Lord of the Rings takes gold at the Globes

AFTER seven years, it was time for a Hobbit victory dance. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the final instalment of the epic fantasy trilogy that hadn’t yet won most major movie awards, finally snared best dramatic film and three other trophies at Sunday’s Golden Globes.

But some of the night's thunder also went to the intimate story Lost in Translation, about two lonely Americans who find friendship in a Tokyo hotel. It collected three top awards, including best comedy film, best comedy actor for Bill Murray his first major acting prize and best screenplay for Sofia Coppola, who wrote, produced and directed the film.

Rings master Peter Jackson was recognised as best director, and the film based on the JRR Tolkien novels won best original score and best song for Into the West.