The Golden Globes have told “Michael” to beat it, as a musical.
Whoever’s in charge these days ruled that the Antoine Fuqua movie could not submit under Comedy/Musical. It’s going under Drama.
“Michael” is basically a movie with a lot of concert centerpieces, and an outstanding musical performance by Jaafar Jackson.
But that’s what the Globes did a few years ago with “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and they’re sticking to their guns.
I would have thought “Michael” belongs in Comedy/Musical, too. It shouldn’t compete with “The Odyssey” or “Dune 3” because it can’t win. At least in proper category it had a chance. But this way, even Jackson has an uphill battle with the likes of Matt Damon, John Malkovich, Robert Pattinson, Ryan Gosling, and so on in the mix.
Who’s running the Globes? As usual there’s a big legal war going on between the owners — Penske Media — and the former Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Penske should win any case, as they bought the Globes fair and square after the HFPA was disgraced over financial and racial issues. Penske’s the only owner that can produce the TV show since they also own Dick Clark Productions and have a contract with CBS.
Now, with “Michael” moving into Drama, that’s where Colman Domingo will go for playing Joseph Jackson in the supporting category. That group is pretty crowded, too — with John Leguizamo, Paul Giamatti, the German Shepherd from “Heart of the Beast,” and Rocky, the AI alien robot from “Project Hail Mary” all in the running. At the Golden Globes, you never know!
