Time Inc.’s Sports Illustrated Group, Kobe Bryant’s Kobe Studios and Believe Entertainment Group Announce Exclusive Multi-Platform Development Project around Dear Basketball, Bryant’s Epic Homage to the Game
Dear Basketball Animated Short Film to Premiere on SI.com;
SI Films Documents Making of Short Film Directed by World-Renowned Animator Glen Keane,
Music by Academy Award Winning Composer John Williams
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Time Inc.’s (NYSE:TIME) Sports Illustrated Group and NBA legend Kobe Bryant’s new production company, Kobe Studios, along with Believe Entertainment Group, announced an exclusive multi-platform video production and development project devoted to Dear Basketball, Bryant’s poetic tribute to the game. The collaboration includes the world premiere of Dear Basketball the animated short film on SI.com as well as a series of exclusive SI Films mini documentaries taking viewers behind the scenes of the animation process. Dear Basketball is targeted to premiere in the fall on SI.com.
Bryant’s retirement poem, “Dear Basketball,” reverberated across the Internet and has been analyzed by renowned poets, professors and scholars alike. It was originally published on The Players’ Tribune, which will also help promote the project. Dear Basketball, the animated short film, will be narrated by Bryant and will be visually brought to life in a new and compelling way. Glen Keane, the iconic and prolific animator behind such classic animated features as Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan and Tangled, will helm the production. Five-time Academy Award-winning composer John Williams, who has composed some of the most popular and recognizable film scores in cinematic history—including Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones series, E.T., Jurassic Park, the Harry Potter films and Star Wars—will provide the musical backdrop to this animated ode to sport.
“Dear Basketball is the perfect tribute to something I’ve loved for so long. Glen and John are two legends in their industries, so to partner with them on the creative process is a dream come true,” said Bryant. “Working with Sports Illustrated on this special project is an amazing opportunity to hopefully inspire fans all over the world."
Bryant gave rare and exclusive access to Sports Illustrated for the project, speaking openly about what Dear Basketball means to him, how it all came together and what he has learned from the creation process. The Dear Basketball collaboration will come to life across SI Group platforms, including video and text reports and interviews with Bryant and other key players in this unique production along with the animated short film to stream on SI.com. In addition, SI, Kobe Studios and Believe Entertainment Group will co-host a red carpet premiere event to celebrate Dear Basketball.
“We are proud to collaborate with Kobe to tell the comprehensive story of his first endeavor after retiring from the NBA in a way that only SI can,” said Rich Battista, President of the Time Inc. Entertainment and Sports Group and Video. “We are excited for Kobe’s fans and the global community of sport, entertainment and art enthusiasts to experience these productions.”
"We’re honored to partner with Sports Illustrated for the launch of this amazing animated short film and to work with them on a making of series that will reach a global audience across its platforms. The chance to partner with Kobe at this time is an incredibly compelling business and content opportunity for Believe,” said Dan Goodman, co-founder, Believe Entertainment Group.
ABOUT TIME INC.
Time Inc. (NYSE:TIME) is one of the world's leading media companies, with a monthly global print audience of over 120 million and worldwide digital properties that attract more than 150 million visitors each month, including over 60 websites. Our influential brands include People, Sports Illustrated, InStyle, Time, Real Simple and Southern Living, as well as more than 50 diverse titles in the United Kingdom.
ABOUT KOBE STUDIOS
Kobe Studios is a division of Kobe Inc, which was formed by NBA Legend Kobe Bryant in 2013. Kobe Inc. is a multi-media content creation company focused on helping athletes maximize their full potential and teaching the process of excellence. Kobe Studios’ first project, Kobe Bryant’s Muse, debuted on Showtime in February 2015, and in China in August 2015 via a partnership with the Alibaba Group. Bryant served as creator and executive producer on the film. Kobe Inc. is headquartered in Newport Beach, CA.
ABOUT BELIEVE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
Believe Entertainment Group is a New York City-based digital entertainment company producing high-profile content in partnership with elite talent and leading brands through a variety of digital outlets such as web, mobile, VOD and social media. Believe Entertainment Group has launched a steady stream of recent projects including: The LeBrons, an original, animated web series with two-time NBA champion and four-time league MVP LeBron James, on Xbox LIVE (the-lebrons.com); In the Booth, a documentary-style series with DJ/Producer Tiësto (youtube.com/Tiesto); Money Where Your Mouth Is, a new, original game show series hosted by comedian, actor, radio host and author, Jay Mohr, that was ranked the top game show of Winter 2013-14 on Hulu and Hulu Plus; Inspired: by Sabrina, a new women’s lifestyle show hosted by HGTV star Sabrina Soto; and @EpicEDM, a new, ongoing original content series featuring top electronic dance music (EDM) artists, festivals and clubs worldwide that is the first studio-originated content series designed specifically for the Twitter platform. The company’s studio division develops and produces digital-first original series for OTT and digital distribution partners (including Maker Studios, People/Time Inc., Mashable, New York Post and Haven Home Media, a division of Reader's Digest Association) and develops and produces premium branded entertainment programs exclusively for individual brands, including the original animated series with Marriott International, Hot Shoppe. Believe Entertainment Group is led by co-founders Dan Goodman and William H. Masterson III. The company signed an investment deal with ITV plc in 2014.
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Showing posts with label John Williams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Williams. Show all posts
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Sunday, March 2, 2014
"Gravity" Wins 2014 "Best Score" Oscar
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score):
“Gravity” Steven Price WINNER
Nominees:
“The Book Thief” John Williams
“Her” William Butler and Owen Pallett
“Philomena” Alexandre Desplat
“Saving Mr. Banks” Thomas Newman
“Gravity” Steven Price WINNER
Nominees:
“The Book Thief” John Williams
“Her” William Butler and Owen Pallett
“Philomena” Alexandre Desplat
“Saving Mr. Banks” Thomas Newman
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
"Gravity" and "Frozen" Lead 2014 Cinema Audio Soceity Awards
Founded in 1964, the Cinema Audio Society (CAS) is a philanthropic, non-profit organization formed for the purpose of sharing information with Sound Professionals in the Motion Picture and Television Industry. The Cinema Audio Society Awards or C.A.S. Awards is an annual awards ceremony honoring “Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing” and began doing so 1994.
The 50th Annual CAS Awards were held Saturday, February 22, 2014 in the Crystal Ballroom of the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California and hosted by Doug McIntyre.
The ceremony also celebrated the professional contributions of Re-recording Mixer Andy Nelson by honoring him with the CAS Career Achievement Award. A two-time CAS and Academy Award® winner for Les Misérables and Saving Private Ryan, Nelson was feted by Academy Award® winning composer John Williams, Twentieth Century Fox President of Feature Post Production Ted Gagliano and CAS President, David Fluhr. “Receiving this award from the CAS is such an honor because it’s from my peers…” said Nelson, “people who love this craft as much as I do, and I am humbled by their generosity and commitment to excellence.”
Among other highlights, Academy Award® winning producer Edward Zwick (Shakespeare in Love), was presented with the CAS Filmmaker Award. Zwick and CAS Career Achievement Honoree Nelson collaborated on Zwick’s CAS and Oscar® nominated Blood Diamond and The Last Samurai, as well as, Love and Other Drugs, Defiance and Courage Under Fire. Presenting his award were Anna Behlmer and Jeffrey S. Wexler, CAS
During the evening, there was a poignant tribute to Ray Dolby, inventor and founder of Dolby Laboratories. Dolby Exec David W. Gray presented the tribute that included archival footage of Ray Dolby accepting the CAS Life Achievement Award at the 1989 CAS Awards.
2014 / The 50th Annual CAS Awards (for the year in film and television 2013) – full list of film winners:
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Motion Picture – Live Action:
Gravity
Production Mixer --Chris Munro, CAS
Re-recording Mixer -- Skip Lievsay, CAS
Re-recording Mixer -- Niv Adiri
Re-recording Mixer -- Christopher Benstead
Scoring Mixer -- Gareth Cousins
ADR Mixer -- Thomas J. O'Connell
Foley Mixer – Adam Mendez
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Motion Picture – Animated:
Frozen
Original Dialogue Mixer -- Gabriel Guy
Re-recording Mixer -- David E. Fluhr, CAS
Re-recording Mixer -- Gabriel Guy
Scoring Mixer -- Casey Stone
Foley Mixer -- Mary Jo Lang
Other winners this evening included:
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Television Movie or Mini-Series:
BEHIND THE CANDLELABRA and the Sound Mixing Team of Production Mixer Dennis Towns, Re-recording Mixer Larry Blake, Scoring Mixer Thomas Vicari and Foley Mixer Scott Curtis.
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Series – One Hour:
GAME OF THRONES: "The Rains of Castamere" and the Sound Mixing Team of Production Mixers Ronan Hill, CAS and Richard Dyer, Re-recording Mixers Onnalee Blank, CAS and Matthew Waters, CAS and Foley Mixer Brett Voss.
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Series – Half Hour:
MODERN FAMILY: "Goodnight Gracie" and the Sound Mixing Team of Production Mixer Stephen A. Tibbo, CAS and Re-recording Mixers Dean Okrand and Brian R. Harman, CAS.
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Non Fiction, Variety or Music – Series or Specials:
HISTORY OF THE EAGLES – Part One and the Sound Mixing Team of Re-recording Mixers Tom Fleischman, CAS and Elliot Scheiner.
The winners of the 10th CAS Technical Achievement Awards:
PRODUCTION: Sound Devices, LLC - 633 Mixer/Recorder
POST-PRODUCTION: iZotope - RX 3 Advanced
http://cinemaaudiosociety.org/
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The 50th Annual CAS Awards were held Saturday, February 22, 2014 in the Crystal Ballroom of the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California and hosted by Doug McIntyre.
The ceremony also celebrated the professional contributions of Re-recording Mixer Andy Nelson by honoring him with the CAS Career Achievement Award. A two-time CAS and Academy Award® winner for Les Misérables and Saving Private Ryan, Nelson was feted by Academy Award® winning composer John Williams, Twentieth Century Fox President of Feature Post Production Ted Gagliano and CAS President, David Fluhr. “Receiving this award from the CAS is such an honor because it’s from my peers…” said Nelson, “people who love this craft as much as I do, and I am humbled by their generosity and commitment to excellence.”
Among other highlights, Academy Award® winning producer Edward Zwick (Shakespeare in Love), was presented with the CAS Filmmaker Award. Zwick and CAS Career Achievement Honoree Nelson collaborated on Zwick’s CAS and Oscar® nominated Blood Diamond and The Last Samurai, as well as, Love and Other Drugs, Defiance and Courage Under Fire. Presenting his award were Anna Behlmer and Jeffrey S. Wexler, CAS
During the evening, there was a poignant tribute to Ray Dolby, inventor and founder of Dolby Laboratories. Dolby Exec David W. Gray presented the tribute that included archival footage of Ray Dolby accepting the CAS Life Achievement Award at the 1989 CAS Awards.
2014 / The 50th Annual CAS Awards (for the year in film and television 2013) – full list of film winners:
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Motion Picture – Live Action:
Gravity
Production Mixer --Chris Munro, CAS
Re-recording Mixer -- Skip Lievsay, CAS
Re-recording Mixer -- Niv Adiri
Re-recording Mixer -- Christopher Benstead
Scoring Mixer -- Gareth Cousins
ADR Mixer -- Thomas J. O'Connell
Foley Mixer – Adam Mendez
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Motion Picture – Animated:
Frozen
Original Dialogue Mixer -- Gabriel Guy
Re-recording Mixer -- David E. Fluhr, CAS
Re-recording Mixer -- Gabriel Guy
Scoring Mixer -- Casey Stone
Foley Mixer -- Mary Jo Lang
Other winners this evening included:
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Television Movie or Mini-Series:
BEHIND THE CANDLELABRA and the Sound Mixing Team of Production Mixer Dennis Towns, Re-recording Mixer Larry Blake, Scoring Mixer Thomas Vicari and Foley Mixer Scott Curtis.
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Series – One Hour:
GAME OF THRONES: "The Rains of Castamere" and the Sound Mixing Team of Production Mixers Ronan Hill, CAS and Richard Dyer, Re-recording Mixers Onnalee Blank, CAS and Matthew Waters, CAS and Foley Mixer Brett Voss.
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Series – Half Hour:
MODERN FAMILY: "Goodnight Gracie" and the Sound Mixing Team of Production Mixer Stephen A. Tibbo, CAS and Re-recording Mixers Dean Okrand and Brian R. Harman, CAS.
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Non Fiction, Variety or Music – Series or Specials:
HISTORY OF THE EAGLES – Part One and the Sound Mixing Team of Re-recording Mixers Tom Fleischman, CAS and Elliot Scheiner.
The winners of the 10th CAS Technical Achievement Awards:
PRODUCTION: Sound Devices, LLC - 633 Mixer/Recorder
POST-PRODUCTION: iZotope - RX 3 Advanced
http://cinemaaudiosociety.org/
------------------
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Jay Z Leads 56th Grammy Awards Nominations
by Amos Semien
The Grammy Awards (or Grammys) are given out by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States. The Grammy is an accolade that recognizes outstanding achievement in the music industry. It is the music industry equivalent to the Academy Awards for film, the Emmy Awards for television, and the Tony Awards for stage.
Jay Z leads the 56th annual Grammy Awards pack with nine nominations, but none came in the “Big Three” categories of album, song, or record of the year. The following acts each had seven nominations: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell Williams, and Justin Timberlake With her nomination in the "Best Rap/Sung Collaboration" category ("Part II (On The Run)" - Jay Z Featuring Beyoncé), Beyoncé becomes the most nominated woman in Grammy Awards history with her 46th nomination.
The eligibility period for the 56th Annual Grammy Awards is October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013. The 56th annual Grammys awards ceremony will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California and will air on CBS on Sunday, January 26, 2014. See a complete list of nominees at http://www.grammy.com/nominees
NOTE: Scroll to the bottom to see the "Music for Visual Media" categories, which may be of particular interest to movie fans.
Nominees in select categories for the 56th annual Grammy Awards:
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
"The Blessed Unrest" - Sara Bareilles
"Random Access Memories" - Daft Punk
"Good Kid, M.A.A.D City" - Kendrick Lamar
"The Heist" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
"Red" - Taylor Swift
SONG OF THE YEAR
"Just Give Me A Reason" - Jeff Bhasker, Pink & Nate Ruess, songwriters
(Pink Featuring Nate Ruess)
"Locked Out Of Heaven" - Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine & Bruno Mars,
songwriters (Bruno Mars)
"Roar" - Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin, Bonnie McKee, Katy Perry & Henry
Walter, songwriters (Katy Perry)
"Royals" - Joel Little & Ella Yelich O'Connor, songwriters (Lorde)
"Same Love" - Ben Haggerty, Mary Lambert & Ryan Lewis, songwriters
(Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Mary Lambert)
RECORD OF THE YEAR
"Get Lucky" - Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
"Royals" - Lorde
"Locked Out Of Heaven" - Bruno Mars
"Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons
"Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell
BEST NEW ARTIST
James Blake
Kendrick Lamar
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Kacey Musgraves
Ed Sheeran
BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE
"Brave" - Sara Bareilles
"Royals" - Lorde
"When I Was Your Man" - Bruno Mars
"Roar" - Katy Perry
"Mirrors" - Justin Timberlake
BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
"Get Lucky" - Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
"Just Give Me A Reason" - Pink Featuring Nate Ruess
"Stay" - Rihanna Featuring Mikky Ekko
"Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell
"Suit & Tie" - Justin Timberlake & Jay Z
BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
"Steppin' Out" - Herb Alpert
"The Beat" - Boney James
"Handpicked" - Earl Klugh
"Summer Horns" - Dave Koz, Gerald Albright, Mindi Abair & Richard Elliot
"Hacienda" - Jeff Lorber Fusion
BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
"Paradise" - Lana Del Rey
"Pure Heroine" - Lorde
"Unorthodox Jukebox" - Bruno Mars
"Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke
"The 20/20 Experience - The Complete Experience" - Justin Timberlake
BEST DANCE RECORDING
"Need U (100%)" - Duke Dumont Featuring A*M*E & MNEK
"Sweet Nothing" - Calvin Harris Featuring Florence Welch
"Atmosphere" - Kaskade
"This Is What It Feels Like" - Armin Van Buuren Featuring Trevor Guthrie
"Clarity" - Zedd Featuring Foxes
BEST DANCE/ELECTRONICA ALBUM
"Random Access Memories" - Daft Punk
"Settle" - Disclosure
"18 Months" - Calvin Harris
"Atmosphere" - Kaskade
"A Color Map Of The Sun" - Pretty Lights
BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM
"Viva Duets" - Tony Bennett & Various Artists
"To Be Loved" - Michael Bublé
"The Standards" - Gloria Estefan
"Cee Lo's Magic Moment" - Cee Lo Green
"Now" - Dionne Warwick
BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE
"Always Alright" - Alabama Shakes
"The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" - David Bowie
"Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons
"Kashmir" - Led Zeppelin
"My God Is The Sun" - Queens Of The Stone Age
"I'm Shakin'" - Jack White
BEST METAL PERFORMANCE
"T.N.T." - Anthrax
"God Is Dead?" - Black Sabbath
"The Enemy Inside" - Dream Theater
"In Due Time" - Killswitch Engage
"Room 24" - Volbeat Featuring King Diamond
BEST ROCK SONG
"Ain't Messin 'Round" - Gary Clark Jr., songwriter (Gary Clark Jr.)
"Cut Me Some Slack" - Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Krist Novoselic &
Pat Smear, songwriters (Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic,
Pat Smear)
"Doom And Gloom" - Mick Jagger & Keith Richards, songwriters (The
Rolling Stones)
"God Is Dead?" - Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi & Ozzy Osbourne,
songwriters (Black Sabbath)
"Panic Station" - Matthew Bellamy, songwriter (Muse)
BEST ROCK ALBUM
"13" - Black Sabbath
"The Next Day" - David Bowie
"Mechanical Bull" - Kings Of Leon
"Celebration Day" - Led Zeppelin
"...Like Clockwork" - Queens Of The Stone Age
"Psychedelic Pill" - Neil Young With Crazy Horse
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
"The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The
More I Love You" - Neko Case
"Trouble Will Find Me" - The National
"Hesitation Marks" - Nine Inch Nails
"Lonerism" - Tame Impala
"Modern Vampires Of The City" - Vampire Weekend
BEST R&B PERFORMANCE
"Love And War" - Tamar Braxton
"Best Of Me" - Anthony Hamilton
"Nakamarra" - Hiatus Kaiyote Featuring Q-Tip
"How Many Drinks?" - Miguel Featuring Kendrick Lamar
"Something" - Snarky Puppy With Lalah Hathaway
BEST TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE
"Please Come Home" - Gary Clark Jr.
"Get It Right" - Fantasia
"Quiet Fire" - Maysa
"Hey Laura" - Gregory Porter
"Yesterday" - Ryan Shaw
BEST R&B SONG
"Best Of Me" - Anthony Hamilton & Jairus Mozee, songwriters (Anthony Hamilton)
"Love And War" - Tamar Braxton, Darhyl Camper, Jr., LaShawn Daniels &
Makeba Riddick, songwriters (Tamar Braxton)
"Only One" - PJ Morton, songwriter (PJ Morton Featuring Stevie Wonder)
"Pusher Love Girl" - James Fauntleroy, Jerome Harmon, Timothy Mosley &
Justin Timberlake, songwriters (Justin Timberlake)
"Without Me" - Fantasia Barrino, Missy Elliott, Al Sherrod Lambert,
Harmony Samuels & Kyle Stewart, songwriters (Fantasia Featuring Kelly
Rowland & Missy Elliot)
BEST URBAN CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
"Love And War" - Tamar Braxton
"Side Effects Of You" - Fantasia
"One: In The Chamber" - Salaam Remi
"Unapologetic" - Rihanna
"New York: A Love Story" - Mack Wilds
BEST R&B ALBUM
"R&B Divas" - Faith Evans
"Girl On Fire" - Alicia Keys
"Love In The Future" - John Legend
"Better" - Chrisette Michele
"Three Kings" - TGT
BEST RAP PERFORMANCE
"Started From The Bottom" - Drake
"Berzerk" - Eminem
"Tom Ford" - Jay Z
"Swimming Pools (Drank)" - Kendrick Lamar
"Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz
BEST RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION
"Power Trip" - J. Cole Featuring Miguel
"Part II (On The Run)" - Jay Z Featuring Beyoncé
"Holy Grail" - Jay Z Featuring Justin Timberlake
"Now Or Never" - Kendrick Lamar Featuring Mary J. Blige
"Remember You" - Wiz Khalifa Featuring The Weeknd
BEST RAP SONG
"F***in' Problems" - Tauheed Epps, Aubrey Graham, Kendrick Lamar,
Rakim Mayers & Noah Shebib, songwriters (ASAP Rocky Featuring Drake, 2
Chainz & Kendrick Lamar)
"Holy Grail" - Shawn Carter, Terius Nash, J. Harmon, Timothy Mosley,
Justin Timberlake & Ernest Wilson, songwriters (Kurt Cobain, Dave
Grohl & Krist Novoselic, songwriters) (Jay Z Featuring Justin
Timberlake)
"New Slaves" - Christopher Breaux, Ben Bronfman, Mike Dean, Louis
Johnson, Malik Jones, Elon Rutberg, Sakiya Sandifer, Che Smith, Kanye
West & Cydell Young, songwriters (Anna Adamis & Gabor Presser,
songwriters) (Kanye West)
"Started From The Bottom" - W. Coleman, Aubrey Graham & Noah Shebib,
songwriters (Bruno Sanfilippo, songwriter) (Drake)
"Thrift Shop" - Ben Haggerty & Ryan Lewis, songwriters (Macklemore &
Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz)
BEST RAP ALBUM
"Nothing Was The Same" - Drake
"Magna Carta...Holy Grail" - Jay Z
"Good Kid, M.A.A.D City" - Kendrick Lamar
"The Heist" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
"Yeezus" - Kanye West
BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE
"I Drive Your Truck" - Lee Brice
"I Want Crazy" - Hunter Hayes
"Mama's Broken Heart" - Miranda Lambert
"Wagon Wheel" - Darius Rucker
"Mine Would Be You" - Blake Shelton
BEST COUNTRY DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
"From This Valley" - The Civil Wars
"Don't Rush" - Kelly Clarkson Featuring Vince Gill
"Your Side Of The Bed" - Little Big Town
"Highway Don't Care" - Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift & Keith Urban
"You Can't Make Old Friends" - Kenny Rogers With Dolly Parton
BEST COUNTRY SONG
"Begin Again" - Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
"I Drive Your Truck" - Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington & Jimmy
Yeary, songwriters (Lee Brice)
"Mama's Broken Heart" - Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally & Kacey
Musgraves, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
"Merry Go 'Round" - Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves & Josh Osborne,
songwriters (Kacey Musgraves)
"Mine Would Be You" - Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington & Deric
Ruttan, songwriters (Blake Shelton)
BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
"Night Train" - Jason Aldean
"Two Lanes Of Freedom" - Tim McGraw
"Same Trailer Different Park" - Kacey Musgraves
"Based On A True Story" - Blake Shelton
"Red" - Taylor Swift
BEST NEW AGE ALBUM
"Lux" - Brian Eno
"Illumination" - Peter Kater
"Final Call" - Kitaro
"Awakening The Fire" - R. Carlos Nakai & Will Clipman
"Love's River" - Laura Sullivan
BEST IMPROVISED JAZZ SOLO
"Don't Run" - Terence Blanchard, soloist
"Song For Maura" - Paquito D'Rivera, soloist
"Song Without Words #4: Duet" - Fred Hersch, soloist
"Stadium Jazz" - Donny McCaslin, soloist
"Orbits" - Wayne Shorter
BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM
"The World According To Andy Bey" - Andy Bey
"Attachments" - Lorraine Feather
"Liquid Spirit" - Gregory Porter
"WomanChild" - Cécile McLorin Salvant
"After Blue" - Tierney Sutton
MUSIC FOR VISUAL MEDIA
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media:
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media:
Best Song Written for Visual Media:
"Atlas" (from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)
Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters (performed by Coldplay)
"Silver Lining (Crazy 'Bout You)" (from Silver Linings Playbook)
Diane Warren, songwriter (performed by Jessie J)
"Skyfall" (from Skyfall)
Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth, songwriters (performed by Adele)
"We Both Know" (from Safe Haven)
Colbie Caillat & Gavin DeGraw, songwriters (performed by Colbie Caillat featuring Gavin DeGraw)
"Young and Beautiful" (from The Great Gatsby)
Lana Del Rey & Rick Nowels, songwriters (performed by Lana Del Rey)
"You've Got Time" (from "Orange Is the New Black")
Regina Spektor, songwriter (performed by Regina Spektor)
END
The Grammy Awards (or Grammys) are given out by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States. The Grammy is an accolade that recognizes outstanding achievement in the music industry. It is the music industry equivalent to the Academy Awards for film, the Emmy Awards for television, and the Tony Awards for stage.
Jay Z leads the 56th annual Grammy Awards pack with nine nominations, but none came in the “Big Three” categories of album, song, or record of the year. The following acts each had seven nominations: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell Williams, and Justin Timberlake With her nomination in the "Best Rap/Sung Collaboration" category ("Part II (On The Run)" - Jay Z Featuring Beyoncé), Beyoncé becomes the most nominated woman in Grammy Awards history with her 46th nomination.
The eligibility period for the 56th Annual Grammy Awards is October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013. The 56th annual Grammys awards ceremony will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California and will air on CBS on Sunday, January 26, 2014. See a complete list of nominees at http://www.grammy.com/nominees
NOTE: Scroll to the bottom to see the "Music for Visual Media" categories, which may be of particular interest to movie fans.
Nominees in select categories for the 56th annual Grammy Awards:
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
"The Blessed Unrest" - Sara Bareilles
"Random Access Memories" - Daft Punk
"Good Kid, M.A.A.D City" - Kendrick Lamar
"The Heist" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
"Red" - Taylor Swift
SONG OF THE YEAR
"Just Give Me A Reason" - Jeff Bhasker, Pink & Nate Ruess, songwriters
(Pink Featuring Nate Ruess)
"Locked Out Of Heaven" - Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine & Bruno Mars,
songwriters (Bruno Mars)
"Roar" - Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin, Bonnie McKee, Katy Perry & Henry
Walter, songwriters (Katy Perry)
"Royals" - Joel Little & Ella Yelich O'Connor, songwriters (Lorde)
"Same Love" - Ben Haggerty, Mary Lambert & Ryan Lewis, songwriters
(Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Mary Lambert)
RECORD OF THE YEAR
"Get Lucky" - Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
"Royals" - Lorde
"Locked Out Of Heaven" - Bruno Mars
"Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons
"Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell
BEST NEW ARTIST
James Blake
Kendrick Lamar
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Kacey Musgraves
Ed Sheeran
BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE
"Brave" - Sara Bareilles
"Royals" - Lorde
"When I Was Your Man" - Bruno Mars
"Roar" - Katy Perry
"Mirrors" - Justin Timberlake
BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
"Get Lucky" - Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
"Just Give Me A Reason" - Pink Featuring Nate Ruess
"Stay" - Rihanna Featuring Mikky Ekko
"Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell
"Suit & Tie" - Justin Timberlake & Jay Z
BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
"Steppin' Out" - Herb Alpert
"The Beat" - Boney James
"Handpicked" - Earl Klugh
"Summer Horns" - Dave Koz, Gerald Albright, Mindi Abair & Richard Elliot
"Hacienda" - Jeff Lorber Fusion
BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
"Paradise" - Lana Del Rey
"Pure Heroine" - Lorde
"Unorthodox Jukebox" - Bruno Mars
"Blurred Lines" - Robin Thicke
"The 20/20 Experience - The Complete Experience" - Justin Timberlake
BEST DANCE RECORDING
"Need U (100%)" - Duke Dumont Featuring A*M*E & MNEK
"Sweet Nothing" - Calvin Harris Featuring Florence Welch
"Atmosphere" - Kaskade
"This Is What It Feels Like" - Armin Van Buuren Featuring Trevor Guthrie
"Clarity" - Zedd Featuring Foxes
BEST DANCE/ELECTRONICA ALBUM
"Random Access Memories" - Daft Punk
"Settle" - Disclosure
"18 Months" - Calvin Harris
"Atmosphere" - Kaskade
"A Color Map Of The Sun" - Pretty Lights
BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM
"Viva Duets" - Tony Bennett & Various Artists
"To Be Loved" - Michael Bublé
"The Standards" - Gloria Estefan
"Cee Lo's Magic Moment" - Cee Lo Green
"Now" - Dionne Warwick
BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE
"Always Alright" - Alabama Shakes
"The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" - David Bowie
"Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons
"Kashmir" - Led Zeppelin
"My God Is The Sun" - Queens Of The Stone Age
"I'm Shakin'" - Jack White
BEST METAL PERFORMANCE
"T.N.T." - Anthrax
"God Is Dead?" - Black Sabbath
"The Enemy Inside" - Dream Theater
"In Due Time" - Killswitch Engage
"Room 24" - Volbeat Featuring King Diamond
BEST ROCK SONG
"Ain't Messin 'Round" - Gary Clark Jr., songwriter (Gary Clark Jr.)
"Cut Me Some Slack" - Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Krist Novoselic &
Pat Smear, songwriters (Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic,
Pat Smear)
"Doom And Gloom" - Mick Jagger & Keith Richards, songwriters (The
Rolling Stones)
"God Is Dead?" - Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi & Ozzy Osbourne,
songwriters (Black Sabbath)
"Panic Station" - Matthew Bellamy, songwriter (Muse)
BEST ROCK ALBUM
"13" - Black Sabbath
"The Next Day" - David Bowie
"Mechanical Bull" - Kings Of Leon
"Celebration Day" - Led Zeppelin
"...Like Clockwork" - Queens Of The Stone Age
"Psychedelic Pill" - Neil Young With Crazy Horse
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
"The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The
More I Love You" - Neko Case
"Trouble Will Find Me" - The National
"Hesitation Marks" - Nine Inch Nails
"Lonerism" - Tame Impala
"Modern Vampires Of The City" - Vampire Weekend
BEST R&B PERFORMANCE
"Love And War" - Tamar Braxton
"Best Of Me" - Anthony Hamilton
"Nakamarra" - Hiatus Kaiyote Featuring Q-Tip
"How Many Drinks?" - Miguel Featuring Kendrick Lamar
"Something" - Snarky Puppy With Lalah Hathaway
BEST TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE
"Please Come Home" - Gary Clark Jr.
"Get It Right" - Fantasia
"Quiet Fire" - Maysa
"Hey Laura" - Gregory Porter
"Yesterday" - Ryan Shaw
BEST R&B SONG
"Best Of Me" - Anthony Hamilton & Jairus Mozee, songwriters (Anthony Hamilton)
"Love And War" - Tamar Braxton, Darhyl Camper, Jr., LaShawn Daniels &
Makeba Riddick, songwriters (Tamar Braxton)
"Only One" - PJ Morton, songwriter (PJ Morton Featuring Stevie Wonder)
"Pusher Love Girl" - James Fauntleroy, Jerome Harmon, Timothy Mosley &
Justin Timberlake, songwriters (Justin Timberlake)
"Without Me" - Fantasia Barrino, Missy Elliott, Al Sherrod Lambert,
Harmony Samuels & Kyle Stewart, songwriters (Fantasia Featuring Kelly
Rowland & Missy Elliot)
BEST URBAN CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
"Love And War" - Tamar Braxton
"Side Effects Of You" - Fantasia
"One: In The Chamber" - Salaam Remi
"Unapologetic" - Rihanna
"New York: A Love Story" - Mack Wilds
BEST R&B ALBUM
"R&B Divas" - Faith Evans
"Girl On Fire" - Alicia Keys
"Love In The Future" - John Legend
"Better" - Chrisette Michele
"Three Kings" - TGT
BEST RAP PERFORMANCE
"Started From The Bottom" - Drake
"Berzerk" - Eminem
"Tom Ford" - Jay Z
"Swimming Pools (Drank)" - Kendrick Lamar
"Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz
BEST RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION
"Power Trip" - J. Cole Featuring Miguel
"Part II (On The Run)" - Jay Z Featuring Beyoncé
"Holy Grail" - Jay Z Featuring Justin Timberlake
"Now Or Never" - Kendrick Lamar Featuring Mary J. Blige
"Remember You" - Wiz Khalifa Featuring The Weeknd
BEST RAP SONG
"F***in' Problems" - Tauheed Epps, Aubrey Graham, Kendrick Lamar,
Rakim Mayers & Noah Shebib, songwriters (ASAP Rocky Featuring Drake, 2
Chainz & Kendrick Lamar)
"Holy Grail" - Shawn Carter, Terius Nash, J. Harmon, Timothy Mosley,
Justin Timberlake & Ernest Wilson, songwriters (Kurt Cobain, Dave
Grohl & Krist Novoselic, songwriters) (Jay Z Featuring Justin
Timberlake)
"New Slaves" - Christopher Breaux, Ben Bronfman, Mike Dean, Louis
Johnson, Malik Jones, Elon Rutberg, Sakiya Sandifer, Che Smith, Kanye
West & Cydell Young, songwriters (Anna Adamis & Gabor Presser,
songwriters) (Kanye West)
"Started From The Bottom" - W. Coleman, Aubrey Graham & Noah Shebib,
songwriters (Bruno Sanfilippo, songwriter) (Drake)
"Thrift Shop" - Ben Haggerty & Ryan Lewis, songwriters (Macklemore &
Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz)
BEST RAP ALBUM
"Nothing Was The Same" - Drake
"Magna Carta...Holy Grail" - Jay Z
"Good Kid, M.A.A.D City" - Kendrick Lamar
"The Heist" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
"Yeezus" - Kanye West
BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE
"I Drive Your Truck" - Lee Brice
"I Want Crazy" - Hunter Hayes
"Mama's Broken Heart" - Miranda Lambert
"Wagon Wheel" - Darius Rucker
"Mine Would Be You" - Blake Shelton
BEST COUNTRY DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
"From This Valley" - The Civil Wars
"Don't Rush" - Kelly Clarkson Featuring Vince Gill
"Your Side Of The Bed" - Little Big Town
"Highway Don't Care" - Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift & Keith Urban
"You Can't Make Old Friends" - Kenny Rogers With Dolly Parton
BEST COUNTRY SONG
"Begin Again" - Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
"I Drive Your Truck" - Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington & Jimmy
Yeary, songwriters (Lee Brice)
"Mama's Broken Heart" - Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally & Kacey
Musgraves, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
"Merry Go 'Round" - Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves & Josh Osborne,
songwriters (Kacey Musgraves)
"Mine Would Be You" - Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington & Deric
Ruttan, songwriters (Blake Shelton)
BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
"Night Train" - Jason Aldean
"Two Lanes Of Freedom" - Tim McGraw
"Same Trailer Different Park" - Kacey Musgraves
"Based On A True Story" - Blake Shelton
"Red" - Taylor Swift
BEST NEW AGE ALBUM
"Lux" - Brian Eno
"Illumination" - Peter Kater
"Final Call" - Kitaro
"Awakening The Fire" - R. Carlos Nakai & Will Clipman
"Love's River" - Laura Sullivan
BEST IMPROVISED JAZZ SOLO
"Don't Run" - Terence Blanchard, soloist
"Song For Maura" - Paquito D'Rivera, soloist
"Song Without Words #4: Duet" - Fred Hersch, soloist
"Stadium Jazz" - Donny McCaslin, soloist
"Orbits" - Wayne Shorter
BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM
"The World According To Andy Bey" - Andy Bey
"Attachments" - Lorraine Feather
"Liquid Spirit" - Gregory Porter
"WomanChild" - Cécile McLorin Salvant
"After Blue" - Tierney Sutton
MUSIC FOR VISUAL MEDIA
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media:
- Django Unchained – Various Artists
- The Great Gatsby (Deluxe Edition) – Various Artists
- Les Misérables (Deluxe Edition) – Various Artists
- Muscle Shoals – Various Artists
- Sound City: Real to Reel – Dave Grohl & Various Artists
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media:
- Argo - Alexandre Desplat, composer
- The Great Gatsby - Craig Armstrong, composer
- Life of Pi - Mychael Danna, composer
- Lincoln - John Williams, composer
- Skyfall - Thomas Newman, composer
- Zero Dark Thirty - Alexandre Desplat, composer
Best Song Written for Visual Media:
"Atlas" (from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)
Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters (performed by Coldplay)
"Silver Lining (Crazy 'Bout You)" (from Silver Linings Playbook)
Diane Warren, songwriter (performed by Jessie J)
"Skyfall" (from Skyfall)
Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth, songwriters (performed by Adele)
"We Both Know" (from Safe Haven)
Colbie Caillat & Gavin DeGraw, songwriters (performed by Colbie Caillat featuring Gavin DeGraw)
"Young and Beautiful" (from The Great Gatsby)
Lana Del Rey & Rick Nowels, songwriters (performed by Lana Del Rey)
"You've Got Time" (from "Orange Is the New Black")
Regina Spektor, songwriter (performed by Regina Spektor)
END
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Review: "Superman: The Movie" and Christopher Reeve Are Still Great
Superman: The Movie (1978)
Running time: 143 minutes (2 hours, 23 minutes)
MPAA – PG
DIRECTOR: Richard Donner
WRITERS: Mario Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman, and Robert Benton; from a story by Mario Puzo (based upon the characters and situations created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster)
PRODUCER: Pierre Spengler
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Geoffrey Unsworth
EDITORS: Stuart Baird and Michael Ellis
COMPOSER: John Williams
Academy Award winner
SUPERHERO/ACTION/DRAMA with elements of comedy and sci-fi
Starring: Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Ned Beatty, Jackie Cooper, Glenn Ford, Phyllis Thaxter, Valerie Perrine, Jeff East, Marc McClure, and Susannah York
The subject of this movie review is Superman: The Movie, a 1978 superhero drama and action film from director Richard Donner. This movie is based on the DC Comics character, Superman, created by comic book writer Jerry Siegel and comic book artist Joe Shuster. Superman: The Movie is a very good film, but more important is this film’s influence on the superhero movies that followed it. Superman: The Movie took its subject matter seriously and played it straight, rather than campy, proving that superhero movies could be more than silly comedies looking for cheap laughs.
Superman: The Movie is the first of four films starring the late actor, Christopher Reeve, in the role of Superman and also his civilian identity, Clark Kent. Although he does not receive a screenwriting credit, Tom Mankiewicz wrote Superman: The Movie’s final draft script. The father-son team of Alexander and Ilya Salkind produced this movie along with Pierre Spengler. The movie depicts Superman’s origin, from his birth on a distant planet to his youth in a rural small town, Smallville. The movie also begins to chronicle his adult life as a big city newspaper reporter and as Superman.
Mild-mannered Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) works as a reporter at The Daily Planet, one of the major newspapers in the city of Metropolis (a stand-in for New York City). He has a crush on fellow ace reporter, Lois Lane (Margot Kidder), but Lois has a crush on the flying, impossibly strong hero, Superman (Christopher Reeve). Superman, however, is the alter ego of Clark Kent, and Kent also has many other secrets. He’s from another world, the planet Krypton, and before Krypton exploded, his father, Jor-El (Marlon Brando) sent baby Clark, whose birth name is Kal-El, in a starship on a three-year journey to Earth. Shortly after the star ship carrying Kal-El crashes in a Kansas field, a middle-aged couple, Martha and Jonathan Kent (Phyllis Thaxter and Glenn Ford), takes Kal-El as their own and names him Clark Kent.
Not long after Superman reveals himself to the world, he runs up against the nefarious genius, Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman), who has launched a plan to destroy much of western California in a real estate scheme that will make him perhaps the richest man on earth, although it will kill millions of people. Superman has met his match. Not only must he save millions of lives, but he must also save his friends Lois and cub reporter, Jimmy Olsen (Marc McClure), and even Superman might not have enough time to do that.
Nearly 30 years after its first release, many critics and fans still consider director Richard Donner’s (The Omen) Oscar-nominated film, Superman: The Movie, to be the definitive big screen version of DC Comics’ venerable superhero. Christopher Reeve, a then unknown when cast to play Clark Kent/Superman, also remains for many the definitive screen Superman, be it TV or film (I personally prefer George Reeves of the 1950’s “Superman” TV series).
This version of Superman is an example of producer spending a large sums of money on a film and actually getting superior results. A talented director and crew of good writers took a cast that included a few great actors and movie stars, quality character actors, and some up and coming new talent and told an epic story that fills the viewer with the same kind of wonder of which the film itself is made. Everything works: Marlon Brando is a solemn, otherworldly, mystic-like figure that presides over the first half of the film like a grand marshal in an ambitious parade.
Gene Hackman is a smooth, scene-stealing, genius wise guy as Lex Luthor (and though I’m a big fan of Hackman, I’ve always had slight misgivings about Hackman as Luthor). Other cast members also resonate: Jackie Cooper is pitch-perfect tart as Planet boss, Perry White; Margot Kidder as Lois Lane is both tomboyish and girlish with a touch of feminism; and Marc McClure is spot-on as a Jimmy. Simply put, Reeve seems to embody both Clark and Superman. It’s as if he stepped out of a classic Superman comic book, and that’s enough to make it all work.
Superman’s technical aspects were also high quality. The visual effects are actually still good; they stand up to much of the high-priced, over-the-top computer effects done today. Using a harness and cranes to lift Christopher Reeve and give him the illusion of flying was and still is great stuff. As the film’s tagline says, “You’ll Believe a Man Can Fly.”
8 of 10
A
NOTES:
1979 Academy Awards, USA: 1 win: “Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects” (Les Bowie, Colin Chilvers, Denys N. Coop, Roy Field, Derek Meddings, and Zoran Perisic); 3 nominations: “Best Film Editing” (Stuart Baird), “Best Music, Original Score” (John Williams), and “Best Sound” (Gordon K. McCallum, Graham V. Hartstone, Nicolas Le Messurier, and Roy Charman)
1979 BAFTA Awards: 1 win: “Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles” (Christopher Reeve); 4 nominations: “Best Cinematography” (Geoffrey Unsworth), “Best Production Design/Art Direction” (John Barry), “Best Sound” (Chris Greenham, Gordon K. McCallum, Peter Pennell, Mike Hopkins, Pat Foster, Stan Fiferman, John Foster, Roy Charman, Norman Bolland, Brian Marshall, Charles Schmitz, Richard Raguse, and Chris Large), and “Best Supporting Actor” (Gene Hackman)
1979 Golden Globes, USA: 1 nomination: “Best Original Score - Motion Picture” (John Williams)
Friday, July 14, 2006
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Monday, April 8, 2013
Review: "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" is Both Different and Good
TRASH IN MY EYE No. 26 (of 2013) by Leroy Douresseaux
The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
Running time: 129 minutes (2 hours, 9 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for intense sci-fi terror and violence
DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg
WRITERS: David Koepp (from a novel The Lost World by Michael Crichton)
PRODUCERS: Gerald R. Molen and Colin Wilson
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Janusz Kaminski
EDITOR: Michael Kahn
COMPOSER: John Williams
Academy Award nominee
SCI-FI/ACTION/ADVENTURE/THRILLER
Starring: Jeff Goldblum, Julianne Moore, Pete Postlethwaite, Arliss Howard, Richard Attenborough, Vince Vaughn, Vanessa Lee Chester, Richard Schiff, Peter Stormare, Harvey Jason, Ariana Richards, and Joseph Mazzello
The subject of this movie review is The Lost World: Jurassic Park, a 1997 science fiction adventure film and thriller from director Steven Spielberg. It is the sequel to the 1993 film, Jurassic Park. The Lost World: Jurassic Park is loosely based on the 1995 novel, The Lost World, from author Michael Crichton. The first film is based on Crichton’s 1990 novel, Jurassic Park.
The Lost World: Jurassic Park opens four years after the events depicted in the first film. The story focuses on Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), a mathematician, chaos theorist, and one of the survivors of the disaster at Jurassic Park (located on the island of Isla Nublar). Ian is invited to the home of John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), the billionaire industrialist who created Jurassic Park. Hammond has lost control of his company, InGen, to his unscrupulous nephew, Peter Ludlow (Arliss Howard). Hammond asks Ian to lead a team to Isla Sorna; also known as “Site B,” this is where he initially engineered the dinosaurs before moving them to Jurassic Park.
Isla Sorna has become a “lost world,” where dinosaurs have been living free in the wild. Hammond wants the island to become a nature preserve. He needs a team to document the dinosaurs in their natural habitat, documentation Hammond hopes to use to rally support for the creation of a nature preserve. Ian initially refuses, as he has his daughter, Kelly Curtis Malcolm (Vanessa Lee Chester), in his custody. Ian changes his mind and rushes to the island when he learns that his girlfriend, Dr. Sarah Harding (Julianne Moore), is part of the team and is already on the island. Once on Isla Sorna, Ian discovers many unexpected visitors to an island full of unpredictable dinosaurs.
The Lost World: Jurassic Park is the only one of the three Jurassic Park films that I did not see during its theatrical release. When it was first released in 1997, I thought about seeing it, but a friend of mine (Pete) told me he hated it. I did see The Lost World when it first arrived on VHS, and though I liked the movie, I could see that it paled in comparison to Jurassic Park: the movie, memories of it, and the feelings it evoked. Since I first saw The Lost World, I have seen it countless other times (as with Jurassic Park). I have either liked it or had mixed feelings, leaning towards the positive, about it. Recently, I have started to like The Lost World more and more with each viewing.
The Lost World and the original Jurassic Park are different films. Jurassic Park is a fantasy adventure, wearing a genre suit that is half science fiction-techno thriller and half action thriller. In spite of its violence and intense elements, Jurassic Park is a family film and juvenile fantasy filled with a sense of wonder and discovery. The Lost World is an adult drama that is part monster movie, part science fiction adventure, and part action-thriller.
The Lost World does not have a sense of wonder and discovery about it. It is darker, where its forebear is light and magical (thanks to the magic of Hollywood visual and special effects). The Lost World is the dark side of the mess adults make of the world with their corporations, schemes, mistakes, and even good intentions. Where is the fun in that? As scary and amazing as the Velociraptors are in the Jurassic Park, they’re just filthy, nasty, ugly things that need to be killed in The Lost World. Even the cameo appearance of Jurassic Park’s child stars, Ariana Richards and Joseph Mazzello, as, respectively, Lex and Tim Murphy, only serves to remind that this movie is something different from the first movie.
I think when you accept what The Lost World is and also is not (Jurassic Park), you can really enjoy the sequel. I think it is a fine movie, although not the all-time great I think Jurassic Park is. I am also glad that Jeff Goldblum appears in The Lost World. The third film, Jurassic Park III, clearly misses Goldblum’s acerbic, but resourceful Dr. Ian Malcolm. He is the main reason I have come to really like The Lost World: Jurassic Park and why I’ll probably watch it again… soon.
8 of 10
A
NOTES:
1998 Academy Awards, USA: 1 nomination: “Best Effects, Visual Effects” (Dennis Muren, Stan Winston, Randy Dutra, and Michael Lantieri)
1998 Image Awards: 1 nomination: “Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress” (Vanessa Lee Chester)
1998 Razzie Awards: 3 nominations: “Worst Reckless Disregard for Human Life and Public Property,” “Worst Remake or Sequel,” and “Worst Screenplay” (David Koepp)
Sunday, April 07, 2013
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Friday, February 8, 2013
2013 Grammy Nominations in the Top Catagories - A List
The Grammy Awards (or Grammys) are given out by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States. The Grammy is an accolade that recognizes outstanding achievement in the music industry. It is the music industry equivalent to the Academy Awards for film, the Emmy Awards for television, and the Tony Award for stage.
There are currently 81 categories, up from 78 at the 54th Grammy Awards. The three new categories are “Best Classical Compendium,” “Best Latin Jazz Album,” and “Best Urban Contemporary Album.”
The 55th Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 10, 2013, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The show will be broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT and will be hosted for the second time by LL Cool J. Nominations were announced on December 5, 2012
Nominees in top categories for the 55th annual Grammy Awards:
Record of the Year:
"Lonely Boy," The Black Keys
"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," Kelly Clarkson
"We Are Young," fun. featuring Janelle Monae
"Somebody That I Used To Know," Gotye Featuring Kimbra
"Thinkin Bout You," Frank Ocean
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," Taylor Swift.
Album of the Year:
"El Camino," The Black Keys
"Some Nights," fun.
"Babel," Mumford & Sons
"Channel Orange," Frank Ocean
"Blunderbuss," Jack White.
Song of the Year:
"The A Team," Ed Sheeran, songwriter (performed by Ed Sheeran)
"Adorn," Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)
"Call Me Maybe" Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen & Josh Ramsay, songwriters (Carly Rae Jepsen)
"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," Jorgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin & Ali Tamposi, songwriters (Kelly Clarkson)
"We Are Young," Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (fun. featuring Janelle Monáe).
New Artist:
Alabama Shakes
fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean
Pop Vocal Album:
"Stronger," Kelly Clarkson
"Ceremonials," Florence & The Machine
"Some Nights," fun.
"Overexposed," Maroon 5
"The Truth About Love," Pink
Rock Album:
"El Camino," The Black Keys
"Mylo Xyloto," Coldplay
"The 2nd Law," Muse
"Wrecking Ball," Bruce Springsteen
"Blunderbuss," Jack White
R&B Album:
"Black Radio," Robert Glasper Experiment
"Back To Love," Anthony Hamilton
"Write Me Back," R. Kelly
"Beautiful Surprise," Tamia
"Open Invitation," Tyrese
Rap Album:
"Take Care," Drake
"Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1," Lupe Fiasco
"Life Is Good," Nas
"Undun," The Roots
"God Forgives, I Don't," Rick Ross
"Based on a T.R.U. Story," Chainz
Country Album:
"Uncaged," Zac Brown Band
"Hunter Hayes," Hunter Hayes
"Living For A Song: A Tribute To Hank Cochran," Jamey Johnson
"Four The Record," Miranda Lambert
"The Time Jumpers," The Time Jumpers
Latin Pop, Rock or Urban Album:
"Campo," Campo;
"Dejenme Llorar," Carla Morrison
"Imaginaries," Quetzal
"Electro-Jarocho," Sistema Bomb
"La Bala," Ana Tijoux
Jazz Vocal Album:
"Soul Shadows," Denise Donatelli
"1619 Broadway: The Brill Building Project," Kurt Elling
"Live," Al Jarreau (And The Metropole Orkest)
"The Book Of Chet," Luciana Souza
"Radio Music Society," Esperanza Spalding
A top category that does not get enough attention, as far as I’m concerned:
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical:
1. Dan Auerbach
2. Jeff Bhasker
3. Diplo
4. Markus Dravs
5. Salaam Remi
Of concern to movie fans are the film music and soundtrack categories:
Music for Visual Media
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media (best movie soundtrack)
1. The Descendants – Various Artists
2. Marley – Bob Marley & The Wailers
3. Midnight In Paris – Various Artists
4. The Muppets – Various Artists
5. Rock Of Ages – Various Artists
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (best original music-score for a film)
1. The Adventures Of Tintin - The Secret Of The Unicorn – John Williams, composer
2. The Artist – Ludovic Bource, composer
3. The Dark Knight Rises – Hans Zimmer, composer
4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, composers
5. Hugo – Howard Shore, composer
6. Journey – Austin Wintory, composer
Best Song Written for Visual Media (best song for film or television)
"Abraham's Daughter" (from The Hunger Games)
T Bone Burnett, Win Butler & Régine Chassagne, songwriters (performed by Arcade Fire)
"Learn Me Right" (from Brave)
Mumford & Sons, songwriters (performed by Birdy & Mumford & Sons)
"Let Me Be Your Star" (from Smash)
Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, songwriters (performed by Katharine McPhee & Megan Hilty"
"Man or Muppet" (from The Muppets)
Bret McKenzie, songwriter (performed by Jason Segel & Walter)
"Safe & Sound" (from The Hunger Games)
T Bone Burnett, Taylor Swift, John Paul White & Joy Williams, songwriters (performed Taylor Swift Featuring The Civil Wars)
Nominees in the three new categories for the 55th Grammys:
Best Classical Compendium
1. Partch: Bitter Music - Partch, ensemble; John Schneider, producer
2. Penderecki: Fonogrammi; Horn Concerto; Partita; The Awakening Of Jacob; Anaklasis - Antoni Wit, conductor; Aleksandra Nagórko & Andrzej Sasin, producers
3. Une Fête Baroque - Emmanuelle Haïm, conductor; Daniel Zalay, producer
Best Latin Jazz Album
1. Flamenco Sketches – Chano Domínguez
2. ¡Ritmo! – The Clare Fischer Latin Jazz Big Band
3. Multiverse – Bobby Sanabria Big Band
4. Duos III – Luciana Souza
5. New Cuban Express – Manuel Valera New Cuban Express
Best Urban Contemporary Album
1. Fortune – Chris Brown
2. Kaleidoscope Dream – Miguel
3. Channel Orange – Frank Ocean
There are currently 81 categories, up from 78 at the 54th Grammy Awards. The three new categories are “Best Classical Compendium,” “Best Latin Jazz Album,” and “Best Urban Contemporary Album.”
The 55th Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 10, 2013, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The show will be broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT and will be hosted for the second time by LL Cool J. Nominations were announced on December 5, 2012
Nominees in top categories for the 55th annual Grammy Awards:
Record of the Year:
"Lonely Boy," The Black Keys
"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," Kelly Clarkson
"We Are Young," fun. featuring Janelle Monae
"Somebody That I Used To Know," Gotye Featuring Kimbra
"Thinkin Bout You," Frank Ocean
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," Taylor Swift.
Album of the Year:
"El Camino," The Black Keys
"Some Nights," fun.
"Babel," Mumford & Sons
"Channel Orange," Frank Ocean
"Blunderbuss," Jack White.
Song of the Year:
"The A Team," Ed Sheeran, songwriter (performed by Ed Sheeran)
"Adorn," Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)
"Call Me Maybe" Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen & Josh Ramsay, songwriters (Carly Rae Jepsen)
"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," Jorgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin & Ali Tamposi, songwriters (Kelly Clarkson)
"We Are Young," Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (fun. featuring Janelle Monáe).
New Artist:
Alabama Shakes
fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean
Pop Vocal Album:
"Stronger," Kelly Clarkson
"Ceremonials," Florence & The Machine
"Some Nights," fun.
"Overexposed," Maroon 5
"The Truth About Love," Pink
Rock Album:
"El Camino," The Black Keys
"Mylo Xyloto," Coldplay
"The 2nd Law," Muse
"Wrecking Ball," Bruce Springsteen
"Blunderbuss," Jack White
R&B Album:
"Black Radio," Robert Glasper Experiment
"Back To Love," Anthony Hamilton
"Write Me Back," R. Kelly
"Beautiful Surprise," Tamia
"Open Invitation," Tyrese
Rap Album:
"Take Care," Drake
"Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1," Lupe Fiasco
"Life Is Good," Nas
"Undun," The Roots
"God Forgives, I Don't," Rick Ross
"Based on a T.R.U. Story," Chainz
Country Album:
"Uncaged," Zac Brown Band
"Hunter Hayes," Hunter Hayes
"Living For A Song: A Tribute To Hank Cochran," Jamey Johnson
"Four The Record," Miranda Lambert
"The Time Jumpers," The Time Jumpers
Latin Pop, Rock or Urban Album:
"Campo," Campo;
"Dejenme Llorar," Carla Morrison
"Imaginaries," Quetzal
"Electro-Jarocho," Sistema Bomb
"La Bala," Ana Tijoux
Jazz Vocal Album:
"Soul Shadows," Denise Donatelli
"1619 Broadway: The Brill Building Project," Kurt Elling
"Live," Al Jarreau (And The Metropole Orkest)
"The Book Of Chet," Luciana Souza
"Radio Music Society," Esperanza Spalding
A top category that does not get enough attention, as far as I’m concerned:
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical:
1. Dan Auerbach
2. Jeff Bhasker
3. Diplo
4. Markus Dravs
5. Salaam Remi
Of concern to movie fans are the film music and soundtrack categories:
Music for Visual Media
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media (best movie soundtrack)
1. The Descendants – Various Artists
2. Marley – Bob Marley & The Wailers
3. Midnight In Paris – Various Artists
4. The Muppets – Various Artists
5. Rock Of Ages – Various Artists
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (best original music-score for a film)
1. The Adventures Of Tintin - The Secret Of The Unicorn – John Williams, composer
2. The Artist – Ludovic Bource, composer
3. The Dark Knight Rises – Hans Zimmer, composer
4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, composers
5. Hugo – Howard Shore, composer
6. Journey – Austin Wintory, composer
Best Song Written for Visual Media (best song for film or television)
"Abraham's Daughter" (from The Hunger Games)
T Bone Burnett, Win Butler & Régine Chassagne, songwriters (performed by Arcade Fire)
"Learn Me Right" (from Brave)
Mumford & Sons, songwriters (performed by Birdy & Mumford & Sons)
"Let Me Be Your Star" (from Smash)
Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, songwriters (performed by Katharine McPhee & Megan Hilty"
"Man or Muppet" (from The Muppets)
Bret McKenzie, songwriter (performed by Jason Segel & Walter)
"Safe & Sound" (from The Hunger Games)
T Bone Burnett, Taylor Swift, John Paul White & Joy Williams, songwriters (performed Taylor Swift Featuring The Civil Wars)
Nominees in the three new categories for the 55th Grammys:
Best Classical Compendium
1. Partch: Bitter Music - Partch, ensemble; John Schneider, producer
2. Penderecki: Fonogrammi; Horn Concerto; Partita; The Awakening Of Jacob; Anaklasis - Antoni Wit, conductor; Aleksandra Nagórko & Andrzej Sasin, producers
3. Une Fête Baroque - Emmanuelle Haïm, conductor; Daniel Zalay, producer
Best Latin Jazz Album
1. Flamenco Sketches – Chano Domínguez
2. ¡Ritmo! – The Clare Fischer Latin Jazz Big Band
3. Multiverse – Bobby Sanabria Big Band
4. Duos III – Luciana Souza
5. New Cuban Express – Manuel Valera New Cuban Express
Best Urban Contemporary Album
1. Fortune – Chris Brown
2. Kaleidoscope Dream – Miguel
3. Channel Orange – Frank Ocean
Sunday, January 13, 2013
"Argo" Wins Critics' Choice "Best Picture" Award
The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) honored Argo with its "Best Picture" and "Best Director" awards. In fact, Ben Affleck picked up his best director trophy for Argo the same day he did not receive an expected best director Oscar nomination for Argo. Silver Linings Playbook received four awards and Skyfall received three.
The BFCA announced the winners of the 18th annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards. The winners were announced at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards ceremony on Thursday, January 10, 2013, which was broadcast live on the CW Network.
18th Annual Critics' Choice Awards: Complete List of Winners for the Year in Film – 2012:
BEST PICTURE
Winner: Argo
BEST DIRECTOR
Winner: Ben Affleck – Argo
BEST ACTOR
Winner: Daniel Day-Lewis – Lincoln
BEST ACTRESS
Winner: Jessica Chastain – Zero Dark Thirty
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Winner: Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Master
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Winner: Anne Hathaway – Les Miserables
BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS
Winner: Quvenzhane Wallis – Beasts of the Southern Wild
BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
Winner: Silver Linings Playbook
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Winner: Quentin Tarantino – Django Unchained
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Winner: Tony Kushner – Lincoln
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Winner: Life of Pi – Claudio Miranda
BEST ART DIRECTION
Winner: Anna Karenina – Sarah Greenwood/Production Designer, Katie Spencer/Set Decorator
BEST EDITING
Winner: Zero Dark Thirty – William Goldenberg, Dylan Tichenor
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Winner: Anna Karenina – Jacqueline Durran
BEST MAKEUP
Winner: Cloud Atlas
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Winner: Life of Pi
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Winner: Wreck-It Ralph
BEST ACTION MOVIE
Winner: Skyfall
BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Winner: Daniel Craig – Skyfall
BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Winner: Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games
BEST COMEDY
Winner: Silver Linings Playbook
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Winner: Bradley Cooper – Silver Linings Playbook
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Winner: Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook
BEST SCI-FI/HORROR MOVIE
Winner: Looper
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Winner: Amour (Austria)
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Winner: Searching for Sugar Man
BEST SONG
Winner: “Skyfall” – performed by Adele/written by Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth – Skyfall
BEST SCORE
Winner: Lincoln – John Williams
The BFCA announced the winners of the 18th annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards. The winners were announced at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards ceremony on Thursday, January 10, 2013, which was broadcast live on the CW Network.
18th Annual Critics' Choice Awards: Complete List of Winners for the Year in Film – 2012:
BEST PICTURE
Winner: Argo
BEST DIRECTOR
Winner: Ben Affleck – Argo
BEST ACTOR
Winner: Daniel Day-Lewis – Lincoln
BEST ACTRESS
Winner: Jessica Chastain – Zero Dark Thirty
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Winner: Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Master
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Winner: Anne Hathaway – Les Miserables
BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS
Winner: Quvenzhane Wallis – Beasts of the Southern Wild
BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
Winner: Silver Linings Playbook
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Winner: Quentin Tarantino – Django Unchained
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Winner: Tony Kushner – Lincoln
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Winner: Life of Pi – Claudio Miranda
BEST ART DIRECTION
Winner: Anna Karenina – Sarah Greenwood/Production Designer, Katie Spencer/Set Decorator
BEST EDITING
Winner: Zero Dark Thirty – William Goldenberg, Dylan Tichenor
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Winner: Anna Karenina – Jacqueline Durran
BEST MAKEUP
Winner: Cloud Atlas
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Winner: Life of Pi
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Winner: Wreck-It Ralph
BEST ACTION MOVIE
Winner: Skyfall
BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Winner: Daniel Craig – Skyfall
BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Winner: Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games
BEST COMEDY
Winner: Silver Linings Playbook
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Winner: Bradley Cooper – Silver Linings Playbook
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Winner: Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook
BEST SCI-FI/HORROR MOVIE
Winner: Looper
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Winner: Amour (Austria)
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Winner: Searching for Sugar Man
BEST SONG
Winner: “Skyfall” – performed by Adele/written by Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth – Skyfall
BEST SCORE
Winner: Lincoln – John Williams
Friday, January 11, 2013
2013 Oscar Nominations: "Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score"
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
Anna Karenina: Dario Marianelli
Argo: Alexandre Desplat
Life of Pi: Mychael Danna
Lincoln: John Williams
Skyfall: Thomas Newman
Anna Karenina: Dario Marianelli
Argo: Alexandre Desplat
Life of Pi: Mychael Danna
Lincoln: John Williams
Skyfall: Thomas Newman
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
"E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" Still a Wonder
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Running time: 115 minutes (1 hour, 55 minutes)
MPAA – PG
DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg
WRITER: Melissa Mathison
PRODUCERS: Kathleen Kennedy and Steven Spielberg
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Allen Daviau (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Carol Littleton
COMPOSER: John Williams
Academy Award winner
SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY/DRAMA
Starring: Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, and Peter Coyote
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the first release of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial to theatres (specifically June 11, 1982). E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial is the story of an alienated boy and the stranded alien from another world he befriends. The boy must be brave if he is to help the extraterrestrial avoid authorities until he is rescued by his kin. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this Academy Award-winning, science fiction and fantasy drama surpassed Star Wars as the highest-grossing film of all time, and it held that record for ten years until another Spielberg film, Jurassic Park, surpassed it.
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial opens in a lush California forest where a group of diminutive aliens collect plant samples. One of them is mistakenly left behind and makes his way to a suburb near the forest. There, he takes up residence in a backyard shed, where he is found by 10-year-old Elliot (Henry Thomas). Elliot lives in a two-story home with his recently divorced mother, Mary (Dee Wallace); his older brother, 16-year-old Michael (Robert MacNaughton), and his little sister, 5-year-old Gertie (Drew Barrymore).
Elliot names his extraterrestrial foundling, “E.T.” Elliot and his siblings hide E.T. in their home, but Elliot soon discovers that in order to protect his friend, he must help him find a way home (“E.T. phone home”).
I had not watched E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial in its entirety since I first saw it 30 years ago, back in June 1982. With the release of an anniversary edition Blu-ray, I decided to watch it again, and I’m simply amazed and flabbergasted. Over the years, I always thought that if I watched E.T. again that I might still like the movie, but certainly not as much as I did the first time I saw it. And I was quite taken with it back in ’82. I was practically heartbroken when it lost the best picture Oscar to Gandhi. In fact, I even thought that I might not like E.T. if I watched it again.
As Sir Richard Attenborough, the Oscar-winning director and producer of Gandhi once said, E.T. is inventive, powerful, and wonderful. There is a sense of magic and wonder that permeates the film, infused by Steven Spielberg, who spins this story as if he were part magical storyteller and part wizard. He pulls from his bag of tricks and makes everything work by using the magic of movies.
The film’s most famous sequence is probably the one in which Elliot and E.T. fly to the forest on Elliot’s bike. One of the moments in that sequence has the bike passing in front of a full moon, which has become an iconic moment in cinematic history. Actually, the great moment of magic in E.T. for me is when E.T., Elliot, Michael and their friends are on their bikes on the run from pursuing police. When it seems as if they have reached a dead end, E.T. uses his telekinesis to lift the bikes in the air towards the forest.
When I watched the movie recently, I knew that scene was coming; yet seeing it again, I lost my breath for a moment. This is a spellbinding sequence that still blows my mind and even makes my eyes a little misty. Yep, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial is still magical. God willing, I’ll watch it in another 30 years and see if I’m still spellbound.
9 of 10
A+
NOTES:
1983 Academy Awards: 4 wins: “Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing” (Charles L. Campbell and Ben Burtt), “Best Effects, Visual Effects” (Carlo Rambaldi, Dennis Muren, and Kenneth Smith), “Best Music, Original Score” (John Williams), and “Best Sound” (Robert Knudson, Robert Glass, Don Digirolamo, and Gene S. Cantamessa); 5 nominations: “Best Picture” (Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy), “Best Cinematography” (Allen Daviau), “Best Director” (Steven Spielberg), “Best Film Editing” (Carol Littleton), and “Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen” (Melissa Mathison)
1983 BAFTA Awards: 1 win: “Best Score” (John Williams); 11 nominations: “Best Direction” (Steven Spielberg), “Best Film” (Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy), “Best Cinematography” (Allen Daviau), “Best Film Editing” (Carol Littleton), “Best Make Up Artist” (Robert Sidell), “Best Production Design/Art Direction” (James D. Bissell), “Best Screenplay” (Melissa Mathison), “Best Sound” (Charles L. Campbell, Gene S. Cantamessa, Robert Knudson, Robert Glass, and Don Digirolamo), “Best Special Visual Effects” (Dennis Muren and Carlo Rambaldi), “Most Outstanding Newcomer to Leading Film Roles” (Drew Barrymore), and “Most Outstanding Newcomer to Leading Film Roles” (Henry Thomas)
1983 Golden Globes, USA: 2 wins: “Best Motion Picture – Drama” and “Best Original Score - Motion Picture” (John Williams); 3 nominations: “Best Director - Motion Picture” (Steven Spielberg), “Best Screenplay - Motion Picture” (Melissa Mathison) and “New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture – Male” (Henry Thomas)
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
Saturday, September 15, 2012
"E.T." Gets 30th Anniversary New Theatrical Release and Blu-ray Debut
“E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” Returns to Cinemas for 30th Anniversary Celebration
Commemorating Universal Pictures' 100th Anniversary, NCM® Fathom Events and TCM Presents a Newly Remastered Version of Steven Spielberg’s Unforgettable Classic Adventure in Select Movie Theaters on October 3
CENTENNIAL, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This fall, movie theater audiences nationwide will “phone home" once again as Steven Spielberg's beloved film “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” returns to the big screen in honor of its 30th Anniversary. “TCM Presents ‘E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial’ 30th Anniversary Event” will take place Wednesday, October 3 at 7:00 p.m. local time, with special matinee screenings in select theaters at 2:00 p.m. local time. Presented by NCM® Fathom Events, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and Universal Pictures as part of the studio's 100th Anniversary celebration, the event features the all-new, digitally remastered feature film, as well as a special taped introduction by TCM host Ben Mankiewicz, who will take audiences through the making of this modern classic. Fans will discover how Spielberg came up with the idea for “E.T.” and learn what working on the film was like for the film’s three young stars. As an added treat, Drew Barrymore, who plays Gertie in the film and who currently co-hosts TCM’s “The Essentials” showcase, shares what the film means to her 30 years later.
Tickets for “TCM Presents ‘E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial’ 30th Anniversary Event” are available now at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. The event will be presented using new digital cinema projection systems in more than 560 select movie theaters around the country. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, visit the NCM Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).
“E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” stars Henry Thomas as Elliott, an imaginative boy who meets a lost alien and forges of one of cinema’s most endearing friendships. With help from his older brother, Michael (Robert MacNaughton), and little sister, Gertie (Barrymore), Elliott sets out to help the visitor find his way back home before government agents can capture him. Dee Wallace and Peter Coyote co-star.
Released in 1982, “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” became the biggest blockbuster of the year, ranking No. 1 over 16 different weekends. Today, “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” remains the fourth most successful movie of all time in the domestic box office (Adjusted for ticket price inflation). Nominated for nine Academy Awards®, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Writing and Best Screenplay, the film took home four Oscars® for Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Effects Editing, Best Sound and Best Music for John Williams’ now-iconic score.
“Thirty years ago, Steven Spielberg introduced the world to E.T. – the alien who stole our hearts with a timeless and endearing story about friendship and courage,” said Shelly Maxwell, executive vice president of NCM Fathom Events. “Together with TCM and Universal Pictures, Fathom Events invites audiences – young and old – to experience the magic of ‘E.T.’ once again in movie theaters.”
Universal Studios Home Entertainment will celebrate the 30th anniversary of “E.T. The Extra- Terrestrial” with the film’s Blu-ray™ release on Tuesday, October 9. Featuring an all-new, digitally remastered picture, as well as all-new 7.1 surround sound, the “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” Anniversary Edition Blu-ray™ Combo Pack includes the 1982 theatrical movie, an all-new interview with Spielberg, and “The E.T. Journals,” featuring never-before-seen footage from the set of the film.
About National CineMedia (NCM)
NCM operates NCM Media Networks, a leading integrated media company reaching U.S. consumers in movie theaters, online and through mobile technology. The NCM Cinema Network and NCM Fathom present cinema advertising and events across the nation’s largest digital in-theater network, comprised of theaters owned by AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK), Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) and other leading regional theater circuits. NCM’s theater advertising network covers 181 Designated Market Areas® (49 of the top 50) and includes over 19,000 screens (approximately 18,100 digital). During 2011, approximately 680 million patrons (on an annualized basis) attended movies shown in theaters in which NCM currently has exclusive, cinema advertising agreements in place. The NCM Fathom Events live digital broadcast network (“DBN”) is comprised of over 700 locations in 170 Designated Market Areas® (including all of the top 50). The NCM Interactive Network offers 360-degree integrated marketing opportunities in combination with cinema, encompassing 42 entertainment-related websites, online widgets and mobile applications. National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCMI) owns a 48.6% interest in and is the managing member of National CineMedia LLC. For more information, visit www.ncm.com or www.FathomEvents.com.
About Turner Classic Movies (TCM)
Turner Classic Movies is a Peabody Award-winning network that presents great films, uncut and commercial-free, from the largest film libraries in the world. Currently seen in more than 86 million homes, TCM features the insights of veteran primetime host Robert Osborne and host Ben Mankiewicz, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests. As the foremost authority in classic films, TCM offers critically acclaimed original documentaries and specials, along with regular programming events that include The Essentials with Robert Osborne and Drew Barrymore, Essentials Jr. with Bill Hader, 31 Days of Oscar® and Summer Under the Stars. TCM also stages special events and screenings, such as the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood and the TCM Classic Cruise; produces a wide range of media about classic film, including books and DVDs; and hosts a wealth of materials on its website, http://www.tcm.com. TCM is part of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company.
Academy Awards® and Oscar® are both registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
About Universal Studios Home Entertainment
In honor of its Centennial anniversary, Universal Pictures proudly salutes 100 years of unforgettable films that have entertained audiences and touched the hearts of millions around the globe. In celebration of our first 100 years, Universal Studios Home Entertainment is proud to present a selection of our many beloved movies as part of an extensive year-long program that underscores the studio’s rich cinematic history and indelible cultural impact.
Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49% stake.
Commemorating Universal Pictures' 100th Anniversary, NCM® Fathom Events and TCM Presents a Newly Remastered Version of Steven Spielberg’s Unforgettable Classic Adventure in Select Movie Theaters on October 3
CENTENNIAL, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This fall, movie theater audiences nationwide will “phone home" once again as Steven Spielberg's beloved film “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” returns to the big screen in honor of its 30th Anniversary. “TCM Presents ‘E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial’ 30th Anniversary Event” will take place Wednesday, October 3 at 7:00 p.m. local time, with special matinee screenings in select theaters at 2:00 p.m. local time. Presented by NCM® Fathom Events, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and Universal Pictures as part of the studio's 100th Anniversary celebration, the event features the all-new, digitally remastered feature film, as well as a special taped introduction by TCM host Ben Mankiewicz, who will take audiences through the making of this modern classic. Fans will discover how Spielberg came up with the idea for “E.T.” and learn what working on the film was like for the film’s three young stars. As an added treat, Drew Barrymore, who plays Gertie in the film and who currently co-hosts TCM’s “The Essentials” showcase, shares what the film means to her 30 years later.
Tickets for “TCM Presents ‘E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial’ 30th Anniversary Event” are available now at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. The event will be presented using new digital cinema projection systems in more than 560 select movie theaters around the country. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, visit the NCM Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).
“E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” stars Henry Thomas as Elliott, an imaginative boy who meets a lost alien and forges of one of cinema’s most endearing friendships. With help from his older brother, Michael (Robert MacNaughton), and little sister, Gertie (Barrymore), Elliott sets out to help the visitor find his way back home before government agents can capture him. Dee Wallace and Peter Coyote co-star.
Released in 1982, “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” became the biggest blockbuster of the year, ranking No. 1 over 16 different weekends. Today, “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” remains the fourth most successful movie of all time in the domestic box office (Adjusted for ticket price inflation). Nominated for nine Academy Awards®, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Writing and Best Screenplay, the film took home four Oscars® for Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Effects Editing, Best Sound and Best Music for John Williams’ now-iconic score.
“Thirty years ago, Steven Spielberg introduced the world to E.T. – the alien who stole our hearts with a timeless and endearing story about friendship and courage,” said Shelly Maxwell, executive vice president of NCM Fathom Events. “Together with TCM and Universal Pictures, Fathom Events invites audiences – young and old – to experience the magic of ‘E.T.’ once again in movie theaters.”
Universal Studios Home Entertainment will celebrate the 30th anniversary of “E.T. The Extra- Terrestrial” with the film’s Blu-ray™ release on Tuesday, October 9. Featuring an all-new, digitally remastered picture, as well as all-new 7.1 surround sound, the “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” Anniversary Edition Blu-ray™ Combo Pack includes the 1982 theatrical movie, an all-new interview with Spielberg, and “The E.T. Journals,” featuring never-before-seen footage from the set of the film.
About National CineMedia (NCM)
NCM operates NCM Media Networks, a leading integrated media company reaching U.S. consumers in movie theaters, online and through mobile technology. The NCM Cinema Network and NCM Fathom present cinema advertising and events across the nation’s largest digital in-theater network, comprised of theaters owned by AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK), Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) and other leading regional theater circuits. NCM’s theater advertising network covers 181 Designated Market Areas® (49 of the top 50) and includes over 19,000 screens (approximately 18,100 digital). During 2011, approximately 680 million patrons (on an annualized basis) attended movies shown in theaters in which NCM currently has exclusive, cinema advertising agreements in place. The NCM Fathom Events live digital broadcast network (“DBN”) is comprised of over 700 locations in 170 Designated Market Areas® (including all of the top 50). The NCM Interactive Network offers 360-degree integrated marketing opportunities in combination with cinema, encompassing 42 entertainment-related websites, online widgets and mobile applications. National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCMI) owns a 48.6% interest in and is the managing member of National CineMedia LLC. For more information, visit www.ncm.com or www.FathomEvents.com.
About Turner Classic Movies (TCM)
Turner Classic Movies is a Peabody Award-winning network that presents great films, uncut and commercial-free, from the largest film libraries in the world. Currently seen in more than 86 million homes, TCM features the insights of veteran primetime host Robert Osborne and host Ben Mankiewicz, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests. As the foremost authority in classic films, TCM offers critically acclaimed original documentaries and specials, along with regular programming events that include The Essentials with Robert Osborne and Drew Barrymore, Essentials Jr. with Bill Hader, 31 Days of Oscar® and Summer Under the Stars. TCM also stages special events and screenings, such as the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood and the TCM Classic Cruise; produces a wide range of media about classic film, including books and DVDs; and hosts a wealth of materials on its website, http://www.tcm.com. TCM is part of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company.
Academy Awards® and Oscar® are both registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
About Universal Studios Home Entertainment
In honor of its Centennial anniversary, Universal Pictures proudly salutes 100 years of unforgettable films that have entertained audiences and touched the hearts of millions around the globe. In celebration of our first 100 years, Universal Studios Home Entertainment is proud to present a selection of our many beloved movies as part of an extensive year-long program that underscores the studio’s rich cinematic history and indelible cultural impact.
Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49% stake.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Review: "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" Retains Its Innocence"
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
Running time: 136 minutes (2 hours, 16 minutes)
MPAA – PG for sci-fi action/violence
WRITER/DIRECTOR: George Lucas
PRODUCER: Rick McCallum
CINEMATOGRAPHER: David Tattersall (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Ben Burtt and Paul Martin Smith
COMPOSER: John Williams
Academy Award nominee
SCI-FI/FANTASY/ACTION/ADVENTURE with elements of a thriller
Starring: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Pernilla August, (voice) Frank Oz, Ian McDiarmid, Oliver Ford Davies, Hugh Quarshie, (voice) Ahmed Best, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Terrence Stamp, Brian Blessed, Andrew Secombe, Ray Park, (voice) Lewis Macleod, Steven Spiers, Silas Carson, Ralph Brown, and Samuel L. Jackson
The 1999 film, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, is the fourth release in the Star Wars film franchise. It is also the first film in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, a series of three movies in which the stories take place before the events depicted in the original Star Wars trilogy: Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Return of the Jedi (1983). The Phantom Menace has been recently re-released as a 3D feature.
Back in 1999, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace was highly-anticipated release, and although it was a tremendous success at the box office, the movie received mixed reviews from professional film critics and reviewers. The Phantom Menace received criticism from Star Wars fandom, some of it intense. However, I am a fan of The Phantom Menace, and it is my favorite of the three prequel films. My feelings about it are similar to a statement that Ewan McGregor, who starred in the film, made, and that is that The Phantom Menace is just a little fairy tale about a group of people running from one side of the galaxy to the other, having adventures. And I like going along with them on these adventures.
Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) are two Jedi Knights who must help Queen Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman) save her planet Naboo from the Trade Federation, which is determined to take it. Jar Jar Binks (Ahmed Best) is a Naboo outcast who joins the Jedi on their quest. After the group escapes from a Trade Federation-controlled Naboo, they land on the planet Tatooine, where they meet Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), a boy with the potential to be a powerful Jedi. Dark forces, however, hunt them in the guise of Darth Maul (Ray Park), an apprentice of the Sith, the Jedi’s ancient enemies.
Directed by George Lucas, The Phantom Menace is the first of three prequels to the original Star Wars movies (Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi). Lucas doesn’t give his cast the room to stretch their characters, and his dialogue is mostly wooden and awkward. It is often painfully obvious in how unpolished both the acting and the writing is. Neeson has the most room to roam, but McGregor’s talent is sadly wasted. The driest performance has to be that of Lloyd as the young Anakin Skywalker, he his moments. Jar Jar Binks is a computer-generated character, and while Best does excellent work in creating a unique voice for the character, Jar Jar is an annoying character.
Other than that, TPM is a blast. In a way, it is like a fairy tale in which the cast runs from one hot spot to another, barely staying ahead of the bad guys. In the pod race sequence that occurs in the middle of the film, one can see Lucas’s ability to craft scenes of breath taking intensity that match the best car chases and chase scenes with the flair of the movie serials of Hollywood’s bygone era. Maul’s attack on Qui-Gon and, later, the final battle between the two Jedi and the Sith apprentice are exciting and beautifully staged. In fact, the action sequences are so good that they make up for TPM’s duller moments.
Although it doesn’t recall the excitement of Star Wars or have the dramatic impact of The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is fun. It doesn’t try to be quality filmmaking so much as it dares to be quality, lightweight entertainment. And at that, it is very good.
7 of 10
A-
NOTES:
2000 Academy Awards: 3 nominations: “Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing” (Ben Burtt and Tom Bellfort), “Best Effects, Visual Effects” (John Knoll, Dennis Muren, Scott Squires, and Rob Coleman), and “Best Sound” (Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson, Shawn Murphy, and John Midgley)
2000 BAFTA Awards: 2 nominations: “Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects” (John Knoll, Dennis Muren, Scott Squires, and Rob Coleman) and “Best Sound” (Ben Burtt, Tom Bellfort, John Midgley, Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson, and Shawn Murphy)
2000 Razzie Awards: 1 win: “Worst Supporting Actor” (Ahmed Best, the voice of Jar-Jar Binks); 6 nominations: “Worst Picture” (20th Century-Fox), “Worst Director” (George Lucas), “Worst Screen Couple” (Jake Lloyd and Natalie Portman), “Worst Screenplay” (George Lucas), “Worst Supporting Actor” (Jake Lloyd), and “Worst Supporting Actress” (Sofia Coppola)
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Monday, February 6, 2012
2012 Annie Awards Winners - Complete List; "Rango" Wins Best Film
ASIFA-Hollywood, the Los Angeles, California branch of the International Animated Film Society, presents the Annie Awards. The Annie honors achievements in animation as a whole, including current animated productions, as well as career and lifetime achievements. At the beginning of this week, the group announced the nominations and award recipients for the 39th Annual Annie Awards.
Award recipients claimed their trophies at the 39th Annual Annie Awards in ceremony held Saturday, February 4, 2012 at UCLA's Royce Hall in Los Angeles, California.
39th (2012) Annual Annie Awards Winners:
PRODUCTION CATEGORIES
Best Animated Feature
Rango – Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies present A Blind Wink/GK Films Production
Annie Award for Best Animated Special Production
Kung Fu Panda – Secrets of the Masters – DreamWorks Animation
Best Animated Short Subject
Adam and Dog – Minkyu Lee
Best Animated Television Commercial
Twinings “Sea” – Psyop
Best General Audience Animated TV Production
The Simpsons – Gracie Films
Best Animated Television Production - Preschool
Disney Jake and the Never Land Pirates – Disney Television Animation
Best Animated Television Production – Children
The Amazing World of Gumball – Cartoon Network in Association with Dandelion Studios, Boulder Media
& Studio Soi
Best Animated Video Game
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet – Shadow Planet Productions, Gagne/Fuelcell
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES
Animated Effects in an Animated Production
Kevin Romond “Tintin” – Amblin Entertainment, Wingnut Films and Kennedy/Marshall
Animated Effects in a Live Action Production
Florent Andorra “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” – Industrial Light & Magic
Character Animation in a Television Production
Tony Smeed “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Character Animation in a Feature Production
Jeff Gabor “Rio” – Blue Sky Studios
Character Animation in a Live Action Production
Eric Reynolds “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” – 20th Century Fox
Character Design in a Television Production
Bill Schwab “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Character Design in a Feature Production
Mark “Crash” McCreery “Rango” – Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies present A Blind Wink/GK Films Production
Directing in a Television Production
Matthew Nastuk “The Simpsons” – Gracie Films
Directing in a Feature Production
Jennifer Yuh Nelson “Kung Fu Panda 2” – DreamWorks Animation
Music in a Television Production
Grace Potter, Michael Giacchino “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Music in a Feature Production
John Williams “Tintin” – Amblin Entertainment, Wingnut Films and Kennedy/Marshall
Production Design in a Television Production
Mark Bodnar, Chris Tsirgiotis, Sue Mondt and Daniel Elson “Secret Mountain Fort Awesome” – Cartoon Network Studios
Production Design in a Feature Production
Raymond Zibach “Kung Fu Panda 2” – DreamWorks Animation
Storyboarding in a Television Production
Brian Kesinger “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Storyboarding in a Feature Production
Jeremy Spears “Winnie The Pooh” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Voice Acting in a Television Production
Jeff Bennett as Kowalski “Penguins of Madagascar” – Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation
Voice Acting in a Feature Production
Bill Nighy as Grandsanta “Arthur Christmas” – Sony Pictures Animation, Aardman Animations
Writing in a Television Production
Carolyn Omine “The Simpsons -Treehouse of Horror XXII” – Gracie Films
Writing in a Feature Production
John Logan, Gore Verbinski and James Byrkit “Rango” – Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies present A Blind Wink/GK Films Productions
Editing in Television Production
Ted Machold, Jeff Adams, Doug Tiano, Bob Tomlin “Penguins of Madagascar” – Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation
Editing in a Feature Production
Craig Wood, A.C.E. “Rango” – Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies present A Blind Wink/GK Films Production
JURIED AWARDS
Winsor McCay Award —Walt Peregoy, Borge Ring, Ronald Searle
June Foray — Art Leonardi
Special Achievement — Depth Analysis
Award recipients claimed their trophies at the 39th Annual Annie Awards in ceremony held Saturday, February 4, 2012 at UCLA's Royce Hall in Los Angeles, California.
39th (2012) Annual Annie Awards Winners:
PRODUCTION CATEGORIES
Best Animated Feature
Rango – Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies present A Blind Wink/GK Films Production
Annie Award for Best Animated Special Production
Kung Fu Panda – Secrets of the Masters – DreamWorks Animation
Best Animated Short Subject
Adam and Dog – Minkyu Lee
Best Animated Television Commercial
Twinings “Sea” – Psyop
Best General Audience Animated TV Production
The Simpsons – Gracie Films
Best Animated Television Production - Preschool
Disney Jake and the Never Land Pirates – Disney Television Animation
Best Animated Television Production – Children
The Amazing World of Gumball – Cartoon Network in Association with Dandelion Studios, Boulder Media
& Studio Soi
Best Animated Video Game
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet – Shadow Planet Productions, Gagne/Fuelcell
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES
Animated Effects in an Animated Production
Kevin Romond “Tintin” – Amblin Entertainment, Wingnut Films and Kennedy/Marshall
Animated Effects in a Live Action Production
Florent Andorra “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” – Industrial Light & Magic
Character Animation in a Television Production
Tony Smeed “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Character Animation in a Feature Production
Jeff Gabor “Rio” – Blue Sky Studios
Character Animation in a Live Action Production
Eric Reynolds “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” – 20th Century Fox
Character Design in a Television Production
Bill Schwab “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Character Design in a Feature Production
Mark “Crash” McCreery “Rango” – Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies present A Blind Wink/GK Films Production
Directing in a Television Production
Matthew Nastuk “The Simpsons” – Gracie Films
Directing in a Feature Production
Jennifer Yuh Nelson “Kung Fu Panda 2” – DreamWorks Animation
Music in a Television Production
Grace Potter, Michael Giacchino “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Music in a Feature Production
John Williams “Tintin” – Amblin Entertainment, Wingnut Films and Kennedy/Marshall
Production Design in a Television Production
Mark Bodnar, Chris Tsirgiotis, Sue Mondt and Daniel Elson “Secret Mountain Fort Awesome” – Cartoon Network Studios
Production Design in a Feature Production
Raymond Zibach “Kung Fu Panda 2” – DreamWorks Animation
Storyboarding in a Television Production
Brian Kesinger “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Storyboarding in a Feature Production
Jeremy Spears “Winnie The Pooh” – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Voice Acting in a Television Production
Jeff Bennett as Kowalski “Penguins of Madagascar” – Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation
Voice Acting in a Feature Production
Bill Nighy as Grandsanta “Arthur Christmas” – Sony Pictures Animation, Aardman Animations
Writing in a Television Production
Carolyn Omine “The Simpsons -Treehouse of Horror XXII” – Gracie Films
Writing in a Feature Production
John Logan, Gore Verbinski and James Byrkit “Rango” – Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies present A Blind Wink/GK Films Productions
Editing in Television Production
Ted Machold, Jeff Adams, Doug Tiano, Bob Tomlin “Penguins of Madagascar” – Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation
Editing in a Feature Production
Craig Wood, A.C.E. “Rango” – Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies present A Blind Wink/GK Films Production
JURIED AWARDS
Winsor McCay Award —Walt Peregoy, Borge Ring, Ronald Searle
June Foray — Art Leonardi
Special Achievement — Depth Analysis
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
2012 Academy Award Nominations: Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score Nominees:
The Adventures of Tintin (2011): John Williams
The Artist (2011): Ludovic Bource
Hugo (2011): Howard Shore
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011): Alberto Iglesias
War Horse (2011): John Williams
The Adventures of Tintin (2011): John Williams
The Artist (2011): Ludovic Bource
Hugo (2011): Howard Shore
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011): Alberto Iglesias
War Horse (2011): John Williams
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Review: DiCaprio, Hanks Catch Fire in "Catch Me if You Can" (Happy B'day, Steven Spielberg)
Catch Me if You Can (2002)
Running time: 141 minutes (2 hours, 21 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for some sexual content and brief language
DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg
WRITER: Jeff Nathanson (based upon the book Catch Me If You Can: The Amazing True Story of the Youngest and Most Daring Con Man in the History of Fun and Profit by Frank W. Abagnale and Stan Redding
PRODUCERS: Walter F. Parkes and Steven Spielberg
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Janusz Kaminski
EDITOR: Michael Kahn
COMPOSER: John Williams
Academy Award nominee
COMEDY/CRIME/DRAMA
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, Nathalie Baye, James Brolin, Amy Adams, Nancy Lenehan, Ellen Pompeo, and Jennifer Garner
Steven Spielberg had two directorial works theatrically released in 2002. The first was the fantastic Minority Report (ahead of its time, perhaps), and the second was a box office smash that didn’t really feature any obvious directorial flourishes, Catch Me if You Can. It was as if Spielberg backed off a little (he wasn’t even among the top choices to direct this film), and let the film take a life of its own. Though plagued by a few scenes that could have been excluded (including one by the overrated and unattractive Jennifer Garner), it’s a very good film that relies not so much on the director or even on the intriguing tale (which is based upon a true story), but rather on the talents of its cast, in particular Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, and Christopher Walken.
When his parents’ financial security evaporates and causes their marriage to go kaput, 17-year old Frank Abagnale, Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) comes up with a way to get his father Frank, Sr. (Christopher Walken) flush in paper again. He becomes a successful con artist, managing to pass himself off as several identities, in particular as an airline pilot, a physician, and an attorney. However, it is his ingenious check fraud schemes that draw the attention of a relentless FBI agent, Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks), who begins a cross-country and trans-Atlantic chase to catch Frank, Jr.
Walken gives a very deep and heartfelt performance as Frank Sr., a man beset by the Internal Revenue Service and marital woes. Tom Hanks is dead on as the determined and stoic G-Man, Hanratty, whose dogged search belies his simple need to bring order where fraud creates chaos. Hank plays the agent as a persistent and by the book official who actually has a wry sense of humor; you have to watch carefully to catch the humor. DiCaprio’s Frank, Jr. is, on the surface, a one-note character, but the actor plays much of the young con beneath the surface. Frank succeeds as a confidence man simply because of his measured self-control. A con survives by not breaking each time he encounters something that threatens to spoil the con game. DiCaprio’s Frank is the legal opposite of Hank’s Hanratty, but, otherwise, they’re about the same in personality. Their insistence to do what they have to do keeps them going. A viewer can’t read that in the script. He has to read that in the actors’ performances: physical and facial and subtly verbal. This is the work of two artists.
Catch Me if You Can waffles between being a drama and comedy while really being neither. It’s not a great film; the set up to Frank’s life of crime is overly long and occasionally dull. Still, Catch Me if You Can is a very good and tremendously entertaining work in which the actors outplay all the other elements of the film. Nothing wrong with that – you can get a fine moving picture when great actors can get to do what they do so well and do it with relative ease.
7 of 10
A-
NOTES:
2003 Academy Awards: 2 nominations: “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” (Christopher Walken) and “Best Music, Original Score” (John Williams)
2003 BAFTA Awards: 1 win: “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role” (Christopher Walken); 3 nominations: “Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music” (John Williams), “Best Costume Design” (Mary Zophres), and “Best Screenplay – Adapted” (Jeff Nathanson)
2003 Golden Globes: 1 nomination: “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama” (Leonardo DiCaprio)
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Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Review: "Jurassic Park" is Always Worth the Trip
Jurassic Park (1993)
Running time: 127 minutes (2 hours, 7 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for intense science fiction terror
DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg
WRITERS: Michael Crichton and David Koepp (from a novel by Michael Crichton)
PRODUCERS: Kathleen Kennedy and Gerald R. Molen
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Dean Cundey
EDITOR: Michael Kahn
COMPOSER: John Williams
Academy Award winner
SCI-FI/ACTION/ADVENTURE/THRILLER
Starring: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Bob Peck, Martin Ferrero, Joseph Mazzello, Ariana Richards, Samuel L. Jackson, B.D. Wong, and Wayne Knight
Over a decade after I first saw it, I still get a thrill whenever I watch director Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park. The Academy Award-winning film (Best Effects – Sound Effects Editing, Best Effects – Visual Effects, and Best Sound) is, like Star Wars and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, a landmark film in the area of visual effects, in this instance, for its use of computer rendered characters or CGI, computer generated imagery. While the Terminator sequel introduced the moviegoers to the magic “morphing,” seamless changing a character into something or someone totally different, JP introduced a whole slew of characters that were not added to the film until principal photography was finished shooting. These were characters that only existed inside a computer and were digitally added onto the film.
In the movie, John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), a billionaire industrialist, convinces colleagues Drs. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) to travel to his newly created theme park that he calls Jurassic Park. His company’s scientist have miraculously cloned dinosaurs to populate the theme park, and Hammond needs Grant and Ms. Sattler, two paleontologists, to examine the park and give their seal of approval to the venture which in turn will appease Hammond’s worried investors. But as with any test run, things go badly. The park suffers a major security breakdown and releases the dinosaurs, including a hungry T-Rex and pack of velociraptors who enjoy hunting humans. The computer malfunction has Grant, Sattler, and the rest of the park’s inhabitants and visitors (including Hammond’s grandson and granddaughter) struggling to survive the onslaught on vicious dinosaurs as they try to escape from the island.
Although Spielberg has made his share of “serious” films to impress film critics and Oscar® voters, his best work remains his films that have a sense of magic and wonder, and Jurassic Park has both. However, the film is also a razor sharp suspense thriller and amazing adventure filled with frightening pitfalls, daring escapades, and last minute reprieves – the kind that end just before the other shoe drops.
Spielberg is at his best when he manipulates his audience, but honestly by weaving a thrill-a-minute film that has heart. It’s more than just the things that stop your heart, and JP has lots of that. It’s also about the moments that warm the heart, and a Spielberg favorite theme – that of the father who earns redemption or the man who learns to become a father or father figure, is very strong here. A lot of the credit has to go to a script (by Hollywood screenwriting heavyweight David Koepp and the author of the novel upon which this film is based, Michael Crichton) that is friendly to the elements and themes Spielberg favors for his films.
Still, the master filmmaker takes it and not only does he make it work, he makes it work on a level that turns what could have been a novelty film into an movie that is both unforgettable and influential. On a purely entertaining level, JP is a great and a film that is a treat to watch. As a work of art, Jurassic Park’s subject matter may seem like B-movie material, but the entire work is both a brilliant piece of pop entertainment and masterstroke of film craftsmanship.
10 of 10
NOTES:
1994 Academy Awards: 3 wins: “Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing” (Gary Rydstrom and Richard Hymns), “Best Effects, Visual Effects” (Dennis Muren, Stan Winston, Phil Tippett, and Michael Lantieri), and “Best Sound” (Gary Summers, Gary Rydstrom, Shawn Murphy, and Ron Judkins)
1994 BAFTA Awards: 1 win: “Best Special Effects” (Dennis Muren, Stan Winston, Phil Tippett, and Michael Lantieri); 1 nomination: “Best Sound” (Richard Hymns, Ron Judkins, Gary Summers, Gary Rydstrom, and Shawn Murphy)
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Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Review: "Return of the Jedi" is the Ultimate Summer Movie
Return of the Jedi (1983)
Running time: 134 minutes (2 hours, 14 minutes)
MPAA – PG
DIRECTOR: Richard Marquand
WRITERS: Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas; from a story by George Lucas
PRODUCER: Howard Kazanjian
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Alan Hume (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Sean Barton, Duwayne Dunham, and Marcia Lucas
COMPOSER: John Williams
Academy Award winner
SCI-FI/FANTASY/ACTION/ADVENTURE
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Sebastian Shaw, Ian McDiarmid, (voice) Frank Oz, (voice) James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Alec Guinness, Kenny Baker, and Denis Lawson
Return of the Jedi is a 1983 epic science fiction film and is the second sequel to the film, Star Wars (1977). It is also the concluding film in the original Star Wars trilogy. Personally, Return of the Jedi is the one for which I am most nostalgic.
The original Star Wars saga concluded with Return of the Jedi (also known as Star Wars Episode VI – Return of the Jedi). As the film begins, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), and Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) lead a charge to rescue Han Solo (Harrison Ford) from the gangster Jabba the Hutt, a giant, nasty, slug-like creature.
However, the fight against the Empire also continues. The Rebel Alliance has received sensitive data about the Empire’s new Death Star satellite, so our favorite rebels head for the Forest Moon of Endor on a mission to cripple the Death Star’s defense systems. But Luke must once again confront his father, Darth Vader, (David Prowse and voiced by James Earl Jones), the evil face of the empire, and Darth Vader’s master, The Emperor (Ian McDiarmid). Are the heroes walking into a carefully orchestrated trap, and will they win the day?
As with the other two original films, Return of the Jedi is a thrilling ride in the tradition of matinee serials, or serialized adventures in general. The film moves at a fast, brisk pace, and the script tightly and concisely moves through the plot. The film has two glaring weaknesses. First, some of the acting is terrible, and in a few scenes the actors deliver the dialogue with a total lack of inspiration. Secondly, the inclusion of the new characters, the Ewoks (basically a tribal group of human dwarf-size teddy bears), is a painfully obvious attempt to sell toys, because that’s what the Ewoks are – toys and merchandising.
Otherwise, Return of the Jedi is a very entertaining film; it is the least in terms of quality of the original trio, but it’s still great and fun entertainment. It gets better with age, especially when one considers that as the closing shot gives way to the credits, this signals the end of an era – the original cinematic run of the original Star Wars films.
8 of 10
A
NOTES:
1984 Academy Awards: 1 win: “Special Achievement Award” (Richard Edlund, Dennis Muren, Ken Ralston, and Phil Tippett for visual effects); 4 nominations: “Best Art Direction-Set Decoration” (Norman Reynolds, Fred Hole, James L. Schoppe, Michael Ford), “Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing” (Ben Burtt), “Best Music, Original Score” (John Williams), and “Best Sound” (Ben Burtt, Gary Summers, Randy Thom, and Tony Dawe)
1984 BAFTA Awards: 1 win: “Best Special Visual Effects” (Richard Edlund, Dennis Muren, Ken Ralston, and Kit West); 3 nominations: “Best Make Up Artist” (Phil Tippett and Stuart Freeborn), “Best Production Design/Art Direction” (Norman Reynolds), and “Best Sound” (Ben Burtt, Tony Dawe, and Gary Summers)
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Review: "The Empire Strikes Back" is Still the Best Film of 1980
The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Running time: 124 minutes (2 hours, 4 minutes)
MPAA – PG
DIRECTOR: Irvin Kershner
WRITERS: Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan (from a story by George Lucas)
PRODUCER: Gary Kurtz
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Peter Suschitzky (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Paul Hirsch
COMPOSER: John Williams
Academy Award winner
SCI-FI/FANTASY/ACTION/ADVENTURE/DRAMA
/THRILLER with elements of romance
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, Frank Oz, Alec Guinness, Jeremy Bulloch, Clive Revell, Denis Lawson, Jason Wingreen (voice) and James Earl Jones (voice)
The Empire Strikes Back is a 1981 epic science fiction film and sequel to Star Wars (1977). The film continues the Star Wars saga and the adventures of Luke Skywalker, as the hero who destroyed the Death Star moves closer to his destiny.
After imperial forces destroy the rebel base on the ice planet Hoth, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) leaves his associates to begin his Jedi training with the wizened and tiny Jedi master Yoda (Frank Oz). Meanwhile, Darth Vader (David Prowse with James Earl Jones voice) pursues Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), et al across space to capture them and use them as his bait for trap Skywalker, with whom he’s become obsessed.
Seeking safe refuge, Solo takes his friends to the Cloud City of Bespin, a mining operation run by a rival and “old friend,” Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams). But Cloud City becomes the place where friends unite and face tragedy and where young Skywalker learns a secret too horrible to believe and almost too terrible to false.
Of the three original Star Wars film, The Empire Strikes Back is the best film in terms of quality of filmmaking. The writing, acting, and directing are much better, and director Irvin Kershner (who is otherwise known for his work directing TV series and movies) emphasizes the drama, whereas Star Wars creator George Lucas focused on making the original film more of a fun and rollicking movie in the tradition of the old movie serials. While Kershner’s film did not have the element of surprise that Lucas’ had, his movie (although he obviously had much guidance from Lucas) is better than Lucas’ in some aspects. It’s a darker film, but is still enthralling with its razor’s edge of tension. The thrills are still there, but The Empire Strikes Back also has an atmosphere of dread hanging over it, as if bad things simply must happen to the protagonists.
It’s simply a good film, and virtually anyone who likes, or at least, doesn’t mind watching sci-fi, fantasy, or space opera films will like this. But everything aside, while the film’s subject matter may seem frivolous, the filmmakers present it in such a fashion that this is truly one of the best-made films and most fun to watch movies of the late 20th Century. I’d recommend it and sing its praises even through the roar of a thousand of dissenting voices.
10 of 10
NOTES:
1981 Academy Awards: 2 wins: “Best Sound” (Bill Varney, Steve Maslow, Gregg Landaker, and Peter Sutton) and “Special Achievement Award” (Brian Johnson, Richard Edlund, Dennis Muren, and Bruce Nicholson for visual effects); 2 nominations: “Best Art Direction-Set Decoration” (Norman Reynolds, Leslie Dilley, Harry Lange, Alan Tomkins, and Michael Ford) and “Best Music, Original Score” (John Williams)
1981 BAFTA Awards: 1 win: “Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music” (John Williams); 2 nominations: “Best Production Design/Art Direction” (Norman Reynolds) and “Best Sound” (Peter Sutton, Ben Burtt, and Bill Varney)
1981 Golden Globes: 1 nomination: “Best Original Score - Motion Picture” (John Williams)
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