George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Michelle Williams and more turn out for Palm Springs awards gala

Posted by · 1:05 am · January 8th, 2012

I’ve never attended the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala. It’s a key stop along the Oscar trail his time of year, very competitive with the Santa Barbara Film Festival. The two duke it out for honorees, one reticent to honor talent that the other has chalked up for an award. Which is obviously silly. But it seemed time to give it a go.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Melancholia,' Dunst and Pitt among National Society of Film Critics winners

Posted by · 3:30 pm · January 7th, 2012

The National Society of Film Critics can usually be relied upon to go their own way on the precursor trail, and they did so in emphatic fashion today, naming Lars von Trier’s “Melancholia” the year’s best, and star Kirsten Dunst their Best Actress.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Oscar Talk: Ep. 76 — Guild announcements, previewing the DGA and the success of 'Bridesmaids'

Posted by · 7:58 am · January 6th, 2012

In this week’s podcast, Kris and Anne discuss the PGA and WGA announcements, preview the DGA nominations and chew on the success of “Bridesmaids” so far this year.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

WGA nominees include 'Bridesmaids,' '50/50,' 'Dragon Tattoo' and 'Young Adult'

Posted by · 9:33 am · January 5th, 2012

The WGA has announced screen nominees this year, and given the gutted field (due to ineligibilities), it wasn’t hard to figure out which way they’d go.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Predicting the 2011 WGA nominees

Posted by · 9:48 am · January 4th, 2012

Tomorrow the Writers Guild of America (WGA) announces its narrative feature and documentary nominees. Something to remember is that a number of this year’s Oscar-contending screenplays are ineligible for the award due to membership or signatory issues, meaning this is just an opportunity for other films that wouldn’t normally have much room to get into the awards conversation.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

PGA nominees include the usual, plus 'Dragon Tattoo' and 'The Ides of March'

Posted by · 8:20 am · January 3rd, 2012

The Producers Guild of America has announced its list of 10 films competing for the Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award as well as the animated feature nominees that will compete separately.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Predicting the 2011 PGA nominees

Posted by · 10:57 am · January 2nd, 2012

This year’s PGA nominees will do little to clear up the Best Picture scenario at the Oscars. Why? Because the guild will be chalking up a full slate of 10 nominees once again, despite the fact that the Academy’s final line-up could be anywhere from five to 10. So what will the PGA spring for?

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Tree of Life' leads the way with Central Ohio critics nominations

Posted by · 9:11 am · January 2nd, 2012

The Central Ohio Film Critics Association should implement different nominating procedures so that ties, etc., don’t leave them with a ridiculous slate of 15 BEST PICTURE NOMINEES. Anyway, it looks like “The Tree of Life” has the most mentions.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Round-up: 'Tis the season to be… snarky?

Posted by · 8:20 am · December 24th, 2011

Also: Craig on switching from Bond to Blomkvist, and ‘Moneyball’ tech talk

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Oklahoma critics march in step, spring for 'The Artist,' Clooney and Williams

Posted by · 3:11 pm · December 23rd, 2011

The Oklahoma Film Critics Circle has spoken up and added nothing to the precursor conversation, going with a slate of typical winners. Most annoying, they totally got their “Obviously Worst Film” and “Not-So-Obviously-Worst-Film” awards mixed, but whatever.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Round-up: When is a simple omission a snub?

Posted by · 6:00 am · December 23rd, 2011

Also: championing Pitt for ‘Tree of Life’ and the year in LGBT characters

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Drive,' 'A Better Life' and 'Attack the Block' among scores not eligible for Oscar this year

Posted by · 5:03 pm · December 22nd, 2011

The Academy has announced a list of 97 film scores eligible for consideration in the Best Original Score category this year. Typically, it’s this announcement that brings the bad news of this or that score either not being submitted or being ruled ineligible for whatever reason.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Off the Carpet: Setting the field with the precursors so far

Posted by · 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.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Tree of Life' wins four awards from Chicago critics, including Best Picture

Posted by · 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.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

2011: the year in superlatives

Posted by · 10:11 am · December 16th, 2011

Who am I to complain about the amount of year-end kudos announcements when I had this post coming all along? I know. I’m so hypocritical.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Detroit critics go with 'The Artist,' Fassbender

Posted by · 7:47 am · December 16th, 2011

The Detroit Film Critics Society has joined the chorus of superlatives for “The Artist,” giving the film Best Picture and Best Director after it racked up five nominations from the group. “Take Shelter,” which led the nominees, only won as part of Jessica Chastain’s Breakthrough Artist award.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

San Diego critics pick 'Artist,' Refn

Posted by · 5:04 pm · December 14th, 2011

The San Diego Film Critics Society has chosen “The Artist” as Best Picture for 2011 and Nicolas Winding Refn as Best Director for “Drive,” among other honors.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Will Palm Springs make it five in a row with Brad Pitt's Desert Palm award?

Posted by · 2:34 pm · December 14th, 2011

Brad Pitt has been selected to receive the Desert Palm Achievement Actor Award for his lead role in “Moneyball” and his supporting role in “The Tree of Life.” As has oft been discussed, Palm Springs tendency towards predictive selections for their honorees has only increased over time.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention