The 2009 Academy Awards: Live Commentary

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards,

After a year away from live Oscars coverage, I’m thrilled to be back for the 2009 Academy Awards.
Even though Dark Knight‘s snub will probably keep a number of viewers away (how many can honestly say they’ve seen The Reader?), I’m eagerly anticipating several moments from this evening’s broadcast.
Will Heath Ledger’s family bring the house to tears? Is Mickey Rourke going to make the producers wince? Will the cameras pan to Brangelina after Jennifer Aniston’s presentation? Are Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron really (really?) going to do a song and dance number?
To find out if this will be the year of the Slumdog or the underdog, stay tuned here for the live results!
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Read More | Oscars
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Winslet, Rourke Awarded with BAFTAs

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards,

While it’s looking pretty clear that Slumdog Millionaire will take home the Oscar later this month, the race for Best Actor and Best Actress remains a bit muddy.
At yesterday’s Orange British Academy Film Awards, Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) and Kate Winslet (The Reader) both took home the top honors for acting. Although this is similar to how they performed at the Golden Globes, neither actor was a winner at the recent SAG Awards. (Sean Penn and Meryl Streep took home the statues that evening.)
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Read More | British Academy of Film and Television Arts
National Society of Film Critics Picks Waltz with Bashir

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, Fox Searchlight, Miramax, Animation, Documentary, Drama, Foreign, Foreign Language, Period, Political, Comedy, Awards, Lists,

One year after honoring There Will Be Blood, the National Society of Film Critics has named its favorite film of 2008. Although it’s primarily been considered in the Best Animated or Best Foreign Language categories, Ari Folman’s Waltz with Bashir was selected as this group’s top film of 2009.
The animated Israeli film - Folman’s memoir of his country’s 1982 Invasion of Lebanon - is currently up for a Golden Globe.
Here are the remaining 43rd Annual National Society of Film Critics Awards winners:
- Best Film: Waltz With Bashir
- Best Director: Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky
- Best Actor: Sean Penn, Milk
- Best Actress: Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Click to continue reading National Society of Film Critics Picks Waltz with Bashir
Read More | Variety
New York and Los Angeles Film Critics Choose Milk, Wall-E

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Action, Adaptation, Animation, Documentary, Drama, Family, Foreign, Foreign Language, Independent, Period, Political, Sequels, Comedy, Awards, Lists,

Just last week, the National Board of Review named Slumdog Millionaire its Best Film of 2008. Not surprisingly, that selection isn’t an opinion shared by all.
So which films could eventually be up for the Academy Award come February 22nd? (That is - assuming a possible SAG strike doesn’t halt the ceremony altogether.) Based on the choices just revealed by the New York and Los Angeles film critics, it could be anyone’s game.
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Read More | LAFCA
Slumdog Millionaire Chosen Best Movie by NBR

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards, Lists, Upcoming Releases,

It’s that time of the year again. The time when critics give awards to movies most of us haven’t gotten around to seeing yet. And in the National Board of Review‘s case, many honors are going to films not yet in release.
Last year, the NBR - a group consisting of educators, historians and film industry professionals - chose Old Country for Old Men as its top selection for 2007. Although that movie went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, the organization’s acting picks did not collect any Oscars.
Even though we are still very early in the awards season, there were several noteworthy items in this recently announced list. While it’s not surprising to see a Clint Eastwood mention, the 78-year-old was actually chosen for his acting (Gran Torino) rather than his directing (Gran Torino or Changeling). Then there’s Josh Brolin’s Best Supporting honor for Milk. His selection not only highlights Sean Penn’s missing name, but Heath Ledger’s as well.
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Read More | National Board of Review of Motion Pictures
In Theaters This Weekend: July 25, 2008

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Columbia Pictures, Magnolia, Miramax, Paramount, Sony, Adaptation, Documentary, Drama, Foreign, Music, Period, Political, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Sports, Lists, New Releases,

Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:
- Step Brothers (R): starring Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Mary Steenburgen (directed by Adam McKay)
- The X-Files: I Want to Believe (PG-13): starring David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Xzibit (directed by Chris Carter)
- American Teen* (PG-13): starring Megan Krizmanich, Mitch Reinholt, Hannah Bailey (directed by Nanette Burstein)
- Asian Stories* (NR): starring James Kyson Lee, Kirt Kishita, Kathy Uyen (directed by Ron Oda)
- Brideshead Revisited* (PG-13): starring Emma Thompson, Michael Gambon, Matthew Goode (directed by Julian Jarrold)
- Bustin’ Down the Door* (NR): starring Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew, Mark Richards, Shaun Tomson (directed by Jeremy Gosch)
Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend: July 25, 2008
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