supporting performances

Here's a collection of great supporting performances that weren't acknowledged with awards, nominations or fanfare. Mostly we are talking about women here.

1988 - Betty Buckley in Another Woman. Buckley's one scene as Ian Holm's ex-wife who disturbs a party with her intense appearance is some seriously grand acting. The whole cast is incredible - one of Woody's most balanced ensembles. Outstanding supporting work from Gene Hackman, Martha Plimpton, John Houseman and more.

1989 - Laura San Giacomo in Sex, Lies and Videotape. Giacomo's balls-out sexy, nasty and smart performance as Cynthia, the uninhibited sister in Soderbergh's breakthrough put her on the map. Andie MacDowell, James Spader and Giacomo all should have been nominated for Oscars, but the movie is (and was) too in touch with intimacy and sexuality to connect to a conservative Academy.

1990 - 5 excellent actresses were nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 1990 (Annette Bening in The Grifters, Lorraine Bracco in Goodfellas, Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost, Diane Ladd in Wild at Heart, Mary McDonnell in Dances with Wolves. Goldberg gets a lot of flack from snobs for her win, but this was a tough choice and Whoopi IS comedy gold in Ghost. That being said, there were at least 5 other women who also deserved attention in 90.

Glenn Close in Reversal of Fortune

Dianne Wiest in Edward Scissorhands (If it were up to me, there would be a Dianne Wiest holiday. We could call it Supporting Actress Day!)

Jennifer Jason Leigh in Last Exit to Brooklyn

Helena Bonham-Carter in Hamlet

Shirley MacLaine in Postcards from the Edge (although this performance could have just as easily been considered leading)

and Madonna in Dick Tracy (seriously).

1991 - Judy Davis wasn't nominated for her fascinating, weird and deeply contrasting performances in Barton Fink and Naked Lunch.

1992 - Category confusion; Helena Bonham-Carter really ISN'T supporting in Howards End. But she isn't leading either, is she? Either way, there needs to be some way to acknowledge her beautiful performance. I feel much the same way about Anthony Hopkins in this rich film.

*Sydney Pollack is unflinchingly real and actually a tad-bit scary in Woody Allen's Husbands and Wives. Judy Davis gets all the funny lines and deservedly was nominated, but Pollock's work is also worth noting.

1993 - '93 is another case where the Academy choose 5 super solid performances but they could have just as easily picked 5 others. The nominees were Anna Paquin in The Piano, Rosie Perez in Fearless, Emma Thompson in In the Name of the Father (honestly, this nom is weird and unwarranted), Holly Hunter in The Firm and Winona Ryder in The Age of Innocence.

UNNOMINATED; Joan Cusack in Addams Family Values. One of the funniest performances ever. Julianne Moore, Madelaine Stowe, Anne Archer, Andie MacDowell and Jennifer Jason Leigh are all remarkable in Short Cuts. Isabella Rossellini is fearless in Fearless.

1994 - Robin Wright Penn in Forrest Gump. She has never been nominated. Her snub in 94 was downright retarded.

1995 - Chloe Sevigny in Kids. Thank God for Chloe.

1996 - Parker Posey and Catherine O'Hara in Waiting for Guffman. One of these days O'Hara will get nominated.

1997 - Sigourney Weaver, Joan Allen (or is she leading?) and Christina Ricci in The Ice Storm. STORM received zero nominations. In supporting actor, Jude Law was snubbed for Gattaca - great movie, great performance.

1998 - Jane Adams and Dylan Baker in Happiness. Lisa Kudrow in The Opposite of Sex (best supporting performance of the year), Catherine Keener in Your Friends and Neighbors.

1999 - Cameron Diaz and John Malkovich in Being John Malkovich. Maybe Julianne Moore for Magnolia? I need to see that flick again. Does it hold up?

2000 - JENNIFER CONNELLY in Requiem for a Dream. The Academy made up for this ridiculous slight by awarding her the following year for A Beautiful Mind. Guessing her snub has something to do with prudishness. She would certainly have been the first nominee who got fucked by a dildo onscreen, unless we choose to forget that famous Greer Garson scene in Mrs. Miniver.

2001 - Emily Watson in Gosford Park. Mirren and Smith were nominated. All three are great, but Watson was best. BIg fan of Kristin Scott-Thomas in the same flick. Barbara Hershey is fascinating in Lantana. I think everyone would agree the most traumatic event in 2001 was Naomi Watts's Best Actress snub for Mulholland Drive.

2002 - INSANE that Patricia Clarkson and Dennis Quaid weren't nominated for Far From Heaven. Far From Heaven should have swept the awards - Picture, Actress, both supporting, Director, Screenplay, Score, Cinematography. Great work by Cherry Jones in Signs, but not enough material for a nomination.

2003 - Melissa Leo kicked ass in 21 Grams. Hope Davis was terrific in American Splendor and The Secret Lives of Dentists (but both really are leads). Catherine O'Hara wonderful in A Mighty Wind,

2004 - Naomi Watts is special in I Heart Huckabees. Blanchett and Huston delectable in The Life Aquatic. Streep campy fun in Manchurian. I adore Bryce Dallas Howard and all the lovely theatre ladies (Weaver, Jones, Atkinson) from The Village.

2005 - The silly year when Crash triumphed over BB MTN for Best Picture and Reese Witherspoon won Best Actress for Walk the Line (I like the idea of nominating her for Election, but nothing else). My favorite leading female performance of '05 was Naomi Watts in King Kong. Maria Bello should have been nominated (and won) for A History of Violence in supporting. I wouldn't object to a Diane Keaton nomination for The Family Stone. She is bound to be nominated again the next decade, based on her 1 nomination per decade work ethic thus far - 77 Annie Hall 81 Reds 95 Marvin's Room 03 Something's Gotta Give. Looking forward.

2006 - A movie called FAILURE TO LAUNCH was actually greenlit and released. Great supporting perfs from Emily Blunt in The Devil Wears Prada, Toni Collette in Little Miss Sunshine and those chicks from Pan's Labyrinth,

2007 - Kelly MacDonald in No Country for Old Men, Laura Linney in The Nanny Diaries, Susan Sarandon in In the Valley of Elah, Jennifer Garner in Juno.

2008 - Tilda Swinton in Burn After Reading ("You're so coarse.") and in that Brad Pitt/David Fincher bore.

TOP TEN FILMS OF 2009

My TOP TEN films released in 2009.

1. AVATAR

2. INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

3. THE FANTASTIC MR FOX

4. A SERIOUS MAN

5. UP IN THE AIR

6. THE HURT LOCKER

7. UP

8. (500) DAYS OF SUMMER

9. PRECIOUS

10.A SINGLE MAN

i live for this shit

Unoffical Break Down of NYFCC Awards Votes tallies.

http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/movies/oscar_watch_ny_la_critics_boost_D2dyUFQdy2RlIe1IazdQSO

Complete, unofficial vote tallies for the leaders in each category are below. Note that in the first ballot, members present (21) and proxies (8) voted for a single choice. In the second ballot, members present and proxies vote on a weighted ballot with up to three choices, but the winner must appear on a majority of ballots. This is also true of the third ballot, which does not allow proxy votes nor the introduction of new contender. If there is still no winner, a simple majority determines the outcome of the fourth ballot.

BEST ACTRESS

First ballot: Meryl Streep, 5; Tilda Swinton, 5; Charlotte Gainsbourg, 4.

Second ballot: Streep, 31; Swinton, 29; Carey Mulligan, 24

SUPPORTING ACTOR

First ballot: Christophe Waltz 11, Christian McKay 5, Anthony Mackie 3, Peter Capaldi, 3

Second ballot: Waltz 39, McKay 31, Capaldi, 26

Third ballot: Waltz 36, McKay 25, Capaldi, 13

BEST DIRECTOR

First ballot: Kathryn Bigelow 11, Jason Reitman 3, Wes Anderson 2, Oliver Assayas, 2

Second ballot: Bigelow 56, Anderson 15, Tarantino, 13

BEST PICTURE

First Ballot: Hurt Locker 8, Up in the Air 5, Fantastic Mr. Fox, 3

Second Ballot: Hurt Locker 42, Up in the Air 25, Fantastic Mr. Fox 16

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

First and only ballot: Fantastic Mr. Fox 14, Up 8, Coraline, 3

BEST DOCUMENTARY

First ballot: Beaches of Agnes 5, The Cove 4, Anvil, 3

Second ballot: Anvil 26, Tyson 25, Time and the City, 20

Third ballot: Anvil 29, Time and the City 22, Tyson 14

Fourth ballot: Time and the City 28, Anvil 27, Tyson, 16

CINEMATOGRAPHY

First Ballot: White Ribbon 5, Hurt Locker 3, A Serious Man 3

Second ballot: White Ribbon 32, Serious Man 20, Avatar 17

Third ballot: White Ribbon 30, Avatar 21, Serious Man 18

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

First ballot: Mo’Nique 13, Vera Farmiga 3, Samantha Morton 2, Anna Kendrick 2, Maggie Gyllenhaal, 2

Second ballot: Mo’Nique 49, Farmiga, 26, Kendrick 21

SCREENPLAY

First ballot: In the Loop 6, Up in the Air 6, A Serious Man 5

Second ballot: Up in the Air 33, In the Loop 31, A Serious Man 24

Third ballot (voided): Up in the Air 31, In the Loop 30, Inglourious Basterds 22

Third ballot (re-vote): In the Loop 29, Up in the Air 28, Inglourious Basterds, 19

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

First ballot: Summer Hours 6, White Ribbon 3, Everlasting Moments 3

Second ballot: Summer Hours 32, Broken Embraces 21, Everlasting Moments 15

BEST ACTOR

First ballot: George Clooney 8, Jeff Bridges 5, Jeremy Renner 3

Second ballot: Clooney 38, Bridges 31, Renner 27

Third ballot: Clooney 38, Bridges 29, Renner 18

Oscar Nomination Predictions (12/13/10)

I think this is my first real stab at Oscar predix. It's really hard to believe some of these flicks will actually be nominated for Best Picture, but it's difficult to anticipate how this new voting process will really work out.

Picture

AN EDUCATION

AVATAR

THE HURT LOCKER

INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

JULIE AND JULIA

THE MESSENGER

NINE

PRECIOUS

UP

UP IN THE AIR

The next most likely nominees appear to be Star Trek, Sherlock Holmes, A Serious Man, A Single Man, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, (500) Days of Summer. But my choices currently sound a little more right, huh?

Actress

Sandra Bullock

Helen Mirren

Carey Mulligan

Gabourey Sidibe

Meryl Streep

There's not much playroom here. Marion Cotilliard for her supporting performance in Nine, Emily Blunt in The Young Victoria, Abbie Cornish in Bright Star, Zoeey Deschanel in (500) Days.

Actor

Jeff Bridges

George Clooney

Colin Firth

Morgan Freeman

Jeremy Renner

A few other low-key prospects like Daniel Day-Lewis, Matt Damon, Ben Foster lingering but not really.

Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz

Judi Dench

Anna Kendrick

Monique

Julianne Moore

Large list of backups. Melanie Laurent DESERVES to be nominated for Inglorious, The whole cast of Nine, Mariah Carey, Sigourney Weaver, VERA FARMIGA, Paula Patton, Samantha Morton.

Supporting Actor

Woody Harrelson

Jude Law

Christopher Plummer

Stanley Tucci

Christoph Wentz

Random other possibilities like Christian McKay, Anthony Mackie, Matt Damon, Alfred Molina. Who cares? I'm hoping Christoph Wentz stays the clear front runner.

Director

Kathryn Bigelow

James Cameron

Lee Daniels

Michael Haneke

Quentin Tarantino

This list could go on forever. Tricky year. This will be hard to predict.

NYFCC predix

Didn't do so well with my LAFC predix, but what the hell - I'm gonna take a stab at the NYFCC, which are announced tomorrow. Sometimes they publicize runners-up and sometimes not.

Picture: A SERIOUS MAN 2. AVATAR

Actress: Carey Mulligan in An Education 2. Meryl Streep in Julie and Julia

Actor: Colin Firth in A Single Man 2. George Clooney in Up in the Air

Supporting Actress: Julianne Moore in A Single Man 2. Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air

Supporting Actor: Christoph Wentz in Inglorious Basterds 2. Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones/Julie and Julia

Director: Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker 2. Quentin Tarantino for Inglorious Basterds

Screenplay: Up in the Air 2. A Serious Man

Also, start looking out for James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow to go head-to-head for Best Director at the Oscars. I think it's worth noting that they used to be married, and this is sure to be a fun human-interest story for many blogs and boring people.

Golden Globe nominations later this week.

LAFC predix

The LAFC announces it's winners and runners-up tomorrow.

My last minute go-for-broke predix here:

Picture: AVATAR 2. Inglorious Basterds

Actress: Meryl Streep 2. Carey Mulligan

Actor: Colin Firth 2. Morgan Freeman

Supporting Actress: Monique 2. Julianne Moore

Supporting Actor: Christoph Wentz 2. Christopher Plummer

Director: James Cameron 2. Quentin Tarantino

Screenplay: (500) Days of Summer 2. A Serious Man

Avatar for the win?

AVATAR was heavily screened by critics last night and it seems people are pretty freaking stoked. The Oscar prediction sites are all a twitter and seem convinced that not only is Avatar a definite nominee for Best Picture but a major frontrunner.

The INVICTUS reviews are also very strong.

Still really hard to predict 10 nominees.

Avatar, Invictus, Precious, Up in the Air - safe bets

Up, Inglorious Basterds, An Education, The Hurt Locker - good bets

Star Trek, Julie and Julia, A Serious Man, Nine, The Lovely Bones, The Messenger (seems to be sneaking up) - contenders

Can you think of any other possibilities?

Predix as of 12/5/09

Most likely Oscar nominees (as of 12/5/09). Will be interesting to see how Nine, The Lovely Bones and Avatar land over the next week or so...could be some significant changes. No matter how you look at it Best Picture feels real thin. There are some really outstanding performances in play this year, and it's exciting to think we could finally watch Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore collect awards. The NY and LA critics awards are announced this week. Look out for them to pull some interesting surprise choices.

Best Picture

1. Up in the Air

2. Precious

3. Invictus

4. The Hurt Locker

5. Nine

6. Up

7. Inglorious Basterds

8. Avatar

9. Star Trek

10. An Education

11. Julie and Julia

Best Actress

1. Meryl Streep in Julie and Julia OR It's Complicated

2. Gabourey Sidibe in Precious

3. Helen Mirren in The Last Station

4. Carey Mulligan in An Education

5. Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side

6. Marion Cotilliard in Nine

Best Actor

1. George Clooney in Up in the Air

2. Morgan Freeman in Invictus

3. Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart

4. Colin Firth in A Single Man

5. Daniel Day Lewis in Nine

6. Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker

Best Supporting Actress

1. Monique in Precious

2. Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air

3. Julianne Moore in A Single Man

4. Judi Dench in Nine

5. Penelope Cruz in Nine

6. Mariah Carey in Precious

Best Supporting Actor

1. Christop Wentz in Inglorious Basterds

2. Stanley Tucci in Julie and Julia OR The Lovely Bones

3. Christopher Plummer in The Last Station

4. Matt Damon in Invictus

5. Woody Harrelson in The Messenger

6. Alfred Molina in An Education

Most nominations

most nominated LIVING/functioning actors:

1.

Meryl Streep - 15 (should go to 16 this yr!)

2.

Jack Nicholson - 12

3.

Al Pacino - 8

Peter O'Toole - 8

5.

Jane Fonda - 7

Dustin Hoffman - 7

7.

Michael Caine - 6

Robert DeNiro

Jessica Lange

Maggie Smith

Ellen Burstyn

Judi Dench

Robert Duvall

Vanessa Redgrave

Sissy Spacek

Kate Winslet

17.

Tom Hanks - 5

Sean Penn

Denzel Washington

Cate Blanchett

Shirley MacLaine

Sean Penn

Susan Sarandon

Glenn Close

Albert Finney

26.

Anthony Hopkins - 4

Emma Thompson

Daniel Day-Lewis

Jeff Bridges

Warren Beatty

Robin Williams

Jon Voight

Diane Keaton

Julianne Moore

Holly Hunter

36.

Marisa Tomei - 3

Tommy Lee Jones

Johnny Depp

Leonardo DiCaprio

Ben Kingsley

Russell Crowe

Geoffrey Rush

Tom Cruise

Dianne Wiest

Anjelica Huston

Julia Roberts

Joan Allen

Laura Linney

Renee Zellwger

Helen Mirren

Frances McDormand

Annette Bening

Kathy Bates

Best of 2000-2009

FILM:

Requiem for a Dream

Mulholland Drive

About Schmidt

There Will Be Blood

Far From Heaven

Inglorious Basterds

Brokeback Mountain

The Squid and the Whale

United 93

Pan's Labyrinth

Little Children

Lots of honorable mentions: Amelie, Wet Hot American Summer, Gosford Park, Up in the Air, City of God, The Departed, No Country for Old Men, LOTR trilogy, Letters from Iwo Jima, Chicago, Lost in Translation, Moulin Rouge, In the Mood for Love, Munich, Memento, The Hours, Dancer in the Dark, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, A History of Violence, Kill Bill Vol 1 and 2, Before Sunset, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, You Can Count on Me, Ratatouille, Michael Clayton, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Amores Perros, 25th Hour, Waltz with Bashir, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Punch Drunk Love, In America, In the Bedroom, etc etc.

Actress:

Ellen Burstyn in Requiem for a Dream

Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive

Julianne Moore in Far From Heaven

Charlize Theron in Monster

Annette Bening in Being Julia

Helen Mirren in The Queen

Kate Winslet in Little Children

Imelda Staunton in Vera Drake

Sissy Spacek in In the Bedroom

plus Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep and Kate Winslet in most of their 00's films.

Actor:

Jack Nicholson in About Schmidt

Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain

Daniel Day Lewis in There Will Be Blood

Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler

Sean Penn in Milk

John Cameron Mitchell in Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland

Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote

Tom Hanks in Cast Away

Nicolas Cage in Adaptation

Supporting Actress:

Jennifer Connelly in Requiem for a Dream

Tilda Swinton in Michael Clayton

Meryl Streep in Adaptation

Patricia Clarkson in Far from Heaven

Virgina Madsen in Sideways

Cate Blanchett in The Aviator

Cate Blanchett in I'm Not There

Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Helen Mirren in Gosford Park

Holly Hunter in Thirteen

Supporting Actor

Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight

Christop Wentz in Inglorious Basterds

Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men

Dennis Quaid in Far From Heaven

William Hurt in A History of Violence

Chris Cooper in Adaptation

Benicio del Toro in Traffic

Paul Giamatti in Cinderella Man

Jackie Earl Haley in Little Children

Jim Broadbent in Iris

Bullock for Best Actress?

The Oscar website I love and trust the most (In Contention) has moved Sandra Bullock into their Best Actress predictions for The Blind Side.

Most people agree that 4 of the slots are already taken (Meryl Streep, Gaby Sidibe, Carey Mulligan, Helen Mirren) and that the 5th is up for grabs. For a long time, Abbie Cornish had a leg up on the competition but people overall are apathetic towards Bright Star, so her odds are waning.

Other possibilities for the 5th slot include:

Michelle Pfeiffer for Cheri (I'd like to see this happen. She was lovely)

Marion Cotilliard for Nine (feels like a supporting role, but the studio is pushing for lead)

Maggie Gyllenhaal for Crazy Heart (same)

Saoirse Ronan in The Lovely Bones

The Golden Globes should help figure this out, because some interesting things will happen in the comedy/musical category. Bullock should expect 2 Globe noms this year (Drama for Blind Side and Comedy for The Proposal, although I really think they should reverse the categories. I didn't laugh once during The Proposal and Blind Side looks totally fuckin hysterical. I'm hopeful for a Zooey Deschanel nom for (500) Days @ The Globes, but don't think that will get her the Oscar slot.

Ultimately, the Bullock argument makes the most sense to me at the moment. Blech.

New York Film Critics Circle Predictions

National Board of Review announces its winners on 12/3, but they are hard to predict and although their choices ultimately do matter (Slumdog won last year), I just can't get emotionally invested.

My predictions for the NYFCC awards, which happen the following week (12/10 I believe) follow:

Picture: A Serious Man seems like a very NY choice. I could also see Inglorious winning. It will not be Invictus, Precious, Up, Nine or The Lovely Bones.

Actress: NY went apeshit for Carey Mulligan in An Education. If it's not her, it will be some random totally outside the box person like Tilda Swinton (who have an amazing performance in the movie Julie released earlier this year).

Actor: Colin Firth in A Single Man. Jeff Bridges is winning the Oscar for Crazy Heart.

Supporting Actress: Monique, right? Although the NY critics are obsessed with their hometown darling Julianne Moore and I suspect they are gonna have a love affair with A Single Man (Best Debut Film, or whatever they call that category). The NYFCC doesn't like to be predictable and there will certainly be a Precious backlash sometime over the next few months. Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air also has a large fanbase. At this point, my favorite supporting actress of the year is Melanie Laurent in Inglorious Basterds.

Supporting Actor: Christop Wentz in Inglorious Basterds. I would bet $ on this.

Director: Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker. Would it be the first time a woman has won Best Director in NY? I believe so. This award could also go to Q.T.

Screenplay: A Serious Man or (500) Days of Summer

Cinematography: Going out on a limb with Nine. Inglorious and Bright Star are contenders as well.

David Krasner

krasner@the-mine.com

An Educated Stab at 2009 Oscar Predix

Picture

AN EDUCATION

AVATAR

THE HURT LOCKER

INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

THE LAST STATION

THE LOVELY BONES

NINE

PRECIOUS

UP

UP IN THE AIR

Actress

Abbie Cornish

Helen Mirren

Carey Mulligan

Gabourey Sidibe

Meryl Streep

Actor

George Clooney

Daniel Day-Lewis

Colin Firth

Morgan Freeman

JHal Holbrook

Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz

Judi Dench

Anna Kendrick

Monique

Julianne Moore

Supporting Actor

Matt Damon

Jude Law

Alfred Molina

Stanley Tucci

Christoph Wentz

10 NOMINEES

So, let's say there were 10 nominees for the past 20 yrs or so.

Here's my theory which OTHER films would have been nominated (in order of likelihood)

2008

The Dark Knight

Wall-E

The Wrestler

Gran Torino

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

2007

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Into the Wild

American Gangster

Ratatouille

Sweeney Todd

2006

Dreamgirls

United 93

Pan's Labyrinth

Flags of Our Fathers

Little Children

2005

A History of Violence

The Constant Gardener

King Kong

Pride and Prejudice

Match Point

2004

Kinsey

The Incredibles

Harry Potter/Azkaban

Collateral

Closer

2003

Cold Mountain

The Last Samurai

21 Grams

Something's Gotta Give

House of Sand and Fog

2002 (This is the kind of year where 10 nominees made sense)

Far From Heaven

Catch Me if You Can

The Quiet American

About Schmidt

Adaptation

2001

Amelie

Black Hawk Down

A.I.

Mulholland Drive

Iris

2000

Billy Elliot

Almost Famous

Dancer in the Dark

Cast Away

Oh Brother, Where Are Thou?

1999

Topsy Turvy

Being John Malkovich

Magnolia

The Talented Mr. Ripley

The Iron Giant

1998

Gods and Monsters

The Truman Show

Pleasantville

Primary Colors

Rushmore

1997

Boogie Nights

The Sweet Hereafter

The Ice Storm

Men in Black

Donnie Brasco

1996

Evita

The People vs. Larry Flynt

Sling Blade

The Birdcage

Lone Star

1995

Leaving Las Vegas

Dead Man Walking

The American President

Toy Story

Nixon

1994

The Madness of King George

Bullets Over Broadway

The Lion King

Ed Wood

Little Women

1993

The Age of Innocence

Jurassic Park

Short Cuts

Philadelphia

The Joy Luck Club

1992

The Player

Enchanted April

Malcolm X

Aladdin

Chaplin

1991

Thelma and Louise

The Fisher King

Boyz n the Hood

Hook

Grand Canyon

1990

Reversal of Fortune

The Grifters

Green Card

Avalon

Dick Tracy

1989

Glory

Crimes and Misdemeanors

Do the Right Thing

Enemies, A Love Story

Batman

1988

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

A Fish Called Wanda

Gorillas in the Mist

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Running on Empty

1987

Empire of the Sun

The Untouchables

Full Metal Jacket

Good Morning Vietnam

Radio Days

1986

Stand by Me

The Color of Money

Aliens

Blue Velvet

Hoosiers

1985

Cocoon

Ran

Back to the Future

Agnes of God

The Purple Rose of Cairo

1984

Ghostbusters

Once Upon a Time in America

Greystroke

The Cotton Club

Broadway Danny Rose

1983

Yentl

Silkwood

Fanny and Alexander

Return of the Jedi

Educating Rita

1982

Victor/Victoria

An Officer and a Gentleman

Sophie's Choice

The World According to Garp

Annie

Thoughts? Reactions? Disputes? Comments? More?

2009 Flix

My 10 most anticipated film releases of 2009:

PUBLIC ENEMIES Directed by Michael Mann starring Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotilliard and Billy Crudup.

Spike Jonze's WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

Scorsese's SHUTTER ISLAND

Rob Marshall's NINE

Ang Lee's TAKING WOODSTOCK

Woody Allen's WHATEVER WORKS

Pedro Almodovar's BROKEN EMBRACES

Peter Jackson's THE LOVELY BONES

Sam Mendes' AWAY WE GO starring John Krasinski

Steven Soderberg's THE INFORMANT with Matt Damon

Frozen River

Frozen River = good movie. Melissa Leo = wonderful performance.  I'm rooting for her to win Best Actress next week.  

Also, I'm in the midst of watching KLUTE. Jane Fonda's performance and Gordon Willis' cinematography are incredible.

Bi.

Fucked Up

I've been kinda bummed about this year's Oscar nominations, but you know what, they pretty much always suck. I just haven't been as immersed in the process as I was this season.

Here is a look back at some of the sillier nominees from 2000-2007;

2000

Gladiator won Best Picture, Actor and Director. Almost Famous, Billy Elliot and Requiem for a Dream weren't nominated.

2001

Naomi Watts snubbed for Mulholland Drive. 

A Beautiful Mind was nominated for and won multiple awards including Best Picture, Director and Supporting Actress.

2002

John C. Reilly nominated for Chicago. Dennis Quaid NOT nominated for Far From Heaven.

4 nominations for Far From Heaven instead of the 10 or so it deserved.

Adaptation nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. I get this on some level, but really? Really? 

2003

Best Picture nominees include Master and Commander AND Seabiscuit. Seriously. Rough year.

2004

Jamie Foxx nominated for his "supporting" work in Collateral.  Remember? He won Best Actor for Ray. 

2005

A really healthy year with the notable exception of Crash beating BB Mountain.

Reese Witherspoon's Best Actress for Walk the Line is weird and she hasn't followed up with ANYTHING interesting yet, but when you look back at her competition, it's hard to make serious arguments.  

2006

No real complaints! Would prefer Little Children nominated instead of Little Miss Sunshine.

2007

Nice group.

REALLY cool nominations during that time;

2001

David Lynch - Mulholland Drive - Director

Ghost World for Adapted Screenplay

2002

Y Tu Mama Tambien for Original Screenplay

2003

The Triplets of Belleville - Animated Film

2004

The Village - Best Score

Before Sunset - Adapted Screenplay

2005

William Hurt for A History of Violence - S. Actor

Paradise Now for Foreign Film

The Squid and The Whale - original screenplay

2006

Paul Greengrass as Best Director for United 93

all the awards for pan's labyrinth (art direction, cinematography, makeup)

2007

4 great performances in very indie films;

Viggo Mortensen for Eastern Promises

Casey Affleck for Jesse James

Laura Linney for The Savages

Cate Blanchett for I'm Not There

3:13AM!

Boy A

Boy A is a terrific movie about a 24 yr old released from prison many years after committing a gruesome crime.  It's available for rental.  Enjoy!  

New York Times

Rooms is opening up Off Broadway starring Doug Kreeger and Leslie Kritzer. New York Times announces dates at the attached artsblog.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/25/in-the-wings-2/

Top Ten Films of 2008

1. Synecdoche, New York - Charlie Kaufman's magnificent exploration of love, art and death featuring brilliant design elements and the best supporting actresses of the year - Dianne Wiest, Samantha Morton, Catherine Keener, Hope Davis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Emily Watson and Michelle Williams.  It's just as complicated as you've heard and simultaneously totally straightforward and simple. I can't wait to see where Kaufman goes next.

2. The Wrestler - Darren Aronofky's deeply empathetic portrait of a wrestler and a stripper (played with natural ease and honesty by Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei) who are confronted with the very real consequences of their difficult professions. 

3. Rachel Getting Married - Jonathan Demme's compassionate and confrontational drama delves deeply into a families pain. Great acting by Anne Hathaway, Rosemary DeWitt, Debra Winger, Bill Irwin and Anne Deavere Smith.

4. Waltz With Bashir - Animated. Foreign. Documentary. It's a captivating, original piece of art. Please don't be afraid - Go see it.  

5. Slumdog Millionaire - The feel good fantasy movie of the year that doesn't shy away from the ugly and the real.  

6. Vicky Cristina Barcelona - Lovely, sexy, smart, intellectual comedy by Woody Allen. His best film since Bullets Over Broadway in 1994.

7. Happy Go Lucky - Mike Leigh drama about an Poppy, an eternal optimist who has figured out a very happy and healthy way to confront the brutality and sadness of everyone around her.  A remarkable performance by Sally Hawkins.

8. Let the Right One In - Swedish vampire movie. 

9. Burn After Reading - Fun, cynical, hyper Coen Brothers flick.

10.Doubt - Great story, acting and writing make up for some of Shanley's silly directorial flourishes. 

Runners-up

Frost/Nixon

Wall-E

The Dark Knight

A Christmas Tale

Flight of the Red Balloon

The Edge of Heaven

Paranoid Park

Wendy and Lucy

Gran Torino

Pineapple Express

Bette Midler in The Rose

Haven't reported in on a bunch of movies I've seen this month, but I feel compelled to mention how strongly I responded to Bette Midler in The Rose.  I grew up watching Bette in funny comedies and maudlin Disney dramas, so this raw, sexy, animalistic performance pretty much shocked me.  Glad I've seen it.  If you haven't, check it out - Am I crazy or should Bette have won the Oscar over Sally Field (Norma Rae)?  Or was Field's role as a union organizer much easier to swallow in March of 1980?  

The soundtrack to SLUMDOG is great.

D.

Oscar Nomination Predictions

If today's Barack inauguration weren't enough excitement for one week, we have the 2008 Oscar nominations to add some much needed thrills into this cold icky January.  The nominations are announced on Thursday morning at 8:38 am.  

As some of you may know I have been fairly intensely obsessed with this event (far more than the actual awards or ceremony) since 1988. Over the past few years, my interest in mainstream film releases has remained steady, while my passion for truly independent and foreign cinema has deepened. 

I read recently that Scorsese defended the Oscars awarded to Dances With Wolves over his Goodfellas; his point was that the Oscars are a celebration of mainstream success.  

It's very refreshing when a few bona fide artistic achievements break through into the masses. I'm hopeful we will see some of my favorite films of 2008 acknowledged in the nominations. It's tricky trying to remain objective with predictions, but I will try my darndest.  

Predictions below;

BEST PICTURE

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Dark Knight

Frost/Nixon

Milk

Slumdog Millionaire

Wall-E has a slim chance of getting in, but I can't imagine what flick it would kick out.  My hope would be a Ben Button "snub," but Milk is probably most vulnerable.

My favorite film of 2008 was Synecdoche, New York.

BEST ACTRESS

Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married

Sally Hawkins in Happy Go Lucky

Melissa Leo in Frozen River

Meryl Streep in Doubt

Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road

Angelina Jolie could sneak in for her lovely performance in Changeling.  Leo is vulnerable but VERY well-regarded by her peers.  Some voters may respond to Jolie's star power as well as her snub in 07 for another terrific performance in A Mighty Heart. The other possibility is the exclusion of Streep. No one can really imagine that happening cause, well, she is Meryl, but at the same time, it's far from her best work and these other women are more deserving.  If Meryl does get in, it's her 15th nomination.

Sally Hawkins work in Happy Go Lucky was my favorite performance in ANY category this year.  I will be bummed if this film and her astonishing work are dissed.

BEST ACTOR

Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino

Richard Jenkins in The Visitor

Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon

Sean Penn in Milk

Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler

Rourke (my favorite), Penn and Langella are definite nominees. Brad Pitt could easily get nominated instead of Jenkins or Eastwood. 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amy Adams in Doubt

Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Viola Davis in Doubt

Marisa Tomei in The Wrestler

Kate Winslet in The Reader

Wouldn't be shocked to see Taraji B. Henson acknowledged for her BUTTON crap, pushing Adams or Tomei out.  I loved Cruz, Davis, Adams and Tomei but have a special place reserved for Samantha Morton's unfuckingbelievable performance in Synecdoche, New York.  If it were up to me, this category would have at least ten nominees each year. This year most of those women would be Synecdoche cast members.  What happened to all the buzz for Debra Winger and Rosemary DeWitt for Rachel Getting Married?  Wouldn't mind a surprise nom for those lovely ladies.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Josh Brolin in Milk

Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder

Philip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt

Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight

Dev Pattel in Slumdog Millionaire

I'm itching to put James Franco instead of Hoffman, but will stay safe.  

BEST DIRECTOR

David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight

Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon

Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

Darren Aronofsky - The Wrestler

Getting the 5th slot for Best Director is always tricky. Best Picture and Best Director have matched perfectly 3 times total, and the Directors branch has a sneaky way of surprising all of us.  It wouldn't be shocking if this were a year with perfect matches, but I also think the Directors may want to show love for Mike Leigh, Woody Allen, Darren Aronofsky or even Andrew Stanton (Wall-E).  There is also the chance they will acknowledge The Class or Waltz With Bashir.  I'm hopeful for something unexpected and interesting.

If this is interesting to you people let me know and I'll continue with Screenplay, Score, Art Direction, etc...

Happy to hear anyone's thoughts, feelings and predictions.

Best, David

Golden Globe Predictions

Best Picture/Drama: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE  2. Benjamin Boredom

Best Picture/Comedy or Bad Musical: VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA  2. Happy Go Lucky

Best Director: Danny Boyle 4 Slumdog  2. David Fincher 4 Boredom

Best Actress/Drama: Anne Hampton Callaway for Rachel Getting Married  2. Meryl Sheep for Proof

Best Actor/Drama: Sean Pain in MILK  2. Frank Langella as David Frost

Best Actress/Comedy or Bad Musical: Sally Hawkins in Happy Go Lucky  2. Meryl Streep in ABBA

Best Actor/Comedy: James Franco for being a God and Pineapple Express  2. Javier Bardem for Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona 2. Kate Winslet in The Reader

Best Supporting Actor: Heath Bar Ledger in Disney's The Dark Knight  2. Robert Downey Jr. for Blackface

Best Screenplay: Slumdog Millionaire  2. Doubt

Best Foreign Film: Gomorrah  2. Waltz With Bashir

Best Animated Film: WALL-E  2. Bolt

Best Original Score: Benjamin Boredom  2. Slumdog Millionare (REMINDER:  THIS IS WHAT I PREDICT. Not what I want. I'm a Movie Score fanatic and even though I love Desplat usually I was seriously underwhelmed by everything Button related.  And Slumdog's score KICKS ASS!

Best Song: "The Wrestler"  2. "Down to Earth" - Wall-E

TV - WHO CARES, BUT I'M GONNA TRY ANYWAY!!!

TV DRAMA: MAD MEN  2. In Treatment

TV COMEDY: 30 ROCK  2. The Office

Actress TV DRAMA: Sally Field  2. January Jones

Actor TV DRAMA: Gabriel Byrne  2. Jon Hamm

Actress TV Comedy: Tina Fey  2. Christina Applegate

Actor TV Comedy: Alec Baldwin  2. David Duchochny

TV MOVIE: JOHN ADAMS  2. Recount

Actress TV MOVIE:  Laura Linney  2. Shirley MacLaine

Actor TV MOVIE: Paul Giamatti  2. Tom Wilkinson

Supporting Actress TV: Laura Dern  2. Dianne Wiest

Supporting Actor TV: Jeremy Piven  2. Tom Wilkinson

ENJOY!

Oscar Predix (as of 1/6)

These are my predictions, not my preferences. MAJOR difference.  Most of my favorites (Synecdoche, New York, Michelle Williams, Samantha Morton, Juliette Binoche don't have a shot at a nomination)

Best Picture

The Dark Knight

Frost/Nixon

Milk

Benjamin Button

Slumdog Millionaire (the winner)

Best Actress

Sally Hawkins in Happy Go Lucky (my favorite)

Meryl Streep in Doubt

Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married (the winner)

Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road

Melissa Leo in Frozen River

Best Actor

Sean Penn in Milk

Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler (my favorite)

Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino (the winner?)

Richard Jenkins in The Visitor

Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon

Best Supporting Actor

Josh Brolin in Milk

Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight (winner and my favorite)

Philip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt

Dev Pattel in Slumdog Millionaire

Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams in Doubt

Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona (winner and my favorite)

Viola Davis in Doubt

Marisa Tomei in The Wrestler

Kate Winslet in The Reader

Best Director

Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight

David Fincher - B Button

Danny Boyle - Slumdog (winner)

Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon

Woody Allen - Vicky Cristina Barcelona (i have a hard time being objective, but i'm just ever-hopeful this movie will surprise in a big way and wind up with 4 or 5 noms.)

Any guesses?  Thoughts? Feelings?  What do you think should be nominated?  What would you like to see nominated?  

Burn AFTER Reading

Saw this in the theatre and hated it. Just watched it at home, and it seems - oh dear - I was wrong.  I guess there is a first for everything.  What a fucking great film!  So fun and silly and angry.  Guess I was moody and tired the first time.  Whatever.  Anyway, maybe it works better on a smaller screen where everyone's ugliness and desperation is not quite so brutally in your face.  Any thoughts?

Jessica Lange once was hot.

Jessica Lange, Joan Allen and Kathy Bates made a movie called BONNEVILLE a few years ago. Obviously, the intention was to release in theaters and win agazillion oscars.  Alas, twas not to be, and Bonneville has shown up on Cable for our viewing pleasure.

The first big clue that something has gone terribly wrong is the awful surgery Jessica has had on her face.  She looks like that awful Catwoman from the Upper East Side a few years back.  Was there an accident?  The results couldn't be intentional.  

Kathy Bates just said to Joan Allen "you look like Grace Kelly."  It was unclear whether she was joking or not.  

 

Persepolis - #5 in 2009

WOW.  This is an amazing movie. It forces the viewer to feel great empathy towards Iranian women suffering through extreme circumstances. I encourage everyone and their goat to watch this movie.  Beware: after viewing this movie, you will no longer want to take a vacation to Iran. 

Anne Hathway to win Best Actress Oscar

I want to officially go on record with my prediction that Anne Hathaway will own a Best Actress Oscar in around six weeks.  

The current climate indicates a race between Streep (who is expected to receive nomination #15 for her silly but entertaining performance in Doubt) and Winslet (for Revolutionary Road).  When push comes to shove and a nominating member looks at these options, I find it increasingly unlikely either of those performances will inspire a vote.  

Everyone loves Streep and she has had a great year.  She has at least 2 more Oscars in her future, and when the timing is right, she will win.  Not gonna happen this year, for this particular role.  Many people are frustrated that Winslet hasn't won yet.  I am one of them, but the truth is she has yet to give the best performance of the year any of the times she was nominated.  Her honor this year will be double nominations (supporting for The Reader), bringing her total to 7 before the age of 34.  

Not that many people have seen Rachel Getting Married, but the ones who do tend to respond very passionately.  There is a contingent of folks out there who don't like the movie, but most viewers go apeshit for Anne. She is a genuine movie star; gorgeous, intelligent, interesting - She balances big budget bullshit with interesting smaller character driven roles and is well-respected by her peers and audiences.  

My favorite performance of the year was by Sally Hawkins in Happy Go Lucky.  Moments ago, she won Best Actress at the National Society of Film Critics.  She can add that to her citations from the LAFC and NYFCC.  Hopefully, the Comedy/Musical Golden Globe goes her way next week as well.  Even with all these awards under her belt, Sally is still not guaranteed an Oscar nomination.  U.S.-centric SAG members ignored her performance for their nominations.  I believe Sally will prevail and get nominated. 

It will be interesting to see how the SAG and GG winners shape the rest of the contest.  I think Hathaway's Oscar victory will be solidified after winning both of those precursors.  Let's see!

Any thoughts? Feelings?

4TH FILM OF 2009 - GOLDEN COMPASS

This was a boring movie.  The animals were cute, the sets and effects great, but Nicole Kidman is an increasingly awkward presence on Film and the movie overall just feels flat.  Sadly, Daniel Craig is only in like 7 minutes.  On to the next...

300 - 3RD Film of 2009

Finally got around to tackling Zack Snyder's 300.  It kept my attention, the dudes are hot, the movie looks good and I'm glad I saw it.  Racially and sexually, Frank Miller seems to have some interesting hardcore issues, but whatever.  Looking forward to Zach's Watchman (CRUDUP!!!!)

Wings of Desire

My second film of 2009 was Wim Wenders' 1987 modern classic WINGS OF DESIRE (released in the U.S. in 1988 and remade 10 yrs later as City of Angels).  The first hour of the movie feels like a waking dream and to be honest, I was in and out of consciousness while watching.  It's not boring, but it's certainly contemplative, philosophical and all those other things that make civilians tired.  I suspect my trancelike state is a fairly typical response and it made for a very interesting experience.  Looking forward to seeing this film on a bigger screen. It's a pretty gorgeous film.

National Society of Film Critics

The NSOFC votes and announces their winners this Saturday, January 3rd.  I imagine you are as eager with anticipation and anxiety as I am.  This group used to make really bold, fascinating choices, but in recent years their selections have become both gentrified and just a little confused, so they are tough to predict.

I'm gonna try the "out there" route for my NSOFC predix;

Best Picture: Rachel Getting Married   2. The Wrestler

Best Actress: Michelle Williams in Wendy and Lucy  2. Sally Hawkins

Best Actor: Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler  2. Sean Penn

Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz   2. Rosemary DeWitt

Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger  2. Michael Shannon

Best Director: Mike Leigh   2. Darren Aronofsky

Good Luck To All!  

Anyone wanna chime in with thoughts?  Wikipedia lists all the previous winners here;