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.

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'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.

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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.

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'Tree of Life' leads Chicago film critics nods

Posted by · 8:56 am · December 16th, 2011

The Chicago Film Critics Association has announced its list of nominees this year, and it’s full of the usual. But most interesting is that “The Tree of Life” star Hunter McCracken has finally received some attention.

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Toronto critics tap 'Tree of Life,' Terrence Malick

Posted by · 9:22 pm · December 13th, 2011

One more before you shut out the lights. The Toronto Film Critics Association has named “The Tree of Life” the best film of the year. The film’s director, Terrence Malick, was also awarded.

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Indiana critics like 'The Artist,' Paul Giamatti, Elizabeth Olsen

Posted by · 8:07 am · December 12th, 2011

The Indiana Film Journalists Association has, like many before it, given its the Best Picture prize to “The Artist.” But there were a few notable singular choices throughout their list, particularly in the acting races.

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'The Descendants,' Terrence Malick win with LA film critics

Posted by · 1:13 pm · December 11th, 2011

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association has tapped Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants” for its Best Picture prize, a bit of an anti-climactic conclusion to what had until then been a fresh and exciting vote.

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Oscarweb Round-up: Crunch time for toons

Posted by · 7:09 am · November 1st, 2011

In today’s round-up, the Academy announces the impending deadline for animated feature film contenders, Albert Brooks continues the “Drive” press rounds and closing out Halloween with a top 50 scariest movies list.

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Interview: Bill Pohlad reflects on 'The Tree of Life' as the film heads to DVD/Blu-ray

Posted by · 10:09 am · October 10th, 2011

Over lunch some 10 years ago, producer Bill Pohlad witnessed something few of us will ever have the luxury of witnessing: a Terrence Malick pitch. At the time, Pohlad and Malick were moving forward on a Che Guevera project that never came to fruition, and over the course of three hours, Malick laid out the plan for his epic tale of of micro/macrocosmic meditation, “The Tree of Life.”

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Sam Shepard talks Malick and 'Days of Heaven'

Posted by · 8:14 am · October 5th, 2011

Sam Shepard stars in “Blackthorn,” which will hit theaters next week. But he recently sat down for an interview with Movieline and talked a little about his work with Terrence Malick in 1978’s “Days of Heaven.”

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Jessica Chastain explains the audition process for Terrence Malick and 'The Tree of Life'

Posted by · 10:31 am · October 4th, 2011

With the DVD/Blu-ray release of “The Tree of Life” a week away, Fox Searchlight has dropped a new video to build a little interest. In it, Jessica Chastain talks about first meeting with and auditioning for director Terrence Malick.

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