Film School Rejects » Awards Season ‘08

2009 Golden Globe Winners: Slumdog Takes the Top Prize!

Neil Miller — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 01:20:17 +0000

As you may know, tonight is the night when the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards will be handed out. And we will be tracking them live. Just keep giving this page a refresh every few minutes to see the winners below, highlighted in red. Please feel free to leave your thoughts and comments in the “Sound Off” section below. Also, please join me over on Twitter for commentary, predictions and commercial break polls.

Latest Update:

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie – Changeling
Meryl Streep – Doubt
Kristin Scott Thomas - I’ve Loved You So Long
Kate Winslet – Revolutionary Road

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Leonarod DiCaprio – Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn – Milk
Brad Pitt – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Burn After Reading
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges
Mamma Mia!
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Rebecca Hall – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Sally Hawkins – Happy-Go-Lucky
Frances McDormand – Burn After Reading
Meryl Streep - Mamma Mia!
Emma Thompson – Last Chance Harvey

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Javier Bardem – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Colin Farrell - In Bruges
James Franco – Pineapple Express
Brendan Gleeson – In Bruges
Dustin Hoffman – Last Chance Harvey

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL•E

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
Everlasting Moments (Sweden/Denmark)
Gomorrah (Italy)
I’ve Loved You So Long (France)
Waltz with Bashir (Israel)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Amy Adams – Doubt
Penelope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis – Doubt
Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler
Kate Winslet – The Reader

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Tom Cruise - Tropic Thunder
Robert Downey Jr. – Tropic Thunder
Ralph Fiennes – The Duchess
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt
Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry – The Reader
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard – Frost/Nixon
Sam Mendes – Revolutionary Road

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
Simon Beaufoy – Slumdog Millionaire
David Hare – The Reader
Peter Morgan – Frost/Nixon
Eric Roth – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley – Doubt

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE
Alexandre Desplate – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Clint Eastwood – Changeling
James Newton Howard – Defiance
A.R. Rahman – Slumdog Millionaire
Hans Zimmer – Frost/Nixon

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
“Down to Earth” – WALL•E
Music by: Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman
Lyrics by: Peter Gabriel
“Gran Torino” – Gran Torino
Music by: Clint Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens
Lyrics by: Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens
“I Thought I Lost You” – Bolt
Music & Lyrics by: Miley Cyrus, Jeffrey Steele
“Once in a Lifetime” – Cadillac Records
“The Wrestler” – The Wrestler

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
“Dexter” (Showtime)
“House” (Fox)
“In Treatment” (HBO)
“Mad Men” (AMC)
“True Blood” (HBO)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Sally Field – “Brothers & Sisters”
Mariska Hargitay – “Law & Order: Special Victims”
January Jones – “Mad Men”
Anna Paquin – “True Blood”
Kyra Sedgwick – “The Closer”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Gabriel Byrne – “In Treatment”
Michael C. Hall – “Dexter”
John Hamm – “Mad Men”
Hugh Laurie – “House”
Jonathan Rhys Meyers – “The Tudors”

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
“30 Rock” (NBC)
“Californication” (Showtime)
“Entourage” (HBO)
“The Office” (NBC)
“Weeds” (Showtime)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Christian Applegate – “Samantha Who?”
America Ferrera – “Ugly Betty”
Tina Fey – “30 Rock”
Debra Messing – “The Starter Wife”
Mary-Louise Parker – “Weeds”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Alec Baldwin – “30 Rock”
Steve Carell – “The Office”
Kevin Connolly – “Entourage”
David Duchovny – “Californication”
Tony Shalhoub – “Monk”

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
“A Raisin in the Sun” (ABC)
“Bernard and Doris” (HBO)
“Cranford” (PBS)
“John Adams” (HBO)
“Recount” (HBO)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Judi Dench – “Cranford”
Catherine Keener – “An American Crime”
Laura Linney – “John Adams”
Shirley MacLaine – “Coco Chanel”
Susan Sarandon – “Bernard and Doris”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Ralph Fiennes – “Bernard and Doris”
Paul Giamatti – “John Adams”
Kevin Spacey – “Recount”
Keifer Sutherland – “24: Redemption”
Tom Wilkinson – “Recount”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Eileen Atkins – “Cranford”
Laura Dern – “Recount”
Melissa George – “In Treatment”
Rachel Griffiths – “Brothers & Sisters”
Dianne Wiest – “In Treatment”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Neil Patrick Harris – “How I Met Your Mother”
Denis Leary – “Recount”
Jeremy Piven – “Entourage”
Blair Underwood – “In Treatment”
Tom Wilkinson – “John Adams”

Ohio Critics Name WALL-E Best of 2008

Neil Miller — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:32:23 +0000

This evening my fine colleagues of the Central Ohio Film Critics Association held their annual private party to announce our year-end awards, complete with booze and chatter about who voted for what movie and who voted to snub The Dark Knight. I am told it was a joyous affair. I was not there however, as I was at home sick. So instead of coming home at the end of the evening and face planting into my bed, I’ve saved energy this year to provide you with the results of the aforementioned awards.

Check out the official press release below.

WALL·E collects top prize in 7th annual Central Ohio Film Critics Association awards

(Columbus, January 8, 2009) Andrew Stanton’s WALL·E was named Best Film in the Central Ohio Film Critics Association’s 7th annual awards, which recognize excellence in the film industry for 2008. The film also won two other awards, including Best Screenplay-Original (Andrew Stanton and Jim Reardon) and Best Animated Film. Stanton was runner-up for Best Director.

The Dark Knight, which finished fourth on the Best Film list, was awarded three prizes: Best Supporting Actor (Heath Ledger), Best Ensemble, and Best Cinematography (Wally Pfister). Ledger’s win marks the third time COFCA has honored the actor. He won 2005’s Actor of the Year (for an exemplary body of work) and Best Lead Performance for that year’s Brokeback Mountain.

Other multiple award winners include Slumdog Millionaire, Frozen River, and The Wrestler. Best Film runner-up Slumdog Millionaire claimed Best Director (Danny Boyle) and Best Screenplay-Adapted (Simon Beaufoy). Frozen River’s two awards went to Melissa Leo for Best Actress and Breakthrough Film Artist. Frozen River placed third on the Best Films list. Best Actor Mickey Rourke and Best Supporting Actress Marisa Tomei pinned down two awards for The Wrestler, which ranked seventh in COFCA’s Top 10.

Other individual winners include: Actor of the Year Robert Downey Jr. for his exemplary work in Iron Man and Tropic Thunder and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’s Alexandre Desplat for Best Score.

Other honored films include: Man on Wire for Best Documentary; 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (4 luni, 3 saptamâni si 2 zile) for Best Foreign Language Film; and Ghost Town for Best Overlooked Film.

Founded in 2002, the Central Ohio Film Critics Association is comprised of film critics based in Columbus, Ohio and the surrounding areas. Its membership consists of more than 25 print, radio, television, and new media critics. COFCA’s official website at www.cofca.org contains links to member reviews and past award winners.

Winners were announced at a private party on January 8.

Complete list of awards:

Best Films

1. WALL·E

2. Slumdog Millionaire

3. Frozen River

4. The Dark Knight

5. Frost/Nixon

6. Milk

7. The Wrestler

8. Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in)

9. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

10. In Bruges

Best Director

-Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

-Runner-up: Andrew Stanton, WALL·E

Best Actor

-Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

-Runner-up: Sean Penn, Milk

Best Actress

-Melissa Leo, Frozen River

-Runner-up: Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married

Best Supporting Actor

-Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

-Runners-up (tie): Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt and Eddie Marsan, Happy-Go-Lucky

Best Supporting Actress

-Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler

-Runner-up: Misty Upham, Frozen River

Best Ensemble

-The Dark Knight

-Runner-up: Slumdog Millionaire

Actor of the Year (for an exemplary body of work)

-Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man and Tropic Thunder

-Runner-up: James Franco, Milk and Pineapple Express

Breakthrough Film Artist

-Melissa Leo, Frozen River (for acting)

-Runner-up: Courtney Hunt, Frozen River (for directing and screenwriting)

Best Cinematography

-Wally Pfister, The Dark Knight

-Runner-up: Anthony Dod Mantle, Slumdog Millionaire

Best Screenplay – Adapted

-Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire

-Runner-up: Peter Morgan, Frost/Nixon

Best Screenplay – Original

-Andrew Stanton and Jim Reardon, WALL·E

-Runner-up: Courtney Hunt, Frozen River

Best Score

-Alexandre Desplat, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

-Runner-up: A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire

Best Documentary

-Man on Wire

-Runner-up: American Teen

Best Foreign Language Film

-4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (4 luni, 3 saptamâni si 2 zile)

-Runner-up: Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in)

Best Animated Film

-WALL·E

-Runner-up: Kung Fu Panda

Best Overlooked Film

-Ghost Town

-Runner-up: RocknRolla

COFCA offers its congratulations to the winners.

Previous Best Film winners:

2002: Punch-Drunk Love

2003: Lost in Translation

2004: Million Dollar Baby

2005: A History of Violence

2006: Children of Men

2007: No Country for Old Men

For more information about the Central Ohio Film Critics Association, please visit www.cofca.org.

Austin Critics Go Batty, Pick The Dark Knight as Best of 2008

Adam Sweeney — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:02:43 +0000

I love nearly everything about Austin,Texas. Now one more thing to adore is their choices of films to award, starting with The Dark Knight.

The Austin Film Critics Association chose The Dark Knight for best picture of 2008, something the Oscars won’t have the courage to do. Yeah, I said it. The film earned five awards overall, getting the nod for director Christopher Nolan, adapted screenplay, Heath Ledger as best supporting actor and best score. (Surely there will be someone who feels the need to make some sex joke based on how I wrote that sentence. Don’t do it, peeps.)

Sean Penn won best actor for his work in Milk, while Anne Hathaway won best actress for Rachel Getting Married. Taraji P. Henson got the best supporting actress award for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a film I can not wait to see.

Here’s the entire list of the awards given Discuss amongst yourselves. And by amongst yourselves I mean with us, of course. (Thanks to Variety for giving us the heads up.)

Top 10 Films:

“The Dark Knight
“Slumdog Millionaire”
“Milk”
“Synecdoche, New York”
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
“The Wrestler”
“Wall*E”
“Frost/Nixon”
“Let the Right One In”
“Gran Torino”

More than one option

(Film) Pehlivan
(Film) The Wrestler
Billy Robinson, James Westman
(Film) The Wrestler

Picture:
“The Dark Knight”

Director:
Christopher Nolan, “The Dark Knight”

Actor:
Sean Penn, “Milk”

Actress:
Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married

Supporting Actor:
Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight

Supporting Actress:
Taraji P. Henson, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Original Screenplay:

Charlie Kaufman “Synecdoche, New York

Adapted Screenplay:
“The Dark Knight,” Jonthan Nolan & Christopher Nolan

Cinematography:
“The Fall,” Colin Watkinson

Original Score:
“The Dark Knight,” James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmerman

Foreign Language Film:
“Let the Right One In” (Sweden)

Documentary Film:
“Man on Wire”

Animated Feature:
“Wall*E”

Breakthrough Artist Award:
Danny McBride, Pineapple Express/The Foot Fist Way/Tropic Thunder

First Film:
Nacho Vigalondo, “Timecrimes”

Austin Film:
“Crawford”

What do you think of the AFCA’s award choices? Who would you give awards to?

AFI Names Its Top 10 Movies of 2008

Josh Radde — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:40:09 +0000

The American Film Institute (AFI) responsible for those “100 Years, 100 _____” lists that get people riled up every year have come out with their list of 2008’s top films. Mirroring their recent Golden Globe nominations, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, and Wall-E were included in the list of Top 10 of the year. Though, the story here is the movies that were left off the list altogether.

Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, the early favorite amongst the critical awards handed out for 2008, was left off AFI’s Top 10 list. This shouldn’t really be a surprise since its a movie directed by a Brit and set in India. However, the film was distributed and funded by Fox Searchlight and Warner Bros.–so I guess you have to look at your own definition when deciding what qualifies as an AMERICAN film. Also left off the list was Revolutionary Road (which is set in America), because it was funded, in part, by the BBC.

Other films that were hailed were Jon Favreau’s Iron Man, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino, Gus Van Sant’s Milk, Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler, and two indie films, Frozen River and Wendy and Lucy (starring Michelle Williams).

In my opinion, I think AFI needs to reconsider its requirements. Either that or I’m wrong about the requirements and they think that 15 of the 18 films nominated for this year’s Golden Globes in the Best Picture categories are not up to snuff. I suppose that’s possible too, Lord knows the Golden Globes aren’t THAT important. But seriously, if you won’t consider Revolutionary Road or something that is American like Doubt, then what’s the point? Don’t AMERICANS enjoy all types of films from all different locations? I mean, if you’re going to ignore a film because it has a British director then you have to remember that Christopher Nolan is also British and just as much of TDK was filmed overseas as it was in Chicago. I dunno. It is what it is, but I don’t see the point in hailing 10 films as the best of the year, unless you’re willing to step beside them and say “These are bar none the best films we saw released from any corner of the world” as well. If someone will do that for the AFI, let’s see them do it now.

AFI’s full list below (in alphabetical order):

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Frozen River
Gran Torino
Iron Man
Milk
Wall-E
Wendy and Lucy
The Wrestler

Breaking: Hugh Jackman to Host the Oscars?

Neil Miller — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:57:54 +0000

Several sources had contacted us earlier today to inform us that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was looking to find a host for this year’s Oscar ceremony that was “more straightforward and traditional” rather than go with another comedian. And according to reports from inside the Academy this afternoon, they will be officially announcing shortly that actor Hugh Jackman (Australia, Wolverine) will host the 81st installment of the famed awards show.

Jackman would be the first non-comedian host since 1988, when there was no host for the 61st Annual Awards.

UPDATE: More from Nikki Finke at Deadline Hollywood Daily:

…while the 40-year-old Sydney-born thesp of English parentage has received the AMPAS offer and is very interested, I’m told that he’s not yet fully committed. Because there’s still a lot of negotiating ahead between his showbiz representatives and AMPAS. I’ve learned that the people around Jackman want to know exactly what would be expected of him, especially when it comes to opening the Oscar broadcast. One segment of the show which reps for Jackman are objecting to specifically is the joke-telling monologue. “I don’t want that for him,” an insider told me. “He is an actor with big movies behind him and one coming this summer. He didn’t work the last 20 years to suddenly be a stand-up comedian.”

UPDATE #2: Official Press Release from AMPAS:

Hugh Jackman to Host
81st Academy Awards®

Beverly Hills, CA –– Hugh Jackman will host the 81st Academy Awards® telecast, producer Laurence Mark and executive producer Bill Condon announced today. This will be Jackman’s first time center stage at the Oscar show, although he has previously been a presenter.

“Hugh Jackman is a consummate entertainer and an internationally renowned movie star,” said Mark and Condon in a joint statement. “He also has style, elegance and a sense of occasion. Hugh is the ideal choice to host a celebration of the year’s movies – and to have fun doing it.”

Jackman stars in the current release “Australia,” directed by Baz Luhrmann. He will next be seen in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” having portrayed the title character in the previous three smash-hit “X-Men” movies. His other film credits include “The Prestige,” “Flushed Away,” “The Fountain,” “Happy Feet,” “Van Helsing,” “Kate & Leopold” and “Swordfish.”

A native of Australia, Jackman won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in “The Boy from Oz.” He has served as host of the Tony Awards ceremony and won a 2005 Emmy for that assignment.

Jackman’s other stage credits include “Carousel,” “Oklahoma!” “Sunset Boulevard” and “Beauty and the Beast.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 will be presented on Sunday, February 22, 2009, 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.

The Wrestler, Frozen River Lead Spirit Award Nominations

Neil Miller — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:17:21 +0000

If you aren’t familiar with the Independent Spirit Awards then you are really missing out. This award program is run by Film Independent, an organization that champions independent film and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision. Every year the voting members — of which I am one — choose the best films and performances from the independently produced films of the year. It is currently in its 23rd year and the awards event will take place on February 21, 2009 in Santa Monica.

This afternoon the nominations for the 2009 awards were announced, with films such as Courtney Hunt’s Sundance Grand Jury Prize winning Frozen River, Jonathan Demme’s critically acclaimed Rachel Getting Married and Darren Aronofsky’s Toronto gem The Wrestler leading the way. Have a look at the full list of nominations below. Click any of the film names below to browse that film’s IMDb page.

BEST FEATURE

Ballast
Frozen River
Rachel Getting Married
Wendy and Lucy
The Wrestler

BEST FIRST FEATURE

Afterschool
Medicine for Melancholy
Sangre De Mi Sangre
Sleep Dealer
Synecdoche, New York

BEST DIRECTOR

Ramin Bahrani - Chop Shop
Jonathan Demme – Rachel Getting Married
Lance Hammer – Ballast
Courtney Hunt – Frozen River
Tom McCarthy - The Visitor

BEST MALE LEAD

Javier Bardem - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Richard Jenkins – The Visitor
Sean Penn – Milk
Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

BEST FEMALE LEAD

Summer Bishil - Towelhead
Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married
Melissa Leo – Frozen River
Tarra Riggs – Ballast
Michelle Williams - Wendy and Lucy

BEST SUPPORTING MALE

James Franco – Milk
Anthony Mackie – The Hurt Locker
Charlie McDermott – Frozen River
JimMyron Ross - Ballast
Haaz Sleiman - The Visitor

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE

Penelope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Rosemarie DeWitt – Rachel Getting Married
Rosie Perez - The Take
Misty Upham – Frozen River
Debra Winger – Rachel Getting Married

BEST SCREENPLAY

Woody Allen – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck - Sugar
Charlie Kaufman – Synecdoche, New York
Howard A. Rodman - Savage Grace
Christopher Zalla - Sangre De Mi Sangre

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Maryse Alberti - The Wrestler
Lol Crawley – Ballast
James Laxton - Medicine for Melancholy
Harris Savides - Milk
Michael Simmonds - Chop Shop

BEST DOCUMENTARY

The Betrayal
Encounters at the End of the World
Man on Wire
The Order of Myths
Up the Yangtze

BEST FOREIGN FILM

The Class (France)
Gomorra (Italy)
Hunger (U.K./Ireland)
Secret of the Grain (France)
Silent Light (Mexico/France/Netherlands/Germany)

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD

(Given to the best feature made for under $500,000; award given to the writer, director, and producer)

Prince of Broadway (Sean Baker, Darren Dean)
Take Out (Sean Baker, Shih-Ching Tsou)
The Signal (David Bruckner, Dan Bush, Jacob Gentry, Alexander Motlagh)
Turn the River (Chris Eigeman, Ami Armstrong)
In Search of a Midnight Kiss (Alex Holdridge, Seth Caplan, Scoot McNairy)

For more on the Independent Spirit Awards and information on how to become a member of Film Independent, visit FilmIndependent.org. For those who really love discovering great independent film and previously unseen talent, it is a great organization to be a part of.

Weekend Discussion: Will Heath Ledger Win an Oscar?

Neil Miller — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:13:22 +0000

As you may have heard by now, Warner Bros. has begun their “For Your Consideration” campaign for The Dark Knight. And part of that campaign is a major push to see Heath Ledger nominated for and winning a posthumous Oscar for his role as The Joker. While I think many of us would agree that his performance was very Oscar-worthy, delivering one of the most jolting and unnerving characters we’ve seen in a long time, the question now becomes whether or not the Academy will actually give it to him. With that thought comes this weekend’s discussion topic, which can be found below the image.

Do you think that Heath Ledger will win the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance in The Dark Knight?

14 Animated Films Put Up Their CGI Dukes for Oscar Gold

Neil Miller — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:19:29 +0000

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, better known to many of us as The Academy, has announced the 14 submitted films for the Best Animated Feature Award that will be handed out next February. Among the finalist are some of the usual suspects such as Pixar’s WALL-E and Dreamworks’ Kung Fu Panda as well as some long shots, including The Weinstein Co.’s Igor and Summit Entertainment’s Fly Me to the Moon.

Check out the complete list below:

Bolt
Delgo
Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!
Dragon Hunters
Fly Me to the Moon
Igor
Kung Fu Panda
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
$9.99
The Sky Crawlers
Sword of the Stranger
The Tale of Despereaux
WALL-E
Waltz with Bashir

At this point these are just the submitted films from the studios. The list of finalists will be announced sometime in late December/early January, so we have some time to stew over this list. And for those wondering about WALL-E’s Best Picture chances, check out this official rule: “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.”

But if you had to choose right now, which film would you pick as the Best Animated Feature of 2008?

Oscar Contenders No More, The Road and The Soloist Get Bumped to 2009

Rob Hunter — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:12:03 +0000

This year’s crowded Oscar race just got substantially lighter. Two high profile films, both expected to be strong contenders for the Academy Awards, have been moved to early 2009 release dates.

The Road is a post-apocalyptic drama from The Weinstein Company, directed by John Hillcoat (The Proposition), based on the best-selling novel by Cormac McCarthy (No Country For Old Men), and starring Viggo Mortensen (nude steam-bath wrestling) as a father wandering a desolate America with his son. It was unofficially pushed back from November to December just this past week, but now it appears to be heading for a release in February or March. Initial reports alluded that the film was still in post-production and probably wouldn’t make a 2008 date, but the problem may actually be one of quality (perceived quality anyway.)

A recent test screening in NYC resulted in several negative comments from folks who supposedly saw the film in it’s admittedly unfinished state. Quiet Earth collects several of them, but the gist of it all can be summed up with the words “awful, repetitive, awful, annoying, awful, disjointed, awful.” They liked Nick Cave’s score though. So that’s something. One commenter also noted that Harvey Weinstein left the screening early… for whatever that’s worth.

The Soloist is a pre-apocalyptic drama from Dreamworks Pictures, directed by Joe Wright (Atonement), and starring Robert Downey Jr. (Weird Science) and Jamie Foxx (Booty Call) as a Los Angeles journalist in need of a story and homeless schizophrenic in need of a, well, a home I guess. Adding to the Oscar-bait vibe is it’s based on a true story. The release date is now set for March 13th. Paramount is handling the distribution and depending on who you ask their reasoning is either based on competition or box-office potential.

Some believe they’re moving the film back to avoid competing with two of their own preferred Oscar contenders, David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Sam Mendes’ Revolutionary Road. The semi-official insider line however appears to be that aside from simply thinning the holiday season herd, Paramount believes the film can simply earn more money from a less crowded March schedule. Until the move, Downey and/or Foxx seemed to be a sure bet for a Best Actor nomination.

Of the two, I’m more annoyed by the delay of The Road. I’m reading the book now and it’s spellbinding, raw, and punctuated with real brutality. Hillcoat’s a master of all things sparse and bleak, and I was looking forward to the this being the perfect antidote to holiday cheer. The Soloist delay? I’m okay with that. Downey is always impressive, and I’m sure he does a great job, but Foxx is supremely annoying when he’s in award mode. He’s second only to Sean Penn when it comes to Oscar pandering, and he’s in desperate need of a sit-down chat with Tropic Thunder’s Kirk Lazarus.

Are you upset by either of these release date changes?

The Wrestler to Hit Theaters on December 19th

Neil Miller — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 05:12:55 +0000

We’ve been getting a ton of questions and comments about Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler, as it was easily one of the most visible films coming out of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. It appears, at least from a distance, that the film that Fox Searchlight has bought could be the one that starts an Oscar run for both Aronofsky and revitalized star Mickey Rourke. But ultimately, details have been fuzzy — other than what we’ve seen from Toronto, we had no other details on when audiences around the country would get a chance to see this film.

Thankfully, we always have our friends over at Slashfilm to back us up. They’ve uncovered the fact that The Wrestler will make its way into theaters on December 19th, 2008. And knowing Fox Searchlight and their affinity for platform releases, this probably means a late-December run in New York and Los Angeles, with a wider release in January 2009. This release date also ensures that the film will be eligible for this year’s awards season, putting it in a prime spot to get take home some hardware — that is, if it is as good as everyone says it is. Of course, we’ll answer that question at a later date. For now, the only date that matters is December 19th, depending on where you live.

Are you planning on seeing The Wrestler when it comes out in your area?

Discuss: Will You See The Dark Knight Again in Theaters?

Neil Miller — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:46:33 +0000

Currently the explanation is that Warner Bros. is re-releasing The Dark Knight in January, at the height of awards season, in order to be fresh in the minds of Academy voters and possibly bring home some hardware on Oscar night. According to what one studio insider told many of the trades yesterday, “It’s just a matter of bringing it back as a reminder for people.”

The unofficial reason for bringing it back is because it is a film that made $513 million dollars domestically and $440 million internationally, and even though its DVD release is set for December, the folks at Warner Bros. are probably counting on Oscar buzz to generate ticket sales, ticket sales that could help bring The Dark Knight closer to Titanic’s $600 million dollar top spot on the all-time box-office chart.

According to a statement from WB domestic distribution president Dan Fellman, talks are ongoing between the studio and IMAX executives about the prospect of restoring the film to the bigger big screen in January, but it remains unclear as to whether it will hit regular screens as well.

The only question that remains is for the fans: Will you go see The Dark Knight again in theaters?

Nothing but Love, Praise, Awards and Oscar Buzz for ‘The Wrestler’

Dr. Cole Abaius — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:38:11 +0000

A few days ago, the only thing I really knew about Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler was that Mickey Rourke was in it and looked like Dog The Bounty Hunter had lit his hair on fire, put it out with baby oil and then shaved his beard off (see above). Today is very, very different.

Because today I know better. I’ll admit to not following the film very closely because – gasp – I’m not a huge Aronofsky fan. I can defend myself later, but for now, I’m still recovering from the barrage of praise for his new film.

If I didn’t get the picture when it won the Golden Lion at Venice, I definitely should have gotten it when Anne Thompson mentioned that the option fight – that Fox Seachlight eventually won for a cool $4 million – involved an Oscar-qualifying late-year release to ensure Mickey Rourke would get a chance at a nomination.

I also could have gotten the picture after reading the reviews. Bear with me, and you’ll see how overwhelmed I felt.

Peter Sciretta from /Film:

The Wrestler is a heartbreaking, beautiful film. . . Mickey’s performance is worthy of all the Oscar buzz that has been floating around since the Venice premiere.

Mr. Beaks from Aint It Cool:

…Aronofsky’s The Wrestler is less reinvention than refinement: the relentless self-destruction of mind and body depicted in Pi and Requiem For a Dream has merged with The Fountain’s search for spiritual grace, while his audacious technique has been abandoned for a naturalistic approach that recalls the independent American cinema of the 1970s and 80s…

Stephen Farber from The Hollywood Reporter:

Rourke dispenses with all vanity to plumb the depths of this well-meaning but severely damaged man. Tomei delivers one of her most arresting performances, again without any trace of vanity. Wood’s part is smaller, but she captures the scalding anger of a woman neglected for most of her life.

Todd McCarthy from Variety:

An elemental story simple and brilliantly told, Darren Aronofsky’s fourth feature is a winner from every possible angle…

James Rocchi from Cinematical:

…The Wrestler is one of the most grimly exciting, magnetically repellent movies we’ve had in a long time; it’s flat-out one of the best American movies of 2008.

See what I mean? It’s not often that I see that sort of across-the-board agreement on the sites I casually peruse unless a guy with a hat and whip or Jedi Masters are involved. And it’s not just agreement. It’s outright, to-the-rooftop praise.

Clearly, there’s something resonating strongly with this film. Whether it was launched purely because of Aronofsky’s pedigree or not, it has only gained in popularity. After winning the top prize at the Venice Film Festival, it was straight on to a packed house in Toronto. After that, it was an early morning bidding frenzy to buy distribution rights – making this movie look more and more like the last eight-ball in a room full of junkies.

It’s also making me ruefully wish that Panphobia-Sufferer-in-Chief Neil Miller’s latent fear of Canada hadn’t kept us from going to Toronto to fight over tickets. It’s making me wish that I had been there for the initial excitement. It’s making me wish that the buzz for Rourke is serious enough to see an actor who’s been in the business for a long time through thick and thin gets something as serious as an Oscar nomination.

And since it’s an indie, I’m looking forward to critics and journalists calling it “the little movie that could” and comparing Rourke’s Randy “The Ram” Robinson to Juno. Even more so than that, I’m looking forward to seeing a movie that has the kind of beauty and depth that critics are claiming The Wrestler brings forth and to have my mind turned around about Aronofsky.

First Look: Kathyrin Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker

Neil Miller — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:54:01 +0000

There is no denying it — Oscar season is upon us. Over the next few months we will see the release of many of the hopefuls for gold on that fateful night in late February. Many of these Oscar-chasers will also debut at this year’s Toronto Film Festival. And even though we aren’t going to be in Toronto, that doesn’t mean we won’t be keeping an eye on the films that are playing there. One particular film that has caught my eye is Kathyrin Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker. Inspired by true events and recently declassified information, The Hurt Locker follows an elite Army Explosive Ordinance Disposal team in present-day Baghdad that fights an onslaught of bombs and snipers. It stars Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes and David Morse.

To give you an idea of the buzz that this film is already getting, here’s a snippet from a review by The Star’s Patrick Howell: “If you can sit through The Hurt Locker without your heart nearly pounding through your chest, you must be made of granite.”

The film, which is Bigelow’s first feature since 2002’s K-19: The Widowmaker, will make its debut on September 8th in Toronto. And in anticipation of its release, we’ve received a few images from the film, which can be seen in the gallery below, followed by the film’s teaser poster.

Film School Rejects » Awards Season ‘08

2009 Golden Globe Winners: Slumdog Takes the Top Prize!

Related Reading:

Ohio Critics Name WALL-E Best of 2008

Related Reading:

Austin Critics Go Batty, Pick The Dark Knight as Best of 2008

Related Reading:

AFI Names Its Top 10 Movies of 2008

Related Reading:

Breaking: Hugh Jackman to Host the Oscars?

Related Reading:

The Wrestler, Frozen River Lead Spirit Award Nominations

BEST FEATURE

BEST FIRST FEATURE

BEST DIRECTOR

BEST MALE LEAD

BEST FEMALE LEAD

BEST SUPPORTING MALE

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE

BEST SCREENPLAY

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

BEST DOCUMENTARY

BEST FOREIGN FILM

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD

Related Reading:

Weekend Discussion: Will Heath Ledger Win an Oscar?

Related Reading:

14 Animated Films Put Up Their CGI Dukes for Oscar Gold

Related Reading:

Oscar Contenders No More, The Road and The Soloist Get Bumped to 2009

Related Reading:

The Wrestler to Hit Theaters on December 19th

Related Reading:

Discuss: Will You See The Dark Knight Again in Theaters?

Related Reading:

Nothing but Love, Praise, Awards and Oscar Buzz for ‘The Wrestler’

Related Reading:

First Look: Kathyrin Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker

Related Reading: