27 January 2004	Tuesday	04 Zilhaj 1424

BEVERLY HILLS, Jan 26: The tiny "Hobbits of the Shire" took a giant step toward earning Oscar gold on Sunday as the final part of the epic fantasy, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King", won four Golden Globe Awards, including best film drama.

In an awards show that could have been subtitled "Round Up Usual Suspects", all the favorites seemed to come up winners. Second-time filmmaker Sofia Coppola, daughter of industry legend Francis Ford Coppola, saw her tale of disenchanted and disoriented Americans in Japan, "Lost In Translation," win best film comedy. She also was named best screenwriter, and Bill Murray, the star around whom the film was fashioned, was named best actor in a comedy.

South African-born Charlize Theron let out a yelp of joy when she won best actress in a drama for her performance as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in "Monster."

Theron, usually a screen beauty, had to gain 30 pounds and make herself as ugly as possible for the role - the type of transformation that earns Hollywood respect and often acting honors.

Oft neglected actor Sean Penn, admired by many in his craft for his powerful performances, was named best actor in a drama for playing a father who seeks retribution for his daughter's death in Clint Eastwood's mystery drama "Mystic River."

"Cold Mountain," the film upon which Miramax Films placed its Oscar hopes, pretty much got a cold shoulder at the Globes, winning only one of the eight awards it was up for - Renee Zellweger was named best supporting actress.

"Rings" also earned a Golden Globe award for New Zealand's Peter Jackson for best director and claimed trophies for best original film score and favorite song with "Into the West," making it a winner in each group in which it was nominated.

HOBBITS AT THE WHEEL: Jackson and "Lord of the Rings" gained the driver's seat in what had been a wide open Oscar race because winners here often go on to claim Oscars, the U.S. film industry's highest awards, and because "Rings" and Jackson have figured prominently in early critical and industry honors.

Jackson, who spent seven years on the project, joked that it had made him feel "like a hobbit" and was asked if he thought the Golden Globe awards meant an Oscar would follow.

"Well, I don't know; I tend to not want to think in such competitive terms. I'm happy to receive awards and I'm very grateful. I'm just happy to be a participant and turn up at the shows," he said backstage.

Penn was absent from the gala ceremony that was attended by Hollywood's top stars like Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. She wore a white and gold backless gown and a gold lame headband around her red hair. Plunging necklines seemed to be the fashion order of the day with many actresses sporting them.-Reuters