Avatar takes top honours at Golden Globes

The Golden Globe Awards honoured global box-office hit Avatar with its top trophies,best dramatic film and best directing honours forCanadian-born James Cameron.

"It's such an exciting evening and walking in with all you great, amazing creative people some of you I know and worked with and I just think, this is the best job in the world. We all have the best job in world," said the filmmaker, who was born in Kapuskasing, Ont., although he now lives and works in Los Angeles.

Sunday's gala in Beverly Hills had a host for the first time in 15 years British comedian Ricky Gervais.

Cameron said his film, setin a fictional alien world, implores the audience to "see that all human beings are connected."

The Hangover, about a Las Vegas bachelor party gone awry, went home asbest comedy feature.

Robert Downey Jr. expressed his complete surprise at garnering best actor in a comedy for Sherlock Holmes.

"I've only had 12 comebacks in my life and this is one of them," said a loose-lipped Downey, who stormed the stage. "The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is a strange bunch and now I'm one of them, too."

The association is the sponsor of the Globes.

The entire room stood up for Jeff Bridges, sauntering to the podium for his accolade in the best dramatic acting category for his portrayal of a down-and-out country singer in the film Crazy Heart.

"Scott Cooper, you are such a great director," said the 60-year-old performer. "You created such a great vibe for us."

Sandra Bullock was a bit of a surprise victor in the best dramatic actress category for true-life story The Blind Side.

"I might not be the most talented but I've been given the most amazing opportunities," said Bullock, who triumphed over Gabourey Sidibe (Precious), Carey Mulligan (An Education), Helen Mirren (The Last Station) and Emily Blunt (The Young Victoria).

Streep invokes mother in speech

Meryl Streep captured a trophy for playingcooking-show icon Julia Child in Julie & Julia in the best actress in a comedic film division "nominated greedily," as Colin Farrell quipped.The60-year-old thespian was doubly nominated in the same categoryfor It's Complicated.

"Darn, what was my first part?" said a breathless Streep as the crowd giggled. "Oh yes, thanks to Nora," she intoned in reference to her director Nora Ephron."And Stanley [Tucci, who portrayed her husband].In my long career I've played so many extraordinary women that I've been mistaken for one."

Streep invoked her own mother, who was from the same era as Child, who died in 2004,and talked about her "verve for living" and as a person who "had no patience for gloom and doom."

Actress Nicole Kidman strode on the stage in a pink draped gown to announce that Mo'nique had captured the best supporting actress trophy for her role as an abusive mother in Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire.

"First of all I'd like to thank God And I am shaking because I am in the midst of a dream," said a tearful Mo'Nique, who went on to thank director Lee Daniels for trusting her with the role.

"I celebrate this award with all the Precious' and all the Marys, and I share this with all the people that have been touched."

Up in the Air gets writing prize

Canadian Jason Reitman shared his screenplay award with Sheldon Turner for Up in the Air, adapted from the 2001 novel by Walter Kim.

Reitman thanked his actors, George Clooney, Anna Kendrick and Vera Farmiga.

"George, I'm so proud to know you and to be your friend.You're an amazing person," said the Montreal-born auteur, who also thanked his father, Ivan Reitman, the producer of the film.

"You taught me how to be the man that I am, you taught me to be the storyteller that I am," he said. "Dad, I'm so proud to share to this movie with you."

Michael C. Hall of Dexter, topped with a dark toque due to his battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma, nabbed best actor in a TV drama series.

"It's really a hell of thing to go to work where everyone gives a damn it's a dream job. I share this with my cast mates and Jennifer, all my love and gratitude," said Hall briefly, in reference to his cast member Jennifer Carpenter, whom he married in 2008.

Hall's show came out ahead with co-star John Lithgow trottingonto the stage to get his award as best supporting actor in a drama series. The veteran actor plays a fellow serial killer.

Lithgow thanked "every person who worked on this season of Dexter, " adding that, "I've had the most wonderful time creeping out everyone on the past six months."

Former ER star honoured

Alec Baldwin beat out Steve Carell (The Office), David Duchovny (Californication), Thomas Jane (Hung) and Matthew Morrison (Glee) for his third Golden Globe as a network head in 30 Rock. He did not attend the event.

Mad Men won for best dramatic TV series, outpacing Big Love, Dexter, House and True Blood, while Glee took best comedy series.

The Golden Globe for best actress in a TV comedy or musical went to Australian Toni Collette for her role as a multi-personality housewife in United States of Tara.

A glowing Collette, immaculate in a glittering gold gown, nabbed her first trophy after four previous nominations.The actress quickly thanked her production team, fellow actors, including John Corbett, who plays her husband, and then her real husband.

"Cheers," she waved goodbye and was gone.

Julianna Margulies, resplendent in blood-red gown, won the competition for best dramatic actress in a series for The Good Wife.

"For my agent and manager, who said I would be a fool if I gave up this role," said an emotional Margulies,perhaps best known as nurse Carol Hathaway on ER in the early years of the hospital drama.

Grey Gardens nabs 2 trophies

Best mini-series went to Grey Gardens, starring Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore. The series is based on the acclaimed 1975 documentary by Albert and David Maysles about two relatives of Jacqueline Onassis.

The actresses played real characters, an octogenarian mother andher schizophrenic daughter, in re-creations of scenes from the Maysles documentary.The mini-series scored a second accolade when Drew Barrymore was named best actress in a TV mini-series.

The Globes are a far more relaxed version of the Oscars, with stars drinking freely throughout the event.

The event was broadcast to 130 countries with an estimated audience of almost half a billion.

Sunday's winners could get a last-minute boost for the Oscars, as balloting closes Saturday. Oscar nominations are unveiled Feb. 2, with the awards on March 7.

Overall, two-thirds of Academy Award winners in a given year have earlier received a Golden Globe.

Last year's giant Globe winner, Slumdog Millionaire, went on to capture eight Oscars, including best picture, best screenplay and a directing trophy for Danny Boyle.