10 Movies Still Fighting for Five 2012 Visual Effects Oscar Nominations

10 Contenders Remain in VFX Oscar® Race

Beverly Hills, CA (January 4, 2012) – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 10 films remain in the running in the Visual Effects category for the 84th Academy Awards®.

The films are listed below in alphabetical order:

"Captain America: The First Avenger"

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2"

"Hugo"

"Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol"

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides"

"Real Steel"

"Rise of the Planet of the Apes"

"Transformers: Dark of the Moon"

"The Tree of Life"

"X-Men: First Class"

All members of the Visual Effects Branch will be invited to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the 10 shortlisted films on Thursday, January 19. Following the screenings, the members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar consideration.

The 84th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Tuesday, January 24, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

Art Directors Guild Announces Nominations; Harry Potter Honored

The Art Directors Guild (ADG) is an American labor union and also a branch of the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees (IATSE) that represents motion picture and television professionals. Among the ADG’s sponsored activities are a film society and the Annual ADG Awards.

The ADG has announced the nominations for their 16th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards. The ceremony announcing winners will take place Saturday, February 4, 2012 at the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Paula Poundstone will serve as host for the third consecutive year.

16th Annual (2012) Excellence in Production Design Awards nominations:

Period Film:
THE ARTIST Production Designer: Laurence Bennett
HUGO Production Designer: Dante Ferretti
THE HELP Production Designer: Mark Ricker
ANONYMOUS Production Designer: Sebastian Krawinkel
TINKER TAYLOR SOLDIER SPY Production Designer: Maria Djurkovic

Fantasy Film
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2 Production Designer: Stuart Craig
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER Production Designer: Rick Heinrichs
THE ADVENTURES OF TIN TIN: THE SECRET UNICORN Production Designer: TBD
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES Production Designer: John Myhre
COWBOYS & ALIENS Production Designer: Scott Chambliss

Contemporary Film
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO Production Designer: Donald Graham Burt
THE DESCENDANTS Production Designer: Jane Anne Stewart
EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE Production Designer: K.K. Barrett
DRIVE Production Designer: Beth Mickle
BRIDESMAIDS Production Designer: Jefferson Sage

In addition, the guild will

• present a lifetime achievement award to Tony Walton

• induct Robert Boyle, William Darling and Alfred Junge into its hall of fame

This year's Art Directors Guild Cinematic Imagery Award will be presented to the principal team behind the Harry Potter films, including producers David Heyman and David Barron; director David Yates; creator and author J.K. Rowling; screenwriter Steve Kloves; production designer Stuart Craig; art director Neil Lamont; and set decorator Stephenie McMillan.

Art Directors Guild Award Nominations: Television Categories

2012 ADG AWARDS: NOMINEES FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRODUCTION DESIGN IN TELEVISION:

One-Hour Single Camera Television Series
"Boardwalk Empire" (Episode: 21) Production Designer: Bill Groom
"Game of Thrones" (Episode: A Golden Crown) Production Designer: Gemma Jackson
"American Horror Story" (Episode: Murder House) Production Designer: Mark Worthington
"The Playboy Club" (Episode: The Scarlet Bunny) Production Designer: Scott P. Murphy
"Pan Am" (Episode: Pilot) Production Designer: Bob Shaw

Television Movie or Miniseries
"Mildred Pierce" Production Designer: Mark Friedberg
"Cinema Verite" Production Designer: Patti Podesta
"Too Big to Fail" Production Designer: Bob Shaw
"The Hour" Production Designer: Eve Stewart
"Bling Ring" Production Designer: Robb Wilson King

Episode of a Half Hour Single-Camera Television Series
"Modern Family" (Episode: Express Christmas) Production Designer: Richard Berg
"30 Rock" (Episode: Double-Edged Sword) Production Designers: Keith Ian Raywood and Teresa Mastropierro
"Weeds" (Episode: Game-Played) Production Designer: Joseph P. Lucky
"Californication" (Episode: Monkey Business) Production Designer: Michael Wylie
"New Girl" (Episode: Pilot) Production Designer: Jefferson D. Sage

Episode of a Multi-Camera, Variety, or Unscripted Series
"Saturday NIght Live" (Episode: host Justin Timberlake) Production Designers: Keith Ian Raywood, Eugene Lee, Leo Yoshimura, N. Joseph De Tullio
"How I Met Your Mother" (Episode: Ducky Tie) Production Designer: Stephan Olson
"2 Broke Girls" (Episode: And The Rich People's Problems) Production Designer: Glenda Rovello
"Americal Idol" (Episode: Top 12 Boys Perform) Production Designer: James Yarnell
"Dancing With the Stars" (Episode: Round One) Production Designer: James Yarnell

Awards, Music, or Game Shows
83rd Annual Academy Awards Production Designer: Steve Bass
68th Annual Golden Globes Production Designer: Brian Stonestreet
2011 MTV Video Music Awards Production Designer: Florian Wieder
63rd Annual Emmy Awards Production Designer: Steve Bass
"It's Worth What?" (Best Buds) Production Designer: John Ivo Gilles

Commercials and Music Videos:
"Activision: Call of Duty" (Episode: Modern Warfare 3) Production Designer: Neil Spisak
"Victoria's Secret" (Episode: Red) Production Designer: Jeffrey Beecroft
"Audi A8" (Episode: The Art of Progress) Production Designer: Marcos Lutyens
"Chevy Volt" (Episode: Discovery) Production Designer: Jeremy Reed
"Jim Beam" (Episode: Parallels ) Production Designer: Christopher Glass

BAFTA Fellowship Goes to Martin Scorsese

Martin Scorsese To Be Honoured With BAFTA Fellowship


On Sunday 12 February 2012, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts will present Martin Scorsese with the Academy Fellowship at the Orange British Academy Film Awards ceremony, at London’s Royal Opera House.

Awarded annually by BAFTA, the Fellowship is the highest accolade bestowed upon an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film. Previously honoured Fellows include Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Sean Connery, Elizabeth Taylor, Stanley Kubrick, Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Olivier, Judi Dench and Vanessa Redgrave. Christopher Lee received the Fellowship at the Film Awards last February.

Tim Corrie, Chairman of BAFTA, said: “Martin Scorsese is a legend in his lifetime; a true inspiration to all young directors the world over. We are delighted to honour his contribution to cinema history and look forward to paying tribute to him in London on 12 February.”

Martin Scorsese added: “It is a great honour to be recognized by the British Academy and to join the ranks of such an esteemed group of industry colleagues and friends.”

With a celebrated career now spanning six decades, Martin Scorsese is one of the most influential filmmakers in cinema history. The acclaimed director, producer and screenwriter has been nominated by BAFTA no fewer than nine times, garnering three wins in 1991 for Goodfellas. A cinematic master, his works also include Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Casino, Gangs of New York, The Aviator and The Departed. He has continued to delight critics and audiences alike with his most recent work, Hugo, a film that not only marks the director’s first foray into 3D but is also his first adventure film for all the family. Scorsese has also made a number of ground-breaking documentaries including celebrated music films No Direction Home: Bob Dylan, Shine a Light and George Harrison: Living in the Material World.

Demonstrating his passion for film preservation, Scorsese is the founder and chair of two non-profit organizations dedicated to the preservation and protection of motion picture history: The Film Foundation and the World Cinema Foundation.

In December 2010, Scorsese was the subject of a ‘BAFTA A Life in Pictures’ event , where he shared personal insights into his career and his craft and gave invaluable advice to newcomers to the industry. These videos are now available to view on www.bafta.org/guru .

The nominations for the Orange British Academy Film Awards will be announced on Tuesday 17 January. The ceremony, broadcast by the BBC in the UK, will be held on 12 February and hosted by Stephen Fry.


About BAFTA
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is an independent charity that supports, develops and promotes the art forms of the moving image by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public. In addition to its Awards ceremonies, BAFTA has a year-round Learning & Events programme that offers unique access to some of the world’s most inspiring talent through workshops, masterclasses, lectures and mentoring schemes, connecting with audiences of all ages and backgrounds across the UK, Los Angeles and New York. BAFTA relies on income from membership subscriptions, individual donations, trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships to support its ongoing outreach work. For further information, visit http://www.bafta.org/ or www.bafta.org/guru.

Florida Film Critics Name "The Descendants" The Best Pic of 2011

The Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) was founded in 1996 is comprised of 20 writers from state publications.

Complete list of 2011 winners:

Best Picture: The Descendants

Actor: Michael Fassbender, Shame

Actress: Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn

Supporting Actor: Albert Brooks, Drive

Supporting Actress: Shailene Woodley, The Descendants

Director: Martin Scorsese, Hugo

Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, The Descendants

Original Screenplay: Michael Hazanavicius, The Artist

Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, The Tree of Life

Visual Effects: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Art Direction/Production Design: Dante Ferretti, Hugo

Foreign Language: The Skin I Live In

Animated: The Adventures of Tintin

Documentary: Project Nim

Breakout: Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene

Note: The FFCC did not hand out the "Golden Orange" award this year.

Online Film Critics Society Choose "The Tree of Life" as 2011's Best

The full list of winners of the (2011) 15th Annual Online Film Critics Society Awards:

Best Picture: The Tree of Life

Best Animated Feature: Rango

Best Director: Terrence Malick - The Tree of Life

Best Lead Actor: Michael Fassbender - Shame

Best Lead Actress: Tilda Swinton - We Need to Talk About Kevin

Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer - Beginners

Best Supporting Actress: Jessica Chastain - The Tree of Life

Best Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris

Best Adapted Screenplay: Tinker Tailor Solider Spy

Best Editing: The Tree of Life

Best Cinematography: The Tree of Life

Best Film Not in the English Language: A Separation

Best Documentary: Cave of Forgotten Dreams

Special Awards (previously announced):

• To Jessica Chastain, the breakout performer of the year

• To Martin Scorsese in honor of his work and dedication to the pursuit of film preservation

For more information, visit the Online Film Critics Society at ofcs.org.

Review: "Apocalypto" was One of 2006's Best Films

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 250 (of 2006) by Leroy Douresseaux

Apocalypto (2006)
COUNTRY OF ORGIN: USA; Language: Maya
Running time: 139 minutes (2 hours, 19 minutes)
MPAA – R for sequences of graphic violence and disturbing images
DIRECTOR: Mel Gibson
WRITERS: Farhad Safinia and Mel Gibson
PRODUCERS: Bruce Davey and Mel Gibson
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Dean Semler, ASC, ACS (director of photography)
EDITOR: John Wright
Academy Award nominee

ACTION/ADVENTURE/HISTORICAL/THRILLER

Starring: Rudy Youngblood, Raoul Trujillo, Dalia Hernandez, Jonathan Brewer, Morris Bird, Carlos Emilio Baez, Amilcar Ramirez, Israel Contreras Vasquez, Israel Rios, Isabel Diaz, and Gerardo Taracena

It is the end times of the once-great Mayan Civilization (early 16th century). Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood) is the son of Flint Sky (Morris Bird), the chief of their village, which is deep in the jungle, but no that far away from a large Maya city. Jaguar Paw is a young family man with a wife, Seven (Dalia Hernandez), and a son, Turtles Run (Carlos Emilio Baez), and he has another child on the way.

His idyllic life is shattered when an invading force razes his village, killing many and enslaving the remaining adults. Jaguar Paw manages to hide the pregnant Seven and little Turtles Run before the invaders take him captive. Through a twist of fate, Jaguar Paw manages to escape death, and he makes a desperate break both to save his life and to return home to his wife and son. On his trail, however, is a small band of warriors led by the vengeful Zero Wolf (Raoul Trujillo), and they will chase him through the jungle to the bitter end.

Mel Gibson’s new film, Apocalypto, proves that The Passion of the Christ and his Oscar-winning turn as director for Braveheart are no fluke. Gibson is the consummate director skilled at making bold, visceral, thrilling, and thought-provoking movies, and he is as good as any of the elite directors. That includes directors who were making exhilarating blockbusters before Gibson began directing (Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, James Cameron) and filmmakers who became mega-hit makers after Gibson’s began directing (Peter Jackson, The Wachowski Brothers).

Gibson begins Apocalypto by immersing his audience is a lush, abundant jungle world that quickly becomes a harsh geography of struggle and survival. From brutal village raids to torturous jungle tracks; from a decaying city where mind-numbing human sacrifices take place to a bracing and spine-tingling jungle race for survival: Gibson keeps the viewer on edge and sometimes takes them with him over the abyss where death is quick and relentless and only the stubbornly strong and strongly stubborn can survive.

Gibson achieves this with a cast of novice actors and little known performers – all speaking Maya, yet he gets his cast to make us believe in them. We understand them beyond the language they speak because the actors’ physical performances are so rich and textured. I bought into the idea that I was peeking into an ancient world and that these actors were really the people they were portraying. Rudy Youngblood is all youthful determination as Jaguar Paw, and Raoul Trujillo is riveting as the stout leader and gentle, proud father.

With a highly skilled and brilliant creative team (director of photographer, costume designer, set builders, etc.), Gibson gives his cast a convincingly real ancient world in which to play out their small but compelling drama. This team takes all their skills and talents, and instead of resting on their laurels brings a fictional world to life – a setting fit for a drama that is far beyond the ordinary. As the ringleader, Gibson once again dances with perfection and in Apocalypto makes a film in which any flaws are lost in a damn good time of great cinema and dazzling filmmaking. Some have already called Apocalypto “basically an adventure movie,” and that’s like calling Casablanca basically just a love story, when both are something more.

9 of 10
A+

Friday, December 15, 2006

NOTES:
2007 Academy Awards: 3 nominations: “Best Achievement in Makeup” (Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano), “Best Achievement in Sound Editing” (Sean McCormack and Kami Asgar), and “Best Achievement in Sound Mixing” (Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell, and Fernando Cámara)

2007 BAFTA Awards: 1 nomination: “Best Film not in the English Language” (Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey)

2007 Golden Globes: 1 nomination: “Best Foreign Language Film”

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