Oscar Nominations Announced (Along with the Usual Snubs)

 

Today was the day for Oscar nominations.

All those great films (well most) from the past year get recognized for their achievement in cinema and below is a list for each category announced (along with some commentary of course):

Best Picture
American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity 
Her
Nebraska
Philomena
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street

No complaints here really, though I will say I'm surprised The Coen Bros. Inside Llewyn Davis didn't make the cut considering how many Top 10 Lists it made.

Directing
David O. Russell - American Hustle
Alfonso Cuaron - Gravity
Alexander Payne - Nebraska
Steve McQueen - 12 Years a Slave
Martin Scorsese - The Wolf of Wall Street

 I'm curious as to how the voters determined how Alexander Payne's 'point-shoot' approach is more impressive than what Paul Greengrass pulled off with Captain Phillips...just saying. 

Actor in a Leading Role
Christian Bale - American Hustle
Bruce Dern - Nebraska
Leonardo DiCaprio - The Wolf of Wall Street
Chiwetel Ejiofor - 12 Years a Slave
Matthew McConaughey - Dallas Buyers Club

Wow, Robert Redford got snubbed.  That guy was thought to be a lock since Day 1.  I say Leo finally wins his Oscar, McConaughey will get his someday.

Actress in a Leading Role
Amy Adams - American Hustle
Cate Blanchett - Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock - Gravity
Judi Dench - Philomena
Meryl Streep - August: Osage County

Does Meryl Streep automatically get a nomination every year?  It sure seems like it.  My money's on Amy Adams.

Actor in a Supporting Role
Barkhad Abdi - Captain Phillips
Bradley Cooper - American Hustle
Michael Fassbender - 12 Years a Slave
Jonah Hill - The Wolf of Wall Street
Jared Leto - Dallas Buyers Club

Even though this is Leto's to lose, how about Jonah Hill, huh?  Who would have thought.  Also, Bradley Cooper proves you CAN still kiss ass in Hollywood and get far.

Actress in a Supporting Role
Sally Hawkins - Blue Jasmine
Jennifer Lawrence - American Hustle
Lupita Nyong’O - 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts - August: Osage County
June Squibb - Nebraska

Does Lawrence win for a 2nd year in a row?  Probably.  She's a Hollywood darling right now.

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Before Midnight - Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy
Captain Phillips - Billy Ray
Philomena - Jeff Pope & Steve Coogan
12 Years a Slave - John Ridley
The Wolf of Wall Street - Terrence Winter

If Before Midnight wins, my faith is restored in Hollywood.

Writing (Original Screenplay)
American Hustle - Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell 
Blue Jasmine - Woody Allen
Dallas Buyers Club - Craig Borten and Melissa Wallack
Her - Spike Jonze
Nebraska - Bob Nelson

No opinion really...David O. Russell I guess?

Foreign Language Film
The Broken Circle Breakdown
The Great Beauty
The Hunt
The Missing Picture
Omar

Animated Feature Film
The Croods
Despicable Me 2
Ernest and Celestine
Frozen
The Wind Rises

No Turbo? (joke)

Production Design
American Hustle
Gravity
The Great Gatsby 
Her
12 Years a Slave

Cinematography
Philippe Le Sourd - The Grandmaster
Emmanuel Lubezki - Gravity
Bruno Delbonnel - Inside Llewyn Davis
Phedon Papamichael - Nebraska
Roger A. Deakins - Prisoners

Another year Roger Deakins will get snubbed...

Costume Design
Michael Wilkinson - American Hustle
William Chang Suk Ping - The Grandmaster
Catherine Martin - The Great Gatsby
Michael O'Connor - The Invisible Woman
Patricia Norris - 12 Years a Slave

Film Editing
Jay Cassidy & Kevin Tent - American Hustle
Christopher Rouse - Captain Phillips
John Mac McMurphy & Martin Pensa - Dallas Buyers Club
Mark Sanger & Alfonso Cuaron - Gravity
Joe Walker - 12 Years a Slave

Documentary (Feature)
The Act of Killing
Cutie and the Boxer
Dirty Wars
The Square
20 Feet From Stardom

Makeup and Hairstyling
Dallas Buyers Club
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
The Lone Ranger

Wow, Bad Grandpa will forever be an Oscar nominated film.

Music (Original Score)
John Williams - The Book Thief
Steven Price - Gravity
William Butler & Owen Pallett - Her
Alexandre Desplat - Philomena 
Thomas Newman - Saving Mr. Banks

Music (Original Song)
“Alone Yet Not Alone” from Alone Yet Not Alone
Music by Bruce Broughton; Lyric by Dennis Spiegel
“Happy” from Despicable Me 2
Music and Lyric by Pharrell Williams
“Let It Go” from Frozen
Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
“The Moon Song” from Her
Music by Karen O; Lyric by Karen O and Spike Jonze
“Ordinary Love” from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Music by Paul Hewson, Dave Evans, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen; Lyric by Paul Hewson

Sound Mixing
Captain Phillips - Chris Burdon, Mark Taylor, Mike Prestwood Smith and Chris Munro
Gravity - Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead and Chris Munro
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick and Tony Johnson
Inside Llewyn Davis - Skip Lievsay, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland
Lone Survivor - Andy Koyama, Beau Borders and David Brownlow

Sound Editing
All is Lost - Steve Boeddeker and Richard Hymns
Captain Phillips - Oliver Tarney
Gravity - Glenn Freemantle
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - Brent Burge
Lone Survivor - Wylie Stateman

Visual Effects
Gravity - Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk and Neil Corbould
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and Eric Reynolds
Iron Man 3 - Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Erik Nash and Dan Sudick
The Lone Ranger - Tim Alexander, Gary Brozenich, Edson Williams and John Frazier
Star Trek into Darkness - Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Ben Grossmann and Burt Dalton

So The Long Ranger had better visual effects than Pacific Rim?

Documentary (Short Subject)
“CaveDigger,” Jeffrey Karoff
“Facing Fear,” Jason Cohen
“Karama Has No Walls,” Sara Ishaq
“The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life,” Malcolm Clarke and Nicholas Reed
“Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall,” Edgar Barens

Short Film (Animated)
“Feral” Daniel Sousa and Dan Golden
“Get a Horse!” Lauren MacMullan and Dorothy McKim
“Mr. Hublot” Laurent Witz and Alexandre Espigares
“Possessions” Shuhei Morita
“Room on the Broom” Max Lang and Jan Lachauer

Short Film (Live Action)
“Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn’t Me)” Esteban Crespo
“Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just before Losing Everything)” Xavier Legrand and Alexandre Gavras
“Helium” Anders Walter and Kim Magnusson
“Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?)” Selma Vilhunen and Kirsikka Saari
“The Voorman Problem” Mark Gill and Baldwin Li

The Oscar will be announced Sunday, March 2nd.

After 12 Years, Richard Linklater's 'Boyhood' to Premiere at Sundance

The Sundance Film Festival has announced that Richard Linklater's Boyhood will premiere January 19th at the Eccles Theatre at 9:45 p.m.

The film tells the story of a divorced couple (played by Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette, respectively) raising their son (Ellar Coltrane), as the story encompasses the boy's years from 1st to 12th grade.

While the story sounds plain on the surface, you might be surprised to learn this film began shooting way back in 2002 (I remember I was a freshman in high school and first read about this on a site called Cinema Confidential).

You see, Linklater wanted complete authenticity for this project, so he's been filming the actors year-to-year for the past 12 years as they've aged, an approach that frankly, I don't has ever been done before.

How amazing will it be to watch this film as it encompasses how the world has changed over the past dozen years?  From technology, to politics, to society in general.  I certainly hope Linklater touches upon certain events that defined every year since 2002.

Below is the press release from Sundance along with the first two official images from the film (I can not wait for this).

2014 Sundance Film Festival to Host Special Preview Screenings of

Boyhood by Richard Linklater

30th Anniversary of the Sundance Film Festival

Park City, UT — Sundance Institute today announced that the 2014 Sundance Film Festival will host special preview screenings of Boyhood by Richard Linklater, premiering Sunday, January 19, 9:45 p.m. at the Eccles Theatre. The 2014 Festival takes place January 16-26 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah.

With the addition of Boyhood, the 2014 Festival will present 121 feature-length films, representing 37 countries and 54 first-time filmmakers, including 35 in competition. These films were selected from 12,218 submissions (72 more than for 2013), including 4,057 feature-length films and 8,161 short films. Of the feature film submissions, 2,014 were from the U.S. and 2,043 were international. 100 feature films at the Festival will be world premieres.

Boyhood / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Richard Linklater) — Filmed over short periods from 2002 to 2013, Boyhood is a groundbreaking cinematic experience covering 12 years in the life of a family. At the center is Mason, who with his sister Samantha, are taken on an emotional and transcendent journey through the years, from childhood to adulthood. Cast: Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater.

Source:  Sundance

Five Actors To Test for Kyle Reese in 'Terminator: Genesis' on Monday

With filming set to begin in the next few months - and the roles of Sarah and John Connor having been cast with Emilia Clarke and Jason Clarke (no relation), respectively - the last major role to fill in the new Terminator reboot, Terminator: Genesis (a strong feeling that title will change to something less generic), is that of Kyle Reese.

Michael Biehn famously played the role back in 1984's original The Terminator as well as Anton Yelchin playing the younger version in 2009's poorly received Terminator Salvation.

The five actors who will read for the part this coming Monday are all relatively unknowns except for one:

• Wilson Bethel (TV's Heart of Dixie)
• Boyd Holbrook (TV's Hatfields & McCoys, The Host)
• Tom Cocquerel (hardly any notable filmmography)
• Jai Courtney (A Good Day to Die Hard, Jack Reacher)
• Sam Reid (Also TV's Hatfields & McCoys)

Obviously Jai Courtney is the most well-known of the group having done some notable films the past couple years but I can't really say he fits the look of Kyle Reese that Michael Biehn presented so well in the original film.

It should also be noted that the filmmakers behind the project reached out to both Garret Hedlund (TRON: Legacy) and Nicholas Hoult (Jack the Giant Slayer), but both actors refused to read.  No, that doesn't mean the script sucks (how could they know if they didn't bother to read it).  They probably just didn't want to be bothered with taking on a franchise role (it's not like Terminator is the crown jewel it use to be). 

It's probably a stretch to guess who will actually get the part, but if I had to go off a hunch, I'd say Wilson Bethel (he looks like the spitting image of a young Michael Biehn).

We'll keep you posted on who snags the role.

Terminator: Genesis is set to open July 1st, 2015.

Source:  Variety

David Fincher Photographs 'Gone Girl' Cover for Entertainment Weekly

 

Entertainment Weekly has debuted their 2014 Preview cover and it features cinema's newest Batman, Ben Affleck, snuggling up to his dead wife's body (Rosamund Pike) for David Fincher's adaptation of the Gillian Flynn best-selling novel, Gone Girl.

Yeah, sure it's a bit weird, but it's David Fincher who photographed the still exclusively for the publication.  That man's name alone gets me in the theater, and this creepy looking image seems to give a sense of the tone the great director is going for.

For those unfamiliar, Gone Girl tells the story of Nick Dunne (Affleck) whose wife (Rosamund Pike) goes missing on their fifth wedding anniversary, only to have all eyes point towards him as the killer.

I am yet to read the book but will likely stay away until I see the film to not spoil any plot twists.

Gillian Flynn also wrote the screenplay which is pretty rare for today's modern moviemaking when an author pens the script for their own feature-film adaptation.

Gone Girl opens October 3rd so expect a trailer and poster to be released fairly soon.

Source:  Entertainment Weekly 

Nearly 50-Year Old 'Montezuma' Script Might Be Steven Spielberg's Next

Imagine a film in-development for nearly half a century...

That's the case for the blacklisted script, Montezuma, written by Dalton Trumbo in 1965 (who had been basically ousted by Hollywood for the whole 'Communist' scare back in the 1950s), and now being considered as a directorial vehicle for Steven Speilberg and Javier Bardem to possibly star.  Oh and Steve Zallian (The Social Network) is rewriting the script too.

The plot revolves around the dark history between Spanish ruler Hernando Cortez and Aztec leader Montezuma that ultimately led to a bloody and gruesome war for ownership of Spain.

Bardem is circling the role of Cortez as the story actually follows his would-be-character throughout the film which might actually change the title to Cortez.

Spielberg at this point is considering directing the project but will surely be on-board as a producer.  The legendary director hasn't made a film since his Oscar nominated Lincoln and is obviously being careful about what his next project will be.

We'll keep you updated on any further news for this project.

Source:  Deadline

'Fast & Furious 7' to Retire Paul Walker's Brian O'Conner Character

In the aftermath of Paul Walker's untimely death, many have speculated how Universal Studios would move forward with the Fast & Furious franchise.

Walker was in the middle of shooting the 7th installment along with at least an 8th and 9th planned as well.  Point being, his character of Brian O'Conner was going to be in it for the long haul.

A couple weeks back we reported that the makers behind Fast & Furious 7 were looking for a way to still use the footage Walker had shot while at the same time keeping his character a central part of the story.  The issue obviously was the fact that Walker had shot only half his scenes before passing.

Now word comes today that the film's director, James Wan, its writer, Chris Morgan, and the studio have found a way to 'retire' his character while continuing the franchise as well.

It's made clear the the filmmakers will not 'kill off' his character but rather give him a proper send-off in way that will satisfy fans of the franchise.

Both Wan and Morgan, along with Universal's studio exec overseeing the franchise, Jeffrey Kirschenbaum, pored over the footage that had already been shot in order to find an appropriate resolution.

The plan now is to tweak the script along with film some additional scenes to accommodate the changes, but it all should be taken care of with plenty of time as the film recently moved to an April 10th release next year.

Source:  The Hollywood Reporter 

'Fast & Furious 7' Moved to April 10th, 2015

In light of Paul Walker's untimely death, it had been strongly suspected that Universal would delay its release of Fast & Furious 7 to not only ensure the late actor's last entry in the franchise was done right, but also give the filmmakers behind the project enough time to make the best film possible.

Last night, the studio made that official, with a press release confirming the new release date:

Continuing the global exploits in the franchise built on speed, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker lead the returning cast of FAST & FURIOUS 7, which will be released by Universal Pictures on April 10, 2015.  James Wan directs this chapter of the hugely successful series, and Neal H. Moritz and Vin Diesel return as producers.

Prior to this statement, Vin Diesel had released the photo you see above on his Facebook page of the last scene him and Walker filmed together with this personal message to the fans:

The last scene we filmed together…

There was a unique sense of completion, of pride we shared… in the film we were now completing… the magic captured… and, in just how far we’ve come…

Fast and Furious 7 will be released…

April 10th 2015!

P.s. He’d want you to know first...

Even though this move now makes the movie year of 2015 even more crowded than ever, this was the best move the studio could make.  It also seemingly confirms the filmmakers have found a way to use Paul Walker's incomplete footage to both keep him the co-lead in the film and also give him a proper send-off.

I'm curious to see how it will all end up.

Source:  Vin Diesel Facebook, Universal Studios

2nd Teaser Trailer for Wally Pfister's 'Transcendence'

Yesteray we got our first look at the teaser trailer for Wally Pfister's Transcendence, starring Johnny Depp.

Though the teaser featured no actual footage from the film, it was led by Depp narrating on about 'artificial intelligence'.

Now, we have our 2nd teaser trailer for the film, feautring a narration by Morgan Freeman in a very 'Terminator-esque' sentiment, talking about what if 'artifical intelligence became self-aware'?

Take a look below and see what you think.

Transcendence stars Johnny Depp, Paul Bettany, Rebecca Hall, Kate Mara, Cillian Murphy, Clifton Collins Jr., and Morgan Freeman.  

The film opens in 2D and IMAX on April 17, 2014.

Dr. Will Caster (Johnny Depp) is the foremost researcher in the field of Artificial Intelligence, working to create a sentient machine that combines the collective intelligence of everything ever known with the full range of human emotions. His highly controversial experiments have made him famous, but they have also made him the prime target of anti-technology extremists who will do whatever it takes to stop him. However, in their attempt to destroy Will, they inadvertently become the catalyst for him to succeed—to be a participant in his own transcendence. For his wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall) and best friend Max Waters (Paul Bettany), both fellow researchers, the question is not if they can…but if they should. Their worst fears are realized as Will’s thirst for knowledge evolves into a seemingly omnipresent quest for power, to what end is unknown. The only thing that is becoming terrifyingly clear is there may be no way to stop him.

Joaquin Phoenix Being Eyed for 'Batman/Superman' Villain

If Warner Bros. can land this one...

Word comes today that three time Academy Award nominee, Joaquin Phoenix (who may just well get his 4th for Spike Jonze's Her) is being eyed to play the main villain - believed to be Lex Luthor - in the still untitled Batman/Superman film.

The studio apparently wants a slam dunk for the role and you really can't get any more brilliant than an actor like Joaquin Phoenix.  Yeah, the dude might be a bit weird but he's one of the best actors working today...period.

There's no word on if Phoenix would even accept the role as he's avoided doing big budget tentpoles in favor of indie flicks that past several years, but if there's one film (and role) to make an exception for, this may very well be it.

Also worth noting about this project in today's news, Argo screenwriter Chris Terrio (which he won an Oscar for), is being brought in to do rewrites/polishes on the script, originally written by David Goyer.

I'm not surprised about this for two reasons, 1) David Goyer needs a more talented screenwriter to flesh out the strong points of his scripts and diminish the weak ones - a la Christopher/Jonathan Nolan with The Dark Knight Trilogy - because the guy's not a complete screenwriter, and 2)  Ben Affleck has A LOT of input on not only this project but the future of Batman on film so it should be expected he'd bring in talented people he's worked with before.

Source:  Variety

Trailer and Poster for '3 Days to Kill' Starring Kevin Costner

Funny thing about Kevin Costner...everyone loves the guy.

Older folk always enjoy his movies, middle-agers who grew up with him are still loyal fans, and the young crowd - for one reason or another - think he's the man.  I guess when you make classics like Field of Dreams and Dances with Wolves, respectability transcends everything.

Today, we have our first look at both the trailer and poster for what seems like a return to starring roles for Costner in 3 Days to Kill, a Taken-esque flick that looks to give the actor that later career stardom that Liam Neeson had enjoyed.

The plot revolves around an international spy (Costner) who wants to get away from his violent profession in order to spend more time with his teenage daughter.  But when his handler forces him back in to do what he does best, things get interesting.

You can watch the trailer below along with viewing the theatrical poster.  I've also posted the film's official synopsis.

3 Days to Kill opens February 21st.

(Oh, by the way, McG directed this thing...damn.)

In this heart pounding action-thriller, Kevin Costner is a dangerous international spy, who is determined to give up his high stakes life to finally build a closer relationship with his estranged wife and daughter, whom he’s previously kept at arm’s length to keep out of danger. But first, he must complete one last mission- even if it means juggling the two toughest assignments yet: hunting down the world’s most ruthless terrorist and looking after his teenage daughter for the first time in ten years, while his wife is out of town.