As a film critic with over three decades of experience in the industry, I’ve seen my fair share of biopics and dramatic films that push boundaries and challenge conventions. The upcoming slate for this awards season is no exception, with a diverse array of titles vying for attention from critics and audiences alike.
Filmmakers and distributors who hope to be considered for awards at the Golden Globes must decide by November 4 if their submission falls under Drama, Musical or Comedy category and submit this preference to the organization. The Golden Globes reserves the right to change any classification they deem as significantly inaccurate.
This year, there are some movies that are undeniably categorized – for example, the Netflix production Emilia Pérez, with its characters breaking into song at unexpected moments, falls squarely within the musical genre (or even comedy), and A24’s The Brutalist, which depicts an immigrant’s struggle with numerous challenging obstacles, is undoubtedly a drama. However, there are also many movies where the classification isn’t as straightforward, with people making assumptions but often without concrete confirmation.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, they have been making calls to gather information about the likely direction each contender is leaning towards. It’s important to note that this information might change before November 4th or could potentially be altered by the Golden Globes later on. However, at the moment, this is the most up-to-date intel they have.
Emilia Pérez is set to participate in various musical and comedic productions, such as Universal’s Wicked, Warner’s Joker: Folie à Deux, Sony Classics’ Kneecap, Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King, Paramount’s Better Man and Mean Girls. However, THR has confirmed that a number of more serious films will also be part of the lineup, including Neon’s Anora, about a sex worker entangled with suspicious Russians; Searchlight’s A Real Pain, centered around cousins traveling to Poland to honor their late grandmother; A24’s A Different Man, which follows a man with neurofibromatosis seeking a cure, and Heretic, where a home visit by Mormon missionaries goes awry. Gold Derby previously reported on Amazon/MGM’s Challengers, a film that may face controversy as it revolves around young tennis players involved in a love triangle.
Additionally, in the realm of musical and comedic productions: dramedies (Netflix’s “Hit Man”, Searchlight’s “Nightbitch” and “Kinds of Kindness”, Focus’ “Dìdi” and “Piece by Piece”, Magnolia’s “Thelma”, Sony’s “Saturday Night” and “Fly Me to the Moon”); broader comedies (Disney’s “Deadpool & Wolverine”, Universal’s “The Fall Guy” and “Argylle”, Warners’ “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”, Amazon/MGM’s “My Old Ass”, Apple’s “Wolfs”, Sony Classics’ “Wicked Little Letters”); and, thanks to a rule change in 2021, animated features (Universal’s “The Wild Robot”, Disney/Pixar’s “Inside Out 2”, Disney’s “Moana 2”, and Focus’ “Piece by Piece”).
Some movies that might fit better into the musical/comedy genre but are instead categorized as dramas, include “The Apprentice” by Briarcliff/Rich Spirit, which is essentially a comedic buddy film about characters loosely based on Donald Trump and Roy Cohn; “Queer,” a trippy comedy from A24 that follows the humorous adventures of a character reminiscent of William S. Burroughs; and “Daddio” by Sony Classics, where a taxi ride between Sean Penn’s cab driver and Dakota Johnson’s passenger becomes an extended comedy skit.
This year, there are several films featuring extensive music that will not compete in the musical/comedy category as they are primarily dramas with a musical element. These include Searchlight’s film about Bob Dylan titled “A Complete Unknown”, Netflix’s biopic of Maria Callas named “Maria”, where Angelina Jolie, who plays the lead role, won’t be competing against Karla Sofía Gascón, who plays Emilia Pérez in the same movie on Netflix. Additionally, there is Focus’ film about Amy Winehouse titled “Back to Black” and Paramount’s biopic of Bob Marley called “Bob Marley: One Love”.
In a bygone time, certain films belonging to this genre could manage to slip through the cracks and be categorized under musical/comedy at the Globes, a category that was often less populated. For instance, the 2005 biopic of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash directed by James Mangold, titled Walk the Line. However, the new management of the Globes no longer allows such exceptions. Films where characters portray musicians performing songs are typically labeled as dramas regardless of their preferences (like 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody and A Star Is Born)).
As a gamer, I’m always on the lookout for the latest cinematic releases, and this season promises an exciting lineup! From Focus, we have Conclave, Nosferatu, and The Bikeriders. Paramount brings Gladiator II and September 5. Sony Classics offers The Room Next Door, I’m Still Here, The Outrun. Apple’s got Blitz. Warner’s lineup includes Dune: Part Two, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1, Juror #2. A24 has Babygirl (two versions!), Civil War, Sing Sing, Babygirl (again), and We Live in Time. Amazon/MGM brings us Nickel Boys, The Fire Inside, and Unstoppable. Netflix offers The Piano Lesson, His Three Daughters, and Shirley. Disney’s got Young Woman and the Sea. Vertical’s got The Order. Sideshow/Janus presents All We Imagine as Light. Kino Lorber has Oh, Canada. Neon brings us The Seed of the Sacred Fig and Longlegs. Roadside has The Last Showgirl. Roadside/Vertical offers Lee. Shout! has The Dead Don’t Hurt. Falling Forward has Day of the Fight. Bleecker Street presents Hard Truths. Lionsgate offers Small Things Like These and White Bird. And Sony wraps it up with Here. Can’t wait to see these on the big screen!
As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve got one intriguing title left on my radar: MUBI’s “The Substance” starring Demi Moore. She takes on the role of an aging Hollywood icon who’ll go to any lengths to stay relevant. It’s a toss-up for me and perhaps even MUBI, as they’re still pondering over their next move. Some might say it veers into dark drama territory, bordering on horror. But others could argue that it’s a sharp satire, exposing an industry where youth and beauty reign supreme. To my eyes, it’s reminiscent of the timeless classic “Sunset Blvd.” (1950), which walked the line between these two genres – and ended up competing at the Globes as a drama, winning four awards, including best actress.
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2024-10-17 20:55