Much Ado About Nothing is like much like the libations consumed in the film, a plentiful, seemingly endless pool of delight. Joss Whedon’s bold exercise in filmmaking revels in its fun loving, free flowing nature of misplaced affections, lover’s spats, hilarious villainy and quick wit. In assembling a cavalcade of his favorite actors (or meat puppets as he calls them), entrusting them with classic dialogue and a single setting, and shooting them in sumptuous black and white, Whedon revitalizes one of Shakespeare’s greatest works, succeeding in merging a classic text with modern sensibilities.
Read more on SXSW: Much Ado About Nothing (***½)…
Categories: Festivals, Film Reviews Tags: Alexis Denisof, Amy Acker, Ashley Johnson, Brian McElhaney, Clark Gregg, Film, Fran Kanz, Jillian Morgese, Joss Whedon, Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing, Much Ado About Nothing, Nathan Fillion, Nick Kocher, Reed Diamond, Riki Lindhome, Sean Maher, Spencer Treat Clark, SXSW, sxsw festival, Tom Lenk
Directed by: Joss Whedon
Written by: Joss Whedon, based on the play by William Shakespeare
Cast: Alexis Denisof, Amy Acker, Fran Kranz, Reed Diamond, Nathan Fillion, Clark Gregg, Spencer Treat Clark, Sean Maher
Synopsis (courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes): Shakespeare’s classic comedy is given a contemporary spin in Joss Whedon’s film. Shot in just 12 days (and using the original text), the story of sparring lovers Beatrice and Benedick offers a dark, sexy and occasionally absurd view of the intricate game that is love. Read more on Awards Profile: Much Ado About Nothing…
(The annual “Will Win/Should Win” of the Awards Circuit has been our most popular yet most challenging series where each writer let’s their final thoughts be known on the Oscar categories. Each writer will reveal their choices everyday leading up to the Oscar ceremony. Think you can do better? Let your final thoughts be known in the comment section or by joining our Oscar Pool. -CD)
Read more on Oscar 2013 Will Win/Should Win Selections (Young)…
Categories: Article Tags: Amour, ang lee, Anna Karenina, Anna Young, Anne Hathaway, Argo, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Ben Affleck, Bradley Cooper, Brave, Chris Terrio, Christoph Waltz, Daniel Day-Lewis, Django Unchained, Emmanuelle Riva, End of Watch, Holy Motors, Inglourious Basterds, Jennifer Lawrence, Jessica Chastain, John Goodman, John Hawkes, Joss Whedon, kathryn bigelow, Kerry Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio, Les Miserables, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Logan Lerman, Mark Boal, Moonrise Kingdom, oscar predictions, Oscar snubs, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Quentin Tarantino, Robert DeNiro, Samantha Barks, Samuel L. Jackson, Searching for Sugarman, Silver Linings Playbook, Skyfall, Stephen Chbosky, Steven Speilberg, The Academy Awards, the avengers, the dark knight rises, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Impossible, The Sessions, Tommy Lee Jones, Will Win/Should Win, Wreck-It Ralph, Zero Dark Thirty
 This week brings the release of one of the absolute best films of 2012 alongside a whole host of other interesting titles. I feel confident in saying that this is one of those times where the Blu-Ray and DVD release slate contains literally something for everyone. Almost every genre is covered as well, so pretty much regardless of your age group, gender, or personal taste, there’s a movie with your name on it this week. They might not all be masterpieces, but at least one is in my book. Of course, that means that my top pick today is all but a foregone conclusion, but I do know that I’m not alone in my love of this particular film. For my PICK OF THE WEEK I went with a flick that’s been my #1 movie of the year at certain points over the past 5 months or so. It’s a modern classic in my eyes, and the rare breed of film that already has a decent cult following. Most of you know the movie in question, but in case you don’t, well…it’s: Read more on Joey’s DVD Picks of the Week (9/18/2012)…
Categories: Article Tags: blu ray, Drew Goddard, DVD, Entertainment/Culture, Film, Joey's DVD Column, Joey's DVD Picks of the Week, Joss Whedon, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, The Cabin in the Woods, weekly DVD column
 Just as important as the Oscar Predictions of the Awards Circuit is the Oscar Tracker which I’ve neglected as of late. I’ve made appropriate changes and additions as I see fit. Official and Staff Oscar Predictions will be updated early this week in case you’re wondering. I’ve also taken the liberty of updating the Golden Globe Predictions page as well.
Explanation of some of the additions or removals which you can see on the page:
- Removal of “The Hunger Games”
March was a long time ago. The Hunger Games had a great box office and probably has the support of a lot of fanboys and fans of the book series. With the openings of Joss Whedon’s The Avengers, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises, and the eventual release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, any supporters for a blockbuster will have their votes split. Picture and Director were a longshot anyway, even back in March. Jennifer Lawrence holds on because the lack of quality contenders in the category. Read more on Oscar Tracking and Golden Globe Peaks…
Categories: Article, Editor, Golden GLobes, Oscar Circuit Tags: American film directors, Christopher Nolan, Entertainment/Culture, Jennifer Lawrence, Jessica Chastain, Joss Whedon, Matthew McConaughey, Meryl Streep, Oscar, Oscar Tracker, Oscars, Paul Williams, screenplay, Terrence Malick, The Cabin in the Woods, Tommy Lee Jones, Viola Davis
 The Walt Disney Studios has announced a release date for Marvel Studios’ sequel to the biggest Super Hero blockbuster and third highest grossing film of all time, Marvel’s The Avengers. Joss Whedon returns to write and direct the UNTITLED MARVEL’S AVENGERS SEQUEL set for release May 1, 2015.
Are we excited yet? Read more on BREAKING NEWS! Sequel to “The Avengers” to Hit Theaters May 1, 2015!…
- Another week, another entertaining time at your favorite awards prognostication site, The Awards Circuit! We began by presenting another installment of our popular “Power Hour” podcast series, this week’s being one of the most listened to yet. Please be sure to check it out, as Editor-in-Chief Clayton Davis, Joey Magidson, Terence Johnson, and yours truly break down the current “state of the Oscar race” alongside many more fun topics. Michael Ward provides us with the Weekend Box Office updates while Mark stuns us again with another “Did You Know?” segment. Please, do yourself a favor, have a listen. Also, don’t miss the upcoming episode with Special Guest Star…*drum roll*…Sasha Stone from Awardsdaily.com! The Empress of Awards Prognostication joins our weekly dissection of the 2012 awards race, and she’ll definitely be listening in on — and perhaps responding to — your reader questions! Have I gotten you excited enough yet? Gee, I sure hope so! Read more on Circuit Round-Up (Week Ending 8/12)…
Read more on Circuit Round-Up (Week Ending 8/12)…
Categories: Circuit Round-Up Tags: anna belickis, circuit 3, clayton davis, Daniel Ashtiany, Hope Springs, Joey Magidson, Joey's DVD Picks of the Week, John H. Foote, Joseph Braverman, Joss Whedon, Mark Johnson, Michael Ward, oscar 2013 predictions, oscar predictions 2013, Robert Hamer, Sasha Stone, Terence Johnson, The Awards Circuit, The Bourne Legacy, The Campaign, The Great Gatsby
 Marvel fans can breath a sigh of relief, Joss Whedon is coming back to the Marvel universe. Slashfilm is reporting that the writer/director has been signed on to perform the same duties for the anticipated sequel to the 3rd highest grossing film of all time, The Avengers. Marvel has also released a statement confirming that Whedon will be involved in helping develop a new live action series for Marvel Television at ABC. Whedon has previously expressed doubts about returning to the franchise citing the amount of work associated with telling someone else’s story, but has signed on for a much more expanded role within the Marvel franchises. Read more on Joss Whedon signed on to write/direct The Avengers 2, develop Marvel TV series!…
And so, in what seemed like an impossible dream to just about every comic book geek in the world, the first-ever major superhero crossover film finally opens in America today. There’s really no point in pretending that this won’t absolutely kill at the box office this weekend, it’s just a matter of how high it can soar at this point:
Read more on Weekend Openings (May 4-6)…
Categories: Weekend Openings Tags: Bill Nighy, Captain America: The First Avenger, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, comic book films, Demi Moore, Dev Patel, fanboyism, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, iron man, Jeremy Renner, Joss Whedon, judi dench, Maggie Smith, Mark Ruffalo, middlebrow art films, Mother's Day, popcorn movies, Rebecca De Mornay, remake, robert downey jr, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, superhero movie, the avengers, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Thor, Tom Hiddleston, Tom Wilkinson, Weekend Openings
 You really shouldn’t be reading my review of ‘The Cabin in the Woods’ right now. Honestly, you shouldn’t be reading any reviews of ‘The Cabin in the Woods’, you should just be making the time to see this masterpiece of a film. In fact, go now and see the movie…I’ll wait (and when you get back you’ll understand). For those still here, be warned that it’s almost impossible to review this movie and express just how magnificent it is without spoiling key parts of the flick. I’ll do my best, but be warned that it’s going to come down to taking my advice. What Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon have achieved here is nothing short of a cinematic miracle. Just as meta as ‘Scream’ but far more intelligent, this is a hybrid horror-comedy that can literally make you shriek, laugh, and frankly utter “what the fuck?” within the same scene (even at the same time during a few choice moments). I’m still in shock over how amazing this film is. Not only is it going to be a cult classic (hell, I’m willing to call it a modern classic right now), it’s easily the best thing I’ve seen in 2012 so far. It’s early, but I’d bet heavily that you’ll be seeing this on my year end Top Ten list, and not at the very bottom of it either.
Read more on The Cabin in the Woods (****)…
Did I just hear a cannon? It looks like Gary Ross will not be returning to direct Catching Fire, even though The Hunger Games will probably clean up at the box office for the fourth week in a row. It will be challenged by three new releases, one of which is apparently much better than anticipated…
Not only has the new creature feature from Drew Goddard and Joss “horror with a wink and a nudge” Whedon been receiving a lot of online buzz for a low-budget Lionsgate horror flick not called Saw, but it has been attracting some serious rave reviews. Critics have been calling The Cabin in the Woods a stupendously clever and genuinely frightening movie comparable to genre-bending classics like Evil Dead II. Because I am one of those who wants to see this movie with as little knowledge of the plot as possible, I’m not even going to publish a bare-bones synopsis beyond speculating that it has to do with a cabin located somewhere in a woodland area. For box office, I’m predicting a respectable $13-18 million opening just slightly below The Hunger Games. Read more on Weekend Openings (April 13-15)…
 This week marks the release of ‘The Cabin in the Woods’, a film that’s been on my radar for literally years. I started reading the screenplay a year or so ago, but stopped myself, not because it was bad, but because it was so different and unique and I wanted to go in and be surprised for a change. That rarely happens (I also did that with ‘Black Swan’) when I have a big time script in my hand, but it’s a testament to how potentially great this flick might be. Anyway, in anticipation of its release, we have a really cool new Poster for you after the jump. Look for at least one review of the movie this weekend, but I have a feeling that it may be a film we all want to talk about here at The Awards Circuit. Look below for the Poster and stay tuned for those reviews…
Read more on New Poster for The Cabin in the Woods!…
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