Review: "SING 2" is Full of Feel-Good Magic

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 21 of 2022 (No. 1833) by Leroy Douresseaux

Sing 2 (2021)
Running time:  110 minutes (1 hour, 50 minutes)
MPA – PG for some rude material and mild peril/violence
WRITER/DIRECTOR:  Garth Jennings
PRODUCERS:  Janet Healy and Chris Meledandri
EDITOR:  Gregory Perler
COMPOSER:  Joby Talbot

ANIMATION/FANTASY/MUSICAL AND FAMILY/COMEDY

Starring:  (voices) Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton, Tori Kelly, Nick Kroll, Jennifer Saunders, Garth Jennings, Chelsea Peretti, Bobby Cannavale, Nick Offerman, Adam Buxton, Eric Andre, Halsey, Letitia Wright, Bono, Pharrell Williams, Julia Davis, Peter Serafinowicz, and Wes Anderson and Spike Jonze

Sing 2 is a 2021 computer-animated, jukebox musical comedy film written and directed by Garth Jennings and produced by Illumination Entertainment.  It is a sequel to the 2016 animated film, Sing.  In Sing 2, the Moon Theater crew must persuade a media mogul and a reclusive rock star to believe in their new show.

Sing 2 opens some time after the events depicted in Sing.  Buster Moon the koala (Matthew McConaughey) and the rebuilt “Moon Theater” are thriving.  His latest goal is to impress Suki (Chelsea Peretti), a talent scout from Crystal Entertainment in Redshore City, but Suki is definitely not impressed with the stars of the theater.  So Buster leads his troupe:  Rosita (Reese Witherspoon), a housewife and mother of 25 piglets; Gunter (Nick Kroll), the exuberant pig performer who wants to dance as much as he wants to sing; Ash (Scarlett Johansson), the punk-rock porcupine and singer; Johnny (Taron Egerton), the teenage gorilla singer, and Meena (Tori Kelly), the shy teenage elephant singer, to their destiny in Redshore.

Once there, they infiltrate Crystal Tower Theater in order to get an audience with Jimmy Crystal (Bobby Cannavale), a white wolf and media mogul, but Crystal brushes them off.  Desperate, Buster starts making promises to Crystal.  The first is that he and his troupe can stage a massive space-themed musical, “Out of This World.”  Secondly, Buster says that he can get reclusive rock legend, Clay Calloway (Bono), to be part of his show.

The problem is that Calloway has not been seen in over fifteen years since his wife died.  Buster sends his secretary, Miss Crawly (Garth Jennings), to find him.  After Miss Crawly fails spectacularly, Buster's show is in trouble and his life is on the line with Jimmy Crystal.  Is there anyway or anyone that can save “Out of This World?”

I recently watched the original film, Sing, for the first time.  I found that all the obstacles that Buster and his troupe face in the original were all over the place and overkill, and I did not think that Matthew McConaughey's voice performance amounted to much.  McConaughey is better in Sing 2, but not great.  The conflict and obstacles that Buster and the Moon Theater troupe face are singularly focused or directly related to putting on their sci-fi show, “Out of This World.”

In Sing 2, I find the returning characters to be likable or more likable, perhaps, because I am now more familiar with then.  There are also some excellent new characters.  I hope Letitia Wright's Nooshy, a lynx and a street dancer who teaches Johnny to dance, returns if there is another film in the series.  Porsha Crystal (Halsey), Jimmy's daughter, actually grows as a character in the film.  Bobby Cannavale has a fine old time with his performance as Jimmy Crystal, and noted film director, Spike Jonze, is excellent as Jerry the cat, Jimmy's loyal and groveling assistant.  As Clay Calloway, Bono (of the legendary rock band, U2) doesn't sound like Bono, and his performance is mostly flat.

The film's big musical finale, the actual performance of “Out of This World,” is sweet and lovely, although it is a little over the top.  It is an excellent show-stopper, and serves as a nice send off for Buster Moon and his troupe – on to better things.  I hope that there is a third film in the series.  Watching the endearing Sing 2 reminded me of why I really love watching animated films, especially computer-animated films.  They are the warm cup of cocoa in my life as a movie lover.

7 of 10
A-

Saturday, April 9, 2022


NOTES:
2022 Image Awards (NAACP):  1 win: “Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance-Motion Picture” (Letitia Wright); 2 nominations: “Outstanding Animated Motion Picture” (Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance-Motion Picture” (Eric André)


The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Spike Joins is the Latest Executive Producer on the Film, "Nine Days"

Spike Jonze Joins Sony Pictures Classics’ Nine Days As Executive Producer

Film To Be Released In Theaters Early 2021

NEW YORK – Sony Pictures Classics announced that Spike Jonze has joined as Executive Producer of Edson Oda's NINE DAYS and the film will be released in theaters early 2021. Additionally, Sony Pictures Classics has also acquired the rights in Asia, Israel, Turkey and the rest of Europe, making it a worldwide Sony Pictures Classics release. The film will next be seen in the Hamptons Film Festival and AFI, among others.

NINE DAYS, which stars Winston Duke, Zazie Beetz, Benedict Wong, Bill Skarsgård, Tony Hale, David Rysdahl, and Arianna Ortiz follows a reclusive man, Will (Duke), who is conducting a series of interviews with human souls for a chance to be born. Five contenders emerge, and during the course of nine days, Will tests each of them, but he can choose only one. The victor will be rewarded with a coveted opportunity to become a newborn in the real world, while the others will cease to exist.

The official trailer for the film is now available here.

“Edson is a special human with a special mind and heart. And NINE DAYS is a film that comes straight from within him and therefore is special in the exact same way. Delicate and deep, like the man himself,” said Jonze.

“Spike Jonze has been one of the biggest influences in my life as a filmmaker. His work – which made me see pictures in motion with new eyes—inspired me to pursue this career, and constantly encourages me to tell my own stories in the most human, personal and heartful way I can,” said Oda. “I am so honored and humbled to have him involved with NINE DAYS, it really means the world to me.”

Warner Classics has come onboard to release the film’s soundtrack with Antonio Pinto’s (CITY OF GOD, SENNA) wonderful score.

“Warner Classics is delighted to publish the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack for the film NINE DAYS beautifully scored by the talented Antonio Pinto. Not only is the music of Pinto great and inspiring, but it is a key element in the film narration. Long after having viewed the film, the audience will keep Pinto’s music in their minds and hearts as a trace of their unique experience."

The film is a co-production between Juniper Productions, Mandalay Pictures, Nowhere, MACRO Media and The Space Program, in association with Mansa Productions, Oak Street Pictures, 30WEST, Baked Studios and Datari Turner Productions. The project is produced by Jason Michael Berman of Mandalay Pictures, Mette-Marie Kongsved and Laura Tunstall of Nowhere, Matthew Lindner of Juniper Productions and Datari Turner. Executive producers are Charles D. King, Kim Roth, Gus Deardoff, Kellon Akeem, Spike Jonze, Yandy Smith, Renée Frigo, Beth Hubbard, Trevor Groth, Winston Duke, Caroline Connor, Will Raynor, Mark C. Stevens, Mark G. Mathis, Kwesi Collisson, Larry Weinberg, George A. Loucas, Michelle Craig and Piero Frescobaldi.


ABOUT SONY PICTURES CLASSICS:
Michael Barker and Tom Bernard serve as co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics—an autonomous division of Sony Pictures Entertainment they founded with Marcie Bloom in January 1992—which distributes, produces, and acquires independent films from around the world. Barker and Bernard have released prestigious films that have won 39 Academy Awards® (35 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 175 Academy Award® nominations (149 at Sony Pictures Classics) including Best Picture nominations for CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, WHIPLASH, AMOUR, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, AN EDUCATION, CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, AND CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT:
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. SPE’s Motion Picture Group production organizations include Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, 3000 Pictures, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, and Sony Pictures Classics. For additional information, visit http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html.    

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Review: I Can't Help But Love "HER"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 40 (of 2014) by Leroy Douresseaux

Her (2013)
Running time:  126 minutes (2 hours, 6 minutes)
MPAA – R for language, sexual content and brief graphic nudity
WRITER/DIRECTOR:  Spike Jonze
PRODUCERS:  Megan Ellison, Spike Jonze, and Vincent Landay
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Hoyte Van Hoytema (D.o.P.)
EDITORS:  Jeff Buchanan and Eric Zumbrunnen
COMPOSER:  Will Butler and Owen Pallett
MUSIC:  Arcade Fire
Academy Award winner

SCI-FI/DRAMA/ROMANCE

Starring:  Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson (voice), Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Chris Pratt, Matt Letscher, Olivia Wilde, Gracie Prewitt, Laura Kai Chen, and Brian Cox (voice)

Her is a 2013 romantic drama and science fiction film from writer-director Spike Jonze.  The film focus on a lonely writer who develops an unlikely relationship with the new operating system he bought for his computer and hand-held device.

Her is set in an indeterminate near-future and focuses on Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), a lonely, introverted man.  Theodore works for BeautifulHandwrittenLetters.com, a business that writes heartfelt, intimate, and deeply personal letters for people who cannot write such letters.  Theodore is struggling with an impending divorce from his wife, Catherine Klausen (Rooney Mara), who was his childhood sweetheart.

To help get his life in order, Theodore buys a new operating system (OS) from Element Software.  This OS is an artificially intelligent operating system that is designed to adapt and evolve.  Taking on the persona of a human female, the OS names itself “Samantha” (Scarlett Johansson).  [Of note: actress Samantha Morton originally provided the voice of the OS, before Jonze replaced her, with her consent.]  Her ability to learn and to grow psychologically fascinates Theodore.  Samantha and Theodore bond over discussions about love and life, and Samantha is constantly available and is designed to meet his every need.  She is always curious about Theodore and is interested in him and his life; she is supportive and does not make demands... at least for a while.  Theodore is in love with her, but, as she changes, can Theodore sustain this relationship?

Her is one of the best movies of 2013, and, after watching it, I can certainly see why some thought it was the best picture of 2013.  I think what Her does best is to evoke feelings in the viewer; it is as if director Spike Jonze wants viewers to feel his movie.  I did.

There is a lot that goes into making a special movie, and several people made this movie one of the best.  In Her,  Joaquin Phoenix does not give one of his best or most adventurous performances, but his subtle and nuanced take on a puppy-love struck, lonely man is endearing.  He carries this picture, as well as the viewers' expectations, so his performance is so good that even if it isn't his best, it is still better than most by other actors.

The film's score by Will Butler and Owen Pallett is oddly compelling and queerly futuristic without feeling too far-flung.  The score was apparently performed by the Grammy-winning band, Arcade Fire, of which Butler is a member.  Hoyte Van Hoytema's gorgeous cinematography is curiously in sync with the score, and it also seems like it belongs to another day.  In fact, the art direction and set decoration helps to maintain that almost futuristic, edge-of-tomorrow vibe.

The foundation of Her is Spike Jonze's screenplay, which earned him an Academy Award.  It is deeply romantic, heartfelt, and sentimental; it is like a romance novel without melodrama and schmaltz.  The writing is thoughtful and provocative, one of the best examples of a screenplay that takes on science fiction without being taken over by sci-fi genre trappings.

I often wonder if science fiction is still relevant; some of it seemed clueless about the lives that many people lived in the late 20th century.  I don't know how much science fiction can address pertinent issues in the early 21st century, but I know one science fiction film that did.  I think that by plot, by the issues it tackles, and by what it depicts, Her is relevant now and will be in the future.  With Her, Spike Jonze does not do science fiction prediction.  Instead, he addresses the unchanging aspects of humanity as it grapples with a changing world and evolving environment.  What a way to bring new life to the love story.

9 of 10
A+

Wednesday, September 3, 2014


NOTES:
 2014 Academy Awards, USA:  1 win: “Best Writing, Original Screenplay” (Spike Jonze); 4 nominations: “Best Motion Picture of the Year (Megan Ellison, Spike Jonze, and Vincent Landay), “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score” (Will Butler and Owen Pallett), “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song” (Karen O-music and lyrics and Spike Jonze-lyrics for "The Moon Song"), and “Best Achievement in Production Design) “K.K. Barrett-production design and Gene Serdena-set decoration)

2014 Golden Globes, USA:  1 win “Best Screenplay - Motion Picture” (Spike Jonze); 2 nominations: “Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical” and “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy” (Joaquin Phoenix)

The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

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"12 Years a Slave" Wins 2014 Oscar as "Best Picture of 2013"

Best motion picture of the year:

 “12 Years a Slave”
Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Steve McQueen and Anthony Katagas, Producers WINNER

Nominees:

“American Hustle”
Charles Roven, Richard Suckle, Megan Ellison and Jonathan Gordon, Producers

“Captain Phillips”
Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca, Producers

“Dallas Buyers Club”
Robbie Brenner and Rachel Winter, Producers

“Gravity”
Alfonso Cuarón and David Heyman, Producers

“Her”
Megan Ellison, Spike Jonze and Vincent Landay, Producers

“Nebraska”
Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa, Producers

“Philomena”
Gabrielle Tana, Steve Coogan and Tracey Seaward, Producers

“The Wolf of Wall Street”
Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joey McFarland and Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Producers

"Her" Wins 2014 "Best Original Screenplay" Oscar

Original screenplay:

 “Her” Written by Spike Jonze WINNER

Nominees:
“American Hustle” Written by Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell
“Blue Jasmine” Written by Woody Allen
“Dallas Buyers Club” Written by Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack
“Nebraska” Written by Bob Nelson

"Let It Go" from "Frozen" Wins 2014 "Best Song" Oscar

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song):

 “Let It Go” from “Frozen”
Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez WINNER

Nominees:
“Happy” from “Despicable Me 2”
Music and Lyric by Pharrell Williams

“The Moon Song” from “Her”
Music by Karen O; Lyric by Karen O and Spike Jonze

“Ordinary Love” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”
Music by Paul Hewson, Dave Evans, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen (also known as the rock band U2); Lyric by Paul Hewson (also known as Bono)

"12 Years a Slave" Dominates St. Louis Film Critics Awards

The St. Louis Film Critics is an association of professional film critics operating in metropolitan St. Louis and adjoining areas of Missouri and Illinois.  Founded in late 2004, the group’s goals (according to the website) are to serve the interests of local film critics, and to promote an appreciation for cinema both as an art form and for its societal, cultural and historical context and impact.

The eligibility requirements for a SLFC Award, according to the group’s website:  a film must have been shown in the greater St. Louis area in a theater or at a film festival or series, or made available to SLFC members by screening or screener during the past year. Films opening in limited run elsewhere for Oscar qualification but which will open in the St. Louis area early in the next year are eligible.

2013 SLFC Awards:

Best Film: "12 Years a Slave"
(Runner-up: "American Hustle")

Best Director: Steve McQueen, "12 Years a Slave"
(Runner-up: Alfonso Cuarón, "Gravity")

Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor, "12 Years a Slave"
(Runner-up: Matthew McConaughey, "Dallas Buyers Club")

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, "Blue Jasmine"
(Runner-up: Meryl Streep, "August: Osage County")

Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto, "Dallas Buyers Club"
(Runner-up: Will Forte, "Nebraska")

Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong'o, "12 Years a Slave"
(Runner-up: June Squibb, "Nebraska")

Best Adapted Screenplay: "12 Years a Slave"
(Runner-up: "Philomena")

Best Original Screenplay: "Her"
(Runner-up: "American Hustle")

Best Art Direction: "The Great Gatsby"
(Runner-up: "Her")

Best Cinematography: "12 Years a Slave"
(Runner-up: "Gravity")

Best Musical Score: "Her"
(Runners-up: "Gravity," "Nebraska")

Best Soundtrack: "Inside Llewyn Davis"
(Runner-up: "Frozen")

Best Animated Film: "Frozen"
(Runner-up: "The Wind Rises")

Best Non-English Language Film: "Blue is the Warmest Color"
(Runner-up: "Wadjda")

Best Documentary: "Blackfish"
(Runners-up: "The Act of Killing," "Stories We Tell")

Best Art House or Festival Film: "Short Term 12"
(Runners-up: "Blue is the Warmest Color," "Frances Ha")

Best Comedy: (tie) "Enough Said" and "The World's End"

Best Scene (favorite movie scene or sequence): "12 Years a Slave" — The hanging scene
(Runner-up: "Gravity" — The opening tracking shot)

www.stlfilmcritics.org

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Oklahoma Film Critics Love "Her" as Best of 2013

The Oklahoma Film Critics Circle (OFCC) is the statewide group of professional film critics.  OFCC members are Oklahoma-based movie critics who write for print, broadcast and online outlets that publish or post reviews of current film releases.

The OFCC announced its 8th annual awards list in early January of 2014.

The OFCC 2013 Film Awards:

Best Film: "Her"

Top 10 Films:
“Her”
“American Hustle”
“12 Years a Slave
“Gravity”
“Inside Llewyn Davis”
“Captain Philips”
“The Wolf of Wall Street”
“All Is Lost”
“Dallas Buyers Club”
“Prisoners”

Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron, “Gravity”

Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor, “12 Years a Slave”

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”

Best Animated Film: “Frozen”

Best Body of Work: Matthew McConaughey (“Dallas Buyers Club,” “Mud,” “The Wolf of Wall Street”)

Best Documentary: “The Act of Killing”

Best First Feature: “Fruitvale Station," Ryan Coogler

Best Foreign Language Film: “The Hunt”

Best Guilty Pleasure: “Iron Man 3”

Not-So-Obviously Worst Movie: “August: Osage County”

Obviously Worst Movie: “Grown Ups 2”

Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze, "Her"

Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley, "12 Years a Slave”

Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”

Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, “American Hustle”

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"Gravity" Lifts 2013 Central Ohio Film Critics Awards

The Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA) was founded in 2002 and is made up of film critics based in Columbus, Ohio, and the surrounding areas.  Its membership currently consists of more than 25 print, radio, television, and new media critics.  Each January, COFCA votes on a number of awards, recognizing excellence in the film industry.

The 12th Annual Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards, honoring the best in film for 2013, were announced on January 2, 2014.

2013 Central Ohio Film Critics Awards:

Best Film 
   1. Gravity
   2. Her
   3. American Hustle
   4. Frances Ha
   5. The Wolf of Wall Street
   6. 12 Years a Slave
   7. Inside Llewyn Davis
   8. Before Midnight
   9. Upstream Color
  10. Nebraska

Best Director 
  • Alfonso Cuarón - (Gravity)
  • Runner-Up: Spike Jonze - (Her)

Best Actor
  • Chiwetel Ejiofor - (12 Years a Slave)
  • Runner-Up: Matthew McConaughey - (Dallas Buyers Club)

Best Actress
  • Adèle Exarchopoulos - (Blue is the Warmest Color (La vie d’Adèle))
  • Runner-Up: Brie Larson - (Short Term 12)

Best Supporting Actor
  • James Franco - (Spring Breakers)
  • Runner-Up: Jared Leto - (Dallas Buyers Club)

Best Supporting Actress
  • Jennifer Lawrence - (American Hustle)
  • Runner-Up: Lupita Nyong’o - (12 Years a Slave)

Best Ensemble
  • American Hustle
  • Runner-Up: The Wolf of Wall Street

Actor of the Year (for an exemplary body of work):
  • Matthew McConaughey - (Dallas Buyers Club, Mud, and The Wolf of Wall Street)
  • Runner-Up: Jennifer Lawrence - (American Hustle and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)

Breakthrough Film Artist
  • Adèle Exarchopoulos - (Blue is the Warmest Color (La vie d’Adèle)) - (for acting)
  • Runner-Up: Brie Larson - (Don Jon, Short Term 12, and The Spectacular Now) - (for acting)

Best Cinematography
  • Emmanuel Lubezki - (Gravity)
  • Runner-Up: Hoyte Van Hoytema - (Her)

Best Adapted Screenplay
  • Terence Winter - (The Wolf of Wall Street)
  • Runner-Up: John Ridley - (12 Years a Slave)

Best Original Screenplay
  • Spike Jonze - (Her)
  • Runner-Up: Destin Daniel Cretton - (Short Term 12)

Best Score
  • Arcade Fire - (Her)
  • Runner-Up: Steven Price - (Gravity)

Best Documentary
  • The Act of Killing
  • Runner-Up: Stories We Tell

Best Foreign Language Film
  • The Wind Rises (Kaze tachinu)
  • Runner-Up: Blue is the Warmest Color (La vie d’Adèle)

Best Animated Film
  • The Wind Rises (Kaze tachinu)
  • Runner-Up: Frozen

Best Overlooked Film
  • Short Term 12
  • Runner-Up: Mud

http://www.cofca.org/

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Karen O at the Oscars to Perform "The Moon Song"

Karen O To Perform "The Moon Song" On The Oscars®

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Singer-songwriter Karen O will, for the first time, perform the Oscar®-nominated original song “The Moon Song” for a global television audience on the Oscars®, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today. The Oscars, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, will air on Sunday, March 2, live on ABC.

“The Moon Song,” with music by Karen O and lyric by Karen O and Spike Jonze, was written for the film “Her,” directed by Jonze. The three other nominated songs are “Happy” from “Despicable Me 2,” “Let It Go” from “Frozen” and “Ordinary Love” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.”

Karen O is the lead singer of the band Yeah Yeah Yeahs, which has released four albums, three of which have been nominated for Grammy Awards®. She previously co-wrote original songs for the soundtrack of Jonze’s 2009 film “Where the Wild Things Are,” receiving a Grammy nomination for the featured song “All Is Love.” Karen O has performed on numerous other soundtracks, including those for “Frankenweenie” “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and “I’m Not There”.

Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, March 2, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscars, produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

"Her" and "Captain Phillips" Win at 2014 Writers Guild Awards

by Leroy Douresseaux

The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) honored outstanding achievement in writing during the year 2013 with the 2014 Writers Guild Awards.  The winners of the 2014 Writers Guild Awards were announced on Saturday, February 1, 2014, during simultaneous ceremonies held in both Los Angeles and New York.

A complete list of 2014 Writers Guild Award nominees and winners can be found here: http://www.wga.org/wga-awards/nominees-winners.aspx.

The 2014 Writers Guild Award winners (for the year in film and TV 2013):

SCREEN WINNERS

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
Her, Written by Spike Jonze; Warner Bros. - WINNER

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
Captain Phillips, Screenplay by Billy Ray; Based on the book A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea by Richard Phillips with Stephan Talty; Columbia Pictures - WINNER

DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY:
Stories We Tell, Written by Sarah Polley; Roadside Attractions - WINNER

TV-NEW MEDIA-RADIO WINNERS

DRAMA SERIES
Breaking Bad, Written by Sam Catlin, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Gennifer Hutchison, George Mastras, Thomas Schnauz, Moira Walley-Beckett; AMC - WINNER

COMEDY SERIES:
"Veep," Written by Simon Blackwell, Roger Drew, Sean Gray, Armando Iannucci, Ian Martin, Georgia Pritchett, David Quantick, Tony Roche, Will Smith; HBO - WINNER

NEW SERIES:
"House of Cards," Written by Kate Barnow, Rick Cleveland, Sam Forman, Gina Gionfriddo, Keith Huff, Sarah Treem, Beau Willimon; Netflix - WINNER

EPISODIC DRAMA:
“Confessions” (Breaking Bad), Written by Gennifer Hutchison; AMC - WINNER

EPISODIC COMEDY:
“Hogcock!” (30 Rock), Written by Jack Burditt & Robert Carlock; NBC - WINNER

LONG FORM – ADAPTED:
Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight, Written by Shawn Slovo, Based on the book by Howard Bingham and Max Wallace; HBO - WINNER

SHORT FORM NEW MEDIA – ORIGINAL:
“Episode 4: The Collected Sylvia” (Sylvia Plath: Girl Detective), Written by Mike Simses; sylviaplathgirldetective.com - WINNER

ANIMATION:
“A Test Before Trying” (The Simpsons), Written by Joel H. Cohen; Fox - WINNER

COMEDY / VARIETY (INCLUDING TALK) – SERIES:
"The Colbert Report," Writers: Stephen Colbert, Tom Purcell, Michael Brumm, Nate Charny, Rich Dahm, Paul Dinello, Eric Drysdale, Rob Dubbin, Glenn Eichler, Gabe Gronli, Dan Guterman, Barry Julien, Jay Katsir, Frank Lesser, Opus Moreschi, Bobby Mort, Meredith Scardino, Max Werner; Comedy Central - WINNER

COMEDY / VARIETY – MUSIC, AWARDS, TRIBUTES – SPECIALS:
"Blake Shelton’s Not So Family Christmas," Head Writers: Jay Martel, Ian Roberts; Writers: Alex Rubens, Charlie Sanders; NBC - WINNER

QUIZ AND AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION:
"Jeopardy!", Written by John Duarte, Harry Friedman, Mark Gaberman, Debbie Griffin, Michele Loud, Robert McClenaghan, Jim Rhine, Steve D. Tamerius, Billy Wisse; ABC - WINNER

DAYTIME DRAMA:
"Days of Our Lives," Written by Lorraine Broderick, David Cherrill, Carolyn Culliton, Richard Culliton, Rick Draughon, Christopher Dunn, Janet Iacobuzio, David A. Levinson, Ryan Quan, Dave Ryan, Melissa Salmons, Christopher J. Whitesell; NBC - WINNER

CHILDREN'S – EPISODIC & SPECIALS:
“influANTces” (A.N.T. Farm), Written by Vincent Brown; Disney Channel - WINNER

DOCUMENTARY – CURRENT EVENTS:
“Egypt in Crisis” (Frontline), Written by Marcela Gaviria & Martin Smith; PBS - WINNER

DOCUMENTARY – OTHER THAN CURRENT EVENTS: (TIE)
“The Choice 2012” (Frontline), Written by Michael Kirk; PBS - WINNER - TIE

“Silicon Valley” (American Experience), Telescript by Randall MacLowry and Michelle Ferrari; Story by Randall MacLowry; PBS - WINNER - TIE

NEWS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED, BULLETIN, OR BREAKING REPORT:
“Tragedy at Newtown” Special Edition (ABC World News with Diane Sawyer), Written by Lisa Ferri and Matt Negrin; ABC - WINNER

NEWS – ANALYSIS, FEATURE, OR COMMENTARY:
“Lethal Medicine” (60 Minutes), Written by Michael Rey, Oriana Zill de Granados, Michael Radutzky; CBS – WINNER

RADIO WINNERS

DOCUMENTARY:
“2012 Year in Review,” Written by Gail Lee; CBS Radio News - WINNER

NEWS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED OR BREAKING REPORT:
“Afternoon Drive,” Written by Bill Spadaro; CBS Radio/1010 WINS - WINNER

NEWS – ANALYSIS, FEATURE OR COMMENTARY:
“Remembering C. Everett Koop,” Written by Scott Saloway; CBS Radio News - WINNER

PROMOTIONAL WRITING AND GRAPHIC ANIMATION NOMINEES
ON-AIR PROMOTION (TELEVISION, NEW MEDIA OR RADIO):
“The Crazy Ones – Building a Better Comedy,” Written by Erial Tompkins; CBS - WINNER

TELEVISION GRAPHIC ART AND ANIMATION:
CBS News Animations: “Brain Injury,” “Pills,” “Bionic Leg,” “Midland Parade,” “Concordia Salvage;” Animation by David Rosen; CBS News - WINNER

(*WGA Note: There were no nominees in Long Form – Original, Short Form New Media – Adapted, or Children’s – Long Form or Special awards categories this year.)

VIDEOGAME WINNER:
The Last of Us, Written by Neil Druckmann; Sony Computer Entertainment - WINNER


-----------------

Indiana Film Journalists Choose "12 Years a Slave" as 2013's Best

by Amos Semien

Last year, the Indiana Film Journalist Association surprised many when they picked Safety Not Guaranteed as the "Best Film" of 2012.  This time, they went with the familiar and named 12 Years a Slave as the "Best Film" of 2013.  The film's director, Steve McQueen, also earned "Best Director" honors.

The Indiana Film Journalist Association (IFJA) is a film critics’ organization only formed in recent years.  It seeks to promote film criticism in the state of Indiana and also gives out its annual awards in December.

The full list of 2013 Indiana Film Journalist Association Awards:

Best Film: "12 Years a Slave"
(Runner-up: "Her")

Other Finalists (alphabetical)
"All is Lost"
"Before Midnight"
"Captain Phillips"
"Frances Ha"
"Mud"
"Prisoners"
"Spring Breakers"
"The Wolf of Wall Street"

Best Director: Steve McQueen, "12 Years a Slave"
(Runner-up: Spike Jonze, "Her")

Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor, "12 Years a Slave"
(Runner-up: Matthew McConaughey, "Dallas Buyers Club")

Best Actress: Adèle Exarchopoulos, "Blue is the Warmest Color"
(Runner-up: Brie Larson, "Short Term 12")

Best Supporting Actor: Barkhad Abdi, "Captain Phillips"
(Runner-up: Jeremy Renner, "American Hustle")

Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, "American Hustle"
(Runner-up: June Squibb, "Nebraska")

Best Adapted Screenplay: "Before Midnight"
(Runner-up: "12 Years a Slave")

Best Original Screenplay: "Her"
(Runner-up: "Rush")

Best Musical Score: "12 Years a Slave"
(Runner-up: "Rush")

Best Animated Feature: "Frozen"
(Runner-up: "The Wind Rises")

Best Foreign Language Film: "Blue is the Warmest Color"
(Runner-up: "The Grandmaster")

Best Documentary: "The Act of Killing"
(Runner-up: "Stories We Tell")

Original Vision Award: "Her"
(Runner-up: "Gravity")

The Hoosier Award: Andrew Cohn and Davy Rothbart, "Medora"

----------------------------------------------------

Toronto Film Critics Choose "Inside Llewyn Davis" and "Watermark"

by Amos Semien

The Toronto Film Critics Association (TFCA) was established in 1997 and is comprised of Toronto based journalists and broadcasters who specialize in film criticism and commentary.  All major dailies, weeklies and a variety of other print and electronic outlets are represented.

The Toronto Film Critics Association announced the 2013 TFCA Awards back on Monday, December 16, 2013.  Inside Llewyn Davis won two top prizes in 2013 awards of the Toronto Film Critics Association.  Joel and Ethan Coen’s tale of a folk singer making his way through Greenwich Village, 1961, won “Best Picture” and “Best Actor” (Oscar Isaac).

The 2013 TFCA Awards were presented at a gala dinner at Toronto’s Carlu on Tuesday, January 7, 2014, hosted by Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of the Toronto International Film Festival.  At the dinner, the documentary, Watermark, was revealed as the winner of the Rogers Best Canadian Film Award, which carries a record-setting $100,000 cash prize, the richest arts award in the country.  The awards was presented to the Watermark’s director’s, Jennifer Baichwal and Edward Burtynsky.  The runners-up will each receive $5,000.

Under the TFCA’s guidelines, contenders eligible for the 2013 awards include films released in Canada in 2013 plus films that qualify for the 2013 Oscars and have Canadian distribution scheduled by the end of February 2014.

The full list of 2013Toronto Film Critics Association Awards winners and runners-up:

BEST PICTURE: “Inside Llewyn Davis” (Mongrel Media)

Runners-up:
“Her” (Warner Bros.)
“12 Years a Slave” (Fox Searchlight)

BEST ACTOR: Oscar Isaac, “Inside Llewyn Davis”

Runners-up
Chiwetel Ejiofor, “12 Years a Slave”
Matthew McConaughey, “Dallas Buyers Club”

BEST ACTRESS: Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”

Runners-up
Julie Delpy, “Before Midnight”
Greta Gerwig, “Frances Ha”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”

Runners-up
Michael Fassbender, “12 Years a Slave”
James Franco, “Spring Breakers”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Jennifer Lawrence, “American Hustle”

Runners-up
Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave”
June Squibb, “Nebraska”

BEST DIRECTOR: Alfonso Cuarón, “Gravity”

Runners-up
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, “Inside Llewyn Davis”
Steve McQueen, “12 Years a Slave”

BEST SCREENPLAY, ADAPTED OR ORIGINAL: Spike Jonze, “Her”

Runners-up
Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke & Julie Delpy, “Before Midnight”
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, “Inside Llewyn Davis”

BEST FIRST FEATURE: “Neighboring Sounds”, directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho

Runners-up
“Fruitvale Station”, directed by Ryan Coogler
“In a World …”, directed by Lake Bell

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: “The Wind Rises” (Touchstone Pictures)

Runners-up
“The Croods” (20th Century Fox)
“Frozen” (Walt Disney Pictures)

BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM:  “A Touch of Sin” (Films We Like)

Runners-up
“Blue Is the Warmest Color” (Mongrel Media)
 “The Hunt” (Mongrel Media)

BMO ALLAN KING DOCUMENTARY AWARD: “The Act of Killing” (Films We Like)

Runners-up
“Leviathan” (Films We Like)
“Tim’s Vermeer” (Mongrel Media)

ROGERS BEST CANADIAN FILM AWARD FINALISTS
“Watermark” (Mongrel Media) – WINNER - $100,000 przie

Runners-up ($5,000 to each):
“The Dirties” (Phase 4 Films)
“Gabrielle” (Entertainment One)

www.torontofilmcritics.com

--------------------------------

2014 Writers Guild Award Nominations - Feature Film Categories

by Amos Semien

On Friday, January 3, 2014, the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) announced nominations for outstanding achievement in writing during the year 2013 – the 2014 Writers Guild Awards.  The winners will be honored at the 2014 Writers Guild Awards on Saturday, February 1, 2014, during simultaneous ceremonies held in both Los Angeles and New York.

The Writers Guild of America is a labor union representing film, television, radio, video game, and new media writers.  The Writers Guild of America Award acknowledges outstanding achievements in film, television, and radio and has been presented annually by the Writers Guild of America, East and Writers Guild of America, West since 1949.

A complete list of 2014 Writers Guild Award nominations can be found here: http://www.wga.org/wga-awards/nominees-winners.aspx.

SCREEN NOMINEES:

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
American Hustle, Written by Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell; Columbia Pictures

Blue Jasmine, Written by Woody Allen; Sony Pictures Classics

Dallas Buyers Club, Written by Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack; Focus Features

Her, Written by Spike Jonze; Warner Bros.

Nebraska, Written by Bob Nelson; Paramount Pictures

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
August: Osage County, Screenplay by Tracy Letts; Based on his play; The Weinstein Company

Before Midnight, Written by Richard Linklater & Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke; Based on characters created by Richard Linklater & Kim Krizan; Sony Classics

Captain Phillips, Screenplay by Billy Ray; Based on the book A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea by Richard Phillips with Stephan Talty; Columbia Pictures

Lone Survivor, Written by Peter Berg; Based on the book by Marcus Lutrell with Patrick Robinson; Universal Pictures

The Wolf of Wall Street, Screenplay by Terence Winter; Based on the book by Jordan Belfort; Paramount Pictures

DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY
Dirty Wars, Written by Jeremy Scahill & David Riker; Sundance Selects

Herblock – The Black & The White, Written by Sara Lukinson & Michael Stevens; The Stevens Company

No Place on Earth, Written by Janet Tobias & Paul Laikin; Magnolia Pictures

Stories We Tell, Written by Sarah Polley; Roadside Attractions

We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks; Written by Alex Gibney; Focus Features

END

"12 Years a Slave" Captures Las Vegas Film Critics Society

by Amos Semien

The Las Vegas Film Critics Society (LVFCS) awarded director Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave as the "Best Picture" of 2013.  McQueen also earned the "Best Director" prize.  John Goodman received the William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award.

The LVFCS is a non-profit organization that describes itself as “progressive” and “dedicated to the advancement and preservation of film.”  The LVFCS membership is comprised of “select” print, television and internet film critics in the Las Vegas area. The LVFCS presents its "Sierra" awards each year for the best in film, including The William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award, which is named for the late Academy Award winning actor.

2013 Sierra Award winners:

Best Picture
“12 Years a Slave”

Best Actor
Matthew McConaughey, “Dallas Buyers Club”

Best Actress
Emma Thompson, “Saving Mr. Banks”

Best Supporting Actor
Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”

Best Supporting Actress
Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave”

Best Director
Steve McQueen, “12 Years a Slave”

Best Screenplay
Spike Jonze, “Her”

Best Cinematography
Emmanuel Lubezki, “Gravity”

Best Film Editing
Alfonso Cuaron & Mark Sanger, “Gravity”

Best Costume Design
Patricia Norris, “12 Years a Slave”

Best Art Direction
Andy Nicholson, “Gravity”

Best Visual Effects
“Gravity”

Best Foreign Film
“Blue is the Warmest Color”

Best Documentary
“Blackfish”

Best Animated Film
“Frozen”

Best Family Film
“Saving Mr. Banks”

Best Horror/Sci-Fi Film
“Pacific Rim”

Best Comedy Film
“This is the End”

Best Action Film
“Lone Survivor”

Best Score
Hans Zimmer, “12 Years a Slave”

Best Song
“Please Mr. Kennedy,” – “Inside Llewyn Davis”

Youth in Film
Tye Sheridan, “Mud”

Best DVD (Packaging, Design and Content):
“Breaking Bad – The Complete Series” (Blu-Ray)

LVFCS Top 10 Films of 2013
1.     12 Years a Slave
2.     Dallas Buyers Club
3.     Gravity
4.     The Wolf of Wall Street
5.     American Hustle
6.     Inside Llewyn Davis
7.     Saving Mr. Banks
8.     Nebraska
9.     Her
10.   Lone Survivor


William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award:  John Goodman

http://www.lvfcs.org/lvfcs/Home.html

END

Kansas City Film Critics Choose "12 Years a Slave" 2013's Best Film

by Amos Semien

The Kansas City Film Critics Circle named director Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave the "Best Film" of 2013.  McQueen shared the "Robert Altman Award for Best Director" with Alfonso Cuaron (for the film Gravity).  Cuaron has been a favorite of many critics groups this year.

Founded in 1967, The Kansas City Film Critics Circle (KCFCC) says that it is the "second oldest professional film critics" association in the United States" (behind the New York Film Critics Circle).  The organization is composed of media film critics in the Kansas City metropolitan area.  The KCFCC’s awards are named for the group’s founder, James Loutzenhiser, who died in November 2001.

On Sunday, December 15th, 2013, the Kansas City Film Critics Circle announced the winners of its 47th annual awards.

2013 Loutzenhiser Awards:

Best Film: 12 Years a Slave

Robert Altman Award for Best Director – Tie: Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity & Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave

Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave

Best Actress: Sandra Bullock, Gravity

Best Supporting Actor: Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave

Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave

Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze, Her

Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave

Best Animated Film – Tie: Despicable Me 2 & Frozen

Best Foreign Film: Blue Is the Warmest Color (France)

Best Documentary: The Act of Killing

Vince Koehler Award for Best Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror Film: Her

http://www.kcfcc.org/

END

Austin Film Critics Dance with "Her" as 2013's Best Film

by Amos Semien

The Austin Film Critics Association named Spike Jonze's Her as the "Best Film" of 2013, one of three wins for the film.  12 Years a Slave also received three honors from the group and finished second on the group's top ten films of 2013 list.

The Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) describes itself as “a group dedicated to supporting the best in film, whether at the international, national, or local level.”  The group includes Austin-based members who write for such publications, television media, and websites as Ain't It Cool News, the Austin American-Statesman, the Austin Chronicle, CNN, Fandango, Film.com, Film School Rejects, Fox News, MSN Movies, Movies.com, among others.

2012 AFCA Awards:

Best Film: Her (Spike Jonze)

Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity

Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave

Best Actress: Brie Larson, Short Term 12

Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave

Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze, Her

Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave

Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, Gravity

Best Score: Arcade Fire, Her

Best Foreign Language Film: Blue is the Warmest Color (Abdellatif Kechiche)

Best Documentary: The Act of Killing (Joshua Oppenheimer)

Best Animated Film: Frozen (Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee)

Best First Film: Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler)

Breakthrough Artist: Brie Larson, Short Term 12

Best Austin Film: Before Midnight (Richard Linklater)

Special Honorary Award: Scarlett Johansson, for her outstanding voice performance in Her

AFCA 2013 Top Ten Films:

1. Her
2. 12 Years a Slave
3. Gravity
4. The Wolf of Wall Street
5. Inside Llewyn Davis
6. Short Term 12
7. Mud
8. Before Midnight
9. Dallas Buyers Club
10. Captain Phillips

END

Detroit Film Critics Choose "Her" as "Best Film" of 2013

by Amos Semien

The Detroit Film Critics Society was founded in Spring 2007 and currently consists of a group of 20 Michigan film critics (as December 2013) who write or broadcast in the Detroit area as well as other major cities within a 150-mile radius of the city including Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Flint, Michigan.

American Hustle and Short Term 12 led the pack with five nominations apiece for the 2013 Detroit Film Critics Society Awards, in nominations announced December 9. 2013.  However, when the winners were announced Friday, December 13, 2013, Spike Jonze’s Her was named “Best Film.”

The Best of 2013 as picked by the Detroit Film Critics Society:

BEST FILM
WINNER: Her
Before Midnight
Gravity
Short Term 12
12 Years a Slave

BEST DIRECTOR
WINNER: Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips
Spike Jonze, Her
David O. Russell, American Hustle
Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street

BEST ACTOR
WINNER: Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips
Robert Redford, All Is Lost

BEST ACTRESS
WINNER: Brie Larson, Short Term 12
Amy Adams, American Hustle
Julie Delpy, Before Midnight
Adele Exarchopoulos, Blue is the Warmest Color
Meryl Streep, August: Osage County

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
WINNER: Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
James Franco, Spring Breakers
Matthew McConaughey, Mud
Stanley Tucci, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
WINNER: Scarlett Johansson, Her
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
June Squibb, Nebraska

BEST ENSEMBLE
WINNER: American Hustle
August: Osage County
Blue Jasmine
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street

BREAKTHROUGH
WINNER: Brie Larson, Short Term 12 (actress)
Lake Bell, In a World (actress, screenplay, director)
Ryan Coogler, Fruitvale Station (screenplay, director)
Destin Cretton, Short Term 12 (screenplay, director)
Michael B. Jordan, Fruitvale Station (actor)

BEST SCREENPLAY
WINNER: Spike Jonze, Her
Destin Cretton, Short Term 12
Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, and Ethan Hawke, Before Midnight
Eric Singer and David O. Russell, American Hustle
Terence Winter, The Wolf of Wall Street

BEST DOCUMENTARY
WINNER: Stories We Tell
The Act of Killing
Blackfish
The Square
The Unknown Known

http://detroitfilmcritics.com/

END

"12 Years a Slave" Leads Chicago Film Critics Awards Nominations

by Amos Semien

The Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA) is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization that hands out the Chicago Film Critics Awards, hold critics roundtables, and takes on industry and artists’ rights issues. The parent association was founded in 1990 by film critic Sue Kiner after the successful launch of the Chicago Film Critics Awards in 1989.

The nominations for the 2013 Chicago Film Critics Awards were recently announced.  Director Steven McQueen's 12 Years a Slave led all contenders for the group’s annual awards with a stunning 11 nominations. The highly acclaimed drama is a harrowing adaptation of the memoir of a free black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the pre-Civil War era Deep South.  Tying for second place with seven nominations each are the films, Gravity and Her.

The Chicago Film Critics Association will announce its winners in a ceremony to be held on the evening of Monday, December 16, 2013.

2013 Chicago Film Critics Awards nominees:

BEST PICTURE
12 Years A Slave
American Hustle
Gravity
Her
Inside Llewyn Davis

BEST DIRECTOR
Joel & Ethan Coen--Inside Llewyn Davis
Alfonso Cuaron--Gravity
Spike Jonze--Her
Steve McQueen--12 Years A Slave
David O. Russell--American Hustle

BEST ACTOR
Bruce Dern--Nebraska
Chiwetel Ejiofor--12 Years A Slave
Oscar Isaac--Inside Llewyn Davis
Matthew McConaughey--Dallas Buyers Club
Robert Redford--All Is Lost

BEST ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett--Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock--Gravity
Adele Exarchopoulos--Blue is the Warmest Color
Brie Larson--Short Term 12
Meryl Streep--August: Osage County

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Barkhad Abdi--Captain Phillips
Michael Fassbender--12 Years A Slave
James Franco--Spring Breakers
James Gandolfini--Enough Said
Jared Leto--Dallas Buyers Club

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Scarlett Johansson--Her
Jennifer Lawrence--American Hustle
Lupita Nyong'o--12 Years A Slave
Lea Seydoux--Blue is the Warmest Color
June Squibb--Nebraska

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
American Hustle--Eric SInger & David O. Russell
Blue Jasmine--Woody Allen
Her--Spike Jonze
Inside Llewyn Davis--Joel & Ethan Coen
Nebraska--Bob Nelson

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
12 Years A Slave--John Ridley
August: Osage County--Tracey Letts
Before Midnight--Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke
Philomena--Steve Coogan & Jeff Pope
The Wolf of Wall Street--Terrence Winter

BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
The Act of Killing
Blue is the Warmest Color
The Hunt
Wadjda
The Wind Rises

BEST DOCUMENTARY
20 Feet from Stardom
The Act of Killing
The Armstrong Lie
Blackfish
Stories We Tell

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
The Croods
From Up on Poppy Hill
Frozen
Monsters University
The Wind Rises

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
12 Years A Slave--Sean Bobbitt
Gravity--Emmanuel Lubezki
Her--Hoyte Van Hoytema
Inside Llewyn Davis--Bruno Delbonnel
Prisoners--Roger Deakins

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
12 Years A Slave--Hans Zimmer
Blancanieves--Alfonso de Vilallongo
Gravity--Steven Price
Her--Arcade Fire
Spring Breakers--Cliff Martinez and Skrillex

BEST ART DIRECTION/PRODUCTION DESIGN
12 Years A Slave
Gravity
The Great Gatsby
Her
Inside Llewyn Davis

BEST EDITING
12 Years A Slave--Joe Walker
American Hustle--Alan Baumgarten, Jay Cassidy & Crispin Struthers
Gravity--Alfonso Cuaron & Mark Sanger
Upstream Color--Shane Carruth & David Lowery
The Wolf of Wall Street--Thelma Schoonmaker

MOST PROMISING FILMMAKER
Lake Bell--In A World
Ryan Coogler--Fruitvale Station
Destin Cretton--Short Term 12
Joseph Gordon-Levitt--Don Jon
Joshua Oppenheimer--The Act of Killing

MOST PROMISING PERFORMER
Barkhad Abdi--Captain Phillips
Chadwick Boseman--42
Adele Exarchopoulos--Blue is the Warmest Color
Lupita Nyong'o--12 Years A Slave
Tye Sheridan--Mud

http://www.chicagofilmcritics.org/

END

San Diego Film Critics Choose "Her"

by Amos Semien

After announcing their nominations yesterday (Tuesday, December 10, 2013), the San Diego Film Critics Society announced the winners in their round up of the "Top Films of 2013."  Spike Jonze's Her was named "Best Film" of 2013, one of three awards for the film.

The members of the San Diego Film Critics Society write and/or broadcast for a San Diego County based outlet.  The society’s mission statement is “to provide diverse critical opinion about movies, advance film education and awareness, and recognize excellence in cinema.”

San Diego Film Critics Society Top Films of 2013 Winners and nominees:

BEST FILM:
12 YEARS A SLAVE
GRAVITY
HER - WINNER
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
SHORT TERM 12

BEST DIRECTOR 
Alfonso Cuarón, GRAVITY - WINNER
Destin Cretton, SHORT TERM 12
Joel and Ethan Coen, INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
Spike Jonze, HER
Steve McQueen, 12 YEARS A SLAVE

BEST ACTRESS 
Adèle Exarchopoulos, BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR
Brie Larson, SHORT TERM 12
Cate Blanchett, BLUE JASMINE - WINNER
Emma Thompson, SAVING MR. BANKS
Sandra Bullock, GRAVITY

BEST ACTOR 
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 YEARS A SLAVE
Joaquin Phoenix, HER
Matthew McConaughey, DALLAS BUYERS CLUB
Oscar Isaac, INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS - WINNER
Tom Hanks, CAPTAIN PHILLIPS

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS 
Elizabeth Banks, THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE
Jennifer Lawrence, AMERICAN HUSTLE
Lupita Nyong’o, 12 YEARS A SLAVE
Sally Hawkins, BLUE JASMINE
Shailene Woodley, THE SPECTACTULAR NOW - WINNER

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR 
Daniel Bruhl, RUSH
James Gandolfini, ENOUGH SAID
Jared Leto, DALLAS BUYERS CLUB - WINNER
Michael Fassbender, 12 YEARS A SLAVE
Sam Rockwell, THE WAY, WAY BACK

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY 
Aaron Guzikowski, PRISONERS
Joel and Ethan Coen, INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
Nicole Holofcener, ENOUGH SAID
Spike Jonze, HER - WINNER
Woody Allen, BLUE JASMINE

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY 
Billy Ray, CAPTAIN PHILLIPS
Destin Cretton, SHORT TERM 12
John Ridley, 12 YEARS A SLAVE
Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke, BEFORE MIDNIGHT - WINNER
Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, THE SPECTACULAR NOW

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM 
BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR
DRUG WAR - WINNER
NO
THE BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN
THE HUNT

BEST DOCUMENTARY 
20 FEET FROM STARDOM
BLACKFISH
LET THE FIRE BURN
STORIES WE TELL
THE ACT OF KILLING - WINNER

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY 
Bruno Delbonnel, INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
Emmanuel Lubezki, GRAVITY
Emmanuel Lubezki, TO THE WONDER - WINNER
Roger Deakins, PRISONERS
Simon Duggan, THE GREAT GATSBY

BEST ANIMATED FILM 
DESPICABLE ME 2
FROZEN
GET A HORSE
THE CROODS
THE WIND RISES - WINNER

BEST EDITING 
Alan Edward Ball, THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE
Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger, GRAVITY
Christopher Rouse, CAPTAIN PHILLIPS - WINNER
Eric Zumbrunnen, Jeff Buchanan, HER
Joe Walker, 12 YEARS A SLAVE

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN 
Adam Stockhausen, 12 YEARS A SLAVE
Andy Nicholson, GRAVITY
Catherine Martin and Karen Murphy, THE GREAT GATSBY - WINNER
K.K. Barrett, HER
Michael Corenblith, SAVING MR. BANKS

BEST SCORE 
Arcade Fire, HER - WINNER
Bjorn Eriksson, BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN
Hans Zimmer, 12 YEARS A SLAVE
Hans Zimmer, RUSH
Steven Price, GRAVITY

BEST ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
12 YEARS A SLAVE
AMERICAN HUSTLE - WINNER
PRISONERS
SHORT TERM 12
THE WAY, WAY BACK

KYLE COUNTS AWARD: Destin Cretton


http://www.sdfcs.org/

END