Musings, odds and analysis of the movie awards season leading up to Oscar night, from Detroit News Film Critic Tom Long and Pop Culture writer Adam Graham.
Oscar voters must have taken their happy pills this year. Or maybe they’re in search of happy pills. Looking over the long list of critically praised films that were not nominated for best picture this year, one thing becomes abundantly clear. There was no room for Debbie Downers at this year’s Oscars. “Drive,” “Young Adult,” … Continue Reading →
Oscar nominations were announced this morning, and there were several notable surprises among the expected nominees, as Tom Long pointed out. But which of those surprises were the biggest? And who was left out of the race? Here are 10 surprises, snubs and shockers among the nominations. DRIVE. What happened to Drive? Oh, Drive. It … Continue Reading →
On Tuesday morning Hollywood egos will be inflated and crushed, careers will soar and plummet, and Oscar prognosticators will realize just how mortal they are, myself included. That is, of course, when this year’s Oscar nominees will be named. So of course now’s the time for me to predict who will and won’t make the … Continue Reading →
A few thoughts after the annual atrocity that is the Golden Globes: * Meryl Streep’s win likely means nothing when it comes to the Oscar race. Streep could play a postage stamp and she’d win a Golden Globe for it. She’s won eight of the things, but only two Oscars. This is no knock on … Continue Reading →
The Critics Choice awards may be as meaningless as all the other non-Academy awards, but this year I think they were probably an accurate reflection of the upcoming Oscars. They spread the love around and landed on all the likely favorites. The tandem wins of best actress Viola Davis and best supporting actress Octavia Spencer … Continue Reading →
Up is in this year. The sort of dark tales that have won Oscars in year’s past — think “The Hurt Locker” and “No Country for Old Men” — don’t seem to have much of a chance this year. Audiences and critics alike seem to be drifting toward hope and laughter and away from cynicism … Continue Reading →
Forget the Golden Globes nominations as indicators for the Oscars. A far better bellwether when it comes to Oscar’s inclinations are the Directors Guild Awards nominees, which were announced today. There have only been six instances since 1948 in which the winner of the DGA award did not go on to win the Oscar. And … Continue Reading →
Yesterday the Writers Guild announced its nominees for the best screenplays of 2011. “The Artist” was not on the list. Now you might think it understandable that an American institution didn’t nominate a script with no dialogue written by a French guy (writer-director Michel Hazanavicius). But in truth, “The Artist” likely wasn’t on the list … Continue Reading →
They are very different films, but in one important way “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” and “Albert Nobbs” have something in common. Their lead actors show admirable and effective restraint. Whether this will help or hinder in landing Gary Oldman a best actor Oscar nomination for “Tinker” or Glenn Close a nom for “Albert” is anybody’s … Continue Reading →
Ballots will be sent to the 6,000 or so members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today. The nominations will be announced Jan. 24 and the Oscars will be given out Feb. 26. At this point, “The Artist” is the clear front-runner. It’s won best picture awards from the Detroit Film Critics … Continue Reading →