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| Rating: About Ratings
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| Opens: 02/03/2012 |
| Running Time: 123 |
| Rated: PG |
| Cast: John Krasinski, Drew Barrymore, Ted Danson Rachel Kramer, Kristen Bell, Tim Blake Nelson, and Vinessa Shaw. |
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| Crew: Director: Ken Kwapis. Producers: Tim Bevan, Liza Chasin, Eric Fellner, Steve Golin and Michael Sugar. Executive Producers: Sturart M. Besser and Paul Green. Screenwriters: Jack Amiel, Michael Begler and Thomas rose (Book: Freeing the Whales"). Cinematographer: John Bailey. |
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REVIEW: By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Movies that are based on true stories about animals whether they're polar bears, tigers, monkeys, dolphins or whales, somehow always manage to tug at the heartstrings and uplift and inspire audiences.
The latest movie to do just that is "Big Miracle" from director Ken Kwapis ("He's Just Not that Into You" and "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants).
Much like the 2010 film, "Dolphin Tale," "Big Miracle" is another family, feel-good animal adventure. It's a bit more involving than "Dolphin Tale," yet still just as moving.
The film is about three grey whales that get trapped in the Arctic ice near Barrow, Alaska. Their plight becomes more harrowing since the already small area that they have to swim in is becoming smaller by the minute because the ice is freezing over.
Not much big news happens in Barrow, Alaska, but the story of these whales becomes really big news. And no one is happier to break the whale story than Adam Carlson ( John Krasinski, TV's "The Office). Adam is the local television reporter who has been working overtime to try and get to a major market. This might be the story that does it.
When he tells his boss that he may have stumbled upon the biggest news story ever, his boss initially isn't convinced. To help with his story, Adam calls upon a young native Alaskan boy who he's befriended named Nathan (Ahmaogak Sweeney) and his grandfather Malik (John Pingayak), a well-respected town leader and Adam enlists the help and knowledge of his ex-girlfriend, Rachel (Drew Barrymore) who is a Greenpeace volunteer.
The more Adam begins reporting on the whales, the bigger the story becomes. Now he's worried he might be overshadowed by the very news story he's uncovered. But his popularity soars especially when news anchor Tom Brokow decides to pick up his feed and lead with it on NBC Nightly News.
Before long other anchors like Peter Jennings and Dan Rather have also made the whale's tale their lead story and it's become a global sensation.
The efforts to free the whales bring more attention to Barrow then it ever imagined. Business is booming. And every journalist—even top anchors who felt they were too good to report on a little story like this-- including haughty news anchor Wes Handrick (John Michael Huggins) have had a sudden change of heart. Wes decides that newcomer reporter Jill Jerard (Kristen Bell) should head back home to Los Angeles and let him take over the story.
Everybody now wants a piece of this action. J. W. McGraw (Ted Danson) is an oil magnate who at first wasn't the least bit interested in saving any whales. It takes his wife to convince him that doing so could be a major PR boost for him and his corporation who haven't been viewed too nicely by the public. Even the Governor (Stephen Root) after being put on blast by Rachel for his atrocious environmental record—suddenly is coming to the forefront and willing to help with the whales rescue mission by calling in the National Guard led by Colonel Tom Carroll (Dermot Mulroney).
Everyone with an idea or product is arriving in Barrow to help out with the cause like Dean Glowacki (Rob Riggle) and Karl Hootkin (James LeGros) two funny and budding entrepreneurs who have invented an ice melting contraption which they insist can quickly melt the ice around the whales.
It all becomes a race against time to save these creatures. And the drama and suspense leading up to the rescue mission centers on our government reluctantly excepting help from the Russians. They come to terms and the Russians use their ice breaker ship to miraculously storm through the icy barrier and free the whales.
Editor's Note: Check out this movie trailer link for Big Miracle. |
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Rated: G
Opens: 02/03/2012
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Rated: PG-13
Opens: 02/03/2012
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Rated: R
Opens: 01/27/2012
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Rated: PG-13
Opens: 01/20/2012
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OLD SCHOOL VIDEO PICK OF THE MONTH
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Title: Christmas At Water's Edge
Year Released: 2004
Running Time: 87
Production Company: Image Entertainment
Director: Lee Davis
Director of Photography: Jurgen Baum
Screenwriter: Cleveland O'Neal III
Author: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
REVIEW: During the Christmas season, my television and DVR are working overtime. There are plenty of Christmas movies to watch that will put you in the Christmas spirit.
In addition to viewing several TV shows, I have a pretty extensive collection of holiday movies that I like to watch too since they often get overlooked among all the other animated...
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NEW ON DVD
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Title: The Thing (Jan. 31)
Year Released: 2011
Running Time: 103
Production Company: Universal Pictures
Director: Matthjis van Heijningen Jr.
Review By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"THE THING"
"The Thing" will never die or go away. And that's a good thing especially for horror fans of John Carpenter's classic 1982 remake.
Now here we are 29 years later with another "reimagining" of "The Thing." This updated version, directed by newcomer Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. is a prequel of sorts and delivers most of the eerie chills and thrills of the first two movies thanks largely to some eye-popping and gory special effects. The new "Thing" borrows from both films, but does add a few new twists including a backstory which makes it a lot less predictable.
Paleontologist Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World") is excited to be part of a working expedition that teams her with some of the best and brightest Norwegian scientists. They discover an extraterrestrial ship buried in the ice. What's more startling is there's an organism that's also frozen and appears to have died years ago. Rather than let sleeping aliens lie, the scientists (Joel Edgerton, Eric Christian Olsen and Ulrich Thomsen) soon begin to prod and poke at this thing to try and get a sample of it to determine what exactly it is.
Not a good idea.
As the team retreats to other areas of the station, one guy named Jameson--there's always one-- (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, "Killer Elite") decides to get an up close and personal look at this thing. He bites it big time when the creature lunges from its icy slumber and impales him to death. Soon the creature is in wait to kill each one of them. Killing "The Thing" with fire isn't quite enough because before it dies it's able to inhabit a crew member's body and their behavior. That scary scenario leaves this normally cool, calm and collected bunch on edge and paranoid because no one among them knows just who "The Thing" is. And that's what makes "The Thing" so bone chilling scary.
(Highly Recommended).
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Title: In Time ( Jan. 31.)
Year Released: 2011
Running Time: 109
Production Company: 20th Century Fox
Director: Andrew Niccol
Review By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"IN TIME"
Although I wanted to absolutely love "In Time" because of its intriguing premise, the sci-fi thriller kind of petered out midway through. I still enjoyed it quite a bit, but just wish it would have offered more.
"In Time's" lead stars Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried give everything they have, yet the film's screenwriter and director Andrew Niccol, ("Gattaca") seemed to run out of ideas toward the end of the film.
"In Time" is a futuristic thriller set in a world where people stop aging at age 25. In this bold, new world, their days are numbered. You can see how much time a person has left by a digital readout on their arm. Staying alive longer is really geared for the super-rich since time is the new currency.
Timberlake plays Will Salas. He lives with his very youthful looking mother, Rachel, (Olivia Wilde, "Cowboys & Aliens," "The Next Three Days") in a ghetto time community. They aren't rich by any means. In fact, the clock is ticking for both of them and they barely have enough money to cover many of their basic necessities.
As luck would have it, Will meets a guy named Henry Hamilton (Matt Bomer), who of course looks amazing to be 100 years old. Not only that, Henry has 100 additional years stashed in the bank for a rainy day.
Just like people will rob you today for your money, here if they find out you have lots of time they'll steal your minutes. It only takes seconds to do. You just place your arm against theirs and voila! you've downloaded their time. No ATM card needed.
After narrowly escaping a bar room beat down and robbery, Will and Henry find a place to hide away for the night. They both fall asleep and when Will awakes he discovers he has an extra century ticking on his arm. He can't find where Henry is, but soon sees him through the window seated on the edge of a bridge waiting to jump. He tries to save him but can't.
Suddenly Will is a suspect in Henry's murder and is being pursued by the timekeepers and their chief honcho Raymond Leon (Cillian Murphy).
Now that time is money, Will makes a mad dash to get away from the poor side of town and in safer confines. He winds up miles away in a tony area and it's here that he meets the pretty, naughty, little, rich girl, Sylvia Weis (Seyfried). Her father (Vincent Kartheiser) has plenty of juice. He controls the time markets.
And when Leon manages to find Will, he kidnaps Sylvia and they become a modern day Bonnie and Clyde, breaking in to her father's time banks and giving blocks of life to those less fortunate.
"In Time's biggest misstep is it tries to get too deep in its concept and message of class warfare. In the process the film nearly loses sight of being an ultra-cool and fun sci-fi flick.
(Recommended)
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Title: Real Steel (Jan. 24)
Year Released: 2011
Running Time: 127
Production Company: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Shawn Levy
Review By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"REAL STEEL"
Leave it to Walt Disney Pictures to come up with "Real Steel," a movie that's so old fashioned, yet contemporary in its appeal to young, high-tech audiences.
Hugh Jackman and the adorable Dakota Goyo star in this wildly entertaining and touching father and son story that's part "Rocky," The Champ," "Over the Top" with lots of "Transformers" thrown in.
The film is taken from Richard Matheson's 1956 short story "Steel" which became a "Twilight Zone" episode starring Lee Marvin.
The future of mixed martial arts and boxing may soon look like the action in "Real Steel" where computer controlled robots replace human pugilists.
Charlie Kenton (Jackman) is a former boxer who can't completely let go of the sport. He lives—rather meagerly—traveling from town to town putting on boxing matches at fairs, rodeos and the like with his steel, fighting robot.
He prides himself on this metal contraption, so much so that he'll make bets he often loses and winds up owing lots of unsavory people. They always seem to catch up with him too and beat their money out of him.
But "Real Steel" isn't just a movie about "Rock 'em, Sock 'em" fighting robots and that's what makes it feel rather special. Charlie has an 11-year-old son named Max, (Dakota Goyo) who he has spent time with off and on.
He's not proud of being an absentee father, but he is. And when Max's mother dies Charlie's sister (Hope Davis) and her husband (James Rebhorn) want to adopt him but there's some red tape involved which allows Charlie to have Max spend the summer with him while his soon to be guardians go on vacation.
Max is wise beyond his years. He knows a lot about robots and computers. So you can sense where this story is headed.
While the father and son are out bonding, they stumble upon a junk yard and find an old robot named Atom. Max believes with some TLC and some tweaking, this robot still has some fight left in it.
As it turns out, Atom has plenty of fight. He's so smart and can be programmed to mimic his controller's movements. Max and Charlie see endless possibilities with taking Atom on the road to fights with Charlie serving as his commander.
There are some playful scenes involving Max dancing—and doing the "robot" no less, with Atom—that are touching and funny. Of course Atom brings Charlie and Max closer together.
Their father and son moments results in Charlie staging a huge boxing match with another Optimus Prime looking robot named Zeus.
While the big climatic scene between Zeus and Atom doesn't reach the heights of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier's "Thrilla in Manila," it's still pretty exciting watching these powerful robots go toe to toe, not to mention Zeus' unscrupulous owners who will go to great lengths—including cheating—to win.
(Recommended)
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Title: The Ides Of March (Jan. 17)
Year Released: 2011
Running Time: 102
Production Company: Columbia Pictures
Director: George Clooney
Review By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"THE IDES OF MARCH"
"The Ides of March" is a sexy, political thriller directed by the sexy and thrilling George Clooney.
In the film, Clooney plays Mike Morris, a Pennsylvania governor who can stump with the best of them and unite followers with his timely message of jump-starting the economy, providing funding for education and re-evaluating the country's military presence in the world.
Of course at the forefront of governor Morris' campaign are his savvy handlers, veteran campaign strategist Paul Zara (another inspired performance from Philip Seymour Hoffman) and the young, brash and rising aide and speechwriter, Stephen Myers (a terrific Ryan Gosling). With the primary looming, Gov. Morris knows he has to win Ohio to have a shot at the presidency.
But as we all know, there's a lot more to politics than just looking presidential. And Gov. Morris, along with his right hand men, Paul and Stephen soon find themselves embroiled in a dirty game that involves sex, lies, and text messages that nearly derails the campaign as well as their lives.
That's because Tom Duffy (a sensational Paul Giamatti), who is the campaign manager for Gov. Morris' rival, Senator Pullman (Michael Mantell) stops at nothing short of making sure his guy wins even if it means secretively offering Stephen—though never intending to hire him--to work for his camp.
Then there's the issue of who leaked the story to a New York Times reporter (a perfectly cast Marisa Tomei). That sends everyone on high alert and preparing for damage control. Even that drama almost pales in comparison when Stephen becomes sexually involved with a young campaign intern (Evan Rachel Wood). She's harboring a blockbuster secret that could blow the campaign to bits.
"The Ides of March" is based on the play, "Farragut North" by Beau Willimon. And while there have been plenty of political movies made, this one stands out because of its snappy and realistic script which comes courtesy of Clooney and Grant Heslov.
There's also incredible acting all around. While Jeffrey Wright has a small role as a senator for hire, it's still a powerful and effective one. (Highly Recommended).
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By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs:
OUR TOP 20 MOVIES OF 2011
N2Entertainment.net watched 155 movies in 2011 and a few of those included straight to DVD releases.
Now, after much consideration we have compiled our annual Top 20 Movie List. And while some movies on our list have been nominated for Oscars, others have not been. However, we still believe these movies were far and away the most fun and exciting ones to watch last year.
And speaking of the Oscars, The 84th Annual Academy Awards will be held on Feb. 26 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood and televised live on ABC.
N2Entertainment.net will be on the scene and taking in all the action among the big winners and losers.
In the next week or so, you can check our TV page and we'll feature a preview story on Hollywood's biggest night which will include our Oscar picks.
Until then, here's a look at the Top 20 Movies we absolutely loved in 2011.
1. "WAR HORSE"
2. "THE ARTIST"
3. "THE HELP"
4. "MY WEEK WITH MARILYN"
5. "THE DESCENDANTS"
6. "MIDNIGHT IN PARIS"
7. "RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES"
8. "CONTAGION"
9. "THE LINCOLN LAWYER"
10. "FAST FIVE"
11. "JUMPING THE BROOM"
12. "THE IDES OF MARCH"
13."THE MECHANIC"
14. "HUGO"
15. "SUPER 8"
16. "WE BOUGHT A ZOO"
17. "WIN-WIN"
18. "THE DEBT"
19. "THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO"
20. "WARRIOR"
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By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs:
THE OSCAR NOMINATIONS ARE IN
It's on now. The nominations for the 84th Annual Academy Awards were announced on Jan 24 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak and 2010 Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence ("Winter's Bone") (pictured).
The silent black-and-white movie, "The Artist" has been making a lot of noise with audiences since its release. "The Artist" landed a best actor nomination for its French lead star, Jean Dujardin and a "Best Director" nod for Michel Hazanavicius.
"The Help," the Civil Rights drama about southern maids received a "Best Picture" nomination. And the film's stars, Viola Davis snagged a nod for "Best Actress." Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain will compete for the "Best Supporting Actress" award.
If Davis wins she will become only the second African-American woman in history (Halle Berry won in 2002 for "Monster's Ball) to receive the Best Actress award in the Academy's 84-year history.
It was also a good day for George Clooney star of the Hawaii set film, "The Descendants." Clooney received a "Best Actor" nod for his role playing a father of two coping with a dying and unfaithful wife. The handsome actor also scored a "Best Adapted Screenplay" nomination for his A-list political thriller, "The Ides of March."
However, it was Martin Scorsese's Paris adventure "Hugo" that led the awards presentation with 11 nominations including "Best Picture" and "Best Director" for Scorsese.
There were a few surprises at the Oscar nominations ceremony. Ryan Gosling was shown no love despite a nice string of movies this year like "Drive," "The Ides of March" and "Crazy, Stupid, Love." Albert Brooks who co-starred with Gosling in "Drive" was shut out of the "Best Supporting Actor category. And Leonardo DiCaprio's riveting star turn in "J. Edgar" went unnoticed.
One week before the Academy Awards, N2Entertainment.net will post who we believe will take home the coveted statue. So be sure to check back for that. Until then, here are the nominations for the 84th Annual Academy Awards.
The following is a list of the Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 which will be presented on Feb. 26 at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center and televised live on ABC TV..
BEST ACTOR:
Demián Bichir in "A Better Life" (Summit Entertainment)
George Clooney in "The Descendants" (Fox Searchlight)
Jean Dujardin in "The Artist" (The Weinstein Company)
Gary Oldman in "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" (Focus Features)
Brad Pitt in "Moneyball" (Sony Pictures Releasing).
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Kenneth Branagh in "My Week with Marilyn" (The Weinstein Company)
Jonah Hill in "Moneyball" (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Nick Nolte in "Warrior" (Lionsgate)
Christopher Plummer in "Beginners" (Focus Features)
Max von Sydow in "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" (Warner Bros.)
BEST ACTRESS:
Glenn Close in "Albert Nobbs" (Roadside Attractions)
Viola Davis in "The Help" (Touchstone)
Rooney Mara in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Meryl Streep in "The Iron Lady" (The Weinstein Company)
Michelle Williams in "My Week with Marilyn" (The Weinstein Company)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Bérénice Bejo in "The Artist" (The Weinstein Company)
Jessica Chastain in "The Help" (Touchstone)
Melissa McCarthy in "Bridesmaids" (Universal)
Janet McTeer in "Albert Nobbs" (Roadside Attractions)
Octavia Spencer in "The Help" (Touchstone).
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
"A Cat in Paris" (GKIDS) Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli
"Chico & Rita" (GKIDS) Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal
"Kung Fu Panda 2" (DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Paramount) Jennifer Yuh Nelson
"Puss in Boots" (DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Paramount) Chris Miller
"Rango" (Paramount) Gore Verbinski.
ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION:
"The Artist" (The Weinstein Company) Production Design: Laurence Bennett, Set Decoration: Robert Gould
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" (Warner Bros.) Production Design: Stuart Craig, Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
"Hugo" (Paramount) Production Design: Dante Ferretti, Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
"Midnight in Paris" (Sony Pictures Classics) Production Design: Anne Seibel, Set Decoration: Hélène Dubreuil
"War Horse" (Touchstone) Production Design: Rick Carter, Set Decoration: Lee Sandales.
ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY:
"The Artist" (The Weinstein Company) Guillaume Schiffman
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Jeff Cronenweth
"Hugo" (Paramount) Robert Richardson
"The Tree of Life" (Fox Searchlight) Emmanuel Lubezki
"War Horse" (Touchstone) Janusz Kaminski.
ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN:
"Anonymous" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Lisy Christl
"The Artist" (The Weinstein Company) Mark Bridges
"Hugo" (Paramount) Sandy Powell
"Jane Eyre" (Focus Features) Michael O'Connor
"W.E." (The Weinstein Company) Arianne Phillips.
ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING:
"The Artist" (The Weinstein Company) Michel Hazanavicius
"The Descendants" (Fox Searchlight) Alexander Payne
"Hugo" (Paramount) Martin Scorsese
"Midnight in Paris" (Sony Pictures Classics) Woody Allen
"The Tree of Life" (Fox Searchlight) Terrence Malick.
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:
"Hell and Back Again" (Docurama Films) A Roast Beef Limited Production, Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner
"If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front" (Oscilloscope Laboratories) A Marshall Curry Production, Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
"Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory" An @radical.media Production, Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
"Pina" (Sundance Selects) A Neue Road Movies Production, Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel
"Undefeated" (The Weinstein Company) A Spitfire Pictures Production, TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Richard Middlemas.
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT:
"The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement" A Purposeful Production, Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin
"God Is the Bigger Elvis" A Documentress Films Production, Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson
"Incident in New Baghdad" A Morninglight Films Production, James Spione
"Saving Face" A Milkhaus/Jungefilm Production, Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
"The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom" A Supply & Demand Integrated Production, Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen.
ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM EDITING :
"The Artist" (The Weinstein Company) Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius
"The Descendants" (Fox Searchlight) Kevin Tent
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
"Hugo" (Paramount) Thelma Schoonmaker
"Moneyball" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Christopher Tellefsen.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR:
"Bullhead" A Savage Film Production, Belgium
"Footnote" (Sony Pictures Classics) A Footnote Limited Partnership Production, Israel
"In Darkness" (Sony Pictures Classics) A Studio Filmowe Zebra Production, Poland
"Monsieur Lazhar" (Music Box Films) A microscope Production, Canada
"A Separation" (Sony Pictures Classics) A Dreamlab Films Production, Iran.
ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP:
"Albert Nobbs" (Roadside Attractions) Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" (Warner Bros.) Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight and Lisa Tomblin
"The Iron Lady" (The Weinstein Company) Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland.
ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES (ORIGINAL SCORE):
"The Adventures of Tintin" (Paramount) John Williams
"The Artist" (The Weinstein Company) Ludovic Bource
"Hugo" (Paramount) Howard Shore
"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" (Focus Features) Alberto Iglesias
"War Horse" (Touchstone) John Williams.
ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES (ORIGINAL SONG):
"Man or Muppet" from "The Muppets" (Walt Disney) Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie
"Real in Rio" from "Rio" (20th Century Fox) Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown, Lyric by Siedah Garrett.
BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE
YEAR:
"The Artist" (The Weinstein Company) A La Petite Reine/Studio 37/La Classe Américaine/JD Prod/France3 Cinéma/Jouror Productions/uFilm Production, Thomas Langmann, Producer
"The Descendants" (Fox Searchlight) An Ad Hominem Enterprises Production, Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers
"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" (Warner Bros.) A Warner Bros. Pictures Production, Scott Rudin, Producer
"The Help" (Touchstone) A DreamWorks Pictures Production, Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, Producers
"Hugo" (Paramount) A Paramount Pictures and GK Films Production, Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers
"Midnight in Paris" (Sony Pictures Classics) A Pontchartrain Production, Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers
"Moneyball" (Sony Pictures Releasing) A Columbia Pictures Production, Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers
"The Tree of Life" (Fox Searchlight) A River Road Entertainment Production, Nominees to be determined
"War Horse" (Touchstone) A DreamWorks Pictures Production, Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM:
"Dimanche/Sunday" (National Film Board of Canada) A National Film Board of Canada Production, Patrick Doyon
"The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore" A Moonbot Studios LA Production, William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg
"La Luna" (Walt Disney) A Pixar Animation Studios Production, Enrico Casarosa
"A Morning Stroll" (Studio AKA) A Studio AKA Production, Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
"Wild Life" (National Film Board of Canada) A National Film Board of Canada Production, Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby.
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM:
"Pentecost" (Network Ireland Television) An EMU Production, Peter McDonald and Eimear O'Kane
"Raju" A Hamburg Media School/Filmwerkstatt Production, Max Zähle and Stefan Gieren
"The Shore" An All Ashore Production, Terry George and Oorlagh George
"Time Freak" A Team Toad Production, Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey
"Tuba Atlantic" (Norsk Filminstitutt) A Norwegian Film School/Den Norske Filmskolen Production, Hallvar Witzø.
ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING:
"Drive" (FilmDistrict) Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Ren Klyce
"Hugo" (Paramount) Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty
"Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (Paramount) Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl
"War Horse" (Touchstone) Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom.
ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND MIXING:
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (Sony Pictures Releasing) David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Bo Persson
"Hugo" (Paramount) Tom Fleischman and John Midgley
"Moneyball" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Deb Adair, Ron Bochar, Dave Giammarco and Ed Novick
"Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (Paramount) Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Peter J. Devlin
"War Horse" (Touchstone) Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson and Stuart Wilson.
ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS:
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" (Warner Bros.) Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson
"Hugo" (Paramount) Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossman and Alex Henning
"Real Steel" (Touchstone) Erik Nash, John Rosengrant, Dan Taylor and Swen Gillberg
"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (20th Century Fox) Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White and Daniel Barrett
"Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (Paramount) Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Matthew Butler and John Frazier.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
"The Descendants" (Fox Searchlight) Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
"Hugo" (Paramount) Screenplay by John Logan
"The Ides of March" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
"Moneyball" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin Story by Stan Chervin
"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" (Focus Features) Screenplay by Bridget O'Connor & Peter Straughan.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
"The Artist" (The Weinstein Company) Written by Michel Hazanavicius
"Bridesmaids" (Universal) Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
"Margin Call" (Roadside Attractions) Written by J.C. Chandor
"Midnight in Paris" (Sony Pictures Classics) Written by Woody Allen
"A Separation" (Sony Pictures Classics) Written by Asghar Farhadi.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Be sure and catch the 84th Annual Academy Awards Feb. 26 on ABC television. Check your local listings. You can also follow the academy at www.oscars.org, www.facebook.com/TheAcademy,
www.youtube.com/Oscars
and on www.twitter.com/TheAcademy.
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By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs:
OTHER "REEL MOVIE" NEWS
"THEY SAID IT"--After being nominated for the 84th Annual Academy Awards, many movie stars gave their reactions to the news. Among them were Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis (pictured) stars of the Civil Rights drama, "The Help."
OCTAVIA SPENCER—(Best Supporting Actress, "The Help") "I am so honored that not only was my work recognized by the academy, but that the tireless efforts of our amazing cast and crew culminated in nominations for Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain and the film itself. It is a testament to our true ensemble of talent, both in front of and behind the scenes."
VIOLA DAVIS—(Best Actress, "The Help") "It's an honor to be nominated a second time, it is a personal accomplishment and triumph for women and women of color. I'm so glad the film has been recognized, it was a labor of love from the moment it was conceived and it is rewarding to see the impact it is having."
STEVEN SPIELBERG—(Best Picture, "The Help" and "War Horse") "I am thrilled with our multiple nominations for "The Help" and "War Horse." It is the first time that I have experienced two Best Picture nominations in the same year. One is a high honor. Two is humbling but very exciting. It is a tribute to all those who joined with Stacey Snider and our DreamWorks Studios team to develop and make these two films with stories that we passionately felt we had to make."
KATHLEEN KENNEDY—(Producer, "War Horse") "We are thrilled for the nominations "War Horse" has received and most of all thankful to have been working under the leadership of Steven Spielberg whose moral clarity, vision and sensitive handling of the Great War might serve in some small way to raise awareness of war's pointlessness."
ENRICO CASAROSO—(Director, "La Luna" Animated Short Film from Pixar -"La Luna") "La Luna' is a deeply personal story for me, and to have it recognized by the Academy is an honor both profound and exhilarating. I know this also means so much to the crew, who believed in this whimsical idea and brought it to life with amazing talent and expertise. On behalf of all of them, I'd like to thank the Academy. This must certainly be how it feels to be over the moon!"
BÉRÉNICE BEJO-- (Supporting Actress, "The Artist") "I'm overjoyed and filled with happiness. I can¹t believe that a year ago I was learning how to tap dance and today I am nominated for an Academy Award. It was a thrill to work on a project as ambitious as "The Artist" and I am happy to share this moment with our visionary director, Michel Hazanavicius.
JEAN DUJARDIN-- (Best Actor, "The Artist") "I am so grateful to the Academy for this recognition. I can't help but stop and think about how incredible this journey has been. From filming on a Hollywood soundstage to the moment I received this wonderful news this morning, I'm so humbled to be amongst such distinguished and talented people. It is Michel's beautiful film that has led me here today. I also share this with the brilliant cast and crew."
MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS-- (Directing and Original Screenplay, "The Artist") "I am so honored for this nomination. Filming "The Artist" in Los Angeles was a dream come true, and to receive this recognition today is far beyond what I ever imagined. I couldn¹t have done this film without the incredible cast of actors and outstanding crew whose heart and souls were poured into this project."
THOMAS LANGMANN-- (Best Picture, "The Artist")"I am very humbled by these nominations. This must be how my father felt back in 1965 when he received his first Oscar nomination. "The Artist" was a labor of love from writer/director Michel Hazanavicius to pay homage to Hollywood, and to see all the love that the Academy has given it this morning is overwhelming."
LAURENCE BENNETT--(Art Direction/Production Design, "The Artist")"It is truly an honor to have the art direction of "The Artist" recognized by the Academy. In taking on the unique design opportunity that Michel's vision offered, we felt a tremendous responsibility to all the artists of early Hollywood. To spend months immersed in their world and their work was a gift to the entire design team--and our work was inspired, informed, and elevated immeasurably by what they taught us."
ROBERT GOULD--(Nominee Art Direction/ Set Decoration, "The Artist")"I am honored to be nominated for an academy award for such a beautiful film that is love letter to Hollywood. Since I was born in Hollywood and second generation in the film business I went to work each day filled with enthusiasm. I am proud to contribute to something that shows gratitude to the business that has given my family and myself so much gratification."
LUDOVIC BOURCE--(Nominee Music/ Original Score, "The Artist") "I am humbled and over-joyed to learn of my Oscar nomination. Last week I came to Hollywood for the first time in my life, which in of itself was a dream come true. I started playing the accordion when I was 8 years old, I wish I could go back in time at tell myself about today, the dream continues!"
MICHELLE WILLIAMS-- (Best Actress, "My Week With Marilyn") "I am so grateful to be acknowledged by the Academy for my work, which was made possible by the support of our director Simon Curtis and the camaraderie of a terrific ensemble of actors – a special congratulations to Kenneth Branagh – and the fearless Harvey Weinstein. This role has been the challenge and privilege of a lifetime. I would like to think that the recognition our film as received by the Academy is a testament to Marilyn's legacy."
KENNETH BRANAGH--(Best Supporting Actor, "My Week With Marilyn"). "It was a rare honor to play Sir Laurence Olivier. To be recognized by the Academy for doing so is overwhelming. I'm absolutely thrilled."
MERYL STREEP--(Best Actress, "The Iron Lady")"I am honored to be in company with such beautiful artists, and touched deeply by my fellow actors for their generosity in giving me this acknowledgment."
DAN LINDSAY/TJ MARTIN--(Best Documentary/ Feature, "Undefeated") "It's an honor to be recognized amongst these amazing filmmakers. We are thrilled for everyone who was involved in making this film especially the North Memphis community who opened their homes to us and trusted us in telling their story. Now we actually have to acknowledge that this is really happening."
ARIANNE PHILLIPS--(Best Costume Design, "W.E.")"I am gobstopped, just speechless completely over the moon with excitement. So thrilled for the recognition not only for myself but for my brave and fearless director, Madonna and my amazing crew."
MARTIN SCORSESE--(Director/Producer, "Hugo")"I am deeply honored to have been nominated by the Academy for my work on Hugo. Every picture is a challenge, and this one ¬ where I was working with 3D, HD and Sacha Baron Cohen for the first time ¬was no exception. It's a wonderful feeling to know that you¹ve been recognized by the people in your industry. I congratulate my fellow nominees. It¹s an impressive list, and I¹m in excellent company."
HOWARD SHORE--(Best Composer, "Hugo") "It's always a thrill to work with Marty and Thelma and collaborating with them was a labor of love. It was inspiring to compose within the world of Hugo. It's a great honor to be nominated by the Academy."
GRAHAM KING--(Best Producer, "Hugo") "I am so incredibly proud of HUGO and I will be forever grateful to the Academy for acknowledging a film that defies all genres. Every single cast and crew member was not only committed, but challenged themselves and took their craft to a whole new level. I am thrilled that Marty has been commended for directing a film that was such new ground for him, yet based on a subject so dear to his heart."
GORE VERBINSKI--(Best Director, "Rango")"It is an incredible honor to be nominated . We set out to do something different with "Rango" and this distinction is a testament to everyone who tirelessly dedicated themselves to creating our neurotic lizard. "Rango" was looking for an audience who shared his love of cinema and I'm humbled that he found one. It has been a remarkable journey, and one that I am grateful to share with our entire creative team, Paramount, and all of the virtuosos at Industrial, Light and Magic.
GRAHAM KING--(Best Producer, "Rango") "Huge congratulations to everyone involved with RANGO, especially Gore Verbinski who made such a unique and original film."
JENNIFER YUH NELSON--(Best Director, "Kung-Fu Panda")"Today's nomination is a huge boost of encouragement for the hundreds of dedicated cast and crew that have created such a beautiful film. I am deeply proud of what we have achieved together and honored by the Academy with this recognition."
CHRIS MILLER--(Director, "Puss in Boots") "I woke up to a text and thought, 'Am I still dreaming?' What an absolute honor to be nominated. Thank you to the Academy on behalf of the entire cast, crew and our swashbuckling cat."
GARY OLDMAN--(Best Actor, "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy")"This afternoon in Berlin I learned that I was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Actor. You may have heard this before, but it has never been truer than it is for me today; it is extremely humbling, gratifying, and delightful to have your work recognized by the Academy, and to join the celebrated ranks of previous nominees and colleagues. Amazing."
ALBERTO IGLESIAS—(Music/Original Score, "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy")"This is, I must say, music to my ears. My thanks to the AMPAS members, for it is an honor to be nominated amidst such company – and I'm so happy that several of my Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy colleagues were also nominated."
BRIDGET O'CONNOR & PETER STRAUGHAN—( Writing (Adapted Screenplay, "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy")"I'm stunned and thrilled to hear about the nomination. I wish more than anything in the world that my wife Bridget O'Connor - who wrote this adaptation with me, could be here to enjoy this moment. She would be so happy and so proud. I'm going to go and meet my daughter now and tell her how clever her mother was!"
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER—("Best Supporting Actor, "Beginners") "It's a shot in the arm for a young kid of 82 to receive an Academy Award nomination this morning. My gratitude to writer/director Michael Mills, the Academy, and to everyone involved with Beginners."
MICHAEL O'CONNOR—(Best Costume Design, "Jane Eyre") "I'm absolutely thrilled and delighted to be nominated for my work on Jane Eyre."
Editor's Note: Some Information used in this report supplied by press publicity departments.
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