Best of 2012… LATE! YIKES!

ZERO DARK THIRTY,
the best film of 2012

Well now that 2013 Top 10 lists are arriving, here's my lists (Top Movies and Actors)Life of Pi grew on me so much more than it hit me in the face the first time, and while I love Silver Linings Playbook so so much, the artistry of Zero Dark Thirty cuts through to the top from LAST YEAR, 2012. Better late than never, plus now it'll be forever on the un-deleteable world of the internet. Not much of this list has changed since February of last year…

TOP MOVIES OF 2012

1. ZERO DARK THIRTY
2. SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
3. ANNA KARENINA
4. THE MASTER
5. AMOUR
6. MOONRISE KINGDOM
7. LIFE OF PI
8. BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
9. THE INTOUCHABLES
10. ARGO

TOP 10 BEST ACTORS

Phoenix is at his all-time
most rabid in THE MASTER

1.     Joaquin Phoenix as "Freddie Quell" in THE MASTER

2.     Bradley Cooper as "Pat" in SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

3.     Daniel Day-Lewis as "Abraham Lincoln" in LINCOLN

4.     Omar Sy as "Driss" in THE INTOUCHABLES

5.     Jean-Louis Trintignant as "Georges" in AMOUR

6.     Christoph Waltz as "Dr. King Schultz" in DJANGO UNCHAINED

7.    John Hawkes as "Mark" in THE SESSIONS

8.     Tom Holland as "Lucas" in THE IMPOSSIBLE

9.     Denzel Washington as "Whip Whitaker" in FLIGHT

10.  Francois Cluzet as "Philippe" in THE INTOUCHABLES

TOP 10 BEST ACTRESSES

Emmanuelle Riva drifts
into mindlessness in AMOUR 
and rises to the top of the list

1.     Emmanuelle Riva as "Anne" in AMOUR

2.     Jessica Chastain as "Maya" in ZERO DARK THIRTY

3.     Jennifer Lawrence as "Tiffany" in SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

4.     Keira Knightley as "Anna Karenina" in ANNA KARENINA

5.     Quvenzhane Wallis as "Hushpuppy" in BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD

6.     Naomi Watts as "Maria" in THE IMPOSSIBLE

7.     Rosemarie DeWitt as "Hannah" in YOUR SISTER’S SISTER

8.     Emily Blunt as "Iris" in YOUR SISTER’S SISTER

9.     Kirsten Dunst as "Regan" in BACHELORETTE

10.  Zoe Kazan as "Ruby Sparks" in RUBY SPARKS

TOP 10 BEST SUPPORTING ACTORS

Philip Seymour Hoffman in his
element in THE MASTER

1. Philip Seymour Hoffman as "Lancaster Dodd" in THE MASTER
2. Robert De Niro as "Pat Sr." in SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
3. Dwight Henry as "Wink" in BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
4. Ezra Miller as "Patrick" in THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER
5. Matthew McConaughey as "Dallas" in MAGIC MIKE
6. Jason Clarke as "Dan" in ZERO DARK THIRTY
7. Tommy Lee Jones as "Thaddeus Stevens" in LINCOLN
8. Alan Arkin as "Lester Siegel" in ARGO
9. Javier Bardem as "Silva" in SKYFALL
10. Leonardo DiCaprio as "Calvin Candie" in DJANGO UNCHAINED

While Anne Hathaway's strong
performance won her the Oscar,
it's Adams who tops the list
in the role that quiets the ferocity
of the men in THE MASTER.

TOP 10 BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESSES

1. Amy Adams as "Peggy Dodd" in THE MASTER
2. Anne Hathaway as "Fantine" in LES MISÉRABLES
3. Samantha Barks as "Eponine" in LES MISÉRABLES
4. Jacki Weaver as "Dolores" in SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
5. Sally Field as "Mary Todd Lincoln" in LINCOLN
6. Kelly Reilly as "Nicole" in FLIGHT
7. Helen Hunt as "Cheryl" in THE SESSIONS
8. Judi Dench as "M" in SKYFALL
9. Ann Dowd as "Sandra" in COMPLIANCE
10. Kerry Washington as "Broomhilda von Shaft" in DJANGO UNCHAINED

Oscar Predictions 2013

So tonight are the Oscars - the second best night of the year (next to nominations day, of course) - and here are my annual thoughts, likes, and predictions for 2013. What's really exciting about tonight is that many of the major and minor categories are incredibly unpredictable. That's so rare. The main categories that you can't be too sure about are Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and both the writing categories. I feel like the snub of Ben Affleck for a Best Director nomination really threw off a lot of people and my picks this year reflect that off-balanced angst. Expect upsets. I think the Academy is going to really reward Michael Haneke and his foreign film, Amour.

BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR
The Only One to Win: ARGO
Close, Pero No Cigar: No one.
Happy to Put "Nominated for Best Picture" on the DVD: LINCOLN, LIFE OF PI, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, AMOUR, LES MISERABLES, DJANGO UNCHAINED, ZERO DARK THIRTY, BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
If I Had My Way: ZERO DARK THIRTY

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING
I'm Crazy, But I Think: Michael Haneke for AMOUR will win.
So, So, Soooo Close: Ang Lee for LIFE OF PI and Steven Spielberg for LINCOLN
Crazy Close Too: David O. Russell for SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
No Chance in Hell: Benh Zeitlin for BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
If I Had My Way: Michael Haneke!

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Best Chance: Daniel Day-Lewis in LINCOLN
Could Be, Could Be: Hugh Jackman in LES MISERABLES
I Mean, Probably Not: Bradley Cooper in SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
No Chance: Joaquin Phoenix in THE MASTER and Denzel Washington in FLIGHT
If I Had My Way: Bradley Cooper would take it home.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
I'm Going With: Emmanuelle Riva in AMOUR
It's So Close For: Jennifer Lawrence in SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
She Lost a Lot of Steam: Jessica Chastain in ZERO DARK THIRTY
It Would Be a Major Upset: Naomi Watts in THE IMPOSSIBLE
No Chance: Quevenzhane Wallis in BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
If I Had My Way: Emmanuelle would have a golden man for her 86th birthday.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
I'm Completely Guessing With: Robert De Niro in SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
It Could Also Be: Christoph Waltz in DJANGO UNCHAINED or Tommy Lee Jones in LINCOLN
Probably Not: Philip Seymour Hoffman in THE MASTER
No Chance: Alan Arkin in ARGO
If I Had My Way: Robert De Niro.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
The Only Sure Thing: Anne Hathaway in LES MISERABLES
If the Weinsteins Work Their Magic: Jacki Weaver in SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Or It Could Be: Helen Hunt in THE SESSIONS
Possibly: Sally Field in LINCOLN
Sorry, but No Chance for the Lovely: Amy Adams in THE MASTER
If I Had My Way: I mean, Anne is the best, but I want Amy Adams to win an Oscar more than I want Shelly DuVall to have a comeback.

BEST WRITING, SCREENPLAY WRITTEN DIRECTLY FOR THE SCREEN
Best Chance: AMOUR by Michael Haneke
So Close: DJANGO UNCHAINED by Quentin Tarantino
If the Controversy Doesn't Affect It: ZERO DARK THIRTY by Mark Boal
Unfortunately Not: MOONRISE KINGDOM by Wes Anderson
No Chance: FLIGHT by John Gatins
If I Had My Way: I'd love to see Wes win.

BEST WRITING, SCREENPLAY BASED ON MATERIAL PREVIOUSLY PRODUCED OR PUBLISHED
Best Chance: ARGO by Chris Terrio
So Close: SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK by David O. Russell
Also So Close: LINCOLN by Tony Kushner
Maybe: LIFE OF PI by David Magee
No Chance: BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD by Lucy Alibar and Benh Zeitlin
If I Had My Way: David O. Russell

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR
Best Chance: WRECK-IT RALPH
So Very Close: BRAVE
No Chance: PARANORMAN, FRANKENWEENIE, THE PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS
And I Don't Really Care Who Wins.

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR
The Only Chance: AMOUR (Austria)
I Heard It's Great: NO (Chile)
No Chance: A ROYAL AFFAIR (Denmark), KON-TIKI (Norway), and WAR WITCH (Canada)
Of course I want AMOUR to win.

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
Real Quick cuz i'm out of time
LIFE OF PI

BEST EDITING
ARGO

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN I LOVE THIS CATEGORY
LES MIZ

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
ANNA KARENINA MOTHER F*&#ERS

BEST SONG
ADELE SKYFALL

SOUND MIXING
SKYFALL
SOUND EDITING
SKYFALL

VISUAL EFFECTS
LIFE OF PI

BEST DOC
SUGAR MAN

SHOT DOC
RACINE

SHOT ANIMATED
PAPERMAN

SHOT LIVE
CURFEW

Best of 2012: Film: Directing, Writing, Ensemble, Technical

Kathryn Bigelow, ZERO DARK THIRTY

TOP 10 BEST DIRECTORS

1. Kathryn Bigelow for ZERO DARK THIRTY
2. Joe Wright for ANNA KARENINA
3. Michael Haneke for AMOUR
4. Paul Thomas Anderson for THE MASTER
5. Ben Affleck for ARGO
6. David O. Russell for SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
7. Wes Anderson for MOONRISE KINGDOM
8. Benh Zeitlin for BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
9. Sam Mendes for SKYFALL
10. Ang Lee for LIFE OF PI

Michael Haneke, Emmanuelle Riva, and
Jean-Louis Trintignant, AMOUR

TOP 10 BEST ORGINAL SCREENPLAYS

1. AMOUR by Michael Haneke
2. ZERO DARK THIRTY by Mark Boal
3. THE MASTER by Paul Thomas Anderson
4. MOONRISE KINGDOM by Wes Anderson
5. LOOPER by Rian Johnson
6. DJANGO UNCHAINED by Quentin Tarantino
7. MAGIC MIKE by Reid Carolin
8. YOUR SISTER’S SISTER by Lynn Shelton
9. THE INTOUCHABLES by Olivier Nakache & Eric Toledano
10. TAKE THIS WALTZ by Sarah Polley

Bradley Cooper, David O. Russell, and
Jennifer Lawrence, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

TOP 10 BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAYS

1. SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK by David O. Russell
2. ANNA KARENINA by Tom Stoppard
3. THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER by Stephen Chbosky
4. LINCOLN by Tony Kushner
5. BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD by Lucy Alibar & Benh Zeitlin
6. ARGO by Chris Terrio
7. LIFE OF PI by David Magee
8. SKYFALL by Neal Pervis, Robert Wade, & John Logan
9. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN by James Vanderbilt, Alvin Sargent, & Steve Kloves
10. LES MISÉRABLES by William Nicholson, Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schonberg, & Herbert Kretzmer

Ben Affleck and the cast of ARGO at the SAG Awards.

TOP 10 BEST ENSEMBLES

1. ARGO starring Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Christopher Denham, Victor Garber, Tate Donovan, Clea DuVall, Scoot McNairy, Rory Cochrane, Kerry Bishe, Kyle Chandler, Chris Messina, Sheila Vand, and Zeljko Ivanek
2. LINCOLN starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, John Hawkes, Jackie Earle Haley, Gloria Reuben, Jared Harris, Lee Pace, Gulliver McGrath, Michael Stuhlbarg, Colman Domingo, Elizabeth Marvel, Adam Driver, and S. Epatha Merkerson
3. ANNA KARENINA starring Keira Knightley, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jude Law, Alicia Vikander, Kelly Macdonald, Matthew Macfayden, Olivia Williams, Ruth Wilson, and Shirley Henderson
4. MOONRISE KINGDOM starring Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, Bob Balaban, Jake Ryan, Tanner Flood, Wyatt Ralff, Lucas Hedges, Charlie Kilgore, Andreas Sheikh, Chandler Frantz, Rob H. Campbell, L. J. Foley, Gabriel Rush, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, Tommy Nelson, Larry Pine, and Marianna Bassham
5. ZERO DARK THIRTY starring Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Ehle, Reda Kateb, Chris Platt, Harold Perrineau, Mark Duplass, and James Gandolfini
6. THE MASTER starring Joaquin Phoenix, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Laura Dern, Jesse Plemons, Ambyr Childers, and Rami Malek
7. SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, Anupam Kher, John Ortiz, Shea Whigham, Dash Mihok, Brea Bee, and Julia Stiles
8. MAGIC MIKE starring Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, MatthewMcConaughey, Olivia Munn, James Martin Kelly, Cody Horn, Joe Manganiello, and Matt Bomer
9. TO ROME WITH LOVE starring Woody Allen, Alec Baldwin, Jesse Eisenberg, Greta Gerwig, Penelope Cruz, Ellen Page, Judy Davis, Flavio Parenti, Roberto Benigni, Alison Pill, Alessandro Tiberi, and Alessandra Mastronardi
10. LES MISÉRABLES starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Barks, Aaron Tveit, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, Daniel Huttlestone, and Colm Wilkinson

Roger Deakins, SKYFALL

TOP 10 BEST CINEMATOGRAPHERS

1. Roger Deakins for SKYFALL
2. Mihai Malaimare, Jr. for THE MASTER
3. Seamus McGarvey for ANNA KARENINA
4. Darius Khondji for AMOUR
5. Claudio Miranda for LIFE OF PI
6. Wally Pfister for THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
7. Rodrigo Prieto for ARGO
8. Greig Fraser for ZERO DARK THIRTY
9. Masanobu Takayanagi for SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
10. Janusz Kaminski for LINCOLN

Keira Knightley and costume designer
Jacqueline Durran, ANNA KARENINA

TOP 10 BEST COSTUME DESIGNERS

1. Jacqueline Durran for ANNA KARENINA
2. Bob Buck, Ann Maskrey, & Richard Taylor for THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
3. Paco Delgado for LES MISÉRABLES
4. Joanna Johnston for LINCOLN
5. Sharen Davis for DJANGO UNCHAINED
6. Kasia Walicka-Maimone for MOONRISE KINGDOM
7. Nic Ede for HYSTERIA
8. Jacqueline West for ARGO
9. Margot Wilson for LAWLESS
10. Lindy Hemming for THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

The soundtrack list of THE PERKS OF
BEING A WALLFLOWER

TOP 10 BEST SCORES/SOUNDTRACKS

1. Soundtrack of THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER
2. Soundtrack of DJANGO UNCHAINED
3. Score by Mychael Danna for LIFE OF PI
4. Score by Alexandre Desplat for MOONRISE KINGDOM
5. Score by Jonny Greenwood for THE MASTER
6. Soundtrack of LES MISÉRABLES
   
7. Soundtrack of PITCH PERFECT
8. Score by Dario Marianelli for ANNA KARENINA
9. Soundtrack of SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
10. Score by John Williams for LINCOLN

TOP 10 BEST VISUAL/SPECIAL EFFECTS

On set of LIFE OF PI

1. LIFE OF PI
2. LOOPER
3. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
4. ANNA KARENINA
5. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
6. THE IMPOSSIBLE
7. DJANGO UNCHAINED
8. THE AVENGERS
9. THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
10. SKYFALL

Set design of ANNA KARENINA

TOP 10 BEST ART DIRECTORS/SET DESIGNERS

1. ANNA KARENINA
   
2. BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
   
3. MOONRISE KINGDOM
   
4. DJANGO UNCHAINED
5. LES MISERABLES
6. LINCOLN
   
7. THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
8. HYSTERIA
9. THE HUNGER GAMES
10. LIFE OF PI

Golden Globe Predictions - Who Will Win? Who Should Win?

The Golden Globes are always a good time - lots of big name winners, lots of booze, and this year's hosts (Amy Poehler and Tina Fey) are sure to give us many a drunken laughs. But to get serious, here are my predictions as to who will win tonight.

FILM

BEST PICTURE: DRAMA
Best Chance: LINCOLN
Second Place: ZERO DARK THIRTY
Eh... Probably not: ARGO and LIFE OF PI
At least you can put it on the DVD: DJANGO UNCHAINED
My personal fav: ZERO DARK THIRTY


BEST PICTURE: COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Best Chance: LES MISERABLES
Second Place: SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Eh... Probably not: MOONRISE KINGDOM and EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL
Just be happy you were nominated: SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN
My personal fav: SILVER LININGS, but MOONRISE would be a sweet win too.


BEST DIRECTOR
Best Chance: Steven Spielberg for LINCOLN
Second Place: Kathryn Bigelow for ZERO DARK THIRTY
Eh... Probably not: Ben Affleck for ARGO and Ang Lee for LIFE OF PI
Just be happy you were nominated: Quentin Tarantino for DJANGO UNCHAINED
My personal fav: Kathryn Bigelow - duhhh.


BEST ACTOR: DRAMA
Best Chance: Daniel Day-Lewis in LINCOLN
Second Place: Joaquin Phoenix in THE MASTER
Eh... Probably not: Denzel Washington in FLIGHT and John Hawkes in THE SESSIONS
Just be happy you were nominated: Richard Gere in ARBITRAGE
My personal fav: Joaquin!


BEST ACTRESS: DRAMA
Best Chance: Jessica Chastain in ZERO DARK THIRTY
Second Place: Naomi Watts in THE IMPOSSIBLE
Eh... Probably not: Marion Cotillard in RUST & BONE
Just be happy you were nominated: Helen Mirren in HITCHCOCK and Rachel Weisz in THE DEEP BLUE SEA
My personal fav: I got a fever, and the only prescription is more Chastain!


BEST ACTOR: COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Best Chance: Bradley Cooper in SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Second Place: Hugh Jackman in LES MISERABLES (this is one of the closest races)
Just face it - no one voted for you...: Jack Black in BERNIE, Ewan McGregor in SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN, and Bill Murray in HYDE PARK ON HUDSON
My personal fav: Bradley Cooper was the shit.


BEST ACTRESS: MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Best Chance: Jennifer Lawrence in SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Second Place: There is no 2nd place for this category... sorry, ladies.
You're all great, but...: Meryl Streep in HOPE SPRINGS, Judi Dench in THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, Emily Blunt in SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN, and Maggie Smith in QUARTET
My personal fav: Is this even a questions? Jennifer.


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Best Chance: Tommy Lee Jones in LINCOLN
Second Place: Philip Seymour Hoffman in THE MASTER
Eh... Probably not: Alan Arkin in ARGO and Christoph Waltz in DJANGO UNCHAINED
Just be happy you were nominated: Leonardo DiCaprio in DJANGO UNCHAINED
My personal fav: Philip Seymour Hoffman... makes me sad THE MASTER isn't getting a whole lot of recognition.


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Best Chance: Anne Hathaway in LES MISERABLES
Second Place: Sally Field in LINCOLN
Eh... Probably not: Helen Hunt in THE SESSIONS and Amy Adams in THE MASTER
Just be happy you were nominated: Nicole Kidman in THE PAPERBOY
My personal fav: Annie.


BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Best Chance: AMOUR
Second Place: RUST & BONE
Eh... Probably not: THE INTOUCHABLES and A ROYAL AFFAIR
Who are you?!: KON-TIKI
My personal fav: THE INTOUCHABLES!!! (Though, I haven't seen AMOUR yet.)


BEST SCREENPLAY
Best Chance: ZERO DARK THIRTY
Second Place: LINCOLN
Well, maybe...: SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Eh... Probably not: ARGO
Just be happy you were nominated: DJANGO UNCHAINED
My personal fav: SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK


BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Best Chance: LINCOLN
Second Place: LIFE OF PI
Eh... Probably not: ARGO
Just be happy you were nominated: ANNA KARENINA and CLOUD ATLAS
My personal fav: ANNA KARENINA


BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Best Chance: BRAVE
Second Place: WRECK-IT-RALPH
Eh... Probably not: RISE OF THE GUARDIANS and FRANKENWEENIE
Just be happy you were nominated: HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA
My personal fav: None. Didn't see any of these.


BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Best Chance: "Skyfall" from SKYFALL
Second Place: "Suddenly" from LES MISERABLES
Eh... Probably not: "Safe and Sound" from THE HUNGER GAMES
Just be happy you were nominated: "Not Running Anymore" from STAND UP GUYS and "For You" from ACT OF VALOR
My personal fav: Adele, y'all! (SKYFALL)

TELEVISION


BEST TELEVISION SERIES: DRAMA
Best Chance: HOMELAND
Second Place: DOWNTON ABBEY
Eh... Probably not: BOARDWALK EMPIRE and BREAKING BAD
Just be happy you were nominated: THE NEWSROOM
My personal fav: C'mon! HOMELAND!!!!!!!!


BEST TELEVISION SERIES: MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Best Chance: GIRLS
Second Place: MODERN FAMILY
Eh... Probably not: SMASH and EPISODES
Just be happy you were nominated: THE BIG BANG THEORY
My personal fav: GIRLS!


BEST MINI-SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Best Chance: GAME CHANGE
Second Place: HATFIELDS & McCOYS
Um... I don't even know who you are: THE GIRL, THE HOUR, and POLITICAL ANIMALS
My personal fav: Didn't see any!


BEST ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES: DRAMA
Best Chance: Damian Lewis in HOMELAND
Second Place: Bryan Cranston in BREAKING BAD
Eh... Probably not: Jeff Daniels in THE NEWSROOM, Steve Buscemi in BOARDWALK EMPIRE, and Jon Hamm in MAD MEN
My personal fav: Sgt. Brody! (Damian Lewis)


BEST ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES: DRAMA
Best Chance: Claire Danes in HOMELAND
Second Place: Connie Britton in NASHVILLE
Eh... Probably not: Julianna Margulies in THE GOOD WIFE and Glenn Close in DAMAGES
Just be happy you were nominated: Michelle Dockery in DOWNTON ABBEY
My personal fav: Claire Fucking Danes. <3 p="p">

BEST ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES: COMEDY
Best Chance: Louis C.K. in LOUIE
Second Place: Matt LeBlanc in EPISODES
Eh... Probably not: Jim Parsons in THE BIG BANG THEORY and Alec Baldwin in 30 ROCK
Just be happy you were nominated: Don Cheadle in HOUSE OF LIES
My personal fav: Honestly, I don't care. Louie, I guess haha.


BEST ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES: COMEDY
Best Chance: Lena Dunham in GIRLS
Second Place: Amy Poehler in PARKS AND RECREATION
Eh... Probably not: Julia Louis-Dreyfus in VEEP and Zooey Deschanel in NEW GIRL
Just be happy you were nominated and so excited for your hosting!: Tina Fey in 30 ROCK
My personal fav: LENA BABY


BEST ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Best Chance: Kevin Costner in HATFIELDS & McCOYS
Second Place: Woody Harrelson in GAME CHANGE
Eh... Probably not: Clive Owen in HEMINGWAY & GELLHORN and Toby Jones for THE GIRL
Just be happy you were nominated: Benedict Cumberbatch in SHERLOCK
My personal fav: Don't know. Don't care.


BEST ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Best Chance: Julianne Moore in GAME CHANGE
Second Place: Jessica Lange in AMERICAN HORROR STORY: ASYLUM
Eh... Probably not: Nicole Kidman in HEMINGWAY & GELLHORN and Sigourney Weaver in POLITICAL ANIMALS
Just be happy you were nominated: Sienna Miller in THE GIRL
My personal fav: Jessica Lange! Sistah Jude!


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN ANYTHING TV
Best Chance: Mandy Patinkin in HOMELAND
Second Place: Eric Stonestreet in MODERN FAMILY
Eh... Probably not: Ed Harris in GAME CHANGE and Max Greenfield in NEW GIRL
Just be happy you were nominated: Danny Huston in MAGIC CITY
My personal fav: I might cry if Mandy wins.


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN ANYTHING TV
Best Chance: Hayden Panettiere in NASHVILLE
Second Place: Maggie Smith in DOWNTON ABBEY
Eh... Probably not: Sofia Vergara in MODERN FAMILY, Archie Panjabi in THE GOOD WIFE, and Sarah Paulson in GAME CHANGE
My personal fav: Sarah Paulson, not for GAME CHANGE... I'll just chalk it up for AMERICAN HORROR STORY: ASYLUM

Oscar Nominations - Predictions

For your consideration for Best Picture:
ANNA KARENINA

So this is my yearly attempt at guessing the nominations for the Academy Awards. I like to think I usually do pretty damn good. The Best Picture nods can range from 5-10 possible nominees, and this year I believe it's going to have a full 10.

BEST PICTURE
AMOUR
ARGO
BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
LES MISERABLES
LIFE OF PI
LINCOLN
THE MASTER
MOONRISE KINGDOM
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
ZERO DARK THIRTY

For your consideration: ANNA KARENINA for it's ingenious take on the theatrical in a film.

FYC: Paul Thomas Anderson for
THE MASTER

BEST DIRECTOR
Ben Affleck for ARGO
Kathryn Bigelow for ZERO DARK THIRTY
Michael Haneke for AMOUR
Tom Hooper for LES MISERABLES
Stephen Spielberg for LINCOLN

For your consideration: Paul Thomas Anderson for THE MASTER for his sighs and growls, his calm and his rage. 

FYC: Omar Sy in THE INTOUCHABLES

BEST ACTOR
Bradley Cooper in SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Daniel Day-Lewis in LINCOLN
Hugh Jackman in LES MISERABLES
Joaquin Phoenix in THE MASTER
Denzel Washington in FLIGHT

For your consideration: Omar Sy in THE INTOUCHABLES for his humor, kindness, and providing the most charisma of any actor in the last few years.

FYC: Keira Knightley in
ANNA KARENINA

BEST ACTRESS
Jessica Chastain in ZERO DARK THIRTY
Marion Cotillard in RUST & BONE
Jennifer Lawrence in SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Emmanuelle Riva in AMOUR
Quvenzhane Wallis in BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD

For your consideration: Keira Knightley in ANNA KARENINA for bringing depth, darkness, and originality to classic period pieces.

FYC: Ezra Miller in
THE PERKS OF BEING
A WALLFLOWER

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alan Arkin in ARGO
Javier Bardem in SKYFALL
Robert De Niro in SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Philip Seymour Hoffman in THE MASTER
Tommy Lee Jones in LINCOLN

For your consideration: Ezra Miller in THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER for finally allowing a comedic gay role to not be overcome by stereotypes or generalizations.

FYC: Samantha Barks
in LES MISERABLES

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams in THE MASTER
Sally Field in LINCOLN
Anne Hathaway in LES MISERABLES
Helen Hunt in THE SESSIONS
Nicole Kidman in THE PAPERBOY

For your consideration: Samantha Barks in LES MISERABLES for delivering a spotless "On My Own" and trumping many of the big Hollywood names in the film... I mean, besides Hathaway.

Moonrise Kingdom - From Manhattan With Love: Saving Harrisburg's Midtown Cinema

MOONRISE KINGDOM, now playing
at Midtown Cinema

As an avid moviegoer and a small town Pennsylvanian, it's so difficult to see some of the great indie films in theaters. I don't mind driving to the city and I do so often, but it's usually to see Broadway or Off-Broadway shows, not film. To quench my indie-thirst, I travel a mere 50 minutes to Harrisburg, PA where one of the best independent theaters calls home. "Quaint" doesn't do this cinema justice. I've been to many indie houses across the country and Midtown Cinema is the best. Plus, for someone living in PA, it's one of the only theaters besides Philly or Pittsburgh that offer great, intriguing, art house films. 

Living in New York City for the summer, I've decided to do my part and help out Harrisburg's Midtown Cinema by reviewing each film that is released there before it's released. (Go to www.midtowncinema.com for more details on why they're struggling and how we can keep this important theater in central Pennsylvania). 

I've been reviewing films for nine years now (in college and on this blog) and while sometimes I fall behind in actually writing a review, I hope you trust my judgement, or at least go to Midtown Cinema to see for yourself how important it is to save this theater. 

Kara Hayward & Jared Gilman
in MOONRISE KINGDOM

MOONRISE KINGDOM - now playing at MC

Written and directed by Wes Anderson

Starring Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Harvey Keitel & Jason Schwartzman

Let me just be frank about the latest Wes Anderson film: it is the best movie of 2012 so far. There are absolutely no reasons why you shouldn't see this film not just once but four to eight times. So to break away from the typical paragraph review, I'd like to present listed reasons as to why this is the most important film for you to see in theaters.

• If You Weren't a Wes Anderson Fan Before, You Will Be Now - Out of all seven of Anderson's movies, Moonrise Kingdom is the best in style, writing, acting, and drama. Is it my favorite? Not yet (my personal favorite is The Darjeeling Limited); that takes time and over twenty views, but I am confident to say it is his best. Of course the film boasts hilarious and pained performances by the well-knowns (particularly Willis, Murray, Norton, and McDormand), but Anderson and his casting staff have discovered two of the most believable, lovable, and intelligent young actors out there: Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward. They're almost like your everyman/woman but in a twelve year old's body. They capture the you you were at their age. Being weird or in love or bullied or believing in something or just wanting to run away, these two gifted actors create something true in the characters of Sam and Suzy.
• The Instragram Generation - In a digital world in which we can't take a bite of our dinner before taking a picture with our iPhones, choosing the perfect filter ("I wonder if Hefe is a better choice than Walden"), and uploading it to Instagram, Moonrise Kingdom fulfills the need to be nostalgic; it actually radiates with longing for the past, to be young, almost in a Peter Pan mode of thought. And the irony in the film is while we, the audience, wish to be in Sam and Suzy's world, Sam and Suzy wish to be in ours, where you can love whomever you wish without parents pulling you away. Anderson also doesn't forget that this is a memory story; many of the scenes and intricacies - such as the tree house and the lightning incident - are realized in a heightened, exaggerated way because this is nostalgia and nostalgia emphasizes to seem more important and less sad. So, we gain so much humor through Anderson's reminiscent point of view.



Young actor Jared Gilman and writer/director
Wes Anderson

• Wes Anderson Is Our Woody Allen - What's so great about going to the Midtown Cinema to see Moonrise Kingdom is that you can hop on over for a double feature of Woody Allen's latest film, To Rome With Love (a review to come). But even though Woody is still busting out great flicks, I've always wanted to know what it was like to go to a movie theater in New York City to see some of his earlier masterpieces, like Annie Hall, Manhattan, or Hannah and Her Sisters - to have conversations about these films as they are just released and to now have the claim that I saw Manhattan in the theaters back in 1979. I was lucky enough to stumble upon a screening of Annie Hall a few weeks ago here in New York, and I was overwhelmed with joy to be able to share that film with a community; but it still isn't the same as living in that moment. For an audience of 2012, Wes Anderson is our Woody Allen of the 1970s, and he is showing us growth as a filmmaker in the last seven movies. I think it will be so important to say in twenty years that you saw Moonrise Kingdom in the theaters, to have a real experience with it. These experiences is what cultures us. In twenty years or so, when Anderson reaches two dozen films, it's going to be the early ones that will be longed for, just as I long for Manhattan and Hannah. Go see this movie while you still can. 

Click here for more information and the trailer to Moonrise Kingdom, now playing at Midtown Cinema in Harrisburg, PA.

Best of 2011 - Film (Better Late Than Never)

Jessica Chastain in Terrence Malick's THE TREE OF LIFE (aka the best film of all time)

2011 = The Year of Chastain. 

Jessica Chastain in THE TREE OF LIFE
who takes up 4 spots in the
Best Supporting Actress list

TOP FILMS OF 2011

1. THE TREE OF LIFE
2. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
3. MELANCHOLIA
4. THE ARTIST
5. DRIVE
6. SHAME
7. HUGO
8. THE HELP
9. BRIDESMAIDS
10. 50/50

Michael Fassbender in SHAME

TOP 10 BEST ACTORS

1.     Michael Fassbender in SHAME

2.     Jean Dujardin in THE ARTIST

3.     Michael Shannon in TAKE SHELTER

4.     Ryan Gosling in DRIVE

5.     George Clooney in THE DESCENDANTS

6.     Brad Pitt in MONEYBALL

7.     Michael Fassbender in A DANGEROUS METHOD

8.     Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 50/50

9.     Ryan Gosling in THE IDES OF MARCH

10.  Leonardo DiCaprio in J. EDGAR

TOP 10 BEST ACTRESSES

Glenn Close in ALBERT NOBBS

1.     Glenn Close in ALBERT NOBBS

2.     Kirsten Dunst in MELANCHOLIA

3.     Charlize Theron in YOUNG ADULT

4.     Viola Davis in THE HELP

5.     Keira Knightley in A DANGEROUS METHOD

6.     Rooney Mara in THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

7.     Michelle Williams in MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

8.     Tilda Swinton in WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

9.     Elizabeth Olsen in MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE

10.  Berenice Bejo in THE ARTIST

TOP 10 BEST SUPPORTING ACTORS

Christopher Plummer in
BEGINNERS

1. Christopher Plummer in BEGINNERS
2. Patton Oswalt in YOUNG ADULT
3. Armie Hammer in J. EDGAR
4. Brad Pitt in THE TREE OF LIFE
5. Albert Brooks in DRIVE
6. Nick Nolte in WARRIOR
7. Corey Stoll in MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
8. Ben Kingsley in HUGO
9. Hunter McCracken in THE TREE OF LIFE
10. Tom Hardy in TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY

Jessica Chastain in
THE HELP

TOP 10 BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESSES

1. Jessica Chastain in THE HELP
2. Jessica Chastain in THE TREE OF LIFE
3. Octavia Spencer in THE HELP
4. Janet McTeer in ALBERT NOBBS
5. Carey Mulligan in SHAME
6. Shailene Woodley in THE DESCENDANTS
7. Jessica Chastain in TAKE SHELTER
8. Marion Cotillard in MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
9. Jessica Chastain in THE DEBT
10. Melanie Laurent in BEGINNERS

TOP 10 BEST DIRECTORS

1. Terrence Malick for THE TREE OF LIFE
2. Michel Hazavinacius for THE ARTIST
3. Steve McQueen for SHAME
4. Lars von Trier for MELANCHOLIA
5. Nicolas Winding Refn for DRIVE
6. Woody Allen for MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
7. Martin Scorcese for HUGO
8. Jason Reitman for YOUNG ADULT
9. David Fincher for THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
10. J.J. Abrams for SUPER 8

Marion Cotillard, Alison Pill, Owen Wilson,
and writer/director Woody Allen from
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

TOP 10 BEST ORGINAL SCREENPLAYS

1. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
2. YOUNG ADULT
3. MELANCHOLIA
4. THE ARTIST
5. BEGINNERS
6. BRIDESMAIDS
7. THE TREE OF LIFE
8. 50/50
9. WIN WIN
10. SHAME

TOP 10 BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAYS

1. DRIVE
2. THE HELP
3. THE IDES OF MARCH
4. HUGO
5. MONEYBALL
6. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
7. THE DEBT
8. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART TWO
9. A DANGEROUS METHOD
10. ALBERT NOBBS

TOP 10 BEST ENSEMBLES

1. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
2. THE HELP
3. BRIDESMAIDS
4. THE ARTIST
5. TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY
6. WIN WIN
7. CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE
8. THE IDES OF MARCH
9. THE TREE OF LIFE
10. DRIVE

TOP 10 BEST CINEMATOGRAPHERS

1. THE TREE OF LIFE
2. THE ARTIST
3. MELANCHOLIA
4. DRIVE
5. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
6. SHAME
7. HUGO
8. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
9. WAR HORSE
10. CONTAGION

Jessica Chastain & Sam Worthington
in THE DEBT

TOP 10 BEST COSTUME DESIGNERS

1. A DANGEROUS METHOD
2. THE ARTIST
3. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
4. MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
5. WAR HORSE
6. HUGO
7. ALBERT NOBBS
8. TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY
9. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES
10. MEEK’S CUTOFF

TOP 10 BEST SCORES/SOUNDTRACKS

1. DRIVE
2. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
3. THE ARTIST
4. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
5. THE TREE OF LIFE
6. HUGO
7. THE DESCENDANTS
8. MELANCHOLIA
9. SUPER 8



Jessica Chastain
in TAKE SHELTER

10. WAR HORSE

TOP 10 BEST VISUAL/SPECIAL EFFECTS

1. SUPER 8
2. X-MEN: FIRST CLASS
3. HUGO
4. WAR HORSE
5. CAPTAIN AMERICA
6. MELANCHOLIA
7. THOR
8. TAKE SHELTER
9. DRIVE
10. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO