The annual marketing kudos went big for Disney pics Iron Man 3, Wreck-It-Ralph, Monsters University, Brave, and The Avengers at the Golden Trailer Awards Friday night. The GTAs didn’t just fete the best movie promos of the year. They also doled out Trashiest Trailer (to A24′s Spring Breakers) and gave indie comedy Hit & Run the Golden Fleece award, awarded to a trailer better than its actual movie. Here’s the full list of winners:
Read More »
Disney, ‘Iron Man 3′ Dominate 2013 Golden Trailer Awards
Amy Pascal Asks Hollywood To Eliminate Gay Slurs And Stereotypes From Movies
It’s rare for moguls to push moral responsibility to Hollywood, let alone action. Last night at a sold-out LA Gay & Lesbian Center gala that raised $1 million for homeless gay and lesbian youth, honoree Amy Pascal asked the industry to scrutinize its depiction of LGBT characters in film and television: “How about next time, when any of us are reading a script and it says words like fag, or faggot – homo – dyke – take a pencil and just cross it out”. Below are excerpts from the Sony Pictures boss’ prepared speech.
No matter who we are, no matter what we are, no matter where we come from, we learn about ourselves and each other in two ways. The first way is what we hear – in our families, from our friends, and from our schoolmates. The second way is what we see – on television and in the movie theater. Now, there is not much any of us can do about what people hear from families and friends, but there is a whole hell of a lot we can do about what people see.
The images that impacted me as a teenager had lasting influences on my entire life and I bet that is true for most of us. What we see in the media today affects everybody, whether it’s film, TV, radio, magazines or the internet. What the media says about your sexual orientation, and the color of your skin, and the shape of your eyes, and your ethnicity… what you look like, what you weigh, what you wear, how poor you are, how awkward you are, how educated you are, and how different you are… this stuff really sinks in. What we see teaches us about how to feel about ourselves and how to feel about each other.
And now, I’m talking about kids who are gay and I’m talking about kids who aren’t gay. One group needs affirmation and the other group needs education. And, if I’m being honest, neither of those issues are high on any movie studio or TV network’s agenda…
The Celluloid Closet was made almost 20 years ago and certainly attitudes have changed, but maybe not quite so much as you or I would want or hope. Television has been much more progressive and credit has to be given to producers like Max Mutchnick and David Kohan and Ryan Murphy for really changing things.
Now movies need to catch up. There are magnificent movies being made about gay subjects with gay characters, like Brokeback Mountain and Milk. Anyone would have been proud to have made those movies. I know I would be. But when you think about some of these films, even our favorite ones, there is a theme that runs through them.
Brokeback Mountain, Milk, Boys Don’t Cry, Philadelphia, The Hours, Gods and Monsters, The Talented Mr. Ripley, A Single Man, My Own Private Idaho, Cloud Atlas – in all these movies, the main character is murdered or martyred or commits suicide or just dies unhappily. And there are far more pernicious and dangerous images that confront gay kids and their parents: the lesbian murderer, the psychotic transvestite, the queen who is humiliated and sometimes tossed off a ship or a ledge. It’s a big joke. It still happens.
‘Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes’ Casts Kodi Smit-McPhee
EXCLUSIVE: Kodi Smit-McPhee has scored a lead role in 20th Century Fox‘s Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes. The follow-up to Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes is directed by Cloverfield‘s Matt Reeves, who also helmed Smit-McPhee in Let Me In opposite Chloe Moretz. Smit-McPhee is currently filming The Young Ones, directed by Jake Paltrow, alongside Nicholas Hoult, Elle Fanning and Michael Shannon. The Australian native most recently voiced the title character in the Oscar-nominated animated feature ParaNorman.
The Fox sequel is ramping up for a May 23, 2014 Memorial Day weekend release, which the studio announced last year. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Smit-McPhee’s been busy. He’s completed Ari Folman’s The Congress with Robin Wright, Paul Giamatti and Harvey Keitel; plays the title character in Michael J. Johnson’s The Wilderness Of James opposite Isabel Furman, Virginia Madsen, and Evan Ross; and has the lead role in A Birder’s Guide To Everything opposite Ben Kingsley. He’ll also appear as Benvolio in Carlo Carlei’s version of Romeo & Juliet (adapted by Downton Abbey‘s Julian Fellowes) with Hailee Steinfeld, Douglas Booth, Ed Westwick, and Paul Giamatti. Smit-McPhee is represented by ICM Partners and managed by The Schiff Co.
OSCARS: Hammond’s Down-To-The-Wire Predictions For 2013 Winners & Losers

Can’t we just end all this suspense about winners or losers and call it one massive tie this year? The 2012 crop of Oscar nominees, and films in general, is so impressively dense with quality it seems a shame the Academy has to pick just one winner in each category. But that’s the name of the game we play this time of year, and with ballots going out just as I
had to turn this piece in, it is still a fluid situation as to just what the final results will be. With so many movies spread across many categories that are genuine contenders, a split vote resulting in some surprising twists and turns is possible, even though the various guild awards give
strong clues about industry sentiment. If the past is any indication, I am aware some readers might take these predictions as gospel and bet the farm on it in their Oscar pools, so I offer a disclaimer before we begin. I am not responsible for any monetary loss you might incur, nor do I expect 10% of any winnings. I am just trying to read the winds of Oscar after several months of analyzing every tea leaf. Here is where I have a hunch it stands, but please note I have made a few tweaks since the original version of these predictions were published in last week’s print edition of AwardsLine (I switched in production design and makeup/hairstyling). Results at BAFTA, WGA, and several other guild award shows have now been taken into account since then, but it is all still a crap shoot in one of the craziest Oscar years in memory.
BEST PICTURE
All season long, this has been about as wide open a race, and as competitive a field of contenders, as we have seen in many years. With nine nominees, the same number as last year, it has taken a while to figure out a surefire winner. But with key awards from the PGA, DGA, WGA, BAFTA and SAG, in addition to best picture honors at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Movie Awards, Argo has clearly
emerged as the frontrunner, a remarkable turn of events considering its director, Ben Affleck, was snubbed by the Academy’s directing branch Jan. 10. Oh, what a difference a few weeks makes. The big question is, can the Warner Bros. juggernaut maintain momentum and win Oscar’s top prize, even without that directing nomination? If so, it would be only the second film to win without a directing nom, following Driving Miss Daisy’s feat at the 1990 ceremony. With the best picture category holding the strongest possibility for success among Argo’s seven nominations, could it actually win here and nowhere else? Not likely, but it’s possible, especially in a year in which I think the Academy will be spreading the wealth. Lincoln, with a leading 12 nominations (a good, if not always correct, indicator), Silver Linings Playbook, and Life of Pi are probably still in the mix here as well but…
The Winner: Argo
The Competition: Amour, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Django Unchained, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, Zero Dark Thirty
RELATED: OSCARS: Best Picture Nominees Had Uphill Production Battles
BEST DIRECTOR
With the quirky director’s branch going out of their way to snub DGA nominees Kathryn Bigelow, Tom Hooper, and DGA winner Ben Affleck, we know for sure we can’t count on the usual spot-on correlation between the DGA winner and the eventual victor in this category. Affleck actually would have been my
prediction to win here, but, alas, he’s not even nominated, which means voters might very well be splitting their vote for director and picture this year — certainly not unheard of in recent years but increasingly rare. As directors of the two films with the most nominations, Steven Spielberg for Lincoln and Ang Lee for Life of Pi, are the likely frontrunners, with Silver Linings Playbook’s David O. Russell coming up on the outside. If initial frontrunner Lincoln has been eclipsed in the Best Picture race, this is the place voters could come to kneel at the Spielberg-ian altar. Or not. Lee’s triumph in even managing to bring the “unfilmable” Pi to the screen just screams “directing”, and that could play very well here.
The Winner: Ang Lee, Life of Pi
The Competition: Michael Haneke, Amour; Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild; Steven Spielberg, Lincoln; David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
BEST ACTOR
This is Daniel Day-Lewis’ to lose at this point. Playing such a well-known biographical figure is, of course, a big plus. But Day-Lewis brought a lot to the table and remains the guy to beat in an impossibly fine field of contenders. Day-Lewis’ biggest drawback is that he has already won this prize twice, and a third would be unprecedented for lead actors in Oscar history. Also no actor has ever won an Oscar for playing a U.S. president, another potential first. The Academy might want to reward equally deserving newcomers to the category like Hugh Jackman or Bradley Cooper instead, but judging from the pile of precursor awards Day-Lewis has already won, it looks like you can bet a very large pile of $5 bills that he will make Oscar history with honest Abe.
The Winner: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
The Competition: Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook; Hugh Jackman, Les Misérables; Joaquin Phoenix, The Master; Denzel Washington, Flight
RELATED: OSCARS: Best Actor/Best Actress Race Handicap
BEST ACTRESS
I got this one wrong last year when Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady) beat Viola Davis (The Help), and this is another tough one. The race for lead actress is hotly competitive, with both Silver Linings Playbook’s
Jennifer Lawrence and Zero Dark Thirty’s Jessica Chastain claiming other early awards and also impressing with strong performances (Naomi Watts is magnificent in The Impossible, but that film got no other nominations, putting it at a disadvantage here against four other actress nominees from Best Picture contenders). Plus, never underestimate the so-called “babe factor” (thanks to the Academy’s dominant male membership) that this category often, but not always, favors. A win here for either one could be a chance to give either of their movies an important award, while shutting them out elsewhere. The real wild card in this race is 85-year-old Emmanuelle Riva, whose performance in the foreign language film Amour has been widely praised and admired, particularly by her fellow actors, who comprise the Academy’s largest voting block. As the oldest Best Actress nominee ever (she actually turns 86 on Oscar Sunday), she could trigger a sentimental factor and a feeling that the others will have another shot someday. SAG champ Lawrence probably has the edge and is where the smart money’s going, but a split in this very fluid category could provide one of the evening’s most interesting stories. So going way out on a limb…
The Winner: Emmanuelle Riva, Amour
The Competition: Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty; Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook; Quvenzhané Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild; Naomi Watts, The Impossible
Read More »
OSCARS Q&A: Tim Burton
Anthony D’Alessandro is Managing Editor of AwardsLine
In the final stretch before the Oscar ballot deadline, there’s still hope that voters remain undecided in the animation category. Though Disney has cornered the Oscar
slot with three titles, its Frankenweenie, directed by Tim Burton, stands as an island against the epic Brave and the existential crisis comedy of Wreck-It Ralph. The film is an auteur’s youthful dream short, once buried by the studio that has resuscitated it as a 3D stopmotion feature — the first in black and white. This Frankenstein homage about a boy who brings his dead dog back to life is signature Tim Burton. Many will argue Burton is overdue for an Oscar. He was nominated in the animated category for 2005’s Corpse Bride. His 1994 absurdist biopic Ed Wood garnered a supporting actor win for Martin Landau (as Bela Lugosi) and best makeup, while 2007’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street won best art direction and earned noms for Johnny Depp as best actor and for Colleen Atwood’s costumes. Another appealing Burton attribute for Oscar voters is that he remains an iconoclast among big-studio directors working today — he’s a visual artist with a spooky canon that appears alienating with its deep subtext but lures the masses with its fanciful spins on children’s tales such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Alice in Wonderland. AwardsLine recently spoke to Burton about his career and Frankenweenie’s place in it.
AwardsLine: Why was this the best time to make Frankenweenie as a stopmotion feature. You could have conceivably made it in 1993 instead of Nightmare Before Christmas.
Tim Burton: All these projects take a long time. I remember when I first designed Nightmare, it took about 10 years to get that in place because nobody really wanted to do stopmotion, and in a way, there weren’t a lot of facilities that were doing it. We did the Frankenweenie short many years ago, and I never really planned on it being anything else. Over the years, I just kept kind of thinking about the relationship with my dog, but also other monster movies, the kids and teachers from my school, and even the downtown places in Burbank. A lot more thoughts came into Frankenweenie, Read More »
OSCARS: Tim Burton’s ‘Frankenweenie’ Featurette ‘The Puppet Hospital’

EXCLUSIVE: Tim Burton received his second animated feature nomination for Frankenweenie, perhaps his most personal movie yet. His first nom came for 2005′s Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride. Both are products of the art of Stop Motion animation, a technique that fell on hard times after CGI took over for most animated films. But thanks to Burton and others it is back with a vengeance. Three of the Animated Feature nominees this year (ParaNorman and The Pirates! Band Of Misfits are the others) and two of the Animated Short nominees (Head Over Heels and Fresh Guacamole) are all done with Stop Motion technique. In this exclusive featurette a visit to the “puppet hospital” shows some of the magic behind Frankenweenie.
Hot Featurette: ‘ParaNorman’ Aims To Shake Up Animated Feature Race

EXCLUSIVE: In terms of awards campaigns for the Best Animated Feature Oscar this year,
ParaNorman, a nominee from Focus Features and Laika seems to be the one making the most noise, at least as far as advertising goes. Taking a cue from the Juno campaign a few years ago there is even a ParaNorman coffee truck driving around town serving up goodies. Hey, why not? If an Academy member happens to be strolling by what could be a better way to get their attention than selling them a cappuccino from Norman himself? Focus and Laika are clearly proud of their work and want Oscar voters to know they actually have racked up more critics awards than any other animated film this year, although at Rotten Tomatoes it is an extremely close race for the title of Best Reviewed animated feature among the five Oscar nominees with Frankenweenie at 88% fresh barely ahead of ParaNorman and The Pirates! Band Of Misfits at 87% while Wreck-It Ralph has 85% and Brave 78%, all healthy scores indicating this could turn out to be an extremely tight race in the end even with Ralph scoring big wins at the Annies and PGA over the competition. ParaNorman is aiming to turn the tide. Here’s an exclusive featurette:
Focus Features Seals Pact For LAIKA Pic ‘The Boxtrolls’

BREAKING: Moments after setting a deal with Random House Studio for Longbourne, Focus Features has locked its third animated movie project with ParaNorman and Coraline partner LAIKA. This one is called The Boxtrolls, which is in production, and Focus will release it October 17th, 2014. Focus has worldwide distribution rights and Universal Pictures International will release the movie overseas (with eOne Distribution handling Canada).
The Boxtrollsis a 3D stop-motion and CG hybrid animated feature based on Alan Snow’s bestselling fantasy adventure novel Here Be Monsters. It’s directed by Anthony Stacchi (co-director of Open Season) and Graham Annable (story artist on Coraline and ParaNorman), and produced by David Ichioka and Mr. Knight. The voice cast includes Oscar winner Ben Kingsley, Toni Collette, Elle Fanning, Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Jared Harris, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Richard Ayoade, and Tracy Morgan.
The Here Be Monsters deal was brokered by Hotchkiss And Associates. Read More »
SXSW 2013: Abigail Breslin In ‘Haunter’, ‘Lords Of Salem’, ‘You’re Next’, ‘Big Ass Spider’ Lead Midnighters
Sixteen-year-old Abigail Breslin leads her first horror pic in Haunter, from director Vincenzo Natali (Cube, Splice), which will world-premiere in the Midnight line-up at the 2013 SXSW Film Festival. The slate also reunites Innkeepers (SXSW ’11) duo Pat Healy and Sarah Paxton, who star with Ethan Embry and David Koechner in first-time director E.L. Katz’s Cheap Thrills, while the Greg Grunberg-starring creature feature Big Ass Spider (sold overseas as, ahem, Mega Spider) sends creepy-crawly shivers through the midnight crowd.
Also unveiling for the late-night genre crowd at the fest, held March 8-16 in Austin, are Rob Zombie’s Lords Of Salem, releasing April 19 via Anchor Bay, the festival slasher fave You’re Next, which Lionsgate will open August 23, the anthology sequel V/H/S/2 (re-titled from S-VHS) snapped up by Magnolia last month at Sundance, and Xan Cassavetes’ sexy vampire pic Kiss Of The Damned starring Milo Ventimiglia and Joséphine de La Baume.
Below, descriptions of the nine features in SXSW’s Midnight selection along with the fest’s extensive slate of short films including narrative shorts, doc shorts, and music videos:
MIDNIGHTERS
Scary, funny, sexy, controversial – provocative after-dark features for night owls and the terminally curious.Haunter (Canada)
Director: Vincenzo Natali, Screenwriter: Brian King
Lisa Johnson is one day shy of her 16th birthday and will be forever. She and her family are doomed to repeat the fateful day before they were all killed in 1985. Cast: Abigail Breslin, Stephen McHattie, Peter Outerbridge, Michelle Nolden, David Hewlett (World Premiere)
VES Awards: ‘Life Of Pi’ Wins 4 Including Feature, ‘Brave’, ‘Game Of Thrones’ Other Big Winners
Ross Lincoln is a Deadline contributor.
Life Of Pi and Brave were the big winners in the feature film categories tonight, each taking four awards at the 11th
Annual VES Awards and HBO’s Game Of Thrones led the TV honors with four nods. Life Of Pi took the top feature award for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture. It also won Outstanding Compositing in a Feature Motion Picture, Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture and Outstanding FX and Simulation Animation in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture. Brave’s four wins included Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture. In features, The Avengers also took two awards, and The Impossible and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey nabbed one each. In the TV contingent, Game Of Thrones led the way with four including Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program and HBO’s Boardwalk Empire also took one award.
Life Of Pi director Ang Lee, nominated for two Oscars, received the VES Visionary award, given to an individual “who
has uniquely and consistently employed the art and science of visual effects to foster imagination and ignite future discoveries by way of artistry, invention and groundbreaking work”. In his acceptance speech, Lee said “This is not visual effects, it’s visual art”. Paying tribute to the effects industry, Lee said “they are the expression of our heart, and for that I salute you”. Five-time Academy Award winning special effects cinematographer Richard Edlund, notable for his contributions to the original Star Wars trilogy, Raiders Of The Lost Ark and Ghostbusters, was honored with a lifetime achievement award. The complete list follows: Read More »
OSCARS: Nominees Lunch Spreads Good Vibes As Balloting Is Set To Begin This Week

Unquestionably one of the highlights of any awards season is the feel-good, everyone’s-still-a-winner
Oscar Nominees Luncheon, which was held Monday at the Beverly Hilton. Academy Award nominees gather together and get to meet each other in a pressure-free zone — except for the huge press turnout to cover their arrivals (there are also press conference-style interviews and poolside one-on-one opportunities for TV cameras afterwards for some of the higher-profile nominees). Basically all they have to do is report to the risers set up in the Hilton’s International Ballroom as their name is called for the big group photo of the Oscar Class of 2012.
Related: 85th Academy Awards Nominees Photo
This year, rather than going alphabetically, the Academy summoned nominees by the table number they were sitting at. The table where I was lucky enough to be invited happened to be No. 1, smack dab in front of those risers, and so nominees Denzel Washington (Best Actor, Flight), producer Kathleen Kennedy (Lincoln), costume designer Colleen Atwood (Snow White And The Huntsman), and Makeup and Hairstyling contender Howard Berger (Hitchcock) were first to be called and had to stand the longest before the shot was taken. Actually, the roll call was bookended with longtime colleagues Kennedy — who was first up — and Lincoln director Steven Spielberg, who was dead-last (just after 9-year-old Best Actress nominee Quvenzhane Wallis, who got a rip-roaring reception when her name was announced).
Overall, 16 of the acting nominees (excluding Emmanuelle Riva, Alan Arkin and Philip Seymour Hoffman) and four of the directors (Michael Haneke is directing an opera in Europe) were in attendance, along with approximately 140 others who showed up and really seemed to have a good time at the annual affair, where the nominees also get their official certificate and a sweatshirt. Another acting contender, Daniel Day-Lewis came down with the flu and was very disappointed he couldn’t make it I am told. Like Day-Lewis, I also heard Quentin Tarantino was really bummed he couldn’t attend due to a bout with the flu. Seems to be rampant these days. Read More »
Annie Awards: ‘Wreck-It-Ralph’ Wins 5 Including Feature, Robot Chicken ‘DC Comics Special’ TV, ‘Paperman’ Best Short
Wreck-It Ralph heads toward this year’s Academy Awards with
newly added momentum. The videogame-themed Walt Disney Animation Studios pic was the bigger winner tonight at the 40th Annual Annie Awards. Ralph took Best Animated Feature plus Best Directing, Music, Voice Acting and Best Writing in an Animated Feature. Last year’s Annies Animated Feature winner Rango went on to win the Oscar for the same category in 2012.
Related: Annie Award Nominations Unveiled
Hosted by film critic Leonard Maltin and voice actors Maurice LaMarche and Rob Paulsen, the ceremony from UCLA’s Royce Hall saw DreamWorks’ Rise Of The Guardians, LAIKA/Focus Features’ ParaNorman, and Pixar’s Brave pick up several awards as well. Robot Chicken’s DC Comic Special won the Best General Audience Animated Television Production award. Marvel’s blockbuster The Avengers took the nod for Best Animated Effects in a Live Action Production and Rhythm & Hues Studio won best Character Animation in a Live Action Production for their work on Life Of Pi. Walt Disney Animation Studio’s Paperman won the Best Animated Short Subject award. South Park’s Trey Parker scooped a best Writing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production for the long running satire’s South Park: Jewpacabra. Check out the full list below:
Animated Feature
Wreck-It Ralph – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Director Rich Moore only thanked Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios CCO John Lasseter, as many people did tonight, but said he was so honored and thankful to be part of the Disney Legacy.
General Audience Television Production
Robot Chicken DC Comics Special – Stoopid Buddy Studios
“Let’s just keep making awesome stuff”, says Seth Green to the crowd on Robot Chicken’s win and the animation industry in general.
Directing in a Feature Production
Rich Moore, Wreck-It Ralph – Walt Disney Animation Studios
The Annies exploded with a roar when Ralph’s Moore name was read aloud for best Feature Directing. The director joked that he’s in trouble because he gave his speech to “the teleprompter guy” (they’ve had issues tonight). Moore then gave a seamless speech thanking a wide variety of people involved “in this fantastic film”.
Sound Editors Announce Nominations For Golden Reel Awards
Four movies dominated nominations for the Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Awards. Argo, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Life Of Pi and Skyfall were each nominated for four awards. The Dark Knight Rises, Django Unchained and Lincoln took 3 nominations apiece. The Golden Reels recognize sound editing in 22 categories encompassing feature films, television, animation, computer entertainment and student work. Also this year, the MPSE has chosen director Ang Lee to receive its Filmmaker Award and to honor Foley artist John Roesch for with a Career Achievement Award. The 60th MPSE Golden Reel Awards ceremony will take place February 17 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites in downtown Los Angeles. Complete list of nominees follows: Read More »
2013 GLAAD Media Award Nominees Unveiled
GLAAD this morning announced 153 nominees in 33 categories for the group’s 24th annual GLAAD Media Awards, which recognize media for outstanding images of the LGBT community. Winners will be unveiled in ceremonies March 16 in New York and April 20 in San Francisco. Here’s the full list:
OUTSTANDING FILM – WIDE RELEASE
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Cloud Atlas (Warner Bros. Pictures)
ParaNorman (Focus Features)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Summit Entertainment)
Your Sister’s Sister (IFC Films)
OUTSTANDING FILM – LIMITED RELEASE
Any Day Now (Music Box Films)
Keep the Lights On (Music Box Films)
Mosquita y Mari (Wolfe Releasing)
Musical Chairs (Paladin)
North Sea Texas (Strand Releasing)
OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
Degrassi (TeenNick)
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
The L.A. Complex (The CW)
Smash (NBC)
True Blood (HBO)
OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
Glee (Fox)
Go On (NBC)
Happy Endings (ABC)
Modern Family (ABC)
The New Normal (NBC) Read More »
OSCARS: Nominations By Studio, Distributor
MOTION PICTURE NOMINATIONS BY STUDIOS AND DISTRIBUTORS
UPDATED Count and Annotated Count
Count
20th Century Fox (including Fox Searchlight) – 31
Sony Pictures Entertainment (including Sony Pictures Classics) – 24
Walt Disney Co (including Pixar and Marvel and DreamWorks) – 17
The Weinstein Company – 17
Universal (including Focus Features and Working Title) – 17
Working Title – 12
Warner Bros Pictures (including New Line) – 10
MGM – 8
Sony Pictures Classics – 8
Participant Media – 7
Focus Features – 6
Fox Searchlight – 6
New Line Cinema – 3
Paramount Pictures (including DreamWorks Animation) – 2
Cinedigm – 1
Kino Lorber – 1
Magnolia Pictures – 1
Ouat Media – 1
Premium Films – 1
Relativity Media – 1
Submarine Deluxe – 1
Summit Entertainment – 1
Lionsgate (including Summit) - 1
Sundance Selects – 1
Tribeca Film – 1
Marvel Studios – 1
Pixar – 1
Related: OSCARS: Nominations By Picture
Related: OSCARS: 85th Academy Award Nominations
Annotated Count
Fox Film (31)
Best Picture – Beasts of the Southern Wild - Dan Janvey, Josh Penn and Michael Gottwald, Producers
Best Picture – Life of Pi - Gil Netter, Ang Lee and David Womark, Producers
Best Picture – Lincoln – Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers
Lead Actor -Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln
Supporting Actor – Lincoln – Tommy Lee Jones - Lincoln
Best Lead Actress – Beasts of the Southern Wild - Quvenzhané Wallis
Supporting Actress -Lincoln – Sally … Read More »
OSCARS: Reactions To Academy’s Nominations
Related:
OSCARS: 85th Academy Award Nominations
OSCARS: Nominations By Studio & Distributor
OSCARS: Nominations By Picture
Refresh for latest…
Picture
Argo
“We would like to thank the Academy for acknowledging Argo in this extraordinary way. This is a great tribute to everyone who worked on the film — from our incredible cast to our tremendous crew. We are honored to have made a film that tells the story of these unsung heroes and it’s so terrific that it’s getting this kind of recognition.”– producers Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck and George Clooney
Beasts Of The Southern Wild
“Never in a million years would I have imagined this! It was a long, long time ago that we began, and weren’t even thinking about stuff like this, not only to be nominated, but to have four nominations, we’re just freaking out over here. This film has been one moment of joy after another. We made this film so far outside of the normal system of making films, we weren’t backed by a major studio, but made it with Cinereach, a nonprofit that is changing the world with movies they’re putting out. We said, We want to make a movie with 6 year old who’s never acted before…that’s the miracle of the movie. We are also so proud that Quvenzhané Wallis is taking us into the history books [as the youngest nominee for Best Actress].” — producer Michael Gottwald
Django Unchained
“The controversy surrounding our film has created a dialogue about something that hasn’t been talked about in a long time. It’s an interesting dialogue and if you go online, you’ll read that one person loves Django Unchained and another one has a problem with it. Instead of everyone going out and getting grilled up and getting crazy, they’re talking about it. That’s what is most important…This was an incredibly challenging movie for everyone. We worked very hard shooting and editing to get it out for our release date and we’re happy that everybody was able to see the movie in time.” — producer Pilar Savone
*
Django Unchained, Silver Linings Playbook
“I am blown away! I can’t say thank you enough to the Academy for their support of our films. We have a tremendous group of actors and filmmakers who we had the pleasure of working with this year and I am so happy that their achievements are being recognized.” — Harvey Weinstein
Les Miserables
“What a wonderful year for movies when nine films with this kind of diversity get acknowledged for the industry’s highest honor. I am so proud that Les Miserables joins them and that the Academy noted the magnificent work from Hugh, Annie, our legendary song writers and the superlative crafts experts whose work made our film what it was.” — director Tom Hooper
*
“This was one of the hardest films we’ve done. It’s a genre that’s challenging by its very nature — people aren’t used to going to see a musical in a movie theater. Also, no one has ever done a live musical from beginning to end with no prerecorded music. We also had to make sure that in adapting Les Miserables, we didn’t alienate fans, and having the original team of Claude-Michel Schonberg, Herbie Kretzmer and Cameron Mackintosh, we were able to keep all the original DNA intact. Then, shooting a film with an appetite of 100 million for 60 million was an interesting challenge. I do feel sad for Ben Affleck, Kathryn Bigelow and Tom Hooper, they did a stunning job all three of them and it’s a shame they weren’t nominated. You have to respect the vote, but it is a shame.” — Working Title’s Eric Fellner
*
“I am proud and thrilled to be nominated for Les Mis and grateful to the team of people who made this film possible who are amongst the most talented in the world. To get to work with visionary director, Tom Hooper, Working Title and the original team who created this beloved musical, has been an incredible honor. For it to be my first movie as producer in my own right, is the stuff of dreams. I am still pinching myself.” — producer Debra Hayward
Life Of Pi
“This has been a 10-year life-changing experience for me. Over 2600 crew members representing 23 different countries have contributed to the making of this movie. Hopefully these nominations help to honor all their very hard work. It truly takes a village. I am forever grateful.” — producer Gil Netter
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“I am honored to be included with Ang Lee and Gil Netter as this year’s nominee for Best Picture. Thank you to the Academy for recognizing all the talented people, in front and behind the camera, that contributed to Life Of Pi‘s multiple nominations. A special thank you to Tom Rothman and Elizabeth Gabler and everyone at Fox for having the incredible courage, vision and tenacity in making Ang Lee’s Life of Pi. It’s an exciting day… when the journey of faith of a small Indian boy lost at sea… is celebrated. Thank you Ang for making a film ‘we can all believe in.’ ” — producer David Womark
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“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have such a diverse range of films recognized by the Academy. And it’s been equally gratifying to see how audiences throughout the world have embraced these pictures. We congratulate all involved for their magnificent work and well-deserved accolades.” — 20th Century Fox Film president Jim Gianopulos, whose company also co-produced Lincoln
Lincoln
“This nomination is really special because I have been working with Steven Spielberg in excess of 30 years. Not only do I get to go through this experience with him, but every single person that’s been nominated for this film in each category are people I’ve worked with for years. For all of us to get recognized is really gratifying. What’s wonderful about Lincoln is that it’s a reflection of the political process and it’s not an attempt to show which political party is better, rather recognize the scene of the political process. Nowadays, ‘Politician’ has become a bad word, and politicians should be lauded because our political process works. You can see that the process is working. (In Lincoln) you recognize what the founding principles are behind this political process and how it defines us and how we get things done or shouldn’t get things done. That’s why politicians on either side, Democrats and Republicans, are going to see themselves in this — by talking to one another, stepping across the party lines and identifying what’s good for the country; that’s why they’re engaged in what this movie is about.” — producer Kathleen Kennedy
Silver Linings Playbook
“What’s special about this nomination is that it’s been (achieved) in a nail-biting year. It’s been an amazing year and that’s what makes this race more exciting. So many of the different guild votes go in one direction or the other. We believed with American Beauty and Milk we would get a number of nominations, but this year it was less clear. (In regards to losing the DGA nom), there are different voting constituencies. DGA is comprised of all these different members in jobs around the world, while the Academy is a much smaller voting group in the directors’ branch. They rarely match and we kept giving ourselves these statistics.” — producer Bruce Cohen
Zero Dark Thirty
“Thank you to the Academy for these incredible honors. And thank you to the writers who have honored me today with their generosity and to the Academy for the Best Picture nomination. None of us would be so honored today without the genius and remarkable talent of Kathryn Bigelow, and to her we are forever grateful.” — producer Mark Boal, also nominated for Original Screenplay
Lead Actor
Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
“To be a part of this group of actors who have put forth incredible performances this year, and for the movie to be recognized by the Academy the way it has been this morning with nominations for Bob, Jen, Jacki and David O!!!. It’s a moment I’ll cherish and never forget.” — Cooper
Hugh Jackman, Les Miserables
“I hadn’t planned to listen live to the announcements, but when I got into the car this morning to go to work, the driver had the nominations streaming as they were being broadcast. To be honest, it’s very exciting but all a bit surreal, and it hasn’t fully sunk in yet. This is a brilliant awards year that has been defined by an eclectic list of stories that have been told by incredibly talented and courageous filmmakers, and it’s an honor to be mentioned in the same sentence as the other nominees in the Best Actor category. Having hosted the show, I have seen so many different sides of the Oscars, but to be an actual nominee is something I never would have dreamed possible.” — Jackman
Denzel Washington, Flight
Flight was one of the most challenging roles I’ve ever had in my career, and it was an honor to be directed by Robert Zemeckis. It’s always nice to be asked back to the show, and it will be fun to share the evening with our nominated screenwriter John Gatins.” — Washington
Lead Actress
Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
“I’m on cloud nine. It’s incredible. I always wanted to be an actress since I was 7 and I didn’t go the fast route. I studied a lot in college, did a lot of TV guest spots and then finally got a break in films. My films were delayed and not coming out. Now, I receive two Oscar nominations in a row and I can’t believe this is my life. I’m shocked I even get paid for it. (In regard to the controversy over Zero Dark Thirty), Kathryn Bigelow said something beautiful at the New York Critics that ‘Depiction doesn’t mean endorsement’…I found that really strong. When a filmmaker makes a film and doesn’t say if the outcome is right or wrong, they merely present what they discovered by looking at our history and saying, ‘This is where I’ve been,’ that for me is a brave filmmaker. I’ve now been recognized in two films that have been powerful for women and I’m like wow — that’s something to talk about.” — Chastain
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
“I’m so honored and grateful for this nomination and to be in the company of such talented actresses. Having the fortunate opportunity to work with David O. Russell was an extraordinary gift and I am so thrilled for my fellow cast members Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver who are all nothing short of amazing. This was a labor of love that we all poured our hearts into and could not be more thankful to The Weinstein Company and Harvey Weinstein for their unyielding support of the film.” — Jennifer Lawrence
Emmanuelle Riva, Amour
“I am truly happy, touched, and honored to receive, today in New York, a nomination for the role of Anne in Amour by Michael Haneke. For me, it is an immense gift, at this stage of my life, to be chosen by my sisters and brothers, for what I do as an actress. I never thought, while working throughout the years in Europe and France, that one day, I would cross the Atlantic Ocean, come to the United States, and be nominated. It is quite surreal for me. Shooting Amour with Michael Haneke was a complete joy for me, as I felt an absolute trust in him and we were in complete synch. Michael is the very music of his own film.” — Riva
Quvenzhané Wallis, Beasts Of The Southern Wild
“Everyone who made Beasts happen is so happy! Thank you to all you Oscar folks, from me, my mom and my dad. I am so happy for Benh and Lucy and the gang in Louisiana. Meeting all these great new people is one of the best parts for me. I want to thank my family, friends, fans and everyone so much. Beast it!” — Wallis
Director
Michael Haneke, Amour
“I am very happy and gratified by the Oscar nominations that Amour has received today, and that the voting members of the Academy have taken the film so strongly to their hearts. It is fulfilling to discover that a film has found the audience and critical acclaim that Amour has garnered. I have been very fortunate on both those fronts, but it is especially rewarding to discover that a film has found favor among one’s industry peers who know, in particular, the effort that goes into getting a film — any film –- made. I am also especially happy for all the people who made Amour with me. It is a joyous occasion for us all. Many thanks.” — Haneke
Benh Zeitlin, Beasts Of The Southern Wild
“This was my first feature film and the only way that we got this film made was to charge ahead and believe in destiny and believe that somehow things would all work out. We’ve never been the type of filmmakers who will wait around years for someone to come along and finance things. We just put everything we had into it and moved forward. I’m feeling unbelievably grateful to all the people who’ve championed this film and took the time to look at movie with no stars and barely a budget, and somehow I’m now on the same stage with some of the greatest filmmakers of all time.” — Zeitlin, also nominated for co-writing the adapted screenplay
Ang Lee, Life Of Pi
“I am deeply honored and frankly a little overwhelmed by all of the nominations that Life Of Pi has received this morning. So many talented people gave everything they had to this film, both in front of and behind the camera, and to see all of them receive this kind of recognition is something I am incredibly grateful for.” — Lee
Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
“Every time a nomination like this happens, it’s like starting over again. I have no perspective of what has happened before (in my career Oscar-wise). I feel grateful, the fact that Lincoln was nominated 12 times. There are so many great films this year that have been critically acclaimed and audiences have put their stamp of approval on, they’re so different from one to the next and it shows an incredible amount of bravery that indie and movie studios are letting filmmakers be unique in the ways that they tell stories.…The founding fathers wrote the principles that our film argues; principles which the Civil War put in grave jeopardy. Breaking the idea of the democratic union; the crisis of the country being split in half and a single individual taking the counsel of his cabinet and his family, and people like Frederick Douglass finally coming down on the side of justice — this was a a great story. And the man behind the story is the most fascinating figure on the political landscape and has been a historical figure I’ve been fascinated with since childhood.” — Spielberg
David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
“There are many ways to answer (why this nomination) is so special to me. This is a film I’ve been trying to make for five years and it’s very personal to me and my family. And for (Silver Linings Playbook) to find audiences, this will help it. Oscars make cinema live with bigger audiences, that’s why it matters. The heart and the emotion of this film will reach people and that’s the biggest reason. The Fighter inspired me to do better work. All four of my actors got nominated this time around, which is what I wanted last time. I always want my actors to get what they deserve. Life sometimes isn’t fair and I’m very grateful that my four actors are getting recognized….There are a lot of different films this year and I’m very respectful of the other films. Every organization is different; BAFTA is different, there are many things that are different. I didn’t give up believing in this film even after the DGA nominations. I believe in our film’s emotional life.” — Russell, also nominated for Adapted Screenplay Read More »
OSCARS: Nominations By Picture
Related:
OSCARS: Nominations By Studio, Distributor
OSCARS: Who Got Snubbed By Academy?
OSCARS: 85th Academy Award Nominations
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
MOTION PICTURE NOMINATIONS BY PICTURE – 85TH AWARDS
Lincoln - 12 nominations
DreamWorks Pictures/20th Century Fox Production (Walt Disney/20th Century Fox)
Daniel Day-Lewis – Performance by an actor in a leading role
Tommy Lee Jones – Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Sally Field – Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Cinematography
Costume design
Directing
Film editing
Original score
Best picture
Production design
Sound mixing
Adapted screenplay
Life Of Pi - 11 nominations
Fox 2000 Pictures Production (20th Century Fox)
Cinematography
Directing
Film editing
Original score
Original song – “Pi’s Lullaby”
Best picture
Production design
Sound editing
Sound mixing
Visual effects
Adapted screenplay
Les Misérables - 8 nominations
Universal Pictures and Working Title Production (Universal)
Hugh Jackman – Performance by an actor in a leading role
Anne Hathaway – Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Costume design
Makeup and hairstyling
Original song – “Suddenly”
Best picture
Production design
Sound mixing
Silver Linings Playbook - 8 nominations
Weinstein Company Production (The Weinstein Company)
Bradley Cooper – Performance by an actor in a leading role
Robert De Niro – Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Jennifer Lawrence – Performance by an actress in a leading role
Jacki Weaver – Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Directing
Film editing
Best picture
Adapted screenplay
Argo – 7 nominations
Stage 16 Pictures Production (Warner Bros.)
Alan Arkin – Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Film editing
Original score
Best picture
Sound editing
Sound mixing
Adapted screenplay
Zero Dark Thirty - 5 nominations
Columbia Pictures Production (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Jessica Chastain – Performance by an actress in a leading role
Film editing
Best picture
Sound editing
Original screenplay
Amour – 5 nominations
Les Films du Losange/X Filme Creative Pool/Wega Film Production (Sony Pictures Classics)
Emmanuelle Riva – Performance by an actress in a leading role
Directing
Best foreign language film (Austria)
Best picture
Original screenplay
Skyfall – 5 nominations
Eon Productions Ltd./Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/Columbia Pictures Production (Sony Pictures Releasing and MGM)
Cinematography
Original score
Original song – “Skyfall”
Sound editing
Sound mixing
Django Unchained - 5 nominations
Weinstein Company and Columbia Pictures Production (The Weinstein Company)
Christoph Waltz – Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Cinematography
Best picture
Sound editing
Original screenplay
Anna Karenina – 4 nominations
Working Title Films Production (Focus Features)
Cinematography
Costume design
Original score
Production design
Beasts of the Southern Wild - 4 nominations
Cinereach and Court 13 Production (Fox Searchlight)
Quvenzhané Wallis – Performance by an actress in a leading role
Directing
Best picture
Adapted screenplay
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - 3 nominations
New Line and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Production (Warner Bros. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)
Makeup and hairstyling
Production design
Visual effects
The Master - 3 nominations
Ghoulardi Film Company/Annapurna Pictures Production (The Weinstein Company)
Joaquin Phoenix – Performance by an actor in a leading role
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Amy Adams – Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Read More »
OSCARS: 85th Academy Award Nominations – Only 9 Best Pictures; ‘Lincoln’ Leads With 12 Nods, ‘Life Of Pi’ 11, ‘Les Misérables’ And ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ 8, ‘Argo’ 7, ‘Skyfall’ And ‘Amour’ And ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ And ‘Django Unchained’ 5
Nominations for the 85th Academy Awards were announced this morning by the show’s host, Seth MacFarlane, and actress Emma Stone on Thursday, January 10. This was the first time since 1972 that an Oscar show host has participated in the nominations announcement. DreamWorks’ Lincoln from Fox and Disney led with 12 nods, Fox’s Life Of Pi 11, Working Title/Universal’s Les Misérables and The Weinstein Company’s Silver Linings Playbook 8, Warner Bros’ Argo 7, MGM/Sony Pictures’ Skyfall and Sony Pictures Classics’ Amour and The Weinstein Company’s Django Unchained 5.
Related:
OSCARS: Nominations By Studio & Distributor
OSCARS: Nominations By Picture
The nominations were unveiled at a news conference at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, where hundreds of media representatives from around the world were gathered. Since the first nominations announcement in 1964, the Academy president has been joined by one or more co-announcers at the event. This year the Academy broke with tradition when MacFarlane, the Ted star and filmmaker who was named Oscar show host in October, joined Stone on Oscar nominations morning. (Charlton Heston in 1972 was the only other show host to participate in the nominations announcement.)
Related: OSCARS: Who Got Snubbed By Academy?
MacFarlane made a series of jokes that ripped Academy Awards personalities. ”Congratulations to the Best Actress nominees,” he said. “Now they can stop pretending to like Harvey Weinstein.”
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, February 24th at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide. Academy members from each of the branches vote to determine the nominees in their respective categories –- actors nominate actors, film editors nominate film editors, etc. In the Animated Feature Film and Foreign Language Film categories, nominees are selected by vote of multi-branch screening committees. All voting members are eligible to select the Best Picture nominees.
Related: OSCARS: Reactions To Academy’s Nominations
Official screenings of all motion pictures with one or more nominations will begin for members on Saturday, January 19, at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Screenings will also be held at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood and in London, New York and the San Francisco Bay Area. Active members of the Academy are eligible to vote for the winners in all categories.
Nominations for the 85th Academy Awards
Best motion picture of the year
- “Amour”
Nominees to be determined - “Argo”
Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck and George Clooney, Producers - “Beasts of the Southern Wild”
Dan Janvey, Josh Penn and Michael Gottwald, Producers - “Django Unchained”
Stacey Sher, Reginald Hudlin and Pilar Savone, Producers - “Les Misérables”
Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward and Cameron Mackintosh, Producers - “Life of Pi”
Gil Netter, Ang Lee and David Womark, Producers - “Lincoln”
Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers - “Silver Linings Playbook”
Donna Gigliotti, Bruce Cohen and Jonathan Gordon, Producers - “Zero Dark Thirty”
Mark Boal, Kathryn Bigelow and Megan Ellison, Producers
Performance by an actor in a leading role
- Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook
- Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln
- Hugh Jackman in Les Misérables
- Joaquin Phoenix in The Master
- Denzel Washington in Flight
Performance by an actor in a supporting role
- Alan Arkin in Argo
- Robert De Niro in Silver Linings Playbook
- Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Master
- Tommy Lee Jones in Lincoln
- Christoph Waltz in Django Unchained
Achievement in directing
- “Amour” Michael Haneke
- “Beasts of the Southern Wild” Benh Zeitlin
- “Life of Pi” Ang Lee
- “Lincoln” Steven Spielberg
- “Silver Linings Playbook” David O. Russell
Performance by an actress in a leading role
- Jessica Chastain in Zero Dark Thirty
- Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook
- Emmanuelle Riva in Amour
- Quvenzhané Wallis in Beasts of the Southern Wild
- Naomi Watts in The Impossible
Performance by an actress in a supporting role
- Amy Adams in “The Master”
- Sally Field in “Lincoln”
- Anne Hathaway in “Les Misérables”
- Helen Hunt in “The Sessions”
- Jacki Weaver in “Silver Linings Playbook”
Best animated feature film of the year
- “Brave” Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman
- “Frankenweenie” Tim Burton
- “ParaNorman” Sam Fell and Chris Butler
- “The Pirates! Band of Misfits” Peter Lord
- “Wreck-It Ralph” Rich Moore
Adapted screenplay
- “Argo” Screenplay by Chris Terrio
- “Beasts of the Southern Wild” Screenplay by Lucy Alibar & Benh Zeitlin
- “Life of Pi” Screenplay by David Magee
- “Lincoln” Screenplay by Tony Kushner
- “Silver Linings Playbook” Screenplay by David O. Russell
Original screenplay
- “Amour” Written by Michael Haneke
- “Django Unchained”Written by Quentin Tarantino
- “Flight” Written by John Gatins
- “Moonrise Kingdom” Written by Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola
- “Zero Dark Thirty” Written by Mark Boal
Achievement in cinematography
- “Anna Karenina” Seamus McGarvey
- “Django Unchained” Robert Richardson
- “Life of Pi” Claudio Miranda
- “Lincoln” Janusz Kaminski
- “Skyfall” Roger Deakins
Best foreign language film of the year
- “Amour” Austria
- “Kon-Tiki” Norway
- “No” Chile
- “A Royal Affair” Denmark
- “War Witch” Canada
Best documentary feature
- “5 Broken Cameras”
Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi - “The Gatekeepers”
Nominees to be determined - “How to Survive a Plague”
Nominees to be determined - “The Invisible War”
Nominees to be determined - “Searching for Sugar Man”
Nominees to be determined
BAFTA Nominations Announced: ‘Lincoln’ Leads Followed By ‘Les Mis’ & ‘Life Of Pi’; Spielberg & Hooper Not Among Director Field
Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln leads the pack of nominees (see full list below) for the 65th EE BAFTA Awards, which were announced this morning in London by Alice Eve and Jeremy Irvine. Lincoln scored 10 nominations, though it did not pick up a directing mention. Ang Lee’s Life Of Pi and Tom Hooper’s Les Misérables each got nine nods, but Hooper (nominated here for The King’s Speech in 2010) failed to make the directing category. Working Title’s Tim Bevan, who has both Les Mis and Anna Karenina vying for prizes this year, told me he was surprised that Spielberg and Hooper missed out on directing slots but called it an “interesting year because [nominations] seem to be spread all over the place.” The takeaway, he said, is that Spielberg and Hooper are “swimming in a pool of extreme talent this year. Which is great for the movie business.”
Meanwhile, Skyfall, now the highest-grossing film in UK history, was nominated eight times, yet was noted in the Best British Film category and not the overall Best Film group. The only picture to cross over those two fields was Les Mis. The trio of Life Of Pi, Ben Affleck’s Argo and Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty have both Best Film and Best Director slots. The two Best Director candidates whose films were not mentioned in the Best Film group are Michael Haneke for Amour (although it did also land Foreign Language, Original Screenplay and Leading Actress nods) and Quentin Tarantino for Django Unchained, which also picked up nominations for Original Screenplay, Supporting Actor for Christoph Waltz and Editing. Read More »


