Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things” Triumphs at the Golden Globes

Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things won the award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at Sunday’s Golden Globes ceremony held at the Beverly Hilton.

This was the film’s second win of the night after Emma Stone won the Best Actress award. The Greek director celebrated his Golden Globes win by giving a shoutout to Bruce Springsteen.

Luckily, Springsteen was in the audience to hear the praise, as the Poor Things director said: “I just wanted to speak to Bruce Springsteen. We have the same birthday. He’s been my hero since I grew up.”

Lanthimos thanked Springsteen for “making me grow up the way that I did” while accepting Poor Things’ award. Stone also received a nod from Lanthimos. “She won. You know it. She’s the best,” he said.

Poor Things sees Stone playing a young woman, Bella Baxter, who goes on a journey of self-discovery and sexual awakening as she travels around the world.

“Bella falls in love with life itself, rather than a person, [and] she accepts the good and bad in equal measure,” Stone said in her acceptance speech. “And that really made me look at life differently, and that all of it counts. She has stayed with me deeply, so this means the world to me.”

She thanked director Yorgos Lanthimos, saying she would “forever be grateful that we met” and writer Tony McNamara, jokingly saying: “I love getting to say this dialogue, and I love getting to horrify you with my Australian accent.”

Lanthimos, born in Athens in 1973, has received numerous accolades, including a BAFTA Film Award, three nominations for Academy Awards, and three nominations for Golden Globe Awards.

Lanthimos’ Poor Things: a provocative commentary

The Globes marks the first major ceremony of film awards season, which culminates with the Oscars on March 10th.

Adapted from Alistair Gray’s eponymous novel and scripted by Tony McNamara, the Greek director presents a fresh take on the Frankenstein myth. Poor Things serves as a provocative commentary on topics such as sexual freedom, class disparities, individual and societal self-determination, desire, and love.

In September, Poor Things won the Golden Lion, the top prize at the 80th Venice Film Festival.

Oppenheimer was another big winner at the Golden Globe Awards, taking home five awards. Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey, Jr. were both recognized for their acting performances, while Christopher Nolan won best director.

Succession scored the most wins in the TV categories following its acclaimed fourth and final season. Meanwhile, Barbie won the first box office achievement award, after grossing $1.4 billion (£1.13 billion) worldwide.

All the winners of the Golden Globes 2023

Oppenheimer: Drama Motion Picture

Barbie: Cinematic and Box Office Achievement

Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer: Actor in a Drama Motion Picture

What Was I Made For?, Billie Eilish, FINNEAS: Original Song

Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer: Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

The Boy and the Heron: Animated Feature Film

Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers: Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Emma Stone, Poor Things: Actress in a Musical or Comedy Motion Picture

Poor Things: Musical or Comedy Motion Picture

Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon: Actress in a Drama Motion Picture

Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers: Actor in a Musical or Comedy Film

Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer: Director of a Motion Picture

Succession: Drama TV Series

Anatomy of a Fall: Foreign Language Film

Anatomy of a Fall, Justine Triet, Arthur Harari: Screenplay of a Motion Picture