'La La Land' big winner at Golden Globes

BEVERLY HILLS, California -- "La La Land" danced off with seven Golden Globes on Sunday in a ceremony marked by surprises and a stinging indictment by Meryl Streep of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

"La La Land," a romantic musical about a struggling actress and a jazz pianist trying to make it in Hollywood, took home Globes for best comedy/musical and for its stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, as well as for director Damien Chazelle, screenplay, score and original song.

"This is a film for dreamers and I think that hope and creativity are the most important things in the world," said Stone.

Independent coming-of-age film "Moonlight" was named best drama movie, while Casey Affleck, star of "Manchester by the Sea" won best drama actor for his role as a man riven by grief.

The Globe wins, handed out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, strengthened the front-runner status of "La La Land" and "Moonlight" for the Oscars in February.

Isabelle Huppert was named best drama actress for the French psychological thriller movie "Elle" in an upset win over Natalie Portman for "Jackie."

First-time Golden Globes host Jimmy Fallon opened the ceremony, calling it "one of the few places left where America still honors the popular vote."

Trump takes office on January 20 after winning the U.S. presidential election in the Electoral College but losing the popular vote to rival Hillary Clinton.

But the evening's most dramatic moments came from Streep, the most admired actress of her generation, while accepting her lifetime achievement award.

Although the three-time Oscar winner never mentioned Trump's name, she said the most heartbreaking performance of 2016 came "when the person asking to sit in the most respected seat in our country imitated a disabled reporter."

"It kind of broke my heart when I saw it and I still can't get it out of my head because it wasn't in a movie. It was real life," Streep said.

In television, Netflix's British royal drama "The Crown" won over fantasy "Game of Thrones" and sci-fi series "Westworld" for best drama series.

Hip hop show "Atlanta" won best TV comedy series and brought Donald Glover, its creator and star, a Golden Globe for best comedy actor.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Barack Obama professes love for Meryl Streep

President Barack Obama said he is in love, though he was not speaking about Michelle -- but he swears she understands.

"I've said it publicly: I love Meryl Streep. I love her. Her husband knows I love her. Michelle knows I love her. There's nothing either of them can do about it," he said at the Presidential Medal of Freedom awards Monday.

Obama endowed 18 people, including Streep, musician Stevie Wonder, Chilean-American author Isabel Allende, journalist Tom Brokaw and composer Stephen Sondheim, with the award, the highest civil honor in the United States.

A smiling Obama showered Streep with praise, complimenting the "Out of Africa" actress for her ability to embody the characters she plays.

"She inhabits her characters so fully and compassionately," he said of the three-time Oscar winner at the ceremony at the White House.

He also applauded her musical capabilities and her impressive ability to speak with any accent.

"She's sung ABBA, which, you know, that's something. She learned violin, wore a nun's habit, faced down a charging lion, mastered ever accent under the sun.

"Meryl is truly one of America's leading ladies."

Streep won an Oscar in 2012 for her role as Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady." She took home her first golden statue in 1980 for "Kramer vs. Kramer" and another in 1983 for "Sophie's Choice."

Obama also honored Motown legend Wonder, whose album "Talking Book" was the first he ever bought.

"I was 10 years old. maybe 11. With my own cash. I didn't have a lot of it. And I listened to that thing -- that thing got so worn out."

"What really defines Stevie's music is the warmth and humanity that resonates in every note. Some of his songs helped us to fall in love. Others mended our hearts. Some motivated us on the campaign trail," he said.

The economist Robert Solow and John Dingell, the longest-serving member of US congress, were also awarded.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com