In an awards season that has lacked an obvious front-runner, Sunday's 62nd annual Golden Globe Awards failed to anoint any one film as the year's dominant awards winner.

Instead, the members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., which sponsors the annual event, chose to spread its 13 motion picture awards among eight different films.

"The Aviator" soared to the best drama heights, winning three Globes at the Beverly Hilton. "Sideways," with two trophies, took the top comedy kudos. "Million Dollar Baby" picked up two Globes of its own, including one for director Clint Eastwood. And the sexually charged drama "Closer" sparked to another two Globes.

On the television side, the kudos were similarly disparate. While "Desperate Housewives" and "Nip/Tuck" were named best comedy and drama series, respectively, only two shows -- "Housewives" and the HBO TV movie "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers" -- scored two awards each. All of the other TV winners were assigned a single trophy.

Although Howard Hughes was barely mentioned, there were plenty of thank-yous to go around as "The Aviator," Martin Scorsese's three-hour biopic about the maverick tycoon, took the best drama award along with best dramatic actor honors for Leonardo DiCaprio and a best score citation for Howard Shore.

Michael Mann, one of the originators of the project, thanked Scorsese, who failed to win in the directing category, saying the director "made it totally his own and filled it with radiant splendor." Graham King, head of Initial Entertainment Group, which financed the highflying film, also joined in the praise of Scorsese, adding, "Marty, you're just a genius -- you're my idol."

DiCaprio flew above the other best dramatic actor nominees, winning his first Globe for his portrayal of Hughes in the film, which is being distributed in North America by Miramax Films and Warner Bros. Pictures. "Growing up in this business and truly wanting to be a part of the world of film, I'm a truly privileged person standing here today," he said. "But I must say, the pinnacle of all that has been to work alongside one of the greatest contributors to the world of cinema of our time, and that is the great Martin Scorsese." DiCaprio also added, "I could not accept this award tonight without sharing it with my amazingly supportive and loving parents."

On the comedy side, Fox Searchlight's "Sideways," which began the evening as the biggest potential player with its seven nominations, took home two awards, including the best comedy designation. "It's a comedy award," noted producer Michael London, "but it's for a movie that's all about finding yourself. And we are so, so thrilled to be finding ourselves here this evening."

Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, the screenwriting team who won a Globe for 2002's "About Schmidt," picked up the best screenplay award for "Sideways," their rueful road trip through Southern California wine country.

"Oh, this is living -- thank you so much for honoring us again," Taylor said, before complimenting his partner, who also directed the film, by adding, "I'd also like to thank this guy here who has elevated and protected everything we've worked on."

Added Payne, "For my part, I would like to acknowledge and thank our cast, Paul (Giamatti), Thomas (Haden Church), Sandra (Oh) (and) Virginia (Madsen) for servicing our screenplay so beautifully and admirably."

The distaff dramatic honors went to Hilary Swank, receiving her second best actress Globe (her first was for "Boys Don't Cry"), for playing a determined boxer in "Million Dollar Baby."

"I can't believe I'm sitting at a table with Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman, let alone in a movie with them," she exclaimed. Among her remarks, she sent props to "all the women in the movie who took those amazing knockouts that made me look like such a champ." And in acknowledging Eastwood, who directed and stars in the movie, she said, "You guided us so brilliantly while you also, in my humble opinion, give the performance of your career."

Annette Bening, who lost the best dramatic actress Globe to Swank in 2000, didn't have to suffer that indignity this year. Because Bening was nominated as best actress in a motion picture comedy or musical for her commanding turn as the title character, a stage actress of a certain age, in Sony Pictures Classics' "Being Julia," she was invited to the stage to accept a Globe.

"I love my work," a radiant Bening said, accepting her first Globe in four nominations. "I love what I do, and I appreciate this very much. I'd also like to thank all my comrades on 'Being Julia' -- we had a hell of a good time making this movie, and I love it." Before surrendering the microphone, she also acknowledged her husband Warren Beatty, saying, "And thank you to my husband -- the lunch at the pizza joint was delicious."

Of his three nominations, Jamie Foxx brought home one trophy -- that for best actor in a motion picture, comedy or musical for his performance as the late Ray Charles in Universal Pictures' "Ray." But in his case, one was more than enough.

The comedian-turned-serious actor took the stage to the audience's rhythmic applause. "Can I just tell you that I'm having the ride of my life right now?" he began. "I wish I could take what I'm feeling right now and put it in the water systems and everybody could drink it, and we would all love each other a whole lot more."

He paid tribute to Charles, who he recalled had counseled him, "Life is notes right underneath our fingers." And he also recognized the movie's director, Taylor Hackford, thanking him for being "a Caucasian man taking a chance on this beautiful black film."

Within its first five minutes, the ceremonies got off to something of a surprise start as Clive Owen and Natalie Portman, the two supporting actors in the sexually charged drama "Closer," took home back-to-back trophies. For both actors, it was not only their first Globe wins but also their first Globe nominations.

The supporting awards could be read as an upset, given all the attention that has gone to the supporting players in "Sideways" -- Virginia Madsen and Thomas Haden Church.

"Wow," a dapper Owen exclaimed as he took the stage, accepting his award from Renee Zellweger. Acknowledging his fellow actors in the film's partner-swapping quartet, he said, "A huge part of this belongs to Julia (Roberts), Jude (Law) and Natalie (Portman), who are not only fantastic actors but also a joy to work with."

Said Portman in her acceptance speech after Tim Robbins read out her name, "Being among all these candidates, I had no expectations of this." She bestowed praise on the film's director, Mike Nichols, saying: "I love you -- you are the nicest, smartest, wisest daddy, friend, rock star, everything. I just -- I love you so much."

Eastwood was his usual laconic self as he accepted best directing honors for his work on Warner Bros. Pictures' "Million Dollar Baby." Greeted with a standing ovation, he said, "Thank you very much." Praising "the great Hilary Swank and the world's greatest actor Morgan Freeman," he acknowledged the movie's writer Paul Haggis and its producers and financiers before making a quick exit as he said: "I'm very glad to be here. Goodbye."

In the category of best foreign-language film, the honors went to "The Sea Inside," a true story starring Javier Bardem about a Spanish quadriplegic who fought for the right to die. Alejandro Amenabar, who directed the Fine Line Features release, hailed Bardem, saying, "I think he's a genius as an actor and an angel as a person."

Howard Shore, who won two Globes last year for both a song and the score he wrote for "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," returned to the stage this year to accept the best score kudos for "The Aviator." Referring to the movie, which is set in the 1920s and '30s," he said, "Working in this period of the transition from silent films to sound films, the classic movies the of the silent era is particularly interesting, and it's just a great era to work in."

The prize for best original motion picture song went to "Old Habits Die Hard," for which Mick Jagger and David A. Stewart wrote the music and lyrics. The tune was written for "Alfie," the Paramount Pictures remake that failed to find favor at the boxoffice.

"Well, I'd like to thank Dave Stewart for getting me into this mess," an amused Jagger said. "And I'd like to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press for taking this rather obscure song and using it like it's become like a push-up bra for us and ... and plunging it back into the limelight." He then earned an industry insiders' laugh by adding, "I'd like to thank everyone who is working at Paramount -- and everyone who was working at Paramount."

The HFPA, which has spent years rehabilitating its one-time reputation as a bunch of journalistic freeloaders, may have had reason to question its decision to honor Robin Williams with its annual Cecil B. DeMille Award.

Williams spent the first section of his remarks by unleashing a round of jokes at the expense of the group. "I always thought the foreign press was a wrestling move," he claimed, until he attended his first HFPA event and saw the journalists all clustered around the buffet.

But the actor-comedian eventually got serious, more or less, and after thanking members of his family, announced: "I dedicate this award to the memory of a friend of mine -- Chris Reeve. I miss you."

The evening also included an appearance, via video, of former President Clinton, who, in his new role as a fund raiser for tsunami relief efforts, said, "I want to thank and salute the entertainment community for its generous response to the tsunami tragedy."

In terms of the studio competition, Warners could claim a share in five of the awards -- those going to "Aviator" and "Million Dollar Baby," since it is handling Canadian distribution on "Aviator," which Miramax is handling U.S. distribution. But if the count is determined by U.S. distributor, then Miramax prevails with three points for "Aviator," compared with Warners' two for "Million Dollar Baby," Fox Searchlight's two for "Sideways" and Sony's two for "Closer."

The ceremony, which had no host and ran three hours and three minutes, was broadcast live by NBC from the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton.

Dick Clark and Barry Adelman were executive producers of the show, which was produced by Ken Shapiro and Al Schwartz. Adelman and Shapiro also wrote the show, which was directed by Chris Donovan.

A complete list of winners follows.

MOTION PICTURES
Picture, Drama: "The Aviator"
Actor, Drama: Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Aviator"
Actress, Drama: Hilary Swank, "Million Dollar Baby"
Picture, Musical or Comedy: "Sideways"
Actor, Musical or Comedy: Jamie Foxx, "Ray"
Actress, Musical or Comedy: Annette Bening, "Being Julia"
Supporting Actor: Clive Owen, "Closer"
Supporting Actress: Natalie Portman, "Closer"
Director: Clint Eastwood, "Million Dollar Baby"
Screenplay: Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, "Sideways"
Original Score: Howard Shore, "The Aviator"
Original Song: "Old Habits Die Hard" from "Alfie," by Mick Jagger and David A. Stewart
Foreign Language: "The Sea Inside," Spain

TELEVISION
Drama Series: "Nip/Tuck," FX
Actor, Drama: Ian McShane, "Deadwood"
Actress, Drama: Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
Musical or Comedy Series: "Desperate Housewives," ABC
Actor, Musical or Comedy: Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development"
Actress, Musical or Comedy: Teri Hatcher, "Desperate Housewives"
Miniseries or TV Movie: "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers," HBO
Actor, Miniseries or TV Movie: Geoffrey Rush, "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers"
Actress, Miniseries or TV Movie: Glenn Close, "The Lion in Winter"
Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or TV Movie: William Shatner, "Boston Legal"
Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or TV Movie: Anjelica Huston, "Iron Jawed Angels"

Golden Globe winner previously announced this year:
Cecil B. DeMille Award: Robin Williams