The Oscar Wrestler

2010 OSCAR WRESTLER AWARD WINNERS

2010-03-16T10:47:00.000-07:00

Now we know who won Oscars - but more importantly lets see who win's MY year end awards!

Here are the 2010 winners of the FIRST ANNUAL Oscar Wrestler Awards!

BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAR

PRECIOUS

In a year of great films, none sticks with me more than Precious. The power of the performances have driven this film to my number 1 slot of the year. With brilliant direction by oscar nominated Lee Daniels, Precious proved tough to watch and even tougher to forget. It also featured the best performance of the year from standup comedien Mo'Nique, and a brilliant turn by newcomer Gabourey Sidibe.

Runner Up: ANTICHRIST

BEST COMEDY OF THE YEAR

BRUNO

Following the smash success of Borat, Sascha Baron Cohen and director Larry Charles faced a tough act to follow. With Bruno, they may have even exceeded their first outing. This is a film that certainly isn't for everyone, and thats why I love it so much. It exposes many tough issues all the while being the funniest and most outrageous film of the year.

Runner Up: Adventureland

BEST HORROR/THRILLER OF THE YEAR

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

I was among one of the many who demanded that this film be shown in my area, and along with its great marketing campaign, Paranormal Activity did not disspoint. Although terrifying to watch, the real scare is getting home and trying to go to sleep. It just goes to show that a big budget and A-List actors are not neccessary to make a groundbreaking scary good time.

Runner Up: The Children

BEST ACTION OF THE YEAR

AVATAR

Easily besting his own Titanic achievment, Avatar proved to be just as good as we thought. When considering it an action film it is leaps and bounds above anything else the year delivered. The look of the film alone catipults it to the level of a masterpiece in film technoledgy. Although there are flaws, the trip to Pandora is one of the most beautiful ever caught on film.

Runner Up: District 9

BEST DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR

CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY

Michael Moore again proves that he is the best documentary filmmaker working. Capitalism may be one his magnum opus. It is touching, funny, informative, and had me in tears early on. The stupid Academy rules deemed it uneligible for a nomination so I am happy to give it recognition it deserves here. It truly was not only the best doc of the year, but one of the best pictures as well.

Runner Up: The Cove

BEST ANIMATED FILM OF THE YEAR

CORALINE

The two best animated films of the year, Coraline and Up, were stories that down deep were not kiddy material at all, which makes them both so wonderful. In the end I chose Coraline because the sweeping stop-motion/claymation animation techniques and the dark and downright scary story intrigued me a bit more than the pristine Pixar crew. Coraline is one of the most innovative and creepy movies of the year, and certainly my favorite animated film in a long time.

Runner Up: Up

BEST DIRECTOR

LARS VON TRIER : Antichrist

Go ahead and call be biased, Lars Von Trier is afterall my favorite director. But I am not playing favorites here, his film was the most provocative, innovative, and downright physically and visually brutal. Most of all his vision and story are the most unforgettable of the year.

Runner Up: Quentin Tarantino - Inglorious Basterds

BEST ACTOR

JEFF BRIDGES : Crazy Heart

A veteran actor truly turning in his career best performance. The film is a character study and with any other actor would not have succeeded. Jeff makes the character flawed but loveable, talented and troubled. And best of all - he rocks it out on the mic and at the guitar as well.

Runner Up: Colin Firth - A Single Man

BEST ACTRESS

TILDA SWINTON : Julia

It's a damn shame that only a very small group of people saw this film. If it had been shown in more theatres, I have no doubt that Tilda Swinton would have carried the awards season. She is at her best her, after a long litany of amazing performances. She is transcendant here as the alcoholic Julia who kidnapps a child for ransom money. I beg of you to go out and find this movie on DVD it is worth every penny. (Let me also praise Gabourey Sidibe my runner up for proving that raw talent still exsists in the film industry)

Runner Up: Gabourey Sidibe - Precious

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

In a year of great supporting performances, it was the more subtle performance of Woody Harrelson that captured my year end attention. He is always a good performer and had a great year with this and Zombieland. But his troubled army messenger was heartbreaking. In another year it could have won more attention, but this year it played second fiddle. Not here it won't.

Runner Up: Christoph Waltz - The Messenger

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

MO'NIQUE : Precious

There were many great performances given this year, but Mo'Niques turn as Mary Jones is easily the best performance of the year. It also will rank on my list of best performances of the decade, and best performances ever put on film. There was not a wrong note hit nor a single moment missed. This my readers, was perfection. Bravo!

Runner Up: No One

BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE

Sasha Baron Cohen - Bruno

(runner up: Ricky Gervais - The Invention of Lying)

BEST HORROR/THRILLER PERFORMANCE

Isabelle Furhmann - Orphan

(runner up: Lorna Raver - Drag Me To Hell)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Antichrist - Lars Von Trier

(runner up: Inglorious Basterds - Quentin Tarantino)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Where the Wild Things Are - Spike Jonez

(runner up: A Single Man - Tom Ford)

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

The Weary Kind - Crazy Heart (T-Bone Burnett, Ryan Bingham)

(runner up: Worried Shoes - Where the Wild Things Are - Karen O)

BEST SCORE

A Single Man

(runner up: Up)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Avatar

(runner up: Where the Wild Things Are)

BEST MAKEUP

Drag Me To Hell

(runner up: Orphan)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Antichrist

(runner up: Where the Wild Things Are)

BEST COSTUMES

Bruno

(runner up: A Single Man)

WORST FILM OF THE YEAR

The Blind Side

Never before has such an underwhelming film recieved such praise. The Blind Side was easily the worst film of the year. The acting (including Best Actress oscar winner Bullock) was horrific. The story was a butchering of reality, so much so that the films subject refused to promote the film. It is a subpar Hallmark Home of Fame film that wouldn't have even made it onto tv. The fact it had a theatrical release instead of straight to dvd surprises me still. It features the worst script of the year, the worst performances of the year, and was truly bad on all counts.

Runner Up: Twilight - New Moon

WORST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

Quentin Aaron - The Blind Side

He's almost the opposite of Gabourey Sidibe who turned in one of the best performances of the year. Newcomer Quientin Aaron looks bored, uninterested, and dead eyed throughout the horrible Blind Side. He plays Michael Oher as someone with mental disabilities, which isn't true. He plays nervous by running his hands on his pants, he plays happy by smiling with emotionless eyes. You don't feel sympathy for him at all. I actually felt pity, not for the character but for the actor for being so out of place.

Runner Up: Jae Head - The Blind Side

BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

MO'NIQUE - PRECIOUS

In a year of brilliant performances (Jeff, Tilda, Woody, Christoph, Gabourey, Charlotte, Colin, etc.) Mo'Nique rises above them all. It could be because the performance is such a surprise. Who knew she had it in her. But it's not that. Its the fact that Mo'Nique makes such a monsterous character human. She makes you understand what has driven Mary Jones to become an abuser. Every scene she has in Precious is a masterclass in performing. Her performance is the highlight of the entire year. She is brilliant.

2010 OSCAR WINNERS

2010-03-16T08:43:00.000-07:00

(sorry for such a late posting)

The season is over! Here are the winners:

Motion Picture: "The Hurt Locker."

- Actor: Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart."

- Actress: Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side."

- Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds."

- Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire."

- Director: Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker."

- Foreign Film: "El Secreto de Sus Ojos," Argentina.

- Adapted Screenplay: Geoffrey Fletcher, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire."

- Original Screenplay: Mark Boal, "The Hurt Locker."

- Animated Feature Film: "Up."

- Art Direction: "Avatar."

- Cinematography: "Avatar."

- Sound Mixing: "The Hurt Locker."

- Sound Editing: "The Hurt Locker."

- Original Score: "Up," Michael Giacchino.

- Original Song: "The Weary Kind" from "Crazy Heart," Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett.

- Costume: "The Young Victoria."

- Documentary Feature: "The Cove."

- Documentary (short subject): "Music by Prudence."

- Film Editing: "The Hurt Locker."

- Makeup: "Star Trek."

- Animated Short Film: "Logorama."

- Live Action Short Film: "The New Tenants."

- Visual Effects: "Avatar."

HISTORY WAS MADE:

*The first woman ever to win Best Director - Kathryn Bigelow
* The first african american to win a screenplay award - Geoffrey Fletcher
* The least earning film ever to win Best picture - The Hurt Locker
* The first actress to ever win both a Razzie and an Oscar in 1 year - Sandra Bullock

2010 OSCAR WRESTLER NOMINATIONS

2010-03-03T17:42:00.000-08:00

Its a couple of days before the Oscar's, and I have been absent from the blog lately. So it is now time for the 2010 Oscar Wrestler nominations which will award the best and worst of the year. I have the normal categories, and a few of my own. I hope you enjoy my nominations (I try to be a little different from everyone else) and please comment on who you are rooting for to win:

BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAR

ANTICHRIST

CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY
CRAZY HEART

INGLORIOUS BASTERDS
JULIA
THE MESSENGER
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
PRECIOUS
A SINGLE MAN
UP IN THE AIR

BEST COMEDY

ADVENTURELAND

AWAY WE GO

BRUNO

EXTRACT

THE INVENTION OF LYING

WHATEVER WORKS

BEST HORROR/THRILLER

THE CHILDREN

DRAG ME TO HELL
THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL
ORPHAN

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
ZOMBIELAND

BEST ACTION FILM

AVATAR

DISTRICT 9

SHERLOCK HOLMES

BEST DOCUMENTARY

CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY

THE COVE
EVERY LITTLE STEP
MICHAEL JACKSON: THIS IS IT
THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE
TYSON

BEST ANIMATED FILM

CORALINE

THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX
THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG
UP

BEST DIRECTOR

LEE DANIELS - Precious

TOM FORD - A Single Man

SPIKE JONEZ - Where the Wild Things Are

MICHAEL MOORE - Capitalism: A Love Story

QUENTIN TARANTINO - Inglorious Basterds

LARS VON TRIER - Antichrist

BEST ACTOR

SASHA BARON COHEN - Bruno

JEFF BRIDGES - Crazy Heart

WILLEM DAFOE - Antichrist

COLIN FIRTH - A Single Man

BEN FOSTER - The Messenger

JAMES MACAVOY - The Last Station

BEST ACTRESS

MARIA BELLO - Downloading Nancy

CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG - Antichrist

HELEN MIRREN - The Last Station

CAREY MULLIGAN - An Education

GABOUREY SIDIBE - Precious

TILDA SWINTON - Julia

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

WOODY HARRELSON - The Messenger

ALFRED MOLINA - An Education

JASON PATRIC - Downloading Nancy

BRAD PITT - Inglorious Basterds

CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER - The Last Station

CHRISTOPH WALTZ - Inglorious Basterds

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

VERA FARMIGA - Up in the Air

MELANIE LAURENT - Inglorious Basterds

MO'NIQUE - Precious

JULIANNE MOORE - A Single Man

SAMANTHA MORTON - The Messenger

PAULA PATTON - Precious

BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE

SASHA BARON COHEN - Bruno

JESSE EISENBERG - Adventureland

RICKY GERVAIS - The Invention of Lying

ALLISON JANEY - Away We Go

ANNA KENDRICK - Up in the Air

MAYA RUDOLPH - Away We Go

BEST HORROR/THRILLER PERFORMANCE

VERA FARMIGA - Orphan

KATIE FEATHERSTON - Paranormal Activity

ISABELLE FURHMAN - Orphan

WOODY HARRELSON - Zombieland
ALLISON LOHMAN - Drag Me to Hell

LORNA RAVER - Drag Me to Hell

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

ADVENTURELAND - Greg Mottola

ANTICHRIST - Lars Von Trier

DOWNLOADING NANCY - Pamela Cuming & Lee Ross

INGLORIOUS BASTERDS - Quienten Tarantino

THE INVENTION OF LYING - Ricky Gervais & Matthew Robinson

THE MESSENGER - Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

CRAZY HEART - Scott Cooper

JULIA - Aude Py & Erick Zonca

PRECIOUS - Geoffrey Fletcher

A SINGLE MAN - Tom Ford

UP IN THE AIR - Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE - Spike Jonez & Dave Eggers

BEST SONG

"DOVE OF PEACE" - Bruno (performed by Sasha Baron Cohen & Guests)

"FLYING AND FALLIN" - Crazy Heart (performed by Jeff Bridges & Colin Farrel)

"I DON'T KNOW" - Crazy Heart (performed by Jeff Bridges)

"THE WEARY KIND" - Crazy Heart (performed by Ryan Bingham)

"ALL IS LOVE" - Where the Wild Things Are (performed by Karen O)

"WORRIED SHOES" - Where the Wild Things Are (performed by Karen O)

BEST SCORE

AVATAR

BROTHERS

A SINGLE MAN

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

ANTICHRIST

AVATAR
DISTRICT 9

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

BEST MAKEUP

DRAG ME TO HELL

DISTRICT 9

ORPHAN

A SINGLE MAN

ZOMBIELAND

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

ANTICHRIST

AVATAR

THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL

INGLORIOUS BASTERDS
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

BEST COSTUMES

AN EDUCATION

BRIGHT STAR
BRUNO
NINE
A SINGLE MAN

WORST MOVIE OF THE YEAR

THE BLIND SIDE

JENNIFER'S BODY

INVICTUS

NINE

TWILIGHT: NEW MOON

SAW VI

WORST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

QUENTIN AARON - The Blind Side

SANDRA BULLOCK - The Blind Side

JAE HEAD - The Blind Side

TAYLOR LAUTNER - Twilight: New Moon

DANIEL DAY LEWIS - Nine

KRISTIN STEWART - Twilight: New Moon

Films with the most nominations:

INGLORIOUS BASTERDS - 8 nominations

A SINGLE MAN - 8 nominations

ANTICHRIST - 7 nominations

PRECIOUS - 6 nominations

CRAZY HEART - 6 nominations

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE - 6 nominations

BRUNO - 5 nominations

THE MESSENGER - 5 nominations

There you have it!!

I will post my winners next week after the Oscar winners!

(coz these will be better!)

The Chlotrudis Awards Nominees

2010-02-10T17:40:00.000-08:00

The influential and controversial Chlotrudis awards have listed their nominations. They have leaned to more foreign fare, it's an interesting list!

Movie
35 Shots of Rum
The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call — New Orleans
The Hurt Locker
Still Walking
The White Ribbon

Director
Claire Denis for 35 Shots of Rum
Werner Herzog for The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call — New Orleans
Götz Spielmann for Revanche
Hirokazu Koreeda for Still Walking
Michael Haneke for The White Ribbon

Ensemble Cast
35 Shots of Rum
In the Loop
Still Walking
Summer Hours
The White Ribbon

Adapted Screenplay
The Class
An Education
Gomorrah
Pontypool
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
A Single Man

Original Screenplay
(500) Days of Summer
The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call — New Orleans
The Hurt Locker
In the Loop
Still Walking

Supporting Actor
Alfred Molina for An Education
Mads Mikkelsen for Flame and Citron
Anthony Mackie for The Hurt Locker
Peter Capaldi for In the Loop
Christian McKay for Me and Orson Welles

Supporting Actress
Rinko Kikuchi for The Brothers Bloom
Alycia Delmore for Humpday
Mo’Nique for Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Ursula Strauss for Revanche
Julianne Moore for A Single Man

Actor
Nicolas Cage for The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call — New Orleans
Jeremy Renner for The Hurt Locker
Sam Rockwell for Moon
Baard Owe for O’Horten
Colin Firth for A Single Man

Actress
Charlotte Gainsbourg for Antichrist
Abbie Cornish for Bright Star
Catalina Saavedra for The Maid
Gabourey ‘Gabby’ Sidibe for Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Yolande Moreau for Séraphine

Documentary
The Beaches of Agnès
La Danse
Good Hair
Herb and Dorothy
Theater of War
Unmistaken Child

ANNIE Award Winners

2010-02-10T17:36:00.000-08:00

The 2010 ANNIE Awards have announced their winners. They of course award the best Animated films of the year. Here is who won:

Best Animated Feature
* Up — Pixar Animation Studios

Best Animated Short Subject
* Robot Chicken: Star Wars 2.5 — ShadowMachine

Animated Effects
* James Mansfield The Princess and the Frog — Walt Disney Animation Studios

Character Animation in a Feature Production
* Eric Goldberg The Princess and the Frog — Walt Disney Animation Studios

Character Design in a Feature Production
* Shane Prigmore Coraline — Laika

Directing in a Feature Production
* Pete Docter Up — Pixar Animation Studios

Music in a Feature Production
* Bruno Coulais Coraline — Laika

Production Design in a Feature Production
* Tadahiro Uesugi Coraline — Laika

Storyboarding in a Feature Production
* Tom Owens Monsters vs. Aliens — DreamWorks Animation

Voice Acting in a Feature Production
* Jen Cody – Voice of Charlotte – The Princess and the Frog — Walt Disney Animation Studios

Writing in a Feature Production
* Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach – Fantastic Mr. Fox — 20th Century Fox

The Huffington Post Best Of

2010-02-10T17:31:00.000-08:00

The Huffington Post has released it's best of the year lists. Here is a look at what they have to choose:

1. The Hurt Locker
2. Up
3. Up in the Air
4. Inglourious Basterds
5. Precious
6. Avatar
7. District 9
8. A Serious Man
9. An Education
10. Julie and Julia

They also have a best actress poll - and here are the standings:

1 - Meryl Streep - Julie and Julia
2 - Gabourey Sidibe - Precious
3 - Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side
4 - Carey Mulligan - An Education
5 - Helen Mirren - The Last Station

Hollywood Stock Exchange Oscar Odds

2010-02-10T17:27:00.000-08:00

Talk about taking a gamble on the Oscars, the Hollywood Stock Exchange works is that it simulates actual stock options for contenders. The more people who believe a certain film or performer will win, the higher their stock. Here is what it's looking like now - as far as who is leading based on how much money has been bet on each contender.

BEST PICTURE - Avatar is in the lead, in a big way. However over the past 2 days, The Hurt Locker has been picking up steam.

BEST DIRECTOR - James Cameron is in the lead, however 1 single dollar seperates him from Kathryn Bigelow. This is hugely tight.

BEST ACTOR - Jeff Bridges is ahead by quite a bit.

BEST ACTRESS - Sandra Bullock is ahead by a small margin over Meryl Streep. In the past 2 days Gabourey Sidibe, shockingly, has picked up a 10% jump in $ thrown her way.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Christoph Waltz leaps and bounds above anyone else.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - Mo'Nique in a landslide.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY - Up in the Air leads, its closest competition is District 9.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY - Its almost a toss up between Inglorious Basterds (which has a slight lead now) and The Hurt Locker.

BET UP!

Can ANYONE beat the frontrunners?

2010-02-10T17:16:00.000-08:00

So it seems we have 4 frontrunners (some more locked than others). Whereas Best Picture and Best Director seem to be up for grabs, our acting awards seem pretty much sweeped. Is there any chance for an acting suprise? Let's see:

BEST ACTRESS

I don't consider Bullock a complete frontrunner. However I have chosen her because she has won all the big awards so far (two were ties however or split categories). She is a frontrunner because she is very well liked, and she interviews well. There is a warm love for Bullock among her contemporaries (not for me however). Not that Streep isn't loved, she of course is. However I think what makes Bullock a frontrunner is the Academy is going to want to award her now, mainly because they may have no other chance. Streep doesn't seem to be slowing down at all. That being said, I think Streep can still take it. Let us not forget she hasn't been awarded an Oscar since the 80's! Since her performance in Kramer Vs. Kramer. I don't think its a runaway victory for Sandra just yet. (And I personally wish that Gabourey Sidibe would stun everyone and win -- that wont happen)

BEST ACTOR

Everything points to a Jeff Bridges win. I honestly don't think that either of our 4 other choices have a shot. That being said, it isn't as big of a lock as our supporting categories. Who could challenge him? Well if it were based on an amazing performance, Colin Firth should be getting his share of awards. However it won't be him. Freeman was lucky to be nominated, and I doubt Renner will ride the Hurt Locker success to a win. The only minor threat could be George Clooney. Why you may ask? Well they love George first off. Secondly, Up in the Air, started out very strong and it seems to have lost all of its momentum at this point. It won't win best picture. Neither of its supporting ladies have a shot. It has a good shot at screenplay perhaps. But, if they want to reward the film in a big way, it will be here. I think its a longshot, as Bridges is a well respected veteran with no Oscar win, but Clooney is the only one who can edge him out. (he won't)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Let's not kid ourselves. It's going to Mo'Nique. (and well deserved) People are murmering that Maggie Gyllenhaal could be the spoiler, but she hasn't won anything (or even been nominated) all season. Mo'Niques performance is a revelation, and she will easily win.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Sure it looks like Waltz is the easy winner, and will 99.9% walk away with the trophy. However, I feel that Oscar sometimes likes to throw suprises in the supporting categories, and Supporting Actress is sewed up. So who would be the one to be the spoiler? They may want to reward Christopher Plummer who is in his 80's and still doesn't have a win. Woody was great. But I think Stanley Tucci is the one who could prove a spoiler. Why? He had a great year turning in a menacing and scary performance in Lovely Bones, and a charming and fun performance in Julie and Julia. He is respected, and has never been nominated. If Waltz is to lose, it will be to him. (Although I don't think he will)

So there you have it. In my opinion it looks like Mo'Nique, Christoph Waltz, and Jeff Bridges are for sure taking home and Oscar. My heart says Meryl, but my gut says Sandra will walk away a winner.

What do you think?

Streep Vs. Bullock

2010-02-10T16:56:00.000-08:00

It looks to be the biggest up in the air category at the Oscars this year, best actress. Will it be Bullock for Blind Side or Meryl for Julia? Here is a look at what certain websites and polls are saying:

Awards Daily Poll:
Sandra Bullock - 45% (1419 votes)
Meryl Streep - 41% (1262 votes)

E Online Poll:
Sandra Bullock - 51%
Meryl Streep - 48%

The Envelope Forum:
Meryl Streep - 52%
Sandra Bullock - 48%

RuPaul picks the best of the year - and the worst

2010-02-05T09:08:00.000-08:00

RuPaul, the world famous drag queen and tv star and music star and author, has released an exciting and fun list of the best and worst of the year. Hey, I'll take Ru's advice. Enjoy the list:

THE BEST
1 - Up
2 - Precious
3 - District 9
4 - 500 Days of Summer
5 - Zombieland
6 - Whip It
7 - This is It
8 - September Issue
9 - Taking Woodstock
10 - Whatever Works

THE WORST
1 - The Blind Side
2- Funny People
3 - Princess & The Frog
4 - Brothers
5 - Sherlock Holmes
6 - Jennifer's Body
7 - Nine: The Musical
8 - Pirate Radio
9 - Invictus
10 - Transformers 2

50 Greatest Documentaries of All Time (part 2)

2010-02-04T16:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a final look at my list of the best documentary films of all time. Listed in the post below were my choices 50-20. Here is a look at the top 19! If you haven't seen these films you should check them out immediately!

50 GREATEST DOCUMENTARIES (Part 2)

19. 51 Birch Street

A first hand account of a families secrets. The director compiles home videos to seam together the marriage between his own mother and father which seemed perfection, but was far from it. A mystery of a documentary.

18. Outrage

An expose of homosexual politicians who are colested and currently are fighting against gay rights. The director attempts to out his subjects and this controversial and maddening look at politics in America.

17. Man On Wire

A suspenseful look at tightrope walker Philippe Petit's daring, but illegal, high-wire routine performed between New York City's World Trade Center's twin towers in the 70's. It is all at once an action film, a mystery, a thriller, a comedy, and a documentary.

16. The Nomi Song

Based on the life of Klaus Nomi, a self described alien from outerspace who has come to save the human race. Klaus gained quick fame as a pop/rock performance artist, who used his extensive opera training to set him apart. His too short life was ended by AIDS, but this film lets his legacy live on.

15. Michael Jackson - This Is It

A film chronicling the comeback that would have been. Months after the passing of the "King of Pop" this powerful doc was released which documented his planned comeback tour "This is It". For the first time it shows a glimpse into what MJ was actually like. Gone too soon, for sure.

14. Shut Up And Sing

Who would have ever thought that country group The Dixie Chicks would speak up before anyone else about how horrible George Bush was. It nearly ruined their career and this film documents their fallout and subsequent rise. It paints these 3 as true American heros.

13. (tie) Capitalism: A Love Story

Sicko

These 2 Michael Moore documentaries I feel are equally as powerful and companion pieces of one another. Sicko delves into the horrific American health care system, and Capitalism is a striking expose on the American spending structure. Both are miraculous, and best when seen together.

12. The Eyes of Tammy Faye

A brilliant look into the life of Tammy Faye Baker. She began as wife to televisions most famous (and corrupt) televangelists. She has gone through much public hatred and scrutiny, however this film shows Tammy Faye in a bright light. As a non-religious person myself, this makes me respect when religion is handled in the correct way.

11. Spellbound

A behind the scenes look at the competitve spelling bee. The film follows 8 central kids as they try to become the US champion speller. Its surprising how cutthroat it gets.

10. (tie) Alieen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer

Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killers

Really one film stretched into 2 editions, director Nick Bromfield forms a very close bond with Aileen Wuornos (the subject for Monster starring Charlize Theron). What follows is a films that actually brings humanity and reason to a woman that has been painted as a demon. To watch her story unfold, while knowing her past, makes these films truly hard to watch. There power however is undeniable.

9. Bowling for Columbine

Michael Moore's documentary focusing on gun laws may very well be his most factual and important, it also may be his funniest. This is the film for which he won his first and only Oscar. It is all at once provoative and touching.

8. (tie) Jesus Camp

Religulous

2 of the best documentaries based on religion; Jesus Camp is scarier than most horror films I've seen. It focuses on one (of many) summer camps run by evangelists around the US, mainly in the South. Their focus is on children under the age of 12, and the results are stunning and downright abusive. Its best followed by comedian Bill Maher's documentary on what is wrong with religion, and why it very well may be a figment of our imaginations.

7. The Hunting of the President

A stunning look at the 10 year campaign from republicans to destroy the presidency of Bill Clinton. With insiders telling the true story, it is shocking and maddening at what people will do to destroy someone who sits on the opposite party plateua. In the end, it paints Mr. Clinton pretty well.

6. Deliver Us From Evil

The most disturbing documentary on the list, easily. It center around Father Oliver O'Grady, a Catholic priest who was relocated to various parishes around the United States during the 1970s in an attempt by the Catholic Church to cover up his rape of dozens of children. Truly astonishing and criminal stuff.

5. Crazy Love

The shocking true story of a love story that is far from natural. Sixteen years after Linda Riss has acid thrown in her face by Burt Pagach, the couple marry. Yes, you read it right. You won't even believe what youre watching.

4. Madonna: Truth or Dare

Easily the best music-star documentary. This is a no-holds-barred look behind the scenes of Madonna's Blonde Ambition tour in 1990. We see the real Madonna behind all the glitz and glamour, what drives her creatively, how dirty she really is, all along with some glimpses at the concert itself. It's Madonna in her prime and it's very interesting and provocative stuff.

3. Capturing the Friedmans

Documentary on the Friedmans, a seemingly typical, upper-middleclass Jewish family whose world is instantly transformed when the father and his youngest son are arrested and charged with shocking and horrible crimes. Its a true enigma of a film, and one of the rare documentaries that even when its done, you're not sure of the truth. Powerful stuff.

2. Farenheit 9/11

Michael Moor on what happened to the United States after September 11; and how the Bush Administration used the tragic event to push forward its agenda for unjust wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. This is easily the best Moore documentary, and easily one of the most powerful films I have ever seen. It all at once angered me and inspired me. Agree with him or not, Moore is a brilliant filmaker.

1. (tie) Grey Gardens

The Beales of Grey Gardens

The documentary spawned a Tony award winning musical and a Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG winning film. The documentary follows Big and Little Edith Beale, cousin and aunt to Jackie Kennedy Onasis. The mother and daughter live in a delapidated mansion in the Hamptons filled with cats, racoons, and fleas. The movie is essentially the 2 remiscing on the days when they had it all. And in the end it shows that all they ever needed was each other. Its a frightening, brutal, loving, emotional, funny, and important film. The Beales of Grey Gardens is just footage that did not make it into the theatrical cut of the film - and is also essential viewing. It is simply the best documentary ever made.

---

There you have it folks!

Your thoughts?

50 Greatest Documentaries of All Time (part 1)

2010-02-03T18:33:00.000-08:00

Now that Oscar season is all primed and ready to go, I am going to start some other topics on the blog. Here is a look into one of my favorite genre's of film: The Documentary. After much long thought, here is a look at the top 50 documentaries I have ever seen. There are some big name titles you are sure to know, and some smaller ones that you may have never heard of. All are worth a peek. Enjoy the list and please comment.

TOP 50 DOCUMENTARIES OF ALL TIME

PART 1: 50 - 20

50. Mayor of the Sunset Strip

The story of Rodney Bingenheimer, a radio dj who is known to have launched and discovered some of the most popular acts in today's music scene. A behind the scenes look at his manic personality and those around him.

49. Hell House

A terrifying look behind the scenes of one religious "Hell House", a halloween tradition in many churches all over the south.

48. Zoo

A highly disturbing and delicate look into the fetish of beastiality. Shockingly romantic in its nature, it is all at once touching and sickening look intro a group of "animal lovers".

47. The Celluloid Closet

Delves deep into Hollywood's perception of homosexuality onscreen in the 20th century. Featuring interviews from many film icons.

46. Tyson

A closer look into the tumultuous life of boxer Mike Tyson. Featuring Tyson front and center, it is an unapologetic and endearing look at a tough and tortured man.

45. The Cockettes

Documenting the San Francisco hippy/drag theatre troupe The Cockettes. Rare footage shows a time in history where freedom of expression reigned supreme.

44. The Big One

On his Midwest book tour, Michael Moore, stirs up more political trouble as he goes after Procter and Gamble and the Pay Day candy bar.

43. Every Little Step

A very complete look at the remounting of "A Chorus Line" on Broadway. In depth look at the show from casting calls through rehearsals and ending in opening night.

42. Divine Trash

Documents the relationship between avant guarde film director John Waters and his muse Divine a 300 pound drag queen. A surprisingly touching look at the short life of the queen of the trash-film empire.

41. Wigstock

A behind the scenes look at the Woodstock for Drag Queens. This 3 day concert and festival has launched the carreer of RuPaul and Lady Bunny. Features an array of Drag performers and their stories.

40. American Teen

The story of 5 high school seniors making their way through their last year of highschool. All the steretypes are covered: The Jock, the loner, the cheerleader, the pretty boy, and the goth.

39. The Lady in Question is CHarles Busch

The story of actor, playwright, author, and impersonator Charles Busch. A rags to riches story of a man who wasn't wanted in Hollywood so he became a woman.

38. No End in Sight

An expose on the shoddy attacks on Iraq featuring insiders involved. Shining a light of the horrible Bush presidency.

37. Guerrilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst

The story of teen socialite and heiress Patricia Hearst and her kidnapping and then choice to join her kidnappers in their social fight. Focuses on the whole story before and after the kidnapping to the present.

36. Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired

Timely, moreso recently, this expose on the Polanski molestation charges along with his life story. His mother concentration camp survivor, his wife murdered by the Manson clan, it's all covered.

35. The September Issue

A behind the scenes look into the production of Vogue magazine's famous September Issue. Little known glimpse into the personal life of it's icy editor Anna Wintour.

34. The Times of Harvey Milk

Before the movie version, this documentary shows an even deeper look into the life and political successes of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay congressman.

33. The Legend of Leigh Bowery

A portrait of the outlandish and unreal performance artist, musician, and designer Leigh Bowery. He has inspired Boy George, and British Painter Freud.

32. Crumb

David Lynch presents this Terry Zwigoff film about the underground comicbook artist Robert Crumb. Featuring his family of psychotics, and his lovely wide, its a portrait of a misunderstood and creative artist.

31. Paris Is Burning

A look into the underground revolution of "Balls" - a gathering of homosexual African American men who invented many styles of dance, including Vouging - which Madonna snapped right up.

30. Andy Warhol - American Masters

A 4 hour expose on pop artist Andy Warhol from birth to death. Featuring many candid and revealing video's of Andy and his "superstar" gang.

29. Brother's Keeper

A harrowing look at the alleged murder of 64-year-old Bill Ward by his brother Delbert, a dairy farmer in a small town. A look at a small community that goes to bat for a likeable if odd hermit.

28. The Jaundiced Eye

A look at the decade long trials and emotional traumas incurred by a gay and his straight father, who were wrongfully accused of molestation. Exposes homophobia in a direct and disturbing way.

27. Pie in the Sky: The Brigid Berlin Story

An intimate look at Brigid Berlin, a high society dropout and Andy Warhol superstar and muse. An aging Brigid looks back on her life and we see how her chaotic past haunts her daily life.

26. King of Kong: A Fistfull of Quarters

A highly enjoyable look at the competive life of arcade games. 2 gamers face off to see who will be the all time high scorer. Its much more fun than you may think.

25. Roger & Me

Michael Moore's first documentary. He takes on General Motors and lays down the style that he will master in his later films.

24. Jonestown: The Life and Death of the People's Temple

A terrifying look at reverand Jim Jones and his religious cult and followers. It tells the story leading up to the mass suicide Jones headed to put an end to all of his followers lives. Unreal and scary.

23. Grizzly Man

Werner Herzog directs the true story of a man who devoted his life to the grizzly bear. The story of Timonthy Treadwell who spent 13 summers in an Alaskan national park with his precious bears. Ending in his death by one of their hands.

22. The War Room

The story of how George Stephanapolous and James Carville changed the way an election was won. They handle the Clinton/Gore campaign the year that Clinton won in a landslide against George Bush Sr. The 2 are an unbelievably likeable comedic duo.

21. For the Bible Tells Me So

A look into the clash between modern religion and homosexuality. Deals with many people's personal stories, including a catholic bishop.

20. The Cove

A suspenseful and stressful look into the dolphin herding and slaughtering in Asia. The creator of Flipper heads up a troup of dolphin lovers to rescue dolphins and put a stop to the slaughter. It's high tension.

Sandra makes history again

2010-02-02T17:01:00.000-08:00

Sandra Bullock has made history again this season. This time it's because she is officially the first actor ever to be nominated for an Oscar and a Razzie in the same year. Haha! She is nominated for an Oscar for her work in "The Blind Side" and a Razzie for her work in "All About Steve". She is highly predicted to win both as well. That kinda sums it up for me where Sandra is concerned.

How my Predictions Fared / Oscar Surprises

2010-02-02T16:51:00.000-08:00

Well the nominees are in, let's see how well I did prediction wise, and lets look at the surprises:

BEST PICTURE
I went 9/10. The only one I didn't predict was THE BLIND SIDE. (Which I am still surprised to see nominated) I had figured The Messenger would get in instead.

BEST DIRECTOR
I went 5/5!

BEST ACTOR
Again I went 5/5!

BEST ACTRESS
I went 4/5. I went out on a limb saying that Emily Blunt would be nominated over HELEN MIRREN. I should have known to bet against 'the queen'.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
I went 5/5 here again!

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Here I only went 3/5. My picks of Julianne Moore and Samantha Morton were overlooked for PENELOPE CRUZ and the biggest pleasent surprise of all MAGGIE GYLENHAAL.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
I went 4/5 here predicted 500 Days of Summer over THE MESSENGER.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
I went 4/5 here predicting Fantastic Mr. Fox over IN THE LOOP, which was a pleasant surprise as well.

FOREIGN FILM
I went only 2/5 here, predicting only Un Prophet and The White Ribbon.

DOCUMENTARY
2/5 here, predicting only the frontrunners The Cove and Food Inc.

ANIMATED
I went 4/5 here. Missing the surprise nomination of THE SECRET OF KELLS.

- Overall it was a good tally of predictions for me, although I hope to do better on Oscar night.
There were some good surprises here. And some sad emmisions (I wish Julianne Moore would have gotten a nomination, along with Samantha Morton. And I was sad to see Where the Wild Things Are shut out).

And the Nominee's Are!

2010-02-02T16:33:00.000-08:00

After long nights of dialogue and much thought and predictions, the Oscar nominees have been announced. And here they are in full. ENJOY!

BEST PICTURE

Avatar

The Blind Side

District 9

An Education

The Hurt Locker

Inglorious Basterds

Precious

A Serious Man

Up in the Air

BEST DIRECTOR

Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker

James Cameron - Avatar

Lee Daniels - Precious

Jason Reitman - Up in the Air

Quentin Tarantino - Inglorious Basterds

BEST ACTOR

Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart

George Clooney - Up in the Air

Colin Firth - A Single Man

Morgan Freeman - Invictus

Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker

BEST ACTRESS

Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side

Helen Mirren - The Last Station

Carey Mulligan - An Education

Gabourey Sidibe - Precious

Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Matt Damon - Invictus

Woody Harrelson - The Messenger

Christopher Plummer - The Last Station

Stanley Tucci - The Lovely Bones

Christoph Waltz - Inglorious Basterds

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Penelope Cruz - Nine

Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air

Maggie Gylenhaal - Crazy Heart

Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air

Mo'Nique - Precious

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

“The Hurt Locker” Written by Mark Boal

“Inglourious Basterds” Written by Quentin Tarantino
“The Messenger” Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
“A Serious Man” Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen

“Up” Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

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

BEST FOREIGN FILM

Ajami

El Secreto de Sus Ojos

The Milk of Sorrow

Un Prophète

The White Ribbon

BEST DOCUMENTARY

Burma VJ

The Cove

Food Inc.

The Most Dangerous Man in America

Which Way Home

BEST ANIMATED FILM

Coraline

Fantastic Mr. Fox

The Princess and the Frog

The Secret of Kells

BEST ORIGIONAL SONG

“Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36” Music by Reinhardt Wagner Lyric by Frank Thomas
“Take It All” from “Nine” Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston
“The Weary Kind” from “Crazy Heart” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

BEST SCORE

“Avatar” James Horner
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Alexandre Desplat
“The Hurt Locker” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
“Sherlock Holmes” Hans Zimmer
“Up” Michael Giacchino

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

“Avatar” Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones

“District 9” Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken

“Star Trek” Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton

BEST MAKEUP

“Il Divo” Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
“Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
“The Young Victoria” Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore

BEST COSTUMES

“Bright Star” Janet Patterson
“Coco before Chanel” Catherine Leterrier
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Monique Prudhomme
“Nine” Colleen Atwood
“The Young Victoria” Sandy Powell

BEST ART DIRECTION

“Avatar” Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg

“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro

“Nine” John Myhre Gordon Sim
“Sherlock Holmes” Sarah Greenwood; Katie Spencer
“The Young Victoria” Patrice Vermette; Maggie Gray

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

“Avatar” Mauro Fiore

“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” Bruno Delbonnel
“The Hurt Locker” Barry Ackroyd

“Inglourious Basterds” Robert Richardson
“The White Ribbon” Christian Berger

BEST EDITING

“Avatar” Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron

“District 9” Julian Clarke
“The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
“Inglourious Basterds” Sally Menke
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Joe Klotz

BEST SOUND EDITING

“Avatar” Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle

“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson
“Inglourious Basterds” Wylie Stateman
“Star Trek” Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
“Up” Michael Silvers and Tom Myers

BEST SOUND MIXING

“Avatar” Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
“Inglourious Basterds” Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
“Star Trek” Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

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 à la Berlin

BEST ANIMATED SHORT

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

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT

The Door

Instead of Abracadabra

Kavi

Miracle Fish

The New Tenants

My last minute FYC choices

2010-02-01T18:36:00.000-08:00

Hey, I know my opinion does'nt matter. But that won't hurt me from making a last ditch effort to shoot my support to the following choices! I hope these get a shot at a nomination, as I think they were deserving. Most likely they wont, but here's who should rank among the best come nomination time tomorrow!

BEST PICTURE

ANTICHRIST

(it has no shot I know. But with 10 nominees this year, I wish Oscar would go balls to the wall and select something truly edgy and challenging like Antichrist. They won't but, hey, a boy can wish!)

BEST DIRECTOR

Michael Moore - Capitalism: A Love Story

(also no shot I know. But a release date trifle has the film ineligable for a best documentary nod. Many people believe Capitalism was Moore's magnum opus. I found it amazing as well. He deserves recognition but won't get it)

BEST ACTOR

Ben Foster - The Messenger

(I don't know how Ben Foster has been overlooked for his magnificent performance in the Messenger. Although Harreslson is a revelation, Ben holds the film together. I hope he gets a shot!)

BEST ACTRESS

Tilda Swinton - Julia

(a recent winner, Tilda turns in the best performance of her career in Julia. I honestly have no idea how she has been overlooked this season. This is my one pick that I think has the slightest chance of happening. Although I am pretty sure its just my wishful thinking.)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Brad Pitt - Inglorious Basterds

(I do not know how Brad Pitt hasn't gotten some love this season. Sure, he's overshadowed by Christoph Waltz, but his Lt. Aldo Ray is one of the most memorable antihero's in recent memory. I think its one of his best performances.)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Rosamund Pike - An Education

(she was downright hillarious, and for me the highlight of the film. We know Mo'Nique is going to win, and deserves to win. So let's throw a nomination to a truly comedic masterpiece of a supporting performance.)

Less than 24 hours!

2010-02-01T18:23:00.000-08:00

in less than 24 hours - we will have our nominees

Who are you rooting for????

Lolo Film Award Nominations

2010-02-01T18:07:00.000-08:00

The lolo awards are a culty internet poster in various awards forums. I am posting his nominees, because I think they are wonderfully different! Here they are:

BEST PICTURE

Bright Star

Summer Hours

Un Prophet

The White Ribbon

Where The Wild Things Are

BEST DIRECTOR

Olivier Assayrus - Summer Hours

Jaques Audierd - Un Prophet

Jane Campion - Bright Star

Joel and Ethan Cohen - A Serious Man

Michael Haenke - The White Ribbon

Spike Jonez - Where the Wild Things Are

BEST ACTOR

Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart

George Clooney - Up in the Air

Colin Firth - A Single Man

Tahar Raihm - Un Prophet

Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker

Sam Rockwell - Moon

BEST ACTRESS

Abbie Cornish - Bright Star

Charlotte Gainsbourg - Antichrist

Carey Mulligan - An Education

Gabourey Sidibe - Precious

Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia

Tilda Swinton - Julia

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Niels Aartstrup - Un Prophet

Peter Capaldi - In the Loop

Woody Harrelson - The Messenger

Anthony Mackie - The Hurt Locker

Christian McKay - Me & Orson Wells

Christoph Waltz - Inglorious Basterds

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Roxanne Durin - The White Ribbon

Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air

Susanne Lothar - The White Ribbon

Julianne Moore - A Single Man

Mo'Nique - Precious

Edith Scob - Summer Hours

BEST ENSEMBLE

Inglorious Basterds

In the Loop

A Serious Man

Summer Hours

Up In the Air

The White Ribbon

Oscar gets a poster

2010-02-01T16:21:00.000-08:00

Newsweek Roundtable

2010-02-01T16:18:00.000-08:00

NEWSWEEK ACTORS ROUNDTABLE

this years selections:

Jeff Bridges

Sandra Bullock

Morgan Freeman

Woody Harrellson

Carey Mulligan

Gabourey Sidibe

heres a link to the full interview: http://photo.newsweek.com/oscar-roundtable/2010/electric-company.html

but here are my highlights:

Sandra, wasn’t one of your first movies The Vanishing with Jeff Bridges?
BULLOCK: Yes, it was. He chloroformed me and then buried me alive. It was pretty great because our work consisted of getting in the car, chloroforming me, and then me falling in his lap for the whole scene. I was like, this is a great job. I was in Jeff Bridges’s lap for a full day. My first gig. Not a bad way to start.
HARRELSON: Was that OK for you, Jeff?
BRIDGES: I rather enjoyed it, yeah.

Is this happening to you, Carey? (being recognized on the street)
MULLIGAN: No. I’m really a forgettable person. I’ve been recognized twice. And that was after doing Doctor Who, which is a big TV series in England. I did one episode, and I had long blond hair. I change my hair five times a year, and I’m kind of malleable, so I don’t look the same.

Have any of you seen Avatar?
FREEMAN: It's just cartoons.

Gabby, I saw that you were logged on to Facebook before we started.

SIDIBE: Yeah, just because I’ve known a lot of people in my life. I have a personal cap on how many friends I will have. I will never, ever have more than 200 friends. Now I’m at 198, and people are getting deleted. I like Facebook because I just got in contact with my junior-high-school crush.
BULLOCK: Aww.
Did you contact him or did he contact you?
SIDIBE: Ummm. [Silence.] I found him. I was like, “Hi, look, I’m famous now. Do you like me? Check yes or no.”

Well, on that note, we’re out of time. Thank you, everybody.
BRIDGES: You know, I’m going to ask you for one weird request, Carey. I hope it doesn’t embarrass you. But I’ve been looking at your toes the whole time.
MULLIGAN: Oh my! I am flattered.

DGA declares a winner

2010-02-01T16:03:00.000-08:00

Kathryn Bigelow has made history again. She is the first female director to win the DGA award. All predictors said that for sure James Cameron would win. Well, step back Cammy, its Bigelow's night. So she is riding high into Oscar time. She will surely land a nomination tomorrow, and I predict the Oscar will go to her as well. Time will only tell.

The Razzie Nominations!

2010-02-01T16:01:00.000-08:00

Here they are - the nominations for the worst movies of the year.

And since we just closed out a decade's worth of films, we have those as well.

ENJOY THE AWARDS!

Worst Picture of the Year
“All About Steve”
“G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra”
“Land of the Lost”
“Old Dogs”"
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”

Worst Actor of the YearWill Ferrell, “Land of the Lost”
Jonas Brothers, “Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience”
Steve Martin, “Pink Panther 2″
Eddie Murphy, “Imagine That”
John Travolta, “Old Dogs”

Worst Actress of the Year
Beyonce, “Obsessed”
Sandra Bullock, “All About Steve”
Miley Cyrus, “Hannah Montana: The Movie”
Megan Fox, “Jennifer’s Body” and “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”
Sarah Jessica Parker, “Did You Hear About the Morgans?”

Worst Supporting Actor of the Year
Billy Ray Cyrus, “Hannah Montana: The Movie”
Hugh Hefner, “Miss March”
Robert Pattinson, “Twilight Saga: New Moon”
Jorma Taccone, “Land of the Lost”
Marlon Wayans, “G.I. Joe”

Worst Supporting Actress of the Year
Candice Bergen, “Bride Wars”
Ali Larter, “Obsessed”
Sienna Miller, “G.I. Joe”
Kelly Preston,”Old Dogs”
Julie White, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”

Worst Director of the Year
Michael Bay, “Trasformers: Revenge of the Fallen”
Walt Becker, “Old Dogs”
Brad Silberling, “Land of the Lost”
Stephen Sommers, “G.I. Joe”
Phil Traill, “All About Steve”

Worst Screenplay of the Year
“All About Steve”
“G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra”
“Land of the Lost”
“Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen”
“Twilight Saga: New Moon”

Worst Screen Couple of the Year
Jonas Brothers, “The Jonas Brothers 3-D Concert Experience”
Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper, “All About Steve”
Will Ferrell and any co-star, Creature or “Comic Riff,” “Land of the Lost”
Shia Lebouf and Megan Fox or any Transformer, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”
Kristin Stewart and Robert Pattinson or Taylor Lautner, “Twilight Saga: New Moon”

Worst Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel of the Year
“G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra”
“Land of the Lost”
“Pink Panther 2″
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”
“Twilight Saga: New Moon”

Worst Picture of the Decade
“Battlefield Earth”
“Freddy Got Fingered”
“Gigli”
“I Know Who Killed Me”
“Swept Away”

Worst Actor of the Decade
Ben Affleck
Eddie Murphy
Mike Myers
Rob Schneider
John Travolta

Worst Actress of the Decade
Mariah Carey
Paris Hilton
Lindsay Lohan
Jennifer Lopez
Madonna

Awards Daily Winners

2010-02-01T15:39:00.000-08:00

The winners of the awards daily awards came out today, and I also have the percentages, to show you by what majority the winners triumphed. Take a peek:

BEST PICTURE
Inglorious Basterds - 401 votes
The Hurt Locker - 386 votes
Avatar - 266 votes
Up in the Air - 133 votes
(500) Days of Summer - 96 votes
A Serious Man - 83 votes
Up - 80 votes
Precious - 65 votes
District 9 - 46 votes
An Education - 36 votes

BEST DIRECTOR
Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker - 819 votes
Quinten Tarantino - Inglorious Basterds - 359
James Cameron - Avatar - 260
Spike Jonez - Where the Wild Things Are - 109
Jason Reitman - Up in the Air - 48

BEST ACTOR
Colin Firth - A Single Man - 473 votes
Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart - 436
Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker - 284
George Clooney - Up in the Air - 245
Joseph Gordon Leavitt - (500) Days Of Summer - 148

BEST ACTRESS
Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia - 552 votes
Carey Mulligan - An Education - 408
Gabourey Sidibe - Precious - 239
Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side - 198
Tilda Swinton - Julia - 190

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christoph Waltz - Inglorious Basterds - 1292 votes
Woody Harrelson - The Messenger - 91
Anthony Mackie - The Hurt Locker - 82
Stanley Tucci - The Lovely Bones - 80
Alfred Molina - An Education - 42

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Mo'Nique - Precious - 859 votes
Melanie Laurent - Inglorious Basterds - 333 votes
Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air - 174
Julianne Moore - A Single Man - 133
Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air - 92

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Inglorious Basterds – 837 Votes
(500) Days of Summer – 328
The Hurt Locker – 162
A Serious Man – 144
Up – 121

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Up in the Air - 781 Votes
District 9 - 249
Where the Wild things Are - 241
Precious – 184
An Education – 132

Brittany Murphy killed by the studio?

2010-01-27T17:00:00.000-08:00

Brittany Murphy, who sadly passed away earilier this year, is now the focus of a potential lawsuit against Warner Brothers film studio. Her husband is calling the studio the reason for her death. Her husband claims that after Warner Brothers fired Murphy, eliminating her contract with the studio, she began a downward spiral which lead to a stress induced heart attack. This is all very sad. Who knows the truth? However I do know Murphy was a talented woman who never quite got the stardom she deserved. To see her overlooked performances which were Oscar nomination deserving include: Girl Interrupted and her magnificent performance in the sadly titled "The Dead Girl", check them out. R.I.P. Brittany Murphy

My Oscar Nominations Predictions

2010-01-27T16:28:00.000-08:00

It's a little less than 5 days until the Oscar nominations will be released. So I will do my best to predict the nominees to you here. I am hoping Oscar throws some curve balls, but I am doubting it very much. Here is how I think things will shake up: (i wont go into predicting winners just yet)

BEST PICTURE

We all know this year it will be 10 nominees. I think that this category is still pretty wide open, as far as nominations go. However, it is obvious that if there were 5 nominees (like usual) we would most definately see the following movies make the cut:

THE LOCKS:

Avatar

The Hurt Locker

Inglorious Basterds

Precious

Up in the Air

These 5 are done deals. Then when we look at the next 5 slots, things get a little more complicated. I think there's surely a lot of films which could land a nod, including: An Education, Up, A Single Man, A Serious Man, The Messenger, and District 9. It seems most likely that 5 of those would take up the spots. HOWEVER I wouldn't complete count out the wild cards: (500) Days of Summer, Star Trek, Invictus, Crazy Heart, The Hangover, Nine, Where the Wilds Things Are, This Is It, and Julie & Julia.

So, if I were to pick the 10 now, I would say:

PREDICTIONS:

An Education

Avatar

District 9

The Hurt Locker

Inglorious Basterds

The Messenger

Precious

A Serious Man

Up In the Air

*I have included District 9 as my big wildcard in this race. We shall see.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST DIRECTOR

I think this category is pretty locked up. I wouldn't be surprised if the DGA nominees are replicated here. However, I am going to still say there are locks:

THE LOCKS:

Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker

James Cameron - Avatar

Jason Reitman - Up in the Air

Quentin Tarantino - Inglorious Basterds

I see no surprise with those 4 being nominated. I do also feel that Lee Daniels is a pretty solid lock as well for his bangup job on Precious. However if someone is to be upset, it will most likely be him. Who could it be? Well the wildcard picks could be any of the following: Clint Eastwood (Invictus), The Cohen Brothers (A Simple Man), Neil Blomkamp (District 9), or maybe even fashion designer turned director Tom Ford (A Single Man). But .. as I feel the top 5 films are guaranteed locks, I believe their directors are the stars in this category, which adds Daniels into the mix.

PREDICTIONS:

Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker

James Cameron - Avatar

Lee Daniels - Precious

Jason Reitman - Up in the Air

Quentin Tarantino - Inglorious Basterds

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST ACTOR

This is one of the awards that seems frivilous, as the winner seems to be clear. However, could Oscar throw some love into the mix to spice it up by nominating someone surprising just to spice up the clear category? MAYBE! The locks are clear however:

THE LOCKS

Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart

George Clooney - Up in the Air

Colin Firth - A Single Man

Morgan Freeman - Invictus

Although I sometimes doubt Freeman's locked status, I believe he will sneak in just on good will. So we have the 5th slot. Surely it will go to Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker). But if they are feeling generous, maybe they will shoot some love to the wild cards: Ben Foster (The Messenger), Michael Stahlburg (A Serious Man), Matt Damon (The Informant!), Robert Downey Jr (Sherlock Holmes), Joseph Gordon Leavitt (500 Days of Summer) or Tobey McGuire (Brothers). However, I think the Hurt Locker will be a big winner come Oscar night, and they will want to spread the joy with Renner.

PREDICTIONS:

Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart

George Clooney - Up in the Air

Colin Firth - A Single Man

Morgan Freeman - Invictus

Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST ACTRESS

This is perhaps the most competitive of all of the races, as well as one which can have some real wildcard picks when nominations come. There are 4 locks, however that 5th slot is WIDE OPEN. Here is a look at the locks:

LOCKS:

Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side

Carey Mulligan - An Education

Gabourey Sidibe - Precious

Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia

Now for that 5th slot, it can honestly be anyone. The wildcard with the most heat would be Helen Mirren (The Last Station), she has gotten most of the nominations. I think though that she may be replaced by one of the following: Emily Blunt (The Young Victoria), Melanie Laurent (Inglorious Basterds), Marion Cotillard (Nine), Zoe Saldano (Avatar - which would be a first for CGI acting), Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones), Penelope Cruz (Broken Embraces), Shoreh Aghdashloo (The Stoning of Sorayah), and the exceptional Tilda Swinton (Julia). I wouldn't be shocked by any of these choice actually. I will be waiting with baited breath to see who grabs the last spot.

PREDICTIONS:

Emily Blunt - The Young Victoria

Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side

Carey Mulligan - An Education

Gabourey Sidibe - Precious

Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia

* I have chosen Blunt, but I would be much more excited if it were Tilda.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUPPORTING ACTOR

This is another category that the winner is clear. However the nominations could go many ways. I think as far as the locks go, there are shockingly only 2.

LOCKS:

Woody Harrelson - The Messenger

Christoph Waltz - Inglorious Basterds

Now is where things get interesting. Many men have been nominated over the season, but who will nab an Oscar nod. Stanley Tucci surely looks promising, but will it be for The Lovely Bones or Julie & Julia (or both?). Then we must not forget about these other choices: Christopher Plummer (The Last Station), Christian McKay (Me & Orson Welles), Anothony Mackie (The Hurt Locker), Matt Damon (Invictus), Alfred Molina (An Education), Robert DuVall (The Road), and Richard Kind (A Serious Man). I have no idea who will make it in, however here's my shot in the dark:

PREDICTIONS:

Matt Damon - Invictus

Woody Harrelson - The Messenger

Christopher Plummer - The Last Station

Stanley Tucci - The Lovely Bones

Christoph Waltz - Inglorious Basterds

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Sure we all know Mo'Nique is going to win (deservedly), but who will be her competition? Some early locks at nominations have faded, leaving us with only 3 locks:

LOCKS:

Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air

Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air

Mo'Nique - Precious

Then theres a variety of wildcard picks. Julianne Moore (A Single Man), Samantha Morton (The Messenger), Penelope Cruz (Nine), Marion Cotillard (Nine), Melanie Laruent (Inglorious Basterds) (the last 2 have been categorized as leading, but Oscar sometimes likes to make its own wise decisions), Diane Kruger (Inglorious Basterds), Maggie Gylenhaal (Crazy Heart), Paula Patton (Precious), Mariah Carrey (Precious), Rosamund Pike (An Education), Natalie Portman (Brothers), and Susan Sarandon (The Lovely Bones). It truly is up in the air (no pun intended).

PREDICTIONS:

Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air

Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air

Mo'Nique - Precious

Julianne Moore - A Single Man

Samantha Morton - The Messenger

* I am predicting that Nine gets totally shut out, which leaves out Penelope here.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST ORIGIONAL SCREENPLAY

PREDICTIONS:

Mark Boal - The Hurt Locker

Joel and Ethan Cohen - A Serious Man

Stephen Neudstedher and Michael H. Weber - (500) Days of Summer

Bob Peterson and Pete Doctor - Up

Quentin Tarantino - Inglorious Basterds

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

PREDICTIONS:

Wes Anderson - The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Neil Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell - District 9

Geoffrey Fletcher - Precious

Nick Hornby - An Education

Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner - Up in the Air

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST FOREIGN FILM

PREDICTIONS:

Adjani

A Prophet

Broken Embraces

The Maid

The White Ribbon

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST ANIMATED FILM

PREDICTIONS:

Coraline

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Ponyo

The Princess and the Frog

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

PREDICTIONS:

The Beaches of Agnes

The Cove

Food Inc.

Every Little Step

Under Our Skin

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST ART DIRECTION

PREDICTIONS:

Avatar

Bright Star

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Inglorious Basterds

Where the Wild Things Are

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

PREDICTIONS:

Avatar

The Hurt Locker

Inglorious Basterds

The Lovely Bones

Nine

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

PREDICTIONS:

Bright Star

Inglorious Basterds

Nine

A Single Man

The Young Victoria

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST EDITING

PREDICTIONS:

Avatar

The Hurt Locker

Inglorious Basterds

Star Trek

Up in the Air

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST MAKEUP

PREDICTIONS:

District 9

The Road

Star Trek

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST ORIGIONAL SCORE

PREDICTIONS:

Avatar

The Informant!

The Princess and the Frog

A Single Man

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST ORIGIONAL SONG

PREDICTIONS:

All is Love - Where the Wild Things Are (performed by: Karen O)

I See You - Avatar (performed by: Leona Lewis)

(I Want to) Come Home - Everybody's Fine (performed by: Paul McCartney)

Cinema Italiano - Nine (performed by: Kate Hudson)

The Weary Kind - Crazy Heart (performed by: Ryan Bingham)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST SOUND MIXING

PREDICTIONS:

Avatar

District 9

The Hurt Locker

Star Trek

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST SOUND EDITING

PREDICTIONS:

Avatar

The Hurt Locker

Star Trek

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

PREDICTIONS:

2012

Avatar

District 9

Sherlock Holmes

Star Trek

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So - the tally of awards nominations that I come up with is:

Avatar - 11

The Hurt Locker - 8

Inglorious Basterds - 8

Up in the Air - 7

Up - 6

Precious - 5

District 9 - 5

A Single Man - 4

An Education - 3

The Messenger - 3

Nine - 3

time will only tell!

What are you predictions?

The Best Dressed of the Season so Far

2010-01-26T11:35:00.000-08:00

Here's a look at my favorite dressed people of the awards shows so far this season. ENJOY!

BEST DRESSED

1. Diane Kruger at the SAGS

2. Mo'Nique at the Golden Globes

3. Cameron Diaz at the Golden Globes

4. Sandra Bullock at the SAGS

5. Helen Mirren at the Golden Globes

6. Janurary Jones at the Golden Globes

7. Anna Paquin at the Golden Globes

8. Penelope Cruz at the SAGS

9. Meryl Streep at the Golden Globes

10. Marion Cottillard at the SAGS

and now for the worst looks

WORST DRESSED

1. Mariah Carrey at the Golden Globes

2. Patricia Arquette at the Golden Globes

3. Rita Wilson at the Golden Globes

4. Nicole Kidman at the SAGS

5. Julianne Moore at the Golden Globes

6. Anna Lynn Maccord at the Golden Globes

7. Halle Berry at the Golden Globes

8. Julia Roberts at the Golden Globes

9. Leona Lewis at the Golden Globes

10. Meryl Streep at the SAGS

(Sophia Loren and Betty White get passes because of their age and fabulousness!)

Still together and Oscar bound

2010-01-26T10:50:00.000-08:00

The rumors have been rampant surrounding Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Everyone is claiming they have broken up. (Someone even claimed that she bit him in a fight) However the 2 say "don't believe anything". Their publicist said there is no truth to the matter in any way, and that the two have just picked out their Oscar outfits. It seems they will be gracing the carpet afterall (usually they do not attend if they are not nominated). It seems Pitt will be going to show support for "Inglorious Basterds" and Jolie will be joining him. I love seeing these 2 on the red carpet - so I am happy!

The ship has sunk

2010-01-26T10:47:00.000-08:00

It is official - AVATAR is now the highest grossing movie of all time, beating out Titanic this week. As of Sunday, "Avatar" had raked in $1.292 billion worldwide, beating by $50.1 million the previous record held by "Titanic." So its not only a win, its a big win. Avatar has shattered even predictions of its box office. Although Avatar has not beaten Titanic in the US market, worldwide it has sunk the ship.

Feb. 2 is the day

2010-01-26T10:04:00.000-08:00

Feburary 2nd is the day. Oscar nominations will be revealed.
Anne Hathaway will be announcing the nominees at the buttcrack of dawn.
So, wake up with me at 5:30 am, or check the blog around 11 or so.
It will surely be exciting!!

Awards Daily Nominations

2010-01-26T10:01:00.000-08:00

My favorite Oscar website (which inspired this one), has listed their nominations for their end of the year awards. Usually they have a wide array of different choices, as it is voted on by their readers (including me). However, this year they have seemingly played it safe with only a few wildcard picks. Here are their nominees:

AWARDS DAILY 2009 NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE
(500) Days of Summer
A Serious Man
An Education
Avatar
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
Precious
Up
Up in the Air

BEST DIRECTOR
Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker
James Cameron - Avatar
Spike Jonez - Where the Wild Things Are
Jason Reitman - Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino - Inglorious Basterds

BEST ACTOR
Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart
George Clooney - Up in the Air
Colin Firth - A Single Man
Joseph Gordon Leavitt - (500) Days of Summer
Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker

BEST ACTRESS
Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side
Carey Mulligan - An Education
Gabourey Sidibe - Precious
Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia
Tilda Swinton - Julia

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Woody Harrelson - The Messenger
Anthony Mackie - The Hurt Locker
Alfred Molina - An Education
Stanley Tucci - The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz - Inglorious Basterds

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air
Melanie Laurent - Inglorious Basterds
Mo'Nique - Precious
Julianne Moore - A Single Man

ORIGIONAL SCREENPLAY
(500) Days of Summer
A Serious Man
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
Up

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
An Education
District 9
Precious
Up in the Air
Where the Wild Things Are

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
Nine
Where the Wilds Things Are

EDITING
Avatar
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
Up in the Air

*to view their entire GREAT site - visit - http://www.awardsdaily.com/ *

for the record, my votes went to:
BEST PICTURE - Precious
BEST DIRECTOR - Spike Jonez - Where the Wild Things Are
BEST ACTOR - Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart
BEST ACTRESS - Tilda Swinton - Julia
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Woody Harrelson - The Messenger
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - Mo'Nique - Precious
ORIGIONAL SCREENPLAY - Inglorious Basterds
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY - Where the Wild Things Are
CINEMATOGRAPHY - Avatar
EDITING - Inglorious Basterds

FYC new slew

2010-01-25T12:42:00.000-08:00

Here is a new slew of the FYC ads. You can click on any ad to make it bigger and more beautiful!

Avatar surpases "Dark Knight"

2010-01-25T12:28:00.000-08:00

Avatar has now surprassed "The Dark Knight" meaning it has brought in the 2nd most money in moviemaking history. Also making the top 2 slots James Cameron films. And it appears there should be no stopping Avatar from making more money than Titanic. Time will only tell.

What could have been....

2010-01-25T12:26:00.000-08:00

Grey Gardens, the HBO remake of the cult hit documentary, shattered all tv awards this year sweeping everything under the sun. With its edgy and deep material, cast which includes a 2 time Oscar winner (Lange) and a breakout performance from a young hollywood star (Barrymore), its still a shock to me that it didn't get a theatrical run. In a year of 10 best picture slots, a very weak best actress category (when Sandra Bullock is winning the majority of the main awards), it seems a shame that this ran on HBO and not in your local theatre. I feel that it could have EASILY gotten a best picture nomination, and surely been nominated twice in the best actress category for both Lange and Barrymore. I feel it's a could-of, should-of situation. However, it was able to completely dominate all the tv movie awards this year - and thankfully so. It was, personally, one of my top 3 films I've seen all year. And Jessica Lange, in particular, turned in what is probably my favorite leading performance of the year as well.

Here's a look at what awards it reaped:

BEST MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TV

Golden Globe

Critics Choice Award

Emmy

Sattellite Award

Television Critics Association Award

BEST ACTRESS - TV MOVIE

Emmy - Jessica Lange

Golden Globe - Drew Barrymore

SAG - Drew Barrymore

Sattellite Award - Drew Barrymore

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - TV MOVIE

Emmy - Ken Howard

PGA Winners

2010-01-25T12:17:00.000-08:00

PRODUCERS GUILD AWARD WINNERS

Best Picture: THE HURT LOCKER
Long Form Television: Grey Gardens
Documentary: The Cove
Animated Feature: Up
Stanley Kramer Award: Precious
Vanguard Award: Joss Whedon

*thoughts*

THIS IS HUGE for the Hurt Locker. I do believe this sets the film up for a best picture win.
Everyone under the sun predicted AVATAR to take this. But it didn't, and I think Hurt Locker will reap the benefits come Oscar night.

SAG Award Winners

2010-01-25T11:00:00.000-08:00

SAG AWARD WINNERS

Best Ensemble — Inglourious Basterds

Best Actress — Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

Best Actor — Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

Best Supporting Actor — Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actress — Mo’Nique, Precious

Best Stunt Ensemble — Star Trek

Best Actor, Miniseries TV — Kevin Bacon, Taking Chance

Best Actress, Miniseries TV — Drew Barrymore, Grey Gardens

Career Achievement - Betty White

*thoughts*

- Could it be that Sandra Bullock just sealed up her Oscar? It is surely looking like it. However I do think that Meryl still is very much in the race.

- It will (seemingly) be a pretty predictable Oscar telecast, as Mo'Nique, Waltz, and Bridges seem to be far and away locks.

Oscar primed FYC ads

2010-01-22T09:04:00.000-08:00

Now that we have the Golden Globes decided, its Oscar time. The nominations are a little over a week away. And the FYC ads are going crazy. A lot of films are trying to jockey for nominations, and we are the lucky ones! Getting some gorgeous FYC ads all around. Here are some of the best ones:

BAFTA Nominations Released

2010-01-21T10:48:00.000-08:00

BAFTA NOMINATIONS

Here is a final look at the BAFTA nomination list. Very interesting and exciting!

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

DIRECTOR
AVATAR James Cameron
DISTRICT 9 Neill Blomkamp
AN EDUCATION Lone Scherfig
THE HURT LOCKER Kathryn Bigelow
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS Quentin Tarantino

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
THE HANGOVER Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
THE HURT LOCKER Mark Boal
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS Quentin Tarantino
A SERIOUS MAN Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
UP Bob Peterson, Pete Docter

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
DISTRICT 9 Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell
AN EDUCATION Nick Hornby
IN THE LOOP Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
PRECIOUS Geoffrey Fletcher
UP IN THE AIR Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
BROKEN EMBRACES
COCO BEFORE CHANEL
LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
A PROPHET
THE WHITE RIBBON

ANIMATED FILM
CORALINE
FANTASTIC MR FOX
UP

LEADING 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

LEADING ACTRESS
CAREY MULLIGAN An Education
SAOIRSE RONAN The Lovely Bones
GABOUREY SIDIBE Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
MERYL STREEP Julie & Julia
AUDREY TAUTOU Coco Before Chanel

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

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
ANNE-MARIE DUFF Nowhere Boy
VERA FARMIGA Up in the Air
ANNA KENDRICK Up in the Air
MO’NIQUE Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS Nowhere Boy

MUSIC
AVATAR James Horner
CRAZY HEART T-Bone Burnett, Stephen Bruton
FANTASTIC MR FOX Alexandre Desplat
SEX & DRUGS & ROCK & ROLL Chaz Jankel
UP Michael Giacchino

CINEMATOGRAPHY
AVATAR Mauro Fiore
DISTRICT 9 Trent Opaloch
THE HURT LOCKER Barry Ackroyd
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS Robert Richardson
THE ROAD Javier Aguirresarobe

EDITING
AVATAR Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua, James Cameron
DISTRICT 9 Julian Clarke
THE HURT LOCKER Bob Murawski, Chris Innis
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS Sally Menke
UP IN THE AIR Dana E. Glauberman

PRODUCTION DESIGN
AVATAR Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg, Kim Sinclair
DISTRICT 9 Philip Ivey, Guy Poltgieter
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE Stuart Craig, Stephenie McMillan
THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS Nominees TBC
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS David Wasco, Sandy Reynolds Wasco

COSTUME DESIGN
BRIGHT STAR Janet Patterson
COCO BEFORE CHANEL Catherine Leterrier
AN EDUCATION Odile Dicks-Mireaux
A SINGLE MAN Arianne Phillips
THE YOUNG VICTORIA Sandy Powell

SOUND
AVATAR Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson, Tony Johnson, Addison Teague
DISTRICT 9 Nominees TBC
THE HURT LOCKER Ray Beckett, Paul N. J. Ottosson, Craig Stauffer
STAR TREK Peter J. Devlin, Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer, Mark Stoeckinger, Ben Burtt
UP Tom Myers, Michael Silvers, Michael Semanick

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
AVATAR Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham, Andrew R. Jones
DISTRICT 9 Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros, Matt Aitken
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE John Richardson, Tim Burke, Tim Alexander, Nicolas Aithadi
THE HURT LOCKER Richard Stutsman
STAR TREK Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh, Burt Dalton

MAKE UP & HAIR
COCO BEFORE CHANEL Thi Thanh Tu Nguyen, Jane Milon
AN EDUCATION Lizzie Yianni Georgiou
THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS Sarah Monzani
NINE Peter ‘Swords’ King
THE YOUNG VICTORIA Jenny Shircore

THE ORANGE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)
JESSE EISENBERG
NICHOLAS HOULT
CAREY MULLIGAN
TAHAR RAHIM
KRISTEN STEWART

Mo'Nique Golden Globe Press Room

2010-01-19T13:12:00.001-08:00

I dare you to watch this and not fall in love with Mo'Nique!

People's Choice Award Winners

2010-01-19T10:46:00.000-08:00

PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNERS

These awards mean nothing in the Oscar scheme of thing. But, just to be a completist, here are the winners:

Favorite Movie Actor : Johnny Depp

Favorite Movie Actress: Sandra Bullock

Favorite Action Star: Hugh Jackman

Favorite Comedic Star: Jim Carrey

Favorite Breakout Movie Actress: Miley Cyrus

Favorite Breakout Movie Actor: Taylor Lautner

Favorite Onscreen Team: Robert Pattinson and Kristin Stewart - New Moon

Favorite Independant Movie: Inglorious Basterds

Favorite Comedy Movie: The Proposal

Favorite Movie: Twilight Saga - New Moon

Favorite Franchise - Twilight

can i just say these are the worst group of winners I have EVER seen.

What is wrong with "the people"?

The song of the year

2010-01-19T10:31:00.000-08:00

Crazy heart was a wonderful film, and besides Jeff Bridges amazing performance - the other star of the film is the song: THE WEARY KIND by Ryan Bingham. The song is performed in the movie by Bridges, and also Bingham's version is played near the end of the film. Although I am a HUGE Karen O fan (from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and loved her music in "Where the Wild Things Are", I will be devestated if "The Weary Kind" does not take home the Oscar. Here is Ryan Bingham performing his brilliance on David Letterman - can't wait to see him Oscar night!

Avatar (obviously) leads the Visual Effects Nominees

2010-01-19T10:22:00.000-08:00

No shocks here, AVATAR nearly sweeps the Visual Effects Comittee nominations. I am sure it will also sweep at the Oscars as well. Coraline lands in second place with nominations. Here is the full list:

Visual effects in a visual effects driven feature motion picture

“2012″
“Avatar”

“District 9″

“Star Trek”

“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”

Supporting visual effects in a feature motion picture

“Angels & Demons”

“The Box”
“Invictus”

“The Road”

“Sherlock Holmes”

Animation in an animated feature motion picture

“Nine”

“Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs”

“Coraline”

“Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs”

“Up”

Best single visual effect of the year

“2012,” “Escape From L.A.”

“Avatar,” “Quarich’s Escape”

“Avatar”

“Knowing,” “Plane Crash”

“Terminator Salvation,” “VLA Escape”

Animated character in a live-action feature motion picture

“Avatar,” “Neytiri”

“District 9,” “Christopher Johnson”

“G-Force,” “Bucky”

“Watchmen,” “Doctor Manhattan”

Animated character in an animated feature motion picture

“Coraline,” “Coraline”

“Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs,” “Buck”

“Monsters vs. Aliens,” “B.O.B.”

“Up,” “Carl,” “No Dad Scene”

Effects animation in an animated feature motion picture

“Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs”

“Coraline”

“Monsters vs. Aliens”

“Up”

Matte paintings in a feature motion picture

“Avatar,” “Pandora”

Yvonne Muinde, lead matte painter

“Franklyn,” “Meanwhile City Scapes”

“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”

“Star Trek”

Models and miniatures in a feature motion picture

“Avatar,” “Samson/Home Tree / Floating Mountains / Ampsuit”

“Coraline”

“Night at the Museum: Battle at the Smithsonian,” “National Air and Space Museum Escape”

“Terminator Salvation”

Created environment in a feature motion picture

“2012,” “Los Angeles Destruction”

“Avatar,” “Floating Mountains”

“Avatar’, “Jungle / Biolume”

“Avatar,” “Willow Glade”

Compositing in a feature motion picture

“Avatar”

“Avatar,” “End Battle”

"District 9″

“Sherlock Holmes,” “Wharf Explosion Sequence”

What Golden Globes mean to the race

2010-01-19T10:04:00.000-08:00

The Golden Globes are the biggest pre-Oscar night. However the winners are not always duplicates of the Globes. However I think with everything so far in the season - it would be fair to make these predictions:

BEST PICTURE

Avatar scored big at the Globes and racked up the most awards at the Critics Choice. However it is still not a surefire winner - however it sits much prettier than it did a week or so ago. It's obvious that the enormous box office is helping its push towards a best picture Oscar. However .. I would'nt say it will win. It faces 2 possible threats. The big threat is "The Hurt Locker". Its has won 90% of the pre-cursors. It took home the Critics Choice 2 nights before. I wouldn't count it out yet. And "Inglorious Bastards" still seems on the rise. I think it will do a nice job at the SAG awards this weekend, and BAM, its back in the race.

BEST DIRECTOR

Cameron may have been the king of the world at the Golden Globes, but I wouldn't count out Kathryn Bigelow for "The Hurt Locker". She has s great shot at becoming the first female winner of best director in oscar history. I think Oscar will want to make history with her this year. Who knows, its obviously between her and James Cameron I believe (which is odd because they are exes).

BEST ACTOR

Jeff Bridges is coming on SUPER strong. And his win at the Globes (which I thought may have gone to Hollywood fav Clooney) has put him in a STRONG place. However, could he be the Mickey Rourke of last year? If so, Clooney could still sneak in. Oscar may want to reward him again. However, I think its a pretty safe bet that Bridges will continue to win his way to Oscar.

BEST ACTRESS

Ladies and Gentlemen we have a race! As much as I hate to admit it, its between Streep and Bullock. Bullock won nothing in precursors, and missed out on a lot of nominations even. However when its counted, she's won the 2 biggest awards of the season. Both times however she has tied with Streep. So it seems pretty clear that one of these 2 women will walk away with the award. If there is a spoiler, maybe it's Carey Mulligan or even Gabourey Sidibe. But I doubt it. It's looking like a catfight.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Christoph Waltz has this sealed up. I couldn't see a scenario with anyone else winning at this point.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Anyone who isn't predicting Mo'Nique just isn't paying attention. I feel this award has been sealed for about 6 months. This is an awards steamrolling performance, the likes of which I have never seen. Bravo Mo'Nique!

The best picture of the season so far

2010-01-19T09:35:00.001-08:00

This picture makes me so happy!

Golden Globe Winners

2010-01-19T09:33:00.000-08:00

GOLDEN GLOBE WINNERS!

Best Picture, Drama — Avatar

Best Picture, Comedy/Musical — The Hangover

Best Director — James Cameron, Avatar

Best Actress, Drama — Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

Best Actor, Drama — Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

Best Actress, Comedy/Musical — Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

Best Actor, Comedy/Musical — Robert Downey Jr, Sherlock Holmes

Best Supporting Actress — Mo’Nique, Precious

Best Supporting Actor — Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Best Foreign Language Film — The White Ribbon

Best Animated Feature — Up

Best Screenplay — Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air

Best Original Score — Michael Giacchino, Up

Best Original Song — The Weary Kind, Crazy Heart

Best TV Miniseries — Grey Gardens

Best Actress, TV Miniseries — Drew Barrymore, Grey Gardens

Best Actor, TV Miniseries — Kevin Bacon, Taking Chance

THOUGHTS

* Woah - Sandra has now won the 2 biggest awards given out so far (well tied with Meryl, and then they were split). Looks like it will be a wrestling match between the 2 of them come Oscar night.

* Mo'Nique silenced all naysayers with what was obviously the best speech of the night (I will post it)

* Avatar now just pulled ahead - which I have mixed feeling about. Who knows? James Cameron winning here was huge.

* Ricky Gervais KILLED as the host. Quite simply - BEST HOST EVER!

Critics Choice Movie Award WINNERS

2010-01-19T09:23:00.000-08:00

The first big awards show of the year was here - and the winners were as follows:

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Best Original Screenplay: Inglourious Basterds

Best Adapted Screenplay: Up in the Air

Best Acting Ensemble: Inglourious Basterds

Best Actor: Jeff Bridges

Best Actress: tie! Meryl Streep & Sandra Bullock

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique, Precious

Best Young Actress: Saoirse Ronan

Best Documentary: The Cove

Best Foreign Language Film: Broken Embraces

Best Animated Movie: Up

Best Comedy Movie: The Hangover

Best Score: Up

Best Song: The Weary Kind

Best Costume Design: The Young Victoria

Best Make-Up: District 9

Best Action Movie: Avatar

Best Cinematography: Avatar

Best Visual Effects: Avatar

Best Art Direction: Avatar

Best Editing: Avatar

Best Sound: Avatar

*THOUGHTS*

- It seems like the supporting races are all but sewed up for Mo'Nique and Waltz. Especially that Mo'Nique was here and primed with a great speech.

- Avatar comes out in a big way, winning the most awards of the night. However Hurt Locker still takes top prize.

- Don't overlook the Inglorious Basterds love, it also took home quite a lot of trophies.

- Jeff Bridges also looks to be close to sealing his place as this years Best Actor, along with Bigelow looking primed to be the FIRST EVER woman to win best director.

Ace Eddie Nominations

2010-01-12T10:42:00.000-08:00

ACE EDDIE NOMINATIONS

BEST DRAMA

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

BEST COMEDY

The Hangover
Julie & Julia
It’s Complicated
A Serious Man
500 Days of Summer
BEST ANIMATED FILM

Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
UP

BEST DOCUMENTARY

The Cove
Food, Inc.
This Is It

Vancouver Winners!

2010-01-12T10:38:00.000-08:00

VANCOUVER FILM CRITICS WINNERS

BEST FILM

Up in the Air

BEST ACTOR

Colin Firth, A Single Man

BEST ACTRESS

Carey Mulligan, An Education

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air

BEST DIRECTOR

Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

BEST DOCUMENTARY

Anvil – The Story of Anvil

BEST SCREENPLAY

Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Summer Hours, France

thoughts: Another win for Colin Firth - very exciting. And here we see Vera Farmiga's first win for Up in the Air, making her and Kendrick both winners in this category.

Total Awards Tally

2010-01-08T15:59:00.000-08:00

Next week officially kicks off Oscar season for me on the 15th when the Critics Choice awards will air, and 2 days later the golden globes! So -- for all you predictors, here is the tally of all awards won so far this year! Enjoy! Some races are tightening up - and some are becoming more and more runaway victories.

BEST PICTURE

The Hurt Locker - 15 wins

Up in the Air - 9 wins

Inglorious Basterds - 3 wins

Precious - 2 wins

Avatar - 1 win

Moon - 1 win

Hunger - 1 win

Up - 1 win

Nine - 1 win

BEST DIRECTOR

Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker - 19 wins

Jason Reitman - Up in the Air - 4 wins

Quentin Tarantino - Inglorious Basterds - 2 wins

Lee Daniels - Precious - 2 wins

Clin Eastwood - Invictus - 1 win

Spike Jonez - Where the Wild Things Are - 1 win

Pete Doctor - Up - 1 win

BEST ACTOR

George Clooney - Up in the Air - 11 wins

Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker - 6 wins

Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart - 4 wins

Colin Firth - A Single Man - 4 wins

Morgan Freeman - 2 wins

Ben Foster - The Messenger - 1 win

Nicholas Cage - Bad Leuitenant - 1 win

Viggo Moretenson - The Road - 1 win

Michael Stahlburg - A Serious Man - 1 win

Tom Hardy - Bronson - 1 win

BEST ACTRESS

Carey Mulligan - An Education - 12 wins

Meryl Streep - Julie and Julia - 8 wins

Gabourey Sidibe - Precious - 5 wins

Melanie Laurent - Inglorious Basterds - 2 wins

Yolande Moreau - Seraphine - 2 wins

Helen Mirren - The Last Station - 1 win

Abbie Cornish - Bright Star - 1 win

Shohreh Agdashloo - The Stoning of Sorayah - 1 win

Nicole Bebarie - American Violet - 1 win

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Christopher Waltz - Inglorious Basterds - 25 wins

Woody Harrelson - The Messenger - 2 wins

Christian McKay - Me & Orson Wells - 2 wins

Anthony Mackie - The Hurt Locker - 1 wins

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Mo'Nique - Precious - 26 wins

Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air - 4 wins

Samantha Morton - The Messenger - 1 win

BEST DOCUMENTARY

The Cove - 12 wins

Anvil! The Story of Anvil - 7 wins

Capitalism: A Love Story - 3 wins

Food Inc. - 3 wins

Every Little Step - 2 wins

Michael Jackson: This is It - 1 win

Of Time and City - 1 win

Beaches of Agnes - 1 win

BEST FOREIGN FILM

The White Ribbon - 7 wins

Sin Nombre - 6 wins

Summer Hours- 6 wins

Broken Embraces - 3 wins

Red Cliffs - 2 wins

A Prophet - 1 win

Il Divo - 1 win

BEST ANIMATED

Up - 15 wins

The Fantastic Mr. Fox - 8 wins

Coraline - 1 win

Ponyo - 1 win

BEST SCREENPLAY

Up in the Air - 12 wins

Inglorious Basterds - 10 wins

(500) Days of Summer - 7 wins

The Fantastic Mr. Fox - 4 wins

Precious - 3 wins

A Serious Man - 2 wins

In the Loop - 2 wins

The Hurt Locker - 1 win

Central Ohio Critics Winners

2010-01-08T15:09:00.000-08:00

CENTRAL OHIO CRITICS WINNERS

Best Films
1. Up in the Air
2. Up
3. An Education
4. Fantastic Mr. Fox
5. Inglourious Basterds
6. The Hurt Locker
7. In the Loop
8. (500) Days of Summer
9. A Serious Man

10. A Single Man

Best Director
-Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
-Runner-up: Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

Best Actor
-George Clooney, Up in the Air
-Runner-up: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

Best Actress
-Carey Mulligan, An Education
-Runner-up: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Antichrist

Best Supporting Actor
-Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
-Runner-up: Peter Capaldi, In the Loop

Best Supporting Actress
-Mo’Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
-Runner-up: Mélanie Laurent, Inglourious Basterds

Best Ensemble
-Inglourious Basterds
-Runner-up: Up in the Air

Actor of the Year (for an exemplary body of work)
-George Clooney, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Men Who Stare at Goats, and Up in the Air
-Runner-up: Woody Harrelson, The Messenger and Zombieland

Breakthrough Film Artist
-Carey Mulligan, An Education (for acting)
-Runner-up: Neill Blomkamp, District 9 (for directing and screenwriting)

Best Adapted Screenplay
-Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air
-Runner-up: Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach, Fantastic Mr. Fox

Best Original Screenplay
-Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
-Runner-up: Pete Docter and Bob Peterson, Up

Best Score
-Michael Giacchino, Up
-Runner-up: Carter Burwell and Karen O., Where the Wild Things Are

Best Documentary
-Anvil! The Story of Anvil
-Runner-up: The Cove

Best Foreign Language Film
-Waltz with Bashir

-Runner-up: Summer Hours (L’heure d’été)

Best Animated Film
Up
-Runner-up: Fantastic Mr. Fox

Best Overlooked Film
-Goodbye Solo
-Runner-up: Moon

Bullock makes history

2010-01-08T15:04:00.000-08:00

Sandra Bullock has made history. (Call me a skeptic as to why) No other film, headlined by a female, has taken over 200 million in box office reciepts. Until now. Sandra Bullocks "The Blind Side" has now surpassed 200 million. As much as I hate to admit it - she is almost guaranteed and Oscar nomination now. Although I don't think she has a chance in hell to win an Oscar - she could very well win a Golden Globe award next week. We shall see. (When its nominated for an Oscar I will go see it .. until then I shall skip)

Another Mo'Nique Interview on Oscar Season

2010-01-07T15:45:00.000-08:00

Here is yet another interview (this one more in depth) on Mo'Nique and the Oscar controversy taken from an Atlanta newspaper. She is so well spoken and throughout this year I have grown to love this woman to death. Please read and enjoy:

MO'NIQUES OSCAR CAMPAIGN: SEE THE FILM

ATLANTA – It is a convention of the Oscar season that when an actor is among the hopefuls, a phalanx of promoters, publicists and managers go to work, making sure that the star is dolled up and walks miles of red carpets to tell anyone who will listen that she would be "thrilled just to be nominated."

Mo’Nique has never been much for convention. A stand-up comic from Baltimore, she defined her own version of plus-size beauty, drawing belly laughs along the way by pointing out that it is OK to have one. Along with her busy stand-up career, she starred in "The Parkers" for five years on UPN and had movie parts here and there. But it was her role in "Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire" that turned heads. As Mary, the baleful, hellacious mother of Claireece Precious Jones, the illiterate teenager who serves as her punching bag, Mo’Nique created a movie monster who seemed all too real. Her ability to step inside a character of monumental menace has made her a favorite in the best supporting actress category.

Mo’Nique, 42, says she cares deeply about "Precious" and is thrilled to be among the mentioned, but she is not about to reorganize her life or her priorities to get her mitts on an Oscar. "The Mo’Nique Show," her daily talk show on BET, just began in October, and while other hopefuls are criss-crossing the country for all manner of events, chatting up Oscar bloggers and making sure that everyone knows that they want it, Mo’Nique is mostly here in Atlanta, tending to her show.

She was here at the end of November, in a building in an industrial part of town, getting ready with her "Precious" co-star Gabourey Sidibe for a photo shoot for the Vanity Fair Hollywood issue. In that sense the Oscar race has come to her, a tribute to the magnetic performance she gave this past year.

It is yet another convention of the Oscar season that the star look casually elegant for any news-media opportunity, but when Mo’Nique met with this reporter, she was simply accessorized by a bathrobe, a headband and the "Precious" director Lee Daniels. She looks great – as she herself often affirms in her stand-up and talk show – but there is no artifice, no fluffing for a newspaper interview. (That will come later for the magazine photo shoot.)

Mo’Nique and Daniels are a pair, cracking each other up into near helpless laughter at the smallest provocation, and are particularly amused by the keening of the Oscar press because she hasn’t paid proper tribute to the needs of the Oscar-industrial complex. "Deny her a nomination and teach her a lesson," harrumphed Jeffrey Wells of Hollywood Elsewhere.

Mo’Nique can’t really get with that. Her campaign, if there is such a thing, was her performance, simple as that.

"Anytime I’ve been given an award, it has been because of the performance; what else goes into it?" she said, appearing genuinely mystified. "Look, it makes me appreciative any time someone says they may want to honor your performance. I’m appreciative at any talk in reference to any award, but there’s not much I can do about it now. The performance is done."

It was, without a doubt, one of the most memorable performances of the year. A.O. Scott, a film critic for The New York Times, wrote that Mo’Nique played Mary with "operatic fervor."

But isn’t she worried that "they" will think she doesn’t want the Oscar?

"I’ve been asked the question before," she said, "and it’s like, guys, I also have this show called ‘The Mo’Nique Show’ where I tape six shows a week. I have twins who are 4, so I have babies, I have an amazing husband and a son who’s 19. What I can participate in I’m more than happy to."

Daniels makes it clear that the support he needed from Mo’Nique for this film came on the set.

"We are in our bubble, and we pay no attention to any talk about what she should and not be doing right now," he said. "We’ve been told from the start that no one would see a movie about a young black girl, that it wouldn’t make any money, on and on. Instead here we are, with all kinds of people going to see the movie, and even talking about the Oscars."

Daniels is more interested in the opinions of Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey, both of whom signed on as executive producers and supporters of the film. Winfrey, who was nominated for her 1985 supporting role in "The Color Purple," sent an e-mail message saying that Mo’Nique is a very legit contender regardless of how busy she is.

"Her performance is so raw and so searing and without a doubt Oscar-worthy," Winfrey wrote.

It was all the more remarkable for its audacity. Daniels said he was convinced that a large, wisecracking comic could portray a character who makes Faye Dunaway’s depiction of motherhood in "Mommie Dearest" seem almost cuddly by comparison.

"Actors want to act," he said. "Mo’Nique doesn’t act. She saw what this role was about, and she just snatched it. She didn’t outsmart herself like so many actors do."

Most actors tend to speak in mystical tones about roles, especially difficult ones, but Mo’Nique said her biggest accomplishment was just doing what she was told.

"I so believe in his vision, brother, I’m going there," she said, looking at Mr. Daniels. "I’m not asking no questions, I’m not asking you why."

During the interview the film was described as "dark" one too many times. "I keep hearing, ‘It’s so dark, it’s so dark,'" she said, placing her hands flat on the table. "This movie is not dark. This movie is honest, and I think we get that confused. I believe dark is when you see the action movies, and they’re killing 25 people in a room for no reason. That’s dark. Some people," she said, looking up at the reporter, "can’t deal with that type of honesty, and so they just call it dark."

As Mary she treats Precious as chattel, looking the other way as her man sexually abuses and impregnates her daughter – twice. And as Precious starts to see a world beyond their cramped Harlem apartment, where she lives a life almost medieval in its punishments, Mary attempts to pull her down at every turn. Mo’Nique said she had to set aside any kind of judgment to realize the character fully. "You could not tell that story, in my opinion, with actresses who were afraid to look ugly, who were afraid to be vulnerable, who were afraid to be everything on the table," she said.

In a year of thin supporting roles for women, her performance sticks out. "It goes into that territory where not many actors are willing to go," said Sasha Stone, the founder of the Web site Awards Daily (awardsdaily.com). "It’s amazing and upsetting and invokes a kind of reaction that few roles do. She stands out because this year no other actress has gone into that zone."

For many actors there would only be this: this role, this year, this shot at an Oscar. But Mo’Nique says that performing in front of a room full of people and making them laugh remains the most deeply satisfying of her endeavors."When you do stand-up, you are in the moment," she said. "There is no ‘cut, action,’ there is you in this moment, and you get your ratings in that moment. You’re not waiting for numbers, you’re not waiting for reviews, it’s right there in the moment, and it is truly my therapy. Stand-up is my drug of choice."

If Mo’Nique makes it to the stage on Oscar night, there will not be a long list of agents, managers and publicists to thank. Her multiplatform career is managed by her and her husband, Sidney Hicks, with the assistance of a lawyer. "She has any number of hats and she is a comedian first," Hicks said. "We are enormously appreciative and are trying to understand this process, but you can’t please everybody all of the time."

On her BET show in November, Mo’Nique hosted Terrence Howard, who was Oscar-nominated for the 2005 "Hustle and Flow" and Taraji P. Henson, who received a nomination for the 2008 film "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." According to a transcript from the Oscar blog "And the Winner Is..." (andthewinneris.blog.com) they went to some lengths to explain Oscar dynamics to their pal Mo’Nique.

"It’s a campaign," Howard said. "You are the Obamas." Henson co-signed by saying, "It’s like running for president." Mo’Nique still seems baffled.

"President Barack Obama had to campaign because he had something to prove: that he could do it," she said. "Well, the performance is on the screen. So at what point am I still trying to prove something?"

Mo'Nique's oscar campaign seems to be: See the movie. And it seems a great campaign choice.

Mo'Nique silences her critics

2010-01-07T13:14:00.000-08:00

The Mo'Nique saga on the road to Oscar has been a bumpy one (actually it hasn't seeing that besides any detractors Mo'Nique has still won 95% of about 20+ critics award) but she is trying to put an end to all the talk of her "not wanting an oscar" or "wanting to be paid to go to openings, etc". She released a statement on her week night BET talk show which simply said this:

"The awards and acclaim are appreciated, but my performance is not about that. It’s about ending cycles of violence and abuse in families. Being molested myself, the process has allowed me to forgive my brother - and I cannot ask for a bigger reward. And if it helps others to end abuse then that is reward enough to me. But like I said I am very appreciative of the accolades which have been awarded to me, it also means a lot."

I think anyone who questions or degrades Mo'Niques honesty after this is a bit sick. It's not all about awards, even she knows that. I know that - and I run an Oscar blog.

As far as everyone knows, Mo'Nique will be attending the Golden Globe awards next month. Whether or not she will show up for the critics choice awards we do not know yet. I am predicting however that she will show up for everything. What she has missed have been critics organizations, mostly from certain states, and certain premieres. I think we will be seeing much much more from Mo'Nique on the red carpet and onstage at many awards shows.

Directors Guild Nominations

2010-01-07T10:17:00.000-08:00

The DGA nominations are the best indicator of the best director Oscar nominees. And here are this years nominees:

KATHRYN BIGELOW - The Hurt Locker

JAMES CAMERON- Avatar

LEE DANIELS - Precious

JASON REITMAN - Up in the Air

QUENTIN TARANTINO - Inglorious Basterds

It's a great list. And a bit of a pleasant surprise to see Lee Daniels included - I really like this choice!

BAFTA's Long List

2010-01-07T09:59:00.000-08:00

Okay, this is going to be a very long post, so let me explain. The BAFTA voters, unlike the Oscar voters, do 2 rounds of voting before they even get their list of nominees. They released today the top vote getters in the first round of voting. The results here mean that the nominees will come from the following lists. They did release the top 6 vote getters from the first round, which primes those choices a good shot at a nomination. However they released the names of all candidates who recieved a large number of votes. The next round will be voting between all of the candidates listed below. It will be interesting to see if someone can overtake one of the 6 highest vote getters. But, without furthur adue, here is the BAFTA long list:

Best Film

top 6
Avatar
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
Precious
Moon

other top vote getters

District 9
Gran Torino
Invictus
The Road
A Serious Man
A Single Man
Star Trek
Up
Up in the Air

thoughts: Interesting to see Gran Torino, but it was released in the UK late enough to make this list. 5 of the 6 seem to be Oscar frontrunners, and then there's Moon which is looking to sadly be overlooked everywhere else. No Nine here, which could be the last nail in the films coffin. Up in the Air shockingly didn't make the top 6, however I imagine it will.
Best Director

Top 6
Avatar
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
A Prophet

Other top vote getters
Bright Star
Fish Tank
Gran Torino
Inglourious Basterds
Invictus
Moon
Precious
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air

thoughts: District 9 seems to be getting a lot of mentions as of late - cool. Once again Up in the Air misses out on top 6. For BAFTA it seems the year of Eastwood with both Invictus and Gran Torino racking up nominations. Again no Nine.

Best Leading Actor

Top 6
Andy Serkis - Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
Colin Firth - A Single Man
George Clooney - Up in the Air
Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker
Morgan Freeman - Invictus
Viggo Mortensen - The Road

Other top vote getters:
Aaron Johnson – Nowhere Boy
Ben Whishaw – Bright Star
Brad Pitt – Inglourious Basterds
Clint Eastwood – Gran Torino
Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart
Michael Sheen – The Damned United
Peter Capaldi – In the Loop
Peter Sarsgaard – An Education
Sam Rockwell – Moon

thoughts: Clooney gets in top 6 for UITA, its first top 6 so far. Jeff Bridges shockingly does not make the top 6 list. And Andy Serkis is quite a surprise.

Best Leading Actress

Top 6
Abbie Cornish – Bright Star
Carey Mulligan – An Education
Gabourey Sidibe – Precious
Meryl Streep – Julie & Julia
Saoirse Ronan – The Lovely Bones

Other Top Vote Getters
Amy Adams – Julie & Julia
Audrey Tautou – Coco Before Chanel
Emily Blunt – The Young Victoria
Helen Mirren – The Last Station
Katie Jarvis – Fish Tank
Maggie Gyllenhaal – Crazy Heart
Marion Cotillard – Nine
Melanie Laurent – Inglourious Basterds
Meryl Streep – It’s Complicated
Penelope Cruz – Broken Embraces

thoughts: No Tilda Swinton - which is a shock! Her win at the BAFTA's I think lead the steam to her Oscar win. Also no Sandra Bullock, thats less of a shock. Saorise Ronan is also a shock, especially in the top 6 - since the Lovely Bones has been looking like a stinker. Helen Mirren not making the top is a bit shocking as well. Nine gets it's first mention for Cotillard. And it's also surprising to see Amy Adams, Maggie Gylenhaal, and Audrey Tatou getting their first mentions of the season. Good for them.

Best Supporting Actor

Top 6
Alfred Molina – An Education
Christian McKay – Me and Orson Welles
Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds
Christopher Plummer – The Last Station
Stanley Tucci – The Lovely Bones
Anthony Mackie – The Hurt Locker

Other Top Vote Getters
Aaron Wolff (Danny Gopnik) – A Serious Man
Alan Rickman (Professor Severus Snape) – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Alec Baldwin (Jake) – It’s Complicated
Brian Geraghty (Specialist Owen Eldridge) – The Hurt Locker
Dominic Cooper (Danny) – An Education
Matt Damon (Francois Pienaar) – Invictus
Stanley Tucci (Paul Child) – Julie & Julia
Timothy Spall (Peter Taylor) – The Damned United
Zachary Quinto (Spock) – Star Trek

thoughts: No big shocks here. Although it is interesting to see Harry Potter and Star Trek being considered for acting nods. Tucci gets 2 shots here, and the Hurt Locker seems to have a lot of love.
Best Supporting Actress

Top 6
Mo'Nique - Precious
Anne-Marie Duff – Nowhere Boy
Julianne Moore – A Single Man
Kristin Scott Thomas – Nowhere Boy
Rosamund Pike – An Education
Diane Kruger – Inglourious Basterds
Other Top Vote Getters
Anna Kendrick – Up in the Air
Claire Danes – Me and Orson Welles
Emma Thompson – An Education
Mariah Carey – Precious
Paula Patton - Precious
Olivia Williams – An Education
Penelope Cruz – Nine
Rachel Weisz – The Lovely Bones
Susan Sarandon – The Lovely Bones
Vera Farmiga – Up in the Air

thoughts: The big shock here is the neither UITA girl made the top 6 vote getters in round 1. Anna Kendrick has been thought to be the only chance at usurping Mo'Nique, and this certainly doesn't help. Nowhere Boy (a rather unknown film) sure gets some love here. And Lovely Bones gets 2 more shots, its performing better here than I had expected. I think Diane Kruger is getting a real shot at a nomination after landing this and the SAG nomination. And Julianne Moore peeks back into the race.
The other awards I will just save until round 2 when the real nominations are announced.

Mariah Carrey drunk at Palm Springs Fest

2010-01-06T13:27:00.000-08:00

Uh oh! Looks like were gearing up for a re-do of her drunken TRL strip tease. Mariah Carey joined 'Precious' director Lee Daniels this weekend to accept an award at the Palm Springs film fest. The audience was shocked as Mariah slurred her speech, seemed incoherent, and said in her speech:

"Sorry I think I am a little ... oh well .. you know."

DRUNK! She has been showing her face on any talkshow that will have her for her role in Precious in hopes of landing a nomination. I doubt its going to happen, and this surely doesnt help.

Gold Derby Predictions

2010-01-06T11:22:00.000-08:00

The Gold Derby has released its predictions on who will win the acting races at this years Oscars. As you will see there are some TIGHT races, and couple runaway winners:

BEST ACTRESS
For best actress its a 3 way tie! 2 are predicting Meryl Streep, 2 are predicting Carey Mulligan, and 2 are predicting Gabourey Sidibe. So we have:
MERYL vs. CAREY cs. GABOUREY

BEST ACTOR
For best actor its almost a runaway steal. Jeff Bridges gets 5 predictions, while Clooney gets one.
BRIDGES vs. CLOONEY

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
This one seems like highway robbery with all 6 predicting Mo'Nique to win.
MO'NIQUE vs. MO'NIQUE

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
This one is also pretty clear, but we have Christoph Waltz getting 4 votes, Stanley Tucci getting 1, and Woody Harrelson getting 1.
WALTZ vs. TUCCI vs. HARRELSON

Oscar voters: MJ still has a shot

2010-01-06T11:15:00.000-08:00

Although it opened to glowing reviews (including one from me) the Oscar buzz for "This is It" has all but died down - until today! At the BAFTA's annual LA christmas party - many oscar voters were talking about the documentary saying they would include it on their ballot for a spot in the 10 nominations:

"For me it's about the creative process. You really get to see the passion and the work that goes into creating something like this. It was quite inspiring to watch, and I will for sure be including it in my best picture lineup." - So said an "oscar voter" quoted on the envelopes website.

So who knows - maybe we have another dark horse jumping back into the race!

ALMOST winners of National Society of Film Critics

2010-01-06T11:11:00.000-08:00

The votes have been revealed for the national society of film critics. And we get to see the top 3 vote getters in each category, along with how many votes each choice got. This is HIGHLY important in the Oscar race - to see how close each race actually is. (Very interesting that both Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep won round 1 of the voting - only to lose out in round 2 to Jeremy Renner and Yolande Moreau). Here is a look at the final tally of votes from the present voters (there were plenty of other votes cast, but only the top 3 vote getters were released)

BEST PICTURE

*1. "The Hurt Locker" 64 votes
2. "Summer Hours" 23 votes
3. "Inglourious Basterds" 17 votes

BEST DIRECTOR
*1. Kathryn Bigelow - ("The Hurt Locker") - 85 votes
2. Olivier Assayas - ("Summer Hours") - 23 votes
3. Wes Anderson - ("Fantastic Mr. "Fox") -18 votes

BEST ACTRESS
*1. Yolande Moreau ("Seraphine") - 22 votes
2. Meryl Streep ("Julie & Julia" and "Fantastic Mr. Fox") - 21 votes
3. Abbie Cornish - ("Bright Star") - 19 votes

BEST ACTOR
*1. Jeremy Renner - (The Hurt Locker") - 30 votes
2. Jeff Bridges - ("Crazy Heart") - 28 votes
3. Nicolas Cage - ("Bad Lieutenant") - 15 votes

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
*1. Mo’Nique - ("Precious") - 38 votes
2. Anna Kendrick - ("Up in the Air") - 24 votes
2. Samantha Morton - ("The Messenger") - 24 votes

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
*1. Christoph Waltz - ("Inglourious Basterds") - 28 votes
*1. Paul Schneider - ("Bright Star") - 28 votes
3. Christian McKay - ("Me and Orson Welles") - 27 votes

NAACP Image Awards Nominations

2010-01-06T10:58:00.000-08:00

As expected, Precious dominated the NAACP awards. It got nominations for practically every actor in the film (Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Patton, Carrey, and Kravitz) along with Best Picture and Best Independant film

Here are the rest of the nominees:

Outstanding Motion Picture

"The Blind Side"
"Invictus"
"Michael Jackson's: This Is It"
"Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire"
"The Princess and the Frog"

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Denzel Washington – "The Taking of Pelham 123"
Idris Elba – "Obsessed"
Jamie Foxx – "Law Abiding Citizen"
Morgan Freeman – "Invictus"
Quinton Aaron – "The Blind Side"

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Anika Noni Rose – "The Princess and the Frog"
Gabourey Sidibe – "Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire"
Sandra Bullock – "The Blind Side"
Sophie Okonedo – "Skin"
Taraji P. Henson – "Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself"

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Adam Rodriguez – "Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself"
Anthony Mackie – "The Hurt Locker"
Chiwetel Ejiofor – "2012"
Danny Glover – "2012"
Lenny Kravitz – "Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire"

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Alfre Woodard – "American Violet"
Mariah Carey – "Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire"
Mo'Nique – "Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire"
Paula Patton – "Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire"
Zoe Saldana – "Avatar"

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
"American Violet"
"Amreeka"
"Endgame"
"Medicine for Melancholy"
"Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire"

Outstanding Foreign Motion Picture
"The Maid"
"Rudo y Cursi"
"Sin Nombre"
"Skin"
"The Stoning of Soraya M."

Outstanding Documentary (Theatrical or Television)
"Capitalism: A Love Story"
"Crips and Bloods: Made in America"
"Crude"
"Good Hair"
"More than a Game"

Will box office matter?

2010-01-06T10:06:00.000-08:00

So 2009 has turned out to be the biggest year this decade in box office returns. Now with the Academy opening up the nominees to 10, the question arises will box office help a film to be nominated and perhaps even win. At this point, The Hurt Locker has swept a big majority of best picture wins. The downside is it made less money than any film in contention at this point. Does that allow a bigger film (an Avatar or even Star Trek) to get a nomination and perhaps a shot at winning? Let's look at the films which are getting Best Picture buzz and see how much money they have made. Here they are from the biggest money earners to the smallest. (And were looking at US box office only, not worldwide)

Avatar: $490 million
Up: $293 million

Star Trek: $258 million
The Blind Side: $200 million
Inglourious Basterds: $121 million
District 9: $116 million
Up in the Air: $44 million
Precious: $43 million
Where the Wild Things Are: $41 million
Julie and Julia: $41 million
(500) Days of Summer: $39 million
Its Complicated: $31 million
Invictus: $30 million
Nine: $19 million
A Serious Man: $16 million
The Messenger: $14 million
The Hurt Locker: $13 million
Crazy Heart: $8 million
An Education: $7 million

US Scripter Nominations

2010-01-06T09:58:00.000-08:00

The USC Scripter nominations are one of the most prestigious awards given yearly to screen writers.

This year they have a wonderlist of films up for the award.

And they are:

CRAZY HEART

AN EDUCATION

DISTRICT 9

PRECIOUS

UP IN THE AIR

Online Film Critics Society Winners

2010-01-06T09:55:00.000-08:00

Online Film Critics Society Winners

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

Best Actor: Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

Best Actress: Melanie Laurent, Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique, Precious

Best Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

Best Adapted Screenplay: Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach, Fantastic Mr. Fox

Best Documentary: Anvil!: The Story of Anvil

Best Picture Not in the English Language: The White Ribbon

Best Animated Feature: Up

Best Cinematography: Robert Richardson, Inglourious Basterds

Best Score: Michael Giacchino, Up

Best Editing: Chris Innis and Bob Murawski, The Hurt Locker

My top 6 performances of the Decade

2010-01-05T13:28:00.000-08:00

Here is a look at my top 6 performances of the last 10 years. Enjoy!

1. Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

2. Bjork - Dancer in the Dark

3. Mo'Nique - Precious

4. Charlize Theron - Monster

5. Ellen Burstyn - Requiem for a Dream

6. Nicole Kidman - Dogville

Producers Guild Nominees

2010-01-05T08:52:00.000-08:00

The Producers Guild nominees are a great look at 10 top choices for best picture nominees. The awards will be given to the film producers, and it is honoring the best films of the year. This years nominees include:

Best Film: Producers Award

AVATAR

DISTRICT 9

AN EDUCATION
THE HURT LOCKER
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

INVICTUS

PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE

STAR TREK

UP IN THE AIR

Animated Producers

CORALINE

THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX

THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG

Documentary Producers

BURMA VJ

THE COVE

SERGIO
SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION

Long-Form Television Producers

GEORGIA O'KEEFE

LITTLE DORRIT
GREY GARDENS

PRAYERS FOR BOBBY
THE PRISONER

Vancouver Film Critics Nominees

2010-01-05T08:47:00.000-08:00

Vancouver film critics are always an interesting list, because they include only 3 nominees for each category. Whereas Oscar is nominated 10 this year for best picture, Vancouver sticks with 3. Its a bit more special to be nominated here because there's more prestige with making the top 3. They have a few surprises too which is nice. Here are their nominees:

BEST FILM

A Serious Man
The Hurt Locker
Up in the Air

BEST ACTOR
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

BEST ACTRESS
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey ‘Gabby’ Sidibe, Precious
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alfred Molina, An Education
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Mo’Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

BEST DIRECTOR
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Anvil – The Story of Anvil
The Cove
Food Inc.

BEST SCREENPLAY
Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker
Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Broken Embraces, Spain
The Headless Woman, Argentina
Summer Hours, France

SAD NEWS: Karen O not elligable for Best Score

2010-01-04T13:57:00.000-08:00

The saddest Oscar news of the day, Karen O's remakable score for "Where the Wild Things Are" which has won critical nominations, is now ineligble for an oscar nomination. Apparently it didn't meet some crazy rule that the uptight music selectors have set. However she still has a shot at best Origional song. But as far as being a 2 time Oscar nominee - not this year.

Lets hope she still gets in for song!

Critics Predict Golden Globes

2010-01-04T13:46:00.000-08:00

Tom O'Neill (great Oscar blogger and reporter) has gathered together a group of 20 critics who's goal is to predict who will win the Golden Globe awards this year. This could be highly helpful for those of you who have office pools. (To save time I am just going to list how many critics predicted each movie to win and not include those nominees who got 0 votes)

BEST DRAMA PICTURE
Up in The Air - 11 votes to win
Avatar - 6 votes to win
Inglorious Basterds - 2 votes to win
Precious - 1 vote to win

BEST DRAMA ACTOR
George Clooney - Up in the Air - 10 votes to win
Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart - 9 votes to win
Colin Firth - A Single Man - 1 vote to win

BEST DRAMA ACTRESS
Carey Mulligan - An Education - 10 votes to win
Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side - 9 votes to win
Gabourey Sidibe - Precious - 1 vote to win

BEST COMEDY/MUSICAL PICTURE
It's Complicated - 7 votes to win
Nine - 4 votes to win
(500) Days of Summer - 3 votes to win
Julie & Julia - 3 votes to win
The Hangover - 2 votes to win

BEST COMEDY/MUSICAL ACTOR
Robert Downey Jr - Sherlock Holmes - 7 votes to win
Daniel Day Lewis - Nine - 5 votes to win
Matt Damon - The Informant - 5 votes to win
Joseph Gordon Leavitt - (500) Days of Summer - 2 votes to win
Michael Stuhlbarg - A Serious Man - 1 vote to win

BEST COMEDY/MUSICAL ACTRESS
Meryl Streep - Julie and Julia - 19 votes to win
Sandra Bullock - The Proposal - 1 vote to win

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christoph Waltz - Inglorious Basterds - 18 votes to win
Woody Harrelson - The Messenger - 2 votes to win

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Mo'Nique - Precious - 19 votes to win
Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air - 1 vote to win

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Up - 20 votes to win

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Broker Embraces - 8 votes to win
A Prophet - 8 votes to win
The White Ribbon - 4 votes to win

BEST DIRECTOR
James Cameron - Avatar - 9 votes to win
Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker - 8 votes to win
Quentin Tarantino - Inglorious Basterds - 2 votes to win
Jason Reitman - Up in the Air - 1 vote to win

BEST SCREENPLAY
Up in the Air - 9 votes to win
Inglorious Basterds - 8 votes to win
The Hurt Locker - 3 votes to win

BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE
Avatar - 12 votes to win
Where the Wild Things Are - 3 votes to win
Up - 3 votes to win
The Informant - 2 votes to win

BEST SONG
The Weary Kind - Crazy Heart - 11 votes to win
I See You - Avatar - 4 votes to win
I Want to Come Home - Everybody's Fine - 2 votes to win
Winter - Brothers - 2 votes to win
Cinema Italiano - Nine - 1 vote to win

BEST TV MOVIE/ MINISERIES
Grey Gardens - 18 votes to win
Into the Storm - 1 vote to win
Taking Chance - 1 vote to win

BEST ACTOR TV MOVIE/MINI
Brenden Gleeson - Into the Storm - 10 votes to win
Kevin Bacon - Taking Chance - 7 votes to win
Jeremy Irons - Georgia O'Keefe - 2 votes to win
Kenneth Branah - Wallander - 1 vote to win

BEST ACTRESS TV MOVIE/MINI
Jessica Lange - Grey Gardens - 10 votes to win
Drew Barrymore - Grey Gardens - 8 votes to win
Sigourney Weaver - Prayers for Bobby - 2 votes to win

Yolande Moreau out of Oscar race

2010-01-04T13:29:00.000-08:00

Yolande Moreau has picked up a couple of prestigious awards so far this season for her performance in "Seraphine". Most recently (and importantly) she nabbed the National Society of Film Critics award from front runners Carey Mulligan and Meryl Streep. However, to keep you informed, she is ineligble to be nominated at this years Oscars. Its a release date struggle of some sort. All I know is she was not listed on any ballots as a choice. So although I am sure you should probably see the film and performance, it cannot factor into this years Oscar race.

National Society of Film Critics Winners

2010-01-04T13:26:00.000-08:00

Perhaps the most important awards given out thus far are these - the national society of film critics. It is awarded from the mainstream critics nation wide. Here are it's lists of winners:

Best Film
“The Hurt Locker”

Director:
Kathryn Bigelow, “The Hurt Locker”

Actor:
Jeremy Renner, “The Hurt Locker”

Actress:
Yolande Moreau, “Seraphine”

Supporting Actor:
Christoph Waltz, “Inglourious Basterds,” and Paul Schneider, “Bright Star” (tie)

Supporting Actress:
Mo’Nique, “Precious: Based on the novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”

Screenplay:
Joel and Ethan Coen, “A Serious Man”

Foreign-Language Film:
“Summer Hours”

Non-Fiction Film:
“The Beaches of Agnes”

Cinematography:
Christian Berger, “The White Ribbon”

Kansas City Film Critics Winners

2010-01-04T13:23:00.000-08:00

Kansas City Film Critics Winners

Best Film-Up in the Air
Best Actress-Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
Best Actor-George Clooney, Up in the Air
Best Supporting Actress-Mo’Nique, Precious
Best Supporting Actor-Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Robert Altman Award for Best Director-Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Best Adapted Screenplay – Up in the Air
Best Original Screenplay – Inglourious Basterds
Best Documentary-Every Little Step
Best Foreign Language Film-Gomorrah
Best Animated Film-Up
Vince Koehler Award for Outstanding Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror Film-District 9

Avatar breaking box office records

2010-01-04T13:20:00.000-08:00

Avatar is making a KILLING at the box office. Being in release for a little under 3 weeks and it has already reached 1 billion dollars! This is rather astonishing. It's climbing the charts faster than any movie in history. Will it be able to reach Titanic (the other James Cameron opus) or more importantlt the recent box office smash The Dark Knight. Who knows? However I think it has a strong chance. I also believe that the stellar box office numbers mixed with overall good reviews and great audience reception makes it a prime candidate for some nominations this year. It surely will sweep all the technical categories. How far will its success carry it in the Oscar race? Time will only tell.

Stephen King's Top 10 of Year

2010-01-04T13:17:00.001-08:00

Stephen King, although not an official film critic, has released his top 10 of the year. It is refreshingly different, even if it includes a couple of crazy choices (2012 anyone?!) Here is his list:

STEPHEN KING TOP 10

10. 2012
09. The Fantastic Mr. Fox
08. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
07. Law Abiding Citizen
06. District 9
05. The Reader
04. Disgrace
03. The Road
02. The Last House on the Left
01. The Hurt Locker

Sattellite Award Winners

2009-12-22T12:51:00.000-08:00

The Sattellitte Awards are kinda like the pre-Golden Globes, in that they also split up all the categories. Luckily there are some surprises. Enjoy the winners list:

Motion Picture, Drama The Hurt Locker

Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical Nine

Director Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker

Actress In A Motion Picture, Drama Shohreh Aghdashloo - The Stoning of Soraya M.

Actor In A Motion Picture, Drama Jeremy Renner — The Hurt Locker

Actress In A Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical - Meryl Streep — Julie & Julia

Actor In A Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical - Michael Stuhlbarg — A Serious Man

Actress In A Supporting Role - Mo’nique — Precious

Actor In A Supporting Role - Christoph Waltz — Inglourious Basterds

Motion Picture, Foreign Language Film - Broken Embraces

Screenplay, Original Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber — (500) Days of Summer

Screenplay, Adapted Geoffrey Fletcher — Precious

Motion Picture, Animated or Mixed Media Fantastic Mr. Fox

Motion Picture, Documentary Every Little Step

Original Score Rolfe Kent Up in the Air

Original Song “The Weary Kind” — Crazy Heart

Cinematography - Dion Beebe - Nine

Visual Effects - 2012

Film Editing - The Hurt Locker

Art Direction & Production Design - A Single Man

Costume Design - The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Canadian Press Top 10

2009-12-22T12:45:00.000-08:00

Canadian Press Top 10 of the Year

1. An Education

2. Avatar

3. A Single Man

4. Bad Leuitenant: Port of Call New Orleans

5. Bright Star

6. Precious

7. The Hurt Locker

8. Inglorious Basterds

9. Julia

10. Up