Ledger’s Family to Accept on Behalf of Heath
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards,
Should Heath Ledger win the Academy Award later this month, you can expect a passionate acceptance speech from that Kodak stage.
Over the past few weeks, director Christopher Nolan and Gary Oldman have stepped in on Ledger’s behalf. Now someone else will have the honor.
According to Nolan, members of Heath’s family will be the ones accepting any posthumous Oscar given to the Dark Knight star. Although it’s not known which relatives might take the mic, Ledger’s father, mother and sister have all spoken to the media before.
The 81st Annual Academy Awards will air live Sunday, February 22nd on ABC.
Read More 
| Entertainment Weekly
Advertisement
2009 Academy Award Nominations
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards,
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:
- Kate Winslet (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.
- Heath Ledger‘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 Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder). Shannon got the only major nom for his picture.
Click to continue reading 2009 Academy Award Nominations
Read More | Oscars
Dark Knight Gets Its January Return Date
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Sequels, Thrillers, Awards, Box Office, Distribution,
You might want to hold off buying that Batman DVD just a little while longer.
Although The Dark Knight 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 Heath Ledger? 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 Titanic, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.
Read More | Variety
Dark Knight Set to Re-Release in January
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Classics, Mystery, Sequels, Thrillers, Awards, Box Office, Distribution,
Warner Bros. now has plans to re-release Christopher Nolan’s record-breaking Batman sequel this January.
While I initially heard the news of The Dark Knight‘s re-release plan, I was excited to see that it may have a second chance to break Titanic‘s record; however, I was met with disappointment to discover that their motives linked to more materialistic goal named Oscar.
January is the prime voting season for the Academy Awards, and those determined folks at Warner Bros. don’t want anyone over there to forget about that impressive summer blockbuster of theirs.
Click to continue reading Dark Knight Set to Re-Release in January
The Hollywood Reporter
Academy Makes Changes to Best Song Category
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards,
If you’ve ever felt yourself wondering, “How many songs could Beyonce possibly sing during this awards show?” - this news is for you.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has made a change that will go into effect before next year’s Oscars ceremony. From this point forward, no one movie will be able to dominate the Academy Awards’ Best Song category. While producers can submit as many tunes as they like, only two songs per film will be allowed for nomination.
Click to continue reading Academy Makes Changes to Best Song Category
Variety
My Fair Lady: One Remake Over the Line?
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Adaptation, Musicals, Casting,
There is a certain merit in re-introducing young generations to the classics, in keeping with the times and re-inventing the old to make it seem young and fresh again. But at some point, some where, is there a line which can be crossed? Are some things not already so perfect, so pristine and so well-done that they manage to stand the test of time? Aren’t there some things which no one could possibly ever re-create? It’s true the Sistine Chapel has looked the exact same way since 1512…yet no one could really consider re-vamping this most famous ceiling so that it has a much more modern appeal. Buckingham Palace famously houses a queen, and yet no major changes have been made to this edifice in her entire eighty-two year lifespan. Some things are made to stand alone. Just don’t try telling that to Hollywood…or lazy scriptwriters.
Click to continue reading My Fair Lady: One Remake Over the Line?
Variety
Presidential Inauguration to Delay Oscar Noms
Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: Awards,
Listen up, you entertainment junkies. Once again, the real world has encroached upon our precious escapist media.
The Hollywood Reporter is (aptly) reporting that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will shirk tradition next year and announce its nominations a full two days later than usual. Since 2004, when the Oscars were moved from March to February, the nominations have been revealed on a Tuesday in the middle of January. However, the planned date conflicts with the upcoming Presidential Inauguration and has been rescheduled.
I personally applaud the Academy for having the foresight to avoid such a conflict of attention—some would likely have trouble deciding which to watch live and which to read in the following day’s paper. One can only imagine, though, a future in which a newly sworn-in president, filled with pride and hope for the future, would turn to his or her constituents and say: “And now, the nominees for best actor.”
Come on, think of the ratings!
Click to continue reading Presidential Inauguration to Delay Oscar Noms
Hollywood Reporter
Memorable Moments from the Unmemorable Academy Awards
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards, Celeb News,
Last night’s Best Actor categories were as predictable as the Best Actress races were surprising. Yesterday’s ceremony was also as disappointing as it was routine.
For months now, we’d been hearing about several plans being orchestrated for the Academy Awards. If the writers’ strike was still in effect, the producers swore the telecast would continue with packages that celebrated Oscar’s 80-year history. Interestingly enough, even with the scribes back at work, the show was still horribly written and crammed with unnecessary fillers. (Even I could have penned ‘the always Fantastic…Jessica Alba’.)
As it was, the winners appeared to have been given less time last night to accept their awards than ever. (Which may or may not have been a good thing.) But did Javier Bardem really need to rush his lovely speech to his mother? Did the organizers have to reshow the previous awards presentations? Did the AMPAS President really need to waste time explaining how the selection process is done??
Click to continue reading Memorable Moments from the Unmemorable Academy Awards
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Reitman Says No to Juno Sequel
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Fox Searchlight, Sequels, Comedy, Rumors,
Academy Award-nominated director Jason Reitman has just given us the best and worst news possible. He loves his recent film, Juno, so much, he refuses to participate in any sequel. (Of course, that doesn’t mean one couldn’t be made without him.)
What? You didn’t know there was going to be a sequel? Well, if common sense rules - there won’t be. But apparently the movie’s $100+ million gross, Oscar noms and critical acclaim have earned the film just that type of buzz.
While some might consider that kind of talk disrespectful (Why would they dare ruin a perfect experience?), I think we should just consider the rumors to be a form of flattery (They only make sequels for good things, right?) and not entertain them any further.
Seriously. We all need to let Juno go.
New York Post
Catch Up On Your (Classic) Oscar Films
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Awards, Home Entertainment, Lists,
If the February sweeps period hasn’t offered you enough to watch on TV, here is a surefire way to fill up your DVR. For the next few weeks, Turner Classic Movies will be honoring Oscar-nominated films.
The cable channel will devote one day of each week to a different era (e.g. Tuesdays/1940’s, Fridays/1970’s). This, of course, all leads up to the Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, February 24th.
Although we are already one week into February, TCM still has many films left to cover. (Approximately 4-6 movies will be show on any given day.) Here is a list of some of those upcoming selections:
- MONDAYS (1920’s and 30’s): It Happened One Night, Mr. Deeds Comes to Town
- TUESDAYS (1940’s): The Red Shoes, Yankee Doodle Dandy
- WEDNESDAYS (1950’s): Vertigo, Roman Holiday
- THURSDAYS (1960’s): 2001: A Space Odyssey, Easy Rider
- FRIDAYS (1970’s): The Goodbye Girl, Apocalypse Now
- SATURDAYS (1980’s): Raging Bull, Ordinary People
- SUNDAYS (1990’s and 2000’s): Mr. Holland’s Opus, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
To use their fantastic interactive site and schedule your own recordings, click on the link below.
Turner Classic Movies
Advertisement
© Gear Live Media, LLC. 2007 – User-posted content, unless source is quoted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Public Domain License. Gear Live graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, videos, articles, blogs, forums, scripts and other service names are the trademarks of Gear Live Inc.