The Gold Rush: Part 2

You know you want to check out Part One of this conversation, if just for context. It's over at the March King's blog. It's our annual Oscar Conversation, The Gold Rush, a continuation of the conversations we had in his living room when we first started following Awards Season seriously.

 

SILVER SCREENER: So, on to the big stuff?

MARCH KING: Alrighty.

SS: Let's get Actor out of the way, because I haven't seen A Better Life yet.

Quien es?

 

MK: (chuckle) A Better Life... I guess I don't really get it. He was fine. But Best

Actor? Really? Anyway, my pick would have to be Gary.

SS: Oh, undoubtedly. There was no better moment on Oscar Nom Morning than when his name came up. It's quiet, it's layered, it's a beautiful thing.

MK: It's subtle, but somehow seems to explode at just the right moments. Something I would have liked to see George [Clooney] try. Not to knock George, I love George. But at this point in his career... between these two roles... Gary clearly trumps. And Brad [Pitt] did a good job as well. But he wasn't Gary.

SS: Though Brad really brought it, too. An old-fashioned Movie Star role that was just about perfect for his strengths.

MK: Love Brad. He's really trying these days. Even looking back at his questionable performances...like Troy...you can still see how hard he was trying. Like I can understand how he may have been misled by the idea of muscle over madness... something about his fitness preparation still screamed actor. Sadly the actual performance fell flat. Then fast-forward to Benjamin Button. He was really something in that. Brad's starting to click in all the right places. No question.

SS: I think he has been for a while.

MK: Yeah, it's fun to watch.

SS: And then, of course, there's the inevitable winner, Jean Dujardin.

MK: ...yeah...

SS: I'm down with that. Of this lineup, he's my close second.

MK: He's good. Not gonna deny that. I just would rather see Gary.

SS: Well, yeah, but of this specific lineup, I would be pleased for Dujardin, Oldman or Pitt if they got it. Full-on celebration.

MK: It's that kind of year man.

So can we back up for a second? I feel like we've skipped a few things. Documentary Feature, Animated Feature...

SS: Because who cares?

MK: Me?

SS: Fine. In both those categories, I've seen Puss in Boots and Rango. Rango's great, so is Puss. I think Rango gets it, but I'd be down with a Puss win, too

MK: See I'm thinking it's between Kung Fu Panda 2 and Rango. Something so beautiful about Kung Fu Panda 2. It’s in my top ten this year.

ANYTHING THIS ADORABLE DESERVES TO WIN IT ALL.

The 2011 Hollmann Awards: Part 2

   

Good evening, friends and relatives. Welcome to the Second Chapter of the 2011 Hollmann Awards in 2012. I am Dame Maggie Smith, co-creator of the universe and Queen of the Cinema. We have nine categories to go through tonight, or whenever you're reading this, so please: no fussing about. Let's get it over with as quick as we can, then you can get back to your hot toddies or whatever is you mortals do.

The 2011 Hollmann Awards: Part One

Hello, and welcome to the First Chapter of the Hollmann Awards. I'm Dame Judi Dench, your guide through our Spaceship Earth, and your Mistress of Ceremonies for the first half. As a previous nominee for the Hollmann Awards, I know firsthand what an effect they have on one's career: it was the last film award I was ever nominated for. In 2006. So long ago. So long....

But let's get on with it? The 2011 Hollmann Awards in 2012!

All Smile(y)s

 Home from work, and ready to discuss the BAFTA nominees!

Creepy statue. It reminds me so much of:

Full list of them here, of course.

But first, let me say three things about the Golden Globes. One: I'm sorry my post was unreadable, but I've never posted using an iPod Touch before. God, it's hideous! Two: Ricky Gervais was tamer this year; ie, boring. It wasn't the most exciting show, but I guess it was all right. Eh. Three: Seven correct out of eleven. A passing grade, surely.

On to BAFTA. I watched the taped nominations just a moment ago (announced by Daniel Radcliffe and Holliday Grainger), and I have to admit that I was thrilled by a number of them! Many of the nominees are either shared by the Hollmann Awards, or just missed the mark. In order of their announcement:

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Jessica Chastain, The Help

Judi Dench, My Week with Marilyn 

Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids

Carey Mulligan, Drive 

Octavia Spencer, The Help 

Tip o' the Hat: Chastain and Mulligan were also nominated for me, though it was Shame for the latter. I'm down with the Dench nom, she was a warm presence.

But What About...?: Zoe Wanamaker, who was one of the six ladies tipped by the Longlist as the Branch Leaders (individual branches select the longlist finalists in their respective categories, from which the entire Academy votes for the nominees).  I was hoping she'd be included so that others could see I'm not crazy.

What does this mean?: McCarthy has a lot of support among her peers, doesn't she? The SAGs, the BAFTAs...it's looking more and more likely that the Academy may bite.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Kenneth Branagh, My Week with Marilyn 

Jim Broadbent, The Ides of March

Jonah Hill, Moneyball 

Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Ides of March 

Christopher Plummer, Beginners 

Tip o' the Hat: YES! Ides of March love! Go BAFTA! 

He values your loyalty.

 And even though he's become a fixture at this point, the more recognition Plummer receives for Beginners the better.

But What About...?: There was a slight chance that Longlister John Hurt might have made it for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, but I suppose that was always a longshot.

What does this mean?: We've known for some time now that Branagh, Hill and Plummer are safe. Albert Brooks has missed out now with SAG and BAFTA. Hoffman could sneak in, but I don't expect this Broadbent nom to go anywhere.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The Descendants

The Help

The Ides of March

Moneyball

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Tip o' the Hat: Those last three titles make me swoon. Definitely the best adapted screenplays of the year. The Help's inclusion raised my eyebrows, but not critically so.

But What About...?: Oh, BAFTA, BAFTA, BAFTA. Two of your own films left out in the cold in favor of that terribly superficial Hawaii flick? Submarine was one of the best screenplays of the year, adapted or original, witty and moving and realistic and whimsical and masterful. MASTERFUL.

What does this mean?: Descendants and Moneyball are safe. The British contingent just may get Tinker Tailor and Ides the nods they deserve.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

The Artist

Bridesmaids

The Guard

The Iron Lady

Midnight in Paris

Tip o' the Hat: My own longlists included all these titles, so kudos.

But What About...?: What the hell does Mike Mills have to do to get some recognition? Plummer gives a magnificent performance in Beginners, but you know who gave him that character?

What does this mean?: That Kristen Wiig's Oscar nomination for Original Screenplay is safe and secure.

BEST DIRECTOR

Tomas Alfredson, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist 

Lynne Ramsay, We Need to Talk About Kevin

Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive 

Martin Scorsese, Hugo

Tip o' the Hat: Solid list, this one. Ramsay was my sixth choice, just missing the cut. Glad someone recognized her.

But What About...?: You know, actually, this list is fine. Sure, I would nominate Woody Allen and Steven Soderbergh, but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. You done a good job, BAFTA.

What does this mean?: Hopefully, some momentum for Alfredson, though Refn is more likely the beneficiary. Drive is becoming a bit of a phenomenon, really, so there's a chance for it in categories outside of Supporting Actor. Like Broadbent and Mulligan, I expect Ramsay's nomination to be a BAFTA thing. Hopefully, I'll we pleasantly surprised.

BEST ACTRESS

Berenice Bejo, The Artist 

Viola Davis, The Help 

Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady 

Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin

Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn 

Tip o' the Hat: First, to my typing skills, which first had me reporting that Swinton was nominated for The Iron Lady and Williams for We Need to Talk About Kevin. I want to see those movies now! Second, to the inclusion of Bejo in Lead Actress. She was sixth on my own ballot, so she didn't make it, but my God! The woman is just DAZZLING as Peppy Miller! And she is the co-lead!

But What About...?: I still love you, Charlize Theron.

WE CAN BEAT THIS THING TOGETHER.

 What does this mean?: That the nay-sayers nay-saying Swinton's nom can nay-say no more.

BEST ACTOR

George Clooney, The Descendants 

Jean Dujardin, The Artist 

Michael Fassbender, Shame 

Brad Pitt, Moneyball 

Gary Oldman, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy 

Tip o' the Hat: Fassbender and Oldman. The right choice.

But What About...?: Gosling for Drive. Love for Mulligan, love for Refn, but no love for the Driver. Oy.

What does this mean?: Oh, God, I don't know. Conventional wisdom holds that Clooney, Dujardin and Pitt are safe for the Oscars, and God knows after that. Even if DiCaprio stays in play, there's still a fifth slot, and it would be between Fassbender and Oldman. Certainly it would be better to have both than neither, though, right?

BEST BRITISH FILM

My Week with Marilyn

Senna

Shame

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

We Need to Talk About Kevin 

Tip o' the Hat: We all knew that Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy was going to rule at the BAFTAs. Does that change my excitement for every nomination it receives? Not at all.

What does this mean?: Senna's winning their documentary prize.

BEST FILM

The Artist

The Descendants

Drive

The Help

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy 

Tip o' the Hat: DRIIIIIIIVE!!!!! TINKER TAILOOOOOOOOR!!! TOGETHER AGAIN!!!!!

I'll drink to that!

 But What About....?: Honestly, kind of thought the Brits would go more for Midnight in Paris. Also, those Director and British Film nominees gave me the slightest hope for We Need to Talk About Kevin...

What does this mean?: Everyone seems to have some love for The Descendants, with a few exceptions here and there. Hopefully, BAFTA members that overlap with AMPAS will help a film more in need of support, such as Drive or Tinker, Tailor.

The 2011 Hollmann Awards Nominees!

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the nominees for the 2011 HOLLMANN AWARDS!!!

The nominees are chosen from a field of 82 films, which were reduced to fifteen semi-finalists in each of the eighteen categories. From those fifteen, ten have been eliminated to bring about the nominees you now see here.

Traditionally, I post my nominations the day before Oscar announces theirs. Last year, I went for five days before the Academy, just because I figured I had seen everything I was going to see, and the next couple of days were not going to make a difference. This year, I know that I've seen all that I'm gonna see weeks in advance. That's fine. These awards are a representation of my personal film experience in 2011...and now that I live in a city where the 2011 releases come out in the calendar year, I don't have to wait until the end of January to judge that. I cut it off at the end of December, officially making The Iron Lady my 82nd and final film of the year (and nominated twice here...)

We've got a little over a hundred nominees this year, and I'm sure they're all anxious to hear their names called out. Let the games begin:

for BEST VISUAL EFFECTS, the nominees are:

Anonymous

 Volker Engel/Marc Weigert, visual effects supervisors

Engel and Weigert were previously nominated for 2012

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Tim Burke, senior visual effects supervisor

Matt Jacobs/John Moffatt/Chris Shaw, visual effects supervisors

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Joe Letteri, senior visual effects supervisor

Dan Lemmon/R. Christopher White, visual effects supervisors

Daniel Barrett, animation supervisor

Letteri previously won for Avatar

Sucker Punch 

John "DJ" DesJardin, visual effects supervisor

DesJardin was previously nominated for Watchmen

Super 8 

Russell Earl/Dennis Muren, visual effects supervisors

Paul Kavanagh, animation supervisor

for BEST SOUND, the nominees are:

Drive

Lon Bender/Victor Ray Ennis, supervising sound editors

Robert Fernandez/Dave Paterson, sound re-recording mixers

Hanna

Craig Berkey/Christopher Scarabosio, sound re-recording mixers/sound designers

Scarabosio, supervising sound editor

Craig Berkey was previously nominated for A Serious Man

Sucker Punch

Scott Hecker, supervising sound editor

Rick Hromadka, sound designer

Chris Jenkins, sound re-recording mixer

Michael McGee, production sound mixer

Frank Montano, sound re-recording mixer

Eric A. Norris, supervising sound effects designer

Michael McGee was previously nominated for TRON: Legacy

Super 8

Anna Behlmer, sound re-recording mixer

Ben Burtt, sound designer/supervising sound editor

Tom Johnson/Andy Nelson, sound re-recording mixer

Mark Ulano, production sound mixer

Matthew Wood, supervising sound editor

Anna Behlmer and Andy Nelson were previously nominated for Cloverfield and Star Trek 

Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood previously won for WALL-E

Mark Ulano was previously nominated for Iron Man and Inglourious Basterds

War Horse

Richard Hymns, supervising sound editor

Tom Johnson/Andy Nelson, sound re-recording mixer

Gary Rydstrom, sound designer/sound re-recording mixer

Stuart Wilson, production sound mixer

Nelson was previously nominated for Cloverfield and Star Trek.

for BEST MAKEUP, the nominees are:

Albert Nobbs

Matthew W. Mungle, special makeup effects designer

Lorraine Glynn Whelan, key hair stylist

Anonymous

Heike Merker/Bjorn Rehbein, makeup department heads

Drive

Medusah, hair department head

Gerald Quist, makeup department head

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Nick Dudman, makeup effects designer

Amanda Knight, makeup designer

Dudman and Knight were previously nominated for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 

The Iron Lady 

Mark Coulier, prosthetics designer

Marese Langan, makeup and hair designer

(formerly X-Men: First Class; for more information, see this post)

Costume, Score, Actors and more after the jump!

The Longlists: Narrowing the Field

It's long been a tradition to do a Longlist, the kind BAFTA does, with the semi-finalists in each category. Having yet to catch up with the other 2011 releases, I have decided -- not through impatience, but through honesty -- to keep the eligible films to those I saw during the year. I had ample time to see a lot of films, and not everything can be seen. Besides, these are the Hollmann Awards, which means two things. First, it means that they do not represent all of 2011 cinema, but my own cinematic year. Second, it means I can basically make up the rules as I go along.


With the notable exception of Best Picture (for I've already revealed the unranked Top Ten) and Best Original Song (for choices were few), the categories are narrowed down to fifteen contenders. Interestingly, the most difficult categories to pare down were Director and Supporting Actor. Doesn't Chris O'Dowd's contribution to Bridesmaids warrant recognition? How could I ignore the greatness of Steven Spielberg, especially since War Horse made it to my Top 25? Wasn't Wyatt McCallum fantastic in The Myth of the American Sleepover? I could always make up a new rule, but if you're not going to kill your darlings, you may as well not do your own awards. And for heaven's sake, who wants that?!?

You will also see actors who are currently being campaigned for supporting in the leading categories. This is because I feel that their roles are large enough to warrant a category change. Peppy Miller and Alice Dainard are more than just the love interests who help their guy make it through to the end. They have their own fully-developed arcs. The movie just couldn't exist without them.


Eighteen categories. It's a lot of text, but I always like the conversations these can spark. Shall we?

And Now the End Is Near: Best of 2011

Yes, friends, it's the annual year-end Top 25 Films Countdown. These lists are always fluid, always changing. When I look back at last year's Fifteen Honorable Mentions and the Ten Best, I find myself second-guessing the placements of The Runaways and The American (should be higher), Piranha 3D and The Kids Are All Right (should be lower), but I still feel confident that the titles themselves are right. Maybe I would now switch out For Colored Girls and Never Let Me Go for The Runaways and Get Low. But then I remember certain moments of each film and think, "Hm. Maybe not."

I've still got so much to see, so much that could still qualify for the Hollmann Awards (dare I limit it to movies I actually saw in 2011?). Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Win Win, Rango, Melancholia, Meek's Cutoff, Warrior, Pariah, Jane Eyre, Captain America, The Housemaid, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, Margin Call, Coriolanus, A Better Life...these are the films I still need to see. It just didn't happen for me.

In all, I saw 82 films this year, a pretty good number I think, though nowhere near the hundred-plus that more energetic writers manage to pull off. If I waited until I saw the fourteen listed, of course, I would have 95, which is still close, but....

Ach. What of it? There are still only 25 slots, meaning that I had to cruelly, painfully cast off 57 other flicks. Ok, maybe only 51, since there are seven films that I found to be just terrible (Another Earth, Bride Flight, Cat Run, The Descendants, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, Jack & Jill, In Time, The Robber). Suffice to say, I did have to whittle down, justify positioning, try to remember which ones I enjoyed, which ones fell short. I tried to keep movies I wouldn't watch again, movies I only liked but didn't love, movies that I barely remember, off the list entirely. I tried my best. I'm sure that by next year, I'll have decided that The Big Year really did deserve a mention in my Top Ten. Doubtful, even though I know I'll buy it, but perceptions and opinions change with time.

Enough of that bullshit. You want to see the list. Ladies and gentlemen, the ranked list of the fifteen semi-finalists; or, 25-11 of the Top 25.

Tinker Tailor, Movie Trailer

Do you remember when, in my Top 25 Most Anticipated post, I put Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy at number nine? Well, it just leap-frogged over everything else to become my Number Two.



This trailer makes me swoon. Thanks to Kristopher Tapley for pointing this out. I mean, how many times can one watch a trailer in a single day before labeling oneself obsessed? Good Lord, this is right up my alley.

Not That Crap Again: June Oscar Predictions

By this time, many of you may be aware of the Academy's new rule for Best Picture: no more of this The Ten business. Instead, the number of films nominated will fluctuate between five and ten, according to how many films get 5% of the number one votes. That's the minimum required, apparently in reaction against the much smaller representation for some of last year's Best Picture honorees (Winter's Bone and 127 Hours, probably). What this means is that we won't know until Nomination Morning how many films will be up for Best Picture. It could be seven, it could be eight, it could be five, or maybe ten!

The possibilities...

I approve of and applaud this system, actually (and I know AMPAS was dying to know). It's hard, sometimes, to come up with a set number of great films for the year. I do a Top 25 and Bottom 10, and I'm thinking of retiring both -- first, I don't see enough movies in a year for those rankings to mean all that much; second, it's led to my "honoring" certain films just to fill the self-imposed quota (guys, The Proposal is a diverting, sometimes frustrating, but altogether harmless comedy that does not belong on a "worst of" list). I understand the frustration, so I can roll with the Academy deciding not to deal with it anymore. Of course, this means losing interesting titles in the Best Pic lineup, your District 9s and so forth, but it definitely makes the season more suspenseful, something that's been seriously lacking as of late.

So, this plus new buzz on some films leads me to believe that now is the time to adjust some of my predictions:

BEST PICTURE

The Big Five

The Descendants

Hugo Cabret

The Ides of March

J. Edgar

War Horse

In no particular order, these are the five that I think will make the cut no matter what. Hugo Cabret and The Descendants are my new additions, since I saw the trailer for the latter and read the former. With Cabret, I feel like you'd only be able to mess it up if you didn't have cinema coursing through your veins. If it was in the hands of a studio hire, maybe it wouldn't make the cut, but in the hands of a Movie Catholic (thank you, Jeff Wells) like Scorsese? Get outta here! It's guaranteed!

The Next Group

The Tree of Life

The Artist

The Dangerous Method

The Iron Lady

Midnight in Paris

And this, for me, is in order of likelihood. The Tree of Life is getting mixed reviews, but Malick's fanbase is a devoted one. Then there's The Artist, the Cannes hit acquired by Oscar whisperers (thanks, Sasha Stone!) The Weinstein Company. It may be mostly silent, but I hear it's got heart. If biopics A Dangerous Method and The Iron Lady impress enough, they shouldn't find it hard to elbow their way in. The warm and charming Midnight in Paris is my wild card pick, just in case they go to Ten.

Among the three I've switched out is My Week with Marilyn (I've been hearing mehs). And if Marilyn is gone here, I might as well shoo it off the Best Director list. I don't see it happening unless it falls within that tower of love which you see above.

BEST DIRECTOR

George Clooney, The Ides of March

David Cronenberg, A Dangerous Method

Clint Eastwood, J. Edgar

Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

Steven Spielberg, War Horse

Cronenberg gets the "sorry we've ignored you for so long" nomination, with Hazanavicius as the "oh holy shit this is artistic brilliance" nomination. I understand I have more confidence than most in The Dangerous Method's chances, but we can't all be pussies.

More predictions after the cut....

What, Already??: April Oscar Predictions

It's now time for that foolish, dumb, silly game of trying to predict Oscar nominees for the next season in April. A true Russian roulette, if ever there was one...besides the one that already exists. I've decided to predict screenplay categories as well this year, and I was almost tempted to do cinematography, but nobody knows that shit sight unseen. Come on. Let's be real.

Now, why do I do these in April? Because every April, Nathaniel at The Film Experience does it, ending it with the Actress Psychic Contest. If you can guess the five Best Actress nominees this far in advance, you get a capital p Prize! EEEEE! I got 3/5 last year, correctly predicting Bening, Kidman and Lawrence; I had Naomi Watts (Fair Game) and Robin Wright (The Conspirator) in my other two slots. But that was then, this is now, so let's roll on.

PICTURE

Albert Nobbs 
A Dangerous Method 
The Ides of March 
The Iron Lady 
J. Edgar 
My Week with Marilyn 
Super 8 
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy 
The Tree of Life 
The War Horse

Oh, sure, J. Edgar is slated for 2012, but if I'm right about Mr. Eastwood, that movie will be in cineplexes by late December with three National Board of Review awards under its belt.

Last year: 4/10 - The Fighter, Inception, The Kids Are All Right, The King's Speech

DIRECTOR

David Cronenberg, A Dangerous Method
Simon Curtis, My Week with Marilyn
Clint Eastwood, J. Edgar
Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life
Steven Spielberg, The War Horse

I predict Cronenberg will get that finally-recognized-auteur slot, joining Curtis as a first-time nominee. Eastwood works his magic after a few years' absence -- though expect Clooney as a possible spoiler. Spielberg gets in because there's no way he won't go justice to the source material (good stuff), and Malick may be the one to beat! He said without having seen a thing.
Last year: 1/5 - Tom Hooper, The King's Speech


ACTRESS

Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Anne Hathaway, One Day
Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn

Close is welcomed back into the fold, Streep and Williams get biopic nods, Olsen is the indie slot, Hathaway gets the second nomination needed in order to clinch the Overdue! status sure to come when her Judy Garland biopic hits in 2013 (or thereabouts).
Last year: 3/5 - Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right; Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole; Jennifer Lawrence, Winter's Bone


ACTOR

George Clooney, The Descendants
Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar
Michael Fassbender, A Dangerous Method
Ryan Gosling, The Ides of March
Gary Oldman, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy 

Fassbender's packed year is sure to get him some recognition, and hopefully Oldman's turn as a legendary literary figure will net him his first nomination. Gosling will finally get a second nomination, right? He does great work every year, and every year....
Last year: 1/5 - Colin Firth, The King's Speech


SUPPORTING ACTOR

John Hawkes, Martha Marcy May Marlene
Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method
Peter Mullan, The War Horse
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Eddie Redmayne, My Week with Marilyn

I am convinced in my head that leading man Redmayne will be pushed to supporting to (a) increase his chances of getting a nomination, and (b) increase Williams' chances of getting the gold. Mullan's character, that of the drunken father, is one of the best characters in War Horse, and he's also due for recognition. I'm predicting Hawkes to be this year's Jeremy Renner ("Whoa! Back so soon?"). And then there's also Mortensen and Plummer. I'm least confident about this lineup.
Last year: 2/5 - Christian Bale, The Fighter; Geoffrey Rush, The King's Speech 

 
SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Monica Bellucci, The Whistleblower
Jessica Chastain, The Tree of Life
Judi Dench, J. Edgar
Elizabeth Reaser, Young Adult
Vanessa Redgrave, Coriolanus 

I'm equally confident in this lineup. I wasn't going to predict Chastain, since no actor has ever been nominated for a Malick film, but in the end I thought, "To hell with it."
Last year: 3/5 - Amy Adams, The Fighter; Helena Bonham-Carter, The King's Speech; Melissa Leo, The Fighter 


ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

J. Edgar - Dustin Lance Black
Martha Macy May Marlene - Sean Durkin
The Tree of Life - Terrence Malick
Win Win - Thomas McCarthy, Joe Tiboni
Young Adult - Diablo Cody

McCarthy finally gets accepted into the club, Cody and Black get welcome back hugs, Durkin fills that indie slot, Malick wins.


ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Albert Nobbs - Glenn Close, John Banville
A Dangerous Method - Christopher Hampton
My Week with Marilyn - Adrian Hodges
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - Peter Straughan, Bridget O'Connor
The War Horse - Lee Hall, Richard Curtis

A passion project, three directing nominees, and a respectable adult thriller.

My 25 Most Anticipated of 2011

Well, it was nice to take a few days off! I've got a lot of reading to catch up on, but first, as per tradition, we must look at the year ahead to see what goods Lady Cinema has in store for us.

25. Thor

Norse god becomes Marvel superhero.

DR: Kenneth Branagh (ahahaha)

WR: Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz & Don Payne, from a story by J. Michael Straczynski & Mark Protosevich, adapted from the comic book by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber & Jack Kirby

STARS: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Idris Elba, Anthony Hopkins, Stellan Skarsgard

This is...I just have to see it. I think it looks terrible, but I just have to see if it's real.

24. This Must Be the Place

Retired rocker hunts down the Nazi war criminal that killed his father.

DR: Paolo Sorrentino

WR: Sorrentino & Umberto Contarello

STARS: Hollmann Award Nominee Sean Penn, Hollmann Award Nominee Frances McDormand

What kind of lunatic sees a premise like this with a picture like that and doesn't rush out to see this movie? No irony here, it just seems awesome.

23. Cowboys & Aliens

Sci-fi western. Kind of self-explanatory.
DR: Jon Favreau
WR: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman & Damon Lindelof, adapted from the graphic novel by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg
STARS: Hollmann Award Nominee Paul Dano, Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford
The next couple of entries will make it clear that I am a sucker for blockbusters. It's the boy in me. Awesome trailer!

22. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Jack Sparrow and Barbossa find the Fountain of Youth, go up against Blackbeard.
DR: Rob Marshall
WR: Ted Elliot & Ted Rossio, from characters created by Elliot, Rossio, Stuart Beattie & Jay Wolpart, suggested by the novel On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers
STARS: Hollmann Award Nominee Johnny Depp, Hollmann Award Nominee Penelope Cruz, Hollmann Award Nominee Judi Dench, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane
It looks like a damn good time. The addition of Cruz and Dench to the cast makes me giddy. Giddy, I say!

21. Captain America: The First Avenger

Synopsis unnecessary.
DR: Joe Johnston
WR: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely & Joss Whedon, adapted from the comic book by Joe Simon & Jack Kirby
STARS: Hollmann Award Nominee Samuel L. Jackson, Hollmann Award Nominee Stanley Tucci, Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Tommy Lee Jones, Toby Jones
This is purely based on my love for this cast. Look at that group. Tucci, Jones and Jones!

20. Quartet

Four retired opera singers prepare for their annual tribute to Verdi.
DR: Dustin Hoffman
WR: Ronald Harwood, adapted from his play
STARS: Albert Finney, Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay
The directorial debut of Dustin Hoffman is intriguing on its own, but the return of my favorite actress, two-time Academy Award Winner Dame Maggie Smith, to a starring role is too delicious to be believed.

19. Scream 4

A new Ghostface wreaks havoc on Sydney and co.
DR: Wes Craven
WR: Kevin Williamson
STARS: David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Emma Roberts, Mary McDonnell, Hayden Panettiere
Well, I'm no Glenn Dunks, but I do love the Scream franchise.

18. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Ensemble about a retirement home in Bangalore.
DR: John Madden
WR: Ol Parker & Deborah Moggach, adapted from the novel by Moggach
STARS: Hollmann Award Nominee Bill Nighy, Hollmann Award Nominee Judi Dench, Maggie Smith,  Tom Wilkinson, Dev Patel
Oh my god oh my god Dench and Smith together again for the first time in six years oh my god pinch me!

17. War Horse

World War I as seen through the eyes of a Devon boy's horse.
DR: Steven Spielberg
WR: Lee Hall & Richard Curtis, adapted from the novel by Michael Morpurgo
STARS: Emily Watson, Peter Mullan, David Kross, David Thewlis, Toby Kebbell, Niels Arestrup
I read the play adaptation by Nick Stafford and was deeply moved. I can't wait to see Mullan in this; his was my favorite character.

16. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II

Harry's journey finally comes to a head in a final battle with Lord Voldemort.
DR: David Yates
WR: Steve Kloves, adapted from the novel by J.K. Rowling
STARS: Hollmann Award Nominee Ralph Fiennes, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ciaran Hinds, Maggie Smith
I didn't expect Part I to be that spectacular. Egg on my face. Ciaran Hinds, one of my favorite actors, joins the cast, and oh look! Maggie Smith!

15. The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

Young adventurer and his dog go on globe-trotting adventures, I think.
DR: Steven Spielberg
WR: Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright & Joe Cornish, adapted from the comic book by Herge
STARS: Jamie Bell, Simon Pegg, Daniel Craig, Toby Jones, Andy Serkis, Nick Frost
See, it doesn't matter what the plot is. I watched the television show on Nickelodeon when I was a kid, because it was awesome. So here I am, super excited for a mo-cap adventure directed by one of the greats. Bring it! On!

14. Butter

The wife of a former butter-carving champion is determined to win same competition this year, but is threatened by a new entrant: an eleven-year-old butter-carving prodigy.
DR: Jim Field Smith
WR: Jason A. Micallef
STARS: Jennifer Garner, Hugh Jackman, Alicia Silverstone, Yara Shahidi, Ashley Greene, Olivia Wilde
I hear that all this is a metaphor for the last presidential Democratic primaries. If so, turning it into a butter-carving competition is quite inventive. Alicia Silverstone is another actress whose comeback I'm championing, by the way.

13. Sucker Punch

DR: Zack Snyder
WR: Snyder & Steve Shibuya, from a story by Snyder
STARS: Hollmann Award Nominee Abbie Cornish, Emily Browning, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, Carla Gugino, Jon Hamm
I can't wait to find out just what the hell those awesome trailers are advertising! Snyder: I love your work. Always.

12. Everybody Loves Whales

A government worker and an activist work to free whales trapped under the Arctic Circle.
DR: Ken Kwapis
WR: Jack Amiel & Michael Begler
STARS: Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, Kristen Bell, Ted Danson
The most beautiful woman in showbiz is finally working with Krasinski, who should be the go-to guy for leading man roles. Always.

11. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Remake of the Swedish thriller in which a journalist and a punk hacker team up to solve a decades-old missing persons case.
DR: Hollmann Award Nominee David Fincher
WR: Steven Zaillian, adapted from the novel by Stieg Larsson
STARS: Rooney Mara, Daniel Craig, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgard, Robin Wright
1) Two of these casting choices are perfect. 2) The Swedish film is...imperfect. If only it had a solid, masterful director who is adept at both thrillers and human dramas OH LOOK DAVID FINCHER. Ace.

10. Hugo Cabret

Adventure about a boy who lives in a train station.
DR: Hollmann Award Nominee Martin Scorsese
WR: Hollmann Award Nominee John Logan, adapted from the novel by Brian Selznick
STARS: Hollmann Award Winner Sacha Baron Cohen, Asa Butterfield, Christopher Lee, Emily Mortimer, Jude Law, Ben Kingsley
Scorsese.

9. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

George Smiley seeks a Russian agent within MI-6 during the Cold War.
DR: Tomas Alfredson
George Smiley seeks a Russian agent within MI6 during the Cold War.
WR: Bridget O'Connor & Peter Straughan, adapted from the novel by John le Carre
STARS: Hollmann Award Nominee Gary Oldman, Hollmann Award Nominee Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Ciaran Hinds, Mark Strong
They're making me wait for another Bond, so I have to get my sophisticated British espionage fix from somewhere. Oldman getting the rare lead role is a nice bonus, as is the inclusion of Hinds. I love Ciaran Hinds.

8. The Iron Lady

Margaret Thatcher must deal with the Falklands War.
DR: Phyllida Lloyd
WR: Abi Morgan
STARS: Hollmann Award Winner Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent
British politics and Meryl Streep, from the director of Mamma Mia!. I am intrigued.

7. Jane Eyre

Governess, secrets, don't go into the West Wing, love story, pre-feminist movement feminism.
DR: Cary Fukunaga
WR: Moira Buffini, adapted from the novel by Charlotte Bronte
STARS: Hollmann Award Winner Sally Hawkins, Hollmann Award Nominee Judi Dench, Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell
I hate the book, but I tend to like adaptations of it. Go figure! The Dench beckons...

6. Water for Elephants

A young vet joins a circus.
DR: Frances Lawrence
WR: Richard Lagravenese, adapted from the novel by Sara Gruen
STARS: Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz, Hal Holbrook
Maybe it was the use of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis's score from The Assassination of Jesse James. Maybe it's the cinematography. Maybe it's the fact that I just like to watch Hal Holbrook. I don't know what it is, but that trailer did its job, and now I eagerly await this movie's release.

5. The Help

A Mississippi belle befriends her black housekeeper in the 1960s.
DR: Tate Taylor
WR: Taylor, adapted from the novel by Kathryn Stockett
STARS: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Allison Janney, Sissy Spacek, Cicely Tyson
I love all of these women, and stories that take place in the South. It's nice to see Tyson getting away from the Tyler Perry movies -- I mean, I love love love his movies, but it'd be disheartening to think he was the only director making use of her talent.

4. Contagion

International team of doctors deals with the outbreak of a deadly virus.
DR: Steven Soderbergh
WR: Scott Z. Burns
STARS: Hollmann Award Winner Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law
People. Do I have to explain my love of large all-star casts? I feel like its clear at this point on the list.

3. The Ides of March

A campaign staffer for a presidential hopeful learns about the seedy side of politics.
DR: George Clooney
WR: Clooney & Grant Heslov, adapted from the play by Beau Willimon
STARS: Hollmann Award Nominee Ryan Gosling, Hollmann Award Nominee Philip Seymour Hoffman, Marisa Tomei, Jeffrey Wright, Paul Giamatti, George Clooney
Clooney returns to directing in a drama that sounds right up his alley. I am so excited about the cast, the material, Clooney, everything!

2. My Week with Marilyn

Olivier's assistant witnesses the tension between the actor and co-star Marilyn Monroe on the set of The Prince and the Showgirl.
DR: Simon Curtis
WR: Adrian Hodges, adapted from the memoir by Colin Clark
STARS: Hollmann Award Nominee Judi Dench, Eddie Redmayne, Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Emma Watson
Call me a sucker for an Old Hollywood tale. No, really, do it. You'd be right!

1. Midnight in Paris

An American family travels to Paris for business.
DR/WR: Woody Allen
STARS: Hollmann Award Winner Marion Cotillard, Michael Sheen, Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, Alison Pill
Early set photos made it look like a 20s-set film, and I think Allen always excels in period pieces. Hell, I love The Curse of the Jade Scorpion, don't understand at all the hate against it. He's one of my favorite filmmakers of all time, definitely my favorite screenwriter, and this looks like one of the strongest ensembles he's assembled.