'Beasts,' 'Flight,' 'Django' lead NAACP Image Award nominees, 'Middle of Nowhere' sidelined

Posted by · 5:12 pm · December 11th, 2012

It’s the only ceremony where you’ll see Tyler Perry competing with Suraj Sharma.

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'Django Unchained' lands eight St. Louis film critics nods

Posted by · 7:18 am · December 11th, 2012

As we wait for the BFCA news to drop, the St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association has tossed its hat into the ring with a list of nominations as well. It’s nice to see that Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained” registered so well, landing eight nominations. Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom” was also a favorite from the group, as well as fellow indie “Beasts of the Southern Wild.”

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'The Master' leads San Diego film critics nominations

Posted by · 1:12 pm · December 10th, 2012

The San Diego Film Critics Society also dropped its nominees over the weekend and, well, they flew under my radar. But here they are, and “The Master” led the way with nine nominations. Not far behind was “Argo” with eight. “Django Unchained’ picked up five while “Zero Dark Thirty” only managed four. “Silver Linings Playbook” rounded out the Best Film nominees with six nominations.

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'Argo,' 'Dark Knight Rises,' 'Django Unchained' make AFI's top 10 American films list for 2012

Posted by · 10:49 am · December 10th, 2012

Adding another announcement to the stack this week is the American Film Institute. Remember, the Institute’s annual list of the year’s best films is limited to American cinema, so you won’t see efforts like “Amour” or what have you pop up.

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'Amour,' 'The Master' win big with Los Angeles Film Critics Association

Posted by · 1:54 pm · December 9th, 2012

Over a week after their colleagues on the east coast went in big for Kathryn Bigelow’s “Zero Dark Thirty,” the Los Angeles Film Critics Association put the brakes on Kathryn Bigelow’s film, which has been dominating the circuit. It even won two Best Picture prizes today, but one of them was not LAFCA’s crown. Instead, the LA critics went with Michael Haneke’s “Amour,” and as a runner-up, a film clearly beloved by the group that won four other prizes, including Best Director, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress.

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'Zero Dark Thirty' tops New York Film Critics Online winners

Posted by · 12:09 pm · December 9th, 2012

Just minutes after the Boston Society of Film Critics crowned “Zero Dark Thirty” the year’s best film, the New York Film Critics Online went and did the very same thing. They also spotlighted Kathryn Bigelow in the Best Director category (as well as Mark Boal’s screenplay), and, like Boston, went with Daniel Day-Lewis and Emmanuelle Riva in the lead acting categories.

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'Zero Dark Thirty' wins Best Picture and Best Director from the Boston Society of Film Critics

Posted by · 12:06 pm · December 9th, 2012

The Boston Society of Film Critics has joined the New York Film Critics Circle and the National Board of Review in crowning “Zero Dark Thirty” the year’s best film. Kathryn Bigelow won Best Director while Daniel Day-Lewis (“Lincoln”) and Emmanuelle Riva (“Amour”) won top acting honors.

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Oscar Talk: Ep. 98 — Chewing on NYFCC, NBR and 'The Hobbit'

Posted by · 7:00 am · December 7th, 2012

In this week’s podcast, Kris and Anne discuss last weekend’s Governors Awards, the New York Film Critics Circle and National Board of Review winners and the Academy’s documentary shortlist.

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National Board of Review names Kathryn Bigelow's 'Zero Dark Thirty' Best Picture

Posted by · 10:16 am · December 5th, 2012

“Zero Dark Thirty” was crowned the best film of 2012 by the New York-based National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. Kathryn Bigelow took the Best Director prize for her work on the film, while Jessica Chastain won Best Actress. Bradley Cooper was named Best Actor for his performance in “Silver Linings Playbook” while David O. Russell’s film also picked up Best Adapted Screenplay.

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Off the Carpet: The critics close ranks

Posted by · 5:03 am · December 3rd, 2012

Earlier today we launched this season’s edition of The Circuit, which will track the ups and downs of the precursor circuit from the critics awards to the guild announcements all the way through the Oscars and more. Things will kick off later this afternoon as the New York Film Critics Circle sits down to hold its annual vote and then its off to the races.

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Roundup: Making the case for Nicole Kidman

Posted by · 4:28 am · December 3rd, 2012

Also: ‘War Witch’ wins at Camerimage, and Ang Lee’s ‘Life of Liberty Valance’

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Tech Support: 'Anna Karenina,' 'Snow White and the Huntsman' and 'A Royal Affair' feature in Best Costume Design

Posted by · 6:29 am · November 29th, 2012

Oscar night is known for its glamor. “Who are you wearing” becomes a popular question to ask nominees as they make their way down the red carpet. But on screen, clothes do more than make actors look good. They certainly do that, but they also tell us something about the characters who wear them. They reveal things, telling the story visually like every other element of a production.

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Bringing 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' back into the Oscar fray

Posted by · 11:47 am · November 26th, 2012

How do you bring an indie darling back around when the season is filling up with quality work of the “Oscar” sort? Well, you do whatever you can, and for Fox Searchlight and “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” it started with an intimate luncheon at Tomate Rouge this afternoon on 60th Street.

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Tech Support: 'Avengers,' 'Les Mis' and 'Skyfall' stir it up with others in Best Sound Mixing

Posted by · 8:31 am · November 22nd, 2012

One of the most competitive crafts categories this year is an embarrassment of riches.

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Roundup: Fall of the 'Guardians?'

Posted by · 6:22 am · November 21st, 2012

Also: Frank Ocean’s ‘Django’ tune, and 2012’s narrative rule-breakers

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Off the Carpet: Four score, er, more to go

Posted by · 7:40 am · November 19th, 2012

Four big entries remain — “Django Unchained,” “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “Les Misérables” and “Zero Dark Thirty” — each of them having been watched like a hawk as they race toward completion.

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Oscar Talk: Ep. 96 — Thanksgiving on the way, 'Anna Karenina' and 'Silver Linings' open

Posted by · 8:00 am · November 16th, 2012

In this week’s podcast, Kris and Anne discuss the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday and films looking to capitalize, revisit this weekend’s openers — “Anna Karenina” and “Silver Linings Playbook” — and dig in on Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

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Tech Support: 'Cloud Atlas' and 'The Hobbit' lead the race for Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Posted by · 6:47 am · November 15th, 2012

The category gets a name change as a varied field takes shape.

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