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The 2010 Academy Awards: Live Commentary

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards,

Oscar statues

When you throw in an extra host, add five more Best Picture nominees, take away the Best Song performances and nominate two formerly married directors—what do you get? A night that will surely be talked about.

Although many believe the will end with very few surprises, the possibility of an upset is still too great to ignore. Will the box office champ (Avatar) win Best Film as well? Or will The Hurt Locker - or even Inglourious Basterds - take the prize? Is Jeff Bridges a shoo-in for Best Actor…or could BAFTA winner Colin Firth sneak past him? Will Sandra Bullock have to deliver another acceptance speech, or will Meryl Streep take home her first Oscar since 1983?

To find out if the ceremony ends in a world of Hurt or Up in the Air, stay tuned here for the live results!

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Read More | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

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No Best Song Performances at the Academy Awards

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Music, Awards,


If you’ve ever found yourself tuning out during the ritual musical performances, this announcement may come as good news to you: next month’s telecast won’t be featuring any.

To be clear - I should, of course, say the Best Song nominees won’t be performing any. I wouldn’t be surprised if co-producer threw a musical montage into the broadcast somewhere.

While I can’t say I would entirely miss that portion of the program, it saddens me to think that beautiful songs like “Falling Slowly” (Once) might not get the attention they deserve. And where else could you possibly see “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” performed before a sea of tuxedos?

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Read More | Entertainment Weekly

Select AMC Theaters to Show All Ten Oscar Nominees

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards, Box Office,

AMC Theaters Best Pictures 2010

Not sure if you’ll be able to preview the Best Picture contenders before the air in just a few weeks? Groaning because ten nominees are now in the running? Well, AMC Entertainment may have a solution for you.

Starting later this month, select AMC theaters will air a marathon of all ten films. The event - which will last over two different weekends - will start February 27 and end March 6 (one day before the Oscars broadcast).

Those who purchase a pass to the event will get free popcorn and unlimited refills for each day they attend. More information on participating locations, scheduling, etc. can be found here.

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

2010 Academy Award Nominations

Academy Award nominations 2010

After the list of nominees were announced this morning, two movies rose to the top of the pack. Avatar and The Hurt Locker - helmed respectively by James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow - both lead the field with nine nominations each. Thankfully, the formerly married directors still get along.

Even though this will be the first time since 1943 (when Casablanca won) that ten films will go up for Best Film, this year’s list only revealed a handful of surprises. Those who have been following other ceremonies during this awards season saw very little changes in the acting categories.

Here are some of the noteworthy mentions/omissions from today’s nominations:

  • Many had hoped The Hangover, Star Trek and/or (500) Days of Summer would go up for Best Picture. Many were left disappointed.
  • Is this the first time Daniel Day-Lewis wasn’t nominated for simply breathing?
  • Acting queen is up now up for her sweet 16th nomination for her role in Julie & Julia. (I believe I will one day see her 20th.)
  • Speaking of leading women, there will be three newcomers going up against vets Streep and (The Last Station): Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side), Carey Mulligan (An Education) and Gabourey Sidibe (Precious)—someone who wasn’t even an actress to begin with!
  • Disney/Pixar’s will be double-dipping it this year. The feature has been nominated in both the Best Film and Best Animated Film categories.

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Read More | Oscars

Anne Hathaway to Announce Oscar Nominations

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Awards, Celeb News,

Anne Hathaway will be up early next week to announce this year’s Oscar nominations.

The Devil Wears Prada star - who was nominated for her role in last year - will join Academy President Tom Sherak for the official presentation.

Sherak and Hathaway will reveal the nominations in 10 of the 24 categories at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ press conference.

The event will take place Tuesday, February 2, from Beverly Hills.


Academy’s Best Picture Field Grows to Ten

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards,

Oscar statueAs strange as the are (why are all the Best Supporting actors lumped into one category?), there are several reasons why that ceremony trumps the Oscars. In addition to the laid-back feel (an endless flow of alcohol helps), the ceremony annually gives ten movies a chance to shine. That’s five more than the Academy Awards does! That is, until now

Beginning in 2010, the Academy Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will do something it hasn’t done in nearly seven decades. At the 82nd Annual Academy Awards, ten nominees will all be lumped into one Best Picture category. (That’s one less than the Globes.) The last time the category was that broad, Casablanca emerged as the winner. (That year was 1943.)

Low broadcast ratings (artsy projects in limited release tend to alienate viewers) and backlash from angry Dark Knight fans (a film can be #1 and be worthy too) were likely factors in the decision.

“Having 10 Best Picture nominees is going allow Academy voters to recognize and include some of the fantastic movies that often show up in the other Oscar categories but have been squeezed out of the race for the top prize,” Academy president Sid Ganis said.

The 2010 Academy Awards airs Sunday, March 7, 2010 on ABC.

Read More | Futon Critic

The 2009 Academy Awards: Live Commentary

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards,

The Oscars

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

2009 Academy Award Nominations

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards,

Oscar statues

Despite no major wins for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at Jan. 11’s Golden Globes, the film lead all entries at this morning’s Academy Award nominations. The Brad Pitt feature will go into next month’s ceremony with 13 opportunities to walk away with at least one statue. (Slumdog Millionaire will have 10 chances.)

Here are some of the noteworthy mentions from today’s press conference:

  • (The Reader) - a double-winner just a few weeks ago - only received one nomination this morning. Meryl Streep will only get one chance as well for her role in Doubt.
  • Although it wasn’t represented at the Globes, Frozen River was recognized several times today.
  • ‘s nomination (on the anniversary of his death!) was expected; The Dark Knight‘s omission was a disappointment.
  • Four acting nods for Doubt didn’t equate to an honor for the film.
  • Several pleasant announcements in the Best Actor/Supporting Actor categories: Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road) and (Tropic Thunder). Shannon got the only major nom for his picture.

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Read More | Oscars

2009 Golden Globe Nominations (Film)

Revolutionary Road

Although a looming SAG strike may threaten next year’s Academy Awards, the Golden Globes ceremony should finally go on as planned. The 66th annual event is scheduled to air on Sunday, January 11th, just 11 days before the Oscar nominations are announced.

Here are some of the noteworthy mentions from this year’s list of film nominees:

  • Frost/Nixon and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button both led the field with five nominations each.
  • Despite being chosen Best Film by the New York Film Critics, Sean Penn was the only nod Milk received by the HFPA.
  • Meryl Streep earned two nominations for her work in Doubt and Mamma Mia.
  • Kate Winslet is also up for two awards. Her films - Revolutionary Road and The Reader - are also up for Best Picture.
  • Heath Ledger did get a posthumous nomination as expected.
  • Although he was recently recognized for his acting work in Gran Torino, director Clint Eastwood (Changeling) was only acknowledged for his musical achievements.

(You can find the full list of film nominees after the jump. Click here for the TV nominations.)

 

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Read More | Hollywood Foreign Press Association

Dark Knight Gets Its January Return Date

Heath Ledger in The Dark KnightYou might want to hold off buying that Batman DVD just a little while longer.

Although will be available for home video starting this Tuesday, the movie will soon be hitting a much larger screen. Starting January 23rd, the second-highest domestic grosser of all time will once again be entering the multiplexes.

Why now? Well, there are two very good reasons. Those who don’t recognize the significance of the “premiere” date should know that it was chosen for a reason. January 23rd just happens to fall one day after the Oscar nominations are announced. Could Warner Bros. be planning on a posthumous nod for ? If so, a re-release could remind voters of this summer’s most noteworthy performance.

And the second reason? Money. Knight is very close to reaching the $1 billion mark. Another $4 million will put the blockbuster in a group currently occupied by , The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.

Read More | Variety

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