As a cinephile who has spent countless hours immersed in the nuances of film and the intricacies of the awards circuit, I must say that the Golden Globes‘ categorization of films continues to perplex me. The decision to submit Zendaya’s tennis drama “Challengers” in the Comedy/Musical category is a head-scratcher, to put it mildly.
The Zendaya-led sports drama, Challengers, is indeed living up to its name by competing for Golden Globes in the Comedy/Musical category. It seems like we might need to reconsider what qualifies as a comedy today. On the other hand, FX’s The Bear, despite being one of the best shows on television and enjoying widespread popularity, has faced criticism for competing in the comedy categories at major award ceremonies. Many find it puzzling because it seems more like a drama. The issue becomes more pronounced when this series consistently wins every comedy category it’s nominated in, often taking awards from shows known for their comedic moments.
In an unexpected twist, the film “Challengers,” often referred to as a romantic sports drama, could find itself among other comedies and musicals if it receives a Golden Globe nomination. According to The Gold Derby, “Challengers” has been submitted in the Best Comedy/Musical category at the Golden Globes, an awards event managed by The Hollywood Foreign Press Association. This includes categories like Best Picture and Best Actress (for Zendaya). Additionally, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist are both being considered for nominations in the Supporting Actor category, where nominees from all genres are grouped together. Interestingly, this strategy was also employed by another sports drama from last year, “Air,” directed by Ben Affleck, which was nominated for Best Picture in a Musical or Comedy and Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy (for Matt Damon).
It’s widely agreed that “Challengers” is among the top films this year, and given its standalone qualities, it would be fitting for it to compete in the drama category. Although it does contain some humorous moments and quips, the subject matter is not lighthearted, and the tense three-way relationship within tennis doesn’t prompt viewers to break into laughter. Instead, the intention seems to be to secure “Challengers” a spot at the ceremony, especially since it’s spearheaded by Zendaya, one of the most influential figures in Hollywood today. This strategic move ensures that they can leverage her celebrity status if either she or the film is nominated.
Challengers Isn’t a Comedy…but This Hasn’t Stopped the Golden Globes Before
The Golden Globes often surprise people with their category placements, as they did with Ridley Scott’s 2015 sci-fi movie “The Martian.” This film was an unusual fit for the Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Category and the Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy category (again featuring Matt Damon). Remarkably, it ended up winning both awards. Even Scott seemed puzzled when he accepted its Best Picture win, as most viewers didn’t view the film as a comedy, despite occasional comedic moments.
After the film The Martian won at the Golden Globes, they altered the comedy qualification rules to say that films with comedic undertones should be categorized as dramas. However, it seems they should abide by these rules themselves, as this description fits Challengers, a drama that contains some gloomily humorous scenes and sharp dialogue. Yet, its essence is dramatic. Competing against films like Emilia Perez and Wicked, Challengers might appear somewhat incongruous.
Under the direction of Luca Guadagnino from a script by Justin Kuritzkes, “Challengers” delves into a tangled love triangle. The triangle revolves around Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), a former tennis star turned coach who is injured, her professional tennis player husband Art Donaldson (Faist), and her ex-lover Patrick Zweig (O’Connor), a low-ranking tennis player. Over the course of thirteen years, the intricate relationships among these three individuals reach a climax as the two men confront each other in the ATP Challenger Tour.
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2024-10-11 03:01