"ATONEMENT," director Joe Wright's epic romantic drama of redemption starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, won the 65th annual Golden Globe award for best motion picture drama Sunday evening, capping off a night overshadowed by the crippling Writers Guild strike.
The film, which had received seven Globe nominations but had gone largely overlooked by critics organizations and in the guild nominations, also captured best original score.
The 10-week strike forced the cancellation of the usually star-studded Golden Globe Awards ceremony that was to be telecast from the Beverly Hilton Hotel on NBC. It was replaced by an all-media press conference, where TV reporters who specialize in celebrity news -- such as "Entertainment Tonight's" Mary Hart -- announced the winners.
The top drama prizes went to Daniel Day-Lewis for his portrayal of a greedy oil tycoon in "There Will Be Blood" and Julie Christie as a woman suffering from Alzheimer's disease in "Away From Her." Johnny Depp won for best actor in a comedy or musical as the vengeful, razor-wielding "Sweeney Todd," which also took home the best film honors in that category.
"I feel very thrilled with [the award]," said "Sweeney Todd" producer Richard D. Zanuck, who learned of the win while watching TV at his son's Beverly Hills home. As for the absence of a proper ceremony, he said, "It's odd, but it doesn't take away from the honor of winning."
France's Marion Cotillard won for best actress in a comedy or musical for her depiction of legendary singer Edith Piaf in "La Vie en Rose."
"I was surprised," Cotillard said, calling from her hotel room, where she was sipping champagne. "This year there are so many beautiful performances, so many great movies -- especially for a French actress, performing in French."
It is the first Golden Globe win for both Depp and Cotillard.
Hulking Spaniard Javier Bardem was named best supporting actor for his chilling turn as a brutal assassin in "No Country for Old Men," with the visceral western noir netting best screenplay honors for brothers Joel and Ethan Coen. Australian Cate Blanchett won best supporting actress for her audacious turn in the offbeat Bob Dylan biopic "I'm Not There."
Julian Schnabel won best director for "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," the poignant story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, the former editor of French Elle magazine who suffered a devastating stroke that left him paralyzed save for one eye. "Diving Bell" also won best foreign-language film honors.
