film-otaku

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR 2011

2012-01-26T20:14:00.000-08:00

THE NOMINEES

Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn)

Oscar record: 2 nominations (as actor), no win

Jonah Hill (Moneyball)

Oscar record: No nomination

Nick Nolte (Warrior)

Oscar record: 3 nominations, no win

Christopher Plummer (Beginners)

Oscar record: 2 nominations, no win

Max von Sydow (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close)

Oscar record: 2 nominations, no win

PREDICTION SCORE: 3/5. Predicted Albert Brooks and Ben Kingsley instead of Nick Nolte and Max von Sydow. I was 4/5 in October, with only Nolte out.
WILL WIN: Christopher Plummer
SHOULD WIN: No opinion yet (though I don't think it should be Plummer)
MIGHT UPSET: Max von Sydow
SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED: Alan Rickman (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS 2011

2012-01-26T14:45:00.000-08:00

THE NOMINEES

Berenice Bejo (The Artist)

Oscar record: No nomination

Jessica Chastain (The Help)

Oscar record: No nomination

Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids)

Oscar record: No nomination

Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs)

Oscar record: 1 nomination, no win

Octavia Spencer (The Help)

Oscar record: No nomination

PREDICTION SCORE: 3/5. Predicted Shailene Woodley and Vanessa Redgrave instead of Melissa McCarthy and Janet McTeer.
WILL WIN: Octavia Spencer
SHOULD WIN: Jessica Chastain
MIGHT UPSET: Berenice Bejo (though very unlikely)
SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED: Vanessa Redgrave (Coriolanus)

BEST ACTOR 2011

2012-01-26T08:58:00.000-08:00

THE NOMINEES

Demian Bichir (A Better Life)

Oscar record: No nomination

George Clooney (The Descendants)

Oscar record: 3 nominations, with a win for Syriana (as actor)

Jean Dujardin (The Artist)

Oscar record: No nomination

Gary Oldman (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy)

Oscar record: No nomination

Brad Pitt (Moneyball)

Oscar record: 2 nominations, no win

PREDICTION SCORE: 3/5. Predicted Michael Fassbender and Leonardo DiCaprio instead of Demian Bichir and Gary Oldman.
WILL WIN: George Clooney
SHOULD WIN: No opinion yet
MIGHT UPSET: Jean Dujardin
SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED: Ralph Fiennes (Coriolanus)

BEST ACTRESS 2011

2012-01-26T08:50:00.000-08:00

THE NOMINEES

Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs)

Oscar record: 5 nominations, no win

Viola Davis (The Help)

Oscar record: 1 nomination, no win

Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)

Oscar record: No nomination

Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)

Oscar record: 16 nominations, with wins for Kramer vs. Kramer and Sophie's Choice

Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)

Oscar record: 2 nominations, no win

PREDICTION SCORE: 4/5. Predicted Tilda Swinton instead of Rooney Mara.
WILL WIN: Meryl Streep
SHOULD WIN: No opinion yet
MIGHT UPSET: Michelle Williams
SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED: Olivia Colman (Tyrannosaur)

BEST PICTURE 2011

2012-01-26T08:39:00.000-08:00

THE NOMINEES

The Artist

The Descendants

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

The Help

Hugo

Midnight in Paris

Moneyball

The Tree of Life

War Horse

PREDICTION SCORE: 7/9. Predicted The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and, stubbornly and quite blindly, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 instead of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and The Tree of Life.

WILL WIN: The Artist
SHOULD WIN: No opinion yet
MIGHT UPSET: Hugo
SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

84th Academy Award Predictions (summary)

2012-01-24T12:10:00.000-08:00

FINAL PREDICTIONS:

Motion Picture of the Year

The Artist
The Descendants
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
War Horse

Achievement in Directing

Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)
Alexander Payne (The Descendants)
Martin Scorsese (Hugo)
Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris)
Steven Spielberg (War Horse)

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

George Clooney (The Descendants)
Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar)
Jean Dujardin (The Artist)
Michael Fassbender (Shame)
Brad Pitt (Moneyball)

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Glenn Close (Albert Dobbs)
Viola Davis (The Help)
Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)
Tilda Swinton (We Need to Talk About Kevin)
Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn)
Albert Brooks (Drive)
Jonah Hill (Moneyball)
Ben Kingsley (Hugo)
Christopher Plummer (Beginners)

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Berenice Bejo (The Artist)
Jessica Chastain (The Help)
Vanessa Redgrave (Coriolanus)
Octavia Spencer (The Help)
Shailene Woodley (The Descendants)

Original Screenplay
The Artist (Michel Hazanavicius)
Bridesmaids
50/50
Midnight in Paris (Woody Allen)
The Tree of Life (Terrence Malick)

Adapted Screenplay
The Descendants (Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash)
The Help
Hugo
Moneyball (Aaron Sorkin, Steven Zaillian)
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan)

Best Animated Feature Film
The Adventures of Tintin (Steven Spielberg)
Kung Fu Panda 2 (Jennifer Yuh)
Rango (Gore Verbinski)
Puss in Boots (Chris Miller)
Winnie the Pooh (Stephen J. Anderson, Don Hall)

Best Documentary Feature
Bill Cunningham New York
Paradise Lost 3
Pina
Project Nim
We Were Here

Best Foreign Language Film
Pina (Germany)
A Separation (Iran)
Footnote (Israel)
Omar Killed Me (Morocco)
In Darkness (Poland)

Achievement in Art Direction
Captain America: The First Avenger
J. Edgar
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hugo
The Tree of Life

Achievement in Cinematography
The Artist (Guillaume Schiffman)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Jeff Cronenweth)
Hugo
The Tree of Life (Emmanuel Lubezki)
War Horse (Janusz Kaminski)

Achievement in Costume Design
The Artist (Mark Bridges)
Hugo (Sandy Powell)
J. Edgar (Deborah Hopper)
Jane Eyre (Michael O'Connor)
W.E. (Arianne Phillips)

Achievement in Film Editing
The Artist (Anne-Sophie Bion)
Drive
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall)
Hugo (Thelma Schoonmaker)
War Horse (Michael Kahn)

Achievement in Makeup
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hugo
The Iron Lade

Achievement in Music (Original Score)
The Artist (Ludivic Bource)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Alexandre Desplat)
Hugo (Howard Shore)
War Horse (John Williams)

Achievement in Music (Original Song)

"Star Spangled Man" (Captain America: The First Avenger)
"The Living Proof" (The Help)
"Life's a Happy Song" (The Muppets)
"Man or Muppet" (The Muppets)
"So Long" (Winnie the Pooh)

Achievement in Sound Editing
The Adventures of Tintin
Captain America: The First Avenger
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Super 8
Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Achievement in Sound Mixing
The Adventures of Tintin
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
War Horse

Achievement in Visual Effects
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hugo
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
The Tree of Life

Other Categories 2011

2012-01-24T12:06:00.000-08:00

DECEMBER PREDICTIONS:

Original Screenplay
The Artist (Michel Hazanavicius)
Bridesmaids
50/50
Midnight in Paris (Woody Allen)
The Tree of Life (Terrence Malick)

Adapted Screenplay
The Descendants (Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash)
The Help
Hugo
Moneyball (Aaron Sorkin, Steven Zaillian)
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan)

Best Animated Feature Film
The Adventures of Tintin (Steven Spielberg)
Kung Fu Panda 2 (Jennifer Yuh)
Rango (Gore Verbinski)
Puss in Boots (Chris Miller)
Winnie the Pooh (Stephen J. Anderson, Don Hall)

Best Documentary Feature
Bill Cunningham New York
Paradise Lost 3
Pina
Project Nim
We Were Here

Best Foreign Language Film
Pina (Germany)
A Separation (Iran)
Footnote (Israel)
Omar Killed Me (Morocco)
In Darkness (Poland)

Achievement in Art Direction
Captain America: The First Avenger
J. Edgar
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hugo
The Tree of Life

Achievement in Cinematography
The Artist (Guillaume Schiffman)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Jeff Cronenweth)
Hugo
The Tree of Life (Emmanuel Lubezki)
War Horse (Janusz Kaminski)

Achievement in Costume Design
The Artist (Mark Bridges)
Hugo (Sandy Powell)
J. Edgar (Deborah Hopper)
Jane Eyre (Michael O'Connor)
W.E. (Arianne Phillips)

Achievement in Film Editing
The Artist (Anne-Sophie Bion)
Drive
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall)
Hugo (Thelma Schoonmaker)
War Horse (Michael Kahn)

Achievement in Makeup
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hugo
The Iron Lade

Achievement in Music (Original Score)
The Artist (Ludivic Bource)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Alexandre Desplat)
Hugo (Howard Shore)
War Horse (John Williams)

Achievement in Music (Original Song)

"Star Spangled Man" (Captain America: The First Avenger)
"The Living Proof" (The Help)
"Life's a Happy Song" (The Muppets)
"Man or Muppet" (The Muppets)
"So Long" (Winnie the Pooh)

Achievement in Sound Editing
The Adventures of Tintin
Captain America: The First Avenger
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Super 8
Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Achievement in Sound Mixing
The Adventures of Tintin
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
War Horse

Achievement in Visual Effects
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hugo
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
The Tree of Life

BEST DIRECTOR 2011

2012-01-24T11:28:00.000-08:00

FINAL PREDICTIONS:

Essential Lock

1. Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)

Oscar record: No nomination

Most Likely

2. Martin Scorsese (Hugo)

Oscar record: 8 nominations as director and writer, with a win for directing The Departed

3. Alexander Payne (The Descendants)

Oscar record: 3 nominations as director and writer, with a win for writing Sideways

4. Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris)

Oscar record: 15 nominations as director and writer, with wins for directing and writing Annie Hall and writing Hannah and Her Sisters

Possible

5. Steven Spielberg (War Horse)

Oscar record: 12 nominations as producer and director, with wins for producing and directing Schindler's List, directing Saving Private Ryan, and the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award

6. David Fincher (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)

Oscar record: 1 nomination, no win

7. Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive)

Oscar record: No nomination

8. Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life)

9. Stephen Daldry (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close)

Oscar record: 3 nominations as director

10. Tomas Alfredson (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy)

Oscar record: No nomination

"Never-Too-Early" Predictions
1. Spielberg; 2. Scorsese; 3. Payne; 4. Eastwood; 5. Malick

September Predictions
1. Spielberg; 2. Hazanavicius; 3. Payne; 4. Daldry; 5. Eastwood

October Predictions
1. Spielberg; 2. Hazanavicius; 3. Payne; 4. Daldry; 5. Scorsese

Cinemanila International Film Festival

2011-10-27T03:04:00.001-07:00

This year's Lifetime Achievement Awardee: the master of giallo, Dario Argento.

Pinoy Film Focus: Patayin Mo sa Sindak si Barbara (1974)

2011-10-26T17:26:00.000-07:00

(Kill Barbara with Panic)

Director: Celso Ad. Castillo

Writers: Celso Ad. Castillo, Mike Relon Makiling

Cast: Susan Roces, Dante Rivero, Rosanna Ortiz, Beth Manlongat, Mary Walter

Runtime: 96 minutes

It bears easily one of the best titles of all Filipino films, invoking a sense of unstoppable supernatural fear. There are many good reasons why Patayin Mo sa Sindak si Barbara is one of many Filipinos' favorite local horror films of all time. Not even the glaring flaws of the film as a whole can take that away.

Barbara (played by Susan Roces, at one time the scream queen a la Jamie Lee Curtis of the Philippines), comes back to her childhood home for the burial of her sister Ruth (Rosanna Ortiz), who has committed suicide out of jealous rage over husband Fritz's (Dante Rivero) supposed infidelities. Barbara also takes care of Ruth's daughter, Karen (Beth Manlongat), whose behavior toward her father has turned drastically cold since her mother's suicide. A flashback reveals chilling truths: Ruth stabs herself repeated in the torso with a large shard of broken glass, and when she is about to die she transfers her spirit to Karen's doll. This sets off a series of genuinely creepy scenes involving said doll: its eyes glow menacingly, it walks, it appears bloodied and decapitated, and, best (worst?) of all, it calls Fritz from another room and says repeatedly through the phone: "I hate you. I want to kill you." The maniacal glee with which director and story writer Celso Ad. Castillo uses the doll as a tool of terror anticipates the American horror-comedy flick Child's Play by a good 14 years, but it's even more effective here in providing the right chills. The film also takes a page out of the Japanese trope of long-haired vengeance-driven spirits in white robes. Decades before world cinema began to churn out imitations of Ringu's Sadako, Patayin's Ruth was haunting cemeteries, mansions, and rest-houses.

The film as a whole, unfortunately, is a large mess. The editing woes that plague many Filipino movies past and present are quite evident, with choppy sequences and rough transitions. Even the acting by the quite stellar cast is not very impressive, with the exception of the diabolical brilliance of Ortiz as spurned Ruth (ok, Roces screams quite well). The ending is also disappointing and senselessly empty. But as earlier stated, these cannot remove the power of those individual scenes that ultimately make Patayin such an effective story of vengeance from beyond the grave. With an appropriately repetitive, chilling score in the background, the sequences that are supposed to be terrifying truly are, and at the end that is what really matters in a horror movie. As Barbara fends off attacks by the restless spirit, waving her bloody arms in defense, she screams at her sister that this is no longer her world and that she must leave. The relentlessness of the spiritual assaults makes both impatient and appreciative viewers share Barbara's sentiments. As the title suggests, the film wears down, both with its technical travesties and its terror, but thankfully more so with the latter.

Image from Video 48

Pinoy Film Focus: Kulay Dugo and Gabi (1964)

2011-10-26T16:43:00.000-07:00

(Blood is the Color of the Night / The Blood Drinkers)

Director: Gerardo de Leon

Writers: Cesar Amigo, Rico Bello Omagap

Cast: Amalia Fuentes, Eddie Fernandez, Ronald Remy, Mary Walter, Celia Rodriguez

Runtime: 88 minutes

In the history of Philippine cinema, the name of the great Gerardo de Leon is enshrined for his invaluable contributions as early as the 1930s. These include several adaptations of the works of national hero Jose Rizal (Noli me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, and Sisa), as well as award-winning gems like Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo (Python at the Old Dome), The Moises Padilla Story, and Banaue.

Like most of the major international film auteurs, de Leon has dabbled in that genre enjoyed by many but scoffed at by many high-brow cineastes: horror. In the 1960s and 1970s, he joined fellow Filipinos Eddie Romero and Cirio Santiago in bringing Filipino films, co-produced by Americans and dubbed in English, to drive-in theaters and grindhouses. Many of these were cheap-looking horror films that nevertheless intrigued foreign movie-goers and showcased the talents of Filipino filmmakers. De Leon's Terror is a Man is probably the most famous and well regarded of these, but his "Blood Collection" merits special attention, if only for their very interesting take on vampires.

Kulay Dugo ang Gabi (Blood is the Color of the Night, really, but released with the more sensationalized title The Blood Drinkers) features Ronald Remy as the brooding vampire Dr. Marco, whose true love Katrina (Amalia Fuentes) has died. He attempts to resurrect her with lots of human blood and a new heart. He intends to get the heart from Katrina's twin sister, Charito, also played by Fuentes (presumably because, as a doctor of sorts, he knows that any other heart would likely be rejected by Katrina's body...or perhaps it's for a purely supernatural nonsensical reason). Despite phasing and hypnotic powers, hunchback and dwarf henchmen, and a bat familiar named Basrah, his attempts are continually thwarted, ultimately with a flare gun and the strong religious faith of a Catholic priest.

It is not supposed to work, what with Basrah being quite obviously a pathetic stuffed toy hanging by a string and with the heavy-handed, preachy speeches about faith in Jesus Christ saving everyone from evil. But it does. It's mainly because of the cinematography--the fog and the red tint to evil evenings that gives the film its name--and the vampire caricature played with gusto by Remy, but the small flourishes also work. The phasing powers, the ingenious use of flare guns, Dr. Marco himself using a gun (a vampire with a gun!), the unrequited right-hand woman (alluring Celia Rodriguez in her prime)... It all makes for a fascinating entry in the annals of vampire cinema that should be watched and appreciated by a whole new generation of horror and Filipino film enthusiasts. Certainly de Leon has produced much better films in his ouvre. But few are as deliriously fun to watch as The Blood Drinkers.

Image from Video 48

Pinoy Film Focus: Itim (1976)

2011-10-11T17:30:00.000-07:00

(Black / Rites of May)

Director: Mike de Leon

Writers: Clodualdo del Mundo Jr., Gil Quito

Cast: Tommy Abuel, Charo Santos, Mario Montenegro, Mona Lisa

Runtime: 105 minutes

When regular Filipino moviegoers are asked what they think is the best Filipino horror film ever made, they often mention such classics as Shake Rattle & Roll and Tiyanak, alongside modern box-office hits like Feng Shui and Sukob. Few, if any at all, mention Itim, the first full-length film of highly acclaimed filmmaker and player in Philippine cinema's Second Golden Era, Mike de Leon. Notwithstanding the fact that most modern moviegoers are sadly ignorant of de Leon's oeuvre, more so his first film, Itim is not commonly lumped together with the horror films that the local industry has healthily churned out because of the subtlety of its horrific elements, which is perhaps its greatest strength.

But a horror film it is, and such an effective one at that! Where most horror films, local and otherwise, have gone the way of jolts and shocks to scare their audience, Itim goes for atmosphere. The chills here are genuine, aided to a great extent by the sparse scoring and the low-key lighting. Itim, which in English means "black," is pervasive throughout the film, from its cinematography to its story.

The film begins with a seance, immediately setting the dark, other-wordly chills that would permeate throughout. Manila-based photojournalist Jun (Tommy Abuel) returns to his hometown in Bulacan to visit his ailing father and document the Holy Week rites. He thereafter moves through a world of religious icons, lust-driven murder, and possessions by restless spirits. The latter two are effective, though low-key, taking a backseat to the rather unique Filipino horror of Catholic rites and fanaticism. If there is anything that Filipino horror filmmakers could play upon to distinguish our horror cinema from those of our Asian neighbors, it would be that religious fervor and the dependence on santos (depictions, usually statues, of religious icons). Itim does it in spades; a particularly chilling scene here is where Jun has a nightmare of a roomful of santos coming to life and attacking him. Perhaps no other film has used this tool since Itim, or at least nowhere near as effectively.

Itim would be the first of Mike de Leon's cinematic jewels. That he started with a horror film is interesting, given how most other auteurs would make theirs after they have established their careers with the more usual genres. He would later re-visit the genre with the brilliant Kisapmata (In Just the Wink of an Eye; 1981), which is a story of familial violence and sadism that many critics consider to be even more of a horror film than Itim. Nevertheless, Itim gives us an early indication of the artistry and mastery of the craft that de Leon, formerly a cinematographer to revered Lino Brocka, is well loved for by cineastes. Itim is easily a top-caliber ghost story and an excellent example of Filipino film overall.

Philippine Oscar Entry: Ang Babae sa Septic Tank

2011-09-16T00:41:00.000-07:00

The Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), which has been officially deciding on the Philippines's entry to the Academy Awards since 1984, has selected Ang Babae sa Septic Tank this year (official press release here). I believe that this is the best choice among their options (which includes Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington, which I otherwise loved) because of the following:

- The film pokes fun at the common trappings (or tropes, if you will) of local indie films, from the slow takes and lack of dialogue to the urban poor setting. In this way, the film does not take itself or its own identity as an indie film too seriously, while still paying homage to the efforts of indie filmmakers past and present. The international community has seen many of our indies and may be over-saturated with the tropes, so it's refreshing to have a film that revels in its own indie sensibilities while otherwise scrutinizing its predecessors.

- It is a film about filmmaking, and a film targeting the Oscars at that! Academy voters may like the reference to their institution, as they had shown in such instances as awarding Best Actress in 1979 to Dame Maggie Smith for playing an Oscar-nominated actress in California Suite (though this didn't work too well for the 2006 film For Your Consideration). Similar foreign-language films on the industry, like Francois Truffaut's Day for Night (winner of Best Foreign Language Film in 1974) and Giuseppe Tornatore's Cinema Paradiso (winner of the category in 1990), have been well received. This year, the French film The Artist, which is about an actor facing the potential demise of silent cinema in the wake of the introduction of sound, is being significantly buzzed as a potential Best Picture nominee.

- The film is extremely well acted, from the principal actors to the minors. Eugene Domingo is, as usual, excellent, and one of her key scenes here is the "Three Types of Acting" scene (you can see it here). Voters might eat that up. Generally, acting showcases are highly regarded by the Academy.

The problem with Zombadings, which I imagine would have been among the other top choices of the FAP Oscar committee given its critical and box office performance, is that a lot (or all) of the fun of it will be lost in translation. How can non-Filipino speakers know the difference between normal Filipino and the gay lingo?

I personally love the choice that FAP has made this year and commend them for it. Hopefully, the film gets at least a limited run in US theaters so as to make it eligible for the Golden Globes and other pre-Oscar awards, so that the momentum takes it to a place where no other Filipino film has gone before.

Film-Otaku Awards 2010

2011-03-23T19:08:00.000-07:00

BEST PICTURE

THE SOCIAL NETWORK

2. The King's Speech
3. Inception
4. Black Swan
5. Toy Story 3
6. True Grit
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I
8. Let Me In
9. Rabbit Hole
10. Get Low

BEST DIRECTOR

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN (INCEPTION)

2. David Fincher (The Social Network)
3. Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan)
4. Tom Hooper (The King's Speech)
5. Ethan and Joel Coen (True Grit)
6. Ben Affleck (The Town)
7. Danny Boyle (127 Hours)
8. John Cameron Mitchell (Rabbit Hole)
9. Roman Polanski (The Ghost Writer)
10. David Yates (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I)

BEST ACTOR

COLIN FIRTH (THE KING'S SPEECH)

2. Ryan Gosling (Blue Valentine)
3. Robert Duvall (Get Low)
4. Leonardo DiCaprio (Shutter Island)
5. Aaron Eckhart (Rabbit Hole)
6. Leonardo DiCaprio (Inception)
7. Aaron Johnson (Nowhere Boy)
8. James Franco (127 Hours)
9. Kodi Smit-McPhee (Let Me In)
10. Jeff Bridges (True Grit)

BEST ACTRESS

NATALIE PORTMAN (BLACK SWAN)

2. Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole)
3. Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine)
4. Annette Bening (The Kids are All Right)
5. Julianne Moore (The Kids are All Right)
6. Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone)
7. Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit)
8. Carey Mulligan (Never Let Me Go)
9. Annette Bening (Mother and Child)
10. Hilary Swank (Conviction)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

CHRISTIAN BALE (THE FIGHTER)

2. Andrew Garfield (The Social Network)
3. Geoffrey Rush (The King's Speech)
4. Jeremy Renner (The Town)
5. Andrew Garfield (Never Let Me Go)
6. Jackie Chan (The Karate Kid)
7. Vincent Cassell (Black Swan)
8. Michael Douglas (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps)
9. John Hawkes (Winter's Bone)
10. Sam Rockwell (Conviction)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

MELISSA LEO (THE FIGHTER)

2. Amy Adams (The Fighter)
3. Anne Marie-Duff (Nowhere Boy)
4. Kimberly Elise (For Colored Girls)
5. Naomi Watts (Mother and Child)
6. Jackie Weaver (Animal Kingdom)
7. Kristin Scott Thomas (Nowhere Boy)
8. Carey Mulligan (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps)
9. Helena Bonham Carter (The King's Speech)
10. Juliette Lewis (Conviction)

BEST SCREENPLAY

DAVID SEIDLER (THE KING'S SPEECH)

2. Christopher Nolan (Inception)
3. Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network)
4. Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3)
5. Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz, John J. McLaughlin (Black Swan)

BEST ART DIRECTION

TRON: LEGACY

2. Inception
3. Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows: Part I
4. The King's Speech
5. Agora

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

WALLY PFISTER (INCEPTION)

2. Eduardo Serra (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II)
3. Greig Fraser (Let Me In)
4. Roger Deakins (True Grit)
5. Matthew Libatique (Black Swan)

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

MARY ZOPHRES (TRUE GRIT)

2. Milena Canonero (The Wolfman)
3. Amy Westcott (Black Swan)
4. Colleen Atwood (Alice in Wonderland)
5. Gabriella Pescucci (Agora)

BEST MAKEUP

THE WOLFMAN

2. Inception
3. Alice in Wonderland
4. Let Me In
5. Black Swan

BEST SCORE

DAFT PUNK (TRON: LEGACY)

2. Alexandre Desplat (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I)
3. Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross (The Social Network)
4. Hans Zimmer (Inception)
5. Alexandre Desplat (The King's Speech)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

INCEPTION

2. TRON: Legacy
3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I
4. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
5. Alice in Wonderland

BEST ENSEMBLE

THE FIGHTER

2. The Kids are All Right
3. The Town
4. The Social Network
5. Inception

BEST ANIMATED FILM

TOY STORY 3

2. RPG: Metanoia
3. How to Train Your Dragon
4. Despicable Me

TOP 10 SEQUENCES OF 2010

1. The Black Swan (Black Swan)

2. The King's speech (The King's Speech)

3. Deathly hallows story (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I)

4. Andy giving away his toys (Toy Story 3)
5. Felix's story (Get Low)
6. "Pocket Full of Sunshine" (Easy A)
7. The apology (The Kids are All Right)
8. The confrontation (Rabbit Hole)
9. Planting the sycamore (Flipped)
10. Tommy's breakdown on the road (Never Let Me Go)

83rd Academy Award Winners

2011-03-05T20:25:00.000-08:00

MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR

The King's Speech*

ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING

Tom Hooper (The King's Speech)

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Natalie Portman (Black Swan)*

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Colin Firth (The King's Speech)*

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Melissa Leo (The Fighter)

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Christian Bale (The Fighter)*

Original Screenplay

David Seidler (The King's Speech)*

Adapted Screenplay

Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network)*

Best Animated Feature Film

Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3)*

Best Documentary Feature

Inside Job*

Best Foreign Language Film

In a Better World (Denmark)*

Achievement in Art Direction

Alice in Wonderland

Achievement in Cinematography

Wally Pfister (Inception)*

Achievement in Costume Design

Coleen Atwood (Alice in Wonderland)

Achievement in Film Editing

Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall (The Social Network)*

Achievement in Makeup

The Wolfman*

Achievement in Music (Original Score)

Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross (The Social Network)

Achievement in Music (Original Song)

"We Belong Together" (Toy Story 3)

Achievement in Sound Editing

Inception*

Achievement in Sound Mixing

Inception*

Achievement in Visual Effects

Inception*

Short Film (Animated)

"The Lost Thing"

Short Film (Live Action)

"God of Love"

Documentary (Short Subject)

"Strangers No More"

Score: 15/24

83rd Academy Award Nominations (and reactions)

2011-01-25T16:09:00.000-08:00

MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR

The Fighter

Inception
The Kids are All Right
127 Hours
The King's Speech
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone

Score: 9/10 (predicted The Town instead of Winter's Bone). Not too surprising a lineup, when all is said and done. Winter's Bone was warming up en route to nomination morning, while The Town was cooling down with the exception of Jeremy Renner.

ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING

Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan)
David O. Russell (The Fighter)
Tom Hooper (The King's Speech)
David Fincher (The Social Network)
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen (True Grit)

Score: 4/5 (predicted Nolan instead of the Coens). The Academy members really don't like Christopher Nolan, do they? Snubbed yet again. How can anyone who directed something like Inception not be nominated? Oh well.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Annette Bening (The Kids are All Right)
Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole)
Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone)
Natalie Portman (Black Swan)
Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine)

Score: 4/5 (predicted Steinfeld instead of Williams). Much deserved nod for Williams. I always knew that putting Steinfeld here was risky, though I was hoping the Academy would put her in the right category.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Javier Bardem (Biutiful)
Jeff Bridges (True Grit)
Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network)
Colin Firth (The King's Speech)
James Franco (127 Hours)

Score: 4/5 (predicted Wahlberg instead of Bardem). Looks like the campaign of Sean Penn and Julia Roberts for Bardem worked. I predicted the Duvall snub but not for him. Sad to see the brilliant work of Ryan Gosling for Blue Valentine overlooked.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Amy Adams (The Fighter)
Helena Bonham Carter (The King's Speech)
Melissa Leo (The Fighter)
Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit)
Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom)

Score: 3/5 (predicted Kunis and Manville instead of Steinfeld and Weaver). The Academy decided to commit category fraud and place Steinfeld here, though I don't really mind. Now she can easily win this category on Oscar night (though I personally prefer either Adams to Leo). Glad to see Weaver among the nominees.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Christian Bale (The Fighter)
John Hawkes (Winter's Bone)
Jeremy Renner (The Town)
Mark Ruffalo (The Kids are All Right)
Geoffrey Rush (The King's Speech)

Score: 4/5 (predicted Garfield instead of Hawkes). The Academy seems to really dig Winter's Bone. I was hoping to see Garfield here, but Hawkes's performance IS deserving of notice so no complaints about that not-quite-surprising nom (given the SAG nod earlier).

Original Screenplay

Mike Leigh (Another Year)
Eric Johnson, Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy (The Fighter)
Christopher Nolan (Inception)
Lisa Chodolenko, Stuart Blumberg (The Kids are All Right)
David Seidler (The King's Speech)

Score: 4/5 (predicted Black Swan instead of Another Year). Leigh fans can rejoice; his film wasn't entirely overlooked. But its nom came at the expense of Black Swan.

Adapted Screenplay

Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy (127 Hours)
Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network)
Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3)
Joel Coen, Ethan Coen (True Grit)
Debra Granik, Anne Rosellini (Winter's Bone)

Score: 5/5.

Best Animated Feature Film

Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon)
Sylvain Chomet (The Illusionist)
Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3)

Score: 2/3 (predicted Tangled instead of The Illusionist). Interesting, that Tangled wasn't able to get a spot in this category.

Best Documentary Feature

Exit Through the Gift Shop
Gasland
Inside Job
Restrepo
Waste Land

Score: 4/5 (predicted Waiting for Superman instead of Waste Land). That snub for Waiting for Superman was quite the shocker, considering how much it's been buzzed.

Best Foreign Language Film

Outside the Law (Algeria)
Incendies (Canada)
In a Better World (Denmark)
Dogtooth (Greece)
Biutiful (Mexico)

Score: 4/5 (predicted South Africa instead of Algeria). I should have picked up on the buzz on Algeria's entry, but the South African film seemed a much surer bet.

Achievement in Art Direction

Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I
Inception
The King's Speech
True Grit

Score: 4/5 (predicted Black Swan instead of Alice in Wonderland). Should have known they'd go for the wacky Alice world. Black Swan was probably too simple and contemporary for the voters.

Achievement in Cinematography

Matthew Libatique (Black Swan)
Wally Pfister (Inception)
Danny Cohen (The King's Speech)
Jeff Cronenweth (The Social Network)
Roger Deakins (True Grit)

Score: 4/5 (predicted Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I instead of The Social Network).

Achievement in Costume Design

Colleen Atwood (Alice in Wonderland)
Antonella Cannarozzi (I Am Love)
Jenny Beavan (The King's Speech)
Sandy Powell (The Tempest)
Mary Zophres (True Grit)

Score: 4/5 (predicted Black Swan instead of I Am Love).

Achievement in Film Editing

Andrew Weisblum (Black Swan)
Pamela Martin (The Fighter)
Tariq Anwar (The King's Speech)
Jon Harris (127 Hours)
Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall (The Social Network)

Score: 3/5 (predicted Inception and True Grit instead of The Fighter and 127 Hours).

Achievement in Makeup

Barney's Version
The Way Back
The Wolfman

Score: 1/3 (predicted Black Swan and The Tempest instead of Barney's Version and The Way Back). Always an unpredictable category where random films can pop up.

Achievement in Music (Original Score)

John Powell (How to Train Your Dragon)
Hans Zimmer (Inception)
Alexander Desplat (The King's Speech)
A.R. Rachman (127 Hours)
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross (The Social Network)

Score: 4/5 (predicted TRON Legacy instead of How to Train Your Dragon). The nom for Daft Punk was wishful thinking, I know.

Achievement in Music (Original Song)

"If I Rise" (127 Hours)
"Coming Home" (Country Strong)
"I See the Light" (Tangled)
"We Belong Together" (Toy Story 3)

Score: 3/4 (predicted five, with "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" and "Me and Tennessee" instead of "Coming Home"). Sorry, no Cher on Oscar night.

Achievement in Sound Editing

Inception
Toy Story 3
TRON Legacy
True Grit
Unstoppable

Score: 4/5 (predicted Iron Man 2 instead of Unstoppable). Should have known that a critically well-received actioner would get notice here. Should have spread the net wider. Though 4/5 is good for me in this category.

Achievement in Sound Mixing

Inception
The King's Speech
Salt
The Social Network
True Grit

Score: 3/5 (predicted Black Swan and TRON Legacy instead of The King's Speech and Salt). I don't think anyone expected that nom for Salt, but I should have seen the King's Speech nom coming.

Achievement in Visual Effects

Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I
Hereafter
Inception
Iron Man 2

Score: 4/5 (predicted TRON Legacy instead of Hereafter). Sure, the young Jeff Bridges was kinda unnatural, but how can they not nominate TRON Legacy for every other nifty visual in that film? Injustice.

Short Film (Animated)

"Day & Night"
"The Gruffalo"
"Let's Pollute"
"The Lost Thing"
"Madagascar, a Journey Diary"

No predictions.

Short Film (Live Action)

"The Confession"
"The Crush"
"God of Love"
"Na Wewe"
"Wish 143"

No predictions.

Documentary (Short Subject)

"Killing in the Name"
"Poster Girl"
"Strangers No More"
"Sun Come Up"
"The Warriors of Qiugang"

No predictions.

Winners of the 68th Golden Globe Awards

2011-01-16T20:38:00.000-08:00

Best Motion Picture - Drama
The Social Network

Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
The Kids Are All Right

Best Director - Motion Picture
David Fincher, The Social Network

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Colin Firth, The King’s Speech

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Natalie Portman, Black Swan

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
Paul Giamatti, Barney’s Version

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Christian Bale, The Fighter

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Melissa Leo, The Fighter

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network

Best Foreign Language Film
In a Better World

Best Animated Feature Film
Toy Story 3

Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Social Network

Best Original Song - Motion Picture
“You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” from Burlesque

Nominees for the 17th Screen Actors Guild Awards

2010-12-16T14:20:00.000-08:00

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Black Swan
The Fighter
The Kids Are All Right
The King’s Speech
The Social Network

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Jeff Bridges, True Grit
Robert Duvall, Get Low
Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
James Franco, 127 Hours

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Hilary Swank, Conviction

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Christian Bale, The Fighter
John Hawkes, Winter’s Bone
Jeremy Renner, The Town
Mark Ruffalo, The Kids Are All Right
Geoffrey Rush, The King’s Speech

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams, The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s Speech
Mila Kunis, Black Swan
Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
Green Zone
Inception
Robin Hood

Nominees for the 68th Golden Globe Awards

2010-12-14T14:28:00.000-08:00

Best Motion Picture - Drama
“Black Swan”
“The Fighter”
“Inception”
“The King’s Speech”
“The Social Network”

Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
“Alice in Wonderland”
“Burlesque”
“The Kids Are All Right”
“Red”
“The Tourist”

Best Director - Motion Picture
Darren Aronofsky, “Black Swan”
David O. Russell, “The Fighter”
Christopher Nolan, “Inception”
Tom Hooper, “The King’s Speech”
David Fincher, “The Social Network”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Jesse Eisenberg, “The Social Network”
Colin Firth, “The King’s Speech”
James Franco, “127 Hours”
Ryan Gosling, “Blue Valentine”
Mark Wahlberg, “The Fighter”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Halle Berry, “Frankie and Alice”
Nicole Kidman, “Rabbit Hole”
Jennifer Lawrence, “Winter’s Bone”
Natalie Portman, “Black Swan”
Michelle Williams, “Blue Valentine”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
Johnny Depp, “Alice in Wonderland”
Johnny Depp, “The Tourist”
Paul Giamatti, “Barney’s Version”
Jake Gyllenhaal, “Love and Other Drugs”
Kevin Spacey, “Casino Jack”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
Annette Bening, “The Kids Are All Right”
Anne Hathaway, “Love and Other Drugs”
Angelina Jolie, “The Tourist”
Julianne Moore, “The Kids Are All Right”
Emma Stone, “Easy A”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Christian Bale, “The Fighter”
Michael Douglas, “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps”
Andrew Garfield, “The Social Network”
Jeremy Renner, “The Town”
Geoffrey Rush, “The King’s Speech”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Amy Adams, “The Fighter”
Helena Bonham Carter, “The King’s Speech”
Mila Kunis, “Black Swan”
Melissa Leo, “The Fighter”
Jacki Weaver, “Animal Kingdom”

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Christopher Nolan, “Inception”
Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg, “The Kids Are All Right”
David Seidler, “The King’s Speech”
Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy, “127 Hours”
Aaron Sorkin, “The Social Network”

Best Foreign Language Film
“Biutiful”
“The Concert”
“The Edge”
“I Am Love”
“In a Better World”

Best Animated Feature Film
“Despicable Me”
“How to Train Your Dragon”
“The Illusionist”
“Tangled”
“Toy Story 3”

Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Danny Elfman, “Alice in Wonderland”
Hans Zimmer, “Inception”
Alexandre Desplat, “The King’s Speech”
A.R. Rahman, “127 Hours”
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, “The Social Network”

Best Original Song - Motion Picture
“Bound to You” from “Burlesque”
“You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” from “Burlesque”
“There’s a Place for Us” from “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader”
“Coming Home” from “Country Strong”
“I See the Light” from “Tangled”

15 Animated Features Eligible for Oscar

2010-11-16T19:38:00.000-08:00

Beverly Hills, CA (November 15, 2010) – Fifteen features have been accepted for consideration in the Animated Feature Film category for the 83rd Academy Awards^®.

The 15 features are:

“Alpha and Omega”
“Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore”
“Despicable Me”
“The Dreams of Jinsha”
“How to Train Your Dragon”
“Idiots and Angels”
“The Illusionist”
“Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole”
“Megamind”
“My Dog Tulip”
“Shrek Forever After”
“Summer Wars”
“Tangled”
“Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue”
“Toy Story 3”

“The Dreams of Jinsha,” “The Illusionist,” “Summer Wars” and “Tangled” have not yet had their required Los Angeles qualifying run. Submitted features must fulfill the theatrical release requirements and meet the category’s other qualifying rules before they can advance in the voting process.

Under the rules for this category, in any year in which 8 to 15 animated features are released in Los Angeles County, a maximum of 3 motion pictures may be nominated. If 16 or more animated features are submitted and accepted in the category, a maximum of 5 motion pictures may be nominated.

Films submitted in the Animated Feature Film category also may qualify for Academy Awards in other categories, including Best Picture, provided they meet the requirements for those categories.

The 83rd Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Tuesday, January 25, 2011, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2010 will be presented on Sunday, February 27, 2011, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center^®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

from Oscars.org

Best Actress Oscar 2010: A Crowded Race

2010-09-15T21:38:00.000-07:00

A good five or so months away from the 83rd Academy Awards, the season for prognostication is already in full swing, what with many of the year's touted "Oscar films" having come out in various film festivals. Foremost among these are the ones of Cannes, Venice, and Toronto. Films like The King's Speech, 127 Hours, Black Swan, and The Social Network have been seen and widely praised, making this year's Best Picture race potentially one of the most exciting in recent years (especially with holdovers Toy Story 3, Inception, and The Kids are All Right still strong and other prestige pics still unseen). But other than the films themselves, the actresses have also come in force. This could be the most crowded and unpredictably exciting Best Actress race in many years (the decision to move Robert Redford's The Conspirator to 2011 may have been a wise one; Robin Wright would have had a difficult time getting in despite the mostly strong reviews). Here are 12 women who seem to have the strongest chances for getting one of the five slots. In my opinion, ten of them (with asterisks) will ultimately battle it out at the end, and any of them could get in.

Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right)*

Current buzz status: Definitely one of the front runners.

Pros: Loved by Oscar voters, though never enough for an actual win. She's way overdue. It's a great performance that many love.

Cons: Lead or supporting? Internal competition with Julianne Moore.

Anne Hathaway (Love and Other Drugs)*

Current buzz status: Perceived as one of the potential front runners...

Pros: ...given buzz on the performance, the role (she has an illness), and her reputation (we just know she'll be a regular nominee soon).

Cons: The film (romantic drama) isn't exactly Oscar material.

Sally Hawkins (Made in Dagenham)*

Current buzz status: Could easily sneak into the top five; her performance is getting a lot of notices.

Pros: The Academy owes her for that snub of a great performance in Happy-Go-Lucky. The film is well loved and she's playing a Norma Rae-ish character.

Cons: Maybe the Academy voters just don't get her. The film has to be big when released in the US.

Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole)*

Current buzz status: Early reviews have been glowing. They say it's a return to form for this former Oscar winner.

Pros: Haven't they snubbed her long enough? We all know she's a formidable actress. This is a prime role for drama (she loses a child).

Cons: Will this film even be released this year? No distributor yet. UPDATE: Lionsgate has picked it and will release it this year. The only con now is that the film is really dark and despairing.

Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone)*

Current buzz status: One of the front runners until the recent slew of praised performances from more established stars in bigger films displaced her.

Pros: Sheer talent. She's amazing in the film. She may be the ingenue in the mix.

Cons: The film may be too small or too bleak for the voters and may easily get lost in the shuffle.

Lesley Manville (Another Year)*

Current buzz status: One of the front runners, as per many prognosticators' lists.

Pros: Also talent and buzz. Since critics and audiences first saw the film in Cannes, she's been wowing them and the buzz never really went away.

Cons: Too much competition, and she's virtually unknown. That works more for young actresses. If the film gets traction in the Best Picture race then she's likely in.

Julianne Moore (The Kids are All Right)*

Current buzz status: Not very much for this category.

Pros: That can easily change if she gets campaigned in this category and Bening goes to supporting. She has more screentime in the film and is just as good. She's also due at least another nom.

Cons: The category confusion and internal competition, just like Bening.

Carey Mulligan (Never Let Me Go)

Current buzz status: Just a bit; there's more buzz for her co-stars.

Pros: Across the board, the acting in the film has been praised. As has been the film itself.

Cons: Has Keira Knightley stolen the show? And Mulligan was just nominated last year. Too soon, maybe, much more so for a film that has a sci-fi bent.

Natalie Portman (Black Swan)*

Current buzz status: It's all hers right now. Fresh off Venice.

Pros: Superlatives in her honor. Challenging physical role for a well respected young actress.

Cons: The film is dark and not the Academy's typical Best Picture fare.

Hilary Swank (Conviction)*

Current buzz status: Building up, but she always had it from the start.

Pros: Two-time Oscar winner. The voters definitely love her, and this one's a plum role. She's getting great reviews for it so far. The film could be this year's The Blind Side. A third Bening-Swank showdown might prove too irresistible.

Cons: The film itself isn't being praised as much as it could be. Co-star Sam Worthington, a highly likely nominee in the Supporting Actor category, may hog the spotlight in the end.

Naomi Watts (Fair Game)

Current buzz status: Not so much.

Pros: It's a good role, and gritty enough to get a good number of votes.

Cons: The competition is just too intense. And hasn't Vera Farmiga played this role before (in Nothing But the Truth)?

Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine)*

Current buzz status: Slowly fading since the huge amount of praise in Sundance.

Pros: Williams is an excellent actress who has been building up cred with her fine performances in indie films. She was widely praised when critics and audiences first saw this film.

Cons: Where's the buzz now? The film may get lost in the onslaught of all these critically acclaimed prestige films.

A 13th possibility, based on current buzz, is Diane Lane for Secretariat. Further down are Gwyneth Paltrow for Country Strong, Keira Knightley for London Boulevard, Rachel McAdams for Morning Glory, and Kristen Stewart for Welcome to the Rileys.

The National Board of Review might go for both Bening and Moore. Critics groups will be split among Bening, Lawrence, Manville, maybe Kidman and Portman. Here's how I see the SAG going as of now:

Bening
Hathaway
Kidman
Portman
Swank

As for the Golden Globes:

Comedy/Musical
Bening
Hathaway
Hawkins (right category?)
Manville (ditto)
Moore
*If Moore or Bening goes supporting, maybe McAdams or Julia Roberts (Eat, Pray, Love)

Drama
Kidman
Lawrence
Portman
Swank
Williams
*Or maybe Stewart instead of Williams

My current predicted five for Oscar (likely to change a bit next month):

1. Bening
2. Portman
3. Hathaway
4. Lawrence
5. Swank

Winners of the 67th Venice Film Festival

2010-09-13T01:06:00.000-07:00

GOLDEN LION for Best Film:

SOMEWHERE by Sofia COPPOLA (USA)

SILVER LION for Best Director to:

Álex de la Iglesia for the film BALADA TRISTE DE TROMPETA

(Spain, France)

SPECIAL JURY PRIZE to:

ESSENTIAL KILLINGby Jerzy SKOLIMOWSKI

(Poland, Norway, Hungary, Ireland)

COPPA VOLPI

for Best Actor:

Vincent GALLO

in the film ESSENTIAL KILLING by Jerzy SKOLIMOWSKI

(Poland, Norway, Hungary, Ireland)

COPPA VOLPI

for Best Actress:

Ariane LABED

in the film ATTENBERG by Athina Rachel TSANGARI (Greece)

MARCELLO MASTROIANNI AWARD

for Best Young Actor or Actress:

Mila KUNIS

in the film BLACK SWAN by Darren ARONOFSKY (USA)

OSELLA for Best Cinematography to:

MIKHAIL KRICHMAN

for the film SILENT SOULS (OVSYANKI) by Aleksei FEDORCHENKO (Russia)

OSELLA for Best Screenplay to:

Álex de la Iglesia

for the film BALADA TRISTE DE TROMPETA by Álex de la Iglesia

(Spain, France)

SPECIAL LION FOR AN OVERALL WORK to:

Monte HELLMAN

‘Monte Hellman is a great cinema artist and minimalistic poet.

His work has inspired this jury and it’s our honour to honor him’

My Top 10 Films of the Last Decade

2010-04-16T20:57:00.000-07:00

10. The Passion of the Christ (2004)

Director: Mel Gibson
Writers: Benedict Fitzgerald, Mel Gibson
Cast: James Caviezel, Maia Morgenstern, Monica Bellucci

A transforming cinematic experience. Great directing, production value, and acting, especially by Caviezel as Jesus and Morgenstern as Mary. Heart-wrenching and deeply inspirational.

9. Chocolat (2000)

Director: Lasse Hallstrom
Writer: Robert Nelson Jacobs, based on the novel by Joanne Harris
Cast: Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp, Alfred Molina, Judi Dench, Lena Olin

This is still regarded by many as one of the worst Oscar Best Picture nominees in recent years...and I'm still baffled by it. This is a wondrous, magical, touching film about two of our favorite things in the world: love and chocolate. Binoche is amazing in thus one, as she always is.

8. Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Director: Edgar Wright
Writers: Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright
Cast: Simon Pegg, Kate Ashfield, Nick Frost

Brilliant British comedy that masterfully combines the horror of a zombie apocalypse (the undead here are as frightening as any in a Romero film) and the biting humor of the Brits. One of the best films in two different genres.

7. Love Actually (2003)

Director: Richard Curtis
Writer: Richard Curtis
Cast: Hugh Grant, Bill Nighy, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, Laura Linney

Repeated viewings (say, five or more) would show more than a few things in the film that would keep it from being technically perfect, but you really wouldn't care. Such an endearing ensemble dramedy. My favorite Christmas movie. Hugh Grant has never been better.

6. Hero (2002)

Director: Zhang Yimou
Writers: Feng Li, Bin Wang, Zhang Yimou
Cast: Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Daoming Chen, Donnie Yen

Amazing splash of colors, awesome battle sequences, and great performances. This is a masterpiece.

5. A Very Long Engagement (2004)

Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Writers: Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Guillaume Laurant, based on the novel by Sebastien Japrisot
Cast: Audrey Tautou, Gaspard Ulliel, Marion Cotillard

Still as whimsical as other Jeunet films, with a heartwarming romance between Tautou and Ulliel. The tenacity of Tautou's character is stirring. This is where I first saw and recognized the greatness of the fantastic Marion Cotillard.

4. My Sassy Girl (2001)

Director: Jae-young Kwak
Writer: Jae-young Kwak, based on the novel by Ho-sik Kim
Cast: Tae-hyun Cha, Ji-hyun Jun

This is the first Korean film that I saw, and I instantly fell in love with it. With as fiery and absorbing a title character as Ji-hyun's, and as fantastic a love story as theirs, it is difficult not to. The American remake tried to capture the magic but, while not being a bad film, failed to do so.

3. Kill Bill (2003-2004)

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writer: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Daryl Hannah, David Carradine, Michael Madsen

Volume 2 could have been satisfying (though that fight between The Bride and Elle Driver is pure pulp bliss), but the astounding, mesmerizing, unforgettable first Volume more than makes up for that. Tarantino's vision has never been as gorgeously displayed on onscreen, with visual and aural spectacles that always leave me enraptured.

2. Avatar (2009)

Director: James Cameron
Writer: James Cameron
Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang

Say what you will about the derivative story (when it's about how humans destroy the environment, how can it not be?), but this is a true cinematic experience to be cherished during and long after the viewing. Mind-blowing visuals, a strong plot, and interesting characters (with Saldana turning in an Oscar-worthy performance, IMO) make for a fantastic way to close the decade.

1. The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)

Director: Peter Jackson
Writers: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, based on the novels by J.R.R. Tolkien
Cast: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, John Rhys Davies, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Andy Serkis

THE most awesome trilogy of all time, and quite simply among the best films in cinematic history. Flawless production values, direction, writing, and acting. The Lord of the Rings trilogy has set the standard not only for fantasy films but also for sweeping epics with majestic vistas and soul-stirring soundscapes. It will be a long time until we have another film with this much magnificence.

Numbers 11-20
Numbers 21-30
Numbers 31-40
Numbers 41-50

Festival de Cannes 2010 Lineup

2010-04-15T03:35:00.000-07:00

COMPETITION

"Another Year," U.K., Mike Leigh
"Biutiful," Spain-Mexico, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
"Burnt by the Sun 2," Germany-France-Russia, Nikita Mikhalkov
"Certified Copy," France-Italy-Iran, Abbas Kiarostami
"Fair Game," U.S., Doug Liman
"Hors-la-loi," France-Belgium-Algeria, Rachid Bouchareb
"The Housemaid," South Korea, Im Sang-soo
"La nostra vita," Italy-France, Daniele Luchetti
"La Princesse de Montpensier," France, Bertrand Tavernier
"Of Gods and Men," France, Xavier Beauvois
"Outrage," Japan, Takeshi Kitano
"Poetry," South Korea, Lee Chang-dong
"A Screaming Man," France-Belgium-Chad, Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
"Tournee," France, Mathieu Amalric
"Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives," Spain-Thailand-Germany-U.K.-France, Apichatpong Weerasethakul
"You, My Joy," Ukraine-Germany, Sergey Loznitsa

OUT OF COMPETITION

"Tamara Drewe," U.K., Stephen Frears
"Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," U.S., Oliver Stone
"You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger," U.K.-Spain, Woody Allen

UN CERTAIN REGARD

"Adrienn Pal," Hungary-Netherlands-France-Austria, Agnes Kocsis
"Aurora," Romania, Cristi Pui"

"Blue Valentine," U.S., Derek Cianfrance
"Chatroom," U.K., Hideo Nakata
"Chongqing Blues," China, Wang Xiaoshuai

"The City Below," Germany-France, Christoph Hochhausler
"Film Socialisme," Switzerland-France, Jean-Luc Godard
"Ha Ha Ha," South Korea, Hong Sang-soo
"Les Amours imaginaires," Canada, Xavier Dolan
"Life Above All," France, Oliver Schmitz
" Los labios," Argentina, Ivan Fund, Santiago Loza
"Octubre," Peru, Daniel Vega
"Qu'est-il arrive a Simon Werner?," France, Fabrice Gobert
"Rebecca H.," France, Lodge Kerrigan
"R U There," Taiwan, David Verbeek
"The Strange Case of Angelica," Portugal, Manoel de Oliveira
"Tuesday, After Christmas," Romania, Radu Muntean
"Udaan," India, Vikramaditya Motwane

#s 20-11 of the Decade

2010-04-12T16:54:00.000-07:00

20. Before Sunset (2004)

Director: Richard Linklater
Writers: Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy

One of the most intelligent, natural, and character-driven romantic films of the last decade (or the last two, for that matter), with endearing performances by Hawke and Delpy. The ending sequence is precious, perhaps one of the best in cinema.

19. Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)

Director: Brad Silberling
Writer: Robert Gordon, based on the books by Daniel Handler
Cast: Jim Carrey, Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Kara Hoffman, Shelby Hoffman, Jude Law, Timothy Spall, Catherine O'Hara, Billy Connolly, Meryl Streep

Not having liked the books on which it was based, I wasn't expecting this film to be so much fun and, beyond that, a truly well crafted film on the technical aspects. Great art direction, cinematography, costume, makeup, score. And of course, great acting, including an amusing turn by Streep. Some parts are really touching.

18. Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Director: Sam Raimi
Writer: Alvin Sargent, based on the comic books by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
Cast: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Alfred Molina, James Franco

Easily the best of the trilogy, with spectacular visual effects and a great, well rounded villain in Molina's Dr. Octopus. Still one of the best superhero movies of all time.

17. The Dark Knight (2008)

Director: Christopher Nolan
Writers: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan, based on characters by Bob Kane
Cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman

THE best superhero movie of all time. Amazing film made even better by the phenomenal performance of the great Heath Ledger. The biggest travesty committed by the Academy in recent years was not having nominated this film and its director.

16. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Director: Michel Gondry
Writer: Charlie Kaufman
Cast: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Elijah Wood, Mark Ruffalo, Kirsten Dunst, Tom Wilkinson

Gondry at his best, and Winslet at her most endearing (many fans' favorite performance of hers). This is easily one of the most creative and finely made films of the last decade.

15. Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Director: Joe Wright
Writer: Deborah Moggach, based on the novel by Jane Austen
Cast: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Donald Sutherland, Brenda Blethyn, Rosamund Pike

This is a faithful adaptation of one of the all time wittiest, most romantic novels. The film and its actors are effortless, especially Knightley and Sutherland.

14. Dogville (2003)

Director: Lars von Trier
Writer: Lars von Trier
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Lauren Bacall, Paul Bettany

Spare, austere, horrifying, liberating. Brilliant film by the brilliant oft misunderstood von Trier. A film that uses no sets except lines on the ground to denote where the houses are, it looks bare but the emotion is never so. A great ending sequence that has one thinking if s/he is a little too emotionally invested in the plight of Grace, Kidman's character. This is her best performance, in my opinion.

13. Summer Wars (2009)

Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Writer: Satoko Okudera
Cast (voices of): Sumiko Fuji, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Ayumu Saito, Nanami Sakuraba

From the visionary director of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time has come another amazing feat of Japanese animation. Thoroughly engaging and spectacular.

12. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Writer: Satoko Okudera, based on the novel by Yasutaka Tsutsui
Cast (voices of): Riisa Naka, Takuya Ishida, Mitsutaka Itakura, Ayami Kakiuchi

Summer Wars may be the more innovative film of Hosoda's, but The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is the more emotionally resonant. Nice take on the sci-fi trope of time travel, with romance thrown in to make one of the best anime films of all time.

11. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Director: Danny Boyle
Writer: Simon Beaufoy, based on the novel by Vikas Swarup
Cast: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto

An exuberant, emotionally stirring film that I found myself watching over and over without getting tired of it.

Numbers 30-21 here.
Numbers 10-1 soon.

#s 30-21 of the Decade

2010-04-09T23:40:00.000-07:00

30. Battle Royale (2000)

Director: Kinji Fukasaku
Writer: Kenta Fukasaku, based on the novel by Koushun Takami
Cast: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Takeshi Kitano

One of Quentin Tarantino's favorite films. Excessive on many levels, but it's so unique and so much fun to watch.

29. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Director: Ang Lee
Writers: Hui-Ling Wang, James Schamus, Kuo Jung Tsai, based on the book by Du Lu Wang
Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Chow Yun-Fat, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Chang

This excellent film made wuxia popular again and made a star of Zhang Ziyi. Thank goodness for that.

28. The Others (2001)

Director: Alejandro Amenabar
Writer: Alejandro Amenabar
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Fionnula Flanagan, Christopher Eccleston, Alakina Mann, James Bentley

This atmospheric film definitely ranks as one of the all-time best ghost stories, with a creepy feel all throughout and a satisfying twist at the end.

27. Atonement (2007)

Director: Joe Wright
Writer: Christopher Hampton, based on the novel by Ian McEwan
Cast: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saoirse Ronan, Vanessa Redgrave

Amazing film with great performances and a heart-twisting premise that plays out powerfully.

26. Coraline (2009)

Director: Henry Selick
Writer: Henry Selick, based on the book by Neil Gaiman
Cast (voices of): Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, John Hodgman, Keith David

Neil Gaiman's work deserves such a magical adaptation. Great animation and musical score.

25. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Director: Wes Anderson
Writers: Wes Anderson, Noah Baumbach, based on the novel by Roald Dahl
Cast (voices of): George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Wallace Wolodarsky, Eric Chase Anderson, Michael Gambon, Willem Dafoe

What quirkiness you've come to expect in an Anderson film, you'll see here animated. Also a fantastic score by Alexandre Desplat.

24. Mean Girls (2004)

Director: Mark Waters
Writer: Tina Fey, based on the book by Rosalind Wiseman
Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey, Lacey Chabert, Amanda Seyfried

This is such a fun film that I can keep on watching over and over. Lohan's shining moment, and McAdams's breakthrough. This shows what Lindsay is capable of, so I wish her the best.

23. Magnifico (2003)

Director: Maryo J. de los Reyes
Writer: Michiko Yamamoto
Cast: Lorna Tolentino, Albert Martinez, Gloria Romero, Jiro Manio

Quite possibly one of the best Filipino dramas ever, without being a typical melodrama. Very human and very sincere. Can be devastating at certain points, but that's a good thing when you're looking for a film that packs an emotional punch.

22. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

Director: Guillermo del Toro
Writer: Guillermo del Toro
Cast: Ivana Baquero, Sergi Lopez, Maribel Verdu, Doug Jones

Del Toro has given us one of the most hypnotic and involving fantasy masterpieces of all time in Pan's Labyrinth. Not to mention one of the creepier creatures in the Pale Man.

21. Children of Men (2006)

Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Writers: Alfonso Cuaron, Timothy J. Sexton, David Arata, Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, based on the novel by P.D. James
Cast: Clive Owen, Michael Caine, Julianne Moore

A true modern sci fi classic. Cuaron expertly directs this gem about a dystopic Earth, perhaps the best such portrayal in decades.

Numbers 40-31 here.
Numbers 20-11 soon.

#s 40-31 of the Decade

2010-04-07T18:48:00.000-07:00

40. Spirited Away (2001)

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Writer: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast (voices of): Rumi Hiragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki

Animation god Hayao Miyazaki deservedly won an Oscar for this mesmerizing, magical (what Miyazaki film isn't) creation.

39. A Tale of Two Sisters (2002)

Director: Ji-woon Kim
Writer: Ji-woon Kim
Cast: Kap-su Kim, Jung-ah Yum, Su-jeong Lim, Geun-Young Moon

Captivating, intelligent, creepy psychological thriller that, like most Asian horror flicks, relies more on atmosphere than on cheap scares. Great acting by the principal cast. Korea has got to have among the best child actors in the world.

38. The Science of Sleep (2006)

Director: Michel Gondry
Writer: Michel Gondry
Cast: Gael Garcia Bernal, Charlotte Gainsbourg

A criminally overlooked adorable, touching Gondry pic starring the adorable Bernal and Gainsbourg. It's classic Gondry with the surreal animation.

37. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005)

Directors: Tetsuya Nomura, Takeshi Nozue
Writer: Kazushige Nujima

This is how that other visually great but ultimately flat Final Fantasy film should have been. These are characters we've learned to love in the games, with breathtaking animation and action sequences. What a trip for fanboys!

36. Moon (2009)

Director: Duncan Jones
Writers: Duncan Jones, Nathan Parker
Cast: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey

Brilliant sci fi flick that's a throwback to the intelligent, human-driven science fiction of the 70s. Rockwell is great in this one-man show.

35. Paris Je T'aime (2006)

Directors: Multiple
Writers: Multiple
Cast: Too many to mention

Ah, the city of love. This omnibus from some of the best filmmakers is a product of love. Touching and emotionally involving. Stand-outs include Gurinder Chadha's "Quais de Seine," Alfonso Cuaron's "Parc Monceau," Vincenzo Natali's "Quartier de la Madeleine" (the only horror segment), Tom Tykwer's "Faubourg Saint-Denis," Nobuhiro Suwa's "Place des Victoires" (in which Juliette Binoche is, as always, amazing), and the winning closing segment by Alexander Payne, "14th arrondissement," which features the lovable Margot Martindale.

34. The School of Rock (2003)

Director: Richard Linklater
Writer: Mike White
Cast: Jack Black, Mike White, Joan Cusack, Sarah Silverman

Black probably hasn't been funnier or more natural than in this fun, music-driven flick. The kids are great and so are the songs. I'd love to see a sequel.

33. A Knight's Tale (2001)

Director: Brian Helgeland
Writer: Brian Helgeland
Cast: Heath Ledger, Shannyn Sossamon, Rufus Sewell, Paul Bettany, Laura Fraser, Mark Addy, Alan Tudyk

This could have failed miserably, mixing medieval Europe with modern pop beats. But it soars and delights, thanks mostly to the great chemistry and fantastic humor among the cast, led by the late great Ledger.

32. (500) Days of Summer (2009)

Director: Marc Webb
Writer: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel

One of the best, most well written romantic comedies in recent years. Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel are both adorable.

31. The Incredibles (2004)

Director: Brad Bird
Writer: Brad Bird
Cast (voices of): Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee

The title says it all. Great kinetic fun, much better than a lot of live-action superhero movies. How about a sequel?

Numbers 50-41 here.
Numbers 30-21 soon.

My 50 Favorite Films of the Last Decade

2010-04-05T21:07:00.000-07:00

It took me a fair amount of time to decide on what 50 films from 2000 to 2009 most excited, intrigued, or impressed me. Some have simply stuck to my memory regardless of overall quality. This is not my list of "Best Pictures" of the last decade. These are instead films that I treasure for many different reasons and that I wouldn't mind watching over and over. This list, my first of its nature, is very important for me, since the cinephile in me was awakened only in 2001, twenty years after my birth and having been at best a casual moviegoer.

Here are #s 50-41:

50. Infernal Affairs (2002)

Directors: Wai-keung Lau, Alan Mak
Writers: Alan Mak, Felix Chong
Cast: Andy Lau, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Sammi Cheng

The movie that directly inspired Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning The Departed. A masterful film, perhaps Hong Kong's finest in the last decade.

49. Dancer in the Dark (2000)

Director: Lars von Trier
Writer: Lars von Trier
Cast: Bjork, Catherine Deneuve, David Morse, Peter Stormare

What a performance from Bjork! Raw, innocent, powerful. The film itself scars and wounds, especially in the last few sequences, and it leaves an indelible mark.

48. Bayaning Third World (2000)

Director: Mike de Leon
Writers: Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr., Mike de Leon
Cast: Joel Torre, Ricky Davao, Cris Villanueva

Of the many Filipino films about national hero Jose Rizal, this is easily the most imaginative. Surreal, bizarre, sometimes bordering on absurd, but never anything less than genius. Mike de Leon, a major player in Philippine cinema's second Golden Age (the 1970s), proves he still has it.

47. Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (2005)

Director: Auraeus Solito
Writer: Michiko Yamamoto
Cast: Nathan Lopez, Soliman Cruz, JR Valentin, Neil Ryan Sese, Ping Medina

The Filipino indie scene is now dominated by gay films, but before that deluge of mostly derivative, exploitative drivel, this true gem of the digital movement impressed viewers here and abroad, even getting a Spirit Award nomination for Foreign Language Film. A very refreshing take on the homosexual Filipino adolescent, in that his very macho father and older brothers love him dearly and dote on him.

46. WALL-E (2008)

Director: Andrew Stanton
Writers: Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Jim Reardon

Brilliant piece of animation and science fiction. Having a silent robot with emotions as the lead character goes a long way.

45. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Writer: Steve Kloves, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson

This is easily the best in the series. Cuaron's little touches elevate this to a very good fantasy piece. And the three actors are at their best here.

44. Sideways (2004)

Director: Alexander Payne
Writers: Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor, based on the novel by Rex Pickett
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh

This film is so smooth and effortless in the way it captures the audience's emotion that it latches on and doesn't let go. I cannot forget the amazement I felt at Paul Giamatti's brilliance...and my vexation at his not having been nominated for an Oscar.

43. Enchanted (2007)

Director: Kevin Lima
Writer: Bill Kelly
Cast: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marden, Timothy Spall, Idina Menzel, Susan Sarandon

Amy Adams is aces as a Disney princess transported to modern-day New York in this very memorable and highly entertaining film. The songs are contagious, and James Marden plays a hilarious Prince.

42. Doubt (2008)

Director: John Patrick Shanley
Writer: John Patrick Shanley, based on his play
Cast: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis

Just writing that cast list has me thinking back to this powerful film. It's a good story and a well-crafted movie, but it's the cast that got me. All four, including the immortal Meryl Streep, at their finest. What more can you ask for?

41. In Bruges (2008)

Director: Martin McDonagh
Writer: Martin McDonagh
Cast: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes

This film had me simultaneously in stitches, frightened of Ralph Fiennes, falling in love with Bruges which I had not heard of prior to watching this, and thinking how fantastic an actor Colin Farrell is. He should have been nominated for an Oscar.

Numbers 40-39 soon.

Film-Otaku Awards 2009

2010-03-28T22:51:00.000-07:00

BEST PICTURE

AVATAR

2. Up in the Air
3. Fantastic Mr. Fox
4. Summer Wars
5. Antichrist
6. The Hurt Locker
7. Star Trek
8. (500) Days of Summer
9. Moon
10. Inglourious Basterds

BEST DIRECTOR

JAMES CAMERON (AVATAR)

2. Lars von Trier (Antichrist)
3. Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)
4. Jane Campion (Bright Star)
5. Jacques Audiard (Un Prophete)
6. Duncan Jones (Moon)
7. Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds)
8. Clint Eastwood (Invictus)
9. Jason Reitman (Up in the Air)
10. Wes Anderson (Fantastic Mr. Fox)

BEST ACTOR

VIGGO MORTENSEN (THE ROAD)

2. Michael Stuhlbarg (A Serious Man)
3. Tahar Rahim (Un Prophete)
4. George Clooney (Up in the Air)
5. Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)
6. Sam Rockwell (Moon)
7. Ben Foster (The Messenger)
8. Willem Dafoe (Antichrist)
9. Joseph Gordon-Levitt ((500) Days of Summer)
10. Ben Whishaw (Bright Star)

BEST ACTRESS

TILDA SWINTON (JULIA)

2. Abbie Cornish (Bright Star)
3. Michelle Pfeiffer (Cheri)
4. Charlotte Gainsbourg (Antichrist)
5. Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia)
6. Kim Hye-ja (Mother)
7. Carey Mulligan (An Education)
8. Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones)
9. Gabourey Sidibe (Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire)
10. Robin Wright-Penn (The Private Lives of Pippa Lee)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

CHRISTOPH WALTZ (INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS)

2. Woody Harrelson (The Messenger)
3. Paul Schneider (Bright Star)
4. Niels Arestrup (Un Prophete)
5. Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker)
6. Alfred Molina (An Education)
7. Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes)
8. Robert Duvall (The Road)
9. Rhys Ifans (The Boat that Rocked)
10. Stephen Lang (Avatar)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

MO'NIQUE (PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE)

2. Bianca Portillo (Broken Embraces)
3. Zoe Saldana (Avatar)
4. Marion Cotillard (Nine)
5. Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air)
6. Penelope Cruz (Nine)
7. Melanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds0
8. Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air)
9. Bailee Madison (Brothers)
10. Mozhan Marno (The Stoning of Soraya M.)

BEST SCREENPLAY

SCOTT NEUSTADTER, MICHAEL H. WEBER ((500) DAYS OF SUMMER)

2. Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner (based on the novel by Walter Kim) (Up in the Air)
3. Lars von Trier (Antichrist)
4. Duncan Jones, Nathan Parker (Moon)
5. James Cameron (Avatar)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

FANTASTIC MR. FOX

2. Summer Wars
3. Coraline
4. Up
5. The Secret of Kells

BEST ART DIRECTION

SHERLOCK HOLMES

2. Moon
3. Red Cliff
4. Inglourious Basterds
5. Avatar

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

ANTHONY DOD MANTLE (ANTICHRIST)

2. Philippe Rousselot (Sherlock Holmes)
3. Bruno Delbonell (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)
4. Andrew Lesnie (The Lovely Bones)
5. Mauro Fiore (Avatar)

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

JANET PATTERSON (BRIGHT STAR)

2. Sandy Powell (The Young Victoria)
3. Jenny Beavan (Sherlock Holmes)
4. Tim Yip (Red Cliff)
5. Consolata Boyle (Cheri)

BEST MAKEUP

STAR TREK

2. Zombieland
3. Dead Snow

BEST SCORE

BRUNO COULAIS (CORALINE)

2. Alexandre Desplat (Fantastic Mr. Fox)
3. James Horner (Avatar)
4. Bruno Coulais (The Secret of Kells)
5. Michael Giacchino (Star Trek)

BEST SONG

"ALL IS LOVE" (WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE)

2. "Ponyo" (Ponyo)
3. "Aisling's Song" (The Secret of Kells)
4. "Cinema Italiano" (Nine)
5. "I See You" (Avatar)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

AVATAR

2. Star Trek
3. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
4. Where the Wild Things Are
5. The Lovely Bones

BEST ENSEMBLE

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

2. The Boat that Rocked
3. An Education
4. Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
5. In the Loop

BEST CAMEO PERFORMANCE

BILL MURRAY (ZOMBIELAND)

2. J.K. Simmons (Up in the Air)
3. Emma Thompson (The Boat that Rocked)

Coming Soon on Film-Otaku

2010-03-08T02:33:00.000-08:00

With another Oscar year over, it's time to move on. Predicting nominees has always been much more fun than predicting winners.

Coming soon (sooner than would seem normal, in the third case haha) on this blog:

My 50 Favorite Films of the Past Decade (2000-2009)

Film-Otaku Awards 2009

Predictions on the 83rd Academy Awards

Winners of the 82nd Academy Awards

2010-03-08T02:09:00.000-08:00

MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR

The Hurt Locker

Predicted: Inglourious Basterds. The safest best. I just had to change my bet at the last minute to Basterds, thinking the preferential voting would benefit it. Oh well. I loved Avatar and wanted it to win, but while I still believe that it deserved to win, I'm happy for Locker and the people involved.

ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING

Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)

First female winner of this category EVER. Very deserving, though James Cameron's achievements with Avatar are still mind-blowing and should have been rewarded more.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)

He finally wins after the fifth nod. Can't say I was crazy about the performance (and as I still haven't seen A Single Man, can't say it's the best either), but the voters could have done much worse. He's a terrific actor.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side)

Up until the last minute, I was still rooting for Meryl Streep, but there was no denying Sandra Bullock's momentum. Blah. Love her and the speech and the fact that she now has an Oscar, but over those other four? America's sweetheart indeed.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)

The most deserving of the five by a mile.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Mo'Nique (Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire)

Ditto here. Love her speech. It should never be about the campaigning!

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker)

Predicted: Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds). Tarantino's support within the Academy was not enough to have his creative script win over Boal's intense screenplay.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Geoffrey Fletcher (Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire)

Predicted: Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner (Up in the Air). One of the biggest upsets of the night. Not really happy with the result here, as Up in the Air is easily the superior film.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Pete Docter (Up)

Duh. Though while I was watching the clips of the nominees (and the "interviews" with the leads), I found myself wondering what Princess and the Frog was doing lumped with all those excellent films.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

The Cove

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Argentina (El Secreto de Sus Ojos)

Less of a surprise than generally thought, as the film has been getting rave reviews and buzz.

ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION

Avatar

ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY

Mauro Fiore (Avatar)

Predicted: Barry Ackroyd (The Hurt Locker). I'm happy that I'm wrong. Fiore deserves it.

ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN

Sandy Powell (The Young Victoria)

How utterly predictable. I wish Janet Patterson had won.

ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM EDITING

Bob Murawski, Chris Innis (The Hurt Locker)

Predicted: John Refoua, Stephen Rivkin (Avatar). Come on. They should have given this to the Avatar team. Respect.

ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP

Star Trek

ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)

Michael Giacchino (Up)

I realized how great this score is when the nominees were being played.

ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)

"The Weary Kind" (Crazy Heart)

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING

The Hurt Locker

Predicted: Avatar. This stings.

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND MIXING

The Hurt Locker

Predicted: Avatar. Again.

ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS

Avatar

BEST DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT)

"Music by Prudence"

Predicted: "China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province"

SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)

"Logorama"

Predicted: "A Matter of Loaf and Death"

SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION)

"The New Tenants"

Predicted: "The Door"

Score: 14/24. As usual, the shorts got me. The major categories were much more easily predictable.

Who I Think Would Make a Great Captain America

2010-03-02T18:55:00.000-08:00

The powers-that-be have yet to announce who they'll be casting as the iconic titular character in The First Avenger: Captain America, with names such as Chace Crawford (too pretty?) and John Krasinski (umm...nope) popping out. At the earliest stages of speculation, when Brad Pitt's name was being tossed around as the ideal Thor, Leonardo DiCaprio was being mentioned for this role. Leo's my favorite actor, so I wouldn't mind if it came to that, but I don't think they'll go that way.

There's another actor, recently surging in popularity and Oscar-nominated to boot, that I believe would be a very good Captain America. He's American (as the character's actor should be), a good actor, and he starred in an action movie with American sentiments (just something called The Hurt Locker). He's being rumored to be Hawkeye in the Avengers movie, but I'm thinking that might be a decoy...

JEREMY RENNER

And who else to play Nazi villain Red Skull but Christoph Waltz?

Final Oscar Predictions on Friday

2010-03-02T17:48:00.000-08:00

At this point, The Hurt Locker still has the momentum (e-mail brouhaha and all), but any of the other big three (Avatar, Inglourious Basterds, Up in the Air) can still take it. It hasn't won anything recently, but I'm beginning to suspect a Basterds "upset." Hmm...

Winners of the 2010 BAFTA Awards

2010-02-22T14:33:00.000-08:00

Best Film
The Hurt Locker

Outstanding British Film
Fish Tank

Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

Best Actor
Colin Firth, A Single Man

Best Actress
Carey Mulligan, An Education

Best Supporting Actor
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actress
Mo’Nique, Precious

Best Original Screenplay
The Hurt Locker

Best Adapted Screenplay
Up in the Air

Best Film Not in the English Language
A Prophet

Best Animated Film
Up

Best Cinematography
The Hurt Locker

Best Art Direction
Avatar

Best Costume Design
The Young Victoria

Best Film Editing
The Hurt Locker

Best Makeup & Hair
The Young Victoria

Best Music
Up

Best Sound
The Hurt Locker

Best Visual Effects
Avatar

Best Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer
Duncan Jones (director), Moon

Orange Rising Star Award
Kristen Stewart

The Last Airbender

2010-02-05T21:03:00.000-08:00

Nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards

2010-02-02T20:31:00.001-08:00

THE NOMINEES:

MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR
Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air

Prediction result: 8/10. Predicted (500) Days of Summer and Invictus instead of and The Blind Side and A Serious Man. Blind Side, seriously? But I should have foreseen it, given the box office heat. Didn't think enough voters would like A Serious Man but the Academy loves the Coens.

ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING

James Cameron (Avatar)
Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)
Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds)
Lee Daniels (Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire)
Jason Reitman (Up in the Air)

Prediction result: 5/5.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)
George Clooney (Up in the Air)
Colin Firth (A Single Man)
Morgan Freeman (Invictus)
Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker)

Prediction result: 5/5.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side)
Helen Mirren (The Last Station)
Carey Mulligan (An Education)
Gabourey Sidibe (Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire)
Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia)

Prediction result: 5/5.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Matt Damon (Invictus)
Woody Harrelson (The Messenger)
Christopher Plummer (The Last Station)
Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones)
Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)

Prediction result: 5/5. How boring. I was hoping Alfred Molina or someone else would sneak past Damon. Oh well.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Penelope Cruz (Nine)
Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air)
Maggie Gyllenhaal (Crazy Heart)
Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air)
Mo'Nique (Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire)

Prediction result: 3/5. Predicted Melanie Laurent and Julianne Moore instead of Cruz and Gyllenhaal. This was always the least predictable category.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker)
Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds)
Alessandro Camon, Oren Moverman (The Messenger)
Joel Coen, Ethan Coen (A Serious Man)
Bob Peterson, Pete Docter (Up)

Prediction result: 3/5. Predicted Avatar and (500) Days of Summer instead of The Messenger and Up. Bummed about the Summer snub, but not so surprised about the one for Avatar.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell (District 9)
Nick Hornby (An Education)
Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche (In the Loop)
Geoffrey Fletcher (Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire)
Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner (Up in the Air)

Prediction result: 4/5. Predicted Fantastic Mr. Fox instead of In the Loop. The latter was really funny, but I loved the Fox screenplay much more.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Henry Selick (Coraline)
Wes Anderson (Fantastic Mr. Fox)
Ron Clements, John Musker (The Princess and the Frog)
Tomm Moore (The Secret of Kells)
Pete Docter (Up)

Prediction result: 4/5. Predicted Ponyo instead of The Secret of Kells. Didn't love Miyazaki's latest, so I'm not really surprised about the snub. But I was expecting Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs to upset. Who predicted Secret?

BEST DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE)

Burma VJ
The Cove
Food, Inc.
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers
Which Way Home

Prediction result: 3/5. Predicted Beaches of Agnes and Mugabe and the White African instead of The Most Dangerous Man and Which Way Home. I generally guess this category, but the snub for Beaches is rather surprising.

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Argentina (El Secreto de Sus Ojos)
France (Un Prophete)
Germany (The White Ribbon)
Israel (Ajami)
Peru (The Milk of Sorrow)

Prediction result: 3/5. Predicted Bulgaria and Netherlands instead of Argentina and Peru. Had a hunch about Milk of Sorrow; should have stuck with it.

ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION

Avatar
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Nine
Sherlock Holmes
The Young Victoria

Prediction result: 2/5. Got only Avatar and Sherlock Holmes correct.

ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY

Mauro Fiore (Avatar)
Bruno Delbonnel (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)
Barry Ackroyd (The Hurt Locker)
Robert Richardson (Inglourious Basterds)
Christian Berger (The White Ribbon)

Prediction result: 4/5. Predicted Nine instead of The White Ribbon.

ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN

Janet Patterson (Bright Star)
Catherine Leterrier (Coco Avant Chanel)
Monique Prudhomme (The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus)
Colleen Atwood (Nine)
Sandy Powell (The Young Victoria)

Prediction result: 4/5. Predicted Cheri instead of Imaginarium.

ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM EDITING

John Refoua, Stephen Rivkin (Avatar)
Julian Clarke (District 9)
Chris Innis, Bob Murawski (The Hurt Locker)
Sally Menke (Inglourious Basterds)
Joe Klotz (Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire)

Prediction result: 4/5. Predicted Up in the Air instead of Precious.

ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP

Il Divo
Star Trek
The Young Victoria

Prediction result: 1/3. Predicted District 9 and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus instead of Il Divo and The Young Victoria.

ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)

James Horner (Avatar)
Alexandre Desplat (Fantastic Mr. Fox)
Marco Beltrami, Buck Sanders (The Hurt Locker)
Hans Zimmer (Sherlock Holmes)
Michael Giacchino (Up)

Prediction result: 3/5. Predicted Coraline and The Informant! instead of The Hurt Locker and Sherlock Holmes. Reminds me how interesting the score for Holmes is.

ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)

"Almost There" (The Princess and the Frog)
"Down in New Orleans" (The Princess and the Frog)
"Loin de Paname" (Paris 36)
"Take It All" (Nine)
"The Weary Kind" (Crazy Heart)

Prediction result: 3/5. Predicted "I Can See in Color" and "I See You" instead of "Down in New Orleans" and "Loin de Paname." Who saw the latter coming?

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING

Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Star Trek
Up

Prediction result: 3/5. Predicted Transformers and 2012 instead of The Hurt Locker and Inglourious Basterds.

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND MIXING

Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Star Trek
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Prediction result: 2/5. Got only Avatar and The Hurt Locker right.

ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS

Avatar
District 9
Star Trek

Prediction result: 3/3.

TOTAL: 77/106.

BEST DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT)

"China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province"
"The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner"
"The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant"
"Music by Prudence"
"Rabbit a la Berlin"

SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)

"French Roast"
"Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty"
"The Lady and the Reaper" ("La Dama y la Muerte")
"Logorama"
"A Matter of Loaf and Death"

SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION)

"The Door"
"Instead of Abracadabra"
"Kavi"
"Miracle Fish"
"The New Tenants"

Winners of the 21st PGA Awards

2010-01-24T20:04:00.000-08:00

BEST PICTURE
The Hurt Locker

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Up

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
The Cove

Winners of the 16th SAG Awards

2010-01-24T17:04:00.000-08:00

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Inglourious Basterds

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Mo’Nique, Precious

Nominees for 2010 BAFTA Film Awards

2010-01-21T01:07:00.000-08:00

Best Film
“Avatar”
“An Education”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Precious”
“Up in the Air”

Outstanding British Film
“An Education”
“Fish Tank”
“In the Loop”
“Moon”
“Nowhere Boy”

Best Director
James Cameron, “Avatar”
Neill Blomkamp, “District 9”
Lone Scherfig, “An Education”
Kathryn Bigelow, “The Hurt Locker”
Quentin Tarantino, “Inglourious Basterds”

Best Actor
Jeff Bridges, “Crazy Heart”
George Clooney, “Up in the Air”
Colin Firth, “A Single Man”
Jeremy Renner, “The Hurt Locker”
Andy Serkis, “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll”

Best Actress
Carey Mulligan, “An Education”
Saoirse Ronan, “The Lovely Bones”
Gabourey Sidibe, “Precious”
Meryl Streep, “Julie & Julia”
Audrey Tautou, “Coco Before Chanel”

Best Supporting Actor
Alec Baldwin, “It’s Complicated”
Christian McKay, “Me and Orson Welles”
Alfred Molina, “An Education”
Stanley Tucci, “The Lovely Bones”
Christoph Waltz, “Inglourious Basterds”

Best Supporting Actress
Anne-Marie Duff, “Nowhere Boy”
Vera Farmiga, “Up in the Air”
Anna Kendrick, “Up in the Air”
Mo’Nique, “Precious”
Kristin Scott Thomas, “Nowhere Boy”

Best Original Screenplay
“The Hangover”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“A Serious Man”
“Up”

Best Adapted Screenplay
“District 9”
“An Education”
“In the Loop”
“Precious”
“Up in the Air”

Best Film Not in the English Language
“Broken Embraces”
“Coco Before Chanel”
“Let the Right One In”
“A Prophet”
“The White Ribbon”

Best Animated Film
“Coraline”
“Fantastic Mr. Fox”
“Up”

Best Cinematography
“Avatar”
“District 9”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“The Road”

Best Art Direction
“Avatar”
“District 9”
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”
“Inglourious Basterds”

Best Costume Design
“Bright Star”
“Coco Before Chanel”
“An Education”
“A Single Man”
“The Young Victoria”

Best Film Editing
“Avatar”
“District 9”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“Up in the Air”

Best Makeup & Hair
“Coco Before Chanel”
“An Education”
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”
“Nine”
“The Young Victoria”

Best Music
“Avatar”
“Crazy Heart”
“Fantastic Mr. Fox”
“Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll”
“Up”

Best Sound
“Avatar”
“District 9”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Star Trek”
“Up”

Best Visual Effects
“Avatar”
“District 9”
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Star Trek”

Best Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer
Stuart Hazeldine (writer/director), “Exam”
Duncan Jones (director), “Moon”
Lucy Bailey, Andrew Thompson, Elizabeth Morgan Hemlock and David Pearson (directors and producers), “Mugabe and the White African”
Sam Taylor-Wood (director), “Nowhere Boy”
Eran Creevy (writer/director), “Shifty”

Orange Rising Star Award
Jesse Eisenberg
Nicholas Hoult
Carey Mulligan
Tahar Rahim
Kristen Stewart

Winners of the 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards

2010-01-17T22:50:00.000-08:00

FILM

BEST FEATURE - DRAMA
"Avatar"

BEST FEATURE - COMEDY

"The Hangover"

ACTOR - DRAMA
Jeff Bridges - "Crazy Heart"

ACTRESS - DRAMA

Sandra Bullock - "The Blind Side"

ACTOR - COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Robert Downey Jr. - "Sherlock Holmes"

ACTRESS - COMEDY OR MUSICAL

Meryl Streep - "Julie & Julia"

DIRECTOR - MOTION PICTURE

James Cameron - "Avatar"

SUPPORTING ACTOR

Christoph Waltz - "Inglourious Basterds"

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Mo'Nique - "Precious"

SCREENPLAY - MOTION PICTURE

Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner - "Up in the Air"

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

"The White Ribbon" (Germany) - Wega Films; Sony Pictures Classics

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

"Up"

BEST SCORE

Michael Giacchino - "Up"

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

"The Weary Kind" from "Crazy Heart" - Music & Lyrics by: Ryan Bingham, T Bone Burnett

TELEVISION

TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA

"Mad Men"

TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL

"Glee"

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA

Michael C. Hall - "Dexter"

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA

Julianna Margulies - "The Good Wife"

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Toni Collette - "United States of Tara"

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Alec Baldwin - "30 Rock"

MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

"Grey Gardens"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Kevin Bacon - "Taking Chance"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Drew Barrymore - "Grey Gardens"

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Chloe Sevigny - "Big Love"

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

John Lithgow - "Dexter"

Winners of the 15th Critics Choice Movie Awards

2010-01-16T01:16:00.000-08:00

BEST PICTURE

The Hurt Locker

BEST ACTOR

Jeff Bridges – “Crazy Heart”

BEST ACTRESS

Sandra Bullock – “The Blind Side” AND
Meryl Streep – “Julie & Julia”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Christoph Waltz – “Inglourious Basterds”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Mo’Nique – “Precious”

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS

Saoirse Ronan – “The Lovely Bones”

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE

Inglourious Basterds

BEST DIRECTING

Kathryn Bigelow – “The Hurt Locker”

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Quentin Tarantino – “Inglourious Basterds”

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner – “Up in the Air”

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Mauro Fiore – “Avatar”

BEST ART DIRECTION

Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg – “Avatar”

BEST EDITING

Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua, James Cameron – “Avatar”

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Sandy Powell – “The Young Victoria”

BEST MAKEUP

District 9

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Avatar

BEST SOUND

Avatar

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Up

BEST ACTION MOVIE

Avatar

BEST COMEDY

The Hangover

BEST PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Grey Gardens

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Broken Embraces

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

The Cove

BEST SONG

The Weary Kind” – T Bone Burnett, Ryan Bingham – “Crazy Heart”

BEST SCORE

Michael Giacchino – “Up”

Nominees for 60th ACE Eddie Awards

2010-01-11T22:50:00.000-08:00

DRAMA
Avatar
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Star Trek
Up in the Air

COMEDY/MUSICAL
(500) Days of Summer
The Hangover
It's Complicated
Julie & Julia
A Serious Man

ANIMATED
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Up

Nominees for 24th ASC Awards

2010-01-11T16:18:00.000-08:00

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT, FEATURE FILM
Barry Ackroyd, The Hurt Locker
Dion Beebe, Nine
Christian Berger, The White Ribbon
Mauro Fiore, Avatar
Robert Richardson, Inglourious Basterds

Nominees for 2010 WGA Awards

2010-01-11T16:15:00.000-08:00

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

(500) Days of Summer, Written by Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber; Fox Searchlight

Avatar, Written by James Cameron; 20th Century Fox

The Hangover, Written by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore; Warner Bros.

The Hurt Locker, Written by Mark Boal; Summit Entertainment

A Serious Man, Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen; Focus Features

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Crazy Heart, Screenplay by Scott Cooper; Based on the novel by Thomas Cobb; Fox Searchlight

Julie & Julia, Screenplay by Nora Ephron; Based on the books Julie & Julia by Julie Powell and My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme; Sony Pictures

Precious: Based on the novel Push by Sapphire, Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher; Based on the novel Push by Sapphire; Lionsgate

Star Trek, Written by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman; Based upon Star Trek, Created by Gene Roddenberry; Paramount Pictures

Up in the Air, Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner; Based upon the novel by Walter Kirn; Paramount Pictures

DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY

Against the Tide, Screenplay by Richard Trank; Moriah Films

Capitalism: A Love Story, Written by Michael Moore; Overture Films

The Cove, Written by Mark Monroe; Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions

Earth Days, Written by Robert Stone; Zeitgeist Films

Good Hair, Written by Chris Rock & Jeff Stilson and Lance Crouther and Chuck Sklar; Roadside Attractions

Soundtrack for a Revolution, Written by Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman; Freedom Song Productions and Louverture Films

Nominees for 14th ADG Awards

2010-01-08T18:12:00.000-08:00

PERIOD FILM
A Serious Man
Inglourious Basterds
Julie & Julia
Public Enemies
Sherlock Holmes

FANTASY FILM
Avatar
District 9
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Star Trek
Where the Wild Things Are

CONTEMPORARY FILM
Angels & Demons
The Hangover
The Hurt Locker
The Lovely Bones
Up in the Air

Nominees for 62nd DGA Awards

2010-01-07T16:48:00.000-08:00

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN FEATURE FILM
Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)
James Cameron (Avatar)
Lee Daniels (Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire)
Jason Reitman (Up in the Air)
Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds)

FYC

2010-01-06T00:40:00.000-08:00

ZOE SALDANA (AVATAR) FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Nominees for 21st PGA Awards

2010-01-06T00:32:00.000-08:00

BEST PICTURE
Avatar
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Invictus
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Star Trek
Up
Up in the Air

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
9
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
Up

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Burma VJ
The Cove
Sergio
Soundtrack for a Revolution

Nominees for 16th SAG Awards

2009-12-17T19:14:00.000-08:00

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Nine
Precious

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabby Sidibe, Precious
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Diane Kruger, Inglourious Basterds
Mo’Nique, Precious

Nominees for 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards

2009-12-15T16:59:00.000-08:00

FILM

BEST FEATURE - DRAMA
"Avatar"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Precious"
"Up in the Air"

BEST FEATURE - COMEDY
"(500) Days of Summer"
"The Hangover"
"It's Complicated"
"Julie & Julia"
"Nine"

ACTOR - DRAMA
Jeff Bridges - "Crazy Heart"
George Clooney - "Up in the Air"
Colin Firth - "A Single Man"
Morgan Freeman - "Invictus"
Tobey Maguire - "Brothers"

ACTRESS - DRAMA
Emily Blunt - "The Young Victoria"
Sandra Bullock - "The Blind Side"
Helen Mirren - "The Last Station"
Carey Mulligan - "An Education"
Gabourey Sidibe - "Precious"

ACTOR - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Matt Damon - "The Informant!"
Daniel Day-Lewis - "Nine"
Robert Downey Jr. - "Sherlock Holmes"
Joseph Gordon-Levitt - "500 Days of Summer"
Michael Stuhlbarg - "A Serious Man"

ACTRESS - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Sandra Bullock - "The Proposal"
Marion Cotillard - "Nine"
Julia Roberts - "Duplicity"
Meryl Streep - "It's Complicated"
Meryl Streep - "Julie & Julia"

DIRECTOR - MOTION PICTURE
Kathryn Bigelow - "The Hurt Locker"
James Cameron - "Avatar"
Clint Eastwood - "Invictus"
Jason Reitman - "Up in the Air"
Quentin Tarantino - "Inglourious Basterds"

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Matt Damon - "Invictus"
Woody Harrelson - "The Messenger"
Christopher Plummer - "The Last Station"
Stanley Tucci - "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz - "Inglourious Basterds"

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz - "Nine"
Vera Farmiga - "Up in the Air"
Anna Kendrick - "Up in the Air"
Mo'Nique - "Precious"
Julianne Moore - "A Single Man"

SCREENPLAY - MOTION PICTURE
Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell - "District 9"
Mark Boal - "The Hurt Locker"
Nancy Meyers - "It's Complicated"
Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner - "Up in the Air"
Quentin Tarantino - "Inglourious Basterds"

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
"Baaria" (Italy) - Medusa Film; Summit Entertainment
"Broken Embraces" (Spain) - El Deseo SA; Sony Pictures Classics
"The Maid" (Chile) - Forastero; Elephant Eye Films
"A Prophet" (France) - Chic Films; Sony Pictures Classics
"The White Ribbon" (Germany) - Wega Films; Sony Pictures Classics

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
"Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs"
"Coraline"
"Fantastic Mr. Fox"
"The Princess and the Frog"
"Up"

BEST SCORE
Michael Giacchino - "Up"
Marvin Hamlisch - "The Informant!"
James Horner - "Avatar"
Abel Korzeniowski - "A Single Man"
Karen O, Carter Burwell - "Where The Wild Things Are"

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Cinema Italiano" from "Nine" - Music & Lyrics by: Maury Yeston
"I Want to Come Home" from "Everybody's Fine" - Music & Lyrics by: Paul McCartney
"I Will See You" from "Avatar" - Music by: James Horner, Simon Franglen; Lyrics by: James Horner, Simon Franglen, Kuk Harrell
"The Weary Kind" from "Crazy Heart" - Music & Lyrics by: Ryan Bingham, T Bone Burnett
"Winter" from "Brothers" - Music by: U2; Lyrics by: Bono

TELEVISION

TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
"Big Love"
"Dexter"
"House"
"Mad Men"
"True Blood"

TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
"30 Rock"
"Entourage"
"Glee"
"Modern Family"
"The Office"

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
Simon Baker - "The Mentalist"
Michael C. Hall - "Dexter"
Jon Hamm - "Mad Men"
Hugh Laurie - "House"
Bill Paxton - "Big Love"

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
Glenn Close - "Damages"
January Jones - "Mad Men"
Julianna Margulies - "The Good Wife"
Anna Paquin - "True Blood"
Kyra Sedgwick - "The Closer"

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Toni Collette - "United States of Tara"
Courteney Cox - "Cougar Town"
Edie Falco - "Nurse Jackie"
Tina Fey - "30 Rock"
Lea Michele - "Glee"

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Alec Baldwin - "30 Rock"
Steve Carell - "The Office"
David Duchovny - "Californication"
Thomas Jane - "Hung"
Matthew Morrison - "Glee"

MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
"Georgia O'Keeffe"
"Grey Gardens"
"Into the Storm"
"Little Dorrit"
"Taking Chance"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Kevin Bacon - "Taking Chance"
Kenneth Branagh - "Wallander: One Step Behind"
Chiwetel Ejiofor - "Endgame"
Brendan Gleeson - "Into The Storm"
Jeremy Irons - "Georgia O'Keeffe"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Joan Allen - "Georgia O'Keeffe"
Drew Barrymore - "Grey Gardens"
Jessica Lange - "Grey Gardens"
Anna Paquin - "The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler"
Sigourney Weaver - "Prayers for Bobby"

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jane Adams - "Hung"
Rose Byrne - "Damages"
Jane Lynch - "Glee"
Janet McTeer - "Into The Storm"
Chloe Sevigny - "Big Love"

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Michael Emerson - "Lost"
Neil Patrick Harris - "How I Met Your Mother"
William Hurt - "Damages"
John Lithgow - "Dexter"
Jeremy Piven - "Entourage"

Source

Nominees for 15th Critics Choice Movie Awards

2009-12-14T16:21:00.000-08:00

BEST PICTURE

Avatar
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Invictus
Nine
Precious
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air

BEST ACTOR

Jeff Bridges – “Crazy Heart”
George Clooney – “Up in the Air”
Colin Firth – “A Single Man”
Morgan Freeman – “Invictus”
Viggo Mortensen – “The Road”
Jeremy Renner – “The Hurt Locker”

BEST ACTRESS

Emily Blunt – “The Young Victoria”
Sandra Bullock – “The Blind Side”
Carey Mulligan – “An Education”
Saoirse Ronan – “The Lovely Bones”
Gabourey Sidibe – “Precious”
Meryl Streep – “Julie & Julia”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Matt Damon – “Invictus”
Woody Harrelson – “The Messenger”
Christian McKay – “Me and Orson Welles”
Alfred Molina – “An Education”
Stanley Tucci – “The Lovely Bones”
Christoph Waltz – “Inglourious Basterds”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Marion Cotillard – “Nine”
Vera Farmiga – “Up in the Air”
Anna Kendrick – “Up in the Air”
Mo’Nique – “Precious”
Julianne Moore – “A Single Man”
Samantha Morton – “The Messenger”

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS

Jae Head – “The Blind Side”
Bailee Madison – “Brothers”
Max Records – “Where the Wild Things Are”
Saoirse Ronan – “The Lovely Bones”
Kodi Smit-McPhee – “The Road”

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE

Inglourious Basterds
Nine
Precious
Star Trek
Up in the Air

BEST DIRECTING

Kathryn Bigelow – “The Hurt Locker”
James Cameron – “Avatar”
Lee Daniels – “Precious”
Clint Eastwood – “Invictus”
Jason Reitman – “Up in the Air”
Quentin Tarantino – “Inglourious Basterds”

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Mark Boal – “The Hurt Locker”
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen – “A Serious Man”
Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber – “(500) Days Of Summer”
Bob Peterson, Peter Docter – “Up”
Quentin Tarantino – “Inglourious Basterds”

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Wes Anderson, Noah Baumbach – “Fantastic Mr. Fox”
Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell – “District 9”
Geoffrey Fletcher – “Precious”
Tom Ford, David Scearce – “A Single Man”
Nick Hornby – “An Education”
Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner – “Up in the Air”

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Barry Ackroyd – “The Hurt Locker”
Dion Beebe – “Nine”
Mauro Fiore – “Avatar”
Andrew Lesnie – “The Lovely Bones”
Robert Richardson – “Inglourious Basterds”

BEST ART DIRECTION

Dan Bishop – “A Single Man”
Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg – “Avatar”
John Myhre, Gordon Sim – “Nine”
Naomi Shohan, George De Titta Jr. – “The Lovely Bones”
David Wasco, Sandy Reynolds Wasco – “Inglourious Basterds”

BEST EDITING

Dana E. Glauberman – “Up in the Air”
Sally Menke – “Inglourious Basterds”
Bob Murawski, Chris Innis – “The Hurt Locker”
Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua, James Cameron – “Avatar”
Claire Simpson, Wyatt Smith – “Nine”

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Colleen Atwood – “Nine”
Janet Patterson – “Bright Star”
Sandy Powell – “The Young Victoria”
Anna Sheppard – “Inglourious Basterds”
Casey Storm – “Where the Wild Things Are”

BEST MAKEUP

Avatar
District 9
Nine
The Road
Star Trek

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Avatar
District 9
The Lovely Bones
Star Trek
2012

BEST SOUND

Avatar
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Nine
Star Trek

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
Up

BEST ACTION MOVIE

Avatar
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Star Trek

BEST COMEDY

(500) Days of Summer
The Hangover
It’s Complicated
The Proposal
Zombieland

BEST PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Gifted Hands
Grey Gardens
Into the Storm
Taking Chance

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Broken Embraces
Coco Before Chanel
Red Cliff
Sin Nombre
The White Ribbon

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Anvil
Capitalism: A Love Story
The Cove
Food, Inc.
Michael Jackson’s This Is It

BEST SONG

“All Is Love” – Karen O, Nick Zinner – “Where the Wild Things Are”
“Almost There” – Randy Newman – “The Princess and the Frog”
“Cinema Italiano” – Maury Yeston – “Nine”
“(I Want to) Come Home” – Paul McCartney – “Everybody’s Fine”
“The Weary Kind” – T Bone Burnett, Ryan Bingham – “Crazy Heart”

BEST SCORE

Michael Giacchino – “Up”
Marvin Hamlisch – “The Informant!”
Randy Newman – “The Princess and the Frog”
Karen O, Carter Burwell – “Where the Wild Things Are”
Hans Zimmer – “Sherlock Holmes”

Fantastic Mr. Fox and Avatar

2009-12-11T02:20:00.000-08:00

Two prestige films have managed to sneak into Philippine cinemas before the annual Metro Manila Crap Fest. Fantastic Mr. Fox by Wes Anderson, based on the novel by Roald Dahl, is already showing in Glorietta, Greenbelt, and Trinoma, and I saw it yesterday. It is, indeed, fantastic. If you've seen a Wes Anderson film (The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou), you know what type of quirky zaniness to expect. Except this one's with foxes. And opossums, and badgers, and rats, and more...and the occasional human. I loved it. My only beef with it is that they capitalized the first letter of the species epithet in the scientific names of the animals, but that's just the biologist in me talking. The film-otaku is crazy for it. This is definitely a banner year for animation, with Coraline being another amazing offering this year and Up, Astro Boy, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and Ponyo all being films playing on varying levels of "great."

James Cameron's Avatar will start showing on 17 December. I absolutely CANNOT wait to see it. Since hearing some three years ago about how revolutionary a film it's going to be, I've been eagerly awaiting it. Now more than a few critics have seen it, and they're raving about it. Of all the ones I've seen, here's my favorite (from awards-watcher Kristopher Tapley of InContention.com, so it has a bit of an awards bent, but he's also more of a regular movie-goer like us than the Siskels and Eberts):

"The embargo on Avatar has been essentially lifted by Fox so I could go on at length about how I could sit through it over…and over…and over again. Anne and I will dig in properly in tomorrow’s Oscar Talk and I’m sure I’ll have a review at some point, maybe Monday. But a few things…

"The visual effects race, if you couldn’t guess already, is over and done with. In all likelihood, the sound races as well. And there is a compelling argument to be made for the film editing as well. But that’s the expected tech bliss the film delivers.

"Wait, let me not undersell that. This is the most amazing cinematic experience I’ve ever had. There are, admittedly, story elements that give one pause. The film isn’t total perfection (though I’d argue this is a very mature, thematically beautiful screenplay from James Cameron). The filmmaker can’t help himself in a number of instances that are too on the nose.

"But so what? Seriously. This is why we all go into dark rooms to be transported to other worlds. Cameron gets it. And he delivers. A thousand times over. It’s the kind of film you want to take any and everyone with you to see. Not to be too cheesy — it is absolute magic."

So I'm gonna line up for it on IMAX and would like to have as many people as possible watching it with me.

Teaser for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

2009-12-06T17:27:00.001-08:00

Bonus Bluray of Deathly Hallows
Uploaded by AmEnPe. - Watch feature films and entire TV shows.

National Board of Review 2009

2009-12-03T17:39:00.000-08:00

Best Film:
Up In The Air

Top Eleven Films (In alphabetical order):
An Education
(500) Days Of Summer
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Invictus
The Messenger
A Serious Man
Star Trek
Up
Up In The Air
Where The Wild Things Are

Best Director:
Clint Eastwood, Invictus

Best Actor:
Morgan Freeman, Invictus and George Clooney, Up In The Air (tie)

Best Actress:
Carey Mulligan, An Education

Best Supporting Actor:
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger

Best Supporting Actress:
Anna Kendrick, Up In The Air

Best Foreign Film:
A Prophet

Best Documentary:
The Cove

Best Animated Feature:
Up

Best Ensemble Cast:
It’s Complicated

Breakthrough Performance by an Actor:
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

Breakthrough Performance by an Actress:
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious

Spotlight Award for Best Directorial Debut:
Duncan Jones, Moon, Oren Moverman,
The Messenger and Marc Webb, (500) Days of Summer (tie)

Best Original Screenplay:
Joel & Ethan Coen, A Serious Man

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Up In The Air

Special Filmmaking Achievement Award:
Wes Anderson, The Fantastic Mr. Fox

William K. Everson Film History Award:
Jean Picker Firstenberg

NBR Freedom of Expression:
Burma Vj: Reporting From A Closed Country,
Invictus,
The Most Dangerous Man In America: Daniel Ellseberg And The Pentagon Papers

Top Ten Independent Films (In alphabetical order):
Amreeka
District 9
Goodbye Solo
Humpday
In The Loop
Julia
Me And Orson Welles
Moon
Sugar
Two Lovers

Top Six Foreign Films (In alphabetical order):
The Maid
A Prophet
Revanche
Song Of Sparrows
Three Monkeys
The White Ribbon

Top Six Documentary Films (In alphabetical order):
Burma Vj: Reporting From A Closed Country
The Cove
Crude
Food, Inc.
Good Hair
The Most Dangerous Man In America: Daniel Ellsberg And The Pentagon Papers

Updates to Oscar Predictions Coming Soon

2009-11-24T02:14:00.000-08:00

15 Documentary Features Shortlisted

2009-11-19T00:24:00.000-08:00

Beverly Hills, CA (November 18, 2009) — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 15 films in the Documentary Feature category will advance in the voting process for the 82nd Academy Awards®. Eighty-nine pictures had originally qualified in the category.

The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production company:

“The Beaches of Agnes,” Agnès Varda, director (Cine-Tamaris)
“Burma VJ,” Anders Østergaard, director (Magic Hour Films)
“The Cove,” Louie Psihoyos, director (Oceanic Preservation Society)
“Every Little Step,” James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo, directors (Endgame Entertainment)
“Facing Ali,” Pete McCormack, director (Network Films Inc.)
“Food, Inc.,” Robert Kenner, director (Robert Kenner Films)
“Garbage Dreams,” Mai Iskander, director (Iskander Films, Inc.)
“Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders,” Mark N. Hopkins, director (Red Floor Pictures LLC)
“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers,” Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith, directors (Kovno Communications)
“Mugabe and the White African,” Andrew Thompson and Lucy Bailey, directors (Arturi Films Limited)
“Sergio,” Greg Barker, director (Passion Pictures and Silverbridge Productions)
“Soundtrack for a Revolution,” Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman, directors (Freedom Song Productions)
“Under Our Skin,” Andy Abrahams Wilson, director (Open Eye Pictures)
“Valentino The Last Emperor,” Matt Tyrnauer, director (Acolyte Films)
“Which Way Home,” Rebecca Cammisa, director (Mr. Mudd)

The Documentary Branch Screening Committee viewed all the eligible documentaries for the preliminary round of voting. Documentary Branch members will now select the five nominees from among the 15 titles on the shortlist.

The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2009 will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

Source

MakingOf.com Interview with Neustadter & Weber, Screenwriters of (500) Days of Summer

2009-11-19T00:16:00.000-08:00

http://makingof.com/happening_now/media/-500-days-of-summer/script-analysis-scott-neustadter-and-michael-weber/196/661

There Will Be Five

2009-11-11T22:35:00.000-08:00

The Academy has declared 20 animated features eligible for the Oscar in that category, four more than the number required for us to see five nominees in this banner year for animation. Hooray! Here's the press release:

Beverly Hills, CA (November 11, 2009) — Twenty features have been submitted for consideration in the Animated Feature Film category for the 82nd Academy Awards®.

The 20 submitted features are:

“Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel”
“Astro Boy”
“Battle for Terra”
“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”
“Coraline”
“Disney's A Christmas Carol”
“The Dolphin – Story of a Dreamer”
“Fantastic Mr. Fox”
“Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs”
“Mary and Max”
“The Missing Lynx”
“Monsters vs. Aliens”
“9”
“Planet 51”
“Ponyo”
“The Princess and the Frog”
“The Secret of Kells”
“Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure”
“A Town Called Panic”
“Up”

“Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel,” “The Dolphin – Story of a Dreamer,” “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” “Planet 51,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “The Secret of Kells” and “A Town Called Panic” have not yet had their required Los Angeles qualifying run. Submitted features must fulfill the theatrical release requirements and meet all of the category’s other qualifying rules before they can advance in the voting process.

Under the rules for this category, a maximum of 5 features can be nominated in a year in which the field of eligible entries numbers at least 16.

Films submitted in the Animated Feature Film category also may qualify for Academy Awards in other categories, including Best Picture, provided they meet the requirements for those categories.

The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Source

Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin to Host the 82nd Academy Awards

2009-11-03T22:39:00.000-08:00

Interesting choice. Reminds me of their SNL skits together. This could be really fun. Here's the press release:

Beverly Hills, CA (November 3, 2009) — Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will serve as co-hosts of the 82nd Academy Awards^®, Oscar telecast producers Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman announced today.

“We think the team of Steve and Alec are the perfect pair of hosts for the Oscars,” said Shankman and Mechanic. “Steve will bring the experience of having hosted the show in the past and Alec will be a completely fresh personality for this event.”

“I am happy to co-host the Oscars with my enemy Alec Baldwin,” said Martin.

“I don’t play the banjo but I’m thrilled to be hosting the Oscars – it’s the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Baldwin.

Martin hosted the 73rd and 75th Academy Awards shows, earning an Emmy nomination for the first stint. He has also served as a presenter on the show several times, most recently at the ceremony in February when he appeared with Tina Fey. He is currently touring with the bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers in support of his latest album “The Crow: New Songs for the Five String Banjo.” In 1977 and 1978 Martin won Grammys for Best Comedy Recording. He earned a third Grammy in 2001 in the Best Country Instrumental Performance category. In 2007 Martin earned a Kennedy Center Honor.

Baldwin was nominated for an Academy Award in 2003 for his supporting role in “The Cooler.” That year also marked his most recent appearance as a presenter on the show. Baldwin currently stars as Jack Donaghy on the comedy “30 Rock,” a role for which he has won two Emmys (in 2008 and 2009). Baldwin earned a Tony nomination in 1992 for his performance in “A Streetcar Named Desire.”

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2009 will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center^®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman to Produce Oscar Telecast

2009-10-21T16:14:00.000-07:00

Beverly Hills, CA (October 20, 2009) — Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman will produce the 82nd Academy Awards^® telecast, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak announced today. This will be the first major Oscar show involvement for both men.

“I couldn’t be happier to have this talented team on board,” said Sherak. “I’ve known Bill for many years so it’s like putting Oscar in the care of a dear friend. Bill has a tremendous love and respect of film and will draw from his vast experience as a producer, a studio executive and a film historian to help make this year’s Oscar telecast a memorable one. And Adam’s experience in producing, directing and especially choreography will be a huge asset to the production.”

“I’m thrilled to be producing the Oscars with Adam,” said Mechanic. “I think Adam has the perfect background and spirit to make the show both unique and fun to watch. Together we will build upon the best traditions from the great shows of the past while helping pave the way to the future.”

“The last time I was on the show was as a dancer, and to come back as a producer is such an unbelievable honor,” said Shankman. “I look forward to collaborating with Bill to celebrate the world’s collective love of movies and provide a fun escape from the difficult times we’re living in. Simply put, there is no show like the Oscars and I am thrilled to be a part of our industry’s most treasured tradition.”

Mechanic is the chairman and CEO of Pandemonium Films and the former chairman and CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment. While at Fox, the studio released titles including “True Lies” (1994), “Braveheart” (1995), “Titanic” (1997), “The Full Monty” (1997), “There’s Something About Mary” (1998), “Boys Don’t Cry” (1999) and “Cast Away” (2000) among many others. Prior to Fox, he served in executive positions at the Walt Disney Company and Paramount. Mechanic’s producer credits include this year’s animated feature “Coraline” and the thriller “Dark Water” (2005).

Shankman’s directorial credits include “Bedtime Stories” (2008), “Hairspray” (2007), “A Walk To Remember” (2002) and “The Wedding Planner” (2001). His upcoming projects include “Rock of Ages,” “Sinbad,” “Bob: The Musical” and “Bye Bye Birdie.” In addition to directing, Shankman, along with his sister, Jennifer Gibgot, produce films through their shingle, Offspring Entertainment. Together they are currently producing “The Last Song,” “Going The Distance” and “Step Up 3D,” all set for 2010 release.

source

65 Countries to Compete for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar

2009-10-21T16:11:00.000-07:00

Beverly Hills, CA (October 15, 2009) — Sixty-five countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 82nd Academy Awards®, Academy President Tom Sherak announced today. The 2009 submissions are:

Albania, “Alive!,” Artan Minarolli, director;
Argentina, “El Secreto de Sus Ojos,” Juan Jose Campanella, director;
Armenia, “Autumn of the Magician,” Rouben Kevorkov and Vaheh Kevorkov, directors;
Australia, “Samson & Delilah,” Warwick Thornton, director;
Austria, “For a Moment Freedom,” Arash T. Riahi, director;
Bangladesh, “Beyond the Circle,” Golam Rabbany Biplob, director;
Belgium, “The Misfortunates,” Felix van Groeningen, director;
Bolivia, “Zona Sur,” Juan Carlos Valdivia, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Nightguards,” Namik Kabil, director;
Brazil, “Time of Fear,” Sergio Rezende, director;
Bulgaria, “The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks around the Corner,” Stephan Komandarev, director;
Canada, “I Killed My Mother,” Xavier Dolan, director;
Chile, “Dawson, Isla 10,” Miguel Littin, director;
China, “Forever Enthralled,” Chen Kaige, director;
Colombia, “The Wind Journeys,” Ciro Guerra, director;
Croatia, “Donkey,” Antonio Nuic, director;
Cuba, “Fallen Gods,” Ernesto Daranas, director;
Czech Republic, “Protektor,” Marek Najbrt, director;
Denmark, “Terribly Happy,” Henrik Ruben Genz, director;
Estonia, “December Heat,” Asko Kase, director;
Finland, “Letters to Father Jacob,” Klaus Haro, director;
France, “Un Prophete,” Jacques Audiard, director;
Georgia, “The Other Bank,” George Ovashvili, director;
Germany, “The White Ribbon,” Michael Haneke, director;
Greece, “Slaves in Their Bonds,” Tony Lykouressis, director;
Hong Kong, “Prince of Tears,” Yonfan, director;
Hungary, “Chameleon,” Krisztina Goda, director;
Iceland, “Reykjavik-Rotterdam,” Oskar Jonasson, director;
India, “Harishchandrachi Factory,” Paresh Mokashi, director;
Indonesia, “Jamila and the President,” Ratna Sarumpaet;
Iran, “About Elly,” Asghar Farhadi, director;
Israel, “Ajami,” Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani, director;
Italy, “Baaria,” Giuseppe Tornatore, director;
Japan, “Nobody to Watch over Me,” Ryoichi Kimizuka, director;
Kazakhstan, “Kelin,” Ermek Tursunov, director;
Korea, “Mother,” Joon-ho Bong, director;
Lithuania, “Vortex,” Gytis Luksas, director;
Luxembourg, “Refractaire,” Nicolas Steil, director;
Macedonia, “Wingless,” Ivo Trajkov, director;
Mexico, “Backyard,” Carlos Carrera, director;
Morocco, “Casanegra,” Nour-Eddine Lakhmari, director;
The Netherlands, “Winter in Wartime,” Martin Koolhoven, director;
Norway, “Max Manus,” Espen Sandberg and Joachim Roenning, directors;
Peru, “The Milk of Sorrow,” Claudia Llosa, director;
Philippines, “Grandpa Is Dead,” Soxie H. Topacio, director;
Poland, “Reverse,” Borys Lankosz, director;
Portugal, “Doomed Love,” Mario Barroso, director;
Puerto Rico, “Kabo and Platon,” Edmundo H. Rodriguez, director;
Romania, “Police, Adjective,” Corneliu Porumboiu, director;
Russia, “Ward No. 6,” Karen Shakhnazarov, director;
Serbia, “St. George Shoots the Dragon,” Srdjan Dragojevic, director;
Slovakia, “Broken Promise,” Jiri Chlumsky, director;
Slovenia, “Landscape No. 2,” Vinko Moderndorfer, director;
South Africa, “White Wedding,” Jann Turner, director;
Spain, “The Dancer and the Thief,” Fernando Trueba, director;
Sri Lanka, “The Road from Elephant Pass,” Chandran Rutnam;
Sweden, “Involuntary,” Ruben Ostlund, director;
Switzerland, “Home,” Ursula Meier, director;
Taiwan, “No Puedo Vivir sin Ti,” Leon Dai, director;
Thailand, “Best of Times,” Yongyoot Thongkongtoon, director;
Turkey, “I Saw the Sun,” Mahsun Kirmizigul, director;
United Kingdom, “Afghan Star,” Havana Marking, director;
Uruguay, “Bad Day for Fishing,” Alvaro Brechner, director;
Venezuela, “Libertador Morales, El Justiciero,” Efterpi Charalambidis, director;
Vietnam, “Don’t Burn It,” Dang Nhat Minh.

The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

source

11th Cinemanila International Film Festival

2009-10-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

*click on the titles for the screening schedule

OPENING FILM

Lola (Philippines | 120min)

CLOSING FILM

Himpapawid (Philippines | 107min)

MAIN COMPETITION

Independencia (Philippines/Germany/France/Netherlands | 77min)

Mammoth (Sweden | 125min)

Ricky (France | 90min)

Tulpan (Kazakhstan | 100min)

Cheng Du, I Love You (China | 78min)

Samson and Delilah (Australia | 101min)

Hunger (UK | 96min)

Tony Manero (Chile/Brazil | 98min)

Pandora’s Box (Turkey/France/Germany/Belgium | 112min)

Milk of Sorrow (Peru | 95min)

Machan (Italy/Sri Lanka | 109min)

Mammoth (Sweden | 125min)

Ricky (France | 90min)

Tulpan (Kazakhstan | 100min)

Cheng Du, I Love You (China | 78min)

Samson and Delilah (Australia | 101min)

Hunger (UK | 96min)

Tony Manero (Chile/Brazil | 98min)

Pandora’s Box (Turkey/France/Germany/Belgium | 112min)

Milk of Sorrow (Peru | 95min)

Machan (Italy/Sri Lanka | 109min)

SEA COMPETITION

Bakal Boys (Philippines | 111min)

Jermal (Indonesia | 88min)

Talentime (Malaysia | 120min)

Woman on Fire Looks for Water (Malaysia | 75min)

Adrift (Vietnam | 110min)

Here (Singapore | 86min)

A Moment in June (Thailand | 106min)

Karaoke (Malaysia | 75min)

DIGITAL LOKAL

69 1/2 (Philippines | 80min)

Anacbanua (Philippines | 102min)

Ang Beerhouse (Philippines | 111min)

Biyaheng Lupa (Philippines | 90min)

Dolores (Philippines | 80min)

Iliw (Philippines | 104min)

YOUNG CINEMA SHORTS IN COMPETITION

SEA SHORTS IN COMPETITION

SEA SHORTS IN EXHIBITION

WORLD CINEMA

Adam Resurrected (USA | 106min)

A Year Ago in Winter (Germany | 129min)

Baby Doll Night (Egypt | 180min)

Black Dynamite (USA | 90min)

Inglourious Basterds (USA |153min)

Let the Right One In (Sweden | 115min)

My Suicide (USA | 105min)

Engkwentro (Philippines | 60min)

Coco Avant Chanel (France | 105min)

ASIAN CINEMA

Call If You Need Me (Malaysia | 104min)

Macabre (Indonesia/Singapore | 95min)

Caramel (Lebanon | 95min)

Waltz with Bashir (Israel | 90min)

Jeonju Digital Project 2009 (Korea/Japan/Philippines | 106min)

Passion (Japan | 122min)

My Magic (Singapore | 75min)

Beautiful (Korea | 88min)

Little Zizou (India | 111min)

Non-ko (Japan | 105min)

WORLD CINEMA FUND

Milk of Sorrow (Peru | 96min)

Independencia (Philippines | 77min)

The Sky, the Earth and the Rain (Germany/France/Chile | 111min)

Pandora’s Box (Turkey | 112min)

Jermal (Indonesia | 88min)

THREE FROM MEXICO

Chavez (78min)

Lake Tahoe (89min)

Los Bastardos (90min)

SINGAPORE CINEMA TODAY

Female Games (70min)

Flooding In The Time of Drought (68min)

DOCUMENTARY

Chavez (Mexico | 80min)

How Green Was Our Valley (Iran | 32min)

Peeking Inside the Chungking Mansions (China | 15min)

Malaysian Gods (Malaysia | 70min)

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

Panahon Na

Puntod

CRITICS’ PICKS

When Timawa Meets Delgado (as chosen by Oggs Cruz)

Serbis (as chosen by Bienvenido Lumbera)

Engkwentro (as chosen by Rolando Tolentino)

SIGHTS AND SIGNS

River of Dreams

Silent Odyssey

Dinig Sana Kita (Philippines | 122min)

Clips on A Serious Man and An Education

2009-10-12T03:22:00.000-07:00

MakingOf.com has sent the following links to various clips on the Oscar contenders A Serious Man and An Education:

Alfred Molina and Dominic Cooper on acting and working on An Education

Clips from An Education and interview with director Lone Scherfig

"In Conversation" with cast of A Serious Man

Clips from A Serious Man and the Coen brothers at work

Shortlisted Documentary Shorts

2009-10-09T23:42:00.000-07:00

Beverly Hills, CA (October 9, 2009) — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that the field of Documentary Short Subject contenders for the 82nd Academy Awards^® has been narrowed to eight films, of which three to five will earn Oscar^® nominations.

Voters from the Academy’s Documentary Branch viewed this year’s 37 eligible entries and submitted their ballots to PricewaterhouseCoopers for tabulation.

The eight films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production company:

“China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province,” Downtown Community Television Center, Inc.
“The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner,” Just Media
“The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant,” Community Media Productions
“Lt. Watada,” Chanlim Films
“Music by Prudence,” iThemba Productions, Inc.
“Rabbit a la Berlin,” MS Films
“Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak,” Outside Productions
“Woman Rebel,” Women Rebel Films

The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

source

Wayans Replaces Murphy in Pryor Biopic

2009-10-07T16:30:00.000-07:00

Will we be seeing one of the Wayans brothers getting an Oscar nomination soon, maybe even winning it? Marlon Wayans has replaced Eddie Murphy as comic legend Richard Pryor in the biopic to be directed by Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters, Kinsey, Dreamgirls). Next year's Oscar race just got more interesting.

http://www.hitfix.com/articles/2009-10-7-confirmed-marlon-wayans-to-replace-eddie-murphy-as-richard-pryor

Roman Polanski arrested in Switzerland

2009-09-27T20:53:00.000-07:00

Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski has been arrested in Switzerland--where he is to be feted with a lifetime achievement award--for his decades-old child rape case.

Here's the news.

Film-Otaku: Finalist for the Philippine Blog Awards!

2009-09-24T16:17:00.000-07:00

Film-Otaku is a finalist in the "Best Entertainment Blog" category of the 2009 Philippine Blog Awards! Thank you to the PBA selection committee!

Here is the link to the list of finalists in all the categories:

http://www.philippineblogawards.com.ph/2009/09/23/finalists-for-the-2009-philippine-blog-awards-nationwide-categories/

Pinoy Film Focus: Kinatay (2009)

2009-09-24T07:10:00.000-07:00

(The Execution of P)

Director: Brillante Ma. Mendoza

Writer: Armando Lao

Cast: Coco Martin, Mercedes Cabral, Julio Diaz, Jhong Hilario, John Regala, Maria Isabel Lopez

Runtime: 105 minutes

Kinatay, the film that won Brillante Mendoza the Best Director award at this year's Cannes Film Festival, can be (and has been) called many things: indulgent, violent, in need of trimming, to name only a few. But one thing that cannot be said of it is that it is senseless.

Peping (Coco Martin), a criminology student and recently married, accepts the invitation of Abyong (Jhong Hilario) to join him in assisting Kap (a police captain; Julio Diaz) in an unexplained operation. Drawn by the need for money and other benefits that would come along with getting on Kap's good side, he accepts. What Peping does not know until it it too late for him to turn back is that it involves a long journey out of Manila with a kidnapped prostitute/junkie (Maria Isabel Lopez), who in the name of vengeance guised as justice is brutally abused and ultimately butchered. Peping is shocked by what he is made to go through, and he does not seem to be able to recover by film's end. His eyes are glazed, expression dead, and we know that the experience will for a long time haunt him.

The protracted trip out of Manila may be slightly overlong, though it is effective in setting a dark, chilling mood that would permeate until the end. It is thus with a sort of morbid anticipation that the viewer, having been made familiar with the primary plot of the film (it is difficult to think of a casual viewer going into a screening of this controversial film without prior knowledge of that), awaits the scenes of butchering. Peping knows--or at least has an idea of--what is about to happen, and so do we. Ultimately, those who expect unbearable amounts of blood would be disappointed, as the much-hyped scenes are not nearly as monstrous as we have been led to believe, but the tension, the sense of waiting, never dissipate...for both Peping and the audience. This power of the film rests in the unfortunate fact that these things do happen in the Philippines. Whereas foreign journalists are quick to dismiss the film and its contents as gratuitous and senseless, it is all too real for us.

The film is not an easy one to watch (much like Lars von Trier's Antichrist, this film's competition in Cannes), but there are rewards to be had for the effort. Notwithstanding the raw strength of the message and the images used to convey them, Brillante Mendoza has given us a film that shows that Filipino films and their makers could go places where many have not dared to go. May this challenge and motivate them to do so soon.

Image source

It's Official: Ded Na Si Lolo is Philippine Entry

2009-09-23T02:26:00.000-07:00

Ded na si Lolo, one of six films produced by APT Entertainment and the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc. (DGPI) under its Sine Direk project, was chosen as the country’s entry to the Foreign Language Film category of the 82nd Oscar Awards scheduled next year.

The six-man committee, which was headed by National Artist for Film Eddie Romero, chose Ded na si Lolo (directed by Soxie Ropacio) over In My Life (directed by Olive Lamasan), a Vilma Santos starrer still being shown in local theatres.

Local films exhibited in theaters for at least seven consecutive days within the period of October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009 were eligible for selection.

Lola, a film by Cannes best director winner Dante Mendoza which was the country’s entry in the recent Venice Film Festival, started its theatrical run on Wednesday, September 23 though it was pre-screened by the FAP Oscar-committee upon the director and producer’s request.

FAP Director General Leo Martinez allowed the committee to review the film for consideration provided that if it would be selected, announcement will only be done on its first day of exhibition.

Lola, together with Jay (a Cinemalaya project), composed the final four that the committee trimmed down from its short list of 13 films

In the final voting, Ded na si Lolo won over In My Life with a 4-1 vote. The committee chairman could only vote in case of a tie in the voting.

The main cast of Ded na si Lolo includes Gina Alajar, Elizabeth Oropesa, Manilyn Reynes, Dick Israel, Roderick Paulate, Perla Bautista and BJ Forbes.

The production staff is composed of the following: Director-Writer Soxie Topacio; Cinematogapher Journaline Payonan; Editor Danny Anonuevo; Production Designer Edel Templo-nuevo; Costume Designer Luming Medrano; Music Composer Noel Cabangon; and Sound Mixer Joey Santos.

The FAP Oscar committee is composed of the following; National Artist for Film Eddie Romero, senior adviser of the Academy and also the chairman of the selection committee; Actor/Director Robert Arevalo, FAP adviser; Director Jose Carreon of the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc. (DGPI); Director William Mayo of the Philippine Motion Picture Directors’ Association (PMPDA); Manny Morfe of the Production Designers Guild of the Philippines (PDGP); and Director Elwood Perez, (PMPDA).

The nine other films considered by the committee were: Pitik Bulag (ALV Entertainment); The Last Viewing (Davis Entertainment); Kamoteng Kahoy (APT Entertainment); Concerto (Solito Arts Productions and Seiko Films); Baler (Viva Films); Bente (APT Enterainment); 100 Martinez-Rivera Films);Manila (MJM Productions and Bicycle Pictures); and Adela (Bicycle Pictures).

Source

Ded Na Si Lolo: Philippine Entry to the Oscars

2009-09-22T03:54:00.000-07:00

No official word yet from the Film Academy of the Philippines, but various web sources are reporting that Soxy Topacio's indie comedy film Ded Na Si Lolo (literal translation: Grandfather is Dead) has been selected as the entry of the Philippines to the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 82nd Academy Awards. If this is true, FAP chose to ignore Lola, directed by Cannes winner Brillante Mendoza, shown recently in the Venezia, and generally praised critically. Ded Na Si Lolo has yet to be shown outside the Philippines or win any award here. Could this be another in the long line of careless selections made by the FAP? We'll see, but I'm personally not optimistic.