My Oscar Nomination Predictions

Here are my final predictions of who I think will get Oscar nominations. This is something I do every year. I've always been fascinated by the Oscars (as you can probably tell if you've ever read this blog).  It's not the celebrity part of it, or the fashion, or the speeches that fascinate me.  It's the race, the competition to get a nomination.  There have been numerous critics groups and other entities that have given out awards, and tons of people who try to predict these things online.  It intrigues me how studios strategize about who to promote, when to release films, when to send screeners to voters, who will appear on what talk show when, who gains momentum after a nomination from one critics group but loses traction after they're ignored by the next one, etc., etc.

Yes, you can argue that the campaigning and the politics takes away from recognizing the "best" film or the "best" performance.  For one, anyone who thinks they can identify a "best" film or a "best" performance in any given year is crazy.  The race to the Oscars is one big economics problem (supply/demand, cost/benefit, etc), and I love it!

Here's my futile attempt at predicting.  We'll see how I do.  These are not my preferences - they are my predictions.  You can see my running list of rankings in my previous post.

Picture
The Artist
The Descendants
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
War Horse
 
Anywhere from 5-10 films can be nominated this year. No one knows yet how many will be nominated, but I think it will be these seven. Just a hunch.

Director
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Michael Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorcese, Hugo
David Fincher, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Actor in a Lead Role
George Clooney, The Descendants
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Michael Fassbender, Shame
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Actress in a Lead Role
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton, We Need To Talk About Kevin
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

Actor in a Supporting Role
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Albert Brooks, Drive
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Actress in a Supporting Role
Bernice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Shailene Woodley, The Descendants

Original Screenplay
50/50
The Artist
Bridesmaids
Midnight in Paris
A Separation

Adapted Screenplay
The Descendants
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball

Film Editing
The Artist
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Moneyball
War Horse

Cinematography
The Artist
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Tree of Life
War Horse

Art Direction
The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hugo
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
War Horse

Costume Design
The Artist
The Help
Hugo
Jane Eyre
W.E.

Sound Editing
The Adventures of Tintin
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Super 8
War Horse

Sound Mixing
Drive
Hugo
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Super 8
War Horse

Makeup
Albert Nobbs 
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
The Iron Lady

Visual Effects
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hugo
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Rise of the Planey of the Apes
Transformers: The Dark of the Moon

Original Score
The Artist
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
War Horse
W.E.

Original Song
"Hello, Hello", Gnomeo and Juliet
"Lay Your Head Down", Albert Nobbs
"Life's A Happy Song", The Muppets
"The Living Proof", The Help
"Man or Muppet", The Muppets

Documentary Feature
Buck
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Pina
Project Nim
Semper Fi: Always Faithful

Documentary Short
The Barber of Birmingham
In Tahrir Square: 18 Days of Egypt's Unfinished Revolution
Incident in New Baghdad
Pipe Dreams
The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom

Animated Feature
The Adventures of Tintin
Arthur Christmas
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

Animated Short
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
La Luna
Luminaris
Magic Piano
Wild Life

Live-Action Short
Love at First Sight
The Road Home
The Roar of the Sea
The Shore
Tuba Atlantic

Foreign-Language Feature
Bullhead
Footnote
In Darkness
Pina
A Separation

Ranking the Oscary Movies

Once again, I've been watching as many Oscary movies as I can, and here's my first attempt at a personal ranking, based purely on my enjoyment of the film:

1. The Artist
2. The Muppets
3. The Descendants
4. Bridesmaids
5. 50/50
6. Midnight in Paris
7. My Week with Marilyn
8.  Martha Marcy May Marlene
9. Shame
10. We Need to Talk About Kevin
11.  The Iron Lady
12. The Help
13. Hugo
14.  Moneyball
15. Warrior
16. Super 8
17. The Ides of March
18. The Tree of Life

Other Movies I Saw in 2011:
1.  Horrible Bosses
2.  Crazy, Stupid Love
3.  Bad Teacher
4.  Just Go With It

Still Need to See:
Albert Nobbs
Beginners
Drive
Rango
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Young Adult

Probably Will Not Watch:
The Adventures of Tintin
Coriolanus
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II
J. Edgar
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy
War Horse

My Jeopardy! Journey - At the Studio

 It’s not everyday someone can show up to Sony Entertainment and expect to tape Jeopardy! So needless to say, this was a big deal. Forget that this has been on my bucket list. Forget that I’ve been watching Jeopardy! for a very long time (remembering specifically that the 1991Tournament of Champions was my first real memory of watching it, on an old school TV in my bedroom).  The only thing I needed to focus on was showing up….and hopefully winning.

I wait in the lobby of my hotel and catch the shuttle to Sony.  A few of the contestants were very chatty near the front of the shuttle bus.  Us in the back were a little less chatty. I make conversation with a couple of people behind me (one who I later find out is the returning champion, Dan McShane – who is building a big schoolgirl fanbase on Tumblr).  Even though it wasn’t, the ride to the studio seemed like the LONGEST RIDE OF MY LIFE.

We get there, it’s super sunny and warm outside (for November), and we meet two more contestants there. We get our clothes and bodies scanned, meet up with Glenn and Corina (two of the contestant coordinators), and head to the “green room.”  I can’t remember if the room was actually green, but it was nice.  Comfy.  We passed through part of the Jeopardy! Hall of Fame to get to the green room, which was right across from an obscene display case of what seemed like 5,067 Emmy Awards.  Snacks and drinks are waiting on us.  I choose healthier fare (fruit) instead of the donuts which looked SO DELICIOUS.  I made sure to semi-chug a Coke, because if I didn’t, the caffeine-withdrawal headache I would inevitably get near the end of the day would probably be my kryptonite.

We (the contestants….referred to here on out as “we” or “us”) go over our paperwork, sign more paperwork, and practice our “Hometown Howdies,” which are greetings to be sent to our various local TV stations that broadcast Jeopardy!.   Then, the “Maggie Show” begins.  Maggie Speak is a contestant coordinator who loves her job.  Seriously, her spirit and passion is infectious.  If I was in a position to hire someone for something, I would try to snatch her away from Jeopardy! in a second.  She is so good at getting us excited, inspiring us, and making us smile.  I would find out throughout the day just how awesome she is.  Before the “Maggie Show,” she sat down next to me and said, “I’m going to hang with you today. You seem fun.”  Aw shucks, Mags.

For about an hour, we listen to Maggie as she tells us about former contestants, strategy, goes over the rules, advises us on what to do in tricky situations, and encourages us to do our best.  While she’s presenting, contestants are going in one by one to get their makeup done.  I appeared on Wheel of Fortune in 2005, and got my makeup done by Clint Eastwood’s daughter.  But it wasn’t until I was in the makeup chair that it really sank in that, “Hey Preston, you’re about to go on a national game show for the second time in your life.”  How many people can say that?  I would find out later that “about two dozen” people have been on both Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! It was so surreal.  Not to mention that the makeup person was giving me what she referred to as a “fake tan.”  I needed it; I’m a red head, therefore, quite pale.

Maggie finishes the orientation, and we leave the green room to start the practice games.  The coordinators take us to the stage, and it wasn’t until I heard fellow contestant Michael say “wow” did I realize that I was standing on the freakin’ Jeopardy! stage.  It was so bright, so purple and blue.  It was a dream come true.  I get called to stand behind a podium as the stage manager gave us instructions on how to use the telewriter and the signaling device.  It’s not a buzzer, it’s a “signaling device.”

For two games, contestants rotate in and out of a mock game, using the actual signaling device, the actual podium, the actual game board.  I don’t get called to go to the stage until deep into Double Jeopardy of the first mock game. I start playing, get in on a few buzzes, and then I hit a “Daily Double.”  Knowing this is all play money, I bet it all, and double up on a clue about The Prince and the Pauper.  Double Jeopardy! was over, we went to Final Jeopardy!, and I bet it all again on the category of “State Capitals.”  “This is the only three word state capital.”  Boom, I’m already writing down Salt Lake City before the “think music” starts playing.  I double up, win the “game,” and proceed to start hamming it up. I knew Maggie would like that. She did.  I even did the paused jumping, fist in the air pose.  Lots of laughter from fellow contestants and the contestant coordinators ensued.

We play another mock game.  Again, I don’t get called until late in Double Jeopardy!, but we don’t play Final Jeopardy! because.....HERE COMES THE AUDIENCE.  OH MY GOD PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO WATCH ME PLAY JEOPARDY! TODAY.   This might not be 100% accurate, because at this point, I get a little nervous.

Jeopardy! tapes five episodes in a day.  There are three episodes taped back to back, a lunch break for the contestants, and then two more episodes.  I’m not drawn for the first episode – the “Monday” episode.  So, I get to watch from the audience.  This is the same for the “Tuesday” and “Wednesday” episode.  There were some questions in those first three episodes I didn’t know, and also some “triple stumpers” that I wanted to jump up with my hand in the air and shout, “Me! Me! I know!” So, because I wasn’t called to the stage during the morning taping, I get a free lunch on Jeopardy!  w00t! 

As a quick aside, Alex is awesome, and crazy, and curmudgeonly, and slightly inappropriate.  He makes drinking jokes, talks about the recent sex scandals, and answers audience member’s questions in a way that shows he’s not going to take anybody’s crap. He being hilariously bizarre was one of my favorite parts of the day.

We return to the studio after lunch, and those of us who are left play another mock board.  Then the “Thursday” episode starts, without me.  As that episode wraps up, I was facing a dilemma. If I was drawn for the “Friday” episode, then fine, I would tape that episode.  If I wasn’t drawn, I would have to report back to the studio the next day to do the process all over again. We were there on a Tuesday, and they were taping five more episodes the next day (Wednesday).  Now trust me, I wouldn’t have minded that one bit.  Another hour of watching “The Maggie Show?”  Sign me up!  Well, names are drawn, and it’s me!  It’s me!  I go take one more bathroom break (sorry for the overshare), and then I step on stage to hopefully not embarrass myself in front of America (and apparently, according to Alex, parts of the Middle East). 

“THIS…IS….JEOPARDY!  HERE ARE TODAY’S CONTESTANTS….A PRE-LAW PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND ATTORNEY, ORIGINALLY FROM HOMINY, OKLAHOMA…..PRESTON NICHOLSON….”  Let the game begin.

Other Posts:

Part 1 - The Online Test

Part 2 - Preparing for the Audition

Part 3 - The Audition

Part 4 - Getting the Call

My Jeopardy! Journey - Getting the Call

The audition is done, and now I wait.  The coordinators told us that if we’re lucky enough to get called, it would be sometime in the next eighteen months.  EIGHTEEN MONTHS.   I might have to wait around until December 2012.  That would be no good for my nerves.

Even getting the call is slim.  Over 100,000 people take the online test each year.  Out of those 100,000, around 3,000 are invited for an in-person audition.  That’s 3%, people.  Out of those 3,000 people, around 400 are selected to be on the show.  In summary, 400 out of 100,000 people who try get on the show each year.   That’s 0.4%.  Not even 1%.  Plus, this is my first time in the pool.  Why should they select me now?  The odds were certainly stacked against me…until October 5^th.

I’m sitting in my office organizing my Outlook calendar when the phone rings. I knew if I ever got the call from Jeopardy!, it would probably be from the 310 area code.  That’s the area code that was used when I got the call from Wheel of Fortune.  I remember weird things like that.  Lo and behold, I look down at my phone, and it’s a 310 number.  I jump up, shut my office door, and take the call.

Corina from Jeopardy! asks me to verify the information that I submitted on my initial paperwork.  She doesn’t invite me to be on the show when we first start talking, but at this point, I’m pretty sure it’s coming. I read online that they like to do the “fakeout” before they actually extend you an invitation to tape.  Well, I answered her questions, and then she asked me to tape in November.  I was freaking out in my mind, but I did a good job of keeping composure while on the phone with her.  I find out I’m expected in L.A. for tapings on November 8^th and 9^th.  That’s one month away.

One more thing is interesting about the timing of this call.  That morning, as I was getting ready for work, I randomly thought, “Wouldn’t it be awesome if Jeopardy! called me tomorrow, so I could get the call before my 30^th birthday?”  Little did I know I wouldn’t have to wait until “tomorrow” for the call, because I was going to get it “today.”

With one short month before I’m expected to answer trivia questions on national TV, I start a study regimen.  My friend Robert sent me a large collection of Jeopardy! episodes he had collected and recorded.  I owe a big debt of gratitude to him for this.  I watched A LOT of those episodes.  I also pored over lists about presidents, capitals, Shakespeare, science, literature, and read some books about U.S. history.  I was very realistic with myself – I couldn’t learn EVERYTHING, so why not study enough so that I feel confident when I go on stage, knowing I did what I could do with the time I had. 

As expected, October was the quickest month I’ve ever experienced.  November 7^th rolls around, it’s 5:00pm, and I find myself sitting in a hotel room in L.A. waiting on my friend Kay to get there so we could go to dinner.  After dinner, she spends some time using one of my books to ask me questions about comic strips, bodies of water, etc.  After this, I go to bed and try to sleep.  You want to guess how well I was able to sleep?

Other Posts:

Part 1 - The Online Test

Part 2 - Preparing for the Audition

Part 3 - The Audition

My Jeopardy! Journey - The Audition

This is part three of my blog about my Jeopardy! experience.  For parts one and two, please see the links at the end of this article.

It’s the morning of my audition, and I had to go to work.  I presented at New Student Orientation on campus that morning (working in academic advising, being present at New Student Orientation is a must), so as soon as that presentation was over, I jumped in the car and headed to KC.  I was tempted to listen to a book on my Kindle on the way there to get the brain going, but I opted to sing loudly to music on my iPod on the way there instead (to get my energy up).  Funny looks from fellow motorists were abundant.  I did this until I realized, “Oh crap, my voice is getting scratchy.”

I get to the Kansas City hotel where it was held pretty early.  I go into the holding room to fill out the application with my brand new, swanky, Jeopardy! click pen (which looks just like my swanky Wheel of Fortune click pen that's now out of ink).  Pretty standard fare – are you running for public office, have you ever been convicted of a felony, on what channel does the show air….crap.  What are the call letters?  I have no idea.  “Topeka Affiliate.”  That will have to do.  Little did I know that my local cable company would stop broadcasting the “Topeka Affiliate” one week before my Jeopardy! debut (but again, more on that later). I’m one of the younger people in the room.  The contestant coordinators (awesome folks, by the way) come in to take an instant picture of us – Fujifilm, not Polaroid.  My picture was pretty sexy.

We are escorted to the official audition room, where Robert, one of the contestant coordinators, goes over the rules and gets us pumped up.  I am now sufficiently pumped up, although some others were way more pumped up than me.  Some people were trying way too hard to get the coordinators’ attention.  They lead us through a mock game with everyone in the room participating by raising our hands.  I was the very first person called on in the mock game, and after answering, was complimented on my voice and quickly choosing the next category.

After that, we start the fifty question test.  A few times during the test, I made eye contact with one of the coordinators, and we smiled at each other.  “Ooh, I know that one….wait, I know that one too…OMG…wow, I just studied that….oh crap.”  Fifty questions later (sorry, I can’t reveal details of the questions – cheaters, scram!), I’m pretty confident I passed.  The rumor on the internets is that 35/50 is a passing score.  I definitely scored above 35.  In fact, I think I scored anywhere between 39-41, which is pretty close to what I think I scored on the online test.

The coordinators go outside to grade the test, and people in the room start comparing answers.  I felt bad because one guy realized he missed quite a few, and became sufficiently bummed.  I realized I missed quite a few also, including making a stupid mistake on what might have been one of the easiest questions on the test.  To my credit though, I did get some obscure questions that many in the room realized they missed.

After they come back in, the coordinators tell us they are going to call us up in groups of three to play a mock game, in no particular order.  This is different than the way they used to do it.  They used to cut some people after they graded the fifty question test.  But now, they let everyone stay and play the second mock game.  Again, I’m the VERY FIRST PERSON THEY CALL.  Random?  Maybe.  For the record, I was in the first group at my Wheel audition, and that worked out pretty well.  I’m jokingly introduced as the 47-day returning champion, I bow, and we start the game.  I pick the first category, then after, the coordinator says, “that’s how you do it.”  Did I just get complimented for a second time on my voice and gameplay?  Holy crap.  I get outbuzzed a few times, but get in a few times, and I get all my questions right.  They start interviewing the three of us; I get some laughs from the coordinators and from the crowd, and then the other two get questions.  In that moment, I felt like my interview was short, and it was definitely shorter than many others, but I think it went well, nonetheless.  We take our seats and stay for the remainder of the audition, watching and supporting the others.

One guy was there for his sixth audition, about half were there for their second or third audition, and most of the younger people were there for the first time. The woman I played against in my mock game will definitely be on the show.  She was interesting and camera ready.  A few others will also definitely get on.  They were funny and interesting.  But that’s what makes it so tough – no one was outright bad.  Although, one guy missed three questions in his mock game all in a row.  He looked like he needed a hug.

Overall, I did all I could do, so it would now be in their hands. At this point, I'm in the contestant pool for eighteen months, so if I didn't get selected this time, I could start the audition process again in January 2013. Thousands of people audition each year for 400 spots, so the odds were against me.  I had no idea if my being on Wheel would help me (“he’s camera ready….”) or hurt me (“let’s give others a chance…”).  I could have had an amazing audition, but not get selected because there’s just not room for me.

At this point, I had two goals.  Continue studying, but also try and go on with my life.  Try being the operative word.

For part two (Preparing for the Audition):  Preparing for the Audition

For part one (The Online Test):  The Online Test

My Jeopardy! Journey - Preparing for the Audition

This is part two of a blog about my Jeopardy! experience.  For part one, follow the link at the bottom of this article.

I came home in early May to find an email from Jeopardy! inviting me to an in-person audition in Kansas City.  The audition was on a Tuesday in June at 11:00am. After I RSVP’ed, I went to the Jeopardy! message board to see if anyone else had posted about receiving an audition. A few had, but all of them reported having auditions that weekend before. I would soon find out that I was attending the last audition they would hold in Kansas City. I figured this was a good thing, right?  Fresh on their minds?

Most people don’t start prepping for the show (i.e. studying) until after they’ve gone through the audition, or for many, until they get the call asking them to come tape.  I, however, am a worrier.  I would hate to show up to the audition and fail the written test.  In Part 3 of this blog, I will talk about the actual audition, including that written test, in detail.

So, I begin studying.  In college, I bought a few books on a whim as I was thinking about the possibility of being on the Jeopardy! College Tournament.  First, I bought this:

And then, I bought this:

 

These are both books that break down crucial facts that “anyone going on a game show or playing trivia should know.”  So, I thought it would be a good idea to read them.  I studied them, learned many new things (and recognized some errors in the first book), and also spent time reviewing the Jeopardy! Archive – www.j-archive.com. I also searched online for audition stories from other folks who had gone through the process before.  However, I didn’t stress myself out too much about it, because at some point you just have to leave it up to fate.  I knew I couldn't study everything. I tried to see the bright side - if this whole Jeopardy! thing didn't work out, the studying I did wouldn't go to waste because I would likely use the knowledge at some point at local trivia I play each week.

Mostly what the studying helped me with was feeling confident.  When audition day arrived, I was confident that I had at least made an effort to be prepared and knowledgeable about how the day would go.  Onto the audition…

For part one of this article (The Online Test):  The Online Test

 

My Jeopardy! Journey - The Online Test

I have been very fortunate, in that I've been able to realize my dream of being on a game show.  In fact, I have been on two - Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune. Even crazier (in my opinion), I have been able to appear on both shows, and I'm only 30 years old!

In the next few posts, I want to share all about my Jeopardy! experience in 2011.  As you read these entries, please feel free to leave comments about your experience.  If you'd like more info on anything related to the Jeopardy! process, the Wheel of Fortune process, or anything else related to getting on game shows, please check out the sidebar of this blog to find out how to contact me.

My journey, along with everyone else that wants to be on Jeopardy!, began with the written test that Jeopardy! administers yearly.  You sign up for the test through the show’s web site, where you choose on what date you’d like to test the test (out of three options) and what city you’d like to visit for an audition should you be chosen for one.  Normally, they give you six to eight options for audition cities, and luckily for me, Kansas City was one of the options.  I live about 40 minutes from KC, so that was a no-brainer.

The weekly trivia show I love is on Wednesday night, so I had to show up late, as my test was on Wednesday night in early February.  I could have chosen a Monday or Tuesday test, but Jeopardy! recommends that people in the Central time zone take it on Wednesday.   I should say that I've taken the test three times, but have never been chosen for an audition, although I believe I've passed the test every year (more on that later).  Not everyone that "passes"the test gets an audition. In fact, once you pass the test, it becomes a random selection process to determine who they will invite to an audition.  I just hadn't been lucky enough to be selected for an in-person audition in previous years.

The test consists of 50 clues in 50 different categories.  The show says that the clues are “bottom of the board” difficult. I’d disagree to an extent. There are some very tough clues on the test, but some pretty general ones, also.  If you’d like to see what the test looks like, some people have uploaded videos of the test to Youtube.  But, because they weren’t supposed to do that in the first place, I’m not going to link to one.

Well, I sit down to take the test, and it’s a doozy.  There are some questions I know immediately, some I had no clue on, some I figured out at the last minute, and some I guessed one (both successfully and unsuccessfully).  It really does cover a range of subjects – history, film, science, wordplay, literature….lots of literature.  I felt like there was more literature than anything else on the test.  I haven’t read a lot of “classic literature,” but because of high school quiz bowl, I was able to learn a lot about many different types of works.  On the show, it’s usually one of my strongest subjects.

What makes the test super difficult is the speed.  Once a question comes on the screen, you have about fifteen seconds to type in your answer.  If you don’t type it in in the allotted time, you miss your chance and you can’t go back and answer a question after the test has moved on.  Despite this, I tried to jot down on a scratch piece of paper what I answered for each question, so I could go back and check it.  The Jeopardy! message board users usually post a transcript of the test on the message board after it’s all said and done, so that’s a great way to go back and check your work.

I finish the test, quickly check some clues on which I was unsure, and then head to trivia night.  After trivia night wrapped up, I came home and officially “checked my work.”  I finished the test getting 40 questions right out of 50!  Jeopardy! lore says that 35 out of 50 is “passing,” but no one with any real knowledge or power has ever confirmed this. 

So, now that I have passed the test (I think), all I can do is sit back and wait to see if they ever notify me about an audition.  Fast forward to May, and I return home one evening to an email from Jeopardy!.....

The Muppets

I'm not sure why I was hesitant to see The Muppets. I LOVED The Muppet Show, and would watch it every day after kindergarten.  My sister and I had Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy dolls, and she even took the Kermit the Frog doll with her when she had to go to surgery once as a kid. My favorite lunch pail was, of course, a Muppet Show lunch pail.  Muppet Babies were a staple of Saturday mornings. I've seen the original Kermit the Frog in the Smithsonian (Museum of American History), and made it a point to have my picture taken with him. But I was scared. Scared that The Muppets might not be worth my time, wouldn't be that enjoyable, or that maybe I had outgrown the idea of the Muppets entertaining me.  I was wrong.

You can't help but smile the entire time you're watching The Muppets.  The film introduces a new Muppet to the fold - Walter - who needs a guiding force in his life.  He finds that force in the love he develops for the Muppet crew and Muppet Show culture.  When he gets the chance to go to L.A. with his brother (Jason Segel) and his brother's fiancee (Amy Adams), he can't believe it. A scheduled tour of Muppet Studios turns into a disaster as they quickly realize the place where the magic used to happen is deserted, dilapidated and nearly ruined.  Walter sneaks into Kermit's old office and overhears a meeting with a businessman who plans to buy Muppet Studios, bulldoze it, and seize the oil that's supposedly underneath the land.  This leads to a reunion of the Muppet crew, who plan a telethon to raise money to keep the studios from being bought.  Once they start cleaning, practicing and planning the show, the crew quickly realizes the magic of the Muppets never died.  At the same time, Jason Segel's character must balance his love and support for his brother with the effect these escapades are having on his relationship with Amy Adams's character.

Man, did I love this! The musical numbers are cheesy, but awesome. I fully expect some Best Original Song nominations to come from this.  It perfectly employs classic movie cliches, including two EPIC 80's-style montage sequences. That's what's so great about this movie.  It's not afraid to be silly.  It's not afraid to be heartwarming.  It's well-written.  It's accessible, even if you know nothing about the Muppets.  Plus, Amy Adams and Jason Segel are great, which doesn't hurt one bit.  Don't be surprised if this gets a Golden Globe nomination for Best Picture, Musical or Comedy.

This is a very funny movie, and you'll enjoy it.  I don't care how old you are or how young you are - go.  Go now.  Until then, check out two of the songs you could very easily see nominated for Best Original Song at the Oscars:

"Life's a Happy Song"


"Man or Muppet"


Image Courtesy of Disney, 2011. All Rights Reserved.

National Board of Review Winners

50/50 again?  It seems to be making a wave, doesn't it?

The National Board of Review, an exclusive New York-based group of film historians, filmmakers and film students, released their annual list of award winners today.  On the surface, one might wonder what sort of influence a group like this could have, but it's long and storied history provides it with the credibility to be noticed by critics, studios, and ultimately, Oscar voters. 

What I can say about this group is that they're never afraid to think outside the box when voting for their "best in film."  Often, their endorsement of a candidate helps that candidate gain traction with other critics awards.  The list is below.  Hugo being honored as Best Picture and it's director, Martin Scorsese, getting the win for Best Director should help Hugo tremendously.  As well, Tilda Swinton getting Best Actress for We Need to Talk About Kevin (which I haven't seen but have heard fantastic things about), should give her candidacy some great energy as we move through the next few months.  What do you think?  Have you seen any of these yet?

Best Film: Hugo
Best Director: Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Best Actor: George Clooney, The Descendants
Best Actress: Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Best Supporting Actress: Shailene Woodley, The Descendants
Best Original Screenplay: Will Reiser, 50/50
Best Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash, The Descendants
Best Animated Feature: Rango
Breakthrough Performance: Felicity Jones, Like Crazy
Breakthrough Performance: Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Debut Director: J.C. Chandor, Margin Call
Best Ensemble: The Help
Spotlight Award: Michael Fassbender (A Dangerous Method, Jane Eyre, Shame, X-Men: First Class)
NBR Freedom of Expression: Crime After Crime
NBR Freedom of Expression: Pariah
Best Foreign Language Film: A Separation
Best Documentary: Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Special Achievement in Filmmaking: The Harry Potter Franchise - A Distinguished Translation from Book to Film
 
Top Films
(in alphabetical order)
The Artist
The Descendants
Drive
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
The Ides of March
J. Edgar
The Tree of Life
War Horse
 
Top 5 Foreign Language Films
(In Alphabetical Order)
13 Assassins
Elite Squad: The Enemy Within
Footnote
Le Havre
Point Blank

Top 5 Documentaries
(In Alphabetical Order)
Born to be Wild
Buck
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
Project Nim
Senna
 
Top 10 Independent Films
(In Alphabetical Order)
50/50
Another Earth
Beginners
A Better Life
Cedar Rapids
Margin Call
Shame
Take Shelter
We Need To Talk About Kevin
Win Win

Grammy Predictions

The Grammy nominations are being announced tomorrow night. Here is my annual exercise in futility. Below, my 100% correct Grammy predictions:

Album of the Year
21, Adele
Watch the Throne, Jay-Z & Kanye West or My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye West
Doo-Wops and Hooligans - Bruno Mars
The King of Limbs, Radiohead 
Speak Now - Taylor Swift
Alternates:  Duets II - Tony Bennett; Born this Way - Lady Gaga; The Union - Elton John & Leon Russell

Record of the Year
Adele "Rolling in the Deep" 
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga "The Lady Is a Tramp"
Foster the People "Pumped Up Kicks"
Nicki Minaj "Super Bass" 
Katy Perry "Firework"
Alternates: "Grenade" - Bruno Mars, "Moves Like Jagger" - Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera

Song of the Year
Adele “Rolling in the Deep”
Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson "Don't You Wanna Stay"
Foster the People “Pumped Up Kicks”
Mumford and Sons "The Cave"
Katy Perry “Firework” Alternates: "Back to December" - Taylor Swift; "Grenade" - Bruno Mars 

New Artist
The Band Perry
Bon Iver
The Civil Wars
Foster the People
Nicki Minaj 
Alternates: Jessie J, Ellie Goulding

Pop Solo Performance
Adele “Someone Like You”
Beyoncé “Best Thing I Never Had”
Lady Gaga “You and I”
Bruno Mars “Grenade”
Katy Perry “Firework” 
Alternates: Paul Simon "So Beautiful or So What", Sting "Never Coming Home"

Pop Duo/Group
Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse “Body and Soul”
Foster the People “Pumped Up Kicks”
Elton John, Leon Russell & Neil Young “Gone to Shiloh”
LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett & Goonrock “Party Rock Anthem”
Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera “Moves Like Jagger” 
Alternates: OneRepublic "Good Life", Quincy Jones feat. Amy Winehouse, "It's My Party"

Actually, I don't feel good about these at all.

New York Film Critics Circle Awards

The New York Film Critics Circle has released their list of honorees for their annual awards.  In my previous post, I mentioned a new found need to see Drive, and that need is confirmed, as they've chosen Albert Brooks as their Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film.  Critics are known for creating, fostering, or killing buzz, but it's important to remember that critics don't actually vote for Oscar nominees.  However, the Golden Globes are presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, a group of international journalists and critics.

The Artist was chosen as Best Picture, and if you haven't heard of it, check out the trailer - it's a silent film that takes you back to 1920's Hollywood:


Here are the list of winners:

Best Picture The Artist
Best Cinematography Emmanuel Lubezki, The Tree of Life
Best Screenplay Steven Zaillian & Aaron Sorkin, Moneyball
Best Director Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Best Foreign Language Film A Separation
Best Actor Brad Pitt, Moneyball & The Tree of Life
Best Actress Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Best Supporting Actor Albert Brooks, Drive
Best Supporting Actress Jessica Chastain, The Tree of Life, The Help, and Take Shelter
Best First Feature Margin Call
Best Non-Fiction Film Cave of Forgotten Dreams

Spirit Award Nominations

The first major award show to release their nominations each year, the Spirit Awards (formerly Independent Spirit Awards) is always willing to take risks and honor films that the Oscars hesitate to adopt. Of course, the films honored have to meet budget and production restrictions, which makes it a perfect opportunity to give public attention to films that may have only played at local, independent theaters.

On the list of nominations includes a Best Feature nomination for 50/50, which I had actually forgot I had seen until I saw it listed amongst these nominations. That being said, it shocks me that I forgot, because I enjoyed 50/50 quite a bit.  So far, and it's very early, of the films receiving nods here, I've seen Midnight in Paris, 50/50, and Martha Marcy May Marlene.  I keep being pulled away from seeing The Descendants, but I will see that shortly.  I was not planning on placing Drive high on my priority list, and I don't think it will gain much traction anywhere else, but I guess I will add it.

Also interesting is that many are saying Glenn Close in Albert Nobbs is one of two or three people who might beat Meryl Streep this year for Best Actress (the others being Viola Davis for The Help and Michelle Williams for My Week with Marilyn.)  However, Glenn isn't even nominated here, although her costar Janet McTeer is nominated for Best Supporting Actress. This won't mean a lot in the grand scheme of things, but it's an odd oversight.

For anyone that saw Grand Rapids, was John C. Reilly particularly good or memorable?

Best Feature
50/50
Beginners
Drive
Take Shelter
The Artist
The Descendants

Best Director
Mike Mills, Beginners
Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive
Jeff Nichols, Take Shelter
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants

Best First Feature
Another Earth
In The Family
Margin Call
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Natural Selection

Best Male Lead
Demian Bichir, A Better Life
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Ryan Gosling, Drive
Woody Harrelson, Rampart
Michael Shannon, Take Shelter

Best Female Lead
Lauren Ambrose, Think of Me
Rachel Harris, Natural Selection
Adepero Oduye, Pariah
Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

Best Supporting Male
Albert Brooks, Drive
John Hawkes, Martha Marcy May Marlene
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
John C. Reilly, Cedar Rapids
Corey Stoll, Midnight in Paris

Best Supporting Female
Jessica Chastain, Take Shelter
Anjelica Huston, 50/50
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Harmony Santana, Gun Hill Road
Shailene Woodley, The Descendants

John Cassavetes Award for films made under $500,000
Bellflower
Circumstance
Hello Lonesome
Pariah
The Dynamiter

Best Documentary
An African Selection
Bill Cunningham New York
The Interrupters
The Redemption of General Butt Naked
We Were Here

Best Cinematography
Joel Hodge, Bellflower
Benjamin Kasulke, The Off Hours
Darius Khondji, Midnight in Paris
Guillaume Shiffman, The Artist
Jeffrey Waldron, The Dynamiter

Best First Screenplay
Mike Cahill & Brit Marling, Another Earth
J.C. Chandor, Margin Call
Patrick DeWitt, Terri
Phil Johnston, Cedar Rapids
Will Reiser, 50/50

Best Screenplay
Joseph Cedar, Footnote
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Tom McCarthy, Win Win
Mike Mills, Beginners
Alexander Payne, The Descendants

Best International Film
A Separation
Melancholia
Shame
The Kid With a Bike
Tyrannosaur

Piaget Producer’s Award
Chad Burris, Mosquita y Mari
Sophia Lin, Take Shelter
Josh Mond, Martha Marcy May Marlene

Someone to Watch Award
Simon Arthur, Silver Tongues
Mark Jackson, Without
Nicholas Ozeki, Mamitas

Truer Than Fiction Award
Heather Courtney, Where Soldiers Come From
Danfung Dennis, Hell and Back Again
Alma Ha’rel, Bombay Beach

Robert Altman Award for ensemble
Margin Call (Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Mary McDonnell, Demi Moore, Zachary Quinto, Kevin Spacey, Stanley Tucci)

Martha Marcy Mae Marlene

I went into Martha Marcy Mae Marlene with no knowledge of the film whatsoever, except the fact that it played to rave reviews at Sundance, Elizabeth Olsen was in it and that she's related to some other famous Olsens. Funny enough, a disaster related to showing up fifteen minutes early for a screening of The Descendants and there only being front row seats left led us to this little film.

Martha is the story of a woman who has escaped from a cult and has taken refuge with her uptight sister and her sister's well-to-d0 husband. Throughout the film, little things trigger her memories of the cult and the sometimes awful things that occurred there. She's always scared that the cult leader (played by John Hawkes) will find out to where she's escaped and come for her, which causes her to not only distrust the family she's staying with, but also herself. The title makes sense as you watch her progression through the cult ranks and through her interactions with her sister and brother-in-law.

The film leaves many unresolved questions, like how she wound up in the cult in the first place, and the ending (which, of course, I don't want to reveal) leaves you wondering as well. Honestly, I felt a little cheated by the ending, not because there wasn't a definitive answer, but because what they did explore in the final scene felt undeveloped.

This is certainly a film that requires time and patience. Watching the first of it, if you don't know what to expect, it's easy to get confused quickly. I know I did, which I know caused me to miss some small details. But now that you've read this, hopefully that won't be a problem for you.

What I noticed is that I never really liked the lead character. I just watched her and appreciated the fear and uneasiness she was going through. But I never felt an attachment to her or ever found myself rooting for her. Despite that, Elizabeth Olsen does a great job at showing restraint when she needs to and emotion when she needs to. She's getting a little bit of Oscar buzz, but I don't think we'll see her contending for Best Actress. John Hawkes, as the leader of the Amish-like cult, does a great job playing the cool, calm, collected, yet scary as hell cult leader. He knows how to keep his followers in check with a soothing voice and a "if you cross me, that's the end of you" implication to everything he says. Watching him in Winter's Bone and now this, I'm convinced he should be to go-to-guy for a grizzled, sinister patriarchal character.

A particular scene that really made me gasp was a shot of Hawkes's women gardening out in the yard. The camera pans over a wide shot of each of them tending to sort part of the yard. In the distance, you can see ominous storm clouds in the sky, and as the camera stops panning, you can see two white crosses in the background (obviously implying that people are buried under those crosses). It's at this point you realize that, for at least some of these women, there may not be a happy ending.

If you decide to see this, be ready to pay close attention and have some lingering questions when you're done. But really, that's a good thing, right?

Image courtesy Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2011. All Rights Reserved.

My Week with Marilyn

It's Oscar season! So begins my five month journey into watching lots of artsy films and trying to predict who will win different film awards. I won (tied) AMC Theatre's Oscar Prediction Contest in 2011, so we're looking for a two-peat! And away we go...

I watched the first Oscar-y contender of the year, Midnight in Paris, earlier in the year, but I neglected to write a blog post on it. I guess I'll need to catch it again on DVD in order to properly summarize it for you, my seven loyal readers. Well technically, I guess I've seen two Oscar-y films so far. Bridesmaids is starting to get buzz for Melissa McCarthy as Best Supporting Actress and for Best Original Screenplay, two things that are completely shocking to me. I would love it if Melissa McCarthy got a Best Supporting Actress nomination, but no way was I going to stick my head out and predict that before she started having the best year of her life, career wise.

On to the task at hand - My Week with Marilyn. I received free passes for this film, so I decided to check it out. It's getting Oscar buzz for Michelle Williams as Best Actress and Kenneth Branagh as Best Supporting Actor. The story revolves around a young man getting a job with Laurence Olivier's film studio, meeting Marilyn on set, and developing a kinship with her during the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl.

I was entertained throughout the film. It was a story that kept me interested and intrigued. However, it didn't leave me passionate about either Michelle Williams or Kenneth Branagh and their chances for Oscars. I never got past the fact that it was Michelle Williams playing Marilyn Monroe. I was never absorbed enough to forget that it was Michelle Williams I was watching. Michelle had Marilyn's mannerisms down, and had more than a passing resemblance, but I never got sucked in. Kenneth Branagh's portrayal of Laurence Olivier did nothing for me, really. Honestly, my two favorite parts of the film were Judi Dench in her miniscule role as Dame Sybil Thorndike, a senior actress who ends up supporting Marilyn when the rest of the film crew dismisses her talents and her antics, and Eddie Redmayne, who played the eager third assistant director who got to spend the titular "week with Marilyn." Both Dench and Redmayne provided humor to the film, and provided great support to Michelle Williams in critical scenes.

Most Oscarologists won't share my opinion of Michelle Williams's portrayal, and she'll coast to a nomination. Kenneth Branagh will likely receive one as well. But don't expect either to win. But even with these minor criticisms, this still is a very good film.

I'm seeing The Descendants tonight, again thanks to a free screening of the film before it hits theaters. For now, let me begin my yearly ranking of Oscar-y films:

1. Midnight in Paris
2. My Week with Marilyn
3. Bridesmaids
4. Super 8
5. The Hangover 2

And the blog is being funky, so if you want to see older blog posts, please click "Older Posts."

Image courtesy of The Weinstein Company, 2011. All rights reserved.

Emmy Nominee Predictions

For the record, here are my predictions:

Drama Series

Boardwalk Empire
Dexter
Game of Thrones
The Good Wife
House
Mad Men

Actor, Drama Series

Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
Christopher Meloni, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Actress, Drama Series

Kathy Bates, Harry’s Law
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Katey Sagal, Sons of Anarchy
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Supporting Actor, Drama Series

Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age
Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
John Noble, Fringe
Michael Pitt, Boardwalk Empire
John Slattery, Mad Men

Supporting Actress, Drama Series

Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Sharon Gless, Burn Notice
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire
Margo Martindale, Justified
Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife

Comedy Series

30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
Glee
Modern Family
The Office
Parks and Recreation

Actor, Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Louis C.K., Louie
Steve Carell, The Office
Joel McHale, Community
Matthew Morrison, Glee
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Actress, Comedy Series

Toni Collette, The United States of Tara
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Laura Linney, The Big C
Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

Supporting Actor, Comedy Series

Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Chris Colfer, Glee
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Ed O’Neill, Modern Family
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

Supporting Actress, Comedy Series

Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Jane Lynch, Glee
Wendie Malick, Hot in Cleveland
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Betty White, Hot in Cleveland
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live

Reality/Competition Program

The Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing with the Stars
Survivor
Top Chef