Surprises At Golden Globes 2019

Queen movie ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was the surprise winner of two major prizes at Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards.

The Freddie Mercury biopic took home the trophies for best film drama and best drama actor for its star Rami Malek, who played the late frontman.

Despite being heavily tipped and nominated for five prizes, ‘A Star Is Born’ took home just one award – best original song for ‘Shallow.

‘Green Book’ was the night’s other big film winner, scooping three prizes. It won best musical or comedy film, best screenplay and best supporting actor for Mahershala Ali.

Set in the 1960s and co-starring Viggo Mortensen, ‘Green Book’ tells the story of an African-American musician who hires an Italian-American driver to take him on a tour of the Deep South. Its Golden Globes victories mark it out as one of the favourites for next month’s Oscars.

‘Bohemian Rhapsody’s wins come despite mixed reviews and upheaval during production. Its original director Bryan Singer was fired from the film due to “unreliable behaviour” amid reports that he had clashed with Malek on set. Dexter Fletcher was brought in to complete the project.

But it has been a box office hit and Malek will now be among the favourites to win best actor at the Oscars on 24 February. In his acceptance speech on Sunday, Malek did not thank Singer, but instead paid tribute to Queen and said he was “beyond moved” to have won.

“To you, Brian May, to you, Roger Taylor, for ensuring that authenticity remains in the world,” he said. Both May and Taylor attended the ceremony.

He dedicated the award to Mercury, who died in 1991, adding, “This is for and because of you, gorgeous!”

One of the night’s other big surprises in the film categories was Glenn Close winning best drama actress for her role in ‘The Wife’.

She beat off competition from Lady Gaga, who had been widely expected to win for ‘A Star Is Born’.

It wasn’t the most nominated film, but the night’s biggest surprise was ‘A Star Is Born’ only taking home one award. ‘A Star Is Born’ also losing in the prestigious best film (drama) category to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is a blow, but far from a fatal one, for its Oscar best picture hopes.

But the evening has given ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ a jolt of momentum, and Rami Malek’s best actor win in a film drama means it’s very possible he could well end up taking the Oscar statuette.