The brutal World War II drama “Saving Private Ryan” marched to victory at the 56th annual Golden Globe Awards last night, capturing honors for best picture and director.
Director Steven Spielberg – who snagged the second Best Director award of his career – thanked “all the veterans that are out there that saved Western Civilization and stopped the Holocaust in 1945.”
“I never think I’m going to win anything,” Spielberg insisted.
“Ryan,” winner of Best Motion Picture, Drama, now has extra ammunition in the battle to win an Academy Award in March.
The Golden Globes, chosen by the the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, have foreshadowed the Oscar-winner for Best Motion Picture four of the past five years.
Another history flick, “Shakespeare in Love,” won Best Motion Picture, Comedy, Best Screenplay and a Best Actress statue for star Gwyneth Paltrow.
Paltrow cried and stammered as she accepted her award.
She urged her ailing grandfather to “hang in there” – which brought tears to the eyes of fellow Golden Globe nominee Tom Hanks – and thanked ex-love Ben Affleck, who had a small role in the sleeper hit.
In the biggest surprise of the night, funnyman Jim Carrey won the award for Best Actor, Drama for “The Truman Show,” a cautionary tale about television out of control.
Carrey had been cast against type as Truman Burbank, who slowly realizes his perfect life is actually a carefully orchestrated television show.
He beat out acting heavyweights Tom Hanks and Ian McKellen.
“It’s going to be so hard to talk out of my a– after this,” Carrey said.
“Truman” co-star Ed Harris landed the Best Supporting Actor award, and the film also won for its score.
“Oh, man. I just got through eating dinner,” said a toothpick-chomping Harris, who was the first winner on the stage.
English actress Cate Blanchett grabbed the Best Actress, Drama for her portrayal of the British monarch in “Elizabeth.”
Another major winner was prolific TV producer David E. Kelley, who took top honors in both the television drama and comedy categories.
His ABC law drama, “The Practice,” won Best Television Drama award.
The show’s lead, Dylan McDermott, snagged Best Actor in a Television Drama, and full-figured fireband Camryn Manhein, also an Emmy winner, won Best Supporting Actress for her work on the show.
“I would like to share this with every single senator who votes to dismiss the [impeachment] case tomorrow!” an exhuberant Manheim said to applause.
Kelley’s Fox-aired brainchild, “Ally McBeal,” took Best Television Comedy for the second year in a row.
Michael J. Fox, the baby-faced “Spin City” star who recently revealed he suffers from Parkinson’s disease, took home a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a comedy series.
“I’ve wanted to say this for a long time but I couldn’t – I’d like to thank my doctors,” Fox said.
“We’re so lucky to do what we do, and just take every day and enjoy it,” Fox said.
“Felicity” star Kerri Russell was voted Best Actress in a television drama, and peppy “Dharma and Greg” lead Jenna Elfman captured the Best Actress award for a TV comedy.
Superstar Jack Nicholson, recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime-achievement award, thanked the people “who believed in me just on instinct.”
“What I like about this particular award is that it doesn’t come from our peer groups,” Nicholson said.
The foreign press also tipped its hat to the Hollywood old guard, bestowing honors on Michael Caine, Gregory Peck, Lynn Redgrave and Faye Dunaway.
Caine was a surprise winner, rising above John Travolta and Robin Williams for Best Actor in a film comedy. Caine, who said he “never believed that I was ever going to be a success in this business,” won for playing a sleazy talent agent in “Little Voice.”
“My career must be slipping. This is the first time I’ve ever been available to pick up an award,” Caine said.
Peck won for Best Supporting Actor in the television miniseries “Moby Dick.”
“I think I won one of these in 1947, and it was very encouraging,” Peck deadpanned Peck.
Redgrave won a Golden Globe 32 years ago for “Georgy Girl” – and “it’s been crying out for a friend ever since,” she said. She won for her supporting role as the disapproving but good-hearted housekeeper in “Gods and Monsters.” Comeback kid Dunaway grabbed television supporting actress honors for HBO’s “Gia.”