The Golden Globe nominations are in, and what stands out the most to me is how little respect this organization has for "real" comedies in its 'Comedy/Musical' category.First of all, the idea of lumping comedies and musicals together is absurd — especially when films such as Walk the Line, La Vie en Rose and Ray are considered musicals. All three are pretty heavy dramas about people who sing... they are NOT musicals. What they are is an excuse for the Golden Globes to nominate even more dramas and ignore movies that actually make people laugh.
This year, the Globes went so far as to nominate SEVEN dramas, and then stocked the Comedy/Musical category with the likes of Across the Universe, Sweeney Todd and Charlie Wilson's War (maybe Charlie Wilson really is primarily a comedy, but that wasn't my impression). Yet they couldn't find room for Knocked Up or Ratatouille, two films that are among the best reviewed of the year and also genuinely funny? Or even Superbad, which has its flaws but which tapped into something very sweet and real amidst the raunch. And no Walk Hard, also well-reviewed, which is both a musical (by the Globes' standards) and a comedy? What a slap in the face for Judd in the 'Year of Apatow!'
And I'll let Amy express her outrage at the absence of Once from the Musical category, as well as all the rest.
4 comments:
Clay, I appreciate your outrage at the golden globe awards nominations. I'm confused, why are you including Walk the Line, I thought that was a couple of years ago??? Love Mom
My mistake! That should read Walk Hard, which is a parody of Walk the Line. I fixed it. Thanks!
oh, now I understand, thanks
The Golden Globes get more absurd each year, despite always making some bold and wonderful choices. What amazes me is how influential they are despite representing a small and odd group of foreign journalists :-)
I would be outraged by the fact that they didn't recognize Once, but the fact that all the critics' groups, who early in the year had anointed Once as an extraordinarily special film that had redefined the notion of a musical, are also shutting it out, has me assuming it has simply fallen completely off the radar.
Not only is the Academy likely to be guilty of only having a short-term memory, it seems this year has found that the critics who usually complain loudest about that tendency are instead adopting it. Maybe when Spielberg accepts his well-deserved Cecil B. DeMille award, he'll give Once a shout out. Otherwise, I'll be content to know that such a small gem of a film is probably better off without all the politicking that surrounds these awards (sour grapes or small consolation, I'm not sure).
Finally, I agree with Clay that it is outrageous that Knocked Up and Walk Hard weren't nominated. Both were well-received in addition to doing what a comedy is supposed to do - namely, make people laugh. My gut impression is that there is a backlash against Apatow, who is not only raking in the money but also being named the Smartest Person in Hollywood by EW. Maybe the Foreign Hollywood Press wanted to knock him down a few pegs?
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