The mixing of live action and animation in WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT? (1988) was a sea change for animated films. Soon, computer technology was the "new toy" for animation. Films using hand drawings, stop motion, and clay models (claymation) began to fade from the scene as studios closed animation departments, bought computers, software, and hired technocrats.
For the past decade computer generated animation has ruled the animation business. This year, none of the three nominated animated feature films depend upon computer generation. In some cases there may be some computer assistance, but the basic art forms are preserved.
HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE (Hauru no Ugoku Shiro, Japan) - This is a special animated feature in today's movie business. It involved thousands of hand-drawn frames, the type of animation Walt Disney pioneered. The Disney Company no longer uses the technique, has shutdown the division, and fired the artistic animators who were masters of the art form.
Disney holds the world-wide (except Asia) theatrical and Video / DVD distribution rights to all language versions of HOWL'S, including English. The production was directed by Hayao Miyazaki, and accomplished at Studio Ghibli Miyazaki, Tokyo. A former Disney executive, Stephen Alpert, is now senior vice-president of Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli, and his mission is to keep the original art form alive with a little help from his former employer.
PLOT: When a less than confident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent, yet insecure, young wizard and his companions who share his home that walks on legs.
TIM BURTON'S CORPSE BRIDE - This is a stop-motion animated feature film, directed by Mike Johnson, considered an expert in stop-motion animation. PLOT: When a shy groom practices his wedding vows in the inadvertent presence of a deceased young woman, she rises from the grave assuming he has married her.
WALLACE & GROMIT IN THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT - This hand-crafted clay animated feature film from DreamWorks SKG, directed by Nick Parks, received the top Annie Award at this year's International Animation Awards. PLOT: Wallace, a cheese-loving inventor, voiced by Peter Sallis, and his loyal dog Gromit set out to discover the mystery behind the garden sabotage that plagues their village and threatens the annual giant vegetable growing contest.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Saturday, February 25, 2006
RATING THE BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILMS
This is a long post, and I hope and enlightening one. Stay with me, please, so you will understand my predictions.
This year's five films nominated for the Best Foreign Language (BFL) Film Oscar® are a varied lot, and critics are hinting that the race is too close to call. Actually, they aren't that much different in their themes from the five films nominated for Best Picture, and knowing AMPAS® from first-hand experience, I'm going to call the race.
Themes encompass the choices of two young Palestinian men recruited as suicide bombers (PARADISE NOW - Palestine); a young male hoodlum about to explode in the South African shantytown of Soweto (TSOTSI - "gangster," South Africa); resistors to the Nazis from inside WW II Germany (SOPHIE SCHOLL - The Final Days, Germany); an Italian incest victim brought to awareness when a nightmarish memory resurfaces (DON'T TELL (La Bestia nel Cuore, Italy); and a spontaneous temporary Christmas truce between German, British, and French soldiers fighting in the trenches during World War I, (MERRY CHRISTMAS - (Joyeux Noel, France)
These are, from all accounts outstanding films, and at least three have U.S. distribution. Unfortunately, the rules for this category deem that the majority of the members of AMPAS cannot participate in the choice of the winner.
It works like this: Unlike most Oscar categories, voters for BFL Film nominees must see all five contenders in a theater, and sign certification that they have before they receive a ballot for this category. Viewing the films on videotape or DVD can't count.
All the nominated BFL films are shown at least once in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater, L.A., and in their New York City theater, as well as in local theaters in both cities, but Critics and filmmakers complain that the restriction means that probably less than 1,000 of the Academy's roughly 6,000 members will actually cast votes in this category. Only the Foreign and Documentary categories carry the same restriction. All members may vote for all other categories, except for this one and Documentary, even if they have not actually viewed the films involved.
Okay, what about the nominees' chances? First, mostly the older members of AMPAS have the time to view all the BFL and Documentary films, so the audience has a median age of about 60. Second, a large number of the members are Jewish, and/or supporters of Israel. Third, there are more male than female members of AMPAS.
Keeping the above demographics in mind, score points for SOPHIE SCHOLL (Who dares like the Nazis?). Remove points from PARADISE NOW, especially with the recent election of HAMAS in Palestine.
Add points for MERRY CHRISTMAS (nostalgia, Christianity, male bonding and such). Deduct points for DON'T TELL (it's a chick flick, and one that may make men uncomfortable to view).
What about TSOTSI? Add points because of current interest and sympathy for conditions in South Africa invoking good thoughts for Bishop Tutu and Bono, a juvenile punk finds redeeming value because of an unexpected relationship with a helpless baby (Who dares dislike a baby?), it's filmed mostly on location in Soweto (older members love films shot on location), Miramax is the distributor (great track record for independent film Oscar winners), and director/co-writer Gavin Hood is known in the U.S.
So, is TSOTSI my pick to win the BFL Film award? Sorry, I'll tell you later, but I will say that the two top contenders at this point, mentioned by others as well, are TSOTSI and SOPHIE SCHOLL, both for themes, milieu, over-all acting, and production values. They are both strong narrative movies and AMPAS members definitely prefer narrative films. Plus, standout performances by lead actors, South African Presley Chweneyagae, whose intensity may remind some of James Dean, and German Julia Jentsch, who plays a college student put to death for distributing anti-Nazi pamphlets are big pluses for both movies.
Stay tuned!
This year's five films nominated for the Best Foreign Language (BFL) Film Oscar® are a varied lot, and critics are hinting that the race is too close to call. Actually, they aren't that much different in their themes from the five films nominated for Best Picture, and knowing AMPAS® from first-hand experience, I'm going to call the race.
Themes encompass the choices of two young Palestinian men recruited as suicide bombers (PARADISE NOW - Palestine); a young male hoodlum about to explode in the South African shantytown of Soweto (TSOTSI - "gangster," South Africa); resistors to the Nazis from inside WW II Germany (SOPHIE SCHOLL - The Final Days, Germany); an Italian incest victim brought to awareness when a nightmarish memory resurfaces (DON'T TELL (La Bestia nel Cuore, Italy); and a spontaneous temporary Christmas truce between German, British, and French soldiers fighting in the trenches during World War I, (MERRY CHRISTMAS - (Joyeux Noel, France)
These are, from all accounts outstanding films, and at least three have U.S. distribution. Unfortunately, the rules for this category deem that the majority of the members of AMPAS cannot participate in the choice of the winner.
It works like this: Unlike most Oscar categories, voters for BFL Film nominees must see all five contenders in a theater, and sign certification that they have before they receive a ballot for this category. Viewing the films on videotape or DVD can't count.
All the nominated BFL films are shown at least once in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater, L.A., and in their New York City theater, as well as in local theaters in both cities, but Critics and filmmakers complain that the restriction means that probably less than 1,000 of the Academy's roughly 6,000 members will actually cast votes in this category. Only the Foreign and Documentary categories carry the same restriction. All members may vote for all other categories, except for this one and Documentary, even if they have not actually viewed the films involved.
Okay, what about the nominees' chances? First, mostly the older members of AMPAS have the time to view all the BFL and Documentary films, so the audience has a median age of about 60. Second, a large number of the members are Jewish, and/or supporters of Israel. Third, there are more male than female members of AMPAS.
Keeping the above demographics in mind, score points for SOPHIE SCHOLL (Who dares like the Nazis?). Remove points from PARADISE NOW, especially with the recent election of HAMAS in Palestine.
Add points for MERRY CHRISTMAS (nostalgia, Christianity, male bonding and such). Deduct points for DON'T TELL (it's a chick flick, and one that may make men uncomfortable to view).
What about TSOTSI? Add points because of current interest and sympathy for conditions in South Africa invoking good thoughts for Bishop Tutu and Bono, a juvenile punk finds redeeming value because of an unexpected relationship with a helpless baby (Who dares dislike a baby?), it's filmed mostly on location in Soweto (older members love films shot on location), Miramax is the distributor (great track record for independent film Oscar winners), and director/co-writer Gavin Hood is known in the U.S.
So, is TSOTSI my pick to win the BFL Film award? Sorry, I'll tell you later, but I will say that the two top contenders at this point, mentioned by others as well, are TSOTSI and SOPHIE SCHOLL, both for themes, milieu, over-all acting, and production values. They are both strong narrative movies and AMPAS members definitely prefer narrative films. Plus, standout performances by lead actors, South African Presley Chweneyagae, whose intensity may remind some of James Dean, and German Julia Jentsch, who plays a college student put to death for distributing anti-Nazi pamphlets are big pluses for both movies.
Stay tuned!
Friday, February 24, 2006
Final Oscar® Ballots Due Tuesday
Voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences® must return their completed final Oscar ballots to PricewaterhouseCoopers by 5 p.m., PST, Tuesday, February 28. 5,798 ballots were mailed to voting members of the Academy on Wednesday, February 8. Ballots received after the 5 p.m. deadline will not be counted.
Once PricewaterhouseCoopers has tabulated the votes, the winners’ names are placed in sealed, foil-lined envelopes. Two of the firm’s partners, Brad Oltmanns and Rick Rosas, will be the only two people to know the results prior to the envelopes being opened on Oscar Night®, Sunday, March 5.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements for 2005 will be presented on March 5, 2006, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland®. It will be televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 8 p.m. EST, with a one-hour red carpet arrivals show beginning at 7 p.m. EST.
Once PricewaterhouseCoopers has tabulated the votes, the winners’ names are placed in sealed, foil-lined envelopes. Two of the firm’s partners, Brad Oltmanns and Rick Rosas, will be the only two people to know the results prior to the envelopes being opened on Oscar Night®, Sunday, March 5.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements for 2005 will be presented on March 5, 2006, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland®. It will be televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 8 p.m. EST, with a one-hour red carpet arrivals show beginning at 7 p.m. EST.
Monday, February 20, 2006
BERLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The 56th Berlin Film Festival (9 - 19 February) has now concluded. The German Berlinale is the first of Europe's three major festivals in this new year. It is considered, after Cannes and alongside Venice, to be one of the world's most prestigious film showcases. This year's festival had a preponderance of films dealing with social and political themes, especially homosexuality, violence, terrorism, religious indoctrination, corporate abuses, and the current rise of fascism. All of these developments threaten the privacy and freedom of individuals around the world. Remind you of the Oscars®?
WINNERS ANNOUNCED! Read my "nutshell" coverage on my Film Festivals 2006 Page, and see who won the Golden Bear and other awards. Also there's a direct link to the Official Web site for the Berlinale and other major film festivals.
WINNERS ANNOUNCED! Read my "nutshell" coverage on my Film Festivals 2006 Page, and see who won the Golden Bear and other awards. Also there's a direct link to the Official Web site for the Berlinale and other major film festivals.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Oscar®-Nominated "Shorts" Screen for Public in NYC
On Saturday, 25 February, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present two public screenings of the ten Oscar-nominated films in the Animated Short and Live Action Short categories. The screenings will feature the five films from each category, providing a rare opportunity for New York moviegoers to see the nominees prior to the 78th Academy Awards® telecast on Sunday, 5 March.
The screenings will be held at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., EST, at the Academy Theater located at Lighthouse International in New York City. Film historian and television host Robert Osborne will serve as the host for both screenings. Tickets for the screenings are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid I.D. Advanced tickets may be reserved by calling 888-778-7575. The Academy's Theater at Lighthouse International is located at 111 East 59th Street between Park and Lexington avenues. All orders will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
The following ten Oscar-nominated short films will be shown at the New York screenings:
Short Film (Animated) - - Badgered; The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation; The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello; 9; One Man Band; and
Short Film (Live Action) - - Ausreisser (The Runaway); Cashback; The Last Farm; Our Time Is Up; and Six Shooter.
The screenings will be held at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., EST, at the Academy Theater located at Lighthouse International in New York City. Film historian and television host Robert Osborne will serve as the host for both screenings. Tickets for the screenings are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid I.D. Advanced tickets may be reserved by calling 888-778-7575. The Academy's Theater at Lighthouse International is located at 111 East 59th Street between Park and Lexington avenues. All orders will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
The following ten Oscar-nominated short films will be shown at the New York screenings:
Short Film (Animated) - - Badgered; The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation; The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello; 9; One Man Band; and
Short Film (Live Action) - - Ausreisser (The Runaway); Cashback; The Last Farm; Our Time Is Up; and Six Shooter.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
FINAL OSCAR® BALLOTS MAILED TODAY
Final ballots for the 78th Academy Awards were mailed today to the 5,798 voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Completed ballots must be returned to PricewaterhouseCoopers by 5 p.m., Tuesday, 28 February. Ballots received after the deadline will not be counted. Once the auditing firm has tabulated the votes, the winners' names are placed in sealed envelopes to be opened on Oscar Night® Sunday, 5 March.
Listed on the ballots are nominees in 19 Oscar® categories. Separate ballots for five award categories (foreign language film, short and feature-length documentaries and animated and live-action short films) will be distributed after verification of mandatory member attendance at screenings.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements for 2005 will be presented on 5 March 2006, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 5 p.m., PST. A one-hour red carpet show beginning at 4 p.m., PST, featuring arrivals, will precede the main event.
Listed on the ballots are nominees in 19 Oscar® categories. Separate ballots for five award categories (foreign language film, short and feature-length documentaries and animated and live-action short films) will be distributed after verification of mandatory member attendance at screenings.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements for 2005 will be presented on 5 March 2006, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 5 p.m., PST. A one-hour red carpet show beginning at 4 p.m., PST, featuring arrivals, will precede the main event.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Johnny Cash Movie Walked the Plank
The headline for an article in The Los Angeles Times January31, written by Dean Goodman was, "Oscar makes Johnny Cash movie walk the plank." I thought it was so clever that I'm using an edited version as the title for this post. Many fans are disappointed, and there are those who will put forth reasons WALK THE LINE was slighted for a Best Picture nomination.
One was postulated by Joel Siegel on Good Morning America immediately after the nominations were read. He said something to the effect that he, and some other critics, have noted that the acting is the driving force of the film. By checking my Awards Page, I find at least seven Best Actress awards won by Reese Witherspoon, including a Golden Globe, Critics' Choice, and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) award. Now, that's impressive.
The film, on the other hand, has won only one major award as Best Picture, a Golden Globe. The reason it was able to win the Globe is that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association that runs the awards has two separate categories, Best Dramatic and Best Musical Film. That is the second, and major, reason it was not nominated for Best Picture by the members of AMPAS®. Musical films have always been forced to play second fiddle in the Oscar® race.
The Academy refuses to add a Best Musical category for the Oscars, which many feel it needs to do. If there had been such a category for the past decades, perhaps new movie musicals would be abundant today. Only recently did AMPAS add the Best Animated Film category, and that took a ten-year fight. The Best Musical category should have been added in the 1960's. It is probably too late for a musical film category.
WALK THE LINE did receive five nominations: Best Performance by an Actor in a leading role (Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash), Best Performance by an actress in the leading role (Reese Witherspoon as June Cash); Costume Design; Film Editing; and Sound Mixing.
All these nominations came from AMPAS members who are members of guilds. They are the ones who make all the so-called "craft" nominations, including the directing and writing awards. Only the Best Picture nomination is voted upon by the entire membership. Of course, the entire membership votes for all final awards.
One was postulated by Joel Siegel on Good Morning America immediately after the nominations were read. He said something to the effect that he, and some other critics, have noted that the acting is the driving force of the film. By checking my Awards Page, I find at least seven Best Actress awards won by Reese Witherspoon, including a Golden Globe, Critics' Choice, and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) award. Now, that's impressive.
The film, on the other hand, has won only one major award as Best Picture, a Golden Globe. The reason it was able to win the Globe is that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association that runs the awards has two separate categories, Best Dramatic and Best Musical Film. That is the second, and major, reason it was not nominated for Best Picture by the members of AMPAS®. Musical films have always been forced to play second fiddle in the Oscar® race.
The Academy refuses to add a Best Musical category for the Oscars, which many feel it needs to do. If there had been such a category for the past decades, perhaps new movie musicals would be abundant today. Only recently did AMPAS add the Best Animated Film category, and that took a ten-year fight. The Best Musical category should have been added in the 1960's. It is probably too late for a musical film category.
WALK THE LINE did receive five nominations: Best Performance by an Actor in a leading role (Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash), Best Performance by an actress in the leading role (Reese Witherspoon as June Cash); Costume Design; Film Editing; and Sound Mixing.
All these nominations came from AMPAS members who are members of guilds. They are the ones who make all the so-called "craft" nominations, including the directing and writing awards. Only the Best Picture nomination is voted upon by the entire membership. Of course, the entire membership votes for all final awards.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
BEST FILM NOMINEES MAY RUFFLE FEATHERS
The one thing all the nominated films for Best Picture have in common are their strong social themes. Some critics have labeled them "Art House Films," but they are much more than that. The theme for the leader of the pack, BROKEBACK is homosexuality, set in the time of 1960's mores. [I never use the term "gay," if I can help it, because using the word gay that way is a perversion of the original meaning of it, and people who don't know history misread titles and statements such as "The Gay Nineties," "When Our Hearts Were Young and Gay,' etc.]
GOOD NIGHT is about those dark days in 1950's America that have become known as the McCarthy Era, when civil liberties were at the greatest risk of being constitutionally revoked in any time prior to the current Bush Administration. CRASH is the only one set in contemporary times. This Lions Gate Film, according to its Web site, "Takes a provocative, unflinching look at the complexities of racial tolerance in contemporary America in this case Los Angeles."
In other words, they all deal with contemporary social problems set in prior times, except for CRASH. It is much safer to deal with today's problems that way, because we can put them in a box and tell ourselves we are not involved, until the day our lives and the social concerns -- sexuality, murder, violence of humans against humans in general, authoritarianism, civil liberties, racial tolerance, etc., collide.
BLOCKBUSTERS SNUBBED FOR BEST FILM
The top box office films, all considered blockbusters, were snubbed this year by the members of AMPAS® when it came to the Best Film nominations. The big ones grossed (approximated for end of January) from top grosser: STAR WARS: EPISODE III (380 M); HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE (287 M); THE CHRONICLE OF NARNIA (286 M); WAR OF THE WORLDS ($234 M); and KING KONG ($213).
By comparison, the total gross for all the nominated films combined was $184 M, less than the lowest in the list above. To be fair, you will note in the table below that MUNICH was not released until 23 December, and BROKEBACK 9 December. But, on the other hand, CHRONICLES was released 9 December, and Kong 16 December. Compare the grosses.
TITLE - GROSS - RELEASE DATE
Crash - 53 M - 5/6/05
Brokeback Mountain - 51 M - 12/9/05
Munich - 40 M - 12/23/05
Good Night and Good Luck - 25 M - 10/7/05
Capote - 15 M - 9/30/05
And, just in case you are wondering, WALK THE LINE would not qualify as a blockbuster, either. It was released in mid-November, and its gross was only $106 M. Respectable but no cigar. More about this film later.
Box Office statistics from The Movie Times
By comparison, the total gross for all the nominated films combined was $184 M, less than the lowest in the list above. To be fair, you will note in the table below that MUNICH was not released until 23 December, and BROKEBACK 9 December. But, on the other hand, CHRONICLES was released 9 December, and Kong 16 December. Compare the grosses.
TITLE - GROSS - RELEASE DATE
Crash - 53 M - 5/6/05
Brokeback Mountain - 51 M - 12/9/05
Munich - 40 M - 12/23/05
Good Night and Good Luck - 25 M - 10/7/05
Capote - 15 M - 9/30/05
And, just in case you are wondering, WALK THE LINE would not qualify as a blockbuster, either. It was released in mid-November, and its gross was only $106 M. Respectable but no cigar. More about this film later.
Box Office statistics from The Movie Times
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
OSCAR® NOMINATIONS ARE OFFICIAL
The cowboy love story BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN leads the nominations for the Academy Awards® with eight nominations, chief among them is best picture. Along with the top category nomination, the movie is up for: best director, Ang Lee; best actor, Heath Ledger; best supporting actor and actress, Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Williams; best screenplay adaptation (from Annie Proulx's short story), Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana; best cinematography, Rodrigo Prieto; and best original score, Gustavo Santaolalla.
BROKEBACK made history today as the first movie openly addressing homosexuality to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar®. If it wins, hopefully it will help open the door for tolerance about sexuality, something sorely needed in America and world-wide.
The other best picture nominees include the usual suspects CAPOTE, the Truman Capote story, and the Edward R. Murrow chronicle GOOD NIGHT, and GOOD LUCK, each receiving six nominations. Steven Spielberg's assassination thriller MUNICH, about hunting down the terrorists after the carnage at the 1972 Olympics was a "maybe" on many lists, but it made it. There are two main reasons for the MUNICH nomination, and I shall discuss them in my next post.
The other nominee is the race-relations ensemble drama CRASH that has been mostly over-looked by some awards organizations and the general public. It edged out one of the favorites WALK THE LINE, the latter receiving only the best actor and actress nods. I shall also discuss the reasons for this in a subsequent post.
There are twenty-four categories for nominations. During the weeks preceding the Oscars, I shall discuss as many major categories as possible, and attempt to offer some insights as to the nominations and the possible winners on March 5.
I recommend you go to my Awards Page where you can track your favorite film, and see the major awards it has won so far this season. Also, there are many direct links to provide more information. The complete list of nominees is available on the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences'® Official Oscar Site
BROKEBACK made history today as the first movie openly addressing homosexuality to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar®. If it wins, hopefully it will help open the door for tolerance about sexuality, something sorely needed in America and world-wide.
The other best picture nominees include the usual suspects CAPOTE, the Truman Capote story, and the Edward R. Murrow chronicle GOOD NIGHT, and GOOD LUCK, each receiving six nominations. Steven Spielberg's assassination thriller MUNICH, about hunting down the terrorists after the carnage at the 1972 Olympics was a "maybe" on many lists, but it made it. There are two main reasons for the MUNICH nomination, and I shall discuss them in my next post.
The other nominee is the race-relations ensemble drama CRASH that has been mostly over-looked by some awards organizations and the general public. It edged out one of the favorites WALK THE LINE, the latter receiving only the best actor and actress nods. I shall also discuss the reasons for this in a subsequent post.
There are twenty-four categories for nominations. During the weeks preceding the Oscars, I shall discuss as many major categories as possible, and attempt to offer some insights as to the nominations and the possible winners on March 5.
I recommend you go to my Awards Page where you can track your favorite film, and see the major awards it has won so far this season. Also, there are many direct links to provide more information. The complete list of nominees is available on the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences'® Official Oscar Site
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Academy Awards Nominations will be Announced Tuesday Morning
Nominations for the 78th Academy Awards® will be announced Tuesday, January 31, by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' President Sid Ganis, and Oscar-winning actress and Academy member Mira Sorvino. They will unveil the nominations in ten of the 24 categories at a 5:30 a.m. (EST) news conference that will be attended by media outlets from around the world. Sorvino received an Oscar® in 1995 for her supporting role in "Mighty Aphrodite."
News media from around the world will be present at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater, Beverly Hill, for the live announcement at 5:30 a.m., PST. Press releases of the nominations in all categories, including those not announced, will be distributed simultaneously to news media in attendance, and via the Internet on the official Academy Awards Web site, www.oscar.com.
Official screenings for Academy members of all pictures with a nomination are scheduled to begin February 4 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater and the Linwood Dunn Theater located at the Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study in Hollywood. Screenings in certain categories also will be held in London, New York and San Francisco.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2005 will be presented on Sunday, March 5, 2006, at the Kodak Theatre at the Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 8 p.m. EST. A one-hour red carpet arrivals show will precede the telecast at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
OSCAR® BALLOTS DUE THIS SATURDAY
Nomination ballots for the Academy Awards® from members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences must be received at the offices of PriceWaterhouseCoopers by 5:00 p.m., PST, this Saturday, January 21. They will be counted and the nominations announced Tuesday, January 31, at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater, Beverly Hills, 5:30 a.m. PST. See links on this blog for "Films Eligible for Oscars®".
So, will the Golden Globe wins really impact the results of the Oscars®? It's my opinion that they will not. As previously noted, the Globes are awarded by the relatively small Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which has about 80 members, compared with the 5,800 film professionals eligible to vote for the Oscars®. The Globes have more categories, including comedy and musical films, and TV shows while the Oscars® are all about movies.
The Press Association is mainly composed of young men, most under age 45. The Academy members are also mostly male, but there are a greater number of females proportionately in the Academy, and the average age of voting Academy members is older. But, the most important difference is the cultural orientation. Academy members know and appreciate history, especially American history. They are "in tune" with American culture.
The foreign press, on the other hand, go for the younger actors, especially the beautiful young women, and if those young women happen to be blondes their chances of winning awards are much higher. The foreign press are intrigued with the old west, black culture, they l-o-v-e American music and musical performers, and movies that push the boundaries of cultural behavior.
So, will the Golden Globe wins really impact the results of the Oscars®? It's my opinion that they will not. As previously noted, the Globes are awarded by the relatively small Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which has about 80 members, compared with the 5,800 film professionals eligible to vote for the Oscars®. The Globes have more categories, including comedy and musical films, and TV shows while the Oscars® are all about movies.
The Press Association is mainly composed of young men, most under age 45. The Academy members are also mostly male, but there are a greater number of females proportionately in the Academy, and the average age of voting Academy members is older. But, the most important difference is the cultural orientation. Academy members know and appreciate history, especially American history. They are "in tune" with American culture.
The foreign press, on the other hand, go for the younger actors, especially the beautiful young women, and if those young women happen to be blondes their chances of winning awards are much higher. The foreign press are intrigued with the old west, black culture, they l-o-v-e American music and musical performers, and movies that push the boundaries of cultural behavior.
The point I am making is that the nominees for the Oscars® will be somewhat similar, but they will also be different, as will the winners. There are a few Globe winners that will probably repeat at the Oscars®, but let's hold that speculation until the actual nominees are announced.
Monday, January 16, 2006
GOLDEN GLOBES TONIGHT
The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, will be telecast live tonight on NBC, 8:00 p.m. (EST), it is a potential breakthrough night for movies dealing with homosexuality or transsexualism. The cowboy romance BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (homosexuality); the movie about In Cold Blood author Truman Capote, CAPOTE (a homosexual); and TRANSAMERICA (transsexuality), which is expected to catapult "Desperate Housewives" Felicity Huffman's career with a best actress award, are among the key contenders.
The members of the Association like movies that push the boundaries of movie making, and the five films nominated in the Best Dramatic Film category this year do that. They are: BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN; THE CONSTANT GARDENER; GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK; A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE; and MATCH POINT. Some would say the levity is that SirAnthony Hopkins will be honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement.
In the Best Foreign Film category, KUNG FU HUSTLE (Gong fu, Hong Kong Mandarin title) is the only film in the running not submitted to AMPAS® for a possible Oscar® nomination in that category, but it has already received awards at the Broadcast Critic's Choice Awards and the Boston Film Critics.
For more, see my Awards Page.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Golden Globes Monday Night - Here Come Oscars®
The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards will be telecast live on NBC, Monday, January 16, 2006. Anthony Hopkins will be honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement.
SOME OF THE NOMINEES ARE (To view this with film links, Mimi's Awards Page):BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN garnered seven nominations: Best Picture, Drama; Actor (Heath Ledger); Supporting Actress (Michelle Williams); Director (Ang Lee); Screenplay (Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana); Original Score (Gustavo Santaolalla); Original Song ("A Love That Will Never Grow Old"). The surprise? Jake Gyllenhaa, who co-stars did not receive a nomination.
Other films nominated in the Best Drama category: THE CONSTANT GARDENER; GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK; A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, and MATCH POINT, Woody Allen's latest.Foreign Films nominated: KUNG FU HUSTLE (Gong fu, Hong Kong Mandarin title); MERRY CHRISTMAS (JOYEUZ NOEL, France); PARADISE NOW (Palestine); THE PROMISE (WU JI, People's Republic of China); and TSOTSI (South Africa). All but Kung Fu Hustle have been submitted for a possible Oscar® nomination in the Best Foreign Film Category.
For the full list of nominations: http://www.thegoldenglobes.com/
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Jon Stewart Will Host Academy Awards®
Jon Stewart, host of "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" was tapped today to host the 2006 Oscars®, ending speculation that the host might be Steve Martin, late-night hosts Jay Leno or Conan O'Brien. Stewart hosted the Grammys® Music Awards in 2001 and 2002.
The 43-year-old star of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" follows a long line of standup comedians who have hosted the Oscars®: Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Rock, Billy Crystal, etc.
"The Daily Show" has earned seven Emmys and a Peabody award. Stewart also won the 2005 Thurber Prize for American Humor for his book written with "The Daily Show" writers, America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction.
"I love a comic who can deal with the unexpected and has the ability to run the room," said Gil Cates, the producer of this year's 78th Academy Awards®, airing 5 March on ABC. "The speed of mind and fearlessness of a comic really adds to the show. My wife and I watch him every night," he said. "Jon is the epitome of a perfect host -- smart, engaging, irreverent and funny."
"He's a very, very popular entertainer with a mind that is quick, and you need that on a show like this," said Sid Ganis, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. "I'm very excited. Stewart is a superb choice — witty, current, intelligent and charming. What a terrific addition to our roster of great hosts!"
Hope these expectations are not too high. Good luck, Jon!
The 43-year-old star of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" follows a long line of standup comedians who have hosted the Oscars®: Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Rock, Billy Crystal, etc.
"The Daily Show" has earned seven Emmys and a Peabody award. Stewart also won the 2005 Thurber Prize for American Humor for his book written with "The Daily Show" writers, America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction.
"I love a comic who can deal with the unexpected and has the ability to run the room," said Gil Cates, the producer of this year's 78th Academy Awards®, airing 5 March on ABC. "The speed of mind and fearlessness of a comic really adds to the show. My wife and I watch him every night," he said. "Jon is the epitome of a perfect host -- smart, engaging, irreverent and funny."
"He's a very, very popular entertainer with a mind that is quick, and you need that on a show like this," said Sid Ganis, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. "I'm very excited. Stewart is a superb choice — witty, current, intelligent and charming. What a terrific addition to our roster of great hosts!"
Hope these expectations are not too high. Good luck, Jon!
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
An Interesting Charlie Chaplin Tidbit
Read today that Aurélia Thierrée is acting in a production at the Teatro Principal (Principal Theatre) in Valencia, Spain, 4-8 January, entitled, "El Oratorio de Aurélia" (“Aurélia’s Oratorio”). Aurélia's mother and father, Victoria Chaplin and Jean-Baptiste Thierrée, developed and previously performed the piece as "The Invisable Circus," which evolved with a particular mix of clever transformations, magic acts, and circus-style balancing over the past two decades. Their aim was to delight and amuse their audiences, always careful not to let their light touch become heavy-handed overkill. It was an astute commentary on the traditional circus laden with tigers and trapezes. Now,
Victoria's parents were Charlie and Oona O'Neill Chaplin, so Aurélia's aunt is, of course, actress Geraldine Chaplin. One article I read states that Aurélia has a good relationship with her aunt.
One reviewer wrote, "Sit back, hold tight and return to the lost land of fantasy, where curiosity and marvels abound, and there is simply no limit to your imagination! You will be amazed and enchanted at the same time."
Sounds like a yummy theatrical experience that Charlie would have loved!
Saturday, December 31, 2005
HAPPY 2006!
SEE YOU AT THE MOVIES? My wish for this year is that the movies are a heck of a lot better than those in this old, departing year.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Over 300 Feature Films Vie for 2005 Oscar®
For the first time in 32 years, over 300 motion pictures will contended for the Academy Award® for the Best Picture of 2005. This year, 311 feature films will compete.
Nomination ballots and the Reminder List of Eligible Releases – the list of 2005 motion pictures eligible for Oscar consideration – are being mailed today to voting members of the Academy.
Entries in the Foreign Language, Animated Feature, Documentary and Short Film categories are subject to special rules and are viewed and selected by voting panels of Academy members. The entry deadlines in all of these categories have already passed.
Nominations for the 78th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, 31 January, at 5:30 a.m. PST, in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
Nomination ballots and the Reminder List of Eligible Releases – the list of 2005 motion pictures eligible for Oscar consideration – are being mailed today to voting members of the Academy.
Entries in the Foreign Language, Animated Feature, Documentary and Short Film categories are subject to special rules and are viewed and selected by voting panels of Academy members. The entry deadlines in all of these categories have already passed.
Nominations for the 78th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, 31 January, at 5:30 a.m. PST, in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Deadline for Films is Midnight, 31 December
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS®) announced today that for a feature film to be eligible for 78th Academy Awards® consideration, it must begin a seven-day run in Los Angeles County on or before midnight, Friday, 31 December. However, for a film to be eligible for an Oscar® nomination, producers must already have submitted official screen credit information to the Academy by 1 December.
Nominations for the 78th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, 31 January 2006, at 5:30 a.m. PST, in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater, Wishire Blvd., Beverly Hills. The Awards will be presented on 5 March at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland, Hollywood, and televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 5 p.m. PST.
Nominations for the 78th Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, 31 January 2006, at 5:30 a.m. PST, in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater, Wishire Blvd., Beverly Hills. The Awards will be presented on 5 March at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland, Hollywood, and televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 5 p.m. PST.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
2006 - 78th Academy Awards
Ninety-one countries were invited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to submit their best films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 78th Academy Awards® for outstanding film achievements for 2005, will be presented on Sunday, March 5, 2006, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 5 p.m. PST. Out of 91 countries invited, 58 accepted. [List of submissions] This year’s schedule for the Oscars®. The Official Site will be up sometime in January 2006. Much more information to come.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Relocating to this Address
The "Mimi at the Movies" film blog is in the process of moving to this site from it's current address on Virtual Avenue where it has resided since 18 March 2003. Shortly, current postings will appear on this blog. Meanwhile, archived posts may be read at the old address: http://mimifink.virtualave.net/movieblog.html.
Thank you for your patience as this change takes place.
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