Gravity, and Her Top the L.A. Film Critics Association Awards (Among Many Ties)

Today with Boston Society of Film Critics, the New York Online Film Critics Association, and L.A. Film Critics Association (LAFCA) announcing their winners, there is an aura of split decisions.  Today Boston and New York picked 12 Years a Slave, but L.A. deemed Best Picture a tie between Gravity and Her.  Beyond the New York (non-online critics) who picked American Hustle these films have been dominating forces with numerous wins for Nebraska, and Inside Llewyn Davis in acting and technical categories.  The lack of consensus proves this year has a lot of quality films, and this could be one of the most interesting award seasons to date.

As stated above the LAFCA deemed Best Picture a tie between Gravity and Her.  Gravity took home four prizes including Best Picture, Best Director for Alfonso Cuaron, Best Editing, and Best Cinematography.  Her won two prizes, Best Picture, and Best Production Design, the film was a runner up in three other categories.

"It's a tie" seemed to be a repetitive pattern throughout the live tweeting of these winners.  There was a tie in the Best Actress category between Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine, and Adèle Exarchopoulos, Blue Is the Warmest Color.  There was also a tie in the Best Supporting Actor category between James Franco, Spring Breakers, and Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club.  Once again Blanchett and Leto stick out as the front runners of the award season in the acting categories.

Based on the voting for Best Actor I think its safe to say there are four locks McConaughey, Redford, Dern, and Ejiofor.  I think Tom Hanks is vulnerable for Captain Phillips, and there are many actors who could swoop in to take his spot.  Yet do these awards matter?  The films that were most helped by these critics awards were American Hustle (although forgotten by the rest) and Her, these awards get their names out their and cement motion for them to potentially make waves with the Academy.  

On another note props to the great Megan Ellison for winning the New Generation prize; she deserves it!

• Best Picture: Gravity and Her (tie)
• Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity; runner-up: Spike Jonze, Her
• Best Actor: Bruce Dern, Nebraska; runner-up: Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
• Best Actress:  Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine, and Adèle Exarchopoulos, Blue Is the Warmest Color (tie)
• Best Supporting Actor:  James Franco, Spring Breakers, and Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club (tie)
• Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave; runner-up: June Squibb, Nebraska
• Best Screenplay: Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke,Before Midnight; runner-up: Spike Jonze, Her
• Best Foreign-Language Film: Blue Is the Warmest Color; runner-up: The Great Beauty
• Best Feature Animation: Ernest & Celestine; runner-up: The Wind Rises
• Best Documentary: Stories We Tell; runner-up: The Act of Killing
• Best Music Score: T Bone Burnett, Inside Llewyn Davis; runner-up: Arcade Fire and Owen Pallett, Her
• Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, Gravity; Runner-up, Bruno Delbonnel, Inside Llewyn Davis
• Best Editing: Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger, Gravity; Shane Carruth and David Lowery, Upstream Color
• Best Production Design: K.K. Barrett, Her; Runner-up: Jess Gonchor, Inside Llewyn Davis
• Douglas Edwards Independent/Experimental Film/Video Award:
• Cabinets Of Wonder: Films and a Performance by Charlotte Pryce
• The NEW GENERATION prize: Megan Ellison.

12 Years a Slave Leads Boston Society of Film Critics Winners, with Wolf of Wall Street as the consistent Runner-Up (like Boston Online Critics)

12 Years a Slave took home three prizes at the Boston Society of Film Critics (BSFC) today, winning Picture, Director for Steve McQueen, and Best Actor for Chiwetel Ejiofor.  The other big winner was Enough Said, which won Best Screenplay, and James Gandolfini won Supporting Actor for the film.    The other most note able fact about the BSFC is that The Wolf of Wall Street made a lot of waves as the runner-up in many categories.  Cate Blanchett also continued her dominance at the critics group; she and Jared Leto have been continuously the two names present between winners, and runner-ups.

Boston Globe critic Ty Burr stated that many, including himself were not able to see a screening of Wall Street, but believe it could have done better, beating Slave even for Best Picture if it had been seen by more.

• Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave; runner-up: The Wolf of Wall Street
• Best Director: Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave: runner-up: Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street
• Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave: runner-up: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
• Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine: Judi Dench in Philomena
• Best Supporting Actor: James Gandolfini, Enough Said; Runner-up: TIE! Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips, and Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
• Best Supporting Actress: June Squibb, Nebraska; Runner-up: Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave
• Best Screenplay: Enough Said; runner-up: Wolf of Wall Street
• Best Documentary:  The Act Of Killing; runner-up: Blackfish
• Best Animated Feature: The Wind Rises; runner-up: Frozen (near tie)
• Best New Filmmaker: Ryan Coogler for Fruitvale Station; runner-up: Josh Oppenheimer Act Of Killing
• Best Cinematography: Gravity, Emmanuel Lubezki; runner-up: The Grandmaster
• Best Editing: Rush; runner up: Wolf of Wall Street
• Best Use of Music in a Film: Inside Llewyn Davis; runner-up: Nebraska

Frozen is the way a Modern Disney Animated Film Should Be, Fun with Fantastic Musical Numbers

Frozen (4 out of 5 Stars)

Directed by: Chris Buck (Tarzan), and Jennifer Lee (Wreck-It Ralph)

Written by: Jennifer Lee, Story by Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee, and Shane Morris

Voice Work  from: Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, and Idina Menzel

Just yesterday I was sitting with a group of students where I work watching "classic" Disney films.  The day started with Hercules, then The Lion King, the Beauty and the Beast, and ended with Tarzan.  I then asked one student her first Disney movie she saw in the theatres, and she stated  that it was Lilo and Stitch.  This both aged me, mine was The Little Mermaid, which was released 13 years prior to Lilo, and made consider the fact that many she missed out on a great age of Disney in the theatre.  Frozen changes the game.

Frozen centers around two sisters, Anna (Bell) and Elsa (Menzel).  At a young age the girls are thick as thieves, Elsa entertains Anna with her magical powers to manipulate snow where they skate and build snow men.  One night Elsa's powers jolt Anna, and for the safety of their children their parents the King and Queen of Arendelle decide to seclude the family from the outside world to keep their family safe from question.  As Elsa grows up her powers reveal themselves, and she accidentally covers Arendelle in a blanket of ice.  Anna then goes after her sister with the help of Kristoff (Groff) his reindeer Sven, and a talking snowman named Olaf (Gad) in order to save Elsa and the kingdom.

Disney is on a roll with their animated films, Wreck-It Ralph was the best animated film last year, and Frozen is one, if not the best from this year.  While Ralph lacked the musicality Frozen is more in line of classic films like Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin, where the music is the key to the success of this film.  The score from Christophe Beck is fantastic, but its the original music from Kristen Anderson-Lopez, and Robert Lopez that leaves you walking out of the theatre singing "Let it Go" and all of the other songs.  This husband and wife team have done an excellent job, and this music made this film feel Broadway ready without even trying too hard.  There is no surprise this music felt ripe for the stage Robert Lopez is a Tony winner for The Book of Mormon, and Avenue Q two of the best musicals recently.  The music is fantastic.

While the music is some of the best in years there something to be said about writer director Jennifer Lee who has only worked on two major projects; she has done fantastic work for the "Mouse House" and Disney should hold on to this women.  In the 2000s most people have focused on Pixar, which left Disney animation in the dust with films like Brother Bear, Lil and Stitch.  Lee is the mind behind two of the most recent films, which have brought Disney Animation back to life, this started with The Princess and the Frog, but Lee's work started with last year's Wreck-It Ralph.  The team of Lee and Buck created a fantastically quick intro that most directors/screenwriters would envy, and they did not stick with the standard Disney message.  Sure some of the dialogue is a bit cheesy, but if you can't "let it go" then you have no heart.

Frozen is a magical experience, filled with excellent songs, and terrific voice work.   Josh Gad as Olaf was a subtle scene stealer in the best way possible.  This film has me singing and dancing around my apartment one day later, take your kids, your sister, your best friend, whoever, and experience the magic in Disney once again.

12 Years a Slave Sweeps the Boston Online Film Critics Awards

There are some years, the same films/performers show up time and time again at the critics awards, but
 based on the tremendous amount of great films this year it looks like the critics groups may all in somewhat different directions.

At the moment to only repeat winners are Steve McQueen, Cate Blanchett, and Jared Leto.  These are names that could repeat all awards season, but look for the rest of the winners to have a vary diverse array of winners.  12 Years won 6 awards with this group.

Here is the List of full winners: (via awardsdaily.com )

BEST PICTURE:
12 YEARS A SLAVE

BEST DIRECTOR:
Steve McQueen, 12 YEARS A SLAVE

BEST ACTOR:
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 YEARS A SLAVE

BEST ACTRESS:
Cate Blanchett, BLUE JASMINE

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Jared Leto, DALLAS BUYERS CLUB

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Lupita Nyong’o, 12 YEARS A SLAVE

BEST SCREENPLAY:
BEFORE MIDNIGHT

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR

BEST DOCUMENTARY:
THE ACT OF KILLING

BEST ANIMATED FILM:
THE WIND RISES and FROZEN (tie)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS

BEST EDITING:
12 YEARS A SLAVE

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE:
12 YEARS A SLAVE

THE TEN BEST FILMS OF THE YEAR:
12 YEARS A SLAVE
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
THE WOLF OF WALL STREET
GRAVITY
BEFORE MIDNIGHT
THE SPECTACULAR NOW
BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR
SPRING BREAKERS
THE WORLD’S END
FRUITVALE STATION

Jay-Z Leads the Grammy Nominations with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Justin Timberlake, and Kendrick Lamar not far Behind, Timberlake and Jigga Man Jay-Z basically snubbed from Major Categories-Jealousy?

Wow, the Grammy Awards did not like the 20/20 Experience at all, prior to tonights Grammy Nomination Live concert, music journalist, and award prognosticators had Justin Timberlake as the star of the show with the most nominations, but at the actual concert he only received one nomination live, and was shut out of every major category.

The stars of the night were Macklemore and Ryan Lewis who opened the show with their first hit song "Thrift Shop" they received 3 nominations in the 4 major categories including Song of the Year for "Same Love," Best New Artist and Album of the Year.  Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have the most nominations in the major categorie.

I would say the Album of the Year category had the most surprises without Timberlake and Bruno Mars.  The predictable nominees were Taylor Swift's Red, Daft Punk's Random Access Memories, and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' The Heist.  The two bigger surprises were Kendrick Lamar's Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City, and Sara Bareilles' The Blessed Unrest.  Lamar is only a surprise because they rarely nominate a rap album in this category let alone two albums, and that spot seemed to be for The Heist.  Bareilles' nomination was more like "wow the Grammy Awards do pay attention to great singer/songwriters who aren't as mainstream."  This list of nominees is actually pretty great even without Timberlake.  Ironically Bareilles was not nominated in her genre album category, but Timberlake and Bruno Mars who was also snubbed were, NARAS needs to examine their voting structure.

While artists like Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z were shut out of the "major" categories they each scored tons of nominations, Timberlake scored 3 in the Pop Categories, one in the R&B category, and three in the rap category collaborating with Jay-Z, technically four because he is on Jay-Z's album and would win if it won rap album, bringing his nomination tally up to 8.  Jay-Z has 9 nominations I counted, but is also credited on The Great Gatsby Album which recieved two nominations, the nominees are not listed under the album, but if true that would bring his total nominations to 11, but of course only an Album of the Year nominations working with Kendrick Lamar.  Why does NARAS refuse to nominate his material in the general category?

Overall there were some nice surprises, but some real head scratchers.  I can't wait for the judging committees to listen to Sara Bareilles' "Brave" next to Katy Perry's "Roar"proving once and for all the better song.

Album of the Year
Sara Bareilles-The Blessed Unrest
Daft Punk-Random Access Memories
Kendrick Lamar-Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis-The Heist
Taylor Swift-Red

Record of the Year
Daft Punk-Get Lucky
Imagine Dragons-Radioactive
Lorde-Royals
Bruno Mars-Locked out of Heaven
Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharell Williams-Blurred Lines

Song of the Year
Pink featuring Nate Russ-Just Give Me a Reason
Bruno Mars-Locked out of Heaven
Katy Perry-Roar
Lorde-Royals
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis-Same Love

Best New Artist
James Blake
Kendrick Lamar
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
Kacey Musgraves
Ed Sheeran

Best Pop Solo Performance
Sara Bareilles-Brave
Lorde-Royals
Bruno Mars-When I was Your Man
Katy Perry-Roar
Justin Timberlake-Mirrors

Pop Collaboration by a Duo or Group
Daft Punk featuring pharell-Get Lucky
P!nk featuring Nate Russ-Just Give Me a Reason
Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko-Stay
Robin Thick featuring featuring Pharell and T.I.-Blurred Lines
Justin Timberlake featuring Jay-Z-Suit and Tie

Best Pop Album
Lana Del Rey-Paradise
Lorde-Heroin
Bruno Mars-Unorthodox Jukebox
Robin Thicke-Blurred Lines
Justin Timberlake-The Complete 20/20 Experience

Best Country Album
Jason Aldean-Night Train
Tim McGraw-Two Lanes of Freedom
Kacey Musgraves-Same Trailer Different Park
Blake Shelton-Based on a True Story
Taylor Swift-Red

See the full list here:

http://www.grammy.com/nominees

10 Films Advance to Compete for the Visual Effects Category at Oscar

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has narrowed down the list of films competing for the Visual Effects category to 10.  Most of the films who made the list are no surprise, but Man of Steel, which was honestly all about the visual effects did not make the list. There is usually one major contender that does not make the list, and this year thats Man of Steel.

Here is the full list 

• Elysium
• Gravity
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
• Iron Man 3
• The Lone Ranger
• Oblivion
• Star Trek Into Darkness
• Thor: The Dark World
• Pacific Rim
• World War Z

On Oscar nomination morning this list will be narrowed down to 5.  At the moment my predictions are:

Gravity 

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Iron Man 3 

Pacific Rim 

World War Z

Breaking Bad, and Orange is the New Black lead Writer's Guild Award Nominations (Television)

It should come as no surprise that Breaking Bad score 4 nominations at the Writers Guild Awards (WGA) more than any show this year.  Freshmen Netflix series Orange is the New Black, also received 4 nominations. which received 3 nominations.  Returning series Modern Family and The Simpson both received the next highest total with 3 nominations each.  This is a great slate of nominees, they picked the episodes and series with the best writing this past year.

DRAMA SERIES

Breaking Bad
The Good Wife
Homeland
House of Cards
Mad Men

COMEDY SERIES
30 Rock
Modern Family
Parks and Recreation
Orange Is the New Black
Veep

NEW SERIES
The Americans
House of Cards
Masters of Sex
Orange Is the New Black
Ray Donovan

EPISODIC DRAMA
“Buried” (Breaking Bad), Written by Thomas Schnauz
“Confessions” (Breaking Bad), Written by Gennifer Hutchison
“Episode 101” (House of Cards), Teleplay by Beau Willimon
“Granite State” (Breaking Bad), Written by Peter Gould
“Hitting the Fan” (The Good Wife), Written by Robert King & Michelle King
“Pilot” (Masters of Sex), Written by Michelle Ashford

EPISODIC COMEDY
“Career Day” (Modern Family), Written by Paul Corrigan & Brad Walsh
“Farm Strong” (Modern Family), Written by Elaine Ko
“Hogcock!” (30 Rock), Written by Jack Burditt & Robert Carlock
“Lesbian Request Denied” (Orange Is the New Black), Written by Sian Heder
“Leslie and Ben” (Parks and Recreation), Written by Michael Schur & Alan Yang
“Pilot” (Orange Is the New Black), Teleplay by Liz Friedman and Jenji Kohan

ANIMATION
“A Test Before Trying” (The Simpsons), Written by Joel H. Cohen
“Game of Tones” (Futurama), Written by Michael Rowe
“Hardly Kirk-ing” (The Simpsons), Written by Tom Gammill & Max Pross
“Murder on the Planet Express” (Futurama), Written by Lew Morton
“Saturday Morning Fun Pit” (Futurama), Written by Patric M. Verrone
“Yolo” (The Simpsons), Written by Michael Nobori