In Contention

Tag: Inception

  • 1/18 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: Gervais should have been meaner, cut ‘127 Hours’ ending, working class contenders

    • Ricky Gervais on Golden Globes hosting controversy. [Hollywood Reporter]

    • Devin Faraci, meanwhile, thinks the comedian wasn’t mean enough. [Baddass Digest]

    • Naomi Serviss hearts seeing Michael Douglas at the show. [The Wrap]

    (more…)

  • A night at the CCMAs

    It was a good time.  The evening started off with a bit of a surprise as “The Fighter” took in the award for Best Ensemble.  I happened to be seated with Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, David O. Russell and, a real treat, Jack McGee, so it was an exciting pop to start things off.  No one at that table expected to win that award so they were quite exhilarated.

    Speaking of Bale, I thought he gave the night’s best speech, a touching, loose monologue that is certain to be repeated throughout the season.  And watching Hailee Steinfeld accept for Best Young Actor/Actress, I couldn’t help but picture her with an Oscar in her hand.  Despite Melissa Leo’s strong showing so far, the Best Supporting Actress category is still somewhat up in the air, I think (which Anne and I discussed in yesterday’s podcast).

    I bounced around here and there during the commercial breaks.  Naturally the first thing Darren Aronofsky said when he saw me was, “I finally made your list!  Next time you’ll listen to me.”  Maybe there’s a future in Oscar prognostication for him.  I also exchanged words with Colin Firth for the first time since our lengthy sit-down in Telluride.  Charming as ever.  But most exciting for me?  Honestly?  Meeting Ice Cube.  No, seriously.

    (more…)

  • ‘Social Network’ rules BFCA Critics’ Choice Awards

    I’m sure Kris is having entirely too good a time at the post-awards party to huddle over a computer screen — perhaps he’ll have some insider perspective to add later — so let’s run through a couple of the most salient points for now.

    If you need to be told “The Social Network” triumphed in the top categories, well, welcome back from your spiritual retreat in the far reaches of Nepal. I hope you’re well rested. Interesting to see the film’s sway extending to the Best Original Score category, where Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross very coolly upset Hans Zimmer — though “Inception” fans will be pleased to note the film’s impressive haul elsewhere in the techs.

    No surprises whatsoever in the acting races, though I’m pleased to see Melissa Leo holding on to her early-season momentum in the supporting actress race; Hailee Steinfeld had to settle for the Best Young Actor prize.

    (more…)

  • Screenplay contest winner!

    With well over 100 entries, the limerick contest was our most popular yet. Either people really dig amphibrachic meter or they really wanted those scripts! Whatever the case, thanks for the deluge.

    It was tough to decide. In the way of honorable mention, I have to give a shout-out to Jim for the commitment to submit so many times, and for his limerick back-and-forth with BobBlake. Also, I have to tip my hat to Joe7827 for finding a way to insert yours truly into his out of competition entry.

    And a pat on the back to John G for attempting to make “cunnilingus” rhyme with “anxious” and “frankness.”  You tried.

    Ultimately, though, I had to tip my hat to SanFranCinema, who cleverly worked the season into his limerick. It doesn’t include aspects of the films’ narratives, of course, but it rang my bell…

    (more…)

  • ACE springs for Best Picture frontrunners

    Guy rightly noted yesterday a seemingly “whatever” coagulation of the guild awards circuit into “easy-to-recall season staples.” If you were hoping the American Cinema Editors (ACE) would put an end to that, keep dreaming.

    Of course, ACE historically skews as populist and inside-the-box as the DGA set, which is why the two are often coupled for maximum tea leaf importance when forecasting Oscar. But one at least hoped for a “District 9”-level statement of “we like stuff that has no chance of winning Best Picture,” but it wasn’t to be.

    The “surprise,” for most, will likely be Pamela Martin joining the guild party for “The Fighter,” but given the givens, it’s not such a left-field pick. Season heavy, boxing film (which does well with editors), etc. She’ll probably be an Oscar nominee, too, but I must say, it’s a shame the year’s best job at the Steambeck, “Shutter Island,” was ignored here after an early below-the-line guild showing.

    (more…)

  • “Just kidding. It’s an inception machine.”

    The “Jackass” crew have produced a number of send-ups of the year’s awards hopefuls for tomorrow’s Critics’ Choice Movie Awards (which I will be attending once again).  Courtesy of /Film, here’s the “Inception” bit:

  • CONTEST: Screenplay giveaway!

    How badly do you want to own the shooting scripts of four of this year’s hottest Oscar contenders?  Well, HOW BADLY?

    We’ve got copies of “Black Swan,” “Inception,” “127 Hours” and “Toy Story 3” to give away this week.  I should have saved that “tell me a story” thing for this, so instead, to riff on the Haiku contest, I thought I’d just be completely ridiculous and introduce a — wait for it — LIMERICK CONTEST!

    That’s right, a limerick contest.  In case you’re unaware of the qualities of a limerick, refresh yourself here.  In a nutshell, though, five lines with an aabba rhyme scheme.  For example:

    There once was a guy with a blog
    Who felt it a daily slog
    But oh what fun
    To almost be done
    With a season that’s become a fog

    (more…)

  • January winner predictions

    After taking a stab at winner predictions early last month, it seemed now would be a good time to re-assess.  Only three adjustments, though — for Best Picture, Best Film Editing and Best Original Score.  I’ll try my hand at another set post-nominations.

    Best Picture: “The Social Network”
    Best Director: David Fincher, “The Social Network”
    Best Actor: Colin Firth, “The King’s Speech”
    Best Actress: Natalie Portman, “Black Swan”
    Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, “The Fighter”
    Best Supporting Actress: Hailee Steinfeld, “True Grit”
    Best Adapted Screenplay: “The Social Network”
    Best Original Screenplay:     “The King’s Speech”

    (more…)

  • ‘King’s Speech,’ ‘Social Network’ among ASC nominees

    Well, I was expecting this to drop tomorrow, but the ASC nominees have been announced (catch them at The Circuit), and there are a couple of surprises.

    Okay, well, Jeff Cronenweth getting in for “The Social Network” isn’t a complete surprise, as I mentioned this morning we should watch out for him here.  But Danny Cohen making the cut for “The King’s Speech,” despite the fact that the film has an intriguing visual quality, is a bit unexpected.

    The rest is as we would have thought, though Robert Richardson missing is less of a shock than Enrique Chediak and Anthony Dod Mantle getting the shaft.  I think Cohen gets bumped in favor of something else, though.

    Though maybe Cronenweth is in a precarious position, seeing as the ASC is quicker to nominate digital work than the Academy.  The rest, I should think, are solid.

    (more…)

  • Predict the ASC nominees

    Now that the DGA has spoken, something to pass the time.  Tomorrow the crafts guilds continue to roll out the season as the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) offers its picks for the best work behind the camera in 2010.  This is perhaps my favorite of the below-the-line categories, so I thought I’d offer up a lengthy preview.

    The Society is usually good for 80% when it comes to Academy crossover with its nominees. Sometimes you get a 5/5, sometimes a 3/5, but generally it’s 4/5. The trick is figuring out what the oddball selection will be. But let’s see what’s looking good for a nod, first.

    Leading the way this time around, like most years, would have to be Roger Deakins. His work on “True Grit” will likely win him an Oscar and the road there could very well begin with a win from the Society. He seems to be papa bear these days. Chalk it up.

    (more…)

  • Predict the DGA nominees

    Monday the guild circuit continues — at the start of what will be a very busy week — as the Directors Guild of America (DGA) unveils its list of nominees.

    The age-old rule of thumb has been that this is perhaps the most consistently foreshadowing precursor, as the five DGA nominees tend to have a good shot at Best Director recognition, and the Best Director nominees tend to line-up with the Best Picture nominees, give or take (though with the 10, I think it might be safe to say that the idea of a “lone director” has been lost to the realities of probability).

    Last year the five DGA nominees represented the perceived top five films of the Oscar race: Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron, Lee Daniels, Jason Reitman and Quentin Tarantino. The year before that, we all thought it did the same, but alas, Christopher Nolan and his film ultimately missed the mark with Oscar.

    (more…)

  • Central Ohio has its own brain

    I didn’t get around to mentioning this yesterday, but the Central Ohio Film Critics Association is the latest to stray (slightly) from the Fincher herd, opting for “Inception” as its Best Picture pick.  Check out the full list of winners at The Circuit.

  • Suddenly I want to watch ‘Ghostbusters’ RIGHT NOW

    Courtesy of /Film:

  • Oscar contenders as NFL playoff teams

    I just love this.  I can’t stand baseball, so I missed Movieline’s cute little item drawing parallels between MLB playoff teams and the year’s Oscar contending films back in October.  But you know I’m a pigskin fan, so the latest stab caught my eye.

    I guess you could go the contenders-as-food route if you want to, but, meh, this is more fun.  And it also reminds me that, with my beloved Redskins out of the mix, and with my #2 squad, the Dolphins, also watching from home (to say nothing of the lowly Panthers, third on my totem pole of NFL faves), I should probably pick a horse in this race to rally behind.

    I’ve been calling it Falcons vs. Patriots (ugh) for a few months now, and I’m sticking to that prediction.  Dad’s a Georgia boy and I have nothing against Matty Ice and his boys, so I’ll roll with Atlanta.

    (more…)

  • ‘Shutter Island,’ ‘Social Network’ surprise with Cinema Audio Society, ‘TRON’ snubbed

    The immediately striking thing about this year’s slate of nominees from the Cinema Audio Society (which honors sound mixing) is the appearance of “Shutter Island.” This is the film’s second below-the-line guild citation in as many days (following an Art Directors Guild nomination yesterday).

    If it had managed a PGA nomination earlier this week, I’d be saying, “Watch out.”  But the crafts are what were going to help this film along, if anything.  Just remember, there’s a 10th Best Picture slot somewhat up for grabs and there is always the “steak eaters” theory (however overstressed) to consider.  People in the industry do like the film, though maybe for its parts more than their sum.

    The second thing that’s striking is “The Social Network” making it in.  Though that shouldn’t be too unexpected.  It’s an amazing mix from veteran craftsmen.  But could this be the “Finding Neverland” or “Babel” of this year’s slate?  It’s possible.  (Check back later this morning for more on that as today’s Tech Support interview includes sound mixers Ren Klyce and Michael Semanick.)

    (more…)

  • ‘Scott Pilgrim,’ ‘Hereafter’ make visual effects bake-off

    As we await the USC Scripter finalists (which should drop any minute), I should pass along the Academy’s bake-off finalists in the Best Visual Effects category.

    Last month the field was narrowed down to 15 titles. Today, seven titles remain, from which five nominees will be selected in a bake-off (which is an odd extra step now, given that the ultimate nominations field was expanded to five this year). So take two off of the following list:

    “Alice in Wonderland”
    “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1”
    “Hereafter”
    “Inception”
    “Iron Man 2    ”
    “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”
    “TRON Legacy”

    (more…)

  • Predict the WGA and Scripter nominees

    Also speaking up tomorrow will be the WGA (Writers Guild of America).  The recently revealed list of ineligibilities makes picking this group’s choices much more fun, though it still kinda stinks because you know some of the best scripts of the year will be spectators.

    Last year the beneficiaries of the purge (which ultimately missed with Oscar) were “Crazy Heart,” “Julie & Julia” and “Star Trek” in adapted, “(500) Days of Summer,” “Avatar” and “The Hangover” in original.  From my vantage, there doesn’t appear to be as many options to choose from on the periphery of these races, but I’ll give it a stab.

    Click on through the jump to see my picks in the adapted and original categories, as well as discussion of the USC Scripter Awards.  (I’ll opt out of picking the documentary field from the WGA, which is likely to be a crap shoot, anyway.)

    (more…)

  • Predict the PGA nominees

    Tomorrow the guild circuit launches with the WGA (separate post coming) and PGA nominations.  The critics’ circuit was well and good but this is where crossover memberships begin to give us a tangible view of how the race will fill out.

    Last year the PGA (Producers Guild of America) piggy-backed the Academy’s plan to expand the field of nominees from five to 10.  It also copied the new voting scheme, which uses the preferential balloting system to determine nominees.

    The two films that missed with the guild but made it into the Best Picture 10 were “The Blind Side” (odd that it missed, given its box office take) and the Coens’ “A Serious Man.” In their place: Clint Eastwood’s “Invictus” (why?) and the blockbuster “Star Trek.” What can we expect this year?  Continue after the jump to see what I’m thinking.

    (more…)