Alliance of Women Film Journalists go with 'The Artist,' Hazanavicius

Posted by · 8:37 am · January 10th, 2012

The Alliance of Women Film Journalists has revealed its list of winners in 30 (!) categories after announcing a slate of nominees recently. The big winner in the traditional categories was “The Artist,” which won Best PIcture and Best Director.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

DPs indulge in some mutual appreciation

Posted by · 3:00 pm · January 9th, 2012

The American Society of Cinematographers announce their nominees tomorrow. Emmanuel Lubezki has swept the precursors for “The Tree of Life,” but it’s no sure thing that the Academy will follow suit — though a recent Variety feature makes it clear a lot of his peers are in his corner.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Sean Penn to receive Joel Siegel Award at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards

Posted by · 11:18 am · January 9th, 2012

Sean Penn will be honored for his relief work following the earthquake in Haiti.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Tintin,' 'Harry Potter' and 'Transformers' out front with Visual Effects Society nominations

Posted by · 12:37 am · January 9th, 2012

The Visual Effects Society has announced its list of nominees for the organization’s 10th annual ceremony, and leading the way wasn’t one of the live action blockbusters on the whittled-down slate of 10 advancing Oscar contenders. It was Steven Spielberg’s animated offering “The Adventures of Tintin,” which landed six nominations across the feature film categories.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Descendants,' Malick, Clooney and Dunst win with Kansas City critics

Posted by · 5:10 pm · January 8th, 2012

The Kansas City Film Critics Circle held its vote this evening and “The Descendants” was named the year’s best. I was somewhat confused that “Hugo” won an award designated for sci-fi/fantasy/horror films, though. How does that perception even happen?

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

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

'Drive' wins with Central Ohio critics

Posted by · 7:33 am · January 6th, 2012

After “The Tree of Life” led the way with nominations from the Central Ohio Film Critics Association, it was “Drive” that took top honors, winning Best Picture and Best Director for Nicolas Winding Refn. Refn also won the Breakthrough Film Artist award.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Round-up: Anticipating Oscar voters' passion play

Posted by · 6:59 am · January 6th, 2012

Also: Defending ‘The Artist’ and delaying ‘Wettest County’

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Marilyn' and 'Tinker, Tailor' top embarrassing BAFTA longlists

Posted by · 5:28 am · January 6th, 2012

“Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” and “My Week With Marilyn” lead the BAFTA longlists with 16 mentions apiece, setting both films up for multiple nominations on January 17. But the list of omissions is egregious.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Descendants' leads with Denver critics nods

Posted by · 1:57 pm · January 5th, 2012

The Denver Film Critics Society has announced its list of nominees this year, and “The Descendants” was the vote-leader. The film even scored two nominations in the Best Supporting Actress category, as Judy Greer joined Shailene Woodley for the fun.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Internet Film Critics award 'Tree of Life,' 'Midnight in Paris,' 'Attack the Block,' 'Drive'

Posted by · 10:35 am · January 5th, 2012

The Internet Film Critics Society has jumped into the fray with a list of winners this year. It’s a nifty list because rather than just a “Best Picture” field, things are divided into a couple genres (drama, comedy, action, horror/sci-fi). Though I don’t qualify “Drive” as “action.”

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

10 films shortlisted for visual effects Oscar

Posted by · 1:10 pm · January 4th, 2012

After 15 titles were longlisted for the Best Visual Effects Oscar last month, that number was cut to 10 today: ‘The Tree of Life,’ ‘Hugo’ and ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’ are still in the running for a nomination.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'The Artist' leads with 4 Vancouver critics nods

Posted by · 5:07 pm · January 2nd, 2012

The Vancouver Film Critics Circle has joined the chorus with a list of nominees (mostly three in each category). “The Artist” led the way with four mentions. Melissa McCarthy made it in for “Bridesmaids” despite it being a trimmed-down category.

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,' Fassbender, Swinton win with Online critics

Posted by · 9:20 am · January 2nd, 2012

After releasing quite the agreeable slate of nominees last week, the Online Film Critics Society has awarded “The Tree of Life” its 2011 Best Picture prize. The film won five awards in total. Previously announced special awards go to Jessica Chastain and Martin Scorsese.

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