The Golden Globes reshuffled the Academy Awards picture on Sunday, leaving Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator," Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby," and Alexander Payne's California road comedy "Sideways" as the leading best-picture contenders heading into Oscar nominations on 25 January.
"The Aviator" claimed the Globe for best drama, best actor in a drama for Leonardo DiCaprio, and best musical score. "Sideways" won best comedy or musical. The evening's upset came from "Million Dollar Baby," which took both best actress in a drama for Hilary Swank and best director for Eastwood, leaving Scorsese without the directing prize.
Jamie Foxx won best actor for his portrayal of Ray Charles in "Ray." Annette Bening claimed best actress in a comedy for her role in "Being Julia," setting up a best-actress rematch with Swank at the Oscars. Swank previously defeated Bening in that category in 2000, when "Boys Don't Cry" edged "American Beauty."
Despite Eastwood's Globe, awards analysts widely expect Scorsese, a four-time Oscar nominee for best director without a win, to claim that prize on 27 February. Comedies rarely take the best-picture Oscar, which gives "The Aviator" an edge, though "Million Dollar Baby" is seen as capable of closing the gap once it reaches wide release.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in January 2005, in its own words.