The Golden Globes, which have long been regarded as Hollywood’s favorite event but have recently been rocked by scandals, will try to make a comeback on Tuesday as movies ranging from Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans” to “Top Gun” and “Avatar” sequels fight for top honors.
The Globes traditionally play a key role in kick-starting the movie awards season but were taken off air last year amid controversy over ethical lapses and a lack of diversity in the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which organizes the Beverly Hills gala.
The 80th Golden Globe Awards will be televised live on NBC this year as a result of efforts to reform the HFPA, which had no Black members prior to this year. Invitations have already been sent to Tinseltown’s biggest names.
A-list celebrities like Spielberg, whose semi-autobiographical film is the front-runner for best drama, and Eddie Murphy, who will get a career achievement award, are anticipated in the ballroom at the Beverly Hilton.
Comedian Jerrod Carmichael will host the ceremony, and Quentin Tarantino is among the night’s presenters.
But many top nominees have not yet confirmed their attendance, and Deadline awards columnist Pete Hammond expects this year’s Globes to be “different” from the glitzy, hard-partying, champagne-soaked bashes seen before Covid and industry boycotts interrupted the merrymaking.
Unlike the Oscars, the Golden Globes movie awards are split between “drama” and “comedy or musical” categories.
On the drama side, “The Fabelmans” is up against last year’s two biggest box office hits — the blockbuster sequel “Top Gun: Maverick” starring Tom Cruise, and James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water.”
“Tar,” set in the cutthroat world of classical music, and rock-and-roll biopic “Elvis” could also spring surprises.
Their respective stars — Cate Blanchett, who plays a ruthless conductor, and Austin Butler, stepping into Presley’s blue suede shoes — are frontrunners for drama acting prizes.
But “The Whale” nominee Brendan Fraser, who alleges he was once sexually assaulted by a former HFPA president, has ruled out attending Tuesday’s gala.
Cruise, a producer on “Top Gun: Maverick,” is also unlikely to attend, after he returned his three Globes to the HFPA in 2021 in protest at its behavior.
