Keith Girard
Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali star in ‘Green Book,’ directed by Peter Farley. (Photo: Universal)
“Green Book” scored another big win in the awards show race at the 30th Producers Guild of America Awards, a prelude to the Academy Awards. The showing bodes well for the film to take home one or more Oscars.
The Peter Farrelly-directed “Green Book” claimed the coveted Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Theatrical Motion Pictures at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles Saturday night (Jan. 19).
Green Book Wins Big at 76th Golden Globes Awards
The movie tells the story of a friendship between an Italian-American and a black pianist during a road trip through the segregated South.
Other nominees were “Crazy Rich Asians,” “A Quiet Place” and “Black Panther.”
Farrelly is best known for the comedy “Dumb and Dumber.” The film was panned by critics but was a box office smash.
“You know, when you make ‘Dumb & Dumber,’ you don’t ever expect to get an award,” he said, accepting the award. “I don’t need awards. This award to me is like Warren Buffett winning the lottery.”
In other accolades, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” won the Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures award.
“We tried hard to make a movie good enough for Miles Morales and his family to be in,” said Producer Phil Lord.
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” won the Danny Thomas Award for Episodic Television, Comedy, topping “Atlanta” and “The Good Place.”
“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” was named the winner of the David L. Wolper Award for Limited Series Television.
The popular show stars Edgar Ramirez, Darren Criss, Ricky Martin and Penelope Cruz.
It explores the murder of iconic fashion designer Gianni Versace, who was shot on the steps of his opulent South Beach mansion by a crazed admirer.
“Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown,” won the Non-Fiction Television accolade and “The Americans” won the Norman Felton Award for Episodic Television, Drama.
“Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” on HBO won the Live Entertainment & Talk Television Award.
Other winners included Jerry Seinfeld’s “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,” Short-Form Program; “Being Serena” for Sports Program; “Sesame Street” for Children’s Program and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” for Producer of Game & Competition Television.
The Producers Guild also presented special honors to Toby Emmerich (Milestone Award), Kevin Feige (David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures), Amy Sherman-Palladino (Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television), Kenya Barris (Visionary Award), and Jane Fonda (Stanley Kramer Award).
“Green Book” won big at the 76th Golden Globes two weeks ago.
“Green Book,” a comedy-drama set in the 1960s is about the unlikely friendship between jazz musician Don “Doc” Shirley and his Italian-American driver and bodyguard Tony Vallelonga.
It picked up the Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy award. It also won for Best Screenplay. Mahershala Ali won for Best Supporting Actress.
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.
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.
The Producers Guild Awards celebrate the finest producing work of the year, and gives the Guild an opportunity to honor some of the living legends who have shaped the profession, according to the group’s Web site.