Clicky

On Announcements: Contest: Win a trip to New York, $1,500 shopping spree, more!

Latest Video: FilmCrunch 067: Hairspray, Chuck & Larry, Premonition reviewed

Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep review Hairspray, Chuck & Larry, and Premonition in this episode of FilmCrunch.
Play Video
Close Player   Episode Permalink Comment on this Video Subscribe to this show via iTunes, Miro, or RSS Download for: iPod High Definition

Academy’s Best Picture Field Grows to Ten

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards

Oscar statueAs strange as the are (why are all the Best Supporting actors lumped into one category?), there are several reasons why that ceremony trumps the Oscars. In addition to the laid-back feel (an endless flow of alcohol helps), the ceremony annually gives ten movies a chance to shine. That’s five more than the Academy Awards does! That is, until now

Beginning in 2010, the Academy Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will do something it hasn’t done in nearly seven decades. At the 82nd Annual Academy Awards, ten nominees will all be lumped into one Best Picture category. (That’s one less than the Globes.) The last time the category was that broad, Casablanca emerged as the winner. (That year was 1943.)

Low broadcast ratings (artsy projects in limited release tend to alienate viewers) and backlash from angry Dark Knight fans (a film can be #1 and be worthy too) were likely factors in the decision.

“Having 10 Best Picture nominees is going allow Academy voters to recognize and include some of the fantastic movies that often show up in the other Oscar categories but have been squeezed out of the race for the top prize,” Academy president Sid Ganis said.

The 2010 Academy Awards airs Sunday, March 7, 2010 on ABC.

Read More | Futon Critic

Advertisement

The 2009 Academy Awards: Live Commentary

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards

The Oscars

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!

Click to continue reading The 2009 Academy Awards: Live Commentary

Read More | Oscars

2009 Academy Award Nominations

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards

Oscar statues

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:

  • (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.
  • ‘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 (Tropic Thunder). Shannon got the only major nom for his picture.

Click to continue reading 2009 Academy Award Nominations

Read More | Oscars

Oscar Nominees Talk Strike

Academy Award statuetteThe Academy Award nominations have been announced, is determined the show will go on in February, and everything seems to be moving toward the big night (the ceremony). But…is it, really? The is in talks with the producers, and all parties seem to be hopeful this whole strike might end. According to some nominees, that’s the only way they’ll even attend the event.

, nominated in the Best Director category, told the Associated Press he “would never cross a picket line ever.”  , who received the Best Actor nod, likewise said that if the strike continues he’ll not be on the red carpet. Others, like producer , said they doubt there will even be an Oscars event if the strike isn’t solved beforehand.

The Academy, however, is sticking to its guns; President Sid Ganis said they will put on the show. That settles that.

Read More | Yahoo! News

2008 Academy Award Nominations

Academy Awards statueThe nominations for the were announced bright and early Tuesday morning from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.  Assuming the ceremony goes on as scheduled, you can see the live broadcast Sunday, February 24th on .

Notable additions/omissions from today’s announcement:

2008 Razzie Award Nominations

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Awards, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip

I Know Who Killed Me/ Lindsay Lohan, which is sort of a tongue-in-cheek antithesis of the , recently released their nominations for the worst of the worst. Celebs who topped the list include recently wed - no wait, - Eddie Murphy and .

Alright. Lindsay has taken a lot of flak for her multiple roles in - the film which received a Razzie nom for - but let me say again that I liked the film. (But then, I’m a Lohan fan.)  Meanwhile, Murphy picked up several nominations (okay, eight) for his duplicity in , giving him a record-breaking number of Razzie nods for 2007. No one’s ever received that many before.

, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry and also received nominations while was included in the Worst Actress category for three movies (though rumor has it Lohan will give her stiff competition for that particular ).

Winners will be announced February 23, a day before the .

Read More | Yahoo! News

2008 Screen Actors Guild Award Nominations (Film)

Thanks to an interim waiver granted by the , the telecast will air as scheduled on Sunday, January 27.  Since plans for the and the are still up in the air, this could be most viewed awards show in quite some time.

This year’s film nominees are:

Viggo Mortensen Eastern PromisesOUTSTANDING LEADING MALE PERFORMANCE

  • George Clooney, Michael Clayton
  • Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
  • Ryan Gosling, Lars And The Real Girl
  • Emile Hirsch, Into The Wild
  • Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises

OUTSTANDING LEADING FEMALE PERFORMANCE

  • Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
  • Julie Christie, Away From Her
  • Marion Cotillard, La Vie En Rose
  • Angelina Jolie, A Mighty Heart
  • Ellen Page, Juno

Click to continue reading 2008 Screen Actors Guild Award Nominations (Film)

Read More | Screen Actors Guild

Oscar Buzz for Animated Films

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Animation, Family, Awards

Academy AwardThe official nominees for the haven’t yet been selected, but twelve animated feature films are already up for consideration. Only three films out of the twelve submitted will receive actual nominations, and only then if submission procedures are correctly followed.

No more than sixteen movies may be considered in any one category, but films submitted to the Animated category may qualify for other nominations as well.  The year’s potential contenders include Bee Movie, , Meet the Robinsons, , Shrek the Third and The Simpsons Movie.

The Oscar nominations will be announced Tuesday, January 22. 

Read More | LA Times

Break-Up Report:  Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams

LedgerWilliams In surprising couples news, actors Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger have called it quits after three years together.  (Those betting on Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise to be the first major post-Dawson’s breakup better pay up).  The Oscar-nominated actors met on the set of Brokeback Mountain back in 2004.  The couple, often rumored to be secretly married, have a young daughter together. 

Ledger is currently filming The Dark Knight—the highly-anticipated sequel to Batman Begins—in which he will star as ‘The Joker’.

Read More | People

2007 Academy Award Nominations

Academy Awards Somewhere out there director Bill Condon is trying to wake up from a very bad dream…

Just less than 24 hours ago, I was just telling my cohort Neil Estep that Dreamgirls would be nominated for Best Picture.  Thankfully, no money was involved.  Apparently what I should have said was, “Given that the film won the Golden Globe for Best Comedy/Musical, I think it will probably earn the most nominations this year—but not be nominated for Best Picture.”  My theory?  The voters were so Dreamgirled-out by the time they got to that part of the ballot…

The biggest shocker of the day?  Probably.  But there were plenty others.  And may I saw how excited I am!  Here are some of the more notable additions/omissions from this morning:

  • We have one less Leo DiCaprio nomination in the Best Actor Category (in Blood Diamond, out The Departed) making room for Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson.  Woo hoo!  Is it weird that I’m excited about this nomination…even though I’ve never seen the movie?  But I’ve heard so much about it and have been waiting anxiously for the DVD to come out on on Feb. 13th.  I just love it when underdogs are recognized.  Could this be a surprise win ala Hilary Swank (Boys Don’t Cry) or Adrian Brody (The Pianist)?

Click to continue reading 2007 Academy Award Nominations

Read More | The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Advertisement