The Nominations Are In! Oscar Edition

Some great surprises and some not-so-surprises this year, including a first nomination for Gary Oldman (finally!) as well as some deserving nominations for Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill, George Clooney, Woody Allen, Terrence Malick, Alexander Payne, Nick Nolte and Rooney Mara. There will be a ton of time for analysis, predictions and snubs, but for now, the full list:

Best Picture

• "The Artist" Thomas Langmann, Producer
• "The Descendants" Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers
• "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" Scott Rudin, Producer
• "The Help" Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, Producers
• "Hugo" Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers
• "Midnight in Paris" Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers
• "Moneyball" Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers
• "The Tree of Life" Nominees to be determined
• "War Horse" Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers

Actor in a Leading Role

• Demián Bichir in "A Better Life"
• George Clooney in "The Descendants"
• Jean Dujardin in "The Artist"
• Gary Oldman in "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"
• Brad Pitt in "Moneyball"

Actor in a Supporting Role

• Kenneth Branagh in "My Week with Marilyn"
• Jonah Hill in "Moneyball"
• Nick Nolte in "Warrior"
• Christopher Plummer in "Beginners"
• Max von Sydow in "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"

Actress in a Leading Role

• Glenn Close in "Albert Nobbs"
• Viola Davis in "The Help"
• Rooney Mara in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
• Meryl Streep in "The Iron Lady"
• Michelle Williams in "My Week with Marilyn"

Actress in a Supporting Role

• Bérénice Bejo in "The Artist"
• Jessica Chastain in "The Help"
• Melissa McCarthy in "Bridesmaids"
• Janet McTeer in "Albert Nobbs"
• Octavia Spencer in "The Help"

Cinematography

• "The Artist" Guillaume Schiffman
• "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" Jeff Cronenweth
• "Hugo" Robert Richardson
• "The Tree of Life" Emmanuel Lubezki
• "War Horse" Janusz Kaminski

Directing

• "The Artist" Michel Hazanavicius
• "The Descendants" Alexander Payne
• "Hugo" Martin Scorsese
• "Midnight in Paris" Woody Allen
• "The Tree of Life" Terrence Malick

Film Editing

• "The Artist" Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius
• "The Descendants" Kevin Tent
• "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
• "Hugo" Thelma Schoonmaker
• "Moneyball" Christopher Tellefsen

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

• "The Descendants" Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
• "Hugo" Screenplay by John Logan
• "The Ides of March" Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
• "Moneyball" Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin Story by Stan Chervin
• "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" Screenplay by Bridget O'Connor & Peter Straughan

Writing (Original Screenplay)

• "The Artist" Written by Michel Hazanavicius
• "Bridesmaids" Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
• "Margin Call" Written by J.C. Chandor
• "Midnight in Paris" Written by Woody Allen
• "A Separation" Written by Asghar Farhadi

See you on February 26, 2012.

Awards Season: Golden Globe Noms Released

The Golden Globe nominations can be weird sometimes due to the fact that they split up movie awards into comedy/musical and drama and also because of the way they combine supporting awards on TV...and also because they are voted on by the foreign press. Sometimes the nominees can make you go..huh? Like this year with Breaking Bad not getting a nomination for Best TV Drama.

But while they aren't perfect, the Globes are still a good barometer to see what will come with the Academy Award nominations. This years nominees are pretty great, especially in the Best Actor - Drama category for film:

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Georege Clooney, "The Descendants"
Leonardo DiCaprio, "J. Edgar"
Michael Fassbender, "Shame"
Ryan Gosling, "The Ides of March"
Brad Pitt, "Moneyball"

The rest of the movie nominees:

Best Motion Picture - Drama

"The Descendants"
"The Help"
"Hugo"
"The Ides of March"
"Moneyball"
"War Horse"

Best Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical

"50/50"
"The Artist"
"Bridesmaids"
"Midnight in Paris"
"My Week with Marilyn"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Glenn Close, "Albert Nobbs"
Viola Davis, "The Help"
Rooney Mara, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady"
Tilda Swinton, "We Need To Talk About Kevin"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical

Jodi Foster, "Carnage"
Charlize Theron, "Young Adult"
Kristen Wiig, "Bridesmaids"
Michelle Williams, "My Week with Marilyn"
Kate Winslet, "Carnage"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical

Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"
Joseph Gordon Levitt, "50/50"
Ryan Gosling, "Crazy Stupid Love"
Brendan Gleeson, "The Guard"
Owen Wilson, "Midnight in Paris"

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Berenice Bejo, "The Artist"
Jessica Chastain, "The Help"
Janet McTeer, "Albert Nobbs"
Octavia Spencer, "The Help"
Shailene Woodley, "The Descendants"

Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Kenneth Branagh, "My Week with Marilyn"
Albert Brooks, "Drive"
Jonah Hill, "Moneyball"
Viggo Mortensen, "A Dangerous Method"
Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"

Best Director - Motion Picture

Woody Allen, "Midnight in Paris"
George Clooney, "The Ides of March"
Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"
Alexander Payne, "The Descendants"
Martin Scorsese, "Hugo"

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

"Midnight in Paris"
"The Ides of March"
"The Artist"
"The Descendants"
"Moneyball"

And the TV nominees:

Best Television Series - Drama

"American Horror Story"
"Boardwalk Empire"
"Boss"
"Game of Thrones"
"Homeland"

Best Television Series - Comedy Or Musical

"Enlightened"
"Episodes"
"Glee"
"Modern Family"
"New Girl"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama

Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Kelsey Grammer, "Boss"
Jeremy Irons, "The Borgias"
Damian Lewis, "Homeland"

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama

Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Mireille Enos, "The Killing"
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
Madeline Stowe, "Revenge"
Callie Thorne, "Necessary Roughness"

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Comedy Or Musical

Laura Dern, "Enlightened"

Zooey Deschanel, "The New Girl"

Tina Fey, "30 Rock"

Laura Linney, "The Big C"

Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Comedy Or Musical

Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"

David Duchovny, "Californication"

Johnny Galecki, "The Big Bang Theory"

Thomas Jane, "Hung"

Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television

"Cinema Verite"

"Downton Abbey"

"The Hour"

"Mildred Pierce"

"Too Big to Fail"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Romola Garai, "The Hour"
Diane Lane, "Cinema Verite"
Elizabeth McGovern, "Downton Abbey"
Emily Watson, "Appropriate Adult"
Kate Winslet, "Mildred Pierce"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey"
Idris Elba, "Luther"
William Hurt, "Too Big To Fail"
Bill Nighy, "Page Eight"
Dominic West, "The Hour"

The 69th Golden Globes will be held on Sunday, Jan. 15.

Awards Season: SAG Nominations Released

The SAG awards were released on Wednesday morning and there are some surprises among this years crop.

Best ensemble cast
The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
The Help
Midnight in Paris

Interesting fact: "No film has won Best Picture without a SAG nomination in 15 years.." Should make the rest of the awards season very interesting.

Best actor
Demián Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Best actress
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

Best supporting actor
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Armie Hammer, J. Edgar
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Best supporting actress
Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help

TELEVISION

Best ensemble cast in a comedy
30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
Glee
Modern Family
The Office

Best ensemble cast in a drama
Boardwalk Empire
Breaking Bad
Dexter
Game of Thrones
The Good Wife

Best actress in a comedy
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Betty White, Hot in Cleveland

Best actor in a comedy
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Steve Carell, The Office
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

Best actress in a drama
Kathy Bates, Harry's Law
Glenn Close, Damages
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Best actor in a drama
Patrick J. Adams, Suits
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter

The awards will air on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012 on TNT.

AFI Awards: Cold Winter Gives Way to Awards Season Heat

It’s getting to that time of year again when the Top Tens start filtering out and many Academy Awards dreams start to become realized or shattered. Not all lists or awards are equal in weight, but there are many out there that are considered to be a cut above all the rest, and one of those is the AFI Awards.

This year the AFI top ten list for film offers a wide range of genres:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
The Help
Hugo
J. Edgar
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse

Absent from the list are films like The Artist, Shame and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, which don’t qualify for the awards because they are not an American production. Sidenote, both The Artist and the entire Harry Potter series will receive special awards at the ceremony.

The AFI list usually does a decent job at predicting the nominees and winners of Best Picture, but since some films aren’t eligible to be nominated, it changes things a bit. The top tens have been released by the AFI since 2000 and only three times has the Best Picture winner not been among the top ten.

The first one was in 2006 when The Departed won Best Picture and the second time was in 2008 when Slumdog Millionaire won Best Picture. Slumdog, however, was not eligible for the AFI Awards considering it was a British film and the same goes for The King's Speech last year, although it did win a special award.

AFI's Top Ten American TV shows for this year is an extremely stacked list:

Breaking Bad
Boardwalk Empire
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Game of Thrones
The Good Wife
Homeland
Justified
Louie
Modern Family
Parks and Recreation

Hard to have a beef with any one of these choices. While I’ve never seen The Good Wife, I hear enough to know it deserves to be here and as for the rest, I’ve seen every episode of each from this past year and while there are a lot of good choices not on the list, it's hard to have much beef with those nine.

The AFI Awards will be held on January 13, 2012.

TV: 'Dead,' 'Boardwalk,' 'Justified' Land WGA Noms

The Writers Guild of America usually does a good job at predicting what TV series will garner major awards love come next years big ceremonies, and this time around is no different.

HBO's "Boardwalk Empire", FX's "Justified" and AMC's "The Walking Dead", are among the nominees for Best New Series, with TNT's "Men of a Certain Age" and another HBO series, "Treme" filling out the category.

The new series category is always a favorite of mine, and this year I think it really showcases some truly great series that hopefully will stick around for years to come. "Boardwalk" ended its first season on a high note and it already is gearing up for season two. "The Walking Dead" gained popularity like wildfire and I can only imagine what they'll do when they have 13 episodes up from just 6 in the first year.

But out of all the shows nominated I am most happy to see "Justified" score here because I feel it was one of the best and most underrated shows of the entire season. Timothy Olyphant's acting was superb, but even more so was the writing, which was sharp with humor and very intelligently crafted.

"Boardwalk" also scored a Best Drama nomination along with established shows such as "Breaking Bad", "Friday Night Lights", "Dexter", and "Mad Men". This category is extremely strong from the top down, with five shows that could easily take the award with no arguments from me. I say "Mad Men" is the front runner, although "Breaking Bad" had arguably its strongest season yet this past year.

On the comedy side, this year's Emmy newcomers, Fox's "Glee" and ABC's "Modern Family" made the list along with Showtime's "Nurse Jackie", and NBC's "30 Rock" and "The Office". While I absolutely love "Modern Family" and have great respect for all of the other shows nominated, no series does a better job when it comes to writing than "The Office", so I'm hoping they pull out with the award.

While the winners of the awards aren't always a perfect prediction on who will be victorious at next year's Emmy's, the WGA always seems to get their nominations right. I was hard pressed to find series that were undeserving of their nominations.

The awards will be handed out Feb. 5 at the 2011 Writers Guild Awards. The full awards list can be found at the link.

"Inglourious Basterds," "A Single Man" & "The Road" Ineligible For WGA Awards

It’s awards season, so this story is newsworthy although it isn’t much of a big deal.

It was revealed this week that "Inglourious Basterds,"written by Quentin Tarantino, "A Single Man," written by Tom Ford and "The Road," written by Joe Penhall, are ineligible in the WGA awards race, leaving the field a bit more wide open.

According to the Playlist: The reasoning behind the decision is quite simple: none of these guys are members of the WGA. But apparently, you can still be nominated for a WGA award even if you're not a member as long as the film has to be made according to the protocols in the guild's Minimum Basic Agreement. The Weinsteins were already aware of this fact and didn't even bother sending screeners to members of the guild.

Even though this isn’t any type of Earth-shattering news, as a writer and a fan of writing, I always look forward to the Writer’s Guild Awards.

All three films seemed to have screenplay’s that could possibly win this award, but instead they will just have to wait and see if any of them scores an Academy Award nomination. Although they don’t qualify for the WGA awards, they are all in contention to be nominated for Oscars.

The WGA nominations will be announced on Monday.

'The Hurt Locker' Wins National Society of Film Critics Best Picture

“The Hurt Locker” just continues to rack up awards this season. Kathryn Bigelow’s Iraq war drama swept the National Society of Film Critics awards this week, winning Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.

Written by Mark Boal, “The Hurt Locker” is the story of a bomb squad during the Iraq War and the life-threatening bomb-diffusion missions they take on. The margin of error is zero, and the soldiers talk of explosions as sending you to "the hurt locker."

“The Hurt Locker" already has won a slew of awards, including Best Pictgure by the New York Film Critics Circle, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Boston Society of Film Critics, Gotham Awards and other groups as well.

Okay, so “The Hurt Locker” won some more awards, but what does this mean for its Oscar chances?

Although the National Society of Film Critics is an influential group, they often stray from the more traditional films that end up as big winners at the Academy Awards. They have a reputation for choosing artsy and foreign films over big box office hits. The group also hands out their awards a little differently than everyone else. Instead of an awards ceremony, members vote at Sardi's restaurant in New York and send scrolls to winners instead of statuettes. Sardi's also is best known for the Broadway crowd.

But winning Best Picture from the National Society of Critics isn’t always the path to Oscar glory.

According to the Web site Cinematical: “Going back to 1999, seven of the last 11 films that they have named as Film of the Year have failed to even get a nomination. Only four times since there existence in 1967 have the group matched their choice with the eventual Oscar winner. Their first came in 1977 with "Annie Hall" with their most recent in 2004 with "Million Dollar Baby." They saw back-to-back victories in 1992-93 with "Unforgiven" and "Schindler's List.”

On the other hand, the site says things should look brighter for Bigelow and Renner. “Six of the NSFC's last 10 choices for Director went onto nominations and nine of their last 10 Actors have done the same. The better news for Mr. Renner is that their last five choices (and six of the last seven) have WON the Oscar.”

Obviously, only time will tell when it comes to Oscar nominations for “The Hurt Locker,” but it seems to be critic’s consensus for the best film of the year. I myself saw the film--fortunately it was playing in ONE theater in the New York City area way back in August (two months after it’s initial release) and it is just as good as the critics have said.

The Academy Award nominations will be announced Tuesday, February 2, 2010.

Producers' Guild Gives Sci-Fi A Chance at an Oscar

For fans hoping that 2009’s science- fiction blockbusters will score Oscar success in 2010, the Producer’s Guild of America just gave them a boost. The Guild announced that among its 10 nominees for Producer of the Year are "Avatar," "District 9" and "Star Trek."

The other seven nominees joining the sci-fi trio are "An Education," "The Hurt Locker," " Inglourious Basterds," "Invictus," "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," "Up" and "Up in the Air."

This year, the PGA has followed in the footsteps of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' decision to expand the best-film nomination list from five to 10 movies.

The PGA's Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year film award can be a reliable barometer for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Last year's PGA winner, "Slumdog Millionaire," went on to capture Oscar's top prize. In fact, 13 PGA winners over the last two decades have gone on to win the Academy Award for best picture.

Although the nominations are a step in the right direction for the aforementioned science-fiction films, Cinematical says that “over the last decade, the PGA is only sporting a 69% success rate with its nominees.” They also added that just 36 of the last 52 Producer's Guild nominees were in contention for the big prize and only twice in their history did they produce an exact match (1993 & 1994).

Notable movies that failed to make the cut include female-driven pictures "Julie & Julia" and "It's Complicated," the musical "Nine" and specialty films like "A Serious Man," "A Single Man" and "Crazy Heart."

I’m thrilled that the three science-fiction films were nominated. In my opinion, “Star Trek” and “District 9” were two of the best films of the year and I’m happy that they finally are getting some awards love. Even if neither of them wins the award, their chances at scoring an Oscar nomination just got a little better.

The awards will be handed out January 24, 2010 during a ceremony at the Hollywood Palladium.