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  • 12/12 Oscarweb Round-up

    (from left) Ben Stiller aand Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder• Sean Penn writes in support of dictators Hugo Chavez and Raul Castro. [The Nation]

    • James Kirchick skewers him as “a friend to gays and anti-gay dictators alike.” [The Advocate]

    • And Patrick Goldstien is right on top of it. [The Big Picture]

    • Earlier, Goldstein calls the Golden Globes “the ultimate Hollywood fantasy.” [The Big Picture]

    • Speaking of the Globes, Rachel Abramowitz sees the nominations for Tom Cruise, Robert Downey Jr. and James Franco as “recognition…of that Apatow brand of ribald comedy.” [The Envelope]

    • Susan King, meanwhile, talks to a couple of actors who’ve taken on the task of portraying Richard Nixon on the big and small screens. [The Envelope]

    • Simon Beaufoy recalls the inspiration for “Slumdog Millionaire” on the streets of Mumbai. [The Guardian]

    • Meanwhile, safely landed back east, David Carr gets Danny Boyle on the phone for reaction to the film’s HFPA acknowledgments. [The Carpetbagger]

    • British talent glitters at the Golden Globes. [The Independent]

    • Eugene Hernandez and Peter Knegt go back and forth on the week in critics kudos. [indieWIRE]

    • Brad Brevet chats with “Wrestler” director Darren Aronofsky. [Rope of Silicon]

    • Kevin Kelly talks to “Reader” screenwriter David Hare. [Spout Blog]

    • T.L. Stanley spotlights Sarah Jessica Parker’s “Sex and the City” Globe snub. [Gold Rush]

    • With “Doubt” releasing, Susan Wloszczyna looks at nuns on the big screen. [USA Today]

    • If Christopher Nolan won’t do a “Dark Knight’” DVD commentary, we’ll step up to the plate. [The Movie Blog]

  • Globe cheers, jeers and predictions

    As ever, this morning’s Golden Globe announcement provided a mixed bag of talking points, with some pleasantly zany curveballs at one end of the scale, and a couple of yawnsome autopilot nominees at the other. Like most awards bodies, they’re never going to get it completely right: for every inspired inclusion or omission there’s an equally perplexing one. (Ralph Fiennes for “The Duchess,” anyone?)

    But looking at the nominees from a bargaining perspective — tempering, for example, my disappointment that Richard Jenkins didn’t make the Best Actor cut with the knowledge that Clint Eastwood didn’t either — I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m happier with them than I expected to be.

    With that in mind, I offer below a couple of my own personal highlights and low points of the nominee list (though, given that I haven’t seen “Milk” yet, I’m leaving off that heated topic), followed by some way-too-early, subject-to-change predictions. Feel free to supply your own.

    THE GOOD

    Comedy rules: The comedy/musical categories are usually a dumping ground for filler nominees in less-than-memorable mainstream products, and previously expressed fear that this year, given the lack of high-profile contenders, they could make some really desperate stretches this year. Happily, the HFPA showed genuine resourcefulness by dipping into indie waters to celebrate the oddball wonders of “Happy-Go-Lucky” and “In Bruges,” while singling out the superb, less-discussed likes of Rebecca Hall and Brendan Gleeson for recognition. With classy, intimate works like “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and “Last Chance Harvey” joining the mix, the resulting set of nominees is, dare I say it, considerably fresher than their dramatic counterparts. How often can you say that?

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  • Lumenick dive-bombs ‘Seven Pounds’

    Will Smith in Seven PoundsJeez…this might get ugly:

    This diabetes-inducing reunion with director Gabriele Muccino (“The Pursuit of Happyness”) also didn’t score any nods from the easily persuaded Broadcast Film Critics Association, not to mention any awards from the L.A. or New York film critics (there were lots of snickers when somebody jokingly nominated Smith at yesterday’s NYFCC meeting, which gives you an idea of the critical reception “Seven Pounds” is likely to receive when it opens, wide, a week from tomorrow). Sony has reportedly embargoed all reviews, even those in the trades, until opening day, supposedly to protect the “mystery” of the fractured narrative. I received some criticism on other blogs for supposedly revealing “spoilers” in our year-end wrap-up in The Post on Sunday, but really, as some commenters on those same blogs pointed out, I wasn’t giving away anything that couldn’t be deduced from looking at the trailers or a careful consideration of what the title “Seven Pounds” is actually referring to. Even with the world’s biggest star, “Seven Pounds” is going to be a very tough sell without nominations or good reviews — it didn’t even make uber quote-whore Shawn Edwards’ 10-best list, which includes “The Express,” “Miracle at St. Anna” and “The Secret Life of Bees” — and an ending … well, I’ll let you figure it out for yourself.

  • Having a bit of fun

    The Movie Blog editor John Campea told me about these DVD commentaries he would do with these selected participants or that, and it always sounded like a fun idea.  Tonight, we’ll be doing “The Dark Knight,” which landed in stores Tuesday.  Yeah, that’s right.  I geek it up with the best of ’em.  I’ll point you to the audio in tomorrow’s round-up.

  • Golden Globes: the nominees react

    Leonardo DiCaprioThe Hollywood Foreign Press Association tipped its collective hat to a number of the season’s hopeful contenders this morning, so it’s time to hear some reactions. Generally, a piece such as this is bound to consist of a bunch of gushing, perhaps even boilerplate gratitude from the nominees. And one certainly couldn’t fault them for it. But I always enjoy hearing reactions from people whose lives are being changed this time of year, and certainly, those who can’t help but feel humbled by the recognition.

    What can I say? I’m not a grouch all the time.

    Matteo Garrone was first to call this morning. His epic crime saga “Gomorrah” was predictably short-listed in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

    “The movie is going so well and everything is such a surprise,” he said. “We wanted to give the audience the instrument, the information to understand better how the Camorra organization works on the inside, without any glamorizing, but to try to show the real atmosphere, the real location. We wanted to make a movie that was universal, and this result, I think it proves that we achieved that.”

    When I interviewed author Roberto Saviano last month, who penned the original book “Gomorrah” is adapted from, he had similar sentiments to offer. The film is one of the year’s best, a triumphant piece of work that frankly should be getting more recognition than simple relegation to the foreign film fields, but any notice is fortunate, as Garrone is quick to point out.

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  • ‘Reader’ composer Nico Muhly performs in NYC

    One of the best elements of Stephen Daldry’s “The Reader” is Nico Muhly’s beautiful score.  Here is a clip of the 20-something Muhly performing a few of the film’s compositions at Cafe Carlyle in New York yesterday:

  • Golden Globes: ‘Slumdog,’ ‘Button’ steady…whither ‘Milk?’

    Well, I said yesterday one should always expect oddities with the Golden Globes … but even with that in mind, they never fail to pull out some genuine “WTF” moments.

    Tom Cruise’s goofy Best Supporting Actor nod for “Tropic Thunder” may have been the most eccentric revelation of the morning, but surely the most significant shocker is the absence of “Milk” — presumed by many to be “Slumdog Millionaire”‘s chief rival in the Oscar race — in the Best Picture (Drama) category.

    The shut-out proved even more blatant when neither Josh Brolin nor James Franco, who have been making healthy progress in the precursors, landed in the Supporting Actor race. Still processing that one — right now, I can’t think of a suitable theory to explain its absence. (But hey, at least Franco landed a left-field comedy-category nod for “Pineapple Express” … I think I know one guy who will be stoked with that.)

    The producers of “Slumdog Millionaire” will no doubt be thrilled by the news, as will those of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” which claws back some momentum after taking a knock in this week’s precursors. In an unusually spread-out slate, “Button” and “Frost/Nixon” lead the pack of Best Picture nominees, with 5 nods apiece — I must admit I never expected the latter to be a field leader. (Meanwhile, in yet another of the morning’s oddities, their tally is equalled by the Best Picture-omitted “Doubt.”)

    Some will be surprised by the failure of “The Dark Knight” to land Picture or Director nods, though I personally didn’t see the film the registering that strongly with the Foreign Press.

    On the other hand, I naively failed to foresee that Harvey Weinstein would work his magic once more on the organisation — Kris’ prediction of a strong showing for “The Reader” was right on the money. Meanwhile, despite whispers that the HFPA wasn’t all that keen on “Revolutionary Road,” the nominations tell a different story. The nod for Sam Mendes is one I find particularly surprising; Paramount Vantage will no doubt heave a huge sigh of relief after a terrible precursor week that saw the film blanked in the Broadcast Film Critics’ nominations.

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  • HFPA goes its own way, ‘Milk’ snubbed, ‘Button,’ ‘Frost’ and ‘Doubt’ lead with five noms each

    Golden GlobesBest nominations of the morning: Tom Cruise, Best Supporting Actor in “Tropic Thunder” and James Franco, Best Actor, “Pineapple Express.”  I’m also happy to see some love for Rebecca Hall.  Nice.

    The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, as they tend to do, went their own way this morning with a list of nominations that will certainly shake the landscape of this year’s film awards season, but I don’t expect a huge impact where Oscar is concerned.

    “The Reader” is still a marginal contender at best (the studio is even pulling advertising in some outlets), while “Revolutionary Road” got a much-needed (and frankly surprising) shot in the arm.  “Milk,” meanwhile, was left with just one nomination for Best Actor.  Odd.

    Guy will be working up a lengthy reaction in due time but I’m going to duck out for the time being.  The nominees:

    Best Picture (Drama)
    “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
    “Frost/Nixon”
    “The Reader”
    “Revolutionary Road”
    “Slumdog Millionaire”

    Best Picture (Comedy/Musical)
    “Burn After Reading”
    “Happy-Go-Lucky”
    “In Bruges”
    “Mamma Mia!”
    “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”

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  • Backlash on backlash

    Quite why certain factions have taken it upon themselves to heap such scorn upon “Slumdog Millionaire,” a film that I thought had to rank among the year’s most likeable, is something that escapes me. Who’d be a frontrunner, eh?

    Anyway, I was glad to read the Vulture wags take on the “Slumdog” backlash with typically acidic wit. This particular entry in their facetious list of the film’s cons had me snorting my tea through my nose:

    Not WWII-y enough: Were you aware that Slumdog Millionaire is one of the few films coming out this fall that doesn’t feature Nazis? Is Danny Boyle trying to make us forget the Holocaust?

    Brilliant. The rest here.

  • Guessing the Globes

    This time tomorrow we’ll be poring over the Golden Globe nominations, no doubt shredding them to pieces as we complain about assorted instances of overlooking, overrating and good old-fashioned star-fucking.

    In honour of my first correct prediction (well, of something that wasn’t already blindingly obvious) of the entire season — that would be Sally Hawkins’ NYFCC win this morning — I thought I’d promptly discredit myself again by offering some bound-to-be-wrong Globe predictions. More below the cut.

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  • Big changes with the USC Scripter Awards

    Everyone wants to compete.  This is the derby, the parade, the long, slow march to Oscar.  Simultaneously balancing a need for relevance with the inherent necessity to be distinguished can be a high-wire act this time of year, but with the various kudos being dished about, all eyes are turned, more and more, toward the awarding event at hand.

    With that in mind, the USC Scripter Awards will not be the foregone conclusion it has been in years past.  Generally, the winner would be announced and the big to-do would come later, the winning parties there to accept the award they knew they had coming to them.  Now, it seems, the show will have an air of competition about it, and perhaps (as I’m sure the USC Libraries are hoping), an array of nominees turning out as well.

    From the hot-off-the-presses release:

    For the first time in the 20-year history of the event, the USC Libraries will announce Scripter winners on the evening of the gala.

    “Announcing the winner at the ceremony makes for a much more dramatic evening,” said [USC Scripter chair Naomi] Foner Gyllenhaal. “And drama is at the center of any award presentation. This change also gives us a chance to really honor all the finalists among their peers at the event.”

    It looks like Jamie Lee Curtis will serve as this year’s emcee, following in the footsteps of Jason Alexander, who I thought did a nice job last year.  Additionally, there has been a minor rule change worth noting:

    English-language adaptations based on a series of books now qualify for Scripter consideration. Previously, only films based upon individual books, novellas, or short stories were eligible.

    Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

  • Jerry Lewis to receive humanitarian award at this year’s Oscars

    It seems we have our first Oscar winner announcement for the year.  From the AP:

    Jerry Lewis has never been nominated for an Oscar, but he’s going to get one anyway. The 82-year-old will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Oscar ceremony in February.

    The governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced their selection Wednesday. The Hersholt Award — an actual Oscar statuette — recognizes humanitarian efforts that have brought credit to the film industry.

  • Winslet to be feted at Santa Barbara Fest

    Kate WinsletWell the consistent snubs for Kate Winslet’s performances this week (other than a brief mention by the BFCA for her work in “The Reader”) should go down a little easier for the actress as it seems she’ll be receiving an award at next month’s Santa Barbara Film Festival for her outstanding career so far.

    The press release, in part:

    “I have had a cinematic crush on Kate Winslet since her first movie,” gushed SBIFF Director Roger Durling.  “She’s my favorite actress of all time…and she will always have a home here at the festival!”

    Since her last visit to Santa Barbara, Winslet has been in numerous films including Little Children, for which she received her fifth Oscar nomination, All The King’s Men, Flushed Away and The Holiday.  Winslet continues her sterling career with two critically-acclaimed performances in Sam Mendes’ “Revolutionary Road,” marking a screen reunion with her Titanic co-star, Leonard DiCaprio, and Stephen Daldry’s post WWII drama, “The Reader,” opposite Ralph Fiennes.

    The Montecito Award was created in recognition of a performer who has given a series of classic and standout performances in his/her career.

  • Steve Coogan to host Indie Spirits, waiting on Oscar emcee

    It has been announced that “Hamlet 2” and “Tropic Thunder” star Steve Coogan will host this year’s Independent Spirit Awards, a considerable step up from Rainn Wilson and Sarah Silverman, if you ask me.  Last year’s show was mostly “meh” — well, generally the Indie Spirits are “meh.”  Then again, I spent most of the time in the press tent last year, so what do I know?

    But Coogan is a great get, someone I never even considered for something like this but a guy who’s clearly got the chops.  Now we’re just waiting to hear who the Oscar host will be, an announcement that should come any day.

  • POLL: ‘Dark Knight’ or ‘WALL-E?’ Take your stand.

    Okay, now that things are finally happening this awards season, I feel inspired to create another poll.  It’s been a while.  The last time around, the vast majority of you felt Heath Ledger was a lock to win Best Supporting Actor, and forgive, but this week we have “The Dark Knight” in the mix once again.

    I’m frankly fascinated by the lines being drawn in the sand on behalf of Christopher Nolan’s film and Pixar’s “WALL-E,” the second and first place finishers with yesterday’s LAFCA vote and two of the most popular, yet critically acclaimed films of the year.  The fights have certainly erupted here and here, and I’m all for the heated discourse.  But I thought I’d get a gauge on the overall opinion on which is the better film.

    So, have your say in the sidebar poll!  It’s not to say one can’t be a fan of both, but tell us which film you think is the better achievement, “The Dark Knight” or “WALL-E.”

  • ‘Rachel,’ ‘The Wrestler’ were close; Cruz, Hawkins sit pretty

    Mickey Rourke in The WrestlerAs I suspected, “Rachel Getting Married” and “The Wrestler” were right in the thick of today’s NYFCC voting.  As he does annually, Tom O’Neil runs down the inside scoop on the particulars of the vote.  He gets his info from the New York Post’s Lou Lumenick.

    Apparently “Rachel” was nipping at the heels of “Milk” for Best Picture, while Mickey Rourke came in a relatively close second for Best Actor honors in “The Wrestler.”   Robert Seigel’s script for the latter was also in the conversation, landing in third place.  It’s nice to see Kate Winslet was also in the running for Best Actress (for “Revolutionary Road”), albeit in fourth place.

    The only mentions for “The Dark Knight” were a second place showing for Heath Ledger and a third place showing for Best Cinematography, while the only landslide win looks to have been “Man on Wire” for Best Documentary, 20 points ahead of “Waltz with Bashir.”

    Entertainment Weekly’s Dave Karger, meanwhile, shrewdly points out that “in the last seven years, 11 actors have been recognized by both organizations (LAFCA and NYFCC) and all 11 eleven went on to score Oscar nominations as well.”  The peculiarity bodes well for Penelope Cruz and Sally Hawkins, Karger says, and I’m inclined to agree.

  • INTERVIEW: Sally Hawkins

    Sally Hawkins“We didn’t necessarily set out to create someone as perpetually sunny as Poppy,” says Sally Hawkins of her radiant performance in Mike Leigh’s “Happy-Go-Lucky,” which is currently making waves in the awards race. “But Mike was very dismissive of doing anything maudlin or moody with this project. So the optimism came early on for her. It’s like trying on different skins. And this skin just fit.”

    Spoken in a breezy, unassuming tone, it strikes me as a statement — equal parts pragmatic and eccentric — that could as easily have some from the mouth of Poppy herself, the cheery North London schoolteacher who forms the delightful center of Leigh’s latest perceptive study of British social mores.

    Indeed, when I first encounter Hawkins in the top-floor café of a West End bookshop, dressed in a somewhat Poppy-esque ensemble of emerald-green cardigan and flowing tie-dye skirt, it’s difficult not to be reminded at least a little of her character. Hawkins is certainly calmer and a little softer in person, but her easy-flowing conversation, accompanied by increasingly wild hand gestures, reveals something akin to Poppy’s humor and generosity of spirit.

    “I’m nothing like as extroverted as she is,” she says, smiling broadly.  “But how many people are?  If anyone says they see even a little of me in Poppy, or vice versa, I take that as the hugest compliment, because she just has life worked out. It’s not as if she’s negating that it’s hard. She just finds a way to deal with it, and finds a way to flow with people. She’s an extraordinary person. I think I learned a lot from her.”

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  • Technical difficulties

    If you encounter a blank page or a “database error” message, it’s because of the spike in traffic today that comes with the NYFCC announcement.  It happens.  Very sorry for the inconvenience.  FYI, and timely indeed, stay tuned shortly for Guy Lodge’s interview with “Happy-Go-Lucky” actress Sally Hawkins.