12 Years a Slave, Lee Daniel's The Butler, and August: Osage County, and Dallas Buyer's Club lead SAG Film Nominations

Before I even publish the television nominees (which matter), the film nominees are a big deal, and prove something far more interesting, the Oscar race is on!

I think the Supporting Actor race is once again the most interesting, I am not entirely certain Gandolfinni will score an Oscar nomination, but I predicted his nomination here.  This category was probably filled with more "surprises" than any other Tom Hanks, and Bradley Cooper the bigger stars snubbed for Barkhad Adbi in Captain Phillips and Daniel Bruhl in Rush.  Abdi has the Oscar nomination.

I went 5 for 5 in Supporting Actress I knew they would buy Julia Robert category fraud, her celebrity also helped her out like Nicole Kidman's in The Paperboy last year.  The other four nominees are locks in this category watch out for that elusive fifth person to knock Robert out, maybe Octavia Spencer.

In a surprise move Jennifer Lawrence was the only cast member to nominated from American Hustle, which is surprising because the film has so many actors, and this is where most of the support for the film would come come from, but as stated above no Cooper,  and no Amy Adams in Lead Actress.  The lead actress race looks locked up with five veterans, Streep, Bullock, Blanchett, Dench, and Thompson.

The Best Actor thud heard round the world is no Robert Redford in All is Lost, Tom O'Neil from goldderby.com is going to go crazy.  Redford hosts Sundance, but is kind an outside, whereas Whitaker and Hanks are pretty present, and two of the more popular films of the season, their nominations make sense.

Who predicted Dallas Buyers Club getting a nomination in Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture? I will buy you a shot, this was not on anyone's list, just proving the film has legs, and could sneak into the Best Picture race.  The rest of the nominees in this category were predictable, with 12 years a Slave leading the pack with 4 nominations.  August: Osage County and Lee Daniel's The Butler received and Dallas Buyer's Club all received 3 nominations while American Hustle has 2.

You may be asking where is The Wolf of Wall Street, Her, and some other late surging films?  Wolf did screen for as many members like Django Unchained last year, which did not get nominated at SAG, but then went on to score 5 nominations and 2 wins at the Oscars.  Look for films like Her, and Wolf to still show up at the Oscars.

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
12 Years a Slave
American Hustle
August: Osage County
Dallas Buyers Club
Lee Daniel's The Butler

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Lead Role
Bruce Dern-Nebraska
Chiwetel Ejiofor-12 Years a Slave
Tom Hanks-Captain Phillips
Matthew McConaughey-Dallas Buyer's Club
Forrest Whitaker-Lee Daniel's The Butler

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Lead Role
Cate Blanchett-Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock-Gravity
Judi Dench-Philomena
Emma Thompson-Saving Mr. Banks
Meryl Streep-August: Osage County

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Barkhad Abdi-Captain Phillips
Daniel Bruhl-Rush
Michael Fassbender-12 Years a Slave
James Gandolfini-Enough Said
Jared Leto-Dallas Buyer's Club

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Jennifer Lawrence-American Hustle
Lupita Nyong'o-12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts-August: Osage County
June Squibb-Nebraska
Oprah Winfrey-Lee Daniel's The Butler

Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Film Predictions

The first "major" film nominations are announced tomorrow.  In years past the Golden Globes always announced their nominees first, but this year the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards are being announced first.  This award is a bit different because the "Best Picture" is Outstanding Performance by a Cast in Motion Picture.  Here are my predictions below:

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
12 Years a Slave
American Hustle
August: Osage County
Lee Daniel's The Butler
Saving Mr. Banks

Beyond these five three other ensembles have a decent shot of showing up here: Blue Jasmine (Midnight in Paris was nominated here), Nebraska (the last two Alexander Payne films have made the cut), and The Wolf of Wall Street (Scorsese casts have done well here).  My 6th place would go to Blue Jasmine mainly because of the mix of film and television actors in the cast, then Nebraska then Wolf.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Lead Role
Bruce Dern-Nebraska
Chiwetel Ejiofor-12 Years a Slave
Matthew McConaughey-Dallas Buyer's Club
Robert Redford-All is Lost
Forrest Whitaker-Lee Daniel's The Butler

This was a tough call, I think the 5th spot is between Whitaker and Hanks.  Both have a strong fan base, Hanks as a producer/actor, Whitaker as a director/actor.  I think this is where you will see support for The Butler start to swell up.  Too close to call.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Lead Role
Cate Blanchett-Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock-Gravity
Judi Dench-Philomena
Emma Thompson-Saving Mr. Banks
Meryl Streep-August: Osage County

I am torn on whether Meryl can get a nomination once again, or if there is fatigue.  I think Amy Adams may be a strong spoiler.  I also think this will be a year for veteran winners in this category.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Bradley Cooper-American Hustle
Michael Fassbender-12 Years a Slave
James Gandolfini-Enough Said
Tom Hanks-Saving Mr. Banks
Jared Leto-Dallas Buyer's Club

The toughest category to completely predict because beyond Leto, Fassbender, and Hanks I feel like I am grasping at thing air.  I think Gandolfini will make it into the race here, SAG is sentimental look at Jerry Orbach (although that was television), but Gandolfini was in both television and film regularly.  I think Cooper is vulnerable because he is a lead, but category fraud is in their MO, and American Hustle will be a big nominee tomorrow.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Jennifer Lawrence-American Hustle
Lupita Nyong'o-12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts-August: Osage County
June Squibb-Nebraska
Oprah Winfrey-Lee Daniel's The Butler

Another tough call, I think Squibb and Roberts are the weaker links here, but they make sense.  SAG nominees always seem cohesive to me, and they will honor a few nominees as stragglers, like Nicole Kidman, Kidman got nominated here mainly because of her name.  The same will help Roberts, along with her talent.

At the end the big winners from this day of nominations will be films who have either been no shows with the critics, Lee Daniel's The Butler, and Saving Mr. Banks, August: Osage County.  These three films will/should score 3 nominations a piece.  American Hustle will also get 3, maybe four if Amy Adams can crack Female Actor.  12 Years a Slave will have four.  I can see Hustle and Slave in a tie for the most nominations, do not be surprised if that is the headline tomorrow.

American Hustle Leads New York Film Critics Awards with 3 wins-Most Controversial Winner in Years!

Last year at this time the New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) picked another film, which was seen by only limited critics/audiences, and that was Zero Dark Thirty.  History has repeated itself here, and this year's big winner was the David O. Russell film American Hustle.  Hustle (which I saw last night) won Best Film, Best Screenplay, and Jennifer Lawrence won Best Supporting Actress.  There are always some grumbles about who wins the big awards here, but I have never seen so many critics/pundits/bloggers deride a critics organization as much as this year.  I will go on record stating I liked American Hustle, one of the more entertaining films of the year, but not a Best Film of the year.  Lawrence was also miscast, and how she won this award with her terrible New York accent is beyond me, but many of these critics are elites who do not interact with people who talk like she does, so I guess I understand.

12 Years a Slave the early favorite only took home one trophy for Best Director, Steve McQueen. Cate Blanchett won Best Actress for Blue Jasmine, Jared Leto won Best Supporting Actor for Dallas Buyers Club, Robert Redford won Best Actor for All is Lost, and Inside Llewyn Davis won Best Cinematography. While Hustle took home 3 every other film just got one win, making this an interesting start to the award season, and shaking things up a bit.  See the full winners list down below.

2000s (source Wikipedia)

Year	Winner	Director(s)
2000	Traffic	Steven Soderbergh
2001	Mulholland Drive	David Lynch
2002	Far from Heaven	Todd Haynes
2003	The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King *	Peter Jackson
2004	Sideways	Alexander Payne
2005	Brokeback Mountain	Ang Lee
2006	United 93	Paul Greengrass
2007	No Country for Old Men *	Joel and Ethan Coen
2008	Milk	Gus Van Sant
2009	The Hurt Locker *	Kathryn Bigelow

2010s

Year	Winner	Director(s)
2010	The Social Network	David Fincher
2011	The Artist *	Michel Hazanavicius
2012	Zero Dark Thirty	Kathryn Bigelow
2013	American Hustle	David O. Russell

Over the last 13 years, the 2000s only 4 films have won this awards, and won Best Picture at the Oscar, they have * next to their names above.  The NYFCC pushed to be first award last year, and it may back fire on their winner in several ways.  Zero Dark Thirty was hit with tons of torture controversy.  American Hustle is being hit with the "it was great but not the best," which is accurate!  Ironically both of these films were produced by Meaghan Ellison.  How will Hustle fair?  Only time will tell.  As the first winner I think it has more of a mountain to climb.

This was a big boost for Robert Redford; he was flat lining a little bit, but this win puts him in good company. Only one man who won here in the 2000s and was not not nominated for Oscar, Paul Giamatti for Sideways.

Cate Blanchett has the nomination, but does she have the win?  Only three women have won at NYFCC and Oscar within the last 12 years:  Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line (2005)Helen Mirren in The Queen (2006), and Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady (2011).  Will Cate be a steam roller?

Steve McQueen has the most to cheer about, well statistically speaking. 7 of the last 12 winners in the Best Director category have won at Oscar, and impressive statistic.  Although 3 of those 12 missed out on a nomination.

As the first critics group of the season there is a long way to go, but today certainly got my blood going in many different directions, so let the excitement begin.

Full list of winners (will be updated with Runners-Up)

Best Picture: American Hustle
Best Actor: Robert Redford, All Is Lost
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Best Director: Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Best Foreign Language Film: Blue Is the Warmest Color
Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Best Animated Film: The Wind Rises
Best Screenplay: American Hustle
Best Cinematography: Bruno Delbonnel, Inside Llewyn Davis
Best First Film: Fruitvale Station
Best Documentary: Stories We Tell

American Hustle is an Entertaining Story about ABSCAM and the Con Game with a Great Ensemble

American Hustle (3 1/2 out of 5 Stars)

Directed by: David O. Russell (The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook)

Written by: Eric Singer (The International), David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook)

Starring Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, and Jennifer Lawrence

American Hustle starts out with a warning saying "These events happened" but maybe not exactly this way.  In the late 1970s and early 1980s the FBI ran stings they code named ABSCAM, short for Abdul Scam, the name of their front company.  This film takes these real life events, throws in their con men and women, and the game begins.

Hustle centers around Irving Rosenfield (Bale) and Edith or well Sydney Prosser (Adams) both of whom never wanted to be the victim in their lives.  Irving grew up watching his old man get pushed around with his window business, but as a young kid began the con breaking other people's windows so his dad would succeed.  Sydney, or Edith charmed her way into a job at Cosmo, and never looked back.  When the two meet at a party they fall madly in love with one another, and soon begin to run cons on people through their fake business.

While working one of their latest victims Richie DiMaso (Cooper) the two find out that he is an FBI agent, and instead of going to jail they get brought into this ABSCAM business with the FBI trying to catch other people in the con game.  What happens next is to fun to spoil, but needless to say this ensemble works so well together its hard to not smile as each aspect of the story unfolds.

Over the years David O. Russell has been a master at creating films centered around great ensembles from 1996's Flirting with Disaster all the way to this film.  Within this film their an ease to his direction, something more whimsical like his early work.  Within his last two films there was always something missing, the ensemble worked, but his direction did not feel cohesive enough or felt manipulative.  In this film O. Russell who directed and wrote the script with Eric Singer has created a much more balanced experienced that is more whimsical, and entertaining.  

The most successful thing about the film/script is defined by Bale's character himself, who defines morality as neither black and white, but rather grey.  Within this film O. Russell and Singer create more dense characters who live within the grey.  None of these characters are heroic nor do they fit within the cookie cutter modules O. Russell defined within his last two pictures, hence creating a much more rich ensemble piece.

Bale's performance was the strongest in the film, every time I watch him act I lose myself in his performances this has happened in almost every role he has taken on from The Machinist to his other film with O. Russell The Fighter.  You have to wonder if you are always being played by Irving, or where the vulnerability lies, but Bale is so convincing you can't see through the character. 

The rest of the ensemble is good, Cooper is hilarious, playing to his strength of comedic timing as an actor.  Adams is both striking to look at, but is better than I expected she plays the game as well as Irving, and there is so much strength within her performance.  The one person who did not fit into the ensemble as well was Jennifer Lawrence.  Critics have been singing her praises within this role, and she is funny, and does not do a bad job, but there is something lacking within this performance.  First and formost Lawrence's spotty New York accent is distracting; she could not pull it off.  Lawrence has always exuded maturity within her roles like Winter's Bone, and Silver Linings Playbook, but in this film she was playing a an immature person trying to be mature, and it did not work.

At the end of the day American Hustle is an entertaining film, with a great ensemble, solid direction, and great costume design.   

December Movies to See and Skip!

November was about two films at the box office Thor: The Dark World, and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Thor started strong, and will do better than the original already besting it with 186 million domestic, and 404 million foreign.  By the end Thor will do about 200 million domestic, which is half of Iron Man 3, but still decent.  The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has made 296 million domestic, and 276 in foreign markets, look for this film to give Iron Man 3 a run for its money as the number one film of the year.

While the God of Thunder and the "Girl on Fire" were the epic films of the month there were two other note able films released in November, Frozen and The Best Man Holiday.  Frozen has grossed 93 million domestic in just five days, looks for families to eat this film up, and push it past 200 million easily.  Holiday has grossed 63 million, and by the end of its run could keep climbing adding on another 15-20 million.  Frozen is proof that classic Disney animation has strong legging, and Holiday is proof in the power of good black cinema.

I will also add that I was correct about last months must-see movie, look for Nebraska at a theatre near you within the next few weeks it was a great film.  What does December have in store?

December 6th 

A few years back Crazy Heart was a sleeper hit with Jeff Bridges (although I hated it).  Out of the Furnace looks more like last years Rampart, and ironically both star Woody Harrelson.  Bale and Harrelson are said to be strong.  Furnace has lots of potential.

The Coen Brothers have a magical power with their films, a unique nature, which captivates audiences and their fans time and time again.  Inside Llewyn Davis is said to be another great film from the duo, with a great cast, music  T-Bone Burnett, how can you go wrong?

Must See of the Month: Inside Llewyn Davis

December 13th 

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was one of the most disappointing films from last year, Peter Jackson and his team seemed to lost their magic.  I believe splitting this film into three films was the real mistake, but anything to make money.  The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug could redeem the first, but I fear will also just be mediocre.

What can I say, another film with Tyler Perry, and Madea, this one entitled, Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas.  I honestly do not have any words, this film looks terrible.

Must Skip of the Week and Month: Tyler perry's A Madea Christmas 

December 20th 

Anchorman became a thing of legends, Will Ferrell may not be the most liked out there, but the first film has been quoted more than any in recent history.  Will a sequel ruin the greatness of the first?  It could. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues has potential, but be wary.

I will be getting to see American Hustle at a screening this week, and will be able to speak to the film further.  David O. Russell has had his two most recent films (The Fighter, and Silver Linings Playbook) get Best Picture nominations.  Will this film succeed? Looks good.

Mary Poppins is my favorite Disney film of all time.  Will Saving Mr. Banks do the behind the scenes magic justice?  With another great ensemble and the director which added the heart to The Blind Side on board with Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson this will be a magical experience.

The film I am most excited for (personally) is the Spike Jonez film Her starring Joaquin Phoenix as a man who fall in love with an operating system while trying to get over an ex-girlfriend. This may leave you a little cold, but watch the trailer below.

Must See of the Week: Her

December 27th 

Ben Stiller has never been one of my favorite actors, but his work behind the scenes is always pretty solid.  The Secret Life of Walter Mitty looks to be his most large scale endeavor, but this looks to be too grand of an attempt, that may may not be worth the adventure.

Martin Scorsese is a genius, and The Wolf of Wall Street could be one proof this man know how to make great cinema with its blended dark humor, and intense realism of the modern day economic greed.  This weekends screening proves the film has ambition, and will most likely be that film people flock to the way they went to see Django last year.

Turning a play into a film can be tricky, Doubt, Frost/Nixon, Gods of Carnage, The History Boys, the list could go on and on.  I imagine August: Osage County will have fans of the play a little less pleased, but audiences will eat this film up.  My thought before its release is that I have hope for it to be good, but am keeping my expectations low.

47 Ronin is bringing Keanu Reeves back to the big screen, but with an inflated production budget, and move able release date this film is already trouble in the making.  

I think Grudge Match may get old school fans of Stallone and DeNiro to show, but I will forewarn you this movie is going to be terrible.

Must See of the Week: The Wolf of Wall Street

Must Skip of the Week: Grudge Match 

Producer to Watch: Megan Ellison

Every month I typically pick a performer to watch, but this month its time to focus on a producer.  My boss sent me an article back in March of last year from Vanity Fair about upstart producer Megan Ellison.  Who is Megan Ellison, and why does she matter?  If you value quality film, she may be the future.  I wish I had as much of inside glance on this woman as Vanity Fair writer Vanessa Grigoriadis  (her article http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/03/megan-ellison-27-producer-zero-dark-thirty).  What I can do is paint an important picture about her importance to quality film through her time as "the most talked-about independent financier in Hollywood.

At 27 Megan Ellison already has an impressive list of production credentials:

True Grit (2010)
The Master (2012)
Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
Spring Breakers (2013)
Her (2013)
American Hustle (2013)
Upcoming Films:
Foxcatcher (2014)
Terminator 5 (2015)

Ellison is the daughter of billionaire Oracle Corporation CEO Larry Ellison; she started with some minor funding some projects back in 2006 for minor projects.  Ellison's biggest pay-off was her investment in the 2010 remake of the Coen Brothers film True Grit, which made a good amount of money.  After Grit she was given more money to invest, in other films.  Ellison has also founded Annapurna Pictures.  The goal of the film production company on their website is to "produce sophisticated high-quality films that might otherwise be deemed risky by contemporary Hollywood studios"

If you look at the list of films listed above you will see two Best Picture nominees, and three films with acting nominations.  Her and American Hustle have yet to make their impact, but Hustle will most likely make the Best Picture race.  These films are also quite good, and will make their mark on film history.  An interesting fact about Ellison is that she outbid Lionsgate for the rights of The Terminator franchise in 2011, which gives me hope for the future of that film series.

Megan Ellison is a woman to watch, its rare to see a female producer out there in the trenches fighting for quality film.  There are some big names out there like Laura Ziskin, but at such a young age Megan Ellison is a producer to watch, and a person who could change the game the way the Weinstein Brothers did many years ago.

Oscar Predictions (2013)-August is Never too Early

What will this year's Oscars look like?  Who will be the major players?  Does Harvey have the magic once again?  All of these are just a few of the questions people are asking now, but with the season getting underway, and heavy hitters like Fruitvale Station, Blue Jasmine, Nebraska, and Inside Llewyn Davis getting good press, there may be a lot of contenders already out there.  Here are my very very early August predictions.

Best Picture
12 Years a Slave
American Hustle
August: Osage County
Blue Jasmine 
Fruitvale Station
Gravity
Inside Llewyn Davis
Lee Daniel's The Butler
Nebraska

Best Director
Ryan Coogler, Fruitvale Station
Joel and Ethan Coen-Inside Llewyn Davis
Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Lee Daniels-Lee Daniel's The Butler 
David O. Russell- American Hustle

Best Actor 
Bruce Dern- Nebraska
Chiwetel Ejiofor- 12 Years a Slave
Michael B. Jordan-Fruitvale Station
Robert Redford- All Is Lost
Forrest Whitaker-Lee Daniel's The Butler 

Best Actress 
Cate Blanchett- Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock-Gravity
Judi Dench- Philomena
Julia Roberts- August: Osage County
Kate Winslet-Labor Day

Best Supporting Actor 
Josh Brolin- Labor Day
Michael Fassbender- 12 Years a Slave
Harrison Ford-42
John Goodman-Inside Llewyn Davis
Tom Hanks- Saving Mr. Banks

Best Supporting Actress 
Amy Adams- American Hustle/Her
Sally Hawkins- Blue Jasmine
Octavia Spencer-Fruitvale Station
Meryl Streep- August: Osage County
Oprah Winfrey-Lee Daniel's The Butler

Best Original Screenplay
American Hustle
Blue Jasmine
Fruitvale Station
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska

Best Adapted Screenplay
12 Years a Slave
August: Osage County
Before Midnight
Foxcatcher
Labor Day