I’m not exactly sure what this means. Unlike every other announcement so far, AMPAS has unveiled today that Charlize Theron, Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Daniel Radcliffe will make “special appearances” at the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony. Not presenters. Not performers. Just… appearances. Anyone else care to take a gander at what they could be involved in? Maybe something to do with the introduction? Sometimes the host likes to go into the crowd and embarrass a few stars, though normally it involves the nominees. Perhaps they are doing a musical number together (since that is their theme this year)? I really don’t know. Have a look at the press release after the jump, then leave your best guess at what they might be involved with at the ceremony in the comments.
Read more on A Slew of Names Announced to Make “Special Appearances” at the Oscars®…
The Sizing Up Series continues with a look at the slate of Best Supporting Actress contenders. As always, this is as large a grouping of the hopefuls as possible (excluding some no shot contenders and members of bigger ensembles…or else this could have 50 or more people in the article), categorizing them by their assumed likelihood of a nomination come the big morning. Oftentimes, more than a few of the Best Picture nominees wind up with some form of representation here, and this year I think there will be more than a little correlation, but of course absolutely anything is possible with the Academy. We shall see what happens in the end, but enough talk for the time being. I know what you’re all here for, so let’s go right ahead and take a look at the contenders for Best Supporting Actress and size up the field! Read more on Sizing Up: Best Supporting Actress…
Categories: Article Tags: Alicia Vikander, Amanda Seyfried, Amy Adams, analysis, Anne Hathaway, Annette Bening, Bella Heathcoate, Best Supporting Actress, Cate Blanchett, Charlize Theron, Cody Horn, Elizabeth Olsen, Emily Blunt, Emma Watson, Helen Hunt, Isabelle Hupert, judi dench, Julia Stiles, Kerry Bishe, Lorraine Toussaint, Marion Cotillard, olivia colman, Olivia Williams, Oscar hopefuls, Ruby Sparks, Sally Field, Scarlett Johansson, Sizing up, Sizing Up series
“Homeland” is on DVD shelves tomorrow…
To accompany Joey’s DVD Picks of the Week, I will be offering my Editor’s Recommendations in this weekly column that will highlight some feature films and television shows that may not get their proper praise otherwise. While some are straight-to-DVD releases, often times those types of films can offer cinematic insight from time to time. Read more on The Blu Circuit…
Read more on The Blu Circuit…
Categories: Article, Blu-Ray/DVD, Editor Tags: Blu-ray Disc, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Claire Danes, DVD, Editor, Emmy Award, emmy awards, Entertainment/Culture, kristen stewart, showtime, Sons of Anarchy, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
 Ridley Scott’s Prometheus is unquestionably one of the most divisive films to come our way in quite some time. As you may have noticed, critics, fans, and plenty of casual moviegoers all have something to say about Scott’s latest. Some hate it with a fury; some pick apart each nook and cranny like a nervous yet excited med student conducting their first autopsy, and some simply sit back and marvel at the technical gleam of it all. Whatever your feelings are towards Prometheus, one thing is absolutely clear: it gets us all talking, bringing forth some of the most interesting discussions and debates centered on a film since perhaps 2010’s Inception. Even at The Awards Circuit, Prometheus has divided the staff considerably. We have seen a mixed review from Mike, a panned review from Robert, and now an unapologetic glowing review from yours truly. Prometheus is a thing of beauty in the way it divides us. How boring would it be if our opinions for a film aligned with one another without contention? Prometheus divides us all, perhaps more than any film we’ve ever reviewed at The Awards Circuit, because it’s littered with so much to absorb, so many ideas to grapple with, and of course…its correlation to the classic Alien franchise from which it’s based off. I warn you now, like Robert’s review, this dissection of Prometheus will contain spoilers, so please…put your helmet on, have your weapons by your side, and proceed with caution… Read more on Prometheus (****)…
 With all that goes into a movie – even relatively small indies – I sometimes wonder how so many of them end up being as misguided as they are. You have writers, directors, producers, and who knows how many other outside collaborators all giving their inputs on a single story through several pre-production drafts and months of principle photography all the way to post plus test audiences. How does a movie like, say, The Blind Side go through all of that and not have anyone say, “Hey, maybe that line ‘I’m not changin’ that boy’s life…he’s changin’ mine!’ is a little…trite?” Then again, I guess you could apply that level of bafflement to a number of badly executed plans from otherwise smart, driven people. Chalk it up to hubris, blind ambition, too many hands in the pot or whatever; at the end of the day, we’re still going to have to deal with the ill-conceived farrago that is Prometheus in front of us, the kind of bad movie that only a group of highly distinguished artists could make. Read more on Prometheus (*½)…
Categories: Film Reviews Tags: Charlize Theron, Damon Lindelof, disappointment, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Michael Fassbender, Noomi Rapace, prequel, Prometheus, religion, Ridley Scott, Science Fiction
 For about a 4-5 year span, Ridley Scott ruled the movie world. Arriving amidst a post-George Lucas and Star Wars science fiction fervor, Scott brought unpredictability, horror, intensity, and edginess to the science-fiction world with 1979′s iconic Alien. Scott likewise defined much of the look and structure of a great number of post-apocalyptic cinema for decades to come with 1982′s Blade Runner. Both Alien and Blade Runner spawned countless copycats and although Blade Runner failed to initially click with audiences and critics alike, Alien earned the respect and admiration of virtually everyone. With everyone buzzing about Star Wars in 1977, and rightfully so of course, Alien placed science-fiction and horror together on a grand and epic scale, introducing us to another iconic and unforgettable heroine, Ellen Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver.
Alien‘s success earned the film two Oscar nominations and a win for Best Visual Effects. As the film proved to be a big success, people demanded more in the franchise and while three sequels have been made, Ridley Scott shared no involvement. Scott likewise avoided any involvement in those ill advised Alien vs. Predator films and truth be told, science-fiction filmmaking in general. However, the itch became too hard to ignore and with Prometheus, Ridley Scott has returned to the genre and franchise that launched his career.
Read more on Prometheus (***)…
Categories: Film Reviews Tags: Alien, Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce, Horror, Idris Elba, Michael Fassbender, Noomi Rapace, prequel, Prometheus, Ridley Scott, Science Fiction
 Prometheus is set to debut in the US this Friday and 20th Century Fox is still finding new avenues for marketing. In advanced of its premiere, they’ve released a new poster for the IMAX showings of the film with the tagline “We came from them. They will come for us.”
Read more on Prometheus gets new IMAX poster…
 Visually stunning but much too somber and bloated for its own good, ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ is the better of the revisionist Snow White flicks of 2012, but it’s still not as good as it could have been. Director Rupert Sanders has a definite style on display, and Charlize Theron seems to relish playing the evil queen, but something just seems to be missing. The performances of Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth are solid, but they just seem a bit off from what the characters should be. I think the main culprit is the script, which doesn’t make enough use of the story for its goals and often seems puzzled as to what should come next. This eventually just becomes a cousin of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ (not a compliment in my eyes, but I know I’m in the minority there). The idea of a revisionist and gritty take on Snow White is often cast aside, and the linking bits to that original fairy tale seem shoehorned in and not organic to the story one bit. The flick is dark, but it seems to be merely for the sake of being so. There’s just too much unevenness here to consider recommending it, but again…few films this year have been as nice to look at as this one.
Read more on Snow White and the Huntsman (**½)…
If this summer is considered a “competition” among the major studio releases of a year, then June, August and possibly July are going to be rather boring to box office hounds because literally nothing can touch what will most likely be the biggest film of the entire year. But hey, that gives us at least one whole month to relax and enjoy the movies for what they are. Kicking off June is the “other” Snow White revisionist epic, the only new wide release of the weekend…
You see that up there? That drop-dead gorgeous woman finally embracing her fun side after years of post-Monster fussy dramatics smoldering at you in an elaborate costume? You’re looking at the major, no, make that sole reason that I absolutely have to see Rupert Sanders’ directorial debut Snow White & the Huntsman. In this darker version of the classic fairy tale, Theron’s Queen Ravenna rules over a miserable kingdom, sucking the life out of others to maintain her beauty. But when threatened by her stepdaughter Bella Swan, whose spirit can turn back the Queen’s evil influence, Thor is sent to track her down and bring back her heart. Critics have been impressed by Sanders’ impressive visual flair but have criticized the film’s pacing and sullen performance from Kristen Stewart. I couldn’t care less as long as Theron is as awesome as she looks in the trailer. Read more on Weekend Openings (1-3 June)…
Categories: Weekend Openings Tags: Best Animated Feature, Best Costume Design, Best Visual Effects, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, crimes against art, Fantasy, Horror, kristen stewart, Piranha 3DD, Snow White and the Huntsman, Weekend Openings
 Even though Snow White and the Huntsman has yet to hit theaters, Universal is hoping they have a franchise on their hands by fast tracking a sequel. Deadline is reporting that David Koepp is in discussions to write the script for the sequel so that director Rupert Sanders will be able to make it the next project he directs.
Read more on David Koepp to script “Snow White and the Huntsman” sequel…
 The release of ‘Prometheus’ is getting closer and closer, so it makes perfect sense that the promotional material for the film is ramping up. The latest is a new Trailer that runs almost 3 minutes long and gets way into the plot of the film, potentially veering into spoiler territory, depending on how much you already know about the project and its rumored relationship to director Ridley Scott’s ‘Alien’. I’d say that you may not want to watch this look, especially if you’re into a virginal theater experience, but everyone else, after the jump we have this Trailer for your viewing pleasure. I think it’s a terrific one, but it’s certainly less mysterious than the other. Take a look below…
Read more on Check Out the New 3 Minute Trailer for “Prometheus”…
 The promo machine for the summer blockbusters is in full effect. After presenting footage at Cinema Con, Universal has released the first track from the Snow White and the Huntsman called “Breath of Life.” The song is written and performed by Florence + the Machine. With those ominous drums and Florence’s voice and choral arrangements, the track definitely fits in with the tone of the trailers and the Evil Queen character it’s written about. It’s surprising that a major summer film would release a single as a part of it’s film marketing but this song is pretty great.
Read more on Hear “Breath of Life” from Snow White and the Huntsman…
Fresh off their multimillion dollar acquisition of the script for Fifty Shades of Grey, Universal is looking to acquire Agent 13. The sci-fi film, written by T.S. Nowlin, in recent days has seen the attachment of Charlize Theron and Rise of the Planet of the Apes director Rupert Wyatt. The adaptation is based on a little known comic book series released in 1988. Written by G.I. Joe cartoon and Enemy of the State screenwriters Flint Dille and David Marconi, the comic is said to have “post-modern overtones, replete with femme fatales and explosive cliffhangers.”
Read more on Universal looking to acquire “Agent 13″…
 Directed by: Ridley Scott
Written by: Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof
Cast: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Logan Marshall-Green, Charlize Theron
Synopsis: A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.
Awards Speculation:
Wait a bloody minute, what’s this film doing here!? Weren’t we only covering possible Oscar contenders with Awards Profiles? We are, and I’m not going to patronize anyone by suggesting that this science-fiction thriller will nab the famous Brit his first Best Director Academy Award, because it won’t.
Read more on Awards Profile: Prometheus…
Categories: Award Profile Tags: Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Visual Effects, Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Logan Marshall-Green, Michael Fassbender, Noomi Rapace, Prometheus, Ridley Scott, Science Fiction
 With the Oscar nominations right around the corner and the critics’ awards nearly complete, it’s that time of the year folks where we all wonder and debate who will be honored with a nomination Oscar morning. Right now it seems that the women who will be nominated are Viola Davis, Meryl Streep, and Michelle Williams. But while some of these women may be a lock for a nomination, we all know there’s plenty of room for upset. So let’s go through the performances that have a chance to score a nomination January 24th.
Read more on Women in Cinema- The “Oscarettes”: Who Will be nominated for Best Actress?…
Categories: Article, Women in Cinema Tags: Charlize Theron, Elizabeth Olsen, Glenn Close, Kirsten Dunst, Meryl Streep, Michelle Williams, oscarettes, Rooney Mara, Tilda Swinton, Viola Davis, women in cinema
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
 Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody, collaborators on the Oscar-winning 2007 comedy Juno, have re-teamed on Young Adult, a dark comedic tour de force for Charlize Theron and a film which looks and presents better than it may actually truly be. Still, fans of Cody’s whipsmart dialogue and those who like their comedy a bit more crispy and tough, will find a lot to enjoy here.
 Theron plays Mavis Gary, a ghostwriter of teen literature (a/k/a Young Adult books), who happens upon a strange Email arriving in her inbox. To her surprise, Mavis has received an invitation to attend a party celebrating the newborn baby of her high school boyfriend, Buddy (Patrick Wilson) and the birthday of his wife, Beth (Elizabeth Reaser). She stews on it for awhile and as she routinely avoids and ignores her editor’s deadlines for a book she has barely started, Mavis grabs her puppy and returns to the hometown Buddy never left behind – Mercury, Minnesota.
Read more on Young Adult (**½)…
Wow. Just…wow. What a brutal weekend! I mean, no harm on my end; as far as I’m concerned, American audiences couldn’t have picked a more perfect wide release to ignore than New Year’s Eve. But it looks like Hollywood is looking to strike back with some major new films. It doesn’t take a genius to deduce what the likely hit is going to be…
Everyone’s favorite detective returns to the big screen in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, this time possibly meeting his match in the insidious Professor Moriarty. The first installment was a huge hit – not sure why, I thought it was terrible – and online buzz plus its sizable marketing push plus the presence of box office draw Robert Downey, Jr. looks to exceed that sum even if critics are less generous in their reviews. I’m pegging the film busts the business’ slump with a $61-66 million debut frame. The first film “earned” two Academy Award nominations, and if this one is as popular then it could re-score Art Direction and Original Score nods…maybe other crafts as well.
Read more on Weekend Openings (December 16-18)…
Greetings, readers! It’s that time again…
What the hell? We’ve barely recovered from Thanksgiving and it’s already New Year’s Eve?! Oh wait; it’s just a barely-veiled rehash of that cloying, paper-thin romantic comedy pretending to be some kind of “mosaic” of love. Phew! Anyway, it’s looking like a Razzie contender based on the overwhelming critical consensus. Despite that, will this film be the box office success that its predecessor was? Though it has far more competition than Valentine’s Day’s opening weekend, online buzz suggests that audiences will repeat their habit of seeing movies almost destined to bore them to death, which will be enough for a $20-25 million haul. Read more on Weekend Openings (December 9-11)…
Categories: Weekend Openings Tags: Charlize Theron, Diablo Cody, Ezra Miller, Gary Oldman, golden globe hopeful, Jason Reitman, Madonna, New Year's Eve, Oscar hopefuls, The Sitter, Tilda Swinton, tinker tailor soldier spy, W.E., We Need To Talk About Kevin, Weekend Openings, Young Adult
 Jason Reitman declares without a doubt that he’s among the most talented filmmakers working today and Diablo Cody proves she’s far from a one trick pony with the delightfully awkward black comedy ‘Young Adult’. This is a smaller film than Reitman has done before (though still in keeping with his interest in character dramedies and endings without complete closure), and a somewhat more straightforward one than Cody has previously done, but they both pull it off with aplomb. I really loved this movie, as it’s seductively simple, but packed with lots to stew over after it ends. The casting of Charlize Theron and Patton Oswalt are inspired choices, as both do nomination caliber work here. The thing about this flick is that it constantly breaks the rules of what makes a “safe” movie for Hollywood to digest, while still being in that vein of the type of character study they dig on. It’s smart, snappy, and raw in all the best ways, a credit to both Reitman and Cody’s work. This is Reitman having all the confidence in the world in his actors and the script, and boy does it ever pay off. Every scene feels just right for the movie, while being slightly different than what you’d expect it to be. I wonder if this might go slightly to the left of what Oscar voters (and perhaps audiences) are used to, causing it to not quite be embraced as much as his previous works, but there’s such talent on display here that I can’t imagine the Academy completely ignoring it.
Read more on Young Adult (***½)…
Elizabeth Olsen follows a long line of battered Best Actress winners.
This weekend sees the release of the highly anticipated thriller (and possible Oscar contender) Martha Marcy May Marlene. Many pundits, including our own Anna, Mike, and myself are predicting that Elizabeth Olsen will be among the nominees for Best Lead Actress. Beyond starring in an acclaimed indie gaining serious publicity momentum, Olsen is also young and pretty, which as we all know the voters love. But is there another element to her performance that would give her an Oscar-baiting advantage? Well, in the film, Olsen plays a young woman plagued by memories of her time spent with an abusive cult in the Catskill Mountains, and there’s her additional advantage. When a large portion of a young woman’s performance is in explicit pain, Oscar usually isn’t far behind.
Looking at the past ten years of Best Actress nominees, over half of them were for characters that go through overt forms of physical and/or mental torment. The last lineup was a very comprehensive example of this. Collectively, you had depression, poverty, physical assault, marital woes and public humiliation spread among the four nominees. The winner, Natalie Portman, spent almost the entirety of Black Swan in perpetual distress from a laundry list of inward and outward ailments including possible incest. Read more on Best Actress: Make Sure They See You Suffer…
Categories: Article Tags: Best Actress, Charlize Theron, Elizabeth Olsen, Halle Berry, Hilary Swank, incredibly unpleasant films, La Vie En Rose, Marion Cotillard, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Million Dollar Baby, Monster's Ball, nicole kidman, Oscar bait, oscar predictions, the hours
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