[IMG:L]The stars put on their favorite designer dresses and stylish-but-painful shoes to strut their stuff down the red carpet of the 13th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards in Santa Monica, Calif., but while their gowns shined of sequins and bright colors, the show lacked the sparkle and glitz it normally has–even with high-luster celebrity attendees like George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
In what should have been a night filled with cheerful celebration, it wasn’t the most joyous occasion for some. Not too long before the ceremony–in which awards are bestowed by the Broadcast Film Critics Association, a group of film journalists who appear on television, radio and the Internet–started, the decision to cancel the Golden Globes was announced which left many shocked and disappointed.
[IMG:R]”I just heard about it a couple of hours. We were all set to go,” Brittany Snow said talking about the cast of Hairspray, which earned three Golden Globe noms. “We were going to go to the parties. I was really excited for Nikki [Blonsky] to go. I was really excited for all of us as a group to go and fun and let our hair down and just enjoy the hard work that we did.”
But as of now, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. The writers have been on strike since November 5, 2007 and are not close to a resolution, according to WGA member Nancy Oliver, who was nominated for best screenplay for Lars and the Real Girl.
The 13th Annual Critic’s Choice Awards: Red Carpet Photos
“I stand by the union,” Oliver told Hollywood.com. “I will not cross any picket lines. I think we’re doing what needs to be done,” she continued. “I’m sorry for everybody’s life that it’s messing up. Strikes aren’t fun.”
“There are about 16 award shows a year. I think the Golden Globes is a glitzy one and it’s one that is fun and they give liquor at the table and that’s nice,” said Don Cheadle, who received the critics’ Joel Siegel Award from his friend George Clooney. “But I think the world will be all right.”
[IMG:L]Cheadle felt the loss of the traditional Globes ceremony was an unfortunate but necessary move to advance the writers’ cause. “I think that again there are sacrifices that have to be made on all levels if we’re serious about what we’re trying to do and if we really want to stand together in solidarity,” said Cheadle.
“The Internet is something that no one knows what the real sort of revenue that is going to be generated. I know that it’s potentially a considerable amount of revenue that can be generated. It’s nothing that we need to sneeze at when people rely on this for their health insurance and their benefits and their health costs. It’s a serious thing,” Cheadle added. “We are in the profession of make believe and story telling, but it’s what our livelihood is based on. I think it’s very serious.”
Elijah Kelley, who also stars in Hairspray, chimed in on the strike as well. “It’s bittersweet because we got nominated for an award, but you have to respect it and stand by them,” he said. “If it was me in this position, I would want somebody to be there for me and support me.”
[IMG:R]He joked about how he was already prepping for the big night, and what he’ll do instead.
“I went out and starting thinking about suit ideas and who I was going to take? Should I get a superstar, take my mom, or go by myself. Guess I’ll be sitting at home or go to the movies. I haven’t seen I Am Legend yet.”
His co-star Snow had a very different idea on what the cast should do that night. “I’m going to devise a party for everyone on Hairspray and have everyone come over to my house and have a cookout or something.”
Juno stars Allison Janney and J.K. Simmons expressed their discontent for what this means for their co-star Ellen Page and writer of the indie flick Diablo Cody.
“It’s particularly unfortunate for people like Diablo Cody and Ellen Page, who are really getting a lot of attention for the first time and deservingly so. Iit’s a shame to have the rug yanked out from under them in terms of the awards,” Simmons told Hollywood.com. “But it’s also a shame for all of show business and all of LA. The effect that this is having on everyone from crews to caters and limo drivers and hotels.”
Janney is so supportive of her movie daughter that she wants to see the young actress go all the way to winning the gold.
[IMG:L]”I’m upset that Ellen won’t be able to be there and receive her award,” she said. “Seriously, I’m upset for Ellen and for all the first time nominees to not get to experience what that’s like. I’m sad for them, but I think we all support the writers and are happy to stand behind them to show solidarity, but it was disappointing. I hope they settle it before the Oscars, I really, really do. We want Ellen to get her Oscar! Because then I’ve worked with another Oscar-winning actress.”
Others, however, aren’t so upset the Golden Globes won’t be happening. Casey Affleck, who starred in his brother Ben’s directorial debut Gone Baby Gone (which just happened to be snubbed by Globes), said he thinks it’s for the best.
“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but I think it sometimes takes something big to shake things up,” Affleck told Hollywood.com
Critics’ Choice Best Supporting Actor winner for his role in No Country for Old Men, Javier Bardem also isn’t concerned that the show won’t go on–or any other awards gala, for that matter–but for reasons of his own.
I don’t really care so much,” he said. “I don’t think about the Academy Awards or anything. I’m from Spain.”
For a complete list of the Critics Choice Awards winners click here.
