tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276546882024-03-12T21:30:36.512-05:00Journalistic SkepticismTidbits from a film lover...Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.comBlogger660125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-23793355662027973112013-04-21T17:23:00.001-05:002013-04-21T17:23:11.132-05:00where best animated feature stands<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2013 is well underway, so I thought it was high time to have
a little discussion on one or more of the various offshoots of the big awards
categories. I've decided to delve into the state of animation for 2013 to kick
things off. The year has already seen at least one bonafide hit in the genre,
so what's yet to come that could potentially be smiled upon by Oscar voters
come next January?<o:p></o:p>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The major players always seem to be the studio-labeled efforts, so I'd be a fool to not count those
among the highest possibilities of the year's contenders. Highest among those,
in my end, is Disney's Frozen. Yes, a return-to-form princess musical didn't
work out so well for Tangled, and The Princess and the Frog, despite being
wonderful, was an all-around box office disappointment. But something about
this take on the Snow Queen seems to scream Oscar winner. With the Lopez/Lopez
songwriting team on board for the songwriting (most notably the team behind the
recent Winnie the Pooh theatrical release, which had a surprisingly great
soundtrack), and Broadway diva Idina Menzel in the villain role, this looks
incredibly positive on paper. But of course what I perhaps should've led with
was Monsters University. After a rare (in fact, one-time) miss in the category
for Cars 2, the studio proved it still rules the roost by pulling off the 2012
win for Brave out from under Tim Burton. I hesitate to bank on a sequel,
though, and the original didn't exactly fare well, famously beaten (in one of
the true Oscar travesties of the aughts) by populist Shrek.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And speaking of sequels, Universal's putting out what will
surely be a massive summer tentpole, Despicable Me 2, and Sony Animation has
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. Neither of the original films managed a
slot in the category, though the former surely came mighty close and would've
been included had the field lengthened to five from three. And though the
latter looks questionable at best based on preview material, the original was
far better than anyone could've expected. The beginning of the year has
additionally yielded a couple of contenders (surprisingly slim, though,
considering the earning potential - though it's worked out in The Croods' box
office favor). DreamWorks' cavepeople comedy has been moderately well-reviewed
and has made enough money to warrant a sequel (no surprises there, come from
DW). And after a long gestation Weinstein Company's Escape from Planet Earth
did decent money from slim to no marketing. Rounding out the major studio
efforts, Fox Animation's Epic could play well, though it gives off a Rise of
the Guardians vibe, so chances are bad box office could sour its odds.
DreamWorks' other annual effort, Turbo, has something of a Pixar vibe, which
could bode well for its chances. The racer snail schtick also compounds the
Despicable Me minion cuteness factor - always a good box office prognosticator.
Finally, Pixar is selling out by throwing what was meant to be a
direct-to-video companion piece to their Cars universe, Planes, in what will
likely go down in flames later this summer. Don't expect it to have any kind of
Oscar cache - lead voice Dane Cook should be the indicator that this was never
meant to be seen by a wide audience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gNeWbRhL7aMS7Wz_OdjLviINF4BVW_a0GE10ztNKDp127bP3cFImgh4-mQ4idOSwgjTN3KtFMSMJ_kn63fDcB2nhtzs_KDjmOosCNNwC-V4uSIEewH4wkiHcJD6QsQprazht/s1600/lea-michele-s-new-song-dorothy-of-oz-unleashed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gNeWbRhL7aMS7Wz_OdjLviINF4BVW_a0GE10ztNKDp127bP3cFImgh4-mQ4idOSwgjTN3KtFMSMJ_kn63fDcB2nhtzs_KDjmOosCNNwC-V4uSIEewH4wkiHcJD6QsQprazht/s200/lea-michele-s-new-song-dorothy-of-oz-unleashed.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There are a couple of other
potential contenders. If Smurfs 2 reaches eligibility, it won't have any
sort of dog in this hunt, but it will at least increase the eligible films list
to help make it a five-wide field. The majorest of players amongst this group
is probably Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return (formerly Dorothy of Oz). Based on
the promotional materials, it looks like a rather cheap production, but the
musical boasts Hugh Dancy, Lea Michele and Megan Hilty amongst its cast
members, so if it finds a 2013 release (which would be well-timed thanks to Oz
the Great and Powerful mania), it's a possibility. Newcomers to the game
are Relativity Media, which is bringing Free Birds, about time-traveling
turkeys, and Open Road Films, which is bringing The Nut Job, about a squirrel
taking on the big city after being banished from the park. And Weinstein may
have two more efforts later in the year, with Leo the Lion and The Trick or
Treaters, neither of which, though, are likely to be completed in time.</span><br />
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</v:shape><![endif]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And as per usual,
rounding out the group are the foreign contenders. Studio Ghibli's Up on Poppy
Hill saw a March release this year. With no Miyazaki on board, though, it might
have some trouble finding a slot. Arrietty didn't have much luck last year.
Also in contention is Zambezia, another talking animal picture that may or may
not see a U.S. release. Hell & Back, a buddy comedy about a trip to
hell, might be too irreverent for the primarily family or family-friendly
voters. The Suicide Shop could see an American release this year after a
generally well-received French debut last year, though the dark premise may not
work for Oscar. Finally, South African Khumba is poised for a U.S. release
courtesy of Millennium Entertainment, though it's looking awfully Madagascary,
a formula that hasn't worked for voters in the past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So where do we stand on the race? My thought is the current
fivesome would most definitely include Monsters University, Frozen and
Turbo, and rounding out the group for now, I could see The Nut Job and
Despicable Me 2 getting a makeup nomination. But what do you think? Is
this shaping up to be a far less interesting year for animation than last year,
which boasted a quite healthy crop?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-56958360784364015352013-04-14T11:59:00.001-05:002013-04-14T11:59:42.960-05:00best of 2012: the original scores<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And this is where we leave it. Time to stop living in the past, I suppose, and move on to a bright new 2013. This is the last, and one of my personal favorite, category to recap for my best of 2012 series. For such a bum year in a lot of respects, there were plentiful innovative and wonderful scores to be had, and here are my tops:</div>
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1. Dan Romer & Benh Zeitlin, <i>Beasts of the Southern Wild</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCX_yIcN3n1x94P656_bXYEeMJE0RGBFrz60Dh5k4Pn5zIanZoRIPKEYZ4JKo66atIJred6f7VOtI5XlmC8BES1ecvuL_OQ_gRRjWs4DJZ8Yws95ubWBI7MqPFbE-Vgdw2gXUP/s1600/the-master-philip-seymour-hoffman-vintage-car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCX_yIcN3n1x94P656_bXYEeMJE0RGBFrz60Dh5k4Pn5zIanZoRIPKEYZ4JKo66atIJred6f7VOtI5XlmC8BES1ecvuL_OQ_gRRjWs4DJZ8Yws95ubWBI7MqPFbE-Vgdw2gXUP/s400/the-master-philip-seymour-hoffman-vintage-car.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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2. Jonny Greenwood, <i>The Master</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZdnr-B1yOkMWKjvI2S01Slzk3xvi_Pt7Ekg6SI6CXcAjTh-dg7X8I945DoST0cEpRLlAu5TriRk04n31xKvnr52LHcnRI40KnCimRafpT1zZR4SiAvXWVpbdEpT6xLGDzunv/s1600/compliance-worry.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZdnr-B1yOkMWKjvI2S01Slzk3xvi_Pt7Ekg6SI6CXcAjTh-dg7X8I945DoST0cEpRLlAu5TriRk04n31xKvnr52LHcnRI40KnCimRafpT1zZR4SiAvXWVpbdEpT6xLGDzunv/s400/compliance-worry.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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3. Heather McIntosh, <i>Compliance</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevib4ytn1nDytwdtw4PaRUZbqGOOhadUaCl7HrElv863Exhd6adAh2kvjlwDyLH6JLj2gVkRBP3dhjQx9cG8jVF9th6NpeS71Q8nqHbRR283wWNKKrJnFE5LTbupIcuVtRQYO/s1600/john-carter-still01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevib4ytn1nDytwdtw4PaRUZbqGOOhadUaCl7HrElv863Exhd6adAh2kvjlwDyLH6JLj2gVkRBP3dhjQx9cG8jVF9th6NpeS71Q8nqHbRR283wWNKKrJnFE5LTbupIcuVtRQYO/s400/john-carter-still01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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4. Michael Giacchino, <i>John Carter</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArj1FsWCmxpmE9SVwcy1l0phnN_uASKWScrOAraSnwbykvvIilImi7HSR-shPOCQ5_vCI223gi_Otm7FLI7Qi1VT_hqnwwPfMSabUt2UOa0xTH5HVh769gRkkoDXrbMmO45Pm/s1600/cn_image.size.anna-karenina-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArj1FsWCmxpmE9SVwcy1l0phnN_uASKWScrOAraSnwbykvvIilImi7HSR-shPOCQ5_vCI223gi_Otm7FLI7Qi1VT_hqnwwPfMSabUt2UOa0xTH5HVh769gRkkoDXrbMmO45Pm/s400/cn_image.size.anna-karenina-01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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5. Dario Marianelli, <i>Anna Karenina</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40XjfWHM3mQS1OHAYk0NYg0m5Jp_AXdlPVFxEmT-Pm815Lf6mdt2jdscoh1qgrzkRYCsDHiQKF4d3Rjp80P6_adg2vYfLQP1Ojm5mL_s2X6EvYvgajV0E-5Q8q5hl9oDCyDSP/s1600/cloud-atlas-ben-whishaw-james-darcy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40XjfWHM3mQS1OHAYk0NYg0m5Jp_AXdlPVFxEmT-Pm815Lf6mdt2jdscoh1qgrzkRYCsDHiQKF4d3Rjp80P6_adg2vYfLQP1Ojm5mL_s2X6EvYvgajV0E-5Q8q5hl9oDCyDSP/s400/cloud-atlas-ben-whishaw-james-darcy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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6. Reinhold Heil, Johnny Klimek & Tom Tykwer, <i>Cloud Atlas</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ryGb_FVMKMD1VDwXxEdUBij54SZ4CvpnjeNJmnA67IMOnIRpIs_uEUVqmcu3YA_cCJxySHOlVbRHN7j7wEr6oZYyIwm6r6DR4tQ2bTAs8mbDA5azQHOkrB7jAZJluwhCe3G-/s1600/17PARANORMAN_SPAN-articleLarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ryGb_FVMKMD1VDwXxEdUBij54SZ4CvpnjeNJmnA67IMOnIRpIs_uEUVqmcu3YA_cCJxySHOlVbRHN7j7wEr6oZYyIwm6r6DR4tQ2bTAs8mbDA5azQHOkrB7jAZJluwhCe3G-/s400/17PARANORMAN_SPAN-articleLarge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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7. Jon Brion, <i>ParaNorman</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujWPKXVy1ufj8mkH5r1sEPl9JIwXfdCT3r1VKPmZRvQoGkPOxv-7XvnfwJ2qtDgt8S8IwDLgvBpHvR-gfapQy-qE474kJ37HEHvjNxnhGq5fo1xCyOZWXJNbljOM_yAf-FWvQ/s1600/PROMETHEUS-Logan-Marshall-Green-Noomi-Rapace-Michael-Fassbender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujWPKXVy1ufj8mkH5r1sEPl9JIwXfdCT3r1VKPmZRvQoGkPOxv-7XvnfwJ2qtDgt8S8IwDLgvBpHvR-gfapQy-qE474kJ37HEHvjNxnhGq5fo1xCyOZWXJNbljOM_yAf-FWvQ/s400/PROMETHEUS-Logan-Marshall-Green-Noomi-Rapace-Michael-Fassbender.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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8. Marc Streitenfeld, <i>Prometheus</i></div>
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9. Henry Jackman, <i>Wreck-It Ralph</i></div>
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10. Fernando Velazquez, <i>The Impossible</i></div>
Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-28901499326708062862013-04-11T08:38:00.000-05:002013-04-11T08:38:57.789-05:00best of 2012: the adapted screenplays<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The other side of the writing spectrum is up next. Here's to the adapters! We'll venture over to music next, and then the best of 2012/LCT film awards celebration will be closed.</div>
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1. Lucy Alibar & Benh Zeitlin, <i>Beasts of the Southern Wild</i></div>
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2. Stephen Chbosky, <i>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</i></div>
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3. Leslye Headland, <i>Bachelorette</i></div>
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4. David O. Russell, <i>Silver Linings Playbook</i></div>
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5. Chris Terrio, <i>Argo</i></div>
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6. Tony Kushner, <i>Lincoln</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MQH7Xe-9glPPbGO99ybW0kC5AMYqhg6oEuQXBDHYZGW-f2smeWIFj0nDVmXic8L7Uood3EIBomAxNK5NAESxo6BsFqRx_5d4PfodO-WI5ZL2O7GMssRShj-LaLCwKa1CEieK/s1600/TheHobbit_021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MQH7Xe-9glPPbGO99ybW0kC5AMYqhg6oEuQXBDHYZGW-f2smeWIFj0nDVmXic8L7Uood3EIBomAxNK5NAESxo6BsFqRx_5d4PfodO-WI5ZL2O7GMssRShj-LaLCwKa1CEieK/s400/TheHobbit_021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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7. Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro, Peter Jackson & Fran Walsh</div>
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<i>The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey</i></div>
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8. Zak Penn & Joss Whedon, <i>The Avengers</i></div>
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9. John Logan, Neal Purvis & Robert Wade, <i>Skyfall</i></div>
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10. Michael Bacall & Jonah Hill, <i>21 Jump Street</i></div>
Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-69689478946940942692013-04-08T12:26:00.001-05:002013-04-08T12:26:57.181-05:00best of 2012: the original screenplays<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We're getting closer to the end, folks. I'll be wrapping up my best films of 2012 features with the writing and score categories. And let's be real - these are often the most fun to discuss merits-wise, as well as the most impressive in many cases. Here are the originals:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. Drew Goddard & Joss Whedon, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Cabin in the Woods</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqu4Jl6KKsWIPq_21ecgCzPnhP9u7OjFP88_o1HDSnTNCx4GwJB8B0NVJRbzFZV7Xr4UZsvWU7ZJSioOK9YXR89jWgMgdRW2X3v22Mi3ol_m20Nh3bqGi2P3FcGDOJUfLqImy/s1600/5a_photo_compliance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqu4Jl6KKsWIPq_21ecgCzPnhP9u7OjFP88_o1HDSnTNCx4GwJB8B0NVJRbzFZV7Xr4UZsvWU7ZJSioOK9YXR89jWgMgdRW2X3v22Mi3ol_m20Nh3bqGi2P3FcGDOJUfLqImy/s400/5a_photo_compliance.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2. Craig Zobel, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Compliance</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahoaxPP7CBfAG-EVdQeWN04J4HkC3CLt6cNBU9TG7W_YzrzIxf7ZgYza9hUFdvSyi74kHOMt_Gy8z35Nwhz9MqivW9V9S3HVbLcvryk6Iexi0dXJP9i78K2j0CUilGFotnGvb/s1600/The_Master_Paul_Thomas_Anderson-70.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahoaxPP7CBfAG-EVdQeWN04J4HkC3CLt6cNBU9TG7W_YzrzIxf7ZgYza9hUFdvSyi74kHOMt_Gy8z35Nwhz9MqivW9V9S3HVbLcvryk6Iexi0dXJP9i78K2j0CUilGFotnGvb/s400/The_Master_Paul_Thomas_Anderson-70.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3. Paul Thomas Anderson, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Master</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCVrUms2vuZoQmcACLhz35XEvYptkIQ1y9CU8irkLdn9bRWJOfm5fDU1y1ieiMkk7iBjh6mWxoPVWgu2QA3zN-w_UY2B682BusLSW-nKkJYtSxf2Rj793z5JJxvt41Vpf0GT6/s1600/Looper-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCVrUms2vuZoQmcACLhz35XEvYptkIQ1y9CU8irkLdn9bRWJOfm5fDU1y1ieiMkk7iBjh6mWxoPVWgu2QA3zN-w_UY2B682BusLSW-nKkJYtSxf2Rj793z5JJxvt41Vpf0GT6/s400/Looper-3.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4. Rian Johnson, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Looper</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGASywxCXzHuFFLDkLwHNlJ6kD26Jmrc3rpgb8AJfN9AG_Kdj2whuaKH_2N_CCYBBcpLt3HOrQ1xQPvScRKnAXtsF0oO03YP3hbZnwl0RvQ6eSFz5XDBzVC5tH6b1m41ga-vPR/s1600/Natural_Selection_031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGASywxCXzHuFFLDkLwHNlJ6kD26Jmrc3rpgb8AJfN9AG_Kdj2whuaKH_2N_CCYBBcpLt3HOrQ1xQPvScRKnAXtsF0oO03YP3hbZnwl0RvQ6eSFz5XDBzVC5tH6b1m41ga-vPR/s400/Natural_Selection_031.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5. Robbie Pickering, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Natural Selection</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchsMQgdLFvM9yoWhokPKjNWTpHCTE1UM-TKXNEd3KI__2fL02L7XFEysGDRIo2neE63TonrdAWbW4Tt7dovXxdAC3Ld3dPkef9J25jaoZjeqH5gn5mzKaiOAGLrzbBehdpCSn/s1600/celeste_and_jesse_image_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchsMQgdLFvM9yoWhokPKjNWTpHCTE1UM-TKXNEd3KI__2fL02L7XFEysGDRIo2neE63TonrdAWbW4Tt7dovXxdAC3Ld3dPkef9J25jaoZjeqH5gn5mzKaiOAGLrzbBehdpCSn/s400/celeste_and_jesse_image_1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">6. Rashida Jones & Will McCormack, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Celeste and Jesse Forever</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoBAs2K-1goCz55_1WKwj2pHLsCSzB-_Q0Y8OXe9XVFOOLRregMspkzbD9MbdhWCPjBINHXP63kxuOhLMxtCFsEZ8sPRzCxUn2Hx6THRkUPl62l_jUim7XIvK0xyF0KQGLnUq/s1600/Zero-Dark-Thirty_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoBAs2K-1goCz55_1WKwj2pHLsCSzB-_Q0Y8OXe9XVFOOLRregMspkzbD9MbdhWCPjBINHXP63kxuOhLMxtCFsEZ8sPRzCxUn2Hx6THRkUPl62l_jUim7XIvK0xyF0KQGLnUq/s400/Zero-Dark-Thirty_03.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">7. Mark Boal, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Zero Dark Thirty</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4AyHZEkSqcDOlDguj5N3BH2KU-xJijnGgTwjNveo1MvNu5ErEfKLDVJBiwavH9HHd8zhGrBbxStCufzb3PXpuMJcRQ3abYW7puAsvcOYXO-sbNphxK8vUWEKR9KGdcATuoJE/s1600/8c41-d0010-06986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4AyHZEkSqcDOlDguj5N3BH2KU-xJijnGgTwjNveo1MvNu5ErEfKLDVJBiwavH9HHd8zhGrBbxStCufzb3PXpuMJcRQ3abYW7puAsvcOYXO-sbNphxK8vUWEKR9KGdcATuoJE/s400/8c41-d0010-06986.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">8. Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Moonrise Kingdom</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9of46PN5gMAuco63YjT4S0Gh8TrD2ulzzlxaH1-U-xmbsIBaXyNLUC2ewMvna7YbkJmvaAscWhGn6_IGQZq-dUbgE3-j5enuxDOs3wu-6HD3sPbM-zd5AiH1IkdGaFxMP5Miw/s1600/django-unchained-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9of46PN5gMAuco63YjT4S0Gh8TrD2ulzzlxaH1-U-xmbsIBaXyNLUC2ewMvna7YbkJmvaAscWhGn6_IGQZq-dUbgE3-j5enuxDOs3wu-6HD3sPbM-zd5AiH1IkdGaFxMP5Miw/s400/django-unchained-3.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">9. Quentin Tarantino, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Django Unchained</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgEu6kZxUOUt5_K1jmtxxSIhU055XDDS8hyphenhyphen04THiXsU7clme-GNlIy1ChfIexEhqqtkT6X1O4Bryheb4zxG8eWp3dwfRB-Yx5vlZvWVNP7k1ekr_tDxzgI6FeJTMi2cwtbpOY/s1600/seven-psychopaths-img03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgEu6kZxUOUt5_K1jmtxxSIhU055XDDS8hyphenhyphen04THiXsU7clme-GNlIy1ChfIexEhqqtkT6X1O4Bryheb4zxG8eWp3dwfRB-Yx5vlZvWVNP7k1ekr_tDxzgI6FeJTMi2cwtbpOY/s400/seven-psychopaths-img03.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">10. Martin McDonagh, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Seven Psychopaths</span></i></div>
Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-48070116425513842912013-04-05T18:03:00.000-05:002013-04-05T18:03:39.504-05:00best of 2012: the supporting actors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rounding out the acting categories, here's the last of the best movie performances of the year. A little bit of Oscar pedigree on display here, but alas, not all the choices they made from the respective films were the right ones...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3Do5NHfo5JAnJgCg9KOk1ToMoBU59mBmxfmGfjoIAK4ot2JX4aw0on6qheeIhLoXj4Ef1vYaOfXM-2uAajcSMszgcdkmGDWd32RjB5QSN74vn6Qbi634T4UYbsd2b9m8v9q6/s1600/django_unchained_-_leonardo_dicaprio_as_calvin_candie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3Do5NHfo5JAnJgCg9KOk1ToMoBU59mBmxfmGfjoIAK4ot2JX4aw0on6qheeIhLoXj4Ef1vYaOfXM-2uAajcSMszgcdkmGDWd32RjB5QSN74vn6Qbi634T4UYbsd2b9m8v9q6/s400/django_unchained_-_leonardo_dicaprio_as_calvin_candie.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. Leonardo DiCaprio, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Django Unchained</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIviHv_YkxCCFKfddxid201HlDwyFrI5ZXGVD33HBgupWdhe-URueYtwgBUb0h5mlOdR3jRMZi0zAvymjA-zZ2Kl2loj244wHhxn6mUUTjcY76FLNbkU32sagBUTIjLmOqq11H/s1600/perk-of-being-wallflower-img10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIviHv_YkxCCFKfddxid201HlDwyFrI5ZXGVD33HBgupWdhe-URueYtwgBUb0h5mlOdR3jRMZi0zAvymjA-zZ2Kl2loj244wHhxn6mUUTjcY76FLNbkU32sagBUTIjLmOqq11H/s400/perk-of-being-wallflower-img10.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2. Ezra Miller, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Perks of Being a Wallflower</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVt7f30u-mkhffYVD42u0HCxmTEshkHOQmmuDi-GerNvbnQ4B9EAUfJrOUtRx1WRKp1yfUfNgUPonG-Uchroib0zRVfUt-egT5J4aGs1RnOmLksrQ0YxvbErg3MdCGji1OOKMO/s1600/michael-fassbender-prometheus-image1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVt7f30u-mkhffYVD42u0HCxmTEshkHOQmmuDi-GerNvbnQ4B9EAUfJrOUtRx1WRKp1yfUfNgUPonG-Uchroib0zRVfUt-egT5J4aGs1RnOmLksrQ0YxvbErg3MdCGji1OOKMO/s400/michael-fassbender-prometheus-image1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3. Michael Fassbender, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Prometheus</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68MLWPg55-g8u6M3sRMSnLWvdNNUpAnfgpIqoaQqFl6hRhORxktwLwW-iJLoYOBTb0cNEmODf6WxaL8LcLdNDJlihq2Q8kEv-eoR8NLsqYPCH-4JpH5lVblG3y5anHgwExR2Q/s1600/garret_hedlund.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68MLWPg55-g8u6M3sRMSnLWvdNNUpAnfgpIqoaQqFl6hRhORxktwLwW-iJLoYOBTb0cNEmODf6WxaL8LcLdNDJlihq2Q8kEv-eoR8NLsqYPCH-4JpH5lVblG3y5anHgwExR2Q/s400/garret_hedlund.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4. Garret Hedlund, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On the Road</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK93v4ouvDCAsrvC-AmwxzkO2-ZyRgxj7nsRegaNd1PKdjkz3pQXjvO9DHXrXObyOfPNmQAdGjz9RbNf2aXQY4imnWyxLqmT8VUZa5jFqwart43PqSXvp1cohd8_82Ukz_P0H0/s1600/Beasts-Of-The-Southern-Wild.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK93v4ouvDCAsrvC-AmwxzkO2-ZyRgxj7nsRegaNd1PKdjkz3pQXjvO9DHXrXObyOfPNmQAdGjz9RbNf2aXQY4imnWyxLqmT8VUZa5jFqwart43PqSXvp1cohd8_82Ukz_P0H0/s400/Beasts-Of-The-Southern-Wild.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5. Dwight Henry, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Beasts of the Southern Wild</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1N5Ye9dhrPLiCV-h-mHBHPgJsNzseND0_N96EI0KjteTZKw4kHDmfpklgWphYiNeA3tzDr_znNw_QcGlS951HHqNLvLzGFVrODzY4KL8zE_PJ9LVwubZRau-1_mSimrrwPEXT/s1600/cloud-atlas-ben-whishaw1-600x368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1N5Ye9dhrPLiCV-h-mHBHPgJsNzseND0_N96EI0KjteTZKw4kHDmfpklgWphYiNeA3tzDr_znNw_QcGlS951HHqNLvLzGFVrODzY4KL8zE_PJ9LVwubZRau-1_mSimrrwPEXT/s400/cloud-atlas-ben-whishaw1-600x368.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">6. Ben Whishaw, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cloud Atlas</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8NYs8RKhyphenhyphenQWodDk0jB_eor1RVb7r83RP0Q-IAsNULsfO0XpZYazZWU9NitNxOEKurHqhA03ZKiQfhnTgYyKlRjLoNjlT46eTYCGITWbcn2JdHaWiiSHJvVSL_RXaA3Ory0sw/s1600/sam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8NYs8RKhyphenhyphenQWodDk0jB_eor1RVb7r83RP0Q-IAsNULsfO0XpZYazZWU9NitNxOEKurHqhA03ZKiQfhnTgYyKlRjLoNjlT46eTYCGITWbcn2JdHaWiiSHJvVSL_RXaA3Ory0sw/s400/sam.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">7. Samuel L. Jackson, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Django Unchained</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFgGkdrFbj8cbWGxRFdcupVA8kEisRXFoUwOQdJM8VoBLJ-sdBuG46746uZXxr2a68DEwnQQZf0C_om3a2KBC6IHq-qW5e0L4OJyFr20Wfj2CbHfjT9HOlAnUluZNSgu1foZF/s1600/lincoln-whysoblu-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFgGkdrFbj8cbWGxRFdcupVA8kEisRXFoUwOQdJM8VoBLJ-sdBuG46746uZXxr2a68DEwnQQZf0C_om3a2KBC6IHq-qW5e0L4OJyFr20Wfj2CbHfjT9HOlAnUluZNSgu1foZF/s400/lincoln-whysoblu-4.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">8. Tommy Lee Jones, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lincoln</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlttbS1REPOINmAEPrea5p5tftvvpoHta7Sfino0xPZ1__68saJU-rBu3l24iLgjKSPtKI-ETDrewTd91q7MoMxF8wlamC_uFq0ovvSkLAm6NmmghZfXJ8wQ2tyXo7_UymVzC/s1600/skyfall-bardem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlttbS1REPOINmAEPrea5p5tftvvpoHta7Sfino0xPZ1__68saJU-rBu3l24iLgjKSPtKI-ETDrewTd91q7MoMxF8wlamC_uFq0ovvSkLAm6NmmghZfXJ8wQ2tyXo7_UymVzC/s400/skyfall-bardem.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">9. Javier Bardem, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Skyfall</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSYMQ3hhbqZUC4jAT54yznYkXYsSUW_K7bQPuB42QwRACLURV3Ss8HAIbBUSGqmZ434KclsFzTkQOR3BZfGMcnz2_xcW3HDaLndJaPGeWi9x-ug1eN3fza6oLrw9gWPBZIuzA/s1600/zero-dark-thirty-image_005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSYMQ3hhbqZUC4jAT54yznYkXYsSUW_K7bQPuB42QwRACLURV3Ss8HAIbBUSGqmZ434KclsFzTkQOR3BZfGMcnz2_xcW3HDaLndJaPGeWi9x-ug1eN3fza6oLrw9gWPBZIuzA/s400/zero-dark-thirty-image_005.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">10. Jason Clarke, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Zero Dark Thirty</span></i></div>
Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-5388745723669999512013-04-02T19:31:00.001-05:002013-04-02T19:31:34.533-05:00best of 2012: the supporting actresses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The saga continues. It was a dry season for supporting actresses this year, but it made for a fun group of ladies to call upon for a top 10. Sure, Lead Actor had a much more competitive field, but these ladies were the gems of their respective movies.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpK548Qbl9NnBNNAHtqn7ePLlY0kAZ2ofC5gl3sb-qaiZoVxYUZuxfK21VWC1qUCWDPc2Y4oJfF9ie_Oq0DZo9J7rseCAUqlIF7_tUOcx5HKHz8ZGtPGU60b8GzoNFJuV2c_QV/s1600/pitch-perfect-wilson-anna-camp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpK548Qbl9NnBNNAHtqn7ePLlY0kAZ2ofC5gl3sb-qaiZoVxYUZuxfK21VWC1qUCWDPc2Y4oJfF9ie_Oq0DZo9J7rseCAUqlIF7_tUOcx5HKHz8ZGtPGU60b8GzoNFJuV2c_QV/s400/pitch-perfect-wilson-anna-camp.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. Rebel Wilson, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pitch Perfect</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6rDUqP7XgQQufUnBWlZlYrXqvsrNI7k5QRfIMRdIeWwNQij_Rmy7sbgfsxre4OSbSvGis3BUvsaMMTbF4HBostIrAh5gJJLP3tqnndyemqk9ZLmSh8NPBo3fSoq71InA_3F-/s1600/zero_dark_thirty-12-jennifer_ehle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6rDUqP7XgQQufUnBWlZlYrXqvsrNI7k5QRfIMRdIeWwNQij_Rmy7sbgfsxre4OSbSvGis3BUvsaMMTbF4HBostIrAh5gJJLP3tqnndyemqk9ZLmSh8NPBo3fSoq71InA_3F-/s400/zero_dark_thirty-12-jennifer_ehle.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2. Jennifer Ehle, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Zero Dark Thirty</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtb4QHqoFYxUXNLkPWfjZ2JC_cIGzZ6wsFDoMLAE7DaEJVWzn04rrqnLR5YUgbLmEa9i7G8Q5yASzOmTpwGBXT6Zb3BJ87eTK5DyWUSoYrqMoPweSpqkVo0lyFZzf44PfJJK_w/s1600/1345228738-the_master3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtb4QHqoFYxUXNLkPWfjZ2JC_cIGzZ6wsFDoMLAE7DaEJVWzn04rrqnLR5YUgbLmEa9i7G8Q5yASzOmTpwGBXT6Zb3BJ87eTK5DyWUSoYrqMoPweSpqkVo0lyFZzf44PfJJK_w/s400/1345228738-the_master3.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3. Amy Adams, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Master</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxTtCA1hg4rrAwGGZ0Lu_cuoPOdDpZ4M2DFs182bFmyVjbkblVIX366Za89O0_8J2SVNdBpSXA0fRmW8ti2I0UC-ZuwSL9xM5PqlU2z5Vw_zq5qvaYF_YU_1yYi8DZ9lR4LSV/s1600/annehathaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxTtCA1hg4rrAwGGZ0Lu_cuoPOdDpZ4M2DFs182bFmyVjbkblVIX366Za89O0_8J2SVNdBpSXA0fRmW8ti2I0UC-ZuwSL9xM5PqlU2z5Vw_zq5qvaYF_YU_1yYi8DZ9lR4LSV/s400/annehathaway.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4. Anne Hathaway, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Les Miserables</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7M93nnaoECfW-_l9K2Ci1Mk0niOh79TCI_OPN-Ovz1i3xMl5n7zST9nuOBmg0DoYG0xjS8p8LCsrUvQ3U91gD2DYKEXNN0AkjGzjJTgWg5EpH0tE6l4AeXFtb5UtfhvUrw26U/s1600/emma+watson+sam+perks+of+being+a+wallflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7M93nnaoECfW-_l9K2Ci1Mk0niOh79TCI_OPN-Ovz1i3xMl5n7zST9nuOBmg0DoYG0xjS8p8LCsrUvQ3U91gD2DYKEXNN0AkjGzjJTgWg5EpH0tE6l4AeXFtb5UtfhvUrw26U/s400/emma+watson+sam+perks+of+being+a+wallflower.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5. Emma Watson, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Perks of Being a Wallflower</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZtQh6LbOrR6INYTbdWIKG0bogKCEWb_watfg-Fm810xLlu3NuQLHoOeolwaoQlTdjr-1TM9dbQrL6IK1tiyJcVMOwbB3AjIQu8-7AJgG5Z20RyEmhpZ4Msub-9mym9HNFGOP/s1600/Sally-Field-Lincoln.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZtQh6LbOrR6INYTbdWIKG0bogKCEWb_watfg-Fm810xLlu3NuQLHoOeolwaoQlTdjr-1TM9dbQrL6IK1tiyJcVMOwbB3AjIQu8-7AJgG5Z20RyEmhpZ4Msub-9mym9HNFGOP/s400/Sally-Field-Lincoln.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">6. Sally Field, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lincoln</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hTE1zOWBmMmg3jDwDYxj2Kfn6HjPHGCzS9EV-gqAsFjbXM0YIu4aKJL7_OCErYU9c444J2L6zJgdD1RjLTvARotV7IAWOz7VOks6YzyCX5o2a1bH43t2Up-Y2spvMGejPweW/s1600/Anne-Hathaway-Catwoman-The-Dark-Knight-Rises-6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hTE1zOWBmMmg3jDwDYxj2Kfn6HjPHGCzS9EV-gqAsFjbXM0YIu4aKJL7_OCErYU9c444J2L6zJgdD1RjLTvARotV7IAWOz7VOks6YzyCX5o2a1bH43t2Up-Y2spvMGejPweW/s400/Anne-Hathaway-Catwoman-The-Dark-Knight-Rises-6.jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">7. Anne Hathaway, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Dark Knight Rises</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0dcTQPdOET1Ms-oaqh3f6gob52PO_yeL0ExwdoJ-y-NJYOtaa3bn65xA6q6O6Ypp3GbOISNPm_nAt7WbxPmOVc-N5arOUE_3SQuiOwvYp5xRMKj6_ZR-fUuzbCfkBqdoyEs8/s1600/new_image_lg_sq-39dd25ffbe50f6ef52dfdcfd52c319910164c96f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0dcTQPdOET1Ms-oaqh3f6gob52PO_yeL0ExwdoJ-y-NJYOtaa3bn65xA6q6O6Ypp3GbOISNPm_nAt7WbxPmOVc-N5arOUE_3SQuiOwvYp5xRMKj6_ZR-fUuzbCfkBqdoyEs8/s400/new_image_lg_sq-39dd25ffbe50f6ef52dfdcfd52c319910164c96f.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">8. Jacki Weaver, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Silver Linings Playbook</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">9. Lucy Liu, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Detachment</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAwj5y2ftlgxV-t_qkaT_G_V-WXg2vN2-sWy7gmqzWyv_UJ6hzgzlEQREaiFZdz0FKpUEFUdbV0yiW1PpUafM0PQJ3PGp3fw67BsbzL6VvQZZyxGMcnFazseLlcBASSpmAKRj/s1600/7b0a4034-163a-4f5c-b8d3-26888a931712-JenniferLawrenceandElizabethBanksHungerGames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAwj5y2ftlgxV-t_qkaT_G_V-WXg2vN2-sWy7gmqzWyv_UJ6hzgzlEQREaiFZdz0FKpUEFUdbV0yiW1PpUafM0PQJ3PGp3fw67BsbzL6VvQZZyxGMcnFazseLlcBASSpmAKRj/s400/7b0a4034-163a-4f5c-b8d3-26888a931712-JenniferLawrenceandElizabethBanksHungerGames.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">10. Elizabeth Banks, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Hunger Games</span></i></div>
<br />Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-40643673571633419452013-03-29T12:18:00.000-05:002013-03-29T12:18:56.437-05:00best of 2012: the lead actors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The top 10s continue, now with my favorite lead actor performances of 2012. And thanks to a year with a little bit of everything, quality-wise, this list ended up being a fun genre-spanning grouping. Here goes:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. Joaquin Phoenix, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Master</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2. Daniel Day-Lewis, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lincoln</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3. Logan Lerman, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Perks of Being a Wallflower</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4. John Hawkes, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Sessions</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5. Sam Rockwell, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Seven Psychopaths</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">6. Martin Freeman, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">7. Matthias Schoenaerts, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rust & Bone</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">8. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Master</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">9. Bradley Cooper, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Silver Linings Playbook</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">10. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Looper</span></i></div>
Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-32431620598306042092013-03-28T13:06:00.000-05:002013-03-28T13:06:49.469-05:00best of 2012: the lead actresses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's nearly April, so I suppose it's high time I attempt to wrap all this 2012 madness up! Let's continue the top 10s (thought </span><a href="http://lukecurtis.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-25-best-movies-of-2012.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">my movies list capped off at 25</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">) with the lead actress performances of the year:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. Quvenzhane Wallis, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Beasts of the Southern Wild</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31j4KjDWU4mP4T61fegk5Mtu2wgznrzTwDu852tBhs9oO4l0Vod11PKoYIa_uIisXv-8pXn9J_rbhH645zIJlBQNzC-ivykmfgtDjLpwUT0bAU0YFOpuCTax4zAkl4RcjwtOL/s1600/image_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31j4KjDWU4mP4T61fegk5Mtu2wgznrzTwDu852tBhs9oO4l0Vod11PKoYIa_uIisXv-8pXn9J_rbhH645zIJlBQNzC-ivykmfgtDjLpwUT0bAU0YFOpuCTax4zAkl4RcjwtOL/s400/image_5.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2. Ann Dowd, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Compliance</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3. Jennifer Lawrence, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Silver Linings Playbook</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwrc2mv1oSBn_aCXpC4oeucoHGy1DrFv9-KGanUrLNfMWou0jcQ2TexAuWOJT2RZStquZ5ha-LqCox-JenSMn1Nji82odYlyhj6qez7iW-3w85-brykqZsVfIaR7yT78WM8F2/s1600/image_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwrc2mv1oSBn_aCXpC4oeucoHGy1DrFv9-KGanUrLNfMWou0jcQ2TexAuWOJT2RZStquZ5ha-LqCox-JenSMn1Nji82odYlyhj6qez7iW-3w85-brykqZsVfIaR7yT78WM8F2/s400/image_4.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4. Rachael Harris, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Natural Selection</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhu6czGB230sGb2zXMljGK2wKGiCWVVXPIvtaQLIvnZ8zrIYkbbCEQaj4gmm4Nz8YhCHTUJG9HLBPprBC0cU-1FyHGuFH9CAwEbcAi9uvKg0W3ejXr6F8M-DugNBwirmgyOOv/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhu6czGB230sGb2zXMljGK2wKGiCWVVXPIvtaQLIvnZ8zrIYkbbCEQaj4gmm4Nz8YhCHTUJG9HLBPprBC0cU-1FyHGuFH9CAwEbcAi9uvKg0W3ejXr6F8M-DugNBwirmgyOOv/s400/image.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5. Jessica Chastain, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Zero Dark Thirty</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUxxSplnVQhUkhmVyVLjEy61nHy93JnBkP97Y2kDfTx6CCmjNPI7zRVY06FV-kNZax8x3fyl0ulQgQewx6_-L2-FB7zBhzYgWwxFX-PYkZg4kewEBf2BDmZimRb62XtRl-OqW/s1600/image_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUxxSplnVQhUkhmVyVLjEy61nHy93JnBkP97Y2kDfTx6CCmjNPI7zRVY06FV-kNZax8x3fyl0ulQgQewx6_-L2-FB7zBhzYgWwxFX-PYkZg4kewEBf2BDmZimRb62XtRl-OqW/s400/image_1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">6. Emmanuelle Riva, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Amour</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">7. Elizabeth Olsen, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Liberal Arts</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82CnAFCfNVbllre7fQMcDStvAfhWzGaZ-bZo_V8b2RuzQbeg6RRiloU8tBI7OZDXbVrkAtRv6tnGhKF_t-oZ1beLAUAxUADIRkjQv-PaCcVwK9EnkckB3kQxGa6DuLjoXRw9p/s1600/image_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82CnAFCfNVbllre7fQMcDStvAfhWzGaZ-bZo_V8b2RuzQbeg6RRiloU8tBI7OZDXbVrkAtRv6tnGhKF_t-oZ1beLAUAxUADIRkjQv-PaCcVwK9EnkckB3kQxGa6DuLjoXRw9p/s400/image_8.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">8. Aubrey Plaza, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Safety Not Guaranteed</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">9. Isla Fisher, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bachelorette</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUvKWG-x6oLvqkxoLkJpXuiHl6HRJ4dWaJMuFotJy9CGm48EOATbiTw1DXD0r5EwuGvJeyfRhm7JvxGONr-u0UoOhSkwALhja8cevq2Yn4VX6keqzwj5rA1YPTloAzaTBR7D3/s1600/image_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUvKWG-x6oLvqkxoLkJpXuiHl6HRJ4dWaJMuFotJy9CGm48EOATbiTw1DXD0r5EwuGvJeyfRhm7JvxGONr-u0UoOhSkwALhja8cevq2Yn4VX6keqzwj5rA1YPTloAzaTBR7D3/s400/image_7.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">10. Sara Paxton, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Innkeepers</span></i></div>
Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-49415757588846430102013-03-12T20:11:00.002-05:002013-03-12T20:11:49.632-05:00the 25 best movies of 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes, I'm aware that the Oscars have come and gone, and 2013 is all the rage now that <i>Argo </i>has collected its prize, but I got back into the blogging game on the tail end of Oscar mania, so my best of 2012 lists are coming a tad late. To kick things off, let's start with the 25 best movies of the year that turned out to be modest in terms of "classics." Unlike the great 2007s and 2009s that came before it, 2012 was home to some nice flicks, but few gargantuan moments. Nevertheless, here is a handful of my favorites, starting, of course, with <a href="http://lukecurtis.blogspot.com/2013/02/2012-lct-awards-best-picture-nominees.html">my five Best Picture nominees</a> in ranked order...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. <i>Beasts of the Southern Wild</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Benh Zeitlin</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fox Searchlight Pictures</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3KtlVXAXf6o4GrFL7H6d_EENIuH_vzrMSduTg9LcFJEFpXqnmMJh5kxHsdCcPhZQXJow1MxZ2isdjZ2tjfI_qPDARTuBKhjQ8CqO-XIU33-DcIZ80PD9yPoQ3QqW-0hz1JR6/s1600/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower-title.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3KtlVXAXf6o4GrFL7H6d_EENIuH_vzrMSduTg9LcFJEFpXqnmMJh5kxHsdCcPhZQXJow1MxZ2isdjZ2tjfI_qPDARTuBKhjQ8CqO-XIU33-DcIZ80PD9yPoQ3QqW-0hz1JR6/s400/the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower-title.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2. <i>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Stephen Chbosky</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Summit Entertainment</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3. <i>The Master</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Paul Thomas Anderson</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Weinstein Company</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLFs9jshxsLuW6ofjMHy1xl9dZ_SMZp3x9MglSzLA8yb1Gzxy2Zj0VhFoYaToSOgxlWYHa8GdhQQlfUXRf93szmcsRFexizffVd3DS6H_Zll2MXfZ5QtivDOPKOZ4qtihRDQq/s1600/The-Hobbit-Part-1-An-Unexpected-Journey-2012-Movie-Title-Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLFs9jshxsLuW6ofjMHy1xl9dZ_SMZp3x9MglSzLA8yb1Gzxy2Zj0VhFoYaToSOgxlWYHa8GdhQQlfUXRf93szmcsRFexizffVd3DS6H_Zll2MXfZ5QtivDOPKOZ4qtihRDQq/s400/The-Hobbit-Part-1-An-Unexpected-Journey-2012-Movie-Title-Banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4. <i>The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Peter Jackson</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Warner Bros. Pictures</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5. <i>Zero Dark Thirty</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Kathryn Bigelow</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Columbia / Sony Pictures</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">6. <i>Life of Pi</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Ang Lee</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fox 2000 Pictures</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhgwfi3zK4WTnAKCoS8qFA-e4IsqusEfh0SyPdCXvtyr8P0VNow2vjHAbul4KIeGIjfu-K3BU7k5zgeFLGjsWv4unjE1T76rVV0wWI8FSCHJ6Eerioh426PFpmNwdQMjgEHcf/s1600/compliance-movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="66" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhgwfi3zK4WTnAKCoS8qFA-e4IsqusEfh0SyPdCXvtyr8P0VNow2vjHAbul4KIeGIjfu-K3BU7k5zgeFLGjsWv4unjE1T76rVV0wWI8FSCHJ6Eerioh426PFpmNwdQMjgEHcf/s400/compliance-movie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">7. <i>Compliance</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Craig Zobel</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Magnolia Pictures</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PutTg_bK81jyFaMqUTu1vzctq-NzDIdKTpsUMgmDld2rMbxFoDxLR6aXZLRgMUdleb2Lf_AVdS9qoCt4P0U00Bhf-8YeyPVAuKIm9r6TmOvyssAivRixwESPYG3OpceM2K9g/s1600/tumblr_m6ct73cyYw1qb7xt1o1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="66" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PutTg_bK81jyFaMqUTu1vzctq-NzDIdKTpsUMgmDld2rMbxFoDxLR6aXZLRgMUdleb2Lf_AVdS9qoCt4P0U00Bhf-8YeyPVAuKIm9r6TmOvyssAivRixwESPYG3OpceM2K9g/s400/tumblr_m6ct73cyYw1qb7xt1o1_1280.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">8. <i>Looper</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Rian Johnson</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">TriStar Pictures</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">9. <i>Argo</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Ben Affleck</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Warner Bros. Pictures</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">10. <i>Silver Linings Playbook</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. David O. Russell</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Weinstein Company</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">11. <i>Lincoln</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Steven Spielberg</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Touchstone Pictures</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">12. <i>The Cabin in the Woods</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Drew Goddard</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lionsgate</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">13. <i>Pitch Perfect</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Jason Moore</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Universal Pictures</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TxD_DHfNgLrhizCygY29PoHGZxRxDRFMLfqbAB7dqW0luxvVYs0zE4XM3JteP5Ek5krgWzIZNbFCDTX1JzLBhQ7HqPxap-cuoDOY43xHR8Nejk5I3mXVHAv_HGoDGmZoZqZo/s1600/the-bachelorette-movie-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TxD_DHfNgLrhizCygY29PoHGZxRxDRFMLfqbAB7dqW0luxvVYs0zE4XM3JteP5Ek5krgWzIZNbFCDTX1JzLBhQ7HqPxap-cuoDOY43xHR8Nejk5I3mXVHAv_HGoDGmZoZqZo/s400/the-bachelorette-movie-poster.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">14. <i>Bachelorette</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Leslye Headland</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Weinstein Company</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIK0W4r7b1wQbGP1a5Oth67wfFEcTcTZiF83fnhhg-gYvCIXGmq7-43WSiIeFxMOxgvWBsbQUiD0WclqGgVdTZ9PKPKocrZ40zQNUOVGcW0mkDnPIExM2OhIzYo0pzVnpw_V-/s1600/natural-selection-movie-poster-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIK0W4r7b1wQbGP1a5Oth67wfFEcTcTZiF83fnhhg-gYvCIXGmq7-43WSiIeFxMOxgvWBsbQUiD0WclqGgVdTZ9PKPKocrZ40zQNUOVGcW0mkDnPIExM2OhIzYo0pzVnpw_V-/s400/natural-selection-movie-poster-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">15. <i>Natural Selection</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Robbie Pickering</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Cinema Guild</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzA5wqWq6zfGN9o7AMB0W-HZKwwyAObxZQ_rSnMC0iFoPnS1tJ7QqY0tfzl2Kf_6I8Y2luQqQWNnuE5SPIzueT4vJyIDh5NOezqZ8fYE5wFNSgEg7bVnRBOLGZ2tgJWhTAz75/s1600/django-unchained.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzA5wqWq6zfGN9o7AMB0W-HZKwwyAObxZQ_rSnMC0iFoPnS1tJ7QqY0tfzl2Kf_6I8Y2luQqQWNnuE5SPIzueT4vJyIDh5NOezqZ8fYE5wFNSgEg7bVnRBOLGZ2tgJWhTAz75/s400/django-unchained.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">16. <i>Django Unchained</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Quentin Tarantino</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Weinstein Company</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnacS7eFl4rJ99KfHPX4jAZTvaV9mbYePmgN0ExAHhvQh-0jCJ1hYCjn-hnBjlRem6rt0t4ltOjp7OAU57tRvk2g5WaO1WAl5wepgzuqInE6MZCjMWNDAhaXm1JZ43M8Mtmq5L/s1600/The-Avengers-Movie-2012-Logo-Title-Clean-1920x1080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnacS7eFl4rJ99KfHPX4jAZTvaV9mbYePmgN0ExAHhvQh-0jCJ1hYCjn-hnBjlRem6rt0t4ltOjp7OAU57tRvk2g5WaO1WAl5wepgzuqInE6MZCjMWNDAhaXm1JZ43M8Mtmq5L/s400/The-Avengers-Movie-2012-Logo-Title-Clean-1920x1080.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">17. <i>The Avengers</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Joss Whedon</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Walt Disney / Paramount Pictures</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6F_fVYy6y_SNQIp_vOXsVMpcr0EaXtx2bzwxCW7jjZjDxj07a6A870_WFxKdTFut80hn57O8ond-NJFTUK-nhRtObozvnoAcdqy_KSxld0FBHACerp8P589pVvpktMBh0OES/s1600/wreck-it-ralph-title.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6F_fVYy6y_SNQIp_vOXsVMpcr0EaXtx2bzwxCW7jjZjDxj07a6A870_WFxKdTFut80hn57O8ond-NJFTUK-nhRtObozvnoAcdqy_KSxld0FBHACerp8P589pVvpktMBh0OES/s320/wreck-it-ralph-title.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">18. <i>Wreck-It Ralph</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Rich Moore</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Walt Disney</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdiS2KgfsHR4TrqMOZAswsqxrNNDzfBxNWvOfDls7HNJYptP5xu4k-XI1PjRAYoy3v68Gj88_4AzcAiyiPBZGy7xmlndaZFK_4apSDATtJGBOMG9pHdKnNAS5lN0Y16L735lX/s1600/BRAVE-PREVIEW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdiS2KgfsHR4TrqMOZAswsqxrNNDzfBxNWvOfDls7HNJYptP5xu4k-XI1PjRAYoy3v68Gj88_4AzcAiyiPBZGy7xmlndaZFK_4apSDATtJGBOMG9pHdKnNAS5lN0Y16L735lX/s400/BRAVE-PREVIEW.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">19. <i>Brave</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman & Steve Purcell</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Walt Disney / Pixar</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pmdKh807B1RnwC-G_GDGOXQRHCBnPagn5xa12P8XD613sJ8gsac7d1xhVYpctLVFtizYvkKyHTssSkDECE6ocCohZwft8YnIHMg4sJU8XuKIXfpVF0lDXrAJpOL-zjMDulv9/s1600/Paranorman-2012-Movie-Title-Banner-600x285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pmdKh807B1RnwC-G_GDGOXQRHCBnPagn5xa12P8XD613sJ8gsac7d1xhVYpctLVFtizYvkKyHTssSkDECE6ocCohZwft8YnIHMg4sJU8XuKIXfpVF0lDXrAJpOL-zjMDulv9/s400/Paranorman-2012-Movie-Title-Banner-600x285.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">20. <i>ParaNorman</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Chris Butler & Sam Fell</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Focus Features</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">21. <i>Moonrise Kingdom</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Wes Anderson</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Focus Features</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1KsTAVEU039tn9QvY5bt4Cj1398mOrTovNIJgfc81PKflKo13GXXt5DNmabhhyvrfgDdIW92Ko_ecImr1ZpwFYF_aRtaCxtRIhudkrQJeL5tD2Yg8NIz3emcf8X8cg2t8Jrw/s1600/Cloud-Atlas-Movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1KsTAVEU039tn9QvY5bt4Cj1398mOrTovNIJgfc81PKflKo13GXXt5DNmabhhyvrfgDdIW92Ko_ecImr1ZpwFYF_aRtaCxtRIhudkrQJeL5tD2Yg8NIz3emcf8X8cg2t8Jrw/s400/Cloud-Atlas-Movie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">22. <i>Cloud Atlas</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Tom Tykwer & Andy and Lana Wachowski</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Warner Bros. Pictures</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbm6m3lGIbMPZ3abJdYbzGdQ5iLTr91mJSqtWdC8sYTU38BLDDLIzmARrPzoXh3Bwe7kSkCf_Aaz_0WfY0Lie3DCeJx1CL9xeWNrPJOqJbQQcaehTYjpnlZLawlllsBd-R7zPq/s1600/CelesteandJesseForever_43396414266_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="37" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbm6m3lGIbMPZ3abJdYbzGdQ5iLTr91mJSqtWdC8sYTU38BLDDLIzmARrPzoXh3Bwe7kSkCf_Aaz_0WfY0Lie3DCeJx1CL9xeWNrPJOqJbQQcaehTYjpnlZLawlllsBd-R7zPq/s400/CelesteandJesseForever_43396414266_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">23. <i>Celeste and Jesse Forever</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Lee Toland Krieger</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sony Pictures Classics</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">24. <i>Prometheus</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Ridley Scott</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">20th Century Fox</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJ9ICUxTu6l6CNwoFzg0l68CSc2wyRJgdAOH0jmlV9DU5Y30nEVaXG_pXL8wal1yCMLPpIme15ZHcOT49yr3QidJmYy28TMhZXZlOs93enkrLncX_71W-TyAtSrZHq1f7CrqA/s1600/Liberal-Arts-2012-Movie-Poster1-e1347410918838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJ9ICUxTu6l6CNwoFzg0l68CSc2wyRJgdAOH0jmlV9DU5Y30nEVaXG_pXL8wal1yCMLPpIme15ZHcOT49yr3QidJmYy28TMhZXZlOs93enkrLncX_71W-TyAtSrZHq1f7CrqA/s400/Liberal-Arts-2012-Movie-Poster1-e1347410918838.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">25. <i>Liberal Arts</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dir. Josh Radnor</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">IFC Films</span></div>
Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-79361400606819680982013-03-04T12:45:00.000-06:002013-03-04T12:45:32.749-06:00madly in advance: an early take on the big six categories in the 2013 oscar race<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlMf8xjdevpvOalZHK_Y6e7ZgohIpi4YNLZe2hTQFKdekLZ6Lch0Jmao4hEw6WoCD4Ah4tk4mwCiFR7_B6nl-woBRdn05cb9INbqy7hT-uQlu9ZL0eWYXVyX4voL8jIN8IKD4/s1600/the-butler-lee-daniels-oprah-jane-fonda-alan-rickman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlMf8xjdevpvOalZHK_Y6e7ZgohIpi4YNLZe2hTQFKdekLZ6Lch0Jmao4hEw6WoCD4Ah4tk4mwCiFR7_B6nl-woBRdn05cb9INbqy7hT-uQlu9ZL0eWYXVyX4voL8jIN8IKD4/s400/the-butler-lee-daniels-oprah-jane-fonda-alan-rickman.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes, it's a sickness. In honor of the Oscars being done and over with, why not kick things off for 2013? And with a new history of doing terribly at this (my confidence last year in now-2013 <i>Great Gatsby </i>and <i>Gravity </i>and the not-so-much <i>Hyde Park on Hudson</i> are clear proof of this), it's merely a fun way to spur some conversation. So have at it: here are my far-in-advance takes on the big six categories - <a href="http://lukecurtis.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html">Best Picture</a>, <a href="http://lukecurtis.blogspot.com/p/oscar-predictions_26.html">Best Director</a>, <a href="http://lukecurtis.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_27.html">Best Lead Actress</a>, <a href="http://lukecurtis.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_28.html">Best Lead Actor</a>, <a href="http://lukecurtis.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_2195.html">Best Supporting Actress</a> and <a href="http://lukecurtis.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_31.html">Best Supporting Actor</a>.</span>Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-6870751815145533062013-02-28T13:21:00.000-06:002013-02-28T13:21:58.746-06:002012 lct awards: lead acting nominees<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The hits keep on coming! Now that we've got </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://lukecurtis.blogspot.com/2013/02/2012-lct-awards-best-picture-nominees.html">Best Picture</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> out of the way, it's time to get into the acting nominees for 2012, starting with the lead performances. It was an interesting year for film - probably one of the weakest since 2005, in fact - yet a somewhat weak overall year can make for a more exciting lineup in some of these categories. Plum roles that would've gone easily unnoticed in years with plentiful bombast get their due. Here are my choices for Best Lead Actor and Actress.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Best Lead Actress</b></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYq682kam6POToHrY4xenX8UIIU5qAO_4S-1IFTVf4H35551G1ZnajUiA8EdN0pVDlc-T_-QZ85bgIgdy2wrY_92PGwbn20XSlHSKFCqa4SIoVq8s-SChRwGyPClQvo3QHv8k/s1600/JessicaChastain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYq682kam6POToHrY4xenX8UIIU5qAO_4S-1IFTVf4H35551G1ZnajUiA8EdN0pVDlc-T_-QZ85bgIgdy2wrY_92PGwbn20XSlHSKFCqa4SIoVq8s-SChRwGyPClQvo3QHv8k/s200/JessicaChastain.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Jessica Chastain, <i>Zero Dark Thirty </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">- After becoming the queen of ubiquity in 2011, it was only fitting that Chastain would limit herself to essentially one fantastic performance in 2012. And it could very well top anything she's done previously. As Maya, the hard-nosed, tunnel-visioned CIA operative who orchestrated the takedown of bin Laden, what she lacks in flat-out character background development, she more than makes up for in a restrained, fleshed out turn as a woman of some mystery. We don't know anything about Maya's upbringing, personal life or future, but scene after scene proves that less is more - she's full of character with a simple framed face shot - we don't need an hours-long biography to understand her.</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ii7fztKQeWitTYjsAwAjnIqOairvQuJL9VN9cd81qDlvU2r5_A4xB2ICfKe5P6JmPFMQFrvb8nfqrzco-F5ZU7mZCtczuFbSVC2Zp9aojGjuoLffpNKNF8M6RaG4pzAPxnSZ/s1600/AnnDowd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ii7fztKQeWitTYjsAwAjnIqOairvQuJL9VN9cd81qDlvU2r5_A4xB2ICfKe5P6JmPFMQFrvb8nfqrzco-F5ZU7mZCtczuFbSVC2Zp9aojGjuoLffpNKNF8M6RaG4pzAPxnSZ/s200/AnnDowd.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Ann Dowd, <i>Compliance </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">- One of the many annual unsung performances, Dowd managed a few critical notices but couldn't quite muster up the Oscar nod. And it's a real shame - the character actress's turn as Sandra, a needy and gullible fast food store manager who learns the levels of depravity she's willing to reach, is a revelation. It takes a character actress to truly understand what it means to make the most of each scene. And placing her front and center provides a big payoff. We're both disturbed and understanding of this woman - her transgressions are unnerving, yet she sells them in a completely believable fashion.</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpAUHjtzspcTE-ylXlsTjhfsD_RmqUgXAYs6rp84ll443BJIW3TyK-F4FpS0RR-C1Siwes0y4c3-P8ofHajx7n89OpLmCRAGJhq4pQK0MmyjCOdmIT-0zeFmp6wI2wQt0DqJi/s1600/RachaelHarris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpAUHjtzspcTE-ylXlsTjhfsD_RmqUgXAYs6rp84ll443BJIW3TyK-F4FpS0RR-C1Siwes0y4c3-P8ofHajx7n89OpLmCRAGJhq4pQK0MmyjCOdmIT-0zeFmp6wI2wQt0DqJi/s200/RachaelHarris.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Rachael Harris, <i>Natural Selection</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> - Often relegated to goofy background roles or providing comic relief on cable countdown shows, Harris has eked out a mini-career as someone you probably recognize but could never name. And with the indie comedy <i>Natural Selection</i>, she, like Dowd, is placed front and center to great effect. As a barren Christian woman who seeks out her husband's potential long-lost biological son, she's at times endearing and heartbreaking and at others frustratingly human. She injects her signature comedy throughout the sometimes serious film, but its her instinct and ability to evoke an audience feeling makes her one of the best of the year. A completely ignored gem, to be sure.</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqt43afcuaxM8UaC2a0pG7Cxh9ZdRfIfDqQ_zApUqB2G4EAdj6560lCoMqcjQy-P2jCCYXJrOB1Z1AE3UzcON9DkpJbc3U8CThK_exDII3elqjBEJiHPQOIq405ktmA4cZrs_/s1600/JenniferLawrence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqt43afcuaxM8UaC2a0pG7Cxh9ZdRfIfDqQ_zApUqB2G4EAdj6560lCoMqcjQy-P2jCCYXJrOB1Z1AE3UzcON9DkpJbc3U8CThK_exDII3elqjBEJiHPQOIq405ktmA4cZrs_/s200/JenniferLawrence.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Jennifer Lawrence, <i>Silver Linings Playbook </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">- Too much too soon for the young starlet? A Best Actress Oscar can often be a curse for a young twentysomething. Yet, with a killer instinct, a great attitude and a commanding screen presence, Lawrence shows off her intense star power in <i>Silver Linings</i>. Her interplay with older co-star Bradley Cooper is totally believable, and her self-assured performance, most notably going toe-to-toe with heavyweight Robert de Niro is an incredible feat for a virtually untested actress. Her uneven character makes for a sometimes harrowing but mostly intriguing task, and she more than delivers on David O. Russell's oftentimes promise of bringing out great performances in his films.</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrrjKbyB3T-P3UDmQ3-z0zDGThH4Hc87C8S4LvRVHzvz69ui9LRwCpIS_BG0nbNZblqEGYlZDKeJgzQh4MIkWqEA6uwZtY6GkoXjyPXszG2d68KlNkAkQosk2VbCaEeL4insl/s1600/QuvenzhaneWallis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrrjKbyB3T-P3UDmQ3-z0zDGThH4Hc87C8S4LvRVHzvz69ui9LRwCpIS_BG0nbNZblqEGYlZDKeJgzQh4MIkWqEA6uwZtY6GkoXjyPXszG2d68KlNkAkQosk2VbCaEeL4insl/s200/QuvenzhaneWallis.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Quvenzhane Wallis, <i>Beasts of the Southern Wild </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">- Sneaking her way into this audition despite her age turned out to be the best decision Wallis will probably ever make. The then-five-year-old understandably wowed her future director to land the lead of Hushpuppy, a girl who "lived with her daddy in the Bathtub." And the result is a stellar youth performance - hell, it's stellar by adult standards, and the voters in the Academy obviously agreed, dubbing her one of the five best of the year. And I tend to agree - she's completely lived-in, with nary a spot of green in sight, despite her incredibly young age. Her interplay with her equally inexperienced co-stars marks what could be an illustrious few years for the young actress.</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRlhWCMBf5mxr8J5DTC7F6FPnQyMEWfCqsyXyG2iThOvx9lYmOxx9_TmrtBPgGtmxK1IjuhYoQU3m0isVDzmeNRfsZNweIjnxLBwjlqqWJw0DTcA97yDzrTSzLzrMUXHNMuQg/s1600/DanielDayLewis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRlhWCMBf5mxr8J5DTC7F6FPnQyMEWfCqsyXyG2iThOvx9lYmOxx9_TmrtBPgGtmxK1IjuhYoQU3m0isVDzmeNRfsZNweIjnxLBwjlqqWJw0DTcA97yDzrTSzLzrMUXHNMuQg/s200/DanielDayLewis.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Daniel Day-Lewis, <i>Lincoln </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">- Call me a band wagoner, but it can't be helped. One of the best in the biz certainly turned in one of the best of the year as Honest Abe. Injecting his own unique interpretation into the canonized character, Day-Lewis proves that not every real-life portrayal has been completely done - not even the arguably most iconic person in American history. From his killer monologues and perfected carriage, to his back-and-forths with screen wife Sally Field and a host of noted actors playing advisors, Spielberg's latest star commands the screen without ever leaving a scene free of chill-inducing moments.</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7Jb2QgZ-wUyhBiJVoh5EuZLi8T2FWnxp6LPyfX1WJHCXB6dmj0pdFV_ZbjFCdTH-hAxhh4ih6iQRcefb8vkUfB1p27DiPuz-7DZEAbcMSzG0hPehrXJVtpVXhRXSKaXOWIQX/s1600/JohnHawkes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7Jb2QgZ-wUyhBiJVoh5EuZLi8T2FWnxp6LPyfX1WJHCXB6dmj0pdFV_ZbjFCdTH-hAxhh4ih6iQRcefb8vkUfB1p27DiPuz-7DZEAbcMSzG0hPehrXJVtpVXhRXSKaXOWIQX/s200/JohnHawkes.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>John Hawkes, <i>The Sessions </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">- As a long-time fan of the Minnesota native, it was no surprise that I enjoyed the one-time character actor's continued ascent into leading man status. As a real-life man seeking out a sex surrogate to experience the act for the first time, Hawkes is relegated to his back for the entirety of the movie. But his physical limitations never hinder the performance - his take on the witty gentleman at the film's center is kindly, realistic and nicely played. He's not a total treacly saint - and when playing someone in an iron lung for a Hollywood film, that's no easy feat.</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIvhXNFk7Dl4LqqOXsI-6XNKmeUqjxYXiEUou5nACS_Qih-bchen03wKEZdtLGAgp9RwmpUUio7Cx7o1kLjfITshxI1kMH-TuqHgbNPxMhhrN-CxXhRaFCl01xqbOUJ952-w8/s1600/LoganLerman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIvhXNFk7Dl4LqqOXsI-6XNKmeUqjxYXiEUou5nACS_Qih-bchen03wKEZdtLGAgp9RwmpUUio7Cx7o1kLjfITshxI1kMH-TuqHgbNPxMhhrN-CxXhRaFCl01xqbOUJ952-w8/s200/LoganLerman.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Logan Lerman, <i>The Perks of Being a Wallflower </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">- As the leading star of an adaptation of my all-time favorite book, the former <i>Percy Jackson </i>star had big shoes to fill. And much to my surprise, he more than excelled in the spot. Playing wallflower Charlie, Lerman's doe-eyed stares and introverted line deliveries suggest his adulthood may produce some impressive work if given the right circumstances. Outplaying his accomplished adult co-stars proves that transcending age even in a film geared toward young people is a feasible task.</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQb6CooVvflZ4ZJiSyfm7bsKToVcUxqf5-tIvmgr5TeZpSHMDEOjnB0tXdS11MNQlzttLla_lvlwitohl_k-PAz0zXuXhp2EGoPmxwHoDDzYgzs4fS1LHprSKVxDIzAFXFqAIW/s1600/JoaquinPhoenix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQb6CooVvflZ4ZJiSyfm7bsKToVcUxqf5-tIvmgr5TeZpSHMDEOjnB0tXdS11MNQlzttLla_lvlwitohl_k-PAz0zXuXhp2EGoPmxwHoDDzYgzs4fS1LHprSKVxDIzAFXFqAIW/s200/JoaquinPhoenix.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Joaquin Phoenix, <i>The Master </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">- Boasting one of the most committed performances in recent memory, Phoenix proves that often times a little bit of real-life kook can make for an incredible and fascinating actor (for more, see the unending genius of Melissa Leo). As disturbed Freddy, Phoenix goes all out in his portrayal of a frantic, desperate and confused soul. And playing against straight man Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Phoenix's gutsy performance sticks with you and provides a whopping amount of awardworthy clips. Not to mention the physicality of the role, from every tic and tremor to every devilish grin and spasm.</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDug25Hm2SdfFAmEAdVEws9V90DBIZXPb6GQ2Fr2mSJNHp64dKClXJWdBgwEMflUG-OtirluYhki0o3QVqCd0gtE3MzpHm_rUaDBo2u5EUudEypmjkaXiKhbYgEtkg-X1zcEK_/s1600/SamRockwell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDug25Hm2SdfFAmEAdVEws9V90DBIZXPb6GQ2Fr2mSJNHp64dKClXJWdBgwEMflUG-OtirluYhki0o3QVqCd0gtE3MzpHm_rUaDBo2u5EUudEypmjkaXiKhbYgEtkg-X1zcEK_/s200/SamRockwell.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Sam Rockwell, <i>Seven Psychopaths</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> - As someone who admittedly didn't warm up to Sam Rockwell initially (until his slam-dunk performance in 2010's <i>Conviction </i>proved me wrong), I didn't expect to come out of what became one of the best comedies of the year thinking he'd be best in show. Yet, combining his bombastic personality and intense acting chops, he gave one of the best comedic performances of the year. As Billy, a dementedly gleeful best bud to co-star screenwriter Marty (Colin Farrell), he steals every scene with psychopathic delight, giving us full-on hilarity while making us feel just a little bad about it knowing the root of his personality. See: comedy can be a challenging genre, despite what critics may say!</span></b></span></div>
Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-67263559332240567492013-02-25T12:59:00.000-06:002013-02-25T12:59:25.157-06:00100 best songs countdown: #100-96<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">First thing's first - perhaps this list should be renamed to read "The 100 Favorite Songs of Luke," as this is not meant to be a prestige list that rolls out the significant and influential tracks through the decades. In fact, there will likely be a few of those that managed to sneak on here, but truth be told, this is purely a list for fun that encompasses my musical favorites from the 20th Century and beyond. Feel free to judge my inferior tastes as much as you like. Meanwhile, I'm going to begin counting down my all-time favorites with Nos. 100 through 96...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUn4nyvY9PY-lCz6x9AoR7PpQlJXLvYhW2HagjqTg-WqqDyllry7OZYDh-ouDDOnXZzBZYgivz0IJfmG6TP4dw9sWIPQWHKj3IMM6NJkrEXs074cCShdVDsqNj4qxuTtCJZbjk/s1600/Baby+One+More+Time+actual+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUn4nyvY9PY-lCz6x9AoR7PpQlJXLvYhW2HagjqTg-WqqDyllry7OZYDh-ouDDOnXZzBZYgivz0IJfmG6TP4dw9sWIPQWHKj3IMM6NJkrEXs074cCShdVDsqNj4qxuTtCJZbjk/s200/Baby+One+More+Time+actual+cover.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>#100: "...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears, from <i>...Baby One More Time </i>(2000) </b>- Let's just get the embarrassing one out of the way first. Of course, I kid - that should read "embarrassing one(s)," as I'm not afraid to admit I fall victim to a catchy pop top 40 song now and again. Though her public persona has fallen into some obscure antics in recent years, there's no denying the panache and vigor that was brought along with that coming out of one Ms. Spears. "...Baby One More Time" is incredibly catchy, from its slam-dunk hook to its accompanying dance moves. Turns out that though she's logged an impressive number of hit singles since, the best Britney is still the original.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUb_an_-VA9IIArVxM1_bkF2PWGz9HNBsIG6Vy4ivh7LGbUR_7lm4Kq2YTodpYBe1Pzw2svlWs7jaN5AXurvCnBkt-mDBbfQ3sPKeTl9vcl26e4OO-IowwuOVxTsNBDG-eHjBy/s1600/ode-to-sunshine-lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUb_an_-VA9IIArVxM1_bkF2PWGz9HNBsIG6Vy4ivh7LGbUR_7lm4Kq2YTodpYBe1Pzw2svlWs7jaN5AXurvCnBkt-mDBbfQ3sPKeTl9vcl26e4OO-IowwuOVxTsNBDG-eHjBy/s200/ode-to-sunshine-lowres.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>#99: "People C'mon" by Delta Spirit, from <i>Ode to Sunshine </i>(2008) </b>- How about an abrupt shift in tone? Well hopefully that's what you had in mind, as indie rock band Delta Spirit follows ably in Britney's wake. My No. 99 all-time favorite is "People C'mon," which blends a scorching vocal with an ever-building track that I defy you to sit through without caterwauling along. The pure grift and emotion on display in these vocals is what sets the band apart from its plentiful fellows. Get as emo as you want, but if you don't have the lyrics and the impressive vocal chops to back it up, what you got to be so emo about?</span></div>
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<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="40" id="gsSong554204613" name="gsSong554204613" width="250"><param name="movie" value="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" /><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=5542046&style=metal&p=0" /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" width="250" height="40"><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=5542046&style=metal&p=0" /><span><a href="http://grooveshark.com/search/song?q=Delta%20Spirit%20People%20C'mon" title="People C'mon by Delta Spirit on Grooveshark">People C'mon by Delta Spirit on Grooveshark</a></span></object></object></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxWgvcuUH35Nyh3WIQ8XvrUhTzsoNVuzYhVnZAvKT0ClN1VidHkGIss0tTzvttwvQliD-xaqJ4NaGWlZltstF25XyXI386xQsJJFPUp5ARN2YbMxtecT-CzIIIPo67kVu_OVf/s1600/1191779638_seal-seal-ii-01-front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxWgvcuUH35Nyh3WIQ8XvrUhTzsoNVuzYhVnZAvKT0ClN1VidHkGIss0tTzvttwvQliD-xaqJ4NaGWlZltstF25XyXI386xQsJJFPUp5ARN2YbMxtecT-CzIIIPo67kVu_OVf/s200/1191779638_seal-seal-ii-01-front.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>#98: "Kiss from a Rose" by Seal, from <i>Seal II </i>(1994) </b>- Not a single person who was young in the '90s doesn't recall a slow dance to this song. Though it had somewhat dark lyrics, the success of Seal can be tracked to this awards-magnet ditty. And it's assuredly the pinnacle of his discography (though his later single "Love's Divine" comes the closest to meeting the greatness of "Kiss from a Rose"). The looming, husky vocals, combined with the bombast of the chorus made for a perfect 1990s R&B slow jam.</span></div>
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<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="40" id="gsSong2805362063" name="gsSong2805362063" width="250"><param name="movie" value="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" /><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=28053620&style=metal&p=0" /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" width="250" height="40"><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=28053620&style=metal&p=0" /><span><a href="http://grooveshark.com/search/song?q=Seal%20Kiss%20From%20a%20Rose" title="Kiss From a Rose by Seal on Grooveshark">Kiss From a Rose by Seal on Grooveshark</a></span></object></object></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Ph6fK0VAeyv6jdDBjEb0KOvpKCwJBHxd3kw1KVIJNa80k6VVyiLHN9p2rkDm40MOG9mxBip9Y6z7UgzIlVVG2uxtUFY4fHn3e8nMHnJSDkg130l9R9otVerU_iuK8zKQY_kw/s1600/after+trueblue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Ph6fK0VAeyv6jdDBjEb0KOvpKCwJBHxd3kw1KVIJNa80k6VVyiLHN9p2rkDm40MOG9mxBip9Y6z7UgzIlVVG2uxtUFY4fHn3e8nMHnJSDkg130l9R9otVerU_iuK8zKQY_kw/s200/after+trueblue.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>#97: "Open Your Heart" by Madonna, from <i>True Blue</i> (1986) </b>- She's reinvented herself countless times, and though her edgy 90s transformations are perhaps the most memorable, there's something about that original pop star in the making that came out with hit after hit - and had 100 times more charisma and uniqueness than most cookie cutter young ladies of the present. "Open Your Heart" has a catchy hook and serves as a great dance anthem that transcends the often goofy tendencies of '80s music.</span></div>
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<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="40" id="gsSong3096108489" name="gsSong3096108489" width="250"><param name="movie" value="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" /><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=30961084&style=metal&p=0" /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" width="250" height="40"><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=30961084&style=metal&p=0" /><span><a href="http://grooveshark.com/search/song?q=Madonna%20Open%20Your%20Heart" title="Open Your Heart by Madonna on Grooveshark">Open Your Heart by Madonna on Grooveshark</a></span></object></object></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8vtPJ4D_y_EaPAHP31U72BroyPyrmx96-4MZt0E_SMUTwwjY2sZtQ_iIL7LHXuMrTMrZWw9vIu-_95EuRKaXHn9Rj5B4XSdMDBL5cHhzxxtawEd1C8tIIbU6GX-lYnlal9yJ/s1600/51lT67yf8AL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8vtPJ4D_y_EaPAHP31U72BroyPyrmx96-4MZt0E_SMUTwwjY2sZtQ_iIL7LHXuMrTMrZWw9vIu-_95EuRKaXHn9Rj5B4XSdMDBL5cHhzxxtawEd1C8tIIbU6GX-lYnlal9yJ/s200/51lT67yf8AL.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>#96: "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, from <i>Sherry & 11 Others </i>(1962) </b>- My two favorite eras of music are the R&B/soul singers of the '90s and the Motown and pop of the '60s. And what screams '60s music better than Frankie Valli and his impossibly on point falsetto? There's definitely a silliness factor with this song, but its enduring appeal as a pop standard has made it indelible amongst its fellow 1960s boy band compadres.</span></div>
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<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="40" id="gsSong1488469019" name="gsSong1488469019" width="250"><param name="movie" value="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" /><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=14884690&style=metal&p=0" /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" width="250" height="40"><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=14884690&style=metal&p=0" /><span><a href="http://grooveshark.com/search/song?q=The%20Four%20Seasons%20Big%20Girls%20Don't%20Cry" title="Big Girls Don't Cry by The Four Seasons on Grooveshark">Big Girls Don't Cry by The Four Seasons on Grooveshark</a></span></object></object></div>
Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-43827636776796788442013-02-21T12:14:00.000-06:002013-02-21T18:10:47.980-06:002012 LCT awards: best picture nominees<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sure, the Oscars have announced their nominees, but what of the LCT Awards (est. 1995), my own personal choices in the world of film, television and music? Well, to be honest, these nods were announced a few weeks ago... but via the blog, not so much! So, I give you the 2012 entrants on my best-of list, starting with the first few film categories on my roster.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">BEST PICTURE</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkEjgXCF9ZrYXBi5O4B-gnrIoCZgAcqmAzJ6yDEG8XmdXkU_CIYhrajHAOgEdL_asvSYw7Dbix_6LwPw1SjcYdo8Ci-xpQs_77zGJ8QptuoZeq3o103LmCEr-7K6uww72RcAK/s1600/BeastsoftheSouthernWild.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkEjgXCF9ZrYXBi5O4B-gnrIoCZgAcqmAzJ6yDEG8XmdXkU_CIYhrajHAOgEdL_asvSYw7Dbix_6LwPw1SjcYdo8Ci-xpQs_77zGJ8QptuoZeq3o103LmCEr-7K6uww72RcAK/s1600/BeastsoftheSouthernWild.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let's start with this - a gem of the early-year festival circuit that clearly made enough of a lasting impression to land itself in position for a few Oscars. In my book, it's one of the five best of the year, no question. From its moving father-daughter central story to its incredible performances from complete newcomers, this little experiment in filmmaking came with a huge payoff. It's visually stunning on a maddeningly tiny budget, and though the actors weren't SAG-sanctioned, they brought depth many card-carrying members probably wish they could.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Next up is Peter Jackson's latest Tolkien effort, <i>The Hobbit</i>, which has found its lion's share of detractors with which I couldn't disagree more. Yes, there's less source material being stretched into the same amount of screen time, but the visionary efforts are still there 10 years on - Jackson has a knack for telling a fantastical story like no other working today. And it helps that he has a very able lead in Martin Freeman to head up the cast. This first entry in a new trilogy is thrilling, delightful and pleasing to the eye. And while some felt it dragged on a bit long, I left the theater with no such feelings. A brilliant effort in many regards. Ignore what you've been told about it - it really is one of the five best of the year.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Speaking of divisive films, <i>The Master </i>was no stranger to oddly placed ill will. A harrowing glimpse at the inner workings of a charming cultish following through the eyes of a demented protagonist - what doesn't sound like film gold in that description? Joaquin Phoenix is phenomenal, and the interplay with his co-lead Phillip Seymour Hoffman is in many scenes gut-wrenching. With a slick editing technique, an artistic approach in the screenplay and triumphant performances from the lot, it's perhaps just misunderstood - and will surely develop into a future classic. Seeing it felt like encountering a truly cinematic experience.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sometimes there are movies that you've been waiting years to see. Based on a book that I cherished when reading, once I heard <i>Perks </i>was at last being adapted into a film, I held onto skepticism to the bitter end. I just didn't think the casting was right, and I didn't see how a movie would be able to capture the unique nuance within an atypical high school story. Oh, how wrong I was. Thanks to some careful work from its young stars and a faithful adaptation from the author himself (not to mention his own directing debut), <i>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</i> easily landed itself on the "best of" list and thankfully caught the attentions of many viewers who didn't necessarily come of age around the time of the book's release - the true mark of a teen fiction adaptation done right.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Can't say I'm not diverse in my choices, I suppose. A strong central performance can do an awful lot to bolster a film's overall estimation. And with excellent pacing and an able director, <i>Zero Dark Thirty</i> outdid its helmer's predecessor by injecting a degree of tension unmatched in any of the year's blockbuster action movies. Chastain is a revelation as the central amalgamation, Maya, and her female co-stars, large parts and small, make for commanding screen presences in what is pigeonholed as a "masculine" genre. Not to say that the men, namely Jason Clarke, don't have a great deal of authority over the material. It's an all-around success in what could've been a retread. A gamble, to be sure, but with a big payoff in the form of a masterful, suspenseful, and satisfyingly uneasy premise.</span></div>
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Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-2919505859736046982013-02-20T12:56:00.000-06:002013-02-20T12:56:14.990-06:00making a comeback...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes, promises have been made, broken, made again, broken again even more quickly... and yet, I simply can't stay away. The film blogosphere is too wonderful and too attractive a mistress to shake. So I'm embarking once more, hopefully for a longer-term future, on Journalistic Skepticism. It's been far too long, and I need a fix. So blogging, I have returned to you with every intention of sticking around this time... for the kids. But where did we leave off? It's been many months since my last post, and the Oscar nominations have come and gone. So perhaps a fresh start in 2013 is just the ticket! Here's what you may be seeing on ye olde blog if you stick around - Valerie is begging you to!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>COMING SOON:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*<u>Madly In Advance Oscar predictions</u> for all the major 2013 races - I'm know clairvoyant, to be sure, as evidenced by my attempt last year that yielded many nominations for <i>The Great Gatsby</i> and <i>Gravity</i>... second time's a charm?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*<u>2013 reviews</u> - it's a slow start to the year, but a write-up of the McCarthy/Bateman vehicle <i>Identity Thief</i> is coming your way.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*<u>Continuations of old favorites</u> will ensue - perhaps an addition or two to the Merylfest series (see right-hand column) and some resolution to my top 100 films revamp (see left-hand column).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*And boldly going where this blog hasn't gone before - <u>Music; namely, an all-time top 100 songs countdown</u>, for whatever that's worth, entertainment-wise.</span>Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-73846054515224777632012-10-06T18:55:00.000-05:002012-10-06T18:55:48.249-05:00oscars 2012: best original song<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>BEST ORIGINAL SONG: </b>With the frenzy over the new Bond tune, it's only fitting that my next category set be the music ones. And though I think Adele will have a distinct shot of making it into the category, particularly thanks to the rules overhaul, the series doesn't exactly have a good track record with their more than 20 original songs through the years. Still, the notion that it shot to No. 1 upon release seems to usher in a hopefully new era for Original Song, a category that I've loved through the years despite its many many flaws. Having some legit hits on their hands could make things interesting in a potentially five-wide field of contenders. But on to the conversation! On paper, the likeliest of nominees is the Hugh Jackman-sung "Suddenly" from <i>Les Miserables</i>, which to me is the film's best bet at a nomination, whether the movie tanks or not. And with a rich tradition of successes in this category, Disney/Pixar's efforts could land multiple slots, namely "Into the Open Air" and "Learn Me Right," both from <i>Brave</i>, with the former the likelier choice. The rules get a bit dodgy for some contenders, though, as Taylor Swift's number from <i>The Hunger Games</i>, I'm assuming, is out of the running, as it's the <i>second </i>credit song. Though I'm not super clear on the rule revisions. But Arcade Fire's "Abraham's Daughter" should have no trouble making it into the conversation for the blockbuster book adaptation.<br />
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The hit early release <i>The Lorax </i>has a few options to contend with, most notably "Let it Grow," as the big group number lends itself best to Oscar's style. And though it arrived with hardly a whimper, it's worth noting that the Whitney Houston swan song "Celebrate" from <i>Sparkle</i> is a ballot option. It'll take branch members remembering the movie at all to get it to the top five, though. Norah Jones is featured on the <i>Ted </i>soundtrack, and this may be the simplest way to honor Oscar's host this year for his surprise hit. "Everybody Needs a Best Friend" is an accessible big-band-style ditty, though the Academy has skipped over previous opportunities to feature Jones's soundtrack vocals. And though <i>Lawless </i>will likely miss any kind of attention during awards season this year, there's a chance the legendary Willie Nelson could net it a slot in Original Song with "Midnight Run." Finally, there are some options yet to come - Disney's <i>Wreck-it-Ralph </i>has a handful of original works, with Owl City's "When Can I See You Again?" seeming the most plausible choice. But to the rundown; here's where things stand, in my opinion:<br />
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<b>The Locks: </b>Though the category is so unpredictable, it's tough to legitimately call anything a true lock, my guess is "Suddenly" (<i>Les Miserables</i>) and "Skyfall" seem the strongest - and with the revamp, Oscar just wouldn't be able to resist having Jackman and Adele perform at the ceremony.<br />
<b>Strong Options: </b>"Into the Open Air" (<i>Brave</i>) and "Midnight Run" (<i>Lawless</i>)<br />
<b>My Current No. 5: </b>I think the current lovefest toward Arcade Fire may nab <i>The Hunger Games </i>one of its nominations here for "Abraham's Daughter."<br />
<b>Rounding Out the 10: </b>"Let it Grow" (<i>The Lorax</i>), "Learn Me Right" (<i>Brave</i>), "When Can I See You Again?" (<i>Wreck-It Ralph</i>), "Celebrate" (<i>Sparkle</i>) and "Everybody Needs a Best Friend" (<i>Ted</i>)<br />
<b>Just Outside the Ranks: </b>"Touch the Sky" (<i>Brave</i>), "Open Up" (<i>This Must Be the Place</i>), "From Here to the Moon and Back" (<i>Joyful Noise</i>), Karen O's "Strange Love" (<i>Frankenweenie</i>), "Still Allive" (<i>Paul Williams Still Alive</i>), and Beck's "Looking for a Sign" (<i>Jeff Who Lives at Home</i>)<br />
<b>And the Rest (In No Particular Order): </b>"Arietty's Song" (<i>The Secret World of Arrietty</i>), "Deep in the Meadow" (<i>The Hunger Games</i>), "Rise" (<i>Chimpanzee</i>), Soundgarden's "Live to Rise" (<i>The Avengers</i>), "This is the Place" and "Nobody Needs a Thneed" (<i>The Lorax</i>), Florence + The Machine's "Breath of Life" (<i>Snow White and the Huntsman</i>), "Big Machine" (<i>Safety Not Guaranteed</i>), "We Are" (<i>Ice Age: Continental Drift</i>), "I'm a Man" and "Love Will" (<i>Sparkle</i>), "The Sword is Yours" (<i>This Must Be the Place</i>), "Wreck-It, Wreck-It Ralph" (<i>Wreck-It Ralph</i>), Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah's "Not Enough" (<i>Joyful Noise</i>), "Wide Awake" (<i>Katy Perry: Part of Me</i>) and "Love Always Comes as a Surprise" (<i>Madagascar 3</i>)Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-12709914865174679252012-10-03T17:43:00.002-05:002012-10-03T17:43:52.402-05:00oscars 2012: directors, screenwriters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>BEST DIRECTOR: </b>With <a href="http://lukecurtis.blogspot.com/2012/09/oscars-2012-where-best-picture-stands.html">the Best Picture race</a> all over the place, the directors' club is lining up its top contenders in the category. The easiest route is to assume the top BP frontrunners will line up with the BD counterparts, which I'm thinking is a good assumption at this stage. With Paul Thomas Anderson (<i>The Master</i>), David O. Russell (<i>Silver-Linings Playbook</i>) and Ben Affleck (<i>Argo</i>) cementing themselves as near-locks, it seems the final two slots are still up for grabs. And a lot depends on how their respective films land. Wes Anderson (<i>Moonrise Kingdom</i>) and John Madden's (<i>The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel</i>) films have arrived and are proportionate successes, though they'd need BP nods to make it here. And Benh Zeitlin (<i>Beasts of the Southern Wild</i>) may have an uphill battle with the recent SAG announcement to do with his film. Other possibilities hanging 'round are the major leaguers - Christopher Nolan (<i>The Dark Knight Rises</i>), Joss Whedon (<i>The Avengers</i>), Peter Jackson (<i>The Hobbit</i>) and Quentin Tarantino (<i>Django Unchained</i>) - the latecomers - Juan Antonio Bayona (<i>The Impossible</i>), Sacha Gervasi (<i>Hitchcock</i>) and Gus Van Sant (<i>Promised Land</i>) - and the foreign helmers - Michael Haneke (<i>Amour</i>), Martin McDonagh (<i>Seven Psychopaths</i>) and Ben Lewin (<i>The Sessions</i>). But here's where I see it as of now.<br />
<b>All Locked Up: </b>Paul Thomas Anderson (<i>The Master</i>) and David O. Russell (<i>Silver-Linings Playbook</i>)<br />
<b>So Close: </b>Ben Affleck feels like a mighty wise prediction at this point, but I'm holding out to make certain the movie is a hit with audiences as well<br />
<b>Current Final Two Slots: </b>Steven Spielberg (<i>Lincoln</i>) - though I'm thinking this is a thin margin between nominated and just-miss - and Robert Zemeckis (<i>Flight</i>)<br />
<b>Only If the Movie Doesn't Flop: </b>Tom Hooper - he's a recent winner with a possibly juggernaut awardsbait in <i>Les Miserables</i> - and Ang Lee - <i>Life of Pi </i>has had some detractors on the festival circuit, but it still looks to land some nominations somewhere<br />
<b>The Rest of the 10: </b>Kathryn Bigelow (<i>Zero Dark Thirty</i>), Benh Zeitlin (<i>Beasts of the Southern Wild</i>) and Wes Anderson (<i>Moonrise Kingdom</i>)<br />
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<b>BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: </b>While PTA's <i>The Master</i> is tops on the list of many predictions, I'm sitting pretty solid with the Wes Anderson/Roman Coppola-written <i>Moonrise Kingdom </i>as frontrunner, for a nomination at least. This <i>is </i>the category that has honored such surprise hit comedies as <i>My Big Fat Greek Wedding </i>and <i>Bridesmaids</i> - seems only fitting that <i>Moonrise </i>leads the likelihood pack. Coming up quickly in the buzz fest are Ben Lewin's <i>The Sessions</i>, John Gatins's <i>Flight</i>, and Martin McDonagh's <i>Seven Psychopaths</i>. Aside from the most obvious choices, what of the quiet forces that could play a role with the right campaigns - such as Nicholas Jarecki (<i>Arbitrage</i>), Craig Zobel (<i>Compliance</i>) and Seth MacFarlane/Alec Sulkin/Wellesley Wild (<i>Ted</i>)? Perhaps voters are looking to honor their newest host. Plus commercial successes on several scales abound - Andrews/Purcell/Chapman/Mecchi (<i>Brave</i>), Reid Carolin (<i>Magic Mike</i>) and Rian Johnson (<i>Looper</i>). But here's where I think the predictions line up at the moment.<br />
<b>The Locks: </b><i>The Master</i> and <i>Moonrise Kingdom</i><br />
<b>Feeling Right for Now: </b><i>The Sessions</i>, <i>Django Unchained</i> and <i>Flight</i><br />
<b>The Near-Misses: </b><i>Seven Psychopaths</i>, <i>Amour</i>, <i>Arbitrage</i> and <i>Zero Dark Thirty</i><br />
<b>Current No. 10: </b><i>Hyde Park on Hudson</i><br />
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<b>BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: </b>Like most other categories, <i>Silver-Linings Playbook </i>is leading the crowd rather handily here. But with <i>Argo </i>looking to make a solid category sweep as well, it'll maybe be a two-way race for the win. But what of the fellow nominees? Big-namers Tony Kushner (<i>Lincoln</i>), Tom Stoppard (<i>Anna Karenina</i>), Walsh/Boyens (<i>The Hobbit</i>), the Nolans (<i>The Dark Knight Rises</i>), Penn/Whedon (<i>The Avengers</i>) and John Krasinski and Matt Damon (<i>Promised Land</i>) could prove forces in the race. Plus hit films lauded for their writing, including Lucy Alibar and Benh Zeitlin's <i>Beasts of the Southern Wild</i> and Michael Bacall and Jonah Hill's <i>21 Jump Street</i>, could fare all right - though both seem like they'd be more likely prospects in the original counterpart of this category.<br />
<b>The Locks: </b><i>Silver-Linings Playbook </i>and <i>Argo</i><br />
<b>Feeling Right for Now: </b><i>Lincoln</i>, <i>Life of Pi</i> and <i>The Avengers</i><br />
<b>The Near-Misses: </b><i>Cloud Atlas</i>, <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i>, <i>Promised Land</i> and <i>Beasts of the Southern Wild</i><br />
<b>Current No. 10: </b><i>Anna Karenina</i>Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-82095771591703420462012-09-30T14:48:00.002-05:002012-09-30T14:48:36.694-05:00oscars 2012: a blight of females / an opportunity for othersThe Oscar update conversation continues with the ladies, probably the most intriguing group to speak of at this point. And not necessarily for good reasons. With such a seemingly weak field, the agents of those first-half gals and the indie darlings need to get the word out - Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress haven't been this wide open in seven years.<br />
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<b>BEST LEAD ACTRESS: </b>As you can tell from my choice of photo representation, I'm not buying into the Jennifer Lawrence FTW rah-rah just yet. I can't seem to wrap my head around the up-and-comer winning so soon and for a fairly light-hearted looking performance. But <i>Silver-Linings Playbook </i>has clearly cemented her as a top contender. I'm going with Helen Mirren (<i>Hitchcock</i>) for the No. 1 slot today, though, as she just seems like an actress that Oscar wouldn't be afraid to double-dip for. If she goes lead for playing the wife of the legendary director, I could see her being Lawrence's biggest competition. And let's be honest, with a lineup this sparse, if the <i>Silver-Linings</i> folks wanted to, they could pull a Julianne Moore for Lawrence, stick her in supporting and she'd be a feasible possibility for <i>The Hunger Games </i>at this point... who thought that would actually be a possibility by year's end? It seems to me the women who should be upping their campaign game to pounce on the sickly wildebeest that is Best Actress 2012 are Melanie Lynskey (<i>Hello I Must Be Going</i>), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (<i>Smashed</i>), and Rachel Weisz (<i>The Deep Blue Sea</i>), all of whom have turned in lauded performances that would never be discussed period unless the possibility bank was this dry. And really, how much fun would it be to see a wrench like that thrown into the mix? And though Haneke's leading lady Emanuelle Riva (<i>Amour</i>) should surely be a possible nominee, I think in a weak field the Academy will opt for names over accolades. Honorable mention before running down the Top 10 lineup: Kristen Wiig (<i>Imogene</i>) and Barbra Streisand (<i>The Guilt Trip</i>) both have very different comedies coming up here soon, though I doubt either will gain much traction with Oscar.<br />
<b>Surefire Nominee: </b>At this point, the only clear-cut one is Lawrence for <i>Silver-Linings</i><br />
<b>Nearly There: </b>I'm thinking Helen Mirren shouldn't have too much trouble showing up here unless the movie is panned, and Keira Knightley is looking more and more like a solid bet for <i>Anna Karenina</i><br />
<b>On-Paper...: </b>I'm thinking Marion Cotillard could truly slip in for <i>Rust and Bone</i>, despite it's not traditionally Oscar-accessible premise<br />
<b>Today's No. 5: </b>I'm thinking <i>Beasts of the Southern Wild </i>will receive a glorious year-end push, in which case I'm giving the edge to Quvenzhane Wallis at this stage, though...<br />
<b>Nipping at Their Heels: </b>Naomi Watts is looking more and more like a follow-up nod is finally coming for <i>The Impossible</i>, something I never would've seen coming even a month ago<br />
<b>It's a Strange Kind of Year, So: </b>Don't be surprised to see Judi Dench (<i>The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel</i>) or Meryl Streep (<i>Hope Springs</i>) enter the conversation as potential spoilers<br />
<b>Rounding Out the 10: </b>Laura Linney (<i>Hyde Park on Hudson</i>) and Maggie Smith (<i>Quartet</i>) will need some assistance with the tepid reception their respective films are receiving, but I'm guessing they're still among the top qualifiers<br />
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<b>BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: </b>Though the field isn't quite as empty as in the leading category, the supporting females aren't looking to certain either. To me, the clear frontrunner is Amy Adams (<i>The Master</i>), who's been logging away quite the nomination count in her pre-40s. The role is just effective enough that I think she might be able to take this one. I suspect her biggest competition is Helen Hunt (<i>The Sessions</i>), particularly if the movie gains some BP traction, which I would not at all be surprised by. As for those waiting in the wings - i.e., the ones that should consider launching a campaign stat - we have Ann Dowd (<i>Compliance</i>) who's courting the <i>Animal Kingdom </i>vote with her character-actress-turned-best-in-show performance, Maggie Smith (<i>The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel</i>), who could ride recent goodwill to a default nomination, Vanessa Redgrave (<i>Song for Marion</i>), whose film may be too feel-good for more serious tastes, and Frances McDormand, who has both <i>Moonrise Kingdom </i>(established success) and <i>This Must Be the Place </i>in play. My guess is that Anne Hathaway has abandoned any <i>Dark Knight Rises </i>potential in favor of her musical turn in <i>Les Miserables</i>, and if the casts are well-received Scarlett Johansson (<i>Hitchcock</i>), Pauline Collins (<i>Quartet</i>), Annette Bening (<i>Imogene</i>) and Kerry Washington (<i>Django Unchained</i>) could capitalize on an opportunity.<br />
<b>Surefire Nominees: </b>Amy Adams, Anne Hathaway (<i>Les Miserables</i>) and Helen Hunt seem like locks at this point, unless the latter two prove less than effective with audiences and critics<br />
<b>Rounding Out the Five: </b>Though beyond the top three it's not super clear where we stand, my current guesses are Jacki Weaver, who could continue David O. Russell's recent success with acting nominees, for <i>Silver Linings-Playbook</i> and Jessica Chastain (<i>Zero Dark Thirty</i>)<br />
<b>Close Calls: </b>I'm thinking <i>The Paperboy </i>will play better stateside, particularly with the insurmountable buzz attached to its craziness, so Nicole Kidman is a distinct possibility. And Olivia Williams (<i>Hyde Park on Hudson</i>) and Sally Field (<i>Lincoln</i>) each have famous ladies to play - both are probable bio nods if the films manage to connect come December<br />
<b>And the Rest...: </b>Helena Bonham Carter, I suspect, will have a more difficult time than many assume in gaining this nomination - plus, will <i>Great Expectations </i>be seen stateside in time? My 10th choice is tricky, but I'm going with Doona Bae (<i>Cloud Atlas</i>), who appears to have the most intriguing role in the epic whatever-it-is... and if you're an unknown to American audiences, this is the category to land inLukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-36120088528506797032012-09-29T18:10:00.000-05:002012-09-29T18:10:38.557-05:00oscars 2012: those men and their acting...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>BEST LEAD ACTOR: </b>First thing's first - let's talk about the guys waiting in the wings for the leading actor category. Tommy Lee Jones may ride some goodwill for his co-star in <i>Hope Springs</i>, and Colin Farrell seems like the type of actor who'll eventually be nominated - perhaps for the so-far-well-received <i>Seven Psychopaths</i>. And why is it that no one seems to be talking about two-time Oscar winner Sean Penn starring in the finally released <i>This Must Be the Place</i>? Maybe his lack of buzz is a bad sign. Some lesser-known, stateside at least, actors might make some waves - Jean-Louis Trigninant has a plum role in <i>Amour</i>, and reportedly Tom Holland turns in a tour de force in the ever-rising <i>The Impossible</i>. His doomed romance efforts last year with Mia Wasikowska fell flat, but perhaps Gus van Sant's last-minute entry <i>Promised Land </i>could get Matt Damon another nod. Finally, the weekend is proving relatively positive for <i>Looper</i>, though can anyone see leading action star of the flick Joseph Gordon-Levitt scoring a nod here? For me, Hugh Jackman is just outside the top contenders for <i>Les Miserables </i>(I just don't buy the buzzy chances), leaving 10 men vying for the five spots.<br />
<b>Surefire Nominees: </b>John Hawkes (<i>The Sessions</i>) and Daniel Day-Lewis (<i>Lincoln</i>)<br />
<b>Nearly There: </b>Joaquin Phoenix (<i>The Master</i>) and Denzel Washington (<i>Flight</i>)<br />
<b>Today's No. 5: </b>It's tough to say - there are a few likely candidates, but I'm going for Anthony Hopkins <i>(Hitchcock</i>) today<br />
<b>Potential Goodwill Coattail Riders: </b>Ben Affleck (<i>Argo</i>) and Bradley Cooper (<i>Silver-Linings Playbook</i>)<br />
<b>Spoilers: </b>Richard Gere (<i>Arbitrage</i>), Brad Pitt (<i>Killing Them Softly</i>) and Bill Murray (<i>Hyde Park on Hudson</i>)<br />
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<b>BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: </b>A lot will depend on the penchant for category misplacement here, as my frontrunner is pictured to the right (and having now seen the film he's clearly a co-lead... c'est la vie). Waiting in the wings? Dwight Henry has made an impression in <i>Beasts of the Southern Wild</i>, though perhaps not quite as much as his young co-star. Depends on how the film does in other categories, I suspect. Matthew McConaughey came off well with critics thanks to his mentoring role in <i>Magic Mike</i>, and Nate Parker has been getting best in show reviews for the surging <i>Arbitrage</i>. Garret Hedlund is making waves for <i>On the Road</i>, though I suspect he's too young to stick the landing here, and Russell Crowe could connect for <i>Les Miserables</i>, though his rock style may not jive with the overall feel of the movie. <i>Lincoln</i>'s Tommy Lee Jones and Joseph Gordon-Levitt may not have the big parts they need to make the final cut, and though the chatter is minimal on the final two mentions here, John Krasinski could muster his big-screen breakthrough in <i>Promised Land</i>, and Ray Liotta is no stranger to awards love, particularly for his usual fare as in <i>Killing Them Softly</i>.<br />
<b>Surefire Nominees: </b>Phillip Seymour Hoffman (<i>The Master</i>) - though it's still unclear where he'll be campaigned - and Alan Arkin (<i>Argo</i>)<br />
<b>Nearly There: </b>Robert de Niro (<i>Silver-Linings Playbook</i>) - doesn't it seem like they're itching to bring him back into the fold? And when better than with a critically adored ensemble piece? - and David Strathairn (<i>Lincoln</i>)<br />
<b>Today's No. 5: </b>I'm starting to think that enough love for <i>The Sessions </i>could land William H. Macy here. I'm going out on a limb - thoughts?<br />
<b>Tight Spoilers: </b>Leonardo DiCaprio (<i>Django Unchained</i>) - if he makes it in, he could very easily get that long-gestating win, but I'm thinking the nomination is most of the battle - and Ewan McGregor (<i>The Impossible</i>) - something's telling me he's the type that may never see a nomination<br />
<b>Rounding Out the Top 10: </b>Christopher Walken and Woody Harrelson (<i>Seven Psychopaths</i>) and Bryan Cranston (<i>Argo</i>)Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-67740486138438335262012-09-29T16:45:00.002-05:002012-09-29T16:45:23.314-05:00oscars 2012: where best picture stands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been so long since my most recent Oscar post (and I'm sure nobody out there that still reads this silly little blog is at all surprised by that) that so much has changed. So much, in fact, that it's time for an updated discussion on the big six categories. It's proving to be an exciting year, it seems (though I won't get my hopes up, as that always seems to be the case this early in the game, before one or two biggies begin to capture all the glory at the precursors), and perhaps the most exciting categories are the weakest ones. The categories with the most unclear frontrunners seem to be the female acting ones, which makes for an interesting discussion, particularly when early-year releases can now jump at that shaky Best Actress category - ladies, this is your year!<br />
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<b>BEST PICTURE: </b>The top category of the bunch seems to boiling down to about 30 films at play, in my eyes. Sure, there are some that are stretches, but you have to account for at least a few potential spoilers in the mix. The frontrunners thus far appear to be <i>Argo </i>and <i>Silver-Linings Playbook</i>, two movies I most certainly didn't expect to see at the top of the list earlier in the year. Yet, here we are. The obvious big-ticket choices seem to be <i>Lincoln </i>and <i>Les Miserables</i>, two that could easily falter upon release - and the trailers have prognosticators worried. I'm not sold the big-budget musical will have a shot beyond a couple tech categories, but we'll see. Then there's <i>The Master</i>, which appears to have settled into a nomination slot despite its semi-obscure themes. It'll certainly avoid the win, but it's got a nomination all locked up here. Beyond those five, it's anyone's game at this point. Many seem to be jumping on the studio-backing bandwagon with <i>Flight</i>, though it remains to be seen if it can pull of a <i>Blind Side</i>-type crowd pleaser victory. The early releases should still be kept in the conversation, particularly in a seemingly weak year, so <i>Moonrise Kingdom</i>, <i>Best Exotic Marigold Hotel</i> and <i>Beasts of the Southern Wild </i>are still contenders for the top 5-10 spots. And while we're at it, we might as well contend with the summer blockbusters, <i>The Avengers</i>, <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i>, and <i>Brave</i> - all of which have been a part of the discussion at some point. But something tells me some spoilers could occur - I mean, <i>Looper </i>has gotten incredible reviews, and things are looking positive campaign-wise for <i>Arbitrage</i>. And flashy end-of-year epics <i>The Impossible, Cloud Atlas</i>, <i>Anna Karenina</i> and <i>The Hobbit </i>are options here. Plus there's big talk behind <i>Skyfall</i>'s proponents. All in all, this is where I stand, prediction-wise:<br />
<b>Surefire Nominees: </b><i>Argo </i>and <i>Silver-Linings Playbook</i><br />
<b>Tentative Shoo-Ins: </b><i>Lincoln </i>and <i>Les Miserables</i><br />
<b>Nearly There: </b><i>The Master </i>and <i>Moonrise Kingdom</i><br />
<b>Gaining Traction: </b><i>The Impossible </i>and <i>Life of Pi</i><br />
<b>If There are Nine: </b><i>Hitchcock</i><br />
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<i><b>More to come this weekend!</b></i></div>
Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-46361023318857629762012-08-29T10:09:00.000-05:002012-08-29T10:09:33.759-05:00oscars 2012: best supporting actress - so many options, so little oscars...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sure, it's been a while since my last Oscar post, so call it cheating, but some things have been shaken up since. In fact, I'm feeling with the onset of <i>Flight </i>mania, my <a href="http://lukecurtis.blogspot.com/2012/07/oscars-2012-can-i-buy-frontrunner.html">Best Picture</a> and <a href="http://lukecurtis.blogspot.com/2012/08/oscars-2012-and-best-lead-actor.html">Best Lead Actor</a> posts are probably obsolete. Though at least I have my <a href="http://lukecurtis.blogspot.com/2012/08/oscars-2012-ladies-competition-heats-up.html">Best Lead Actress</a> post to keep me comfortable - though there's probably some obvious misstep in there too. Luckily I took a look at the early reviews for <i>Lawless </i>this morning, and things aren't looking good - methinks the lovely ladies of that movie won't be making this conversation any longer. But I digress!<br />
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<b>The Returning Winners: </b>In this very mixed-bag field of 2012, there are several returning winners at play, including Annette Be - oh wait... wishful thinking I suppose. But in all seriousness, we have a few professional Oscar gals in the competition. For starters, there are the already-released <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Maggie Smith</span> </b>as the ornery wheelchair-bound senior in <i>The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel</i> and <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Frances McDormand</span> </b>as the kooky mother and secret paramour in <i>Moonrise Kingdom</i>. Neither lady has caused a major stir, per se, but neither can ever be counted out and both were a part of sleeper hits.<br />
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Then there are a few coming up rather quickly down the pipe. Last year's champ <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Octavia Spencer</span> </b>may have a questionably small role in the addiction drama <i>Smashed</i>, but the move has gotten some positive festival feedback and Sony Pictures backing, so who knows? Then there's <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Holly Hunter</span></b>, who based on the trailer probably has a plum little role as an administrator in the education drama <i>Won't Back Down</i>. She hasn't really been in the conversation for about 10 years, but let's be real - she's definitely due. And yes, <i>The Paperboy </i>has received a lot of outlandish attention, but attention nonetheless. And <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Nicole Kidman</span> </b>reportedly goes for it - will the movie have any camp fans out there in voters, though?<br />
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And then there are those that will likely see a later release this year - will they have the attention to gain traction, or will their co-stars take all the glory? <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Vanessa Redgrave</span> </b>takes the title role in the British senior citizen choir flick <i>Song for Marion</i>, though it might be too light of fare for voters, and she couldn't seem to buy herself a nomination for <i>Coriolanus</i>. Still, British comedy seems to connect a little more easily. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Sally Field</span> </b>has an obviously key role in <i>Lincoln</i>, though she hasn't really come close to a nomination since 1984's <i>Places in the Heart</i> - it seems far-fetched that she'll make a return trip. Finally, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Rachel Weisz</span> </b>has a supporting part in Terrence Malick's latest, but will <i>To the Wonder </i>be too much, too soon after <i>Tree of Life </i>amassed so much love last year?<br />
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<b>Those Facing Internal Competition: </b>Though it's been said - I'm pretty sure - that this category is the easiest to find a double nomination from the same movie, it's still a tough battle for any. Those ladies facing competition from within their own casts include the duo from <i>Silver Linings Playbook</i>, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Jacki Weaver</span></b> and <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Jennifer Lawrence</span></b>, the former of which seems to have a nice role based on the trailer and the latter of whom could be a stretch in this particular love interest role. Weaver probably has the edge in this battle. Then there are the ladies from <i>Anna Karenina</i>, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Olivia Williams</span> </b>and <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Kelly Macdonald</span></b>, both of whom have had close calls with Oscars but have just missed. A lot will depend on the overall feeling about the film.<br />
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Much will definitely depend on Laura Linney's placement, but the big biopic roles in <i>Hyde Park on Hudson </i>include <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Olivia Williams</span></b> as Eleanor Roosevelt and <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Olivia Colman</span> </b>as the Queen of England. On its face, these should be easy gets for nominations, but the former Olivia seems to be catnip for Oscar voters despite several baity roles through the years in Oscar-hailed films. Perhaps the likeliest of double power players comes from the buzzy Paul Thomas Anderson flick <i>The Master</i>, which boasts a shoo-in nod for perennial favorite <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Amy Adams</span> </b>and a fuzzy role for previous nominees <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Laura Dern</span></b>, though her being missing from most of the promotional material is worrisome.<br />
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<b>Those Ladies and Their Major Motion Pictures: </b>They aren't plentiful, but there are a few potential contenders amongst the big budget epics and the like. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Donna Bae</span> </b>may not be name-recognizable, but what looks like a key role in the mysterious <i>Cloud Atlas </i>could pay off. And <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Anne Hathaway</span> </b>looks like she could possibly walk away with the show in <i>Les Miserables</i>. And speaking of scene-stealing, that same <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Anne Hathaway</span> </b>pulled off the unthinkable and put her own successful spin on Catwoman in <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i> - but are voters really as eager to nominate her for it as Heath Ledger's slam dunk in 2008? And I can't count her out just yet - though <i>Sparkle </i>hasn't exactly had glowing reviews, most critics are willing to confess that <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Whitney Houston</span> </b>is the highlight. Could a Globe nomination be possible for the late chanteuse?<br />
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<b>And the Rest...: </b>As I'm running out of ways to categorize these actresses, I'm going to pile in the rest of the crop here. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Jessica Chastain</span> </b>has made quite a wave in the past year-and-a-half, and from the looks of the teaser she might have a great performance in her in <i>Zero Dark Thirty</i>. But Bigelow didn't really rake in the acting nominations for her cast in 2009, so who knows... <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Quvenzhane Wallis</span> </b>is clearly a lead for <i>Beasts of the Southern Wild</i>, but her age deficiency will likely tempt the studio to push her here. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Pauline Collins</span> </b>hasn't been around in earnest since <i>Shirley Valentine</i>, but a nice supporting turn in <i>Albert Nobbs </i>helped put her back on the map - will she be one of the Weinsteins' pushes for <i>Quartet</i>? And my beloved <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Annette Bening</span> </b>must be mentioned - playing girl-of-the-moment Kristen Wiig's mom in <i>Imogene </i>could be just the move she needs to make real progress toward that long-awaited Oscar.<br />
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And the current barrage of buzz is unavoidable - <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Ann Dowd</span> </b>is clearly making some surprising waves as a woman with ill intentions in indie drama <i>Compliance</i>. Whether or not she'll have the support to make it to the red carpet is still up in the air, but it's hard to deny her web support. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Helena Bonham Carter</span> </b>does well with Oscar when it comes to costume drama, and the most notable role in <i>Great Expectations </i>certainly shouldn't hurt. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Kerry Washington</span> </b>has what seems to be the sole female role in Tarantino's <i>Django Unchained </i>(unusual when you think about it), and the director has a history of doing well with female thespians. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Isabelle Huppert</span> </b>rounds out a cast of foreign lovelies in <i>Amour</i>, and <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Carey Mulligan</span> </b>guns for her second nod in the Coens' music pic <i>Inside Llewyn Davis</i>. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Kristin Scott Thomas</span> </b>has been itching for her second as well, this time with the Refn <i>Drive </i>follow-up <i>Only God Forgives</i>. And, sure, a strange way to end this, but if <i>Take This Waltz </i>gets any kind of attention elsewhere, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Sarah Silverman</span> </b>must be mentioned - her critical response has been generally positive, and the move could have some good home video surge late in the year.<br />
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<b>So here's where I'm at currently: </b>Amy Adams (<i>The Master</i>), Helena Bonham Carter (<i>Great Expectations</i>), Jessica Chastain (<i>Zero Dark Thirty</i>), Anne Hathaway (<i>Les Miserables</i>), Olivia Williams (<i>Hyde Park on Hudson</i>)Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-45576240175566830442012-08-06T18:09:00.002-05:002012-08-06T18:09:53.766-05:00oscars 2012: and the best lead actor nominees are... cue crickets...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, unlike the <a href="http://lukecurtis.blogspot.com/2012/07/oscars-2012-can-i-buy-frontrunner.html">Best Picture</a> and <a href="http://lukecurtis.blogspot.com/2012/08/oscars-2012-ladies-competition-heats-up.html">Lead Actress</a> races, the competition for Best Lead Actor is a little dodgy thus far. In fact, there seems to be nary a remote contender in sight as we head into August. Have we ever seen an acting category this back-nine-loaded? There will surely be dozens of possibilities later this year, but the first section of this write-up will certainly be a bit of a stretch as far as naming off real "contenders." And with arguable frontrunner Leonardo DiCaprio out of the race along with the rest of <i>The Great Gatsby</i>, these guys are dropping to 2013 like flies. (Perhaps you all can shed some light on potential threats from the first seven months of the year.)<br />
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<b>Long Shots - Do They Even Stand a Chance?: </b>Well with July behind us, you'd think there'd be some clear spring and summer releases producing some Best Actor choices, but there are only two that I can remotely endorse as a possibility. Sure, Oscar isn't nearly as kind to young actors as it is to young actresses, but <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Jared Gilman</span> </b>has at least started the 2012 conversation for his deadpan turn in the hit <i>Moonrise Kingdom</i>. Contending with the older guys in this category is near impossible, though. And if it'd had a better release, perhaps <i>Detachment </i>could've granted <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Adrien Brody</span> </b>his long-gestating second Oscar nod. Alas, the film, which garnered some positive reviews, came and went without much fanfare despite a strong cast.<br />
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<b>Indie Contenders - Trifles or Heavyweights?: </b>Every year the independent film community produces some potential nominees in the acting categories, though it seems Lead Actor isn't always the place where these folks strike it rich. Nonetheless, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">John Hawkes</span> </b>is a major part of the conversation for <i>The Sessions </i>(nee <i>The Surrogate</i>) and is well on his way to a second Oscar nod. Perhaps not as certain are <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Frank Langella</span></b>, for his well-received role in the quirky robot buddy comedy <i>Robot and Frank</i>, and <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">David Oyelowo</span></b>, who's been logging away a widening filmography and had a role in festival fave <i>Middle of Nowhere</i>. In addition, seemingly Oscar catnip <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Richard Gere</span> </b>found some fans from the financial thriller <i>Arbitrage</i>.<br />
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<b>Honor the Film or Honor the Actor?: </b>There are plenty of pieces, namely ensemble films and epics, that constantly create question marks as to whether or not the actors themselves will get any love. First off, there's <i>Lawless</i>, which seems to have two leads, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Shia LaBeouf</span> </b>and <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Tom Hardy</span></b>. There's a pedigreed cast here to be sure, but neither have had much luck in the past, and this film could easily go by way of <i>Public Enemies </i>and completely miss. In the same position is <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Ben Affleck</span></b>, who is a true contender for directing <i>Argo </i>but perhaps not for acting. He also has a shot if <i>To the Wonder </i>sees a release this year. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Tom Hanks</span> </b>is no stranger to this category but has certainly lost some of his cache. Still, he's the biggest name out of <i>Cloud Atlas</i>, but how actorly the movie is remains to be seen. Finally, <i>The Hobbit </i>will surely produce a multitude of tech awards, but we all remember how stingy Oscar was with <i>Lord of the Rings' </i>actors. Will <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Martin Freeman</span> </b>break through with the title role?<br />
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<b>The Arguable Frontrunners: </b>On its face, there are some men in play that seem to have the director backing, the Oscar history and the strong buzz to go the distance. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Brad Pitt</span> </b>has become somewhat of a fixture into his middle ages, and <i>Killing Them Softly </i>could be a promising prospect. (Does anyone else see him possibly gaining George Clooney status soon - the automatic nomination?) The real story of this year will likely be the return of <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Joaquin Phoenix</span> </b>who looks to be seriously committing in <i>The Master</i>. His biggest hurdle may be the questionable status of <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Phillip Seymour Hoffman</span> </b>- lead or supporting? <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Clint Eastwood</span> </b>looks to get back into the good graces of the Academy starring in the baseball drama <i>Trouble with the Curve</i>. And perennial favorite <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Daniel Day-Lewis</span> </b>has a plum biopic role in <i>Lincoln </i>- but why do I keep getting the feeling it'll fall in with <i>J. Edgar </i>and make voters grumble? Rounding out the group is one more strong biopic possibility, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Bill Murray</span> </b>in <i>Hyde Park on Hudson </i>(though will his hot and cold relationship with Oscar sour this one?), and <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Jean-Louis Trintignant</span> </b>for festival golden child <i>Amour</i>.<br />
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<b>The Movie Stars Make Good?: </b>There are a handful of stars with celebrity status that are looking to either enter the serious acting fold or return for some Oscar glory after a sabbatical. I'm not sold yet that <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Bradley Cooper</span> </b>could ever nab a nod, but with David O. Russell behind the picture, <i>Silver-Linings Playbook </i>is definitely a part of the conversation. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Hugh Jackman</span> </b>is a strong one to break into the top five for <i>Les Miserables</i>, whose buzz seems incredibly strong though I'm not totally sold that it'll deliver Academy-wise. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Jamie Foxx</span> </b>already has an Oscar under his belt, but has stepped away for less golden pursuits - teaming up with Tarantino in <i>Django Unchained </i>is definitely a major step in the right direction, but will it be his movie or DiCaprio's? <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Seth Rogen</span> </b>is starring opposite Barbra Streisand, which could be the magic touch for <i>The Guilt Trip</i>. It's not totally implausible - we never thought we'd be saying Academy Award nominee Jonah Hill, did we? Finally, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Colin Farrell</span> </b>continues his quest for Academy credibility with <i>Seven Psychopaths</i>. It's easy to forget he's had a smattering of prestige roles mixed in with the action movies - I see him eventually connecting, perhaps not this year.<br />
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<b>Rising Stars and Possible Late Entries: </b>Every year a few straight-up newbies or established actors looking for the break-out Oscar role enter the mix. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Joel Edgerton</span> </b>has gained a handful of fans for his turn in <i>Animal Kingdom</i>, and a seemingly starring role in Kathryn Bigelow's <i>Zero Dark Thirty </i>could be just the ticket. But will there be a true lead in this bin Laden flick? <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Suraj Sharma</span> </b>has the benefit of popular source material and lauded director in <i>Life of Pi </i>- but will it be a visual affair more than a performance one? <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Oscar Isaac</span> </b>has been threatening to break out for a few years, and a starring role in the Coen Bros.' <i>Inside Llewyn Davis </i>could do it. It just needs a solidified release date. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Jeremy Irvine</span> </b>made waves last year in <i>War Horse </i>but didn't see much for award hardware. Perhaps the latest adaptation of <i>Great Expectations </i>will do the trick. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Ryan Gosling</span> </b>has two strong roles down the pipe, <i>Only God Forgives</i>, the re-team with <i>Drive </i>director Refn, and <i>The Place Beyond the Pines</i>, though neither has a release date yet. And <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Christopher Plummer</span> </b>looks to follow up his long-gestating Oscar win with <i>Barrymore</i>, which looks to be a December release. Rounding out the possibilities are performances that will probably get limited qualifying runs, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Colin Firth</span> </b>in the action comedy <i>Gambit</i>, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Terrence Stamp</span> </b>in <i>Song for Marion</i>, and <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Ewan McGregor</span> </b>in sci-fi thriller <i>The Impossible</i>.<br />
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So who stands the best shot as of now? I'll take a stab, in order of likelihood of a nomination:<br />
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(1) Joaquin Phoenix, <i>The Master</i> (2) Daniel Day-Lewis, <i>Lincoln </i>(3) Bill Murray, <i>Hyde Park on Hudson</i> (4) Clint Eastwood, <i>Trouble with the Curve </i>(5) Brad Pitt, <i>Killing Them Softly*</i><br />
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<i>*</i>Though I could see Hoffman and Plummer entering the race if the former goes lead and if the latter finds a solid release.Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-81734889590354806622012-08-04T17:04:00.004-05:002012-08-04T17:04:40.756-05:00oscars 2012: the ladies' competition heats up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Now that the big Best Picture update is out of the way, let's move on to the lead actresses. Though there are far less obvious contenders in the works in this category compared to the top prize, there are plentiful possibilities in the mix. But will Oscar go traditional, opting for the many costume drama options, or will it step away for more indie love than the typical one-slot-for-ingenue-in-Sundance-favorite trajectory? There are certainly no clear front-runners here, nor are there any surefire first-half contenders, but let's muse nonetheless...<br />
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<b>What We've Got So Far: </b>Though there aren't any clear options in the first six months, there are a handful of ladies who have turned in buzz-worthy performances. But how likely is it any of them can last through to February? For starters, we have some Academy favorites - <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Michelle Williams</span> </b>has a decent shot for <i>Take This Waltz</i>. Though the long-delayed film seems to have arrived with a soft response, the reviews were positive, and Michelle is on a hot streak. Plus damaged relationships propelled her to a nod for <i>Blue Valentine</i>. Speaking of Academy populars, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Judi Dench</span> </b>should never be counted out, and the sleeper hit status of <i>The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel </i>could get her some traction, particularly with a well-timed DVD release.<br />
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It was virtually invisible upon release, but <i>The Deep Blue Sea </i>could very well get <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Rachel Weisz</span> </b>on some shortlists. It's certainly a long shot, but she's one of the handful of moderate contenders from early releases. A much more hot-button choice would be <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Jennifer Lawrence</span></b>, whose adept turn in the popular <i>The Hunger Games</i> is certainly not Oscar's typical cup of tea, but the web is feeling pretty insistent about this one. Don't count her out just yet. Resting in the long-gestating camp, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Rachael Harris</span> </b>won raves last year for quirky drama <i>Natural Selection</i>, but her lack of celebrite in an increasingly competitive indie sect could dash her chances. Finally, the clearest contender from those films released thus far has to be pint-sized powerhouse <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Quvenzhane Wallis</span></b>, whose star turn in <i>Beasts of the Southern Wild </i>should have no trouble finding its way onto year-end "Best of" lists. But will she be wrongfully thrust into supporting due to her age?<br />
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<b>Will Lighter, Popcorn Fare Play a Role?: </b>Sure, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Meryl Streep</span></b> has made her way onto the list with comedies before. I mean, <i>Devil Wears Prada </i>was very nearly a win for the actress. But will <i>Hope Springs </i>connect in the same way? It has the elements of a potential Streep nomination, but methinks this will go by way of <i>It's Complicated</i> and suffer a near-miss. And though "light" may not be the right attribution, <i>Won't Back Down</i>'s <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Viola Davis</span> </b>and <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Maggie Gyllenhaal</span> </b>may have to ascend the hurdle of "feel-good" for their teacher drama. The trailer doesn't look very Oscary, but who knows what could happen with Davis's recent hot streak? And then there's <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Cameron Diaz</span></b>, who is seemingly out to prove why she's a movie star by teaming up with Colin Firth and the Coen brothers for <i>Gambit</i>. But will an action comedy ever have decent traction in a category populated by tragic PYTs? If the reviews are right, it's definitely possible.<br />
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But what of the indie comedies? It can be a tough sell, but with proper studio push, anything's possible. First off is <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Melanie Lynskey</span></b>, who has been quietly assembling a long filmography on the sidelines and finally has a leading role in <i>Hello I Must Be Going</i>. The film has some detractors, but she likely has a lot of friends in the industry. (Let me also take this opportunity to say that <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Emayatzy Corinealdi</span> </b>could find a place in the conversation for <i>Middle of Nowhere.</i>) Then there's <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Helen Hunt</span></b>, who hasn't been in the conversation at all since her '97 win in this category. Has her ill will post-Oscar ruined her shot at being nominated for <i>The Sessions</i>, or will John Hawkes's recent cred push her through? Rounding out the comedic ladies, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Barbra Streisand</span> </b>is making another return to the big screen in <i>The Guilt Trip</i> opposite Seth Rogen. A mother-son road trip is a bit untested, save for <i>Transamerica </i>I suppose, but Dan Fogelman has done some great things with <i>Crazy Stupid Love </i>and <i>Tangled</i>, so who knows?<br />
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<b>Prestige Gals - Where the Contenders Are: </b>Now to the serious options. The biggies and the obvious predictable choices. Not that they're bad, necessarily, just that they're clearly the odds-on favorites. Academy favorite <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Amy Adams</span> </b>could have a fourth nomination on her hands for father-daughter sports flick <i>Trouble with the Curve</i>, but voters have been hot and cold with Eastwood lately. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Keira Knightley</span> </b>isn't everyone's favorite in critics' circles, but her muse status under Joe Wright has yielded some cache. Will <i>Anna Karenina </i>pull off a hit, though? <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Laura Linney</span> </b>has shamefully never won, but <i>Hyde Park on Hudson </i>is looking mighty probably for another shot at the gold. Will she command enough presence when sharing the screen with Bill Murray though? With Cannes backing and Haneke's stamp, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Emmanuelle Riva</span> </b>could be a viable option for <i>Amour</i>. But will the Academy do what they do with many European auteurs and recognize direction and writing above acting?<br />
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No one seems to have the respected actor/beautiful movie star combination on point these days like <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Marion Cotillard</span></b>, whose <i>Rust and Bone </i>performance is a definite shot at her first leading nomination since her win in '07. And will <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Carey Mulligan</span> </b>ever find herself in the nomination pool again? She's landed several plum roles since <i>An Education</i>, and what better return route than to star in <i>The Great Gatsby</i>? Sure, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Halle Berry</span> </b>hasn't connected much since <i>Monster's Ball</i>, but with the insane buzz around <i>Cloud Atlas</i>, perhaps she can finally return to the fold of the few and the proud. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Maggie Smith</span> </b>has stayed relevant through the years, but Oscar has eluded her since 2001. Perhaps a seemingly lead role in the opera singer drama <i>Quartet </i>will appeal to voters. I mean, have you seen the trailer? It's pretty clear we'll be hearing its name at least once come nomination morning.<br />
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<b>That's All Well and Good, But Will it Even Release?: </b>In every year there are the crop of serious candidates that have a giant question mark over their heads until the bitter end (See: Glenn Close in <i>Albert Nobbs</i>), but some of these are bound to be released in time. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Kristen Wiig</span> </b>is fresh off of <i>Bridesmaids </i>heat, and the Oscars may see a chance to honor her for acting in <i>Imogene</i>. And if it sees the light of 2012 day, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Dakota Fanning</span> </b>could have her coming-of-age coming out party in costume drama <i>Effie</i>, though a '13 release seems more and more likely. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Nicole Kidman</span> </b>will surely be a contender for biopic <i>My Wild Life</i> whenever it happens to be released, but the animal conservationist drama is taking its sweet time to finish up. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Helen Mirren</span> </b>is always a strong possibility, and <i>The Door</i> could hit if it finds a distributor in time, and <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Rachel McAdams</span> </b>could perhaps break her rom-com mold thanks to fave director Terrence Malick's tutelage in <i>To the Wonder</i> - and that festival scheduling makes a late-2012 release all the more likely.<br />
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So here's where I'm at as of now, in order of likelihood of a nomination:<br />
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(1) Laura Linney, (2) Amy Adams, (3) Marion Cotillard, (4) Maggie Smith, (5) Quvenzhane Wallis<br />
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<b>But what do you think, eh?</b>Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-60862636477536344902012-07-31T15:42:00.000-05:002012-07-31T15:48:05.541-05:00oscars 2012: can I buy a frontrunner?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With the halfway point of the year well past, it's high time I check in with the Oscar world. Though it seems there are only a few slight contenders released thus far in the Best Picture category, the rest of the release schedule could hit or miss, depending on distribution, critical response and overall fallout/reward-reaping. I think the late releases show much more legitimate promise than last year's lineup; then again, legitimate quality isn't always paramount for voters. But complaining about Academy choices isn't the point at all - it's the unyielding fun that comes from predicting those choices. And since that feat has become increasingly easy with the onslaught of precursor awards, it's best to get a jump on it. So let's dive in!<br />
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<b>First-Half Sleepers, Underdogs and Behemoths</b>: Though the Academy looks to the November/December crowd for many of its nominees by February, the accidental connections that kick off the January through June period (although, let's be real - we might as well toss the first two or three months of the year, outside Best Animated Feature) yield the occasional BP nominee. But who to represent that cause for 2012? There are a couple of obvious choices in the arthouse surprise hits (the <i>Midnight in Paris</i>, or to a lesser extent <i>The Kids Are All Right<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">,</span> </i>slot, if you will) in Wes Anderson's <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Moonrise Kingdom</span> </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">and John Madden's </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">The former of the two obviously carries more of the cache thanks to great box office sea legs and general mini-hysteria toward the oddball flick.</span></span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">And then there are the massive blockbusters with the relatively strong reviews that seem to always incite the instant "will it or won't it" attitude about its Oscar prospects. Though there's something to it, the two highest grossing pictures of all time have managed a BP nod, it's a fine line. And that line is </span>The Dark Knight<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">. So the chances for the likes of </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">The Hunger Games</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">, </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">The Avengers</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">, and </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">The Dark Knight Rises</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> are questionable at best, though I see the middle entry on that list having the most legitimate shot at a nomination. There will be plenty of technical nods to be had, to be sure, but could </span>Avengers <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">total 2012 dominance factor into the overall necessity of honoring "the best" by year's end? And though critical reaction to </span>DKR <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">hasn't been nearly as strong as for its predecessor, can it squeak by off of a guilt trip? I'm thinking not quite, but it will depend on the rest of the year's crop.</span></span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Rounding out the early-year releases are the strong festival contenders, namely </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Beasts of the Southern Wild</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">, which seems to have the seemingly best shot of any film thus far released at a BP nomination, and the moderately successful (both critically and financially) fan favorites, </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Magic Mike</span> </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">and </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Brave</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">. The former is a </span>huge <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">overreach, I'm guessing, considering it's stripperfied central focus, but it's tough not to keep it in the conversation considering the cultural impact it seemed to have this year. And though </span>Brave<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> may not be a "fan favorite" it has fervent fans and decent receipts. But will the </span>Cars 2 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">afterglow, or afterdulling as it were, dim its chances of making a top five to 10 of 2012?</span></span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Shoot 'Em Ups and Dress 'Em Ups<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">:</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Trends can play a significant role in Hollywood's ultimate decision, and recent years have taught us the Academy is feeling nostalgic. And not just for its own yesteryears but for royalty yesteryears. <i>The King's Speech </i>and <i>The Artist</i> have taught us some habits are hard to shake. In the same vein, how will the plethora of gun-toting flicks play for voting audiences, which seem to be tentative toward the sub-genre of late (<i>Gangster Squad </i>is officially out of the conversation now...)? The likelihood that we'll see </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Lawless</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Killing Them Softly</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Argo</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> on the final ballot could seem slim at this point, but pedigreed casts and production teams could change all that. My thought is that the first two land more by way of acting or sound categories, while Ben Affleck's latest has strong buzz and more than likely the best shot at a Best Picture chance.</span></span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">The much more likely prospects, arguably the <i>most </i>likely prospects of the whole group, are going to come out of the costume epics and literary adaptations. The two biggies are probably </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Les Miserables</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, which will battle the oft-struggling musical status that has been hit and miss in the past decade, and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Hyde Park on Hudson</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, which in theory should have no trouble racking up a good 10 nods on its way to the eventual win. But a lot depends on momentum. And internal sub-genre competition could come from Joe Wright's </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Anna Karenina</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, Baz Luhrmann's </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">The Great Gatsby</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, and Mike Newell's </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Great Expectations</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. All three scream "bait," but elements of each seem like they could fail them in the end. <i>Karenina </i>and <i>Gatsby </i>give artistically liberal vibes from the trailers, which can put off voters, and <i>Great Expectations</i> hasn't found a surefire release date in the States just yet.</span></span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">And rounding out the costume epics are the Honest Abe biopic </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Lincoln</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, which is the very definition of Oscar bait - multiple honorees in the cast, large-scale time-spanning storytelling, biographical subject and beloved director... and the generic title doesn't hurt. Though, we all know that <i>J. Edgar </i>and <i>The Iron Lady </i>struggled last year, so don't get too hepped up on the Spielberg juice just yet - I have doubts this will deliver when it comes to Oscar. Speaking of high expectations, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey</span> </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> should have no trouble racking up the visual and aural nominations, but the lighter source text may not suit itself to the Best Picture lineup - particularly since voters know there will be three consecutive years of it to partake in. Finally, if royalty and costumes are what they're after, there's always foreign offering </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">A Royal Affair</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, which will struggle with competition in <i>Karenina </i>and <i>Hyde Park</i>, but could find a devoted enough following.</span></span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Director Obsessions, Visual Beauties and the Borderline Date Shifters<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">: Some of the most fanatical entries on the release schedule for the year include those courtesy of critical darling directors who've assembled notable enough casts to create buzz that will likely come to fruition in the fall and holiday seasons. The arguable frontrunner in this category is </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">The Master</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, which is bringing in Oscar favorite Paul Thomas Anderson and relative comeback kid Joaquin Phoenix in what looks to be a harrowing achievement. And courting controversy can often help with more liberal voters. Rounding out the director-lover's crowd are Clint Eastwood (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Trouble with the Curve</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">), David O. Russell (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Silver-Linings Playbook</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">), Michael Haneke (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Amour</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">), Kathryn Bigelow (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Zero Dark Thirty</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">), and Quentin Tarantino (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Django Unchained</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">). It's feasible to think that many of these contenders will end up in the lineup, but Eastwood will have to contend with recent ambivalence toward his work, Russell's film is looking awfully romantic comedy/<i>Jerry Maguire</i> - doesn't seem very on trend these days, and Bigelow could struggle to finish up in time for release.</span></span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Perhaps it'll be time to go for the spectacle. Voters <i>did </i>embrace <i>The Tree of Life </i>and <i>Hugo</i>, so it's feasible that something like </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Cloud Atlas</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">or </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Life of Pi</span> </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">could be a serious threat to reach the final seven... or eight... or nine. Ang Lee's adaptation looks to be an impressive visual effort, and the Wachowskis seem to have gone all out, from the looks of the trippy yet captivating </span>Cloud Atlas <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">trailer. All this could be threatened by a few releases that have found dates just yet but could go either way - 2012 or 2013. Terrence Malick might back-to-back it with </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">To the Wonder</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">, Dustin Hoffman has assembled an awards magnet cast for </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Quartet</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">, and the Coen Brothers must always be taken seriously, thus the inclusion of </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Inside Llewyn Davis</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">.</span></span></i></span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">But what of the final list? At this point, with so many options to choose from, I'm feeling another lineup of nine this time around. Unless lines are clearly drawn between which ones are surefire all-arounds and which ones have smaller followings, I'm guessing the love will be spread again. Here's where I'm at right now, in order of the likelihood they'll be nominated:</span></span></i></span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></i></span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">(1) </span>The Master <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">(2) </span>Life of Pi <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">(3) </span>Hyde Park on Hudson <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">(4) </span>Beasts of the Southern Wild <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">(5) </span>Moonrise Kingdom <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">(6) </span>Lincoln <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">(7) </span>Quartet <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">(8) </span>Argo <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">(9) </span>Amour</span></i></span></i></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Where are you at? Am I missing any major possibilities? And how close do you think the blockbusters will get in the long run? (I'm guessing not nearly as close as the web would have you believe.)</span></b>Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-69876416456990854162012-07-19T19:47:00.000-05:002012-07-19T19:47:58.936-05:00merritt wever, emmy nominee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm LOVing the sound of that. At last! Well done Emmy.</span></div>Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654688.post-35743330747083518192012-07-11T20:16:00.001-05:002012-07-11T20:16:47.647-05:00casting crew: WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">By now, you film buffs out there have likely already heard the news. The delectable, devilish classic <i>What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? </i>is getting the remake treatment. And while I'm generally against touching the classics - this one oddly enough being a childhood favorite of mine - I must say: It's a fun notion to think about which two screen divas could potentially get cast in this. I'm told the director in question is hoping to get "high-pedigree" actresses to fill the shoes of legends Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, and I certainly hope he makes good on it. I also hope that they don't cast some late-30s, early-40s "hot for now" actresses to take on the parts. But who could take on these distinctive roles - the bitter former child star whose penchant for drinking led to her downfall and the now-wheelchair-bound actress sister who becomes Baby Jane's object of torture... hopefully the fates will be kind. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My brother John was quick to insert his ideal casting choice - with Glenn Close in the Bette Davis role and Meryl Streep in the Joan Crawford role, and I'm inclined to agree with him. Then again, half the fun of the original was that the real-life stars hated each other with a passion - too bad everyone's so nice in Hollywood these days... (I kid, of course.) I'd like to step out and nominate Close (is there any more Bette Davis-like personality than Close a la <i>101 Dalmatians </i>and <i>Stepford Wives</i>?), but I'm thinking the Crawford role could be played nicely by Anne Archer... I mean, how much perfection would it be if that infamous parakeet scene was tweaked to involve a certain pet rabbit? <b>What are your thoughts on the matter?</b></span>Lukehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13607763027974538119noreply@blogger.com0