12 Years A Slave takes home the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama in a down to the wire victory.
“I’m going to forget someone. I’m so sorry. I wasn’t expecting this,” Steven McQueen said in his acceptance speech. He asked the fellow cast and crew to remind him of who to thank.
McQueen had every right not to suspect a victory. 12 Years A Slave which stars nominated actors Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender and newcomer Lupita Nyong’o was largely ignored during the broadcast. The movie rolled in with seven nominations and watched as the six previous nominations were handed off to winners.
As Nyong’o, who looked stunning in a red Ralph Lauren cape dress, lost to Jennifer Lawrence for Best Supporting Actress in American Hustle, many began wondering if any of the actors from the film would have an opportunity to grace the stage.
The film based on the 1853 memoir by Solomon Northup has received praise for its raw portrayal of slavery, along with memorable performances from the ensemble cast. The film also stars Adepero Oduye from Pariah and Sarah Paulson from American Horror Story: Coven, who tearfully joined the cast onstage for the film’s win.
Looking ahead, predictions have surfaced that the film’s shut out could be repeated during the Academy Awards on March 2. Those nominations will be revealed Thursday January 16 ahead of the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday.
Though touted as a front runner for several nominations, Mcqueen seems unworried. “I’m just so happy that the public has received the film so well in Europe and the United States. It’s so exhilarating, really,” he said.
For now he says he is “actually happy” with the Golden Globe award.