Cinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gifCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Academy Awards to Include Five Animated Nominationshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/11/academy-awards-to-include-five-animated-nominations/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/11/academy-awards-to-include-five-animated-nominations/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/11/academy-awards-to-include-five-animated-nominations/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Town Called PanicI'm so pleased to learn from IndieWIRE that five animated features will probably be in the running for a 2009 Academy Award. If fewer than 16 films are eligible, then only three films end up on the list of nominees. But the shortlist released today by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences includes 20 films eligible for Oscar nominations, assuming that all films on the list have a qualifying run in Los Angeles before the end of the year. That means five films will be nominated for Best Animated Feature.

Of course the list includes lots of big animated films: Pixar's Up, Disney's The Princess and the Frog, Henry Selick's Coraline, Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox and Dreamworks's Monsters vs. Aliens, among others. But I may or may not have squealed and bounced in my seat to read one unexpected candidate: A Town Called Panic, the Belgian animated film that won the Audience Award at Fantastic Fest this year, and which I reviewed. I hope the film will hit L.A. for the required time, and although it is the world's biggest longshot, I'd love to see it get a nomination. The Best Animated Feature category needs something this bizarre, original and creative. We'll find out for sure when Oscar nominations are announced on Feb. 2, 2010.

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]]>a town called panicAcademy AwardsAcademyAwardsATownCalledPanicJette KernionWed, 11 Nov 2009 15:02:00 EST'Up in the Air' Songs Pulled from Oscar Racehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/09/up-in-the-air-songs-pulled-from-oscar-race/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/09/up-in-the-air-songs-pulled-from-oscar-race/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/09/up-in-the-air-songs-pulled-from-oscar-race/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Well, it's November, which means the awards contenders are steadily coming out of the woodwork, and just as we have the Academy Awards to look forward to, we also have their fine print to tolerate. The first of this year's disqualifications naturally come from the music end of things, the same category that didn't see fit to honor the tremendous original scores composed for The Dark Knight last year and There Will Be Blood the year before that.

According to Kris Tapley over at In Contention, both "Up in the Air" and "Help Yourself" from Jason Reitman's Up in the Air have been pulled out of the Best Original Song race. The former was written by Kevin Renick before he met Reitman (the song is presented in the film as it was presented to the filmmaker, with homemade introduction and all), not to mention that it comes halfway into the credits when only the first song over them can qualify. (Really, AMPAS?)

And a portion of the latter had existed earlier in Sad Brad Smith's career and thus means the song itself was not created in full for the film. It's an earnest and catchy tune, used prominently in the trailers and well in the film (and now available on iTunes, cough), but it now looks like those are two more slots left to be dominated by Disney's latest...

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]]>academy awardsAcademyAwardsbest original songBestOriginalSonggeorge clooneyGeorgeClooneyjason reitmanJasonReitmankevin renickKevinRenicksad brad smithSadBradSmithup in the airUpInTheAirWilliam GossMon, 09 Nov 2009 20:45:00 ESTWhat's the State of Fox Searchlight?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/04/whats-the-state-of-fox-searchlight/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/04/whats-the-state-of-fox-searchlight/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/04/whats-the-state-of-fox-searchlight/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

In the 2007 awards season, Fox Searchlight had two strong films in the mix with Juno and The Savages, and then in 2008, they dominated with Slumdog Millionaire and The Wrestler. As many other indie arms were folding (Paramount Vantage, Warner Independent, Picturehouse), Searchlight managed to keep things up on their end.

2009, however, hasn't been so kind to them. January's Notorious didn't do bad actually, though March's Miss March was indeed D.O.A. June's My Life in Ruins similarly underperformed, while July's Adam failed to catch on as that same month's (500) Days of Summer had. Post Grad was dumped in the doldrums of August, while Whip It failed to find a crowd in October.

Cut to now: Amelia has been effectively neutered as a ready-made Oscar contender, while Gentlemen Broncos (from the director of Napoleon Dynamite, which did particularly well for the same studio) is being pulled from wider release after this weekend after posting modest numbers on two screens and earning savage reviews for the most part.

With Miramax also facing tough times, it's a shame to see studios like these have an off-year, though there's time for a turn-around yet so far as Searchlight is concerned. Summer's summer release means the timing could work out to earn a push for Original Screenplay as a happy-go-lucky alternate to many dour contenders. This month's similarly light Fantastic Mr. Fox is an Animated Feature candidate at the very least, and -- according to THR -- the Jeff Bridges drama Crazy Heart is getting a last-minute test run of sorts at the moment to see if it can merit a move to be positioned for this year's race instead of next year's.

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]]>500 days of summer500DaysOfSummerameliaamelia earhartAmeliaEarhartcrazy heartCrazyHeartfantastic mr. foxFantasticMr.Foxfox searchlightFoxSearchlightgentlemen broncosGentlemenBroncosjeff bridgesJeffBridgesnapoleon dynamiteNapoleonDynamiteWilliam GossWed, 04 Nov 2009 22:02:00 ESTAdam Shankman Talks About Picking His Oscar Hostshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/04/adam-shankman-talks-about-picking-his-oscar-hosts/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/04/adam-shankman-talks-about-picking-his-oscar-hosts/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/04/adam-shankman-talks-about-picking-his-oscar-hosts/#commentsFiled under: ,

Yesterday was absolutely buzzing with Oscar buzz. First, the rumor that Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. said no to the gig. Just a few hours later, the official announcement came: Next year's Oscars will be hosted by Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin. Entertainment Weekly then talked with Adam Shankman about the picking process. Some highlights:
  • Steve Martin was shocked that he was picked again. Shankman's response: "Yes, because I want the show to feel that we are continuing to build on the Oscars and I'm not trying to make the MTV Movie Awards."
  • He was teamed with Baldwin because: "I know that they really adore and respect each other. Plus, I know that they'll be hilarious. I wanted there to be extra comedy in the show. It will keep it high entertainment."
  • There was a plan to have two hosts right from the get-go.
  • On not picking Tina Fey, a rumored choice: "It wasn't that she turned us down but her work schedule right in that time, she's writing the last of her shows, and we realized then that it wouldn't work."

Continue reading Adam Shankman Talks About Picking His Oscar Hosts

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]]>Adam ShankmanAdamShankmanCinematicalOscars 2010Oscars2010Monika BartyzelWed, 04 Nov 2009 19:32:00 ESTYour Oscar Hosts: Steve Martin and Alec Baldwinhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/03/your-oscar-hosts-steve-martin-and-alec-baldwin/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/03/your-oscar-hosts-steve-martin-and-alec-baldwin/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/03/your-oscar-hosts-steve-martin-and-alec-baldwin/#commentsFiled under: ,



When the comedy gods close a door, they open a window. Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. said no to co-hosting next year's Academy Awards, and we barely had time to grieve for what might have been before we received this news: Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin have said yes. It's official, as detailed in a press release from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Martin has hosted the Oscars twice before, in 2000 and 2002, and he happens to be my personal favorite host. In fact, he's one of my personal favorite entertainers, period. The man is a straight-up genius, the terrible movies he's made in the last decade notwithstanding. Baldwin was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for The Cooler, so he at least knows his way to the theater, and he's currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity thanks to his top-notch work on TV's 30 Rock.

Martin and Baldwin have worked together several times thanks to their longstanding affiliation with Saturday Night Live. Martin has hosted 15 times -- more than anyone else -- and Baldwin is right behind him at 14. In 2006, Baldwin showed up on a Martin episode, followed a few months later by Martin crashing a Baldwin show, both times with Martin trying to kill Baldwin to prevent him from overtaking his hosting record. (In the Oscar press release, Martin says, "I am happy to co-host the Oscars with my enemy Alec Baldwin.") Martin guested on an episode of 30 Rock, and both actors will appear in It's Complicated this Christmas.

I think both of these men, separately and together, are hilarious, so I'm excited about the Oscars (to be held March 7, 2010). What do you think?

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]]>academy awardsAcademyAwardsalec baldwinAlecBaldwinfeaturedoscarssteve martinSteveMartinEric D. SniderTue, 03 Nov 2009 19:35:00 ESTIf Ben Stiller & Downey Jr. Aren't Hosting the Oscars...http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/03/if-ben-stiller-and-downey-jr-arent-hosting-the-oscars/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/03/if-ben-stiller-and-downey-jr-arent-hosting-the-oscars/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/03/if-ben-stiller-and-downey-jr-arent-hosting-the-oscars/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Back in October, Adam Shankman was determined to make the Oscars fun, itching to "kick up the funny a little bit" and celebrate entertainment. But there wasn't a whole new revamp in mind -- he still wanted to continue with the path laid out last year and have Hugh Jackman host ... but the actor refused. Rumors immediately started bubbling that Neil Patrick Harris was circling, but there were other funny men in his sights. Deadline Hollywood reports that Shankman and Bill Mechanic went to Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. to host as a duo.

But they said no.

Talk about a bummer. It's quite easy to imagine the red carpet coverage wind down, and Stiller and Downey Jr. dancing or strolling to center stage. They could easy bring a healthy dose of classic funny, yet still embody the new spin focused solely on entertainment and mirth. Hell, I would easily take Robert on his own. Can you imagine a series of blips where he acts out scenes from the top contenders or top grossing films? He could fall in love and be a lonely old man with a balloon house, travel into space, throw out classic Tarantino dialogue, channel Julia Child, suffer through a painful locker, feel the pressure of A Single Man...

But that dream is done. Is there any duo who could bring the same excellence? It would never happen, but if Ben and Robert are a no-go, I want insanity with a slice of brilliance by joining Christopher Walken and Jane Lynch. How about you? What other Oscar hosting duos would you suggest?

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]]>Ben StillerBenStillerCinematicalOscars 2010Oscars2010Robert Downey Jr.RobertDowneyJr.Monika BartyzelTue, 03 Nov 2009 15:45:00 ESTSoldier at Savannah Film Fest Rave-Reviews 'The Messenger'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/01/soldier-at-savannah-film-fest-rave-reviews-the-messenger/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/01/soldier-at-savannah-film-fest-rave-reviews-the-messenger/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/01/soldier-at-savannah-film-fest-rave-reviews-the-messenger/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


The Messenger opened the 12th Savannah Film Festival with a bang: a sellout crowd, international press, and Hollywood stars Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster in attendance to rub elbows all night. Even without the glitz, though, Savannah was a smart place to screen the Iraq drama. Oren Moverman's film is a character study about a soldier (Foster) dealing with the aftermath of war, but like Kathryn Bigelow's Iraq film The Hurt Locker, it's about the personal toll Iraq leaves on soldiers who survive and the families of those who don't; the politics of war are hardly an issue. And so, in a city that supports two military bases and the men and women who serve them, The Messenger played like gangbusters.

Foster stars as William Montgomery, a recent Iraq returnee dealing with serious leftover issues and a new assignment to play out his final three months of service: informing families that their loved ones have been killed on duty. As Montgomery's partner, Harrelson provides moments of levity, but there were plenty of sniffles throughout the film just the same.

While it was pretty easy to figure out what the general consensus was, there were three figures in particular I was watching for a reaction - the only three uniformed soldiers in attendance, who may or may not have been connected to the production. (The film has been screened for military personnel, and Harrelson and Foster personally met soldiers at Hunter Army Airfield prior to the night's screening.) When asked what military folk have thought of his film in the post-screening Q&A, director Moverman deferred to one of the officers in the audience to share his reaction with the crowd. What follows is the unnamed soldier's impromptu review of The Messenger.

Continue reading Soldier at Savannah Film Fest Rave-Reviews 'The Messenger'

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]]>Ben FosterBenFosterOren MovermanOrenMovermansavannah college of art and designSavannah Film FestivalSavannahCollegeOfArtAndDesignSavannahFilmFestivalThe MessengerTheMessengerWoody HarrelsonWoodyHarrelsonJen YamatoSun, 01 Nov 2009 17:02:00 ESTSavannah Film Fest: Where Indie Meets Oscarhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/31/savannah-film-fest-where-indie-meets-oscar/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/31/savannah-film-fest-where-indie-meets-oscar/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/31/savannah-film-fest-where-indie-meets-oscar/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


I'm in Savannah, Georgia to spend a week as a guest blogger for the Savannah Film Festival, an eight-day fest hosted in the historic Southern town by the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). [Read my entries in the "Voices from the Fest" section on the festival website.] As the town prepares to kick off the 12th annual festivities with the Iraq film, or rather post-Iraq film, The Messenger, I'm wondering how SFF's growing success might reflect or even influence the rise of film festivals that similarly fall somewhere in between the biggies (Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, Venice) and the little guys.

For starters, a brief look at SFF's line-up and star-studded guest list. The festival begins today, October 31, with The Messenger, a Sundance entry that has Oscar possibilities but more likely will make a run at the Indie Spirit Awards. Stars Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster will be in attendance. (I will be attempting to run into them at the local Starbucks or wherever it is that Hollywood actors hang out when they visit other cities.) Another Oscar hopeful, the Emily Blunt-starring period biopic The Young Victoria, is screening the following day.

And then there are the almost certain Oscar pictures: George Clooney in The Men Who Stare At Goats; Lone Scherfig's An Education; Michael Haneke's Cannes winner The White Ribbon; Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker, with star Jeremy Renner in attendance; and Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, which will bring both director Lee Daniels and his star Gabourey Sidibe to town.

Read on for more about this year's Savannah Film Festival.

Continue reading Savannah Film Fest: Where Indie Meets Oscar

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]]>AdamAn EducationAnEducationDear Lemon LimaDearLemonLimaMercyPrecious:BasedOnTheNovelPushBySapphiresavannah college of art and designSavannah Film FestivalSavannahCollegeOfArtAndDesignSavannahFilmFestivalSCADthe city of your final destinationThe Hurt LockerThe Loss of a Teardrop DiamondThe men who stare at goatsThe Messengerthe white ribbonTheCityOfYourFinalDestinationTheHurtLockerTheLossOfATeardropDiamondTheMenWhoStareAtGoatsTheMessengerTheWhiteRibbonWhatever WorksWhateverWorksJen YamatoSat, 31 Oct 2009 19:02:00 ESTHugh Jackman Not Hosting Oscars, Neil Patrick Harris Now Rumoredhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/30/hugh-jackman-not-hosting-oscars-neil-patrick-harris-now-rumored/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/30/hugh-jackman-not-hosting-oscars-neil-patrick-harris-now-rumored/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/30/hugh-jackman-not-hosting-oscars-neil-patrick-harris-now-rumored/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

As award show devotees know, the Academy is always trying to make the Oscars more fun for the viewers at home. This year it seems as though the pre-show hype is starting earlier than usual, particularly with the noise surrounding Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman stepping on board as producers. But they may be one step behind, as the Oscars have already become a little less handsome, a little less musical, and a little less Emmy-winning than last year. Because Hugh Jackman won't be returning as host.

No, it's not an epic snub, or retaliation for being so darn good at everything. Variety reports that Jackman "quietly turned down the job" a few weeks ago. The reason is simply that he wants some time off in between A Steady Rain and production on Shawn Levy's Real Steel. Reportedly, he really does want to host the show again, but he didn't want to do it two years in a row. That's a showman for you. Give them just enough to have them wanting more, and avoid wearing out your welcome.

In my humble opinion, Jackman left some very dashing shoes to fill. Personally, I think Shankman should see this as the start of a new tradition, avoid a comedian, and pick the Tony-hosting Neil Patrick Harris (who's already rumored to be eying the gig). The Oscars are supposed to be all about Hollywood glamour, and what better way to celebrate that then to go old-school and musical? I'll take a jolly musical number over painful attempts to be political and relevant. What about you? What host can make the Oscars worth your while?

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]]>2010 Oscars2010Oscars82nd Academy Awards82ndAcademyAwardsAcademy AwardsAcademyAwardsadam shankmanAdamShankmanBill MechanicBillMechanichugh jackmanHughJackmanneil patrick harrisNeilPatrickHarrisElisabeth RappeFri, 30 Oct 2009 20:32:00 EST'Moon' and 'Fish Tank' Lead BIFA Nodshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/28/moon-and-fish-tank-lead-bifa-nods/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/28/moon-and-fish-tank-lead-bifa-nods/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/28/moon-and-fish-tank-lead-bifa-nods/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Fall brings with it awards season, and among our first round of nominations are those of the British Independent Film Awards. According to Empire, Andrea Arnold's acclaimed Fish Tank took the lead with eight, while Duncan Jones' similarly lauded Moon came up with seven, including one for lead actor Sam Rockwell.

I'm personally happy to see the savage political satire In the Loop getting due notice, especially its expletive-laden screenplay, since it'll likely go overlooked when it comes to Yank laurels (sad but true, although I'll be happy if it's not). Meanwhile, the multiple nods for An Education and Bright Star only parallel their warm reception Stateside and their likely contention in next year's Oscar race.

And after being quietly blown away by it at Fantastic Fest a few weeks back, I'm also glad to see Down Terrace get some love under the Raindance Award category. Enough of these awards, and maybe that puppy'll earn some distribution in our neck of the woods. (You listening, IFC?)

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]]>abbie cornishAbbieCornishan educationandrea arnoldAndreaArnoldAnEducationarmando iannucciArmandoIannuccibright starBrightStarcarey mulliganCareyMulligandown terraceDownTerraceduncan jonesDuncanJonesfish tankFishTankin the loopInTheLoopmichael fassbenderMichaelFassbendermoonnick hornbyNickHornbypeter capaldiPeterCapaldisam rockwellSamRockwellWilliam GossWed, 28 Oct 2009 15:48:00 EST"Matt Damon!" New Trailers for 'Invictus' and 'Green Zone'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/27/matt-damon-new-trailers-for-invictus-and-green-zone/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/27/matt-damon-new-trailers-for-invictus-and-green-zone/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/27/matt-damon-new-trailers-for-invictus-and-green-zone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

August gave us the voice of Matt Damon in Ponyo, September gave us the inner voice of Matt Damon in The Informant!, and now October has brought us a look at his next two performances.

Clint Eastwood's Invictus is one of the last big likely contenders of the awards season, though it is as of yet unseen (unless those very few who have seen it are very good at being very quiet). Damon plays real-life rugby captain Francois Pienaar, whose team saw the support of Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) as a rallying point around which they might lift the spirits of South Africa in the wake of apartheid. It's political! It's underdog! It's opening in December! It's Oscar bait for certain, and Apple has the exclusive trailer.

Paul Greengrass' Green Zone, on the other hand, was shuffled out of the Oscar race once Universal decided to sort out its slate after a lackluster summer at the box office, and that may have been a wise move. Yahoo's trailer (which is also embedded below) comes across as more of a straight-up actioner than a ready-made contender, with Damon back in Bourne mode as a betrayed soldier on the hunt first for WMDs, and then for answers. Based on the best-seller Imperial Life in the Emerald City, it opens on March 12, 2010.

Continue reading "Matt Damon!" New Trailers for 'Invictus' and 'Green Zone'

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]]>amy ryanAmyRyanApartheidclint eastwoodClintEastwoodgreen zoneGreenZonegreg kinnearGregKinnearinvictusmatt damonMattDamonMorgan FreemanMorganFreemanPaul GreengrassPaulGreengrassrugbyRugbyWorldCupWilliam GossTue, 27 Oct 2009 22:32:00 ESTCan Adam Shankman Make The Oscars Fun?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/21/can-adam-shankman-make-the-oscars-fun/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/21/can-adam-shankman-make-the-oscars-fun/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/21/can-adam-shankman-make-the-oscars-fun/#commentsFiled under: ,

Does a year go by where we don't hear news about some grand plan to bring the viewers back to The Oscars? It's like it's part of the yearly plan now: Step 1: Try to make the Academy Awards relevant. After the increase in nominees, it looks like the peeps in charge are sticking with the change from comedian stand-up to showman fervor. The Associated Press is reporting that Adam Shankman, the man behind the Hairspray remake is going to produce the affair with former 20th Century Fox boss Bill Mechanic. The former will bring the pomp and circumstance, of course, while the latter brings the management and producing.

"Oscar organizers are trying to put more razzle-dazzle into the show. Instead of the usual standup comic, the Oscars called on song-and-dance man Hugh Jackman to host the show this past year." In the team's press release, Shankman noted how "The last time I was on the show was as a dancer, and to come back as a producer is such an unbelievable honor." (He was on-stage in '89.) Also, Canoe quotes the director as saying: "I personally want to kick up the funny a little bit. Movies are an invaluable source of entertainment during a very tough time in our country's history. Since entertainment is what we're selling, we want to celebrate that aspect and not just have it be that we're sitting around congratulating ourselves and patting ourselves on the back."

They're always trying to make it fun. That's nothing new. But do you think he can? Is the song and dance man the way to really cut through the boring parts of the Oscars?

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]]>Adam ShankmanAdamShankmanCinematicalOscars 2010Oscars2010Monika BartyzelWed, 21 Oct 2009 11:18:00 ESTOscar Hopeful 'Nine' Moves from Thanksgiving to Christmashttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/09/oscar-hopeful-nine-moves-from-thanksgiving-to-christmas/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/09/oscar-hopeful-nine-moves-from-thanksgiving-to-christmas/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/09/oscar-hopeful-nine-moves-from-thanksgiving-to-christmas/#commentsFiled under: ,

Those of us eager to see a movie based on a Broadway musical based on a play based on a Fellini film will have to wait just a little longer, perhaps to give us time to figure all that out. Nine, originally set to open on Nov. 25, has been pushed back a month. It will now open on Dec. 18 in New York and L.A. and Christmas Day everywhere else.

The move -- which was first announced at Rope of Silicon -- is sadly lacking in controversy. The distributor is The Weinstein Company, and they already have another movie opening on Nov. 25, The Road. (The real question is why two Weinstein films were ever scheduled for the same day in the first place.) Thanksgiving weekend is terribly crowded anyway; Christmas will give Nine a little more breathing room. The real scandal would have been if they'd pushed it all the way back to 2010, but nope. Unless someone has some juicy info we haven't been able to get our hands on, this appears to be purely a marketing decision.

The film is directed by Chicago's Rob Marshall, returning to musicals after Memoirs of a Geisha. The Chicago connection isn't the only reason people are talking about Oscar potential, though -- have you seen the cast list? Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, and Sophia Loren -- all Oscar winners! And Kate Hudson, an Oscar nominee! Also, for some reason, Fergie!

Nine is based on a Tony-winning musical that opened on Broadway in 1982 and had a successful revival in 2003. The musical, co-written by Mario Fratti, was based on his own non-musical play, Six Passionate Women. That play, in turn, was based on Federico Fellini's autobiographical 1963 film 8 1/2. And the star of 8 1/2: Kevin Bacon. (Just kidding.)

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]]>ninerob marshallRobMarshallEric D. SniderFri, 09 Oct 2009 10:33:00 ESTTrailer for Peter Jackson's 'Lovely Bones' Looks Lovely Indeedhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/05/trailer-for-peter-jacksons-lovely-bones-looks-lovely-indeed/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/05/trailer-for-peter-jacksons-lovely-bones-looks-lovely-indeed/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/08/05/trailer-for-peter-jacksons-lovely-bones-looks-lovely-indeed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Okay, so I might've just knocked Sandra Bullock for going after the Oscar gold, but here's The Lovely Bones, with a story I can get behind (Alice Sebold's best-selling tale of a young girl murdered and the aftermath she observes from the afterlife), a filmmaker I can get behind (Peter Jackson, scaling things back post-Lord of the Rings), an ensemble* I can get behind (Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, and the critically-cast Saoirse Ronan), and now a trailer I can get behind.

Reading the novel earlier this year, I was struck by the simplest moments that captures almost too precisely how grief can change loved ones most unexpectedly, and while it seems that Jackson has certainly created a visually luscious realm for Ronan's character to inhabit and has retained the thrust of a somewhat supernatural murder mystery, part of what won me over was how Sebold's mystery took years to unfold, as the whole family comes to terms with the closure (or lack thereof) in their own personal ways.

If Jackson and company can balance the sprawling drama with the inherent whodunit (whydunit?) come December 11th, then The Lovely Bones could be lingering above all of the other contenders this coming awards season.

*I must confess a certain gratitude that Wahlberg replaced Ryan Gosling here. It's enough of an age difference to matter, let alone general temperament.

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]]>alice seboldAliceSeboldfeaturedmark wahlbergMarkWahlbergpeter jacksonPeterJacksonrachel weiszRachelWeiszsaoirse ronanSaoirseRonanstanley tucciStanleyTuccisusan sarandonSusanSarandonthe lovely bonesTheLovelyBonesWilliam GossWed, 05 Aug 2009 09:02:00 ESTDocuWeeks Lineup Announced for Oscar Hopefulshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/07/docuweeks-lineup-announced-for-oscar-hopefuls/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/07/docuweeks-lineup-announced-for-oscar-hopefuls/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/07/07/docuweeks-lineup-announced-for-oscar-hopefuls/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

To qualify for Academy Award consideration, a documentary must play in at least one theater in both Manhattan and Los Angeles for at least a week. That rule is to prevent people who made a documentary and showed it for free to a few people at the rec room of their apartment complex from hassling the Academy for attention. But it also means that some very worthy docs don't get the recognition they deserve because, as good as they may be, getting theatrical distribution for a documentary is hard.

Enter DocuWeeks, an event sponsored by the International Documentary Association that puts deserving films in theaters so they'll qualify for the Oscars and also so that, hey, whaddaya know, audiences can actually see them. The 13th annual lineup has just been announced, with 18 features and 10 shorts scheduled to play at L.A.'s ArcLight Hollywood and New York's IFC Center from July 31 to Aug. 20.

Past DocuWeeks have showcased 16 films that went on to earn Oscar nominations and seven that won Oscars, including last year's Taxi to the Dark Side. This year's program includes DIRT! The Movie (pictured), Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders, Saint Misbehavin': The Wavy Gravy Movie, Sweet Crude, and Soundtrack for a Revolution. For complete details, check with the International Documentary Association.

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]]>Eric D. SniderTue, 07 Jul 2009 20:02:00 ESTThe Harry Potter Oscar Buzz Beginshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/29/the-harry-potter-oscar-buzz-begins/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/29/the-harry-potter-oscar-buzz-begins/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/29/the-harry-potter-oscar-buzz-begins/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Now that the Academy Awards have extended the best picture category to include ten nominees instead of five, you bet your bottom half we're going to start seeing some pretty bold claims when it comes to fan favorites, like Star Trek, Watchmen and the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. With a couple weeks still to go before Half-Blood Prince finally hits theaters, Hollywood.com's Paul Dergarabedian looks to be the first to champion the film for a possible best picture nomination.

Having watched the movie at an advanced screening, he says, "... the Potter loving beast in me has been unleashed after having witnessed a film that was not only exquisite in its production values, but was also charming, funny, scary, enchanting, moving (stop me, the adjectives could go on and on) and dare I say, sexy. Brilliantly directed by David Yates (he directed 2007's "Harry Potter and the Order of The Phoenix"), "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is a tour-de-force that combines style and substance, special effects and heart and most importantly great performances from all of the actors young and not-so-young. Not only that, half-way through I'm thinking the unthinkable - "ten academy awards nominations are available this year, hmm I wonder...."

Granted, the folks from Hollywood.com could be angling themselves for some Potter quotes in print and in future trailers, but seeing as Lord of the Rings had its time in the Oscar spotlight -- coupled with the fact that Potter is nearing his big-screen finale -- I wouldn't be surprised if Half-Blood Prince nabbed one of those ten spots. You?

Gallery: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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]]>academt awardsAcademtAwardscinematicalfeaturedharry potterharry potter and the half-blood princeHarryPotterHarryPotterAndTheHalf-bloodPrinceoscarsErik DavisMon, 29 Jun 2009 15:35:00 ESTThe Other Oscar Changes Could Mean No Best Song Categoryhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/29/the-other-oscar-changes-could-mean-no-best-song-category/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/29/the-other-oscar-changes-could-mean-no-best-song-category/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/29/the-other-oscar-changes-could-mean-no-best-song-category/#commentsFiled under:

In all the hullabaloo over the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' decision to increase the Best Picture Oscar nominees from five to 10 next year, something else has gotten lost in the shuffle: They tinkered with the Best Song category, too. And the new rules mean that there could be a year with no Best Song category at all!

Here's how it works (with thanks to The Hollywood Reporter for some of the details). During the nomination process, the 233 members of the Academy's music branch rate each eligible song on a scale of 1 to 10. The five songs with the top average scores get the actual nomination, with 8.25 as the cutoff. If only three or four songs rate 8.25 or higher, that's all the nominations there are. But the question has always been: What if fewer than three songs get an average score of 8.25? So far, it hasn't come up, although you can see that it almost did last year, when there were only three nominees in the category. That means those were the only three songs that rated 8.25 or higher -- sorry, fans of Bruce Springsteen's "The Wrestler."

The Academy has now answered this loophole very simply. If two or more songs score higher than 8.25, then everything's cool. If only one song scores high enough, then that song and whatever the next highest scorer was will be the two lone nominees (and no one will know which had the lower score, because of course that would influence the voting). And if no songs score above 8.25? Then the category is scrapped that year.

Continue reading The Other Oscar Changes Could Mean No Best Song Category

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]]>Eric D. SniderMon, 29 Jun 2009 09:02:00 ESTAcademy Expands Best Picture Nominees to 10http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/24/academy-expands-best-picture-nominees-to-10/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/24/academy-expands-best-picture-nominees-to-10/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/24/academy-expands-best-picture-nominees-to-10/#commentsFiled under: ,



The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is going to pull a Sir Mix-A-Lot and "Uh! Double up, uh uh!" the Best Picture category next year with ten nominees instead of the usual five. That's twice as many nominations as before, although it seems to only be limited to the Best Picture category, which is a shame because opening up at least the major categories could make things a lot more interesting.

The announcement on Variety today was extremely short, but the Academy has a press release up already stating that they're hearkening back to Oscars roots when the Best Picture category sometimes contained ten films (or more -- 12 in 1934 and 1935), although that hasn't been the case since 1943. Despite the doubling, Academy president Sid Ganis wants to remind you, "The final outcome, of course, will be the same -- one Best Picture winner."

Gee, thanks Sid. For a minute there we thought you'd really just decided to shoot for the moon and feature three Best Picture winners in a publicity stunt. Now how about you guys get to work on the show for next year and get Stephen Colbert to host? That's worth doubling up for.

Which films do you think will now make the cut? Pixar's Up is a definite contender ... what else?

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]]>AcademyBest PictureBestPicturefeaturedOscarsSid-GanisKevin KellyWed, 24 Jun 2009 14:20:00 ESTMonday Night Poll: Best Films of the Year So Farhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/27/monday-night-poll-best-films-of-the-year-so-far/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/27/monday-night-poll-best-films-of-the-year-so-far/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/27/monday-night-poll-best-films-of-the-year-so-far/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,



Well, well, well... it appears that May is on the horizon, and with its arrival, we seal the deal on the first third of 2009. Four out of twelve months -- this seems like as good a time as any to evaluate just how the movies have treated us to date. This time last year had stubs piling up for the likes of Cloverfield, 21, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall; what sticks out to you from this current season?

We asked our staff to chime in with some of their favorites, and we want you to name yours. If your pick isn't listed in the below poll, then do feel free to comment below that. Try and keep the titles to those which opened between January 1st and April 30th, though exceptions may understandably be made for those limited releases that took their sweet time leaving New York and Los Angeles for the other 48 states (and beyond!).

What would make your own top ten now? What would you most expect to make it all the way to year-end glory (critically, personally, and/or in terms of awards) by December? Let us know.

View Poll

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]]>William GossMon, 27 Apr 2009 22:02:00 ESTTribeca Review: Departureshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/26/tribeca-review-departures/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/26/tribeca-review-departures/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/04/26/tribeca-review-departures/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,



One thing about the Academy Awards' Best Foreign Language category that separates it from the acting, screenplay, director, and best picture categories is that in order to vote, Academy members must prove that they have actually seen all five nominees. In a way, this is good: it means there's less politicking and favoritism and more sincere praise for the film that voters actually believe is best. But on the other hand, the Academy members who have time to go to special screenings of the five nominees are liable to be the old, retired ones, and their tastes might not accurately reflect those of the Academy in general.

All of this was relevant this year, when a Japanese film no one had ever heard of, called Departures, won the Oscar when all the forecasts had been for either The Class or Waltz with Bashir (which, not coincidentally, were the only two nominees that had played in the U.S. at that point). The Academy voters had seen all five films. Had they, in their wisdom, chosen the film that truly was best?

The answer is: eh, maybe. Now that Departures is making the festival rounds in advance of its stateside release in May, we're able to see why it appealed to the voters. As it turns out, it's a perfect Oscar choice, a fine film that's gently funny and moving and not the least bit challenging or controversial. It tells its story with elegant simplicity and is aimed at neither the lowest common denominator nor the highbrow art-house crowd. Pleasantly in the middle is where it sits, and it's happy to be there.

Continue reading Tribeca Review: Departures

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]]>cinematicaldeparturesoscars2009tribeca film festivaltribeca2009TribecaFilmFestivalEric D. SniderSun, 26 Apr 2009 19:02:00 EST