Also: Brad Bird’s winter playlist and Kim Jong-il on film
Round-up: indieWIRE survey plants 'Tree of Life' at the top
Posted by Guy Lodge · 6:00 am · December 21st, 2011
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
First trailer for 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' brings back memories of Oscars past
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:24 pm · December 20th, 2011
The new trailer for Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” has landed, and it brings with it a wave of nostalgia for the great clean sweep of “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” eight years ago. Will the new series find similar awards season luck?
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Black Film Critics Circle taps 'The Help' best of the year
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:13 pm · December 20th, 2011
The Black Film Critics Circle has chosen “The Help” as the best film of the year. The film won four other awards, including Best Actress for Viola Davis. “Pariah” director Dee Rees won Best Director, one of three awards for the film. And Albert Brooks added yet another honor to his mantle.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Women critics like 'The Help,' 'The Iron Lady' and 'The Whistleblower'
Posted by Roth Cornet · 5:31 pm · December 20th, 2011
The Women Film Critic Circle has come out in strong favor of “The Help,” “The Iron Lady” and “The Whistleblower.” The association has made selections that feel generally in line with the films and performances one would imagine ought to be be highlighted in this year’s landscape. Though I will confess their choices are seasoned with one or two surprises.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
My top 10 perennial must-watch Christmas movies
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:20 am · December 20th, 2011
As a break from the normal list-making shenanigans, I offer up a list of my top 10 must-watch Christmas movies. Some that mad the cut include “A Christmas Story,” “Die Hard” and “Gremlins.”
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Drive' and 'Tinker, Tailor' top London Film Critics' Circle noms
Posted by Guy Lodge · 3:14 am · December 20th, 2011
The London Film Critics’ Circle mixed things up a little in their nominations, promoting “A Separation” to the top races and handing Best Actress mentions to Kirsten Dunst and Anna Paquin. Meanwhile, it was “Drive” and local favorite “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” that came out on top, with six nods apiece.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Interview: Kenneth Branagh on his 'dangerously obvious' casting in 'My Week with Marilyn'
Posted by Roth Cornet · 10:43 pm · December 19th, 2011
Kenneth Branagh embraced what he describes as potentially “dangerously obvious” casting with his portrayal of Sir Laurence Olivier in “My Week with Marilyn.” Now with Golden Globe, SAG and BFCA nominations under his belt it would be somehow poetic if the actor/director were to take home the Best Supporting Actor statue for his depiction of the man who paved the road for much of the trajectory of his own career.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
39 tunes announced as eligible for Best Original Song Oscar
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 1:14 pm · December 19th, 2011
The Academy has announced via press release the 39 eligible songs eligible for this year’s Best Original Song Oscar. As I look over the list, I only noticed two songs on our on-going list of 24 at the Contenders section that didn’t make the cut.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Off the Carpet: Setting the field with the precursors so far
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:41 am · December 19th, 2011
In just three weeks we’ve gone from zero to a hundred on the circuit as the film awards landscape has been sculpted into a bit of a consensus in these waning moments of 2011. Let’s see what that consensus appears to be.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
The new 'Dark Knight Rises' trailer is the best of the franchise
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:33 am · December 19th, 2011
If you made it out to “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” at IMAX venues this weekend, you likely saw the opening prologue for “The Dark Knight Rises.” The new trailer for the film was also attached to prints of Brad Bird’s actioner, as well as prints of WB’s own “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.” Now it’s head the web (officially).
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Florida critics spring for 'Descendants,' Scorsese
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:11 am · December 19th, 2011
The Florida Film Critics Circle has tossed its hat into the over-stuffed precursor ring this year by picking “The Descendants” as the year’s best film. Martin Scorsese picked up the Best Director prize for “Hugo” while Michelle Williams continued a dominating streak by nabbing Best Actress.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'The Artist' wins five from St. Louis critics
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:04 am · December 19th, 2011
After submitting nominees last week, the St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association has picked “The Artist” as this year’s Best Picture winner. Michel Hazanavicius won Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for the film, while Rooney Mara was singled out for her performance in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.”
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Southeastern film critics go for 'Descendants,' Scorsese, Clooney, Streep
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:47 am · December 19th, 2011
The Southeastern Film Critics Association has crowned “The Descendants” the year’s best film, but with no awards for “The Artist,” one wonders if the high on that film is subsiding.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Tree of Life' wins four awards from Chicago critics, including Best Picture
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:03 am · December 19th, 2011
After Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life” led with seven nominations from the Chicago Film Critics Association, it seemed obvious the film was likely to win the group’s Best Picture award. But the film ended up walking away with four big wins in total.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Round-up: 2011's composers score the body electric
Posted by Guy Lodge · 6:00 am · December 19th, 2011
Also: Jolie talks politics on ‘Blood and Honey’ and the year in dogs
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Smurfs' animated feature DQ raises questions about vague regulations
Posted by Roth Cornet · 6:15 pm · December 17th, 2011
“The Smurfs” was unlikely to become one of the five animated films nominated for an Academy Award this year. However, the film’s disqualification does point to an interesting question: What does qualify as an animated film in today’s cinematic landscape?
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Tell us what you thought of 'Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:15 am · December 17th, 2011
The film hits theaters this weekend.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Tell us what you thought of 'Young Adult'
Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:41 pm · December 16th, 2011
Jason Reitman’s latest goes into wide release today, and while we’re fans, not everyone will agree. If you’ve seen it, share your thoughts with us.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
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