(January 23, 2001) — From Steven Soderbergh’s double nomination upset to Renee Zellweger’s bathroom break, Sunday’s 58th annual Golden Globes proved to hold many surprises. Nicknamed the “Party of the Year,” this gathering of actors, writers and directors brought together entertainers of all kinds to celebrate each others’ achievements. “Gladiator” was expected to do well and it did, capturing Best Motion Picture – Drama; however, Tom Hanks triumphed over “Gladiator”’s lead Russell Crowe and took home Best Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama for his role in “Cast Away.” Ang Lee beat out two Soderbergh nods for Best Director, most likely guaranteeing an Oscar nod for Lee in March. Lee is expected to face even stiffer competition from Soderbergh at the Oscars, since “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” is eligible for best picture in the same category as “Brockovich” and “Traffic.” Many actresses were sincerely stunned with their GG wins. Sarah Jessica Parker and Kate Hudson both greeted their statuettes with quivering voices. Renee Zellweger turned up missing when her name was called for Best Actress in a Movie-Comedy for “Nurse Betty” and, as they were about to accept the award in her honor, came running from backstage, claiming she had “lipstick on [her] teeth.” But perhaps the most moving speech of the night came from Erin Brockovich, thanking all those who made [the movie] “Brockovich” possible. Robert Downey Jr. received a standing ovation as he accepted his award for his work on “Ally McBeal.” Downey told Golden Globes producer Dick Clark that the support he receives from fans and fellow actors, despite his controversial lifestyle, means a lot to him. Al Pacino was presented with the Cecil B. deMille award, recognizing his numerous acting acheivements. People now look toward the horizon and March 25’s Academy Awards.