Argo, Les Misérables steal show at Globes; Pi wins one

MICHAEL CIEPLY & BROOKS BARNES

Hollywood insiders had a field day on Sunday as the 70th Golden Globes turned into a feast of smart-mouthed humour aimed at two of their favourite subjects: politics and themselves.

The night's big prize, for best motion picture drama, went to Argo, a reality-based thriller about the rescue of American diplomats from Iran during its revolution. But the prizes were just half the action, as the room was kept spinning by Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, hosts who pulled no punches.

With hosts who had worked together on Saturday Night Live and presenters like Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig and Jonah Hill, irreverence pervaded the atmosphere in the International Ballroom at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

The Globes voters delivered a considerable snub when they bypassed Lincoln, an awards season favorite, in the best drama category, and Steven Spielberg, in the directing category. Ben Affleck, who directed Argo, won that one, too, though only three days earlier he had been left off the list of Oscar-nominated directors, while Spielberg made the cut.

Ultimately, the press association remained true to form, giving something to almost every film among the major contenders, and a little extra to one or two. Hugh Jackman joined Anne Hathaway, for instance, in winning for their performances in Les Misérables, which was also named best picture in the musical or comedy category.

Among the season's leading contenders, Life of Pi suffered one of the biggest rebuffs. It won only for its score, by Mychael Danna, though it received the second-highest number of nominations, with 11, in the Oscar race.

Jodie Foster 'comes out as gay'

BEVERLY HILLS: Hollywood actress Jodie Foster confirmed long-running speculation that she is gay by coming out at the awards show on Sunday, but joked she wouldn't be holding a news conference to discuss her private life. The notoriously private Foster stunned the audience of stars and Hollywood powerbrokers as she accepted a lifetime achievement awarded by announcing she was now single. "Seriously, I hope that you're not disappointed...I already did my coming out about a thousand years ago back in the Stone Age." REUTERS

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