Golden Globes Deny Biopic Michael Entry into Musical/Comedy Category
Michael Jackson‘s early life story made for an OK biopic, but the Golden Globes won’t accept it into their Musical/Comedy category for next year’s honors.
Jaafar Jackson did a great job playing the King of Pop in Michael earlier this year, but don’t expect Jaafar’s name to ever be engraved on a Golden Globe statue in the Comedy/Musical category. That’s because Jackson can only compete in the Best Drama Film category, according to the organization that used to be referred to as the Hollywood Foreign Press. So, Jackson may want to stop clearing off his mantlepiece for a Golden Globe trophy at this particular point in time.
It wasn’t easy to laugh at scenes of Colman Domingo’s father character mistreating Michael in the recent film, but the music was great in Michael. However, the music supposedly wasn’t enough to declare the film a “musical.”
Category fraud is being cracked down on by organizations lately. Last year’s Best Comedy/Musical Best Actress contender, Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d KIck You), may have found herself in the Best Drama category this year, due to the very serious nature of the film she won the award for last year.
This all started with the Oscars earlier this year when Chase Infiniti failed to get a “Best Actress” nomination for merely 40-minutes or so of screen time in the nearly three-hour, One Battle After Another. Why would she get a nod there, anyway? Because that’s how she was campaigned by Warner Bros. Oscar said “no-no” and this year, the Golden Globes are following suit by being equally difficult.
Lionsgate, Michael‘s distributor, is probably worried that there’s some pretty stiff competition in the Best Actor (Drama) category that will make it hard for Jaafar Jackson to win. Let’s face it – Matt Damon is probably going to win there in that category for The Odyssey.
Director of the Michael Jackson biopic, Antoine Fuqua will be competing in a category that doesn’t differentiate between comedy and drama, but the blow to Michael’s chances of securing any type of Globe awards love is a tough one for the studio to endure. Domingo is also competing in a category that combines musicals/comedies and dramas as well, so there’s always hope.
It’s a difficult decision by the Globes to deny Michael entry into the Comedy/Musical category, especially since a flat-out terrifying horror movie, Obsession, just got into that category. That horror movie’s inclusion may have been the last straw, though. From here on in, it looks like the Golden Globes will be cracking the whip and making sure all films are entered into their proper respective categories for awards consideration.
Michael cleaned up at the domestic and international box-office, and has a follow-up film planned. Nobody is going to lose sleep over this decision by the Globes, and there’s still a small glimmer of hope for the follow-up film to make it into the Musical/Comedy category. Well, considering Michael may die in that one and be accused of molestation, it’s actually doubtful the Globes will be laughing then either. Sorry to disappoint. Michael Jackson biopics are truly serious business, at least according to the Golden Globes. An appeal by Lionsgate could happen, but don’t hold your breath.
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