New York Film Critics Choose "The Artist" and Brad Pitt, Meryl Streep

Founded in 1935, the New York Film Critics Circle is, according to their website, “an organization of film reviewers from New York-based publications that exists to honor excellence in U.S. and world cinema.” Members are critics from daily newspapers, weekly newspapers, magazines, and online general-interest publications (that meet certain qualifications).

Every year in December, Circle members meet in New York to vote on awards for the year's films.  Apparently, they moved things up this year to have more clout in the awards conversation. Will they?  Well, The Artist is a black and white silent movie, which may get Oscar nominations, but will critical acclaim give it a best picture win?  I have not seen The Artist, but I'd be super surprised if it won best picture.

Here's the complete list of the 2011 winners:

Best Picture - The Artist

Best Director - Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist

Best Screenplay - Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin for Moneyball

Best Actress - Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady

Best Actor - Brad Pitt for Moneyball, The Tree of Life

Best Supporting Actress - Jessica Chastain for The Tree of Life, The Help, Take Shelter

Best Supporting Actor - Albert Brooks for Drive

Best Cinematographer - Emmanuel Lubezki for The Tree of Life

Best Non-Fiction Film (Documentary) - Cave of Forgotten Dreams

Best Foreign Film - A Separation

Best First Film - J.C. Chandor for Margin Call

Special Award -Raoul Ruiz

Review: Tom and Julia Candy-Coat "Charlie Wilson's War"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 23 (of 2008) by Leroy Douresseaux

Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)
Running time: 102 minutes (1 hour, 42 minutes)
MPAA – R for strong language, nudity/sexual content, and some drug use
DIRECTOR: Mike Nichols
WRITER: Aaron Sorkin (based upon a book, Charlie Wilson’s War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History, by George Crile)
PRODUCERS: Gary Goetzman and Tom Hanks
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Stephen Goldblatt (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: John Bloom and Antonia Van Drimmelen
Academy Award nominee

DRAMA/COMEDY/HISTORY

Starring: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Brian Markinson, Emily Blunt, Jud Taylor, Hilary Angelo, Cyia Batten, and Ned Beatty

Director Mike Nichols’ historical drama and political comedy, Charlie Wilson’s War is based on a true story. In real life, Charles “Charlie” Wilson was a 12-term Democratic United States Representative from the 2nd congressional district in Texas. Wilson is best known for convincing the U.S. Congress to support a CIA covert operation in Afghanistan. This largest ever CIA covert operation supplied the Afghan mujahideen in their fight against the Soviet Union which began occupying the country when Soviet forces entered the Asian nation in 1978. Charlie Wilson’s War is a biographical film based upon George Crile’s book about Wilson and his activities entitled, Charlie Wilson’s War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History.

Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks), an alcoholic womanizer and Texas congressman, conspires with a rogue CIA operative, Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman, in an Oscar-nominated role), to aid Afghan mujahideen rebels in their fight against the Soviet Red Army. With the help of Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts), a conservative political activist and Houston socialite, Wilson persuades Congressional defense committees to fund the training and arming of resistance fighters in Afghanistan to fend off the Soviet Union. The money, training and a team of military experts may help turn the tide for the ill-equipped Afghan freedom-fighters, but Wilson finds himself in a fight to keep his loosely connected allies in line.

Charlie Wilson’s War is certainly a sly and sophisticated movie, but it is ultimately shallow. Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin weaves a steady stream of clever and witty dialogue, and his ability to make wonkish political and military jargon light and airy enough to fit in with this film’s humorous tone is impressive.

Mike Nichols builds his sharp-edged political comedy around actors who give… well, sharp performances. Tom Hanks plays Charlie Wilson as a down-home smart aleck who can be a regular guy, a savvy politician, or blindingly smart strategist when the occasion calls for it. Philip Seymour Hoffman delivers Gust Avrakotos as a bludgeon and scalpel, but the treat here are the women. Julia Roberts is so fine as the charming, imperial Joanne Herring – a super woman who can match any man. Amy Adams as Wilson’s ever-ready, girl Friday continues to spread her enchantment on movie audiences, while the other actresses who play Wilson’s staff of super honeys also deliver really good performances.

So, Charlie Wilson's War is entertaining, with its good performances and deft comedic handling of real American history, but its entertainment value is about the extent of it. Charlie Wilson’s War is just a candy-coated topping covering up the ugly side of American intervention in international affairs. Nichols, his creative staff, and his cast certainly give us enough sweet sassiness to enjoy, but sooner or later we have to get down to the bad taste of the truth that lies at the heart of this story. In the real world, covert operations are much messier than this clean, slick political film is.

7 of 10
B+

NOTES:
2008 Academy Awards: 1 nomination for “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role” (Philip Seymour Hoffman)

2008 BAFTA Awards: 1 nomination for “Best Supporting Actor” (Philip Seymour Hoffman)

2008 Golden Globes: 5 nominations: “Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical,” “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical” (Tom Hanks), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Philip Seymour Hoffman), “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Julia Roberts), and “Best Screenplay - Motion Picture” (Aaron Sorkin)

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

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Aaron Sorkin Wins Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for "The Social Network"

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

“The Social Network” Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin WINNER

“127 Hours” Screenplay by Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy

“Toy Story 3” Screenplay by Michael Arndt; Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich

“True Grit” Written for the screen by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

“Winter's Bone” Adapted for the screen by Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini

Review: "The Social Network" All-American and All-World

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 17 (of 2011) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Social Network (2010)
Running time: 120 minutes (2 hours)
MPAA – PG-13 for sexual content, drug and alcohol use and language
DIRECTOR: David Fincher
WRITERS: Aaron Sorkin (based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich)
PRODUCERS: Dana Brunetti, Ceán Chaffin, Michael De Luca, and Scott Rudin
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Jeff Cronenweth
EDITORS: Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
COMPOSER: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

DRAMA

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Armie Hammer, Justin Timberlake, Max Minghella, Rashida Jones, Joseph Mazzello, Brenda Song, Josh Pence, and Rooney Mara

The Social Network is perhaps the most critically acclaimed film of 2010, having won close to 20 best picture honors from critics groups and organizations. Directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network is a fictional account and dramatization of the founding of Facebook, the hugely popular social-networking website.

The film begins on a fall night in 2003, when Boston University student, Erica Albright (Rooney Mara), breaks up with Harvard undergrad, Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg). A computer programming genius, Zuckerberg sits down at his computer and lashes out in a flurry of blogging and programming that launches “FaceMash.” Zuckerberg’s new website not only captures the attention of the entire Harvard campus, but also gets the attention of a trio of budding entrepreneurs. That night, in his dorm room after the breakup, leads to what will become “The Facebook” which will eventually become the global social network, Facebook. This revolution in communication, however, brings Zuckerberg both success and a horde of broken friendships, partnerships, and lawsuits.

The Social Network is about several things. It is about Mark Zuckerberg, about the founding of Facebook, about a clash of privileged and ambitious personalities, and about perception and point of view. Most of all, The Social Network seems to be about the beginnings of a map to the future. The triumph of Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay is how he compressed all of this and dramatized in two hours what was probably dull and tedious in real life – including Zuckerberg’s legal wrangling. Sorkin makes nerds come across as sexy masters of the universe. Slimy bastards (like Justin Timberlake’s Sean Parker) seem like rock stars. Parties are shinier, and Harvard’s campus is like a hub, the nexus where all exciting places meet.

And the performances meet and match Sorkin’s exceptional screenplay. Jesse Eisenberg has made a career of playing likeable, amiable dweebs, but as Mark Zuckerberg, he turns that on its head with this outstanding, sublime performance. Eisenberg’s Zuckerberg is like a god, a genius whose indomitable spirit smolders behind a mask of petulance, detachment, and a pout. Zuckerberg should be so Garbo-cool.

I’ve thought for a long time that Justin Timberlake had the dramatic chops to pull off good roles; now, I have proof. Timberlake makes Sean Parker (founder of Napster) cool and attractive, the guy you’d want in your corner, and you’d still forgive his cocaine habit and general sliminess. Andrew Garfield almost steals the film as Eduardo Saverin, a character who is the only adult in the room (which makes him a tragic fall guy). Armie Hammer makes the most of his every moment as the twins, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss (with actor Josh Pence doing body double duties) by giving each brother a separate, distinct personality.

The one who pulls it all together and makes The Social Network arguable the best film of 2010 is director David Fincher. The phrase, “visionary director,” gets thrown around a lot about talented hack directors (like Zack Snyder), but since Fincher’s mid-90s film, Se7en, it has been obvious that he is a true visionary. Fincher makes The Social Network operate like a suspense thriller; that’s why Sorkin’s tale of conniving nerds is never boring and always gripping. Here, computers, programming codes, and the Internet are like shiny guns, weapons that make these nerds seem like crazy, sexy, cool gangstas.

The Social Network is compelling drama – mesmerizing, hypnotic, and engaging. Everything about it works, and everyone involved should get credit for their great efforts, especially David Fincher.

10 of 10

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

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Kansas City Film Critics Choose "The Social Network" and Christopher Nolan

As we move closer to the Academy Awards (Sun., Feb. 27th), I'm catching up on my critics awards.  Today, it's the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, which announced its movie awards in January.
Founded in 1967, The Kansas City Film Critics Circle (KCFCC) says that it is the "second oldest professional film critics" association in the United States" (behind the New York Film Critics Circle). The organization is composed of media film critics in the Kansas City metropolitan area. The KCFCC’s awards are named for the group’s founder, James Loutzenhiser, who died in November 2001.

2010 Loutzenhiser Awards (Announced January 2, 2011):

Best Film: The Social Network

Robert Altman Award for Best Director: Christopher Nolan - Inception

Best Actress: Natalie Portman - Black Swan

Best Actor: Colin Firth - The King's Speech

Best Supporting Actress: Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit

Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale - The Fighter

Best Original Screenplay: Christopher Nolan - Inception

Best Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin - The Social Network

Best Animated Film: Toy Story 3

Best Foreign Language Film: Mother (South Korea)

Best Documentary: Exit Through the Gift Shop

Vince Koehler Award for Best Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror Film: Inception

http://www.kcfcc.org/

Las Vegas Film Critics Choose "The Social Network"

The Academy Awards is a little under a week and a half away (Sunday, Feb. 27th).  Until then, I'm going to catch this blog up on the critics awards. The Las Vegas Film Critics Society announced their awards, which they call the "Sierras," back in December.

The Las Vegas Film Critics Society is a non-profit organization that describes itself as “progressive” and “dedicated to the advancement and preservation of film.” The LVFCS membership is comprised of “select” print, television and internet film critics in the Las Vegas area. The LVFCS presents its "Sierra" awards each year for the best in film, including The William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award, which is named for the late Academy Award winning actor.

2010 Sierra Award winners:

Best Picture
“Social Network”

Best Actor
James Franco, “127”

Best Actress
Natalie Portman, “Black Swan”

Best Supporting Actor
Christian Bale, “The Fighter”

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, “The Fighter”

Best Director
David Fincher, “Social Network”

Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted)
Aaron Sorkin, “Social Network”

Best Cinematography
Wally Pfister, “Inception”

Best Film Editing
Lee Smith, “Inception”

Best Costume Design
Colleen Atwood, “Alice in Wonderland”

Best Art Direction
“Black Swan”

Best Visual Effects
“Inception”

Best Documentary
“Waiting for Superman”

Best Foreign Film
“Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (Sweden)

Best Song
“I See the Light” (Theme from Disney’s Tangled)

Best Score
Trent Reznor, “Social Network”

Best Family Film
“Toy Story 3”

Best Animated Film
“Toy Story 3”

Youth in Film
Hailee Steinfeld, “True Grit”

Best DVD (Packaging, Design, and Content)
“Alien Anthology” (Blu-Ray) Fox Home Entertainment

William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award for 2010:
Thelma Schoonmaker

http://www.lvfcs.org/lvfcs/Home.html

"The Social Network" Wins Best Adapted Screenplay BAFTA for Aaron Sorkin

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

THE SOCIAL NETWORK Aaron Sorkin WINNER

127 HOURS Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO Rasmus Heisterberg, Nikolaj Arcel

TOY STORY 3 Michael Arndt

TRUE GRIT Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

London Film Critics Join "The Social Network"

If I understand correctly, the London Film Critics’ Circle is part of a larger organization, The Critics’ Circle, which makes an annual award for Services to the Arts. This circle is comprised of the five sections: dance, drama, film, music, and visual arts.

On its website, The Circle says that its aims are “to promote the art of criticism, to uphold its integrity in practice, to foster and safeguard members’ professional interests, to provide opportunities to meet, and to support the advancement of the arts.” Currently there are 430 members of the Circle, mostly from the UK, and the majority of them write regularly for national and regional newspapers and magazines. Membership is by invitation.

Thursday night, the film critics announced their 2010 film award winners.

Winners list of 31st London Critics’ Circle Film Awards:

* FILM OF THE YEAR: ‘The Social Network’

* DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR: David Fincher – ‘The Social Network’

* SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR: Aaron Sorkin – ‘The Social Network’

* ACTOR OF THE YEAR: Colin Firth – ‘The King’s Speech’

* ACTRESS OF THE YEAR: Annette Bening – ‘The Kids Are All Right’

* THE ATTENBOROUGH AWARD: BRITISH FILM OF THE YEAR: ‘The King’s Speech’

* BRITISH DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR: Tom Hooper – ‘The King’s Speech’

* BRITISH ACTOR OF THE YEAR: Christian Bale – “The Fighter”

* BRITISH ACTRESS OF THE YEAR: Lesley Manville – ‘Another Year’

* BRITISH ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Andrew Garfield – ‘The Social Network’

* BRITISH ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Olivia Williams – ‘The Ghost’

* YOUNG BRITISH PERFORMER OF THE YEAR: Conor McCarron – ‘NEDs’

* BREAKTHROUGH BRITISH FILM-MAKER: Gareth Edwards – ‘Monsters’

* DILYS POWELL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN FILM: Kristin Scott Thomas

* FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR: 'Of Gods and Men'

Christopher Nolan Recieves First Guild Award with WGA Win

After recieving several nominations from the Writers, Directors, and Producers Guilds, Christopher Nolan finally won a guild award, receiving the "Original Screenplay" award from the Writers Guild of America for the screenplay of his hit film, Inception, in a ceremony held Saturday night (Feb. 5th).  However, the frontrunner for the original screenplay Oscar is The King's Speech, which the WGA ruled ineligible for its awards.

2011 WRITERS GUILD WINNERS COMPLETE LIST:

SCREEN
Original Screenplay: Christopher Nolan, "Inception"
Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, "The Social Network"
Documentary Screenplay: Charles Ferguson, Chad Beck and Adam Bolt, "Inside Job"

TELEVISION
Drama Series: "Mad Men," written by Jonathan Abrahams, Lisa Albert, Keith Huff, Jonathan Igla, Andre Jacquemetton, Maria Jacquemetton, Brett Johnson, Janet Leahy, Erin Levy, Tracy McMillan, Dahvi Waller, Matthew Weiner (AMC)

Comedy Series: "Modern Family," written by Jerry Collins, Paul Corrigan, Alex Herschlag, Abraham Higginbotham, Elaine Ko, Joe Lawson, Steven Levitan, Christopher Lloyd, Dan O'Shannon, Jeffrey Richman, Brad Walsh, Ilana Wernick, Bill Wrubel, Danny Zuker (ABC)

New Series: "Boardwalk Empire," written by Meg Jackson, Lawrence Konner, Howard Korder, Steve Kornacki, Margaret Nagle, Tim Van Patten, Paul Simms, Terence Winter (HBO)

Episodic Drama: ""The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" ("Mad Men"), written by Erin Levy (AMC)

Episodic Comedy: "When It Rains, It Pours" ("30 Rock"), written by Robert Carlock (NBC)

Long Form - Original: "The Special Relationship," written by Peter Morgan (HBO)

Long Form - Adaptation: "The Pacific, Part Eight," written by Robert Schenkkan and Michelle Ashford (HBO)

Animation: "The Prisoner of Brenda" ("Futurama"), written by Ken Keeler (Comedy Central)

Comedy/Variety Series: "The Colbert Report," written by Barry Julien, Dan Guterman, Eric Drysdale, Frank Lesser, Glenn Eichler, Jay Katsir, Max Werner, Meredith Scardino, Michael Brumm, Opus Moreschi, Peter Gwinn, Rich Dahm, Rob Dubbin, Scott Sherman, Stephen Colbert, Tom Purcell, Peter Grosz, Paul Dinello (Comedy Central)

Comedy/Variety - Special: "National Memorial Day Concert 2010," written by Joan Meyerson (PBS)

Daytime Drama: "As the World Turns," written by Susan Dansby, Lucky Gold, Janet Iacobuzio, Penelope Koechi, David Kreizman, Leah Laiman, David A. Levinson, Leslie Nipkow, Jean Passanante, Gordon Rayfield, David Smilow (CBS)

Children's - Episodic & Specials: "Happy Ha-Ha Holidays," written by Michael G. Stern, Randi Barnes, Rick Gitelson, Scott Gray (Disney Channel)

Children's - Long Form or Special: "Avalon High," written by Julie Sherman Wolfe and Amy Talkington

Documentary - Current Events: "Flying Cheap" ("Frontline"), written by Rick Young

Documentary - Other Than Current Events: "Wyatt Earp" ("American Experience"), written by Rob Rapley

News - Regularly Scheduled, Bulletin or Breaking Report: "Sunday Morning Almanac" ("CBS Sunday Morning"), written by Thomas A. Harris

News - Analysis, Feature or Commentary: "Resurrecting Eden" ("60 Minutes"), written by Jenny Dubin

RADIO
Documentary: "2009 Year in Review," written by Gail Lee, CBS Radio News
News - Regularly Scheduled or Breaking Report: "CBS World News Roundup," written by Paul Farry, CBS Radio News
News: Analysis, Feature or Commentary: "Passages," written by Gail Lee, CBS Radio News

PROMOTIONAL WRITING AND GRAPHIC ANIMATION
On-Air Promotion (Radio or Television): "CSI" Promos, written by Anne de Vega, CBS
Television Graphic Animation: "Sunday Morning, By Design," graphic designer Bob Pook, graphic artist Diane Robinson, CBS News

VIDEOGAME
Videogame Writing: "Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood," written by Patrice Desilets, Jeffrey Yohalem, Corey May, Ethan Petty, Nicholas Grimwood, Matt Turner (Ubisoft)

NEW MEDIA
Original New Media: "The Real Thing," "Identity Crisis," "Girl Talk," "Naming Things," "Curtain Up" ("Anyone But Me"), written by Susan Miller and Tina Cesa Ward
Derivative New Media: "Strip Pong," "Tear Jerks," "Brainstorm" ("Frank vs Lutz"), written by Jon Haller

USC Libraries Honor Aaron Sorkin and Ben Mezrich

USC Libraries Friend The Social Network

The writers behind the story of social-networking site Facebook take home the 23rd-annual USC Libraries Scripter Award.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Author Ben Mezrich and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin were feted with the 23rd-annual USC Libraries Scripter Award for the film The Social Network and the book The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal upon which it was based. Film critic and historian Leonard Maltin announced the winners at the black-tie banquet on Friday, Feb. 4.

“When you get that phone call that Aaron Sorkin is interested in adapting your book, it’s like getting hit by lightning,” Mezrich said.

“I sat down in the movie there and the movie opens. There is that line, ‘dating you is like dating a stairmaster.’ At that moment, I thought, this is the best movie I’ve ever seen,” added Mezrich.

Sorkin, who won multiple Emmy Awards for his work on the NBC program “The West Wing” and is nominated for an Academy Award for his Social Network screenplay, related an incident from early in his career that put entertainment award in perspective.

“Early one morning a few years ago, my father came over to my apartment in New York City where I was living at the time because the Academy Award nominations were being announced and there was some hope that a movie that I wrote that year would be nominated” explained Sorkin. “When it wasn’t, my father turned to me and said ‘Aaron, how many people in the world do you think woke up this morning with even reasonable expectation that something like this might happen.’ That’s when I discovered that for most, people it’s an honor just to be nominated…in my family, it’s an honor just to be overlooked.”

“You can imagine how they and I feel about getting recognition like this, from a group of people like this,” said Sorkin.

The Social Network’s Scripter win adds to its slew of accolades. The film has been named best film by the Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Toronto film critics associations, among others, as well as by the Golden Globes and the National Board of Review. The film is nominated for eight Academy Awards and six BAFTA awards.

The Scripter awards gala, presented by the Friends of the USC Libraries, honors the year’s best cinematic adaptation of the printed word. During the ceremony, one Twitter follower described the Scripter Award as “the most civilized awards show of all.”

With filmmaker and USC alumnus Taylor Hackford (‘67, International Relations) and Academy Award-winning actress Helen Mirren serving as honorary dinner chairs, master of ceremonies Nancy Sinatra welcomed the capacity crowd gathered in Los Angeles Times Reference Room of USC’s historic Edward L. Doheny Memorial Library.

“We know that a great story might transport us, but it’s about more than escapism,” explained Sinatra about the importance of the writing creatively and the unique significance of the Scripter Award. “We know that history comes to us through stories and that storytelling helps us understand ourselves as much as it helps deepen our understanding of the world.”

“The great stories yet to be written will depend on all those that came before...and that’s why a great library is important to the past, present, and future of the creative arts and why we’re here to honor accomplished storytellers,” said Sinatra.

The other finalists for the 2011 Scripter, in alphabetical order by film title, were: screenwriters Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy for 127 Hours, adapted from Aron Ralston’s autobiography Between a Rock and a Hard Place; screenwriters Robert Harris and Roman Polanski for The Ghost Writer, adapted from Harris’ novel The Ghost; screenwriters Joel and Ethan Coen for True Grit, based on Charles Portis’ classic Western novel; and screenwriters Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini and author Daniel Woodrell for Winter’s Bone.

Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning screenwriter Naomi Foner chaired the Scripter selection committee for the fourth consecutive year.

Author Dennis Lehane was named the 4th-annual USC Libraries Scripter Literary Achievement Award recipient for his body of work. Lehane is the author of such books as Gone, Baby, Gone; Moonlight Mile; Shutter Island; The Given Day; and Mystic River for which he received a Scripter Award in 2004.

“[Dennis Lehane] has said that, were it not for a specific place, he never would have become a writer. He grew up in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston,” noted USC Libraries Dean Catherine Quinlan in announcing the award. “He has demonstrated again and again his talent for carving convincing, creative landscapes out of words and populating them with intriguing characters and gripping mysteries.”

Lehane, who was unable to attend the ceremony, said in a statement that “It’s an honor to receive this award. My profound gratitude to the Friends of the USC Libraries.”

“It would be disingenuous of me not to note the depth of gratitude I owe the exceptional screenwriters who have adapted my novels for film: Brian Helgeland, Ben Affleck, Aaron Stockard, and most recently, Laeta Kalogridis, whose superb craftsmanship enabled her to take a near-unfilmable novel and turn it into pure cinema,” added Lehane.

Dr. David and Gracie Fermelia were the Premiere Sponsors and Dr. Verna B. Dauterive was the Gold Sponsor of this year’s event.

The USC Libraries welcomed Audi of America as the transportation sponsor for Scripter 2011. A fleet of Audi A8 sedans chauffeured nominees and special guests to the black-tie event.

Final Draft Inc. also has supported Scripter 2011 by providing copies of Final Draft 8 to USC students. The libraries will make the scriptwriting software available through the USC Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Library Multimedia Commons. Final Draft will complement the suite of authoring software the Multimedia Commons offers students and will provide a tool for storytelling and completing coursework while drawing on the riches of the libraries’ collections.

Proceeds from the Scripter gala support the USC Libraries’ Endowed Collections program. For more information about Scripter—including additional images from the ceremony and information on sponsorship opportunities for Scripter 24—visit http://scripter.usc.edu/.

2011 Oscar Nominations: Adapted Screenplay

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

“127 Hours” Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy

“The Social Network” Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin

“Toy Story 3” Screenplay by Michael Arndt; Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich

“True Grit” Written for the screen by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

“Winter's Bone” Adapted for the screen by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini

Complete List of 68th Golden Globe Winners

The Golden Globe Awards, presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, were handed out last night.  On the film side of things, things were fairly boring as the expected winners won.  If you are starting to see a pattern, you are not paranoid.  Once again, The Social Network triumphs.  So here is a list of the winners in both the film and television categories:

2011 Golden Globe Awards Winners (For the year ended December 31, 2010)

FILM AWARDS
Picture, Drama: "The Social Network."

Picture, Musical or Comedy: "The Kids Are All Right."

Actor, Drama: Colin Firth, "The King's Speech."

Actress, Drama: Natalie Portman, "Black Swan."

Director: David Fincher, "The Social Network."

Actress, Musical or Comedy: Annette Bening, "The Kids Are All Right."

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Paul Giamatti, "Barney's Version."

Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, "The Fighter."

Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo, "The Fighter."

Foreign Language: "In a Better World."

Animated Film: "Toy Story 3."

Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, "The Social Network."

Original Score: "The Social Network."

Original Song: "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me," (written by Diane Warren), "Burlesque."

TELEVISION AWARDS
Series, Drama: "Boardwalk Empire," HBO.

Actor, Drama: Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire."

Actress, Drama: Katey Sagal, "Sons of Anarchy."

Series, Musical or Comedy: "Glee," Fox.

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory."

Actress, Musical or Comedy: Laura Linney, "The Big C."

Miniseries or Movie: "Carlos," Sundance Channel.

Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Claire Danes, "Temple Grandin."

Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Al Pacino, "You Don't Know Jack."

Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Jane Lynch, "Glee."

Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Chris Colfer, "Glee."

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED
Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award: Robert De Niro.

Aaron Sorkin Wins Best Screenplay Golden Globe for "The Social Network"

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture:

The Social Network: Aaron Sorkin WINNER

127 Hours: Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy

Inception: Christopher Nolan

The Kids Are All Right: Stuart Blumberg, Lisa Cholodenko

The King's Speech: David Seidler

"The Social Network" the Big Winner at Critics' Choice Awards

With the announcement of the winners of the 16th annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards last night (Friday, Jan. 14th), the movie awards season has kicked into high gear. The awards are put on by the Broadcast Film Critics Association, the largest film critics organization in the United States and Canada, representing about 250 television, radio and online critics.

The Social Network won the best picture, director, adapted screenplay, and composer awards, but Inception was the night’s biggest winner with six awards, all of them in “technical categories,” except for “Best Action Movie.”

Last year, the Critics' Choice Movie Awards essentially predicted the winners in the four major acting category, although the Critics’ Choice featured a tie at best actress between Meryl Streep and eventual Oscar winner Sandra Bullock. The Critics also chose The Hurt Locker for Best Picture and its director, Kathryn Bigelow, as Best Director, and both won those awards at the Oscars. So is The Social Network on its way to Oscar gold?

16th Critics’ Choice Movie Award winner:

Best Picture: 'The Social Network'

Best Actor: Colin Firth, 'The King's Speech'

Best Actress: Natalie Portman, 'Black Swan'

Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, 'The Fighter'

Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo, 'The Fighter'

Best Young Actor/Actress: Hailee Steinfeld, 'True Grit'

Best Acting Ensemble: 'The Fighter'

Best Director: David Fincher, 'The Social Network'

Best Original Screenplay: 'The King's Speech,' David Seidler

Best Adapted Screenplay: 'The Social Network,' Aaron Sorkin

Best Cinematography: 'Inception,' Wally Pfister

Best Art Direction: 'Inception,' Guy Hendrix Dyas and Larry Dias & Doug Mowat

Best Editing: 'Inception,' Lee Smith

Best Costume Design: 'Alice in Wonderland,' Colleen Atwood

Best Makeup: 'Alice in Wonderland'

Best Visual Effects: 'Inception'

Best Sound: 'Inception'

Best Animated Feature: 'Toy Story 3'

Best Action Movie: 'Inception'

Best Comedy: 'Easy A'

Best Picture Made For Television: 'The Pacific'

Best Foreign Language Film: 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo'

Best Documentary Feature: 'Waiting for 'Superman" '

Best Song: 'If I Rise,' performed by Dido and A.R. Rahman/music by A.R. Rahman/lyrics by Dido Armstrong and Rollo Armstrong; '127 Hours'

Best Score: 'The Social Network,' Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

http://www.bfca.org/

"The Social Network" Dominates the National Society of Film Critics Awards

The National Society of Film Critics was founded in New York City in 1966. Known for their highbrow tastes, these critics form one of the most prestigious film groups on the United States. Current members include some of my favorite film critics: Roger Ebert, David Edelstein, and J. Hoberman, among others. The society has produced several anthologies about movies, including the must-have for film fans, Produced and Abandoned: The Best Films You’ve Never Seen (1990).

The group announced its 2010 winners yesterday (Sat., Jan. 8th). As has been the trend do far, The Social Network wins a "Best Picture" honor.

2010 National Society of Film Critics Winners:

Best Film: The Social Network

Best Director: David Fincher – The Social Network

Best Actor: Jesse Eisenberg – The Social Network

Best Actress: Giovanna Mezzogiorno – Vincere

Best Supporting Actor: Geoffrey Rush – The King's Speech

Best Supporting Actress: Olivia Williams – The Ghost Writer

Best Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin – The Social Network

Best Cinematography: Roger Deakins – True Grit

Best Foreign Language Film: Carlos

Best Film - Non-Fiction: Inside Job

Readers who go to http://www.nationalsocietyoffilmcritics.com/ can see the top three finishers in each category, see who the special honorees are, and read the statements the group issued with this year's awards.

Southeastern Film Critics Show "The Social Network" Southern Hospitality

Since 1992, the Southeastern Film Critics Association (SEFCA) seeks to "promote the art of film criticism, the ethics of journalism and the camaraderie of peers among professionals working in the print, radio and online media in the Southeast."  Like practically every other film critics organization, they chose The Social Network as their "Best Picture."

2010 SEFCA Winners:
Best Picture: The Social Network

Best Actor: Colin Firth, The King's Speech

Best Actress: Natalie Portman, Black Swan

Best Supporting Actor: Geoffrey Rush, The King's Speech

Best Supporting Actress: Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit

Best Ensemble: The Social Network

Best Director: David Fincher, The Social Network

Best Original Screenplay: David Seidler, The King's Speech

Best Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network

Best Foreign-Language Film: Mother (South Korea)

Best Documentary: Inside Job

Best Animated Feature: Toy Story 3

Best Cinematography: Roger Deakins, True Grit

Wyatt Award: Winter's Bone (The Wyatt is given in memory of late SEFCA member Gene Wyatt, and is awarded to a film that captures the spirit of the South.)

TOP TEN FILMS of 2010
1. The Social Network
2. The King's Speech
3. Winter's Bone
4. Black Swan
5. Inception
6. True Grit
7. Toy Story 3
8. 127 Hours
9. The Fighter
10. The Kids Are All Right

http://www.sefca.org/

18 and Counting: "The Social Network" Wins with Online Film Critics

Founded in 1997, the Online Film Critics Society describes itself as “the largest, most respected organization for critics whose work appears primarily on the Internet.”  Last week these critics announced their nominees for their end of the year movie awards.  Sunday night, they announced the winners.  I'm not counting, but Entertainment Weekly says that with this "Best Picture" award, The Social Network has won 18 best picture awards.

2010 Online Film Critics Society Award Winners:

Best Picture: The Social Network

Best Director: David Fincher, The Social Network

Best Lead Actor: Colin Firth, The King's Speech

Best Lead Actress: Natalie Portman, Black Swan

Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, The Fighter

Best Supporting Actress: Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit

Best Original Screenplay: Christopher Nolan, Inception

Best Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network

Best Cinematography: Roger Deakins, True Grit

Best Editing: Lee Smith, Inception

Best Animated Feature: Toy Story 3

Best Foreign Language Film: Mother

Best Documentary: Exit Through The Gift Shop

http://www.ofcs.org/

"Black Swan," "The Social Network" Lead Online Film Critics Nominations

The Online Film Critics Society describes itself as "the largest, most respected organization for critics whose work appears primarily on the Internet."  The group recently announced its nominations for the best films of 2010.  OFCS members will submit their final votes and winners will be announced Monday, January 3, 2010.

Nominees for the 2010 OFCS Awards:

Best Picture
Black Swan
Inception
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone

Best Director
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
Danny Boyle, 127 Hours
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, True Grit
David Fincher, The Social Network
Christopher Nolan, Inception

Best Lead Actor
Jeff Bridges, True Grit
Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
Colin Firth, The King's Speech
James Franco, 127 Hours
Ryan Gosling, Blue Valentine
Edgar Ramírez, Carlos

Best Lead Actress
Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Kim Hye-ja, Mother
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence, Winter's Bone
Natalie Portman, Black Swan

Best Supporting Actor
Christian Bale, The Fighter
Andrew Garfield, The Social Network
John Hawkes, Winter's Bone
Mark Ruffalo, The Kids are All Right
Geoffrey Rush, The King's Speech

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, The Fighter
Mila Kunis, Black Swan
Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit
Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom

Best Original Screenplay
Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz & John McLaughlin, Black Swan
Noah Baumbach, Greenberg
Christopher Nolan, Inception
Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg, The Kids Are All Right
David Seidler, The King's Speech

Best Adapted Screenplay
Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy, 127 Hours
Michael Bacall & Edgar Wright, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, True Grit
Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini, Winter's Bone

Best Cinematography
Anthony Dod Mantle & Enrique Chediak, 127 Hours
Matthew Libatique, Black Swan
Wally Pfister, Inception
Robert Richardson, Shutter Island
Roger Deakins, True Grit

Best Editing
Jon Harris, 127 Hours
Andrew Weisblum, Black Swan
Lee Smith, Inception
Jonathan Amos & Paul Machliss, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Kirk Baxter & Angus Wall, The Social Network

Best Animated Feature
Despicable Me
How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
Tangled
Toy Story 3

Best Film Not in the English Language
Carlos
Dogtooth
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Mother
A Prophet

Best Documentary
Catfish
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Inside Job
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
Restrepo
Waiting for "Superman"

http://www.ofcs.org/

Phoenix Film Critics Shout Out "The King's Speech" and "Inception"

The Phoenix Film Critics Society, which I think has been around for 10 years, announced its winners for this year's best films.  This page at the society's website list both winners and nominees.  As you can see, Phoenix critics put a stop (at least temporarily) to The Social Network express and named The King's Speech as "Best Picture."  They also honored Inception with seven awards.

PHOENIX FILM CRITICS SOCIETY WINNERS:

Best Picture: "The King’s Speech"

Best Director: Christopher Nolan, "Inception"

Best Actor in a Leading Role: Colin Firth, "The King’s Speech"

Best Actress in a Leading Role: Natalie Portman, "Black Swan"

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Christian Bale, "The Fighter"

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Melissa Leo, "The Fighter"

Best Ensemble Acting: "The Social Network"

Best Screenplay – Original: Christopher Nolan, "Inception"

Best Screenplay – Adaptation: Aaron Sorkin,"The Social Network"

Best Live Action Family Film: "Alice in Wonderland"

The Overlooked Film of the Year: "Never Let Me Go"

Best Animated Film: "Toy Story 3"

Best Foreign Language Film: "Biutiful"

Best Documentary Film: "Restrepo"

Best Original Song: “You Haven’t See the Last of Me” from "Burlesque"

Best Original Score: Hans Zimmer, "Inception"

Best Cinematography: "True Grit"

Best Film Editing: "Inception"

Best Production Design: "Inception"

Best Costume Design: "Alice in Wonderland"

Best Visual Effects: "Inception"

Best Stunts: "Inception"

Breakthrough Performance on Camera: Chloe Moretz, "Kick-Ass"

Breakthrough Performance behind the Camera: Debra Granik, "Winter’s Bone"

Best Performance by a Youth in a Lead or Supporting Role – Male: Kodi Smit-McPhee, "Let Me In"

Best Performance by a Youth in a Lead or Supporting Role – Female: Hailee Steinfeld, "True Grit"

Top Ten Films
"127 Hours"
"Inception"
"Never Let Me Go"
"Shutter Island"
"The Kids Are All Right"
"The King’s Speech"
"The Social Network"
"True Grit"
"Toy Story 3"
"Winter’s Bone"

Black Film Critics Circle "The Social Network," But Spread the Love

There is a new film critics organization, the Black Film Critics Circle.  This is how they describe themselves on their website:

Welcome to the Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC), a new film critic’s organization dedicated to honoring excellence of professionals in the film industry in U.S. and World Cinema.

BFCC is a professional organization of film critics working in all areas of the media to include print publications,broadcast television, radio and on-line outlets.

I'm curious to see how long they last.  Like just about every critics organization, they chose The Social Network as their best picture,while also awarding it "Best Ensemble" and "Best Adapted Screenplay."  They also liked Black Swan with two wins, director and actress (Natalie Portman) and The Fighter, giving supporting acting honors to Christian Bale (actor) and Melissa Leo (actress).

The group also handed out special awards.  One of them is a surprise - a notice for Gareth Edwards, director of science fiction flick, Monsters, "for taking an original and organic approach to cinema that brings the industry back to its roots (visual storytelling) and favors creativity and resourcefulness over contrived storytelling and reliance on big budgets and mindless spectacle. 'Monsters' is a great look at how sci-fi is done right (human stories, not creature-features) by a director who just shot the film and THEN found the story to tell, with good visual effects employed economically to enhance the film - not define it."

THE WINNERS:
Picture: The Social Network

Director: Darren Afronosky, Black Swan

Actor: TIE
Colin Firth (The King's Speech)
James Franco (127 Hours)

Actress: Natalie Portman (Black Swan)

Supporting Actor: Christian Bale (The Fighter)

Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo (The Fighter)

Best Original Screenplay: Christopher Nolan – Inception

Best Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin – The Social Network

Best Documentary: Waiting For Superman

Best Foreign Film: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Best Animated Film: Toy Story 3

Best Ensemble: The Social Network


BFCC Pioneer Award - Haile Gerima
BFCC Rising Star/Best Newcomer Award - Jaden Smith
BFCC Special mention: Gareth Edwards for "Monsters"

TOP 10 Films:
1. The Social Network
2. Inception
3. Black Swan
4. The Fighter

5. TIE:
The Kids Are All Right
The Town

7. Toy Story 3
8. The King's Speech
9. Winter's Bone
10. The Ghost Writer

http://blackfilmcriticscircle.org/