Artist, Descendants Score Top Globe Wins

Los Angeles - The family drama "The Descendants" and the black-and-white silent film "The Artist" appeared today to be heading toward an Oscar showdown after winning big honors at the Golden Globe Awards.

"The Artist" was the big winner at Sunday night's 69th annual Golden Globe ceremony at the Beverly Hilton, winning best comedy/musical film, best actor for Jean Dujardin and best score for French composer Ludovic Bource.

"The Descendants" was close behind with two awards -- best dramatic film and best actor for George Clooney.

The writer/directors behind the films, Michel Hazanavicius for "The Artist" and Alexander Payne for "The Descendants," were both considered top contenders for best director, but they lost out to Martin Scorsese, who won for his 3-D animated film, "Hugo."

"The Artist" won four Critics' Choice awards last week, and with its three wins at the Golden Globes, it solidified its status as Oscar front-
runner. Academy Award nominations will be announced Jan. 24.

The best-actor race was shaping up as a battle between Clooney and Dujardin. Meryl Streep, a favorite of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, won the Golden Globe for best drama actress for her role as Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady," giving her some momentum heading into the Oscar race. But Viola Davis of "The Help" and Michelle Williams -- who won the Globe for best actress in a comedy/musical for her spot-on turn as Marilyn Monroe in "My Week with Marilyn" -- will likely be strong contenders.

The presentation of the Screen Actors Guild Awards, scheduled for Jan. 29, will likely give a strong indication of who has the upper hand for the top acting awards. Clooney and Davis won best actor and actress, respectively, at the Critics' Choice Awards on Thursday.

The supporting-acting awards appear to be fairly set, with Christopher Plummer winning the Golden Globe for his work as an aging father who announces he is gay in "The Beginners," and Octavia Spencer winning for her role as a rebellious civil-rights era maid in "The Help." They both won the same prizes from the Broadcast Film Critics Association.

Sunday's Golden Globes ceremony was relatively tame compared to last year, when host Ricky Gervais took heat for his stinging barbs aimed at various celebrities. The English comedian was invited back anyway and again delivered a number of biting quips, but he was noticeably less caustic than a year ago.

Gervais' off-color jokes, however, still drew him some good-natured retorts from celebs such as Madonna and Antonio Banderas.

Emmy winner "Modern Family" continued its awards-show success with a Golden Globe win for best comedy series, while the Showtime hit "Homeland" won the prize for best drama.

"Homeland" star Claire Danes was named best actress in a drama, while Kelsey Grammer -- who previously won two Globes for best actor in a comedy for "Frasier" -- won for best drama actor for his role as an ailing Chicago mayor in "Boss."

Laura Dern took home the award for best actress in a television comedy for her role in HBO's "Enlightened."

Matt LeBlanc, best known for "Friends," won the Golden Globe as best actor in a comedy series for "Episodes."

The critically acclaimed "Downton Abbey" won the Globe for best miniseries or made-for-television movie. Kate Winslet, meanwhile, won the Globe for best actress in a miniseries or made-for-television movie for "Mildred Pierce." The award for best actor in a miniseries or made-for-television movie went to Idris Elba of "Luther."