenant” in the press room at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

5/21

Winner Oscar Isaac for Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

6/21

Taraji P. Henson in the press room with her Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

7/21

Matt Damon, winner for Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy, at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

8/21

Producers Mark Pybus, left, Colin Callender and Rebecca Eaton, winners of Miniseries or Television Film for “Wolf Hall,” pose in the press room at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

9/21

Jimmy Naples, left, and Sam Smith, winners of the Best Original Song in a Motion Picture for “Writing’s On The Wall” from the movie “Spectre”, at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

10/21

Aaron Sorkin, winner of Screenplay - Motion Picture for “Steve Jobs” at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 10, 2016.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

11/21

Director Laszlo Nemes, center, actor Geza Rohrig, second from left, and other members of the “Son of Saul” team pose with the award for best foreign-language film for “Son of Saul,” in the press room at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

12/21

Jennifer Lawrence won the award for lead actress in a motion picture comedy for “Joy.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

13/21

Christian Slater took home the prize for actor in a supporting role in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television, for “Mr. Robot.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

14/21

Gael Garcia Bernal of “Mozart in the Jungle” wins for actor in a TV series, musical or comedy.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

15/21

“Mr. Robot” creator Sam Esmail, center, and the cast pose together after winning the Golden Globe award for best TV series drama.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

16/21

Maura Tierney holds her Golden Globe for supporting actress in a limited series/TV Movie for “The Affair.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

17/21

Jon Hamm holds his Golden Globe for “Mad Men.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

18/21

Winners of the best motion picture musical or comedy for “The Martian”: Simon Kinberg, left, Ridley Scott and Michael Schaefer.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

19/21

Pete Docter, left, and Jonas Rivera, winners of the best animated feature film for “Inside Out.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

20/21

Lady Gaga with her Golden Globe for actress in a miniseries or a motion picture. She will perform the national anthem at Super Bowl 50.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

21/21

Gael Garcia Bernal, Bernadette Peters and Lola Kirke share the Golden Globe for TV series comedy for “Mozart in the Jungle.”

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Out of the spotlight? On the subject of “Spotlight,” it’s been one of the most embraced movies since it premiered at the fall film festivals. Tom McCarthy’s story of the Boston Globe’s investigation into the Catholic Church sex-abuse scandals of the early 2000s was praised as a low-key ensemble that was one of the best films of the year. So low-key, and so ensemble, that it struck out entirely at the Globes.

The low-key part may have played a role in failing to win in picture, director or screenplay categories. The ensemble part may have led to it receiving no nominations for acting. The movie — starring Michael Keaton, John Slattery, Rachel McAdams and a host of other stellar performers — is seen as such a team effort that no one is getting recognition. Though a Screen Actors Guild ensemble prize could be in the cards, the film’s actors could get shut out again come Oscar night — many of the male actors will go into supporting, and that prize could well go to Sylvester Stallone (he won Sunday night). To paraphrase Yogi Berra, the movie won’t win — it features too many good people.

Jennifer Lawrence. It was a strange night for Jennifer Lawrence. Really strange. The “Joy” actress continued her unlikely chumminess with Amy Schumer that began last year, even presenting and doing patter with her. (Their bit was good enough, if not Gosling-Pitt good. Then she went and surprised everyone by winning lead actress-comedy, a prize almost no experts had pegged for her. Her stock was rising. But shortly after, she went backstage and got snippy with a foreign-born reporter who was looking at his phone for a question. And a small backlash that had begun to develop in the past year, when some questioned whether she really was as spontaneous and carefree as her public persona, came back to the fore.

By now Lawrence being nominated is a given this time of year — she’ll likely pick up an Oscar nomination Thursday, her fourth in six years. But her post-“Hunger Games” image is as in-flux as Katniss’ romantic preferences.

Twitter: @ZeitchikLAT

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