Michael Keaton was flying high with Birdman, and a 12-year journey took Richard Linklater's dramaBoyhood to Golden Globes glory.
Linklater won for best director and his star Patricia Arquette garnered an honor for supporting actress for her portrayal of an underappreciated single mother.
"This is a very personal film for me, it couldn't be more personal, and it became very personal to everyone who worked on it," said Linklater, who filmed the coming-of-age movie with his crew once a year for 12 years.
"We're all flawed in this world, no one's perfect," he added, dedicating the award to his parents and parents "who are evolving everywhere and families who are just passing through this world and doing their best."
Arquette thanked her "visionary" director Richard Linklater "for allowing me to be part of something so human, so simple and groundbreaking and significant in the history of cinema" and "for shining a light on this woman and the many women like her and for allowing me to honor my own mother with this incredible character."
Keaton won for best actress in a musical or comedy — "If I can carry that flag for even a night, I am proud to do so," he said — and was one of two awards for Birdman, which also garnered best screenplay.
Playing a former superhero-movie actor looking for a career comeback, Keaton said he was thankful for being in director Alejandro González Iñárritu's unbelievably gutsy, polished look at human nature" and got choked up when talking about his friends, family and son.
"I'm so grateful from the bottom of my heart. You don't know what this means to me."
Showtime's The Affair defied the odds — as well as the power of such fellow cable series Downton Abbey and Game of Thrones — to win for best drama on its first time out, and star Ruth Wilson snagged the award for best actress in a drama.
"If I have learned anything from writing a show about an affair, it's that how sacred and valuable and essential marriages are," said Affair co-creator Sarah Treem.
Kevin Spacey captured the honor for best actor in a drama for playing the underhanded House of Cards politician.
"This is just the beginning of my revenge," Spacey said in the beginning of an emotional acceptance speech. He concluded by saying, "I just want to be better, but this is very encouraging."
Big Eyes star Amy Adams won the award for best actress in a comedy or musical for playing Margaret Keane, a woman whom Adams said "had such a quiet voice and such a strong heart and such a strong artistic vision and was ultimately able to use her voice."
Adams also paid homage to the other actresses in the audience who are role models for her 4-year-old. "You speak to her so loudly. She watches everything and sees everything and I am so grateful for all of you women in this room who have such a lovely beautiful voice and are speaking to my daughter."
The Honorable Woman star Maggie Gyllenhaal accepted her honor for best actress in a TV miniseries by noting the wealth of "real" roles for women in television.
"That's what I notice is evolutionary and revolutionary and turning me on," she said.
Gina Rodriguez won best actress in a comedy for her title role in the CW's first-year Latino-centric series Jane the Virgin.
"Thank you, God. for making me an artist," Rodriguez said. "This award is so much more than myself. It represents a culture that wants to see itself as heroes."
Transparent is the first streaming series for Amazon to win a Golden Globe, taking the honor for best comedy series as well as best comedic actor for Jeffrey Tambor.
"Oh, this is big. This is bigger than me," said Tambor, adding that with his transgender role, he's "found more of Jeffrey than I've ever known in my life."
Transparent creator Jill Soloway dedicated the award to "the trans community" and said she wanted the show to teach the audience about "truth, authenticity and love."
J.K. Simmons garnered a supporting actor honor for his sadistic jazz teacher in the movie Whiplash, and thanked both of the "boy wonders" involved: writer-director Damien Chazelle and co-star Miles Teller.
Teller "is a young actor of such maturity and brilliance. He inspired me every day to scream at him and hit him in the face," Simmons said in his acceptance speech.
Fargo conquered the TV miniseries category and star Billy Bob Thornton won for best actor in a miniseries.
"These days you get in a lot of trouble no matter what you say," Thornton deadpanned. "You could say anything and get in trouble. I know that for a fact. So I'm just going to say thank you."
The Normal Heart's Matt Bomer won for supporting actor in a TV miniseries or movie. He honored both his co-star Mark Ruffalo — "the heart and soul of the movie" — and those who died or are still suffering from AIDS: "We love you and remember you.