After showering Les Misérables with 12 nominations, the Phoenix Film Critics Society 2012 Annual Awards gives the film one win, Anne Hathaway as best supporting actress. Argo gets "Best Picture," but "Best Director" goes to Zero Dark Thirty's Kathryn Bigelow.
Phoenix Film Critics Society 2012 Annual Awards winners:
Best Picture: Argo
Top Ten Films
•"Argo"
•"The Avengers"
•"Beasts of the Southern Wild"
•"Les Misérables"
•"Life of Pi"
•"Lincoln"
•"Moonrise Kingdom"
•"Silver Linings Playbook"
•"Skyfall"
•"Zero Dark T`hirty"
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow - "Zero Dark Thirty"
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Daniel Day-Lewis - "Lincoln"
Best Actress in a Leading Role: Jessica Chastain - "Zero Dark Thirty"
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Philip Seymour Hoffman - "The Master"
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Anne Hathaway - "Les Misérables"
Best Ensemble Acting: "Moonrise Kingdom"
Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: "Moonrise Kingdom"
Best Screenplay Adapted from Another Medium: "Argo"
Best Live Action Family Film: "Life of Pi"
Overlooked Film of the Year: "Safety Not Guaranteed"
Best Animated Film: "Wreck-It Ralph"
Best Foreign Language Film: "The Intouchables" (France)
Best Documentary: "Searching for Sugar Man"
Best Original Song: "Skyfall" from "Skyfall"
Best Original Score: "Skyfall"
Best Cinematography: "Life of Pi"
Best Film Editing: "Argo"
Best Production Design: "Moonrise Kingdom"
Best Costume Design: "Anna Karenina"
Best Visual Effects: "Life of Pi"
Best Stunts: "Skyfall"
Breakthrough Performance on Camera: Quvenzhané Wallis - "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
Breakthrough Performance Behind the Camera: Benh Zeitlin - "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
Best Youth Performance in a Lead or Supporting Role – Male: Tom Holland - "The Impossible"
Best Youth Performance in a Lead or Supporting Role – Female: Quvenzhané Wallis - "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
The Return of "Top Gun" - in IMAX 3D
“TOP GUN” TO BE RELEASED IN IMAX® 3D FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME
THE CLASSIC FILM RETURNS TO THE BIG SCREEN EXCLUSIVELY IN SELECT IMAX 3D THEATRES FOR A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT BEGINNING FEBRUARY 8, 2013
“TOP GUN” Debuts on Blu-ray 3D™/ Blu-ray 2D™ Two-Disc Set February 19, 2013
“Top Gun,” Paramount Pictures’ 1986 classic from director Tony Scott, producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, and starring Tom Cruise, takes off on a new adventure with an exclusive six-day 3D engagement in select IMAX® theatres beginning February 8, 2013. The film has been re-mastered for the IMAX® 3D release and subsequent debut on Blu-ray.
TOP GUN was re-mastered for the big screen from high-resolution original negative scans and painstakingly converted to 3D by Legend3D under the supervision of the film’s director, Tony Scott. Rendered in 3D, the film’s complex, long shots reveal extraordinary depth and clarity, allowing viewers to explore every detail of the action. From the spectacular aerial dogfights to the intense close-ups in the cockpits, each frame enables the audience to feel a part of the story.
The story of an elite group of pilots competing to be the best in their class and earn the title of
“TOP GUN” captured the imagination of a generation and earned a worldwide box office of over $350 million upon its release. The film stars Tom Cruise as Maverick and Kelly McGillis as his civilian instructor. The film also stars Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards and Meg Ryan.
The “TOP GUN” Blu-ray 3D disc presents the film with pristine high definition picture and sparkling sound in spectacular 3D for the ultimate home viewing experience. The Blu-ray 2D includes the re-mastered film in high definition, along with a six-part documentary on the making of the movie, a behind-the-scenes featurette, interviews with Tom Cruise, commentary by producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director Tony Scott, co-screenwriter Jack Epps, Jr. and more. The two-disc set available for purchase also includes a digital copy of the film and will be enabled with UltraViolet technology.
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you’ve never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX’s network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.
IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. As of Sept. 30, 2012, there were 689 IMAX theatres (556 commercial multiplex, 20 commercial destination and 113 institutional) in 52 countries.
IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, The IMAX Experience® and IMAX Is Believing® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).
THE CLASSIC FILM RETURNS TO THE BIG SCREEN EXCLUSIVELY IN SELECT IMAX 3D THEATRES FOR A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT BEGINNING FEBRUARY 8, 2013
“TOP GUN” Debuts on Blu-ray 3D™/ Blu-ray 2D™ Two-Disc Set February 19, 2013
“Top Gun,” Paramount Pictures’ 1986 classic from director Tony Scott, producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, and starring Tom Cruise, takes off on a new adventure with an exclusive six-day 3D engagement in select IMAX® theatres beginning February 8, 2013. The film has been re-mastered for the IMAX® 3D release and subsequent debut on Blu-ray.
TOP GUN was re-mastered for the big screen from high-resolution original negative scans and painstakingly converted to 3D by Legend3D under the supervision of the film’s director, Tony Scott. Rendered in 3D, the film’s complex, long shots reveal extraordinary depth and clarity, allowing viewers to explore every detail of the action. From the spectacular aerial dogfights to the intense close-ups in the cockpits, each frame enables the audience to feel a part of the story.
The story of an elite group of pilots competing to be the best in their class and earn the title of
“TOP GUN” captured the imagination of a generation and earned a worldwide box office of over $350 million upon its release. The film stars Tom Cruise as Maverick and Kelly McGillis as his civilian instructor. The film also stars Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards and Meg Ryan.
The “TOP GUN” Blu-ray 3D disc presents the film with pristine high definition picture and sparkling sound in spectacular 3D for the ultimate home viewing experience. The Blu-ray 2D includes the re-mastered film in high definition, along with a six-part documentary on the making of the movie, a behind-the-scenes featurette, interviews with Tom Cruise, commentary by producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director Tony Scott, co-screenwriter Jack Epps, Jr. and more. The two-disc set available for purchase also includes a digital copy of the film and will be enabled with UltraViolet technology.
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you’ve never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX’s network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.
IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. As of Sept. 30, 2012, there were 689 IMAX theatres (556 commercial multiplex, 20 commercial destination and 113 institutional) in 52 countries.
IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, The IMAX Experience® and IMAX Is Believing® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).
Michael Bay vs Steve Lemlek "Transformers 4" Statement
Below is a statement from director Michael Bay, released yesterday (Monday, December 18, 2012) and refuting the earlier news about the "Transformers 4" script referenced by writer Steve Lemlek, being leaked online.
"Some Internet sites this morning reported that some document recovery guy has found a legitimate 120 page script of Transformers 4. I can absolutely 100 percent say this is completely false. The only two people in the world that have our unfinished script are Kruger and myself. Also we are only up to page 70 in our T4 script. Maybe this guy has a cartoon or something else – but definitely not our movie!"
Bay
http://michaelbay.com/
Got that? Ain't now Transformers 4 script on the Internet, declares Michael Bay. Seriously, Steve Lemlek has the website www.unleashthefanboy.com where he posted a 120-page screenplay that he claims is the "Transformers 4" script. Go here: http://www.unleashthefanboy.com/movies/exclusive-transformers-4-script-leaked-villain-is-unicron/37339 for more.
"Some Internet sites this morning reported that some document recovery guy has found a legitimate 120 page script of Transformers 4. I can absolutely 100 percent say this is completely false. The only two people in the world that have our unfinished script are Kruger and myself. Also we are only up to page 70 in our T4 script. Maybe this guy has a cartoon or something else – but definitely not our movie!"
Bay
http://michaelbay.com/
Got that? Ain't now Transformers 4 script on the Internet, declares Michael Bay. Seriously, Steve Lemlek has the website www.unleashthefanboy.com where he posted a 120-page screenplay that he claims is the "Transformers 4" script. Go here: http://www.unleashthefanboy.com/movies/exclusive-transformers-4-script-leaked-villain-is-unicron/37339 for more.
Monday, December 17, 2012
"The Hobbit" Part One Sets Box Office Records
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” Smashes Records as It Ventures to the Top of the Worldwide Box Office
First film in Peter Jackson’s epic “The Hobbit” Trilogy takes in an estimated worldwide $223 million in its opening weekend.
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” soared to the top of the global box office in a record-breaking opening, dominating the weekend with an estimated $84.775 million domestically and $138.2 million internationally, for a worldwide estimated total of $223 million, including a record-breaking $15.1 from IMAX theatres worldwide. Domestically, the film broke records for largest December opening in motion picture history, including Christmas/holiday weekends. It is also the largest opening for any film in the canon of The Lord of the Rings. The joint announcement was made today by Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema; Gary Barber, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios; Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group; Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures; and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.
The CinemaScore coming out of the weekend was an overall A from all audiences, with an A+ from moviegoers under 18. Opening day showings, starting at midnight on December 14, were sold out, some weeks in advance, and thousands of fans waited in line to be among the first to see the movie.
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Pictures, is the acclaimed first film in Oscar®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson’s epic “The Hobbit” Trilogy, based on the timeless novel by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Internationally, the film opened in 56 markets, representing approximately 70% of the total projected final screen count, with such major territories as Australia, Russia, China and others still to come.
Shot in 3D 48 frames-per-second, the film was released in High Frame Rate 3D (HFR 3D) in select theaters, other 2D and 3D formats, and IMAX®.
In making the announcement, Emmerich stated, “It has been a long journey for New Line and our partners to make ‘The Hobbit’ Trilogy a reality. We’re so privileged to continue the journey we started with Peter Jackson on ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy.”
Barber added, “MGM is so proud to help bring ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ to audiences the world over. This film is truly a global event, and touches people in every language.”
Robinov remarked, “Along with our partners, we congratulate the extraordinary Peter Jackson and his entire team of actors and filmmakers on a remarkable start to this grand adventure. We could not be more proud of this film or more thrilled that fans, old or new, have embraced it.”
Fellman said, “This is such a tremendous start heading into the holiday season. This time of year always presents a very competitive landscape, so we are incredibly pleased that ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ performed so well across every demographic.”
Kwan Vandenberg noted, “This incredible journey has inspired passionate fans around the world who could not wait to return to Middle-earth, this time with Bilbo, Gandalf and the Dwarves. These impressive results speak to the universal appeal of this story.”
From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first of a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. The three films tell a continuous story set in Middle-earth 60 years before “The Lord of the Rings,” which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar®-winning “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”
Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, the character he played in “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, with Martin Freeman in the central role of Bilbo Baggins, and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. Also reprising their roles from “The Lord of the Rings” in “The Hobbit” Trilogy are: Cate Blanchett as Galadriel; Ian Holm as Old Bilbo; Christopher Lee as Saruman; Hugo Weaving as Elrond; Elijah Wood as Frodo; and Andy Serkis as Gollum. The international ensemble cast of the Trilogy also includes James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy, Barry Humphries, Aidan Turner, Dean O’Gorman, Graham McTavish, Adam Brown, Peter Hambleton, John Callen, Mark Hadlow, Jed Brophy, William Kircher, Stephen Hunter, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch, Manu Bennett and Conan Stevens.
The screenplay for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro, based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. Jackson also produced the film, together with Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Boyens and Eileen Moran serving as co-producers.
The creative behind-the-scenes team returning to Jackson’s crew included director of photography Andrew Lesnie, production designer Dan Hennah, conceptual designers Alan Lee and John Howe, editor Jabez Olssen, and makeup and hair designer Peter Swords King. The costumes were designed by Ann Maskrey, Richard Taylor and Bob Buck. Taylor also oversaw the design and production of armour, weapons, creatures and special makeup, which were once again made by the award-winning Weta Workshop. Weta Digital took on the visual effects for the film, led by senior visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri. The visual effects supervisor was Eric Saindon, with David Clayton serving as animation supervisor. The film features the song “Song of the Lonely Mountain,” performed by Neil Finn.
New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Present a WingNut Films Production, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.” All three films in “The Hobbit” Trilogy, also including “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” and the final film, “The Hobbit: There and Back Again,” are productions of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), with New Line managing production. Warner Bros. Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television distribution being handled by MGM.
www.thehobbit.com
First film in Peter Jackson’s epic “The Hobbit” Trilogy takes in an estimated worldwide $223 million in its opening weekend.
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” soared to the top of the global box office in a record-breaking opening, dominating the weekend with an estimated $84.775 million domestically and $138.2 million internationally, for a worldwide estimated total of $223 million, including a record-breaking $15.1 from IMAX theatres worldwide. Domestically, the film broke records for largest December opening in motion picture history, including Christmas/holiday weekends. It is also the largest opening for any film in the canon of The Lord of the Rings. The joint announcement was made today by Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema; Gary Barber, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios; Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group; Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures; and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.
The CinemaScore coming out of the weekend was an overall A from all audiences, with an A+ from moviegoers under 18. Opening day showings, starting at midnight on December 14, were sold out, some weeks in advance, and thousands of fans waited in line to be among the first to see the movie.
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Pictures, is the acclaimed first film in Oscar®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson’s epic “The Hobbit” Trilogy, based on the timeless novel by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Internationally, the film opened in 56 markets, representing approximately 70% of the total projected final screen count, with such major territories as Australia, Russia, China and others still to come.
Shot in 3D 48 frames-per-second, the film was released in High Frame Rate 3D (HFR 3D) in select theaters, other 2D and 3D formats, and IMAX®.
In making the announcement, Emmerich stated, “It has been a long journey for New Line and our partners to make ‘The Hobbit’ Trilogy a reality. We’re so privileged to continue the journey we started with Peter Jackson on ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy.”
Barber added, “MGM is so proud to help bring ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ to audiences the world over. This film is truly a global event, and touches people in every language.”
Robinov remarked, “Along with our partners, we congratulate the extraordinary Peter Jackson and his entire team of actors and filmmakers on a remarkable start to this grand adventure. We could not be more proud of this film or more thrilled that fans, old or new, have embraced it.”
Fellman said, “This is such a tremendous start heading into the holiday season. This time of year always presents a very competitive landscape, so we are incredibly pleased that ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ performed so well across every demographic.”
Kwan Vandenberg noted, “This incredible journey has inspired passionate fans around the world who could not wait to return to Middle-earth, this time with Bilbo, Gandalf and the Dwarves. These impressive results speak to the universal appeal of this story.”
From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first of a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. The three films tell a continuous story set in Middle-earth 60 years before “The Lord of the Rings,” which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar®-winning “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”
Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, the character he played in “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, with Martin Freeman in the central role of Bilbo Baggins, and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. Also reprising their roles from “The Lord of the Rings” in “The Hobbit” Trilogy are: Cate Blanchett as Galadriel; Ian Holm as Old Bilbo; Christopher Lee as Saruman; Hugo Weaving as Elrond; Elijah Wood as Frodo; and Andy Serkis as Gollum. The international ensemble cast of the Trilogy also includes James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy, Barry Humphries, Aidan Turner, Dean O’Gorman, Graham McTavish, Adam Brown, Peter Hambleton, John Callen, Mark Hadlow, Jed Brophy, William Kircher, Stephen Hunter, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch, Manu Bennett and Conan Stevens.
The screenplay for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro, based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. Jackson also produced the film, together with Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Boyens and Eileen Moran serving as co-producers.
The creative behind-the-scenes team returning to Jackson’s crew included director of photography Andrew Lesnie, production designer Dan Hennah, conceptual designers Alan Lee and John Howe, editor Jabez Olssen, and makeup and hair designer Peter Swords King. The costumes were designed by Ann Maskrey, Richard Taylor and Bob Buck. Taylor also oversaw the design and production of armour, weapons, creatures and special makeup, which were once again made by the award-winning Weta Workshop. Weta Digital took on the visual effects for the film, led by senior visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri. The visual effects supervisor was Eric Saindon, with David Clayton serving as animation supervisor. The film features the song “Song of the Lonely Mountain,” performed by Neil Finn.
New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Present a WingNut Films Production, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.” All three films in “The Hobbit” Trilogy, also including “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” and the final film, “The Hobbit: There and Back Again,” are productions of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), with New Line managing production. Warner Bros. Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television distribution being handled by MGM.
www.thehobbit.com
"Les Miserables" Tops Phoenix Film Critics Awards Noms
The Phoenix Film Critics Society recently announced the nominations for their 2012 awards. Les Misérables leads with 12 nominations. I don't plan on seeing this movie, but I could, although I have little interest to. What? Did they not see Django Unchained? The society will announce the winners on Tuesday, December 18, 2012.
Phoenix Film Critics Society 2012 Award Nominations
TOP TEN FILMS OF 2012 (in alphabetical order)
"Argo"
"The Avengers"
"Beasts of the Southern Wild"
"Les Misérables"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"
"Moonrise Kingdom"
"Silver Linings Playbook"
"Skyfall"
"Zero Dark Thirty"
BEST DIRECTOR
Ben Affleck "Argo"
Kathryn Bigelow "Zero Dark Thirty"
Tom Hooper "Les Misérables"
Ang Lee "Life of Pi"
Steven Spielberg "Lincoln"
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Daniel Day-Lewis "Lincoln"
John Hawkes "The Sessions"
Anthony Hopkins "Hitchcock"
Hugh Jackman "Les Misérables"
Joaquin Phoenix "The Master"
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Jessica Chastain "Zero Dark Thirty"
Jennifer Lawrence "Silver Linings Playbook"
Quvenzhane Wallis "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
Naomi Watts "The Impossible"
Mary Elizabeth Winstead "Smashed"
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Robert De Niro "Silver Linings Playbook"
Javier Bardem "Skyfall"
Philip Seymour Hoffman "The Master"
Tommy Lee Jones "Lincoln"
Ezra Miller "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Judy Dench "Skyfall"
Sally Fields "Lincoln"
Anne Hathaway "Les Misérables"
Helen Hunt "The Sessions"
Emma Watson "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"
BEST ENSEMBLE ACTING
"Argo"
"Les Misérables"
"Moonrise Kingdom"
"Silver Linings Playbook"
BEST SCREENPLAY - ORIGINAL
"Arbitrage"
"The Master"
"Moonrise Kingdom"
"Zero Dark Thirty"
BEST SCREENPLAY - ADAPTATION
"Argo"
"Les Misérables"
"The Perks of Being a Wallflower"
"Silver Linings Playbook"
BEST LIVE ACTION FAMILY FILM
"Big Miracle"
"Chimpanzee"
"Life of Pi"
"The Odd Life of Timothy Green"
THE OVERLOOKED FILM OF THE YEAR
"Cabin in the Woods"
"Jeff, Who Lives at Home"
"The Perks of Being a Wallflower"
"Safety Not Guaranteed"
"Sound of My Voice"
BEST ANIMATED FILM
"Brave"
"Frankenweenie"
"ParaNorman"
"Wreck-It Ralph"
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
"A Royal Affair" (Denmark)
"Amour" (Austria)
"Headhunters" (Norway)
"The Intouchables" (France)
"Jiro Dreams of Sushi" (Japan)
BEST DOCUMENTARY
"Bully"
"Jiro Dreams of Sushi"
"Queen of Versailles"
"Searching for Sugar Man"
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Skyfall "Skyfall"
Suddenly "Les Misérables"
When Can I See You Again "Wreck-It Ralph"
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
"Hitchcock"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"
"Skyfall"
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
"Les Misérables"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"
"Skyfall"
"Zero Dark Thirty"
BEST FILM EDITING
"Argo"
"The Dark Knight Rises"
"Life of Pi"
"Skyfall"
"Zero Dark Thirty"
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
"Anna Karenina"
"Cloud Atlas"
"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"
"Les Misérables"
"Moonrise Kingdom"
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
"A Royal Affair"
"Anna Karenina"
"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"
"Les Misérables"
"Lincoln"
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
"The Avengers"
"Cloud Atlas"
"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"
"Life of Pi"
"Prometheus"
BEST STUNTS
"The Avengers"
"The Bourne Legacy"
"The Dark Knight Rises"
"Looper"
"Skyfall"
BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE ON CAMERA
Mark Duplass "Safety Not Guaranteed"
Dwight Henry "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
Suraj Sharma "Life of Pi"
Quvenzhane Wallis "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE BEHIND THE CAMERA
Stephen Chbosky "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"
Seth MacFarlane "Ted"
Benh Zeitlin "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
Craig Zobel "Compliance"
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A YOUTH IN A LEAD OR SUPPORTING ROLE - FEMALE
Isabelle Allen "Les Miserables"
Maude Apatow "This is 40"
Kara Hayward "Moonrise Kingdom"
Quvenzhane Wallis "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A YOUTH IN A LEAD OR SUPPORTING ROLE - MALE
CJ Adams "The Odd Life of Timothy Green"
Jerad Gilman "Moonrise Kingdom"
Tom Holland "The Impossible"
Daniel Huttlestone "Les Misérables"
Phoenix Film Critics Society 2012 Award Nominations
TOP TEN FILMS OF 2012 (in alphabetical order)
"Argo"
"The Avengers"
"Beasts of the Southern Wild"
"Les Misérables"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"
"Moonrise Kingdom"
"Silver Linings Playbook"
"Skyfall"
"Zero Dark Thirty"
BEST DIRECTOR
Ben Affleck "Argo"
Kathryn Bigelow "Zero Dark Thirty"
Tom Hooper "Les Misérables"
Ang Lee "Life of Pi"
Steven Spielberg "Lincoln"
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Daniel Day-Lewis "Lincoln"
John Hawkes "The Sessions"
Anthony Hopkins "Hitchcock"
Hugh Jackman "Les Misérables"
Joaquin Phoenix "The Master"
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Jessica Chastain "Zero Dark Thirty"
Jennifer Lawrence "Silver Linings Playbook"
Quvenzhane Wallis "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
Naomi Watts "The Impossible"
Mary Elizabeth Winstead "Smashed"
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Robert De Niro "Silver Linings Playbook"
Javier Bardem "Skyfall"
Philip Seymour Hoffman "The Master"
Tommy Lee Jones "Lincoln"
Ezra Miller "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Judy Dench "Skyfall"
Sally Fields "Lincoln"
Anne Hathaway "Les Misérables"
Helen Hunt "The Sessions"
Emma Watson "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"
BEST ENSEMBLE ACTING
"Argo"
"Les Misérables"
"Moonrise Kingdom"
"Silver Linings Playbook"
BEST SCREENPLAY - ORIGINAL
"Arbitrage"
"The Master"
"Moonrise Kingdom"
"Zero Dark Thirty"
BEST SCREENPLAY - ADAPTATION
"Argo"
"Les Misérables"
"The Perks of Being a Wallflower"
"Silver Linings Playbook"
BEST LIVE ACTION FAMILY FILM
"Big Miracle"
"Chimpanzee"
"Life of Pi"
"The Odd Life of Timothy Green"
THE OVERLOOKED FILM OF THE YEAR
"Cabin in the Woods"
"Jeff, Who Lives at Home"
"The Perks of Being a Wallflower"
"Safety Not Guaranteed"
"Sound of My Voice"
BEST ANIMATED FILM
"Brave"
"Frankenweenie"
"ParaNorman"
"Wreck-It Ralph"
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
"A Royal Affair" (Denmark)
"Amour" (Austria)
"Headhunters" (Norway)
"The Intouchables" (France)
"Jiro Dreams of Sushi" (Japan)
BEST DOCUMENTARY
"Bully"
"Jiro Dreams of Sushi"
"Queen of Versailles"
"Searching for Sugar Man"
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Skyfall "Skyfall"
Suddenly "Les Misérables"
When Can I See You Again "Wreck-It Ralph"
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
"Hitchcock"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"
"Skyfall"
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
"Les Misérables"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"
"Skyfall"
"Zero Dark Thirty"
BEST FILM EDITING
"Argo"
"The Dark Knight Rises"
"Life of Pi"
"Skyfall"
"Zero Dark Thirty"
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
"Anna Karenina"
"Cloud Atlas"
"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"
"Les Misérables"
"Moonrise Kingdom"
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
"A Royal Affair"
"Anna Karenina"
"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"
"Les Misérables"
"Lincoln"
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
"The Avengers"
"Cloud Atlas"
"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"
"Life of Pi"
"Prometheus"
BEST STUNTS
"The Avengers"
"The Bourne Legacy"
"The Dark Knight Rises"
"Looper"
"Skyfall"
BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE ON CAMERA
Mark Duplass "Safety Not Guaranteed"
Dwight Henry "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
Suraj Sharma "Life of Pi"
Quvenzhane Wallis "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE BEHIND THE CAMERA
Stephen Chbosky "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"
Seth MacFarlane "Ted"
Benh Zeitlin "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
Craig Zobel "Compliance"
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A YOUTH IN A LEAD OR SUPPORTING ROLE - FEMALE
Isabelle Allen "Les Miserables"
Maude Apatow "This is 40"
Kara Hayward "Moonrise Kingdom"
Quvenzhane Wallis "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A YOUTH IN A LEAD OR SUPPORTING ROLE - MALE
CJ Adams "The Odd Life of Timothy Green"
Jerad Gilman "Moonrise Kingdom"
Tom Holland "The Impossible"
Daniel Huttlestone "Les Misérables"
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Review: "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is An Unexpected Pleasure and Treasure
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
Running time: 169 minutes (2 hours, 49 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening
DIRECTOR: Peter Jackson
WRITERS: Frances Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, and Guillermo del Toro (from the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien)
PRODUCERS: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Carolynne Cunningham, and Zane Weiner
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Andrew Lesnie (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Jabez Olssen
COMPOSER: Howard Shore
FANTASY/ACTION/ADVENTURE
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellan, Richard Armitage, Elijah Wood, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Sylvester McCoy, Graham McTavish, Ken Stott, Aidan Turner, Dean O’Gorman, Mark Hadlow, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Peter Hambleton, William Kircher, James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunter, Manu Bennett, and Andy Serkis
The subject of this movie review is The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, a 2012 fantasy film from director Peter Jackson. The film is the first of three movies which are based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s 1937 novel, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again (better known by its abbreviated title, The Hobbit). Set sixty years before The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit is the story of a curious Hobbit who joins a band of Dwarves on a mission to reclaim their homeland from a powerful dragon.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens on the 111th birthday of the Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm). He has decided to write down the full story of an adventure he took 60 years earlier as a memoir for his cousin and heir, Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood). Sixty years earlier, the younger Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) was a homebody Hobbit. He gets an unexpected visit from the wizard, Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellan), who promptly tricks the Hobbit into hosting a party for a band of dwarves.
Still, Bilbo is shocked when the dwarves show up and eat every scrap of food in his home, and almost tear down the place. When Gandalf returns, he informs Bilbo that these dwarves are on a quest to return to their ancestral home, Lonely Mountain, and to reclaim it and the treasure there from the great dragon, Smaug. The Company of Dwarves numbers 13, including the leader, Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage). Gandalf’s biggest surprise is that Bilbo has been recruited as the dwarves’ “burglar,” who will help them steal back their treasure. Now, this curious Hobbit is on an unexpected journey that will find him facing killer Orcs, a legion of mountain trolls, and a little fellow named Gollum (Andy Serkis), who is in possession of a mysterious ring.
I am giving The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey a “9” out of 10 on my rating scale, which may be surprising because of my complaints about this movie, especially the big one. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is too long; in fact, the first hour meanders like a drunk narrative looking for a bottle of plot. I dosed off three times, and, at one point, thought about leaving and just waiting to see the rest of the movie on DVD.
However, the movie eventually came alive, but I’m still not sure when it turned for me. I think it may be the moment when the Orcs attack Bilbo and the Company of Dwarves on a rocky plain. At a point, the movie just explodes with surprise appearances, breathtaking vistas, blood-chilling confrontations, and heart-pounding action. Things were happening so fast, yet my mind couldn’t wait for the next thing to happen.
In many ways, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is like the return of an old friend, specifically The Lord of the Rings movies, although LOTR is a sequel to The Hobbit. I didn’t know what to expect before I saw the movie. I had waited so long for The Hobbit to reach the silver screen as a live-action film, yet, in a way, my expectations were so high because of I loved LOTR so much. When Gollum shows up in this movie, my expectations were satisfied. Andy Serkis and the CGI artists behind the character actually improve on their great work from the Ring trilogy films.
There are things about The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey that I did not expect, some of them disappointing. But by the end of this movie, I so did not want the adventure end. I wanted that enough to give an imperfect movie a near-perfect score.
9 of 10
A+
Saturday, December 15, 2012
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Boston Film Critics Name "Zero Dark Thirty" 2012's Best Film
The Boston Society of Film Critics was formed in 1981. The group claims that its mission is to make “Boston's unique critical perspective heard on a national and international level by awarding commendations to the best of the year's films and filmmakers and local film theaters and film societies that offer outstanding film programming.” One of the society’s members, Wesley Morris, won 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.
2012 Winners:
Best Picture - Zero Dark Thirty
Best Actor - Daniel Day Lewis for Lincoln
Best Actress - Emmanuelle Riva for Amour
Best Supporting Actor - Ezra Miller for Perks of Being a Wallflower
Best Supporting Actress - Sally Field for Lincoln
Best Director - Kathryn Bigelow for Zero Dark Thirty
Best Screenplay - Tony Kushner fro Lincoln
Best Cinematography - Mihai Malaimare Jr for The Master
Best Documentary - How to Survive a Plague
Best Foreign-Language Film - Amour
Best Animated Film - Frankenweenie
Best Film Editing (awarded in memory of Karen Schmeer) - William Goldenberg and Dylan Tichenor for Zero Dark Thirty
Best New Filmmaker (awarded in memory of David Brudnoy) - David France for How to Survive a Plague
Best Ensemble Cast - Seven Psychopaths
Best Use of Music in a Film - Moonrise Kingdom
2012 Winners:
Best Picture - Zero Dark Thirty
Best Actor - Daniel Day Lewis for Lincoln
Best Actress - Emmanuelle Riva for Amour
Best Supporting Actor - Ezra Miller for Perks of Being a Wallflower
Best Supporting Actress - Sally Field for Lincoln
Best Director - Kathryn Bigelow for Zero Dark Thirty
Best Screenplay - Tony Kushner fro Lincoln
Best Cinematography - Mihai Malaimare Jr for The Master
Best Documentary - How to Survive a Plague
Best Foreign-Language Film - Amour
Best Animated Film - Frankenweenie
Best Film Editing (awarded in memory of Karen Schmeer) - William Goldenberg and Dylan Tichenor for Zero Dark Thirty
Best New Filmmaker (awarded in memory of David Brudnoy) - David France for How to Survive a Plague
Best Ensemble Cast - Seven Psychopaths
Best Use of Music in a Film - Moonrise Kingdom
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