Michael Jackson biopic rejected from Golden Globes musical category – here’s why
According to Variety, the Golden Globes turned down Lionsgate’s category submission for Michael. The development was first reported by Gold Derby.
Unless the studio successfully appeals the decision, Michael will now compete as a drama, putting it in contention alongside films including Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and Los Javis’ La Bola Negra. The classification does not affect the supporting categories, which are not divided between drama and comedy or musical. That means the awards positioning of Michael co-stars Colman Domingo and Nia Long remains unchanged.
Why did Golden Globes reject Michael as a musical?
According to the Golden Globes rules quoted by Variety, “A musical can be a comedy or a drama in which songs are used in addition to spoken dialogue to further the plot.”
While Michael recreates several performances from Michael Jackson’s career, the awards organisation apparently did not consider those musical sequences sufficient to classify the film as a musical. That distinction appears to have pushed Michael into the drama category. Director Antoine Fuqua reportedly backed musical submission
Lionsgate did not simply submit the film in the comedy or musical category without making its case.
Under Golden Globes procedure, a film must submit a letter from its director explaining the reasoning behind its placement in a category where it would not ordinarily be expected to compete. According to Variety, director Antoine Fuqua provided such a letter as part of Lionsgate’s submission. The Golden Globes reviewed the request but ultimately rejected it.
Lionsgate still has the option of appealing the decision before the October 31 submission deadline. However, sources cited by Variety said that an appeal is unlikely to be pursued.
Why music biopics don’t automatically qualify as musicals
The debate surrounding Michael is not new. Musical biopics have had a complicated history at the Golden Globes because featuring plenty of songs does not automatically make a movie a musical for awards purposes. Earlier biopics such as Ray and Walk the Line competed in the comedy or musical categories and went on to win. Their success eventually contributed to changes in how the Golden Globes classified such films.
Under the later approach, songs need to play a role in moving the story forward rather than simply appearing as concert performances or recreations of an artist’s career. That is why major music biopics such as Bohemian Rhapsody, Elvis and A Complete Unknown competed as dramas despite music being central to their stories.
The Coen brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis, meanwhile, was allowed to compete as a comedy, demonstrating how classification can depend on the way music functions within an individual film rather than simply on whether its protagonist is a musician.
While Michael will have to battle it out in the drama race for now, the Golden Globes have reportedly accepted Obsession and Tender Loving Care as comedies for this year’s awards consideration.
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Michael made box-office history
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film opened in theatres on April 24 and became the first biopic to cross $1 billion worldwide. It also emerged as Lionsgate’s biggest theatrical release to date. The film marked Jaafar Jackson’s first professional acting role, placing him at the centre of one of the year’s biggest releases as he stepped into the role of his famous uncle.
Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, plays the pop icon in the film and performs several of his uncle’s famous songs. However, the performances are understood to have been viewed primarily as recreations of moments from Jackson’s life rather than songs being used as a storytelling device to advance the film’s narrative.
The nominations for the 84th Golden Globe Awards are scheduled to be announced on December 7. The ceremony, hosted by Nikki Glaser, will take place on January 10.