Blog Archives
AMPAS Rule Changes Could Mean Anywhere From 5 to 10 Best Picture Nominees For 2011
The Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences has instituted all kinds of changes for the upcoming year, making predicting this year much more difficult than it has been in the last ten or so years. Full press release after the cut.
RIP Sidney Lumet, Master of Cinema
I am the first to admit I have not seen as many Lumet films as I would like; I’ve only seen six of his films. But I loved all six of those films. I also recently finished reading his book Making Movies and realized there were so many of his films that I need to see. I would recommend that book to anyone who just likes watching movies and especially to anyone who is thinking of going into filmmaking. He was a passionate filmmaker and if you couldn’t tell that from his films, that book removes any doubt. So I’m going to talk about those films that I have seen, as well as a few I have but that were nominated for Academy Awards. Lumet himself was nominated for Best Director four times and Best Original Screenplay once. Sadly, he never won a competitive Academy Award, although he received an Honorary Oscar in 2005.
Oscar Vault Monday – Ship Of Fools, 1965 (dir. Stanley Kramer)
This was a film I’d meant to watch for a while because it was Vivien Leigh’s last screen appearance. Then it disappeared off of Instant Netflix and I kind of forgot I wanted to watch it. Luckily for me, TCM showed the film last week as part of its 31 Days of Oscar and boy am I glad that they did. I absolutely loved it. I think it might be one of the finest examples of interlocking storylines I’ve ever seen. Plus, the set decoration and cinematography were to die for. Some of the crispest B&W cinematography I’ve seen in a while. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning two: Best B&W Art Direction (won), Best Cinematography (won), Best B&W Costume Design, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress Simone Signoret, Best Supporting Actor Michael Dunn, Best Actor Oskar Werner and Best Picture. The other films up for Best Picture that year were Darling, Doctor Zhivago, A Thousand Clowns and winner The Sound of Music.
Final Predictions for the 83rd Academy Awards
This year has been a hard one to cope with, mostly because the race seemed pretty set early on and then changed so drastically about a month ago. I’d like to say a change like that is refreshing, but I just can’t because I don’t like how it’s changed. I, for one, agreed with the critics and precursors with their choice of The Social Network for Best Picture. Then the guilds came and changed everything and gave their top honors to The King’s Speech. I think I’m still a bit in shock from it all (and maybe a little bit in denial). So now, the day before the awards, I’ve got to make my final predictions and I find myself unable. My head says, “look at the wind, it’s blowing towards The King’s Speech,” but my heart is saying, “The Social Network is better, stick with it til the bitter end.” Long story short, after the cut you’ll see if I decided to go with my heart or with my head.
Film Noir and the Academy Awards
As part of the For The Love of Film (Noir) blogathon, I thought I would take a look at some Film Noir that got a little love from the Academy. Although the bulk of films considered “Film Noir” were low-budget films and were often considered at the time “B-pictures,” there were a handful of films, mostly made by already established directors and stars, that were acknowledged by the Academy. After the cut I’ll do a breakdown of nine categories wherein Film Noir shined.
EDIT – I somehow missed Crossfire (1947) when I put this together, but have since written about it for Oscar Vault Monday here.
Site Update: Cinema Fanatic Guest Starred On A Podcast
Recently I recorded a podcast with The Dark of the Matinee‘s The Mad Hatter. You can find the podcast on the sidebar of their site, as well as on iTunes and various other podcast places on the vast interwebs.
Please take a listen. In it we discuss what we think about the Oscar nominations, as well as give some early predictions. There’s also a neat little intro wherein I answer questions like “What was the first movie you ever saw?” and “What essential film have you not seen?” My answer to that last one is rather shocking. Here’s the link again. Go take a listen. I swear you’ll enjoy it. Also, be sure to check back at The Dark of the Matinee tomorrow and leave feedback on their official post with your thoughts! And while you’re at it, check out their Facebook page as well.
Preview: How The Critics’ Choice Awards Align With Oscar
It’s important to note first off that both the Broadcast Film Critics Association (Critics’ Choice Awards) and Hollywood Foreign Press Association (Golden Globe Awards) do not have any membership overlap with The Academy. The only awards that have any overlap the guilds: The Screen Actors Guild, Directors Guilt, Producers Guild, etc. That being said, the Critics’ Choice Awards usually have quite a few overlap nominations in its categories with The Academy. In fact, the Critics’ Choice winner for Best Picture has gone on to win Best Picture at the Oscars for 4 out of the last 5 years; Best Director and Best Actor 5 out of the last 5 years.
Site Update: It’s Our 1st Anniversary!
Although I have been obsessively tracking the race to the Academy Awards for about 15 years, I finally decided to channel that obsession into a website a year ago, starting with last year’s SAG nominations.
In the last year, I’ve made some great film friends (see links on the right side) and started up three features: Oscar Vault Monday, Auteur of the Week and Movie Quote of the Day. I’ve also written several pieces that I really love, including my two-part look at modern actors and actresses who have never been nominated for an Oscar, the best pictures that weren’t nominated for Best Picture and that crazy month known as August that was Summer Under The Stars.
Its been a wonderful year and we’re back in the heat of a new race, with new contenders, new frontrunners and the 83rd annual Academy Awards are just a few months away.
I just wanted to say “Thank You” to all my vauled readers for all your continued support and I look forward to supplying you with endless Oscar trivia and history, as well as Awards Season coverage for years to come.
Love,
Marya
For Your Consideration: John Hawkes In “Winter’s Bone”
Last year I concentrated my efforts on getting a Best Picture nomination for The Hangover. Clearly, that campaign failed. Regardless, I am rallying around one dark horse contender again: John Hawkes in Winter’s Bone for Best Supporting Actor. Hawkes is probably best known for his role as Sol Star on HBO’s Deadwood and star of the 2005’s indie flick Me and You and Everyone We Know. This year, however, he made waves opposite new-comer Jennifer Lawrence in one of the year’s most critically acclaimed films – Winter’s Bone. This film currently holds a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
the diary of a film history fanatic 