Smash-hit The Martian is all about one man stranded on the Red Planet, all alone, for months and months and months. His survival isn’t guaranteed, but his humanity manages to shine through. Hilarious, right?
The Hollywood Foreign Press seems to think so, as evidenced by news that the Ridley Scott-directed blockbuster starring Matt Damon will be designated as a comedy for this years Golden Globes, where it will likely garner a nomination in the Best Picture (Musical or Comedy) category.
The Martian, which has grossed over $200 million domestically since its early-October release, is undoubtedly a crowd-pleaser. And there are a few laughs, a couple of which can be seen in the movie’s trailer. But to call it a comedy (or a musical) is quite a stretch.
This isn’t the first time the HFP has found a movie that’s not really funny a laugh riot. In 2013, Martin Scorsese’s tribute to excess The Wolf of Wall Street was nominated for a Globe in the Comedy/Musical category. That year also featured a Comedy/Musical nod to Alexander Payne’s bone dry Nebraska, a road movie about an aging curmudgeon on a quest for a million-dollar sweepstakes prize with his estranged son in tow.
Perhaps the HFP peruses cast lists before making some of its decisions. The Martian features Kristen Wiig in an important supporting role and she is one of the funnier actresses alive. By the same token, The Wolf of Wall Street co-stars Jonah Hill, hysterical in comedies like Superbad and Get Him to the Greek. And Nebraska’s second lead is Will Forte, formerly from Saturday Night Live and The Last Man On Earth.
Whatever the rationale, director Paul Feig, whose very funny Spy may well be a fellow nominee in this category along with The Martian, put it best on Twitter. It’s doubtful anyone from the HFP was paying attention.
A comedy's a film whose #1 goal is to make people laugh. If that wasn't the filmmakers' top goal, it's not a comedy. https://t.co/ikuWK14FJh
— Paul Feig (@paulfeig) November 13, 2015
(Via The L.A. Times)
