'Ryan' and 'Shakespeare' Set to Battle for Academy Award

"It's going to be so hard to talk out of my a-- after this," said Jim Carrey, as he accepted his Best Actor (in a drama) Golden Globe award for his performance in "The Truman Show," at last night's ceremony. If the Globes are indeed a harbinger of the Academy Awards, as has been said of late, then look for "Shakespeare in Love" and "Saving Private Ryan" to race neck and neck for the Oscar gold, with the advantage going to the latter. (Oscar usually doesn't smile upon comedies.) The three-hour Globes telecast (from the Beverly Hilton) contained a few sparkling moments, including Warren Beatty's tongue-in-cheek intro of buddy Jack Nicholson, who received the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award. The theme of the speech was "Born to Be Wild." Beatty, who is Nicholson's contemporary, quipped that Jack was "my childhood idol." Said Jack: "These lifetime achievement awards always put the fear of the shroud in me."

Other "Golden" moments included Michael J. Fox's touching acceptance speech (for acting in "Spin City"). The star, who is battling Parkinson's disease, thanked his doctors and told the show-business crowd "to take every day and enjoy it." Camryn Manheim ("The Practice") held up her Supporting Actress award and proclaimed, "I'd like to share this with every senator who votes to dismiss the case tomorrow!" Best Actress ("Shakespeare") Gwyneth Paltrow attended with her brother Jake, but also sat at the same table with ex-squeeze Ben Affleck. Surprise winner Carrey heard Cameron Diaz shout out to him during his acceptance, "You made the crossover, baby!" "Oh, Cammie," he replied.