 Any other result would have been a real surprise/disappointment for the studio I’m sure, but still, it’s good to hear that Sony Pictures Classics is staying in the Asghar Farhadi business. They did quite well with A Separation a few years ago, and now they’ve picked up Farhadi’s new film The Past for U.S. distribution. There’s no word yet on when it’ll come out, but my best guess is that they’ll copy their last strategy and wait until very late in the season to unleash it on us Americans. You can get a refresher on what the movie is out after the jump, but now we at least know that it’s likely hitting theaters in 2013. Read on below…
Read more on Sony Pictures Classics Picks Up ‘The Past’…
 After delighting audiences and critics with his Oscar-winning drama A Separation (2011), Asghar Farhadi’s follow-up film The Past with Tahar Rahim and Berenice Bejo were on the top of many anticipated lists for the year. As the film just played at the Cannes Film Festival, reactions started pouring in with very positive notices.
Judging by the initial reactions, Farhadi might find himself in Screenplay contention once more with possibilities for Picture, Director, and even Actress for Berenice Bejo, the Oscar-nominated actress from Michel Hazanavicius’ The Artist (2011). The 41-year-old director (can you believe he’s only 41?) was nominated for Original Screenplay and won Foreign Language Film despite a poorly placed US release that many found problems with. Many believe, a Best Picture contender, the film could have been.
I’m intrigued.
Here are some Twitter Reactions:
Read more on Positive Reactions Pour in for Asghar Farhadi’s ‘The Past’ from Cannes Film Festival…
 After his last film A Separation won the Best Foreign Language Oscar, movie fans have eagerly awaited Ashgar Farhadi’s next film. Now we get our first look at his follow up to that wonderful film. The Past sees him teaming up with Oscar nominated actress Bérénice Bejo (The Artist) and Tahar Rahim (A Prophet) to tell a story centered on an Iranian man (Ali Mosaffa) having long-term domestic problems with his French wife (Bejo) whom he deserts along with their two children to go back to his homeland. In the mean time, his wife is seeing a French man (Rahim) and therefore writes to him and asks for a divorce which compels the man to come back to France, only to see his wife’s new partner in his home beside his children. Check out the trailer after the jump! Read more on Trailer for Ashgar Farhadi’s ‘The Past’ arrives online!…
 It’s March! We get started right away and over the past few weeks after the Oscar ceremony, I took some brief stabs at some categories. Those have been tinkered with and will be reflected on the actual Oscar Prediction pages in the next couple of days. The full listing of predicted nominees is on the sidebar with the list of contenders on the Oscar Prediction pages for Picture, Director, Lead Actor, Lead Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Original Screenplay, Adapted Screenplay, and Animated Feature.
Obviously categories like Original Song are merely speculation because we don’t know what film will have an eligible song attached. Disney and Pixar films are good for a song or two so that’s always a good place to start. Read more on Oscar Circuit – 2014 Films and Minority Contenders…
Categories: Article, Editor, Oscar Circuit Tags: 2014 Oscar Predictions, A Separation, Academy Awards, Adepero Oduye, Angela Bassett, Antonio Banderas, August: Osage County, Berenice Bejo, Black Nativity, Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz, Captain Phillips, Chavez, Christian Bale, Ewan McGregor, forest whitaker, Fruitvale, Gwyneth Paltrow, Idris Elba, jennifer hudson, Julia Roberts, Kasi Lemmons, Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep, Michael Fassbender, Michael Pena, naomi watts, nicole kidman, Octavia Spencer, Oprah Winfrey, Out of the Furnace, Penelope Cruz, Ridley Scott, Rosario Dawson, Saving Mr. Banks, Steve McQueen, Tahar Rahim, The Counselor, The Grandmaster, The Past, the weinstein company, The Wolf of Wall Street, tom hanks, Twelve Years A Slave, Walt Disney, Woody Harrelson, Zoe Saldana
Melissa Leo in "The Fighter", 2010's Best Supporting Actress…
The 2011 Nominees For Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role are…
• BÉRÉNICE BEJO • THE ARTIST
• JESSICA CHASTAIN • THE HELP
• MELISSA MCCARTHY • BRIDESMAIDS
• JANET MCTEER • ALBERT NOBBS
• OCTAVIA SPENCER • THE HELP
The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress carries a much storied and fascinating history and in an almost distinctive way stands apart from its other acting categories. This category often generates a surprise or two on nomination morning and has dropped jaws more than once on Oscar night.
The infamous 1997 scowl that Lauren Bacall embodied for losing the 1996 Supporting Actress award to Juliette Binoche and The English Patient is one notable example for the playfulness the Academy occasionally levies on this category’s nominees and the surprises that can befall even the most locked in frontrunner.
Read more on Oscar Circuit: Best Supporting Actress…
Categories: Oscar Circuit Tags: Berenice Bejo, Best Supporting Actress, Bridesmaids, janet mcteer, Jessica Chastain, Melissa McCarthy, Octavia Spencer, Oscar Circuit, Oscar hopefuls, the artist, The Help
 Every year the Supporting Categories are the hardest to predict. And it makes me so damn frustrated. Grr. This year I am 100% positive two actresses will receive nominations; Octavia Spencer and Berenice Bejo.
Read more on Women in Cinema- The “Oscarettes”: Who Will be nominated for Best Supporting Actress?…
Categories: Article, Women in Cinema Tags: Berenice Bejo, Carey Mulligan, janet mcteer, Jessica Chastain, Melissa McCarthy, Octavia Spencer, oscarettes, Shailene Woodley, vanessa redgrave, women in cinema
Bérénice Bejo and Malcolm McDowell in THE ARTIST (The Weinstein Company)
“The Artist” lead the way with three golden statues including Best Picture (Musical or Comedy) and Best Actor for Jean Dujardin. Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants” followed with two wins including Best Picture (Drama) and another award for lead George Clooney. Probably the biggest surprise of the night was Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” winning Best Screenplay and Madonna’s not-well received “W.E.” taking home Original Song, which is ineligible for Oscar consideration. Check out all the winners for film and television after the jump.
Read more on ‘The Artist’ triumphs at the Golden Globes with 3 Wins…
Categories: Golden GLobes Tags: Berenice Bejo, George Clooney, Golden GLobe Awards, golden globes, HFPA, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Hugo, jean dujardin, Martin Scorsese, the artist, The Descendants
Every year at these shindigs all the stars are judged not only on their performance but how they choose to dress. Now, I’m not above judging those who can afford to look good, so here is a list of the celebrities I chose as Best Dressed at The Critics’ Choice Awards!
Michelle Williams looks elegant in a Chanel Gown
Read more on The Critics’ Choice Awards: Best Dressed…
Categories: Article Tags: Berenice Bejo, Best Dressed, Brad Pitt, Charlize Theron, Critics Choice Awards, Fashion, Melissa McCarthy, Michelle Williams, Octavia Spencer, Patton Oswalt, paul rudd, Viola Davis
The Year-In-Review continues with some non-traditional citations on certain films and performances that did or did not make head way in 2011. What are your choices for “Limited Performance” of the year? or Most Underrated Film? or share what you thought about the Year-in-TV as I dish out my favorites in Television Drama and Comedies. Read more after jump. Read more on Year-In-Review: Editor’s Specialty Awards…
Categories: Article, Community, Editor Tags: Alexander Payne, American Horror Story, american idol, Andy Serkis, arthur christmas, Bennett Miller, Berenice Bejo, Best Animated Feature, Best of the year, bill hader, Boardwalk Empire, Brad Pitt, Bridesmaids, Bryce Dallas Howard, Carey Mulligan, Christina Hendricks, Christine Baranski, dancing with the stars, Dexter, Drive, Eric Stonestreet, George Clooney, glee, Harry Escott, Hugo, it;s always sunny in philadelphia, jane lynch, Jason Segel, jean dujardin, Jessica Chastain, Jessica Lange, John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, Julie Bowen, Kelly MacDonald, Kristen Wiig, mad men, Martin Scorsese, Max Greenfield, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Michael Fassbender, Michel Hazanavicius, modern family, Moneyball, New Girl, Nicolas Winding Refn, pariah, Paul Feig, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Ryan Gosling, saturday night live, Score, Sean Penn, Shame, sofia vergara, Steve McQueen, Super 8, Survivor, Terrence Malick, the artist, The Descendants, The Help, The Muppets, the office, The Tree of Life, The Walking Dead, the x factor, Tilda Swinton, True Blood, tv, Ty Burrell, Up All Night, We Need To Talk About Kevin
 TOP TEN FILMS OF 2011 (in alphabetical order)
“The Artist”
“The Descendants”
“Drive”
“The Help”
“Hugo”
“Midnight in Paris”
“Moneyball”
“My Week With Marilyn”
“Super 8″
“The Tree of Life”
BEST PICTURE
“The Artist”
BEST DIRECTOR
Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist”
Read more on Phoenix Film Critics Love ‘The Artist’…
Categories: Precursors Tags: Berenice Bejo, Drive, Elizabeth Olsen, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Hanna, Hugo, jean dujardin, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Michel Hazanavicius, Phoenix Film Critics, Precursors, Saoirse Ronan, Super 8, the artist, The Help, The Muppets, The Skin I Live In, The Tree of Life, thomas horn
 You never know when the next great movie is going to arrive. We all see a number of movies a year that we all like and love to a certain degree, but the films which leave a lasting impression on you, stimulate the senses and make you fall in love with the art form of the motion picture all over again are exceedingly rare.
Sometimes, a simple story told exceedingly well can do it. Other times, a gripping and deeply profound documentary or insightful dramatic film can get you buzzing. But as I learned when seeing Michel Hazanavicius’ incredible The Artist, even with an absence of words, the motion picture can again be glorious, affirming, and affecting.
Read more on The Artist (****)…
Oscar Predictions Updated! Who is the frontrunner now?
Oscar Predictions have been updated!
I’ve come, I saw, well, I didn’t conquer but I feel comfortable with the picks thus far. I’ve spent hours analyzing and looking at categories while trying to think like an AMPAS voter. The past eight days or so have presented many answers to questions we thought we knew the answer to. When looking at the Critics Choice, Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild, and the two dozen critics’ awards that have announced their favorites for Year 2011, one thing remains clear. This is one of the most open races we’ve seen in years.
I hate using the word “lock” because as history has told us, AMPAS can “unlock” someone just as fast as we put them in. Think Paul Giamatti in “Sideways.” However, I feel comfortable using the word for a few films thus far. Michel Hazanavicius’ “The Artist” is the clear favorite and the one to beat. It has the Oscar flair that they love and the critics have taken to it in a big way as well. I still feel the same way about it that I did when I first saw it and that means something. “Slumdog Millionaire” which had the same effect on many critics, including myself, aged very poorly and looking back, not necessarily the best film of the year. Not by a long shot. Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants” has made a strong showing. George Clooney is working his magic and has encountered many awards along the way. It doesn’t hurt that he also directed and starred in “The Ides of March,” a film not locked by any means despite the Golden Globe nomination. Steven Spielberg’s great epic “War Horse” has everything that Oscar loves. While it doesn’t carry a strong showing on the performance front, the story alone will get voters checking the film off.
Read more on Oscar Circuit: “Nice Guys (or Gals) Finish Last”…
Categories: Editor, Oscar Circuit, Oscar Predictions Tags: Beginners, Berenice Bejo, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, best picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Brad Pitt, Christopher Plummer, Drive, George Clooney, Glenn Close, Hugo, jean dujardin, Jessica Chastain, Martin Scorsese, Michel Hazanavicius, Moneyball, Oscar Circuit, oscar predictions, Oscars, the artist, The Descendants, The Help, Viola Davis
 Below are the reactions for this year’s Screen Actors Guild Award Nominations. It was quite interesting with surprises coming from Janet McTeer nominated for Best Supporting Actress and the great Demian Bichir receiving a Best Actor nomination for his work in “A Better Life.” This will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Demian Bichir – A Better Life
George Clooney – The Descendants
Leonardo DiCaprio – J. Edgar
Jean Dujardin – The Artist
Brad Pitt – Moneyball Read more on Screen Actors Guild Nominations Reactions…
Categories: Editor, Screen Actors Guild Tags: Berenice Bejo, Brad Pitt, Bridesmaids, demian bichir, Editor, Glenn Close, janet mcteer, jean dujardin, Jessica Chastain, Kenneth Branagh, Leonardo DiCaprio, Melissa McCarthy, Michelle Williams, Midnight in Paris, My Week With Marilyn, Octavia Spencer, SAG, Screen Actors Guild, Screen Actors Guild Awards, the artist, The Descendants, The Help, Tilda Swinton, Viola Davis
 Right off the bat I must say this…I do find ‘The Artist’ to be overrated. What I mean by that is this isn’t the best film of the year or the obvious Best Picture frontrunner. This doesn’t preclude it from being a great film (which it is), but I do think it makes sense to tone things down a bit and temper expectations. If ‘The Artist’ is to be an Oscar winner, it’s going to be on the backs of the masses embracing it, and some of the heady praise its getting may make them expect more than they’re going to receive. Understand this, it’s an almost flawless film, but it’s predicated on a gimmick, and that gimmick is its main issue. The rest of this review will be deeply positive in its assment of the flick, but the elephant in the room needed to be addressed before I can delve into why I like and respect what writer/director Michel Hazanavicius chose to do here. It’s a daring choice by a filmmaker to make a nearly silent black and white film, and that he’s able to pretty much pull it off is quite amazing. Factor in the special performances by Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, and a game supporting cast (including a dog worthy of a Supporting nod), and the end result is a special little film. It’s just not the second coming of cinema…
Read more on The Artist (***½)…
"Hello Oscar, I've finally arrived."
When witnessing the evolution of film, it’s hard to grasp how it went from a seemingly simple concept of silent imagery into a loud, uproarious third dimension experience. Michel Hazanavicius’ silent film The Artist plays homage to the origins of our cinema in a general manner while attaining a massive respect that can’t be denied. The film tells the story of George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), a silent film actor megastar who withers away into obscurity when the introduction of “talkies” meets monumental popularity. Movie extra Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo) is a star on the rise who’s admiration for George’s work runs much deeper than the film’s they share.
Writer/Director Michel Hazanavicius explores the deepest parts of his soul which he calls “a love letter.” What a beautiful letter it was. He makes conscious choices to illustrate the medium in the most toxic and potent fashion. A Q & A with Hazanavicius’ at the end of the picture placed much into perspective. His funny, mild-tempered personality will carry him extremely far in this year’s Oscar race. He could easily be the new director that everyone roots for. His stamp on the film is evident and his adoration and tribute to the genre is clear and ostentatious. Read more on The Artist (****)…
Seldom have Kris Tapley (www.incontention.com) and I agreed so completely on a film`s merit and its chances for Oscars as we have on The Artist, the French film that has been taking the industry by storm since Cannes. I cannot remember a foreign language so captivating audiences since Life is Beautiful (1998) somehow convinced audiences, critics and Academy members that is was a film worthy of attention and Academy Awards. Never forget that Roberto Benigni’s Holocaust fairy tale, which alone should spell caution, for many, trivialized the Holocaust the besmirched the memories of the millions who died in the death camps that the Nazis operated with such brutal precision. Watching him win Best Actor, not only the Academy Award but the Screen Actors Guild left me numb and very, very angry. Among the nominees in 1998 along with the hyper active Italian actor-director were Edward Norton in American History X (1998), Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan (1998) and Ian McKellan in Gods and Monsters (1998). Though Norton was the rightful winner in my mind for his searing performance as a racist skinhead who learns the error of his ways, any one of the three would have been a more worthy winner than Benigni. His film, Life is Beautiful (1998) would win three Academy Awards which led him to use the Oscars as his crowning achievements!! Standing on chairs, acting the fool, I wonder if he ever watches the replay of his reactions and recognizes what an absolute buffoon he was being. Apparently he was the most sought after dinner guest during the Oscar campaign, feted and toasted by the biggest stars in the business, though some saw through the film, Steven Spielberg and Warren Beatty among them.
Read more on The Artist and Oscar – Really?…
For the first time ever, I’ll be starting off my preview of the week’s new films with the limited releases. Not because there’s anything lacking about the wide releases. Far from it, this Thanksgiving weekend is yielding several amazing-looking films both mainstream and indie. No, I’m only switching things around to keep up the theme of David Cronenberg Week. So y’all can guess by now that I’ll first be analyzing…
A Dangerous Method, based on Christopher Hampton’s play The Talking Cure, centers on the professional relationship between Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud as well as the complicating presence of the beautiful, intelligent but deeply troubled Sabina Spielrein. The film has been enjoying mostly positive reviews, with its performances, dialogue and production values being singled out for particular praise. Nevertheless, it’s clear that there is a hint of disappointment in its critical evaluations, as many (including yours truly) had initially pegged it as “the” film; the one that would finally catapult the legendary David Cronenberg to an Academy Award nomination for Best Director after a long, distinguished career ignored by the staid organization. While it’s still possible, competition from the likes of The Descendants, The Artist and War Horse required A Dangerous Method to garner more effusive “best of the year!” acclaim to stand a fighting chance considering its subject matter. Even if he personally doesn’t make it, one should still look for it in other categories. Keira Knightley, despite giving a divisive performance with a questionable accent, is showy enough and has been gushed over by quite a few critics, so she is at least on the radar. Viggo Mortensen has been cited as one of the most purely entertaining parts of the film, and Michael Fassbender could get a consolation nomination if his more acclaimed work in Shame proves too transgressive for the Academy to embrace (think Dennis Hopper). It could also get possible nods for its screenplay, art direction and costumes. Read more on Holiday Openings (November 23-27)…
Categories: Weekend Openings Tags: arthur christmas, Berenice Bejo, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup, best picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, biopics, David Cronenberg Week, Hugo, jean dujardin, Keira Knightley, Kenneth Branagh, Michael Fassbender, Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn, Oscar hopefuls, Rampart, the artist, The Muppets, viggo mortensen, Weekend Openings, Woody Harrelson
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