'Return of the King' dominates Golden Globes
One award for nomination leader 'Cold Mountain'
Monday, January 26, 2004 Posted: 8:46 AM EST (1346 GMT)
(CNN) -- Hollywood's A-list turned out Sunday for the Golden Globes -- the ceremony often seen as a precursor to Oscar success -- and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" walked off with four awards.
The epic fantasy won in every category in which it had been nominated. Its haul included best dramatic film and best director. (The Globes separate comedy/musical and drama films in some categories.) "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" also won for best original score in a motion picture and best original song.
Director Peter Jackson, accepting the best director trophy, said he was "honored" to be in the company of Sofia Coppola, Clint Eastwood, Anthony Minghella and Peter Weir, who were competing in the same category.
Charlize Theron won the trophy for best actress in a drama for her role in "Monster," in which she portrayed prostitute-turned-serial killer Aileen Wuornos.
Sean Penn won the best actor in a drama award for his role as a grieving, vengeful father in "Mystic River."
It was also a winning night for Sofia Coppola, whose "Lost in Translation" earned three Globes. It took home best musical or comedy film; best actor in a musical or comedy, for Bill Murray; and best screenplay, which went to Coppola.
Coppola, daughter of "The Godfather" director Francis Ford Coppola, thanked her family and her father, whom she described as "a great screenwriting teacher."
Murray was also full of praise.
"There are so many people taking credit for this that I don't know where to begin," Murray said. He thanked Coppola "for writing a film that was so good that everybody in this room says, 'That lucky son of a bitch: It could have been me.' "
Diane Keaton was named best actress in a comedy or musical for "Something's Gotta Give."
Tim Robbins won the first globe of the night for his supporting role in the drama "Mystic River."
"Every day has been a joy on this movie," Robbins said in accepting the honor.
Renee Zellweger won best supporting actress (drama) for her performance in "Cold Mountain." The Civil War-set film was up for a Globes-leading eight nominations, but Zellweger's was its only win.
The Golden Globes are also handed out for television programs. "Angels in America," the HBO dramatization of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Tony Kushner play, won five awards, including best miniseries and all four miniseries acting categories: actor (Al Pacino), actress (Meryl Streep), supporting actor (Jeffrey Wright), and supporting actress (Mary-Louise Parker).
Another Parker, "Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker (no relation to Mary-Louise), took the prize for best actress in a television comedy/musical series.
"My God, it's happening, thank you, thank you very much," she said.
One of the big surprises of the night was a British victory in the competitive American TV field.
"The Office," the BBC mockumentary comedy series that airs on the BBC America channel in the U.S., won two Globes, for best comedy or musical and for Ricky Gervais, who portrays smug, annoying boss David Brent.
Gervais, mimicking the role for which he got the prize, said during his acceptance speech, "I'm from a little place called England. ... We used to run the world before you."
The Golden Globes, which are given out by the 90 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, is one of the most-watched awards shows in entertainment, and winners often go on to earn Oscars, the U.S. film industry's top honor.
This year's Oscars will be handed out by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on February 29. Nominations are scheduled to be announced Tuesday morning.