Critics Choice Movie Awards on VH1 Tomorrow!

Posted on January 11, 2012 at 3:53 pm

I’m sorry not to be there in person this year but you can bet I’ll be watching when the Critics Choice Awards are on VH1 tomorrow night.  I admit to some bias as a very proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, but for me this is one of the highlights of the movie year.  It is not just a reliable predictor of the Oscars; I believe it is an influencer, as we will see when the Academy Award nominations are announced on January 24.

This year’s show looks wonderful, with “Funny or Die” hosts Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer, a special award presented to Sean Penn by George Clooney, a music and film award to Martin Scorsese featuring a performance by Bob Dylan, music from Fitz and the Tantrums, and a galaxy of glamorous stars.

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Alliance of Woman Film Journalists Awards

Posted on January 10, 2012 at 10:28 am

More awards are rolling in as we get ready for the big three — this week’s Critics Choice Movie Awards this Thursday night on VH1 (Twitter hashtag #ccma), the Golden Globes on Sunday, and of course the Oscars coming next month on February 26.   I’m honored to be a member of the Alliance of Women Film Journalists and very proud of this year’s honorees.  “The Artist” continues to build momentum for the top award but the unusual number of tie votes shows that in many of the categories, the competition is very tough.  I love the AWFJ’s categories like “best animated female character” and “most egregious love interest.”  Be sure to read through to the end!

Best Film:

The Artist

Best Director:

Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist

Best Screenplay, Original:

Midnight in Paris – Woody Allen

Best Screenplay, Adapted: (TIE)

The Descendants – Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash

Moneyball – Steven Zallian and Aaron Sorkin

Best Documentary:

Buck

Best Animated Film:

Rango

Best Actress:

Viola Davis as Abileen in The Help

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: (TIE)

Janet McTeer as Hubert Page in Albert Nobb and Octavia Spencer as Minny Jackson in The Help

Best Actor:

Michael Fassbender as Brandon Sullivan in Shame

Best Actor in a Supporting Role:

Christopher Plummer as Hal Fields in Beginners

Best Ensemble Cast:

Bridesmaids

Best Editing:

Hugo – Thelma Schoonmaker

Best Cinematography:

The Tree of Life – Emmanuel Lubezki

Best Film Music Or Score: (TIE)

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Original Score

Hanna – The Chemical Brothers, Original Score

Best Non-English-Language Film:

A Separation – Ashgar Farhadi, Iran

EDA FEMALE FOCUS AWARDS

Best Woman Director:

Lynne Ramsey – We Need To Talk About Kevin

Best Woman Screenwriter:

Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo – Bridesmaids

Kick Ass Award For Best Female Action Star: (TIE)

Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander in Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and Saoirse Ronan as Hanna in Hanna

Best Animated Female:

Isla Fisher as Beans in Rango

Best Breakthrough Performance:

Elizabeth Olsen as Martha in Martha Marcy May Marlene

Female Icon Award:

Glenn Close as Albert Nobbs in Albert Nobbs

Actress Defying Age and Ageism:

Helen Mirren as Rachel Singer in The Debt

This Year’s Outstanding Achievement By A Woman In The Film Industry:

Jessica Chastain for performances in four highly acclaimed films

AWFJ Award For Humanitarian Activism:

Angelina Jolie for UN work and making In The Land of Blood and Honey to raise awareness about genocide.

EDA SPECIAL MENTION AWARDS

AWFJ Hall Of Shame Award:

The Hollywood Reporter for failing to invite any women to join the Directors Roundtable

Actress Most in Need Of A New Agent:

All actresses in New Year’s Eve

Movie You Wanted To Love But Just Couldn‘t:

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Unforgettable Moment Award:

The Artist – The sound of the glass clinking on the table.

Best Depiction Of Nudity, Sexuality, or Seduction: (TIE)

Melancholia – Justine in the moonlight and Shame – Opening sequence on the subway train.

Sequel Or Remake That Shouldn’t Have Been Made Award:

The Hangover Part II

Most Egregious Love Interest Age Difference Award: (TIE)

Albert Nobbs – Glenn Close (64) and Mia Wasilkowska (22)

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part I – Bella (18) and Edward (Over 100)

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The Alliance of Women Film Journalists is very grateful to our 2011 sponsors for their ongoing support of the EDA Awards and our organization.

 

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Oscar Candidate Filmed on a Smartphone

Posted on January 6, 2012 at 8:00 am

The Wrap reports that a contender for this year’s Oscars is “Olive,” made entirely on a smart phone, a Nokia N8.  It stars two-time Oscar nominee Gena Rowlands and its song, by Ben Lear (son of television producer Norman Lear) is on the short list for this year’s best song award.  It is a family-friendly, PG-rated story of a girl who visits three troubled adults and changes their lives without speaking.

The Wrap’s story has some fascinating details about what went on behind the scenes including an eyepiece from a dismantled 1940’s camera and dollies to movie the phone smoothly.  They also had to use hoods over their heads to keep out ambient light, just like the earliest days of movie-making.

 

 

 

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More Awards: Online Film Critics Pick ‘Tree of Life,’ ‘Cave of Forgotten Dreams’

Posted on January 2, 2012 at 9:43 am

The Online Film Critics have announced their awards for 2011:  

Best Picture:

The Tree of Life

Best Animated Feature:

Rango

Best Director:

Terrence Malick – The Tree of Life

Best Lead Actor:

Michael Fassbender – Shame

Best Lead Actress:

Tilda Swinton – We Need to Talk About Kevin

Best Supporting Actor:

Christopher Plummer – Beginners

Best Supporting Actress:

Jessica Chastain – The Tree of Life

Best Original Screenplay:

Midnight in Paris

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Tinker Tailor Solider Spy

Best Editing:

The Tree of Life

Best Cinematography:

The Tree of Life

Best Film Not in the English Language:

A Separation

Best Documentary:

Cave of Forgotten Dreams

Special Awards (previously announced):

To Jessica Chastain, the breakout performer of the year

To Martin Scorsese in honor of his work and dedication to the pursuit of film preservation

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More Awards — Nominations from the Online Critics and the Alliance of Women Film Journalists

Posted on December 26, 2011 at 10:42 am

I have the honor and challenge of voting in both of these. Be sure to check out some of the off-beat and very satisfying special categories for the AWFJ.

Online Film Critics Society Nominations

Best Picture

The Artist

The Descendants

Drive

Hugo

The Tree of Life

Best Animated Feature

The Adventures of Tintin

Arthur Christmas

Kung Fu Panda 2

Rango

Winnie the Pooh

Best Director

Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist

Terrence Malick – The Tree of Life

Nicolas Winding Refn – Drive

Martin Scorsese – Hugo

Lars von Trier – Melancholia

Best Lead Actor

George Clooney – The Descendants

Jean Dujardin – The Artist

Michael Fassbender – Shame

Gary Oldman – Tinker Tailor Solider Spy

Michael Shannon – Take Shelter

Best Lead Actress

Kirsten Dunst – Melancholia

Elizabeth Olsen – Martha Marcy May Marlene

Meryl Streep – The Iron Lady

Tilda Swinton – We Need to Talk About Kevin

Michelle Williams – My Week with Marilyn

Best Supporting Actor

Albert Brooks – Drive

John Hawkes – Martha Marcy May Marlene

Nick Nolte – Warrior

Brad Pitt – The Tree of Life

Christopher Plummer – Beginners

Best Supporting Actress

Jessica Chastain – The Tree of Life

Melissa McCarthy – Bridesmaids

Janet McTeer – Albert Nobbs

Carey Mulligan – Shame

Shailene Woodley – The Descendants

Best Original Screenplay

Martha Marcy May Marlene

Midnight in Paris

A Separation

The Tree of Life

Win Win

Best Adapted Screenplay

The Descendants

Drive

Moneyball

Tinker Tailor Solider Spy

We Need to Talk About Kevin

Best Editing

Drive

Martha Marcy May Marlene

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

The Tree of Life

We Need to Talk About Kevin

Best Cinematography

The Artist

Drive

Hugo

Melancholia

The Tree of Life

Best Film Not in the English Language

13 Assassins

Certified Copy

A Separation

The Skin I Live In

Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives

Best Documentary

Cave of Forgotten Dreams

The Interrupters

Into the Abyss

Project Nim

Tabloid

Special Awards

To Jessica Chastain, the breakout performer of the year

To Martin Scorsese in honor of his work and dedication to the pursuit of film preservation

AWFJ Nominations

Best Film:

  • The Artist
  • The Descendants
  • Hugo
  • Melancholia
  • Midnight in Paris

Best Director:

  • Woody Allen – Midnight In Paris
  • Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist
  • Terrence Malick – Tree of Life
  • Alexander Payne – The Descendants
  • Martin Scorsese – Hugo

Best Screenplay, Original

  • The Artist – Michel Hazanavicius
  • Beginners – Mike Mills
  • Bridesmaids – Kristin Wiig and Annie Mumolo
  • Midnight in Paris – Woody Allen
  • Win Win – Thomas McCarthy

Best Screenplay, Adapted

  • The Descendants – Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon
  • Hugo – John Logan
  • Moneyball – Steven Zallian and Aaron Sorkin
  • Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy – Bridget O’Connor and Peter Straughan
  • We Need To Talk About Kevin – Lynne Ramsey and Rory Kinnear

Best Documentary

  • Bill Cunningham New York
  • Buck
  • Cave of Forgotten Dreams
  • The Interrupters
  • Pina
  • Project Nim

Best Animated Film

  • Arthur Christmas
  • Kung Fu Panda
  • Puss in Boots
  • Rango
  • Tintin

Best Actress

  • Viola Davis – Abileen Clark in The Help
  • Kirsten Dunst – Justine in Melancholia
  • Meryl Streep – Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady
  • Tilda Swinton – Eva Khatchadourian in We Need To Talk About Kevin
  • Michelle Williams – Marilyn Monroe in My Week With Marilyn

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

  • Bernice Bejo – Peppy Miller in The Artist
  • Jessica Chastain – Celia Foote in The Help
  • Janet McTeer – Hubert Page in Albert Nobbs
  • Carey Mulligan – Sissy Sullivan in Shame
  • Octavia Spencer – Minny Jackson in The Help

Best Actor

  • George Clooney – Matt King in The Descendants
  • Jean Dujardin – George Valentin in The Artist
  • Michael Fassbinder – Brandon Sullivan in Shame
  • Brad Pitt – Billy Beane in Moneyball
  • Michael Shannon – Curtis in Take Shelter

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

  • Kenneth Brannagh – Sir Laurence Olivier in My Week With Marilyn
  • Albert Brooks – Bernie Rose in Drive
  • Christopher Plummer – Hal Fields in Beginnings
  • Alan Rickman – Professor Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II
  • Andy Serkis – in Planet of the Apes

Best Ensemble Cast

  • Bridesmaids
  • The Descendants
  • The Help
  • Margin call
  • Midnight In Paris

Best Editing:

  • The Artist – Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius
  • Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
  • Hugo – Thelma Schoonmaker
  • Tree of Life – Hank Corwin, Jay Rabinowitz, Daniel Rezende, Billy Weber, Mark Yoshikawa
  • Warhorse – Michael Kahn

Best Cinematography:

  • The Artist – Guillaume Schiffman
  • Hugo – Robert Richardson
  • Melancholia – Manuel Alberto Claro
  • Tree of life – Emmanuel Lubezki
  • Warhorse – Janusz Kaminski

Best Film Music Or Score :

  • The Artist – Ludovic Bource, Original Score
  • Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Original Score
  • Hannah – The Chemical Brothers, Original Score

Best Non-English-Language Film:

  • Le Havre – Aki Kaurismaki, Finland/France
  • Pina – Wim Wenders, Germany
  • A Separation – Ashgar FarhadI, Iran
  • The Skin I Live In – Pedro Almodovar, Spain
  • Trollhunter – André Øvredal, Norway

EDA FEMALE FOCUS AWARDS

Best Woman Director

  • Lynne Ramsey – We Need To Talk About Kevin
  • Dee Rees – Pariah
  • Vera Farmiga – Higher Ground
  • Kelly Reichardt – Meek’s Cutoff
  • Jennifer Yuh – Kung Fu Panda

Best Woman Screenwriter

  • Diablo Cody – Young Adult
  • Abi Morgan – The Iron Lady
  • Lynne Ramsey and Rory Kinnear – We Need To Talk About Kevin
  • Dee Rees – Pariah
  • Kristin Wiig and Annie Mumolo – Bridesmaids

Kick Ass Award For Best Female Action Star

  • Rooney Mara — Lisbeth Salander in Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
  • Helen Mirren – Rachel Singer in The Debt
  • Paula Patton – Jane in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
  • Saoirse Ronan – Hanna in Hanna
  • Zoe Saldana – Cataleya in Colombiana

Best Animated Female

  • Emily Blunt as Juliet in Gnomeo and Juliet
  • Isla Fisher as Beans in Rango
  • Anne Hathaway as Jewel in Rio
  • Salma Hayak as Kitty Softpaws in Puss in Boots
  • Angelina Jolie – Tigress in Kung Fu Panda

Best Breakthrough Performance

  • Jessica Chastain as Mrs. O’Brien in Tree of Life
  • Elizabeth Olsen as Martha, Marcy May and Marlene in Martha Marcy May Marlene
  • Adepero Oduye as Alike in Pariah
  • Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
  • Shailene Woodley as Alexandra King in The Descendants

Female Icon Award (This award is presented only in years when it is warranted)

  • Glenn Close as Albert Nobbs in Albert Nobbs
  • Viola Davis as Abileen Clark in The Help
  • Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady
  • No Award This Year

Actress Defying Age and Ageism

  • Glenn Close as Albert Nobbs in Albert Nobbs
  • Judi Dench as Anna Marie Hoover in J. Edgar Hoover
  • Helen Mirren as Rachel Singer in The Debt
  • Vanessa Redgrave as Volumnia in Coriolanus
  • Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady

This Year’s Outstanding Achievement By A Woman In The Film Industry (This award is presented only in years when it is warranted)

  • Jessica Chastain for performances in four highly acclaimed films
  • Thelma Schoonmaker for editing Hugo
  • Stacey Snider for helming Dreamworks
  • Kristin Wiig for Bridesmaids
  • No Award This Year

AWFJ Award Humanitarian Activism

  • Sandra Bullock for tsunami relief
  • Elaine Hendrix for Animal Rescue Corps and In Defense of Animals
  • Angelina Jolie for UN work and making In The Land of Milk and Blood to raise awareness about genocide.
  • Elizabeth Taylor for her work with AIDS
  • Olivia Wilde for relief work in Haiti

EDA SPECIAL MENTION AWARDS

AWFJ Hall Of Shame Award 

  • The Hollywood Reporter for failing to invite any women to join the Directors Roundtable
  • I Melt With You, production and cast
  • Jack and Jill, production and cast
  • Something Borrowed, production and cast
  • Sucker Punch, production and cast

Actress Most in Need Of A New Agent

  • Jennifer Aniston
  • Kate Hudson
  • Sarah Jessica Parker
  • Amanda Seyfried
  • All actresses in New Year’s Eve

Movie You Wanted To Love But Just Couldn’t:

  • Drive
  • The Future
  • Sucker Punch
  • Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
  • Young Adult

Unforgettable Moment Award:

  • The Artist – The sound of glass clinking on the table
  • Drive – The elevator scene
  • Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – Lisbeth’s revenge
  • The Help – The pie scene
  • Shame – Carey Mulligan singing New York, New York

Best Depiction Of Nudity, Sexuality, or Seduction:

  • A Dangerous Method – Carl Jung spanks Sabina Speilrein
  • Girl With the Dragon Tattoo — Lisbeth mounts Mikael
  • Melancholia – Justine in the moonlight
  • Shame – Opening sequence on the subway train
  • Shame – Brendan with co-worker

Sequel or Remake That Shouldn’t Have Been Made Award:

  • Arthur
  • Cars 2
  • Hangover Part II
  • Hoodwinked 2
  • Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon

Most Egregious Age Difference:

  • Albert Nobbs – Glenn Close (64) and Mia Wasikowska (22)
  • Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – Daniel Craig (43) and Rooney Mara (26)
  • Midnight in Paris – Owen Wilson (43) and Léa Seydoux (26)
  • Sleeping Beauty – Emily Browning (23) and Man 1 (Peter Carroll, 1968), Man 2 (Chris Haywood, 63) and Man 3 (Hugh Keays-Byrne, 64)
  • Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 – Bella (18) and Edward (over 100)
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