Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali starred in ‘Green Book,’ a big Golden Globes winner (Photo: Universal)

The 76th Golden Globes was an overly long and mostly humdrum affair, but it did produce a few shock surprises. “Green Book” won big and Glenn Close took home the Best Actress in a Drama award. Lady Gaga an early favorite was aced out.

The annual ceremony was held Sunday (Jan. 6) at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.

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“Green Book,” a comedy-drama set in the 1960s picked up the Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy award. It also won for Best Screenplay. Mahershala Ali won for Best Supporting Actress.

Director Peter Farrelly urged audiences to learn from the movie. It focuses on the unlikely friendship between jazz musician Don “Doc” Shirley and his Italian-American driver and bodyguard Tony Vallelonga.

“All we have to do is talk and not judge people by their differences. We all want the same thing,” he said.

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But the movie hasn’t been without controversy. Shirley’s family called the musician’s portrayal inaccurate.

Mahershala responded backstage in comments to reporters:

“I will say this, my job is always the same: I have to look at what I am doing and be responsible for it. “I respect the family … and Doc Shirley. I spoke to the studio and the family and at the end of the day you wish everyone was happy and you don’t want to offend anyone in any capacity.”

Critics called the movie an “overly simplistic” portrayal of the South at the height of the Jim Crow era.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” was another big winner, taking home Best Motion Picture – Drama. Rami Malek won Best Actor in a Drama. He thanked late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury “for giving me the joy of a lifetime.”

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But critics also dissed the film for “whitewashing” Mercury’s decadent gay life-style. Mercury ultimately died of AIDs related illness.

The movie also portrayed the Queen frontman’s homosexuality as a vice.

Close was a surprise winner for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama. Gaga, real name Stefani Germanotta, was considered an early favorite for the honor. She starred with Bradley Cooper in “A Star is Born.”

“The Favorite” star Olivia Colman and “Vice” actor Christian Bale were named Best Actress and Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy respectively.

Regina King won for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “If Beale Street Could Talk.”

“Roma” filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron was named Best Director and the film was also named Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language.

Although Golden Globes has been wracked by scandal in the past, the 76th Golden Globes will still remain an early predictor of Oscar nominees and potential winners.

There is no voting overlap between the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which picked 76th Golden Globes nominees and winners. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences picks the Oscar nominees and winners.

But voting members of the Academy are certainly tuned in to the awards ceremony.

Here’s a list of the winners. For more check out The Golden Globes Website.