This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: March 10, 2009
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Miramax, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Action, Animation, Drama, Family, Foreign, Music, Period, Sequels, Comedy, Home Entertainment,
Here are some of the DVD and Blu-ray options available this Tuesday:
- Battle in Seattle: DVD, Blu-ray
- Ben X: DVD
- The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: DVD
- Brokeback Mountain: Blu-ray
- Cadillac Records: DVD, Blu-ray
- Escape to Witch Mountain (Special Edition): DVD
- Happy-Go-Lucky: DVD
- Howard the Duck: DVD
- Let the Right One In: DVD, Blu-ray
- Milk: DVD, Blu-ray
- Pinocchio: DVD, Blu-ray
- Primal Fear: Blu-ray
- Rachel Getting Married: DVD, Blu-ray
- Return from Witch Mountain (Special Edition): DVD
Click to continue reading This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: March 10, 2009
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The 2009 Academy Awards: Live Commentary
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards,
After a year away from live Oscars coverage, I’m thrilled to be back for the 2009 Academy Awards.
Even though Dark Knight‘s snub will probably keep a number of viewers away (how many can honestly say they’ve seen The Reader?), I’m eagerly anticipating several moments from this evening’s broadcast.
Will Heath Ledger’s family bring the house to tears? Is Mickey Rourke going to make the producers wince? Will the cameras pan to Brangelina after Jennifer Aniston’s presentation? Are Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron really (really?) going to do a song and dance number?
To find out if this will be the year of the Slumdog or the underdog, stay tuned here for the live results!
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Read More | Oscars
2009 Academy Award Nominations
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards,
Despite no major wins for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at Jan. 11’s Golden Globes, the film lead all entries at this morning’s Academy Award nominations. The Brad Pitt feature will go into next month’s ceremony with 13 opportunities to walk away with at least one statue. (Slumdog Millionaire will have 10 chances.)
Here are some of the noteworthy mentions from today’s press conference:
- Kate Winslet (The Reader) - a double-winner just a few weeks ago - only received one nomination this morning. Meryl Streep will only get one chance as well for her role in Doubt.
- Although it wasn’t represented at the Globes, Frozen River was recognized several times today.
- Heath Ledger‘s nomination (on the anniversary of his death!) was expected; The Dark Knight‘s omission was a disappointment.
- Four acting nods for Doubt didn’t equate to an honor for the film.
- Several pleasant announcements in the Best Actor/Supporting Actor categories: Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road) and Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder). Shannon got the only major nom for his picture.
Click to continue reading 2009 Academy Award Nominations
Read More | Oscars
2009 Screen Actors Guild Award Nominations (Film)
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, Fox Searchlight, Miramax, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Period, Political, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Awards, Lists,
Although last January’s Screen Actors Guild Awards were spared from the writers’ dispute, SAG is facing its own strike this year. Regardless, the awards season must go on. Next month’s event - scheduled to air on Sunday, January 25th on both TNT and TBS - will come just three days after the Oscar nominations are announced.
Here are some of the noteworthy mentions from this year’s list of film nominees:
- Doubt led this year’s crop with three nominations. Milk and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button came in second with two nods each.
- Richard Jenkin was honored for The Visitor while Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino) was left off.
- Heath Ledger added another nom to his belt. Meanwhile, Robert Downey Jr. was nominated for his turn in Tropic Thunder.
- Kate Winslet was named for both The Reader and Revolutionary Road. Leonardo DiCaprio was left empty-handed.
- The Dark Knight, Revolutionary Road and The Reader were all left out of the Best Ensemble categories.
Click to continue reading 2009 Screen Actors Guild Award Nominations (Film)
Read More | Screen Actors Guild Awards
Box Office Breakdown: The Day The Earth Stood Still Stands Tall
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Disney, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Period, Political, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Box Office, Lists,
Mediocre reviews couldn’t keep The Day the Earth Stood Still from vaulting into first place this weekend.
The sci-fi remake starring Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly earned $30.5 million over the last three days, more than doubling the take of its nearest competitor. Although Earth had the smallest debut for a #1 film since October 17th (when Max Payne grossed $17.6 million), the Fox feature only cost a reported $80 million to make. It was also the studio’s best open since Horton Hears a Who unfolded in back in March.
The only other new entries in this week’s Top Ten were Nothing Like the Holidays and Milk. Holidays took in $3.5 million and scored itself a 7th place finish. Meanwhile, Milk - which had actually reached #10 before - reentered the charts at #9.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: The Day The Earth Stood Still Stands Tall
Read More | Variety
AFI’s Top Films of 2008
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Period, Political, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Awards, Lists,
This weekend, the American Film Institute released its list of Top Ten Films. Unlike most lists created by the AFI, the selections chosen for this annual category are not ranked - they are simply presented in alphabetical order.
Since the 13-person jury only considers movies with “significant creative and/or production elements from the United States,” critical fave Slumdog Millionaire was not in the running. Meanwhile, Revolutionary Road and The Reader - both Golden Globe nominees - simply weren’t included.
Click to continue reading AFI’s Top Films of 2008
Read More | American Film Institute
2009 Golden Globe Nominations (Film)
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Foreign, Foreign Language, Independent, Musicals, Period, Political, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Awards, Lists,
Although a looming SAG strike may threaten next year’s Academy Awards, the Golden Globes ceremony should finally go on as planned. The 66th annual event is scheduled to air on Sunday, January 11th, just 11 days before the Oscar nominations are announced.
Here are some of the noteworthy mentions from this year’s list of film nominees:
- Frost/Nixon and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button both led the field with five nominations each.
- Despite being chosen Best Film by the New York Film Critics, Sean Penn was the only nod Milk received by the HFPA.
- Meryl Streep earned two nominations for her work in Doubt and Mamma Mia.
- Kate Winslet is also up for two awards. Her films - Revolutionary Road and The Reader - are also up for Best Picture.
- Heath Ledger did get a posthumous nomination as expected.
- Although he was recently recognized for his acting work in Gran Torino, director Clint Eastwood (Changeling) was only acknowledged for his musical achievements.
(You can find the full list of film nominees after the jump. Click here for the TV nominations.)
Click to continue reading 2009 Golden Globe Nominations (Film)
Read More | Hollywood Foreign Press Association
New York and Los Angeles Film Critics Choose Milk, Wall-E
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Action, Adaptation, Animation, Documentary, Drama, Family, Foreign, Foreign Language, Independent, Period, Political, Sequels, Comedy, Awards, Lists,
Just last week, the National Board of Review named Slumdog Millionaire its Best Film of 2008. Not surprisingly, that selection isn’t an opinion shared by all.
So which films could eventually be up for the Academy Award come February 22nd? (That is - assuming a possible SAG strike doesn’t halt the ceremony altogether.) Based on the choices just revealed by the New York and Los Angeles film critics, it could be anyone’s game.
Click to continue reading New York and Los Angeles Film Critics Choose Milk, Wall-E
Read More | LAFCA
Slumdog Millionaire Chosen Best Movie by NBR
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards, Lists, Upcoming Releases,
It’s that time of the year again. The time when critics give awards to movies most of us haven’t gotten around to seeing yet. And in the National Board of Review‘s case, many honors are going to films not yet in release.
Last year, the NBR - a group consisting of educators, historians and film industry professionals - chose Old Country for Old Men as its top selection for 2007. Although that movie went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, the organization’s acting picks did not collect any Oscars.
Even though we are still very early in the awards season, there were several noteworthy items in this recently announced list. While it’s not surprising to see a Clint Eastwood mention, the 78-year-old was actually chosen for his acting (Gran Torino) rather than his directing (Gran Torino or Changeling). Then there’s Josh Brolin’s Best Supporting honor for Milk. His selection not only highlights Sean Penn’s missing name, but Heath Ledger’s as well.
Click to continue reading Slumdog Millionaire Chosen Best Movie by NBR
Read More | National Board of Review of Motion Pictures
Box Office Breakdown: Number One for Four Christmases
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Disney, Miramax, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Independent, Period, Political, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists,
Theatergoers still recovering from Thanksgiving had no problem getting into the Christmas spirit this last weekend.
Despite horrible reviews, Four Christmases - a holiday feature starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn - managed to pull in over $31 million over the past three days. (The comedy’s five-day total was $46 million.) That was enough to tame some hungry vampires and give Reese her best opening since Sweet Home Alabama. (The 2002 film had a $35.6 million debut.)
But even with Witherspoon and Vaughn’s combined wattage, Christmases still wasn’t the brightest spot on the box office tree. This weekend’s top performer was actually a political drama with a very limited release. Although it was only seen in 35 theaters, Milk, starring Sean Penn and James Franco, found itself sitting in 10th place. The Gus Van Sant film also averaged $40,385 per theater…nearly $31,000 more than the laugher did per screen.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Number One for Four Christmases
Read More | Variety
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