And the Countdown officially begins! The Nominees for the 86th annual Academy Awards were unveiled this morning at Samuel Goldwyn Theatre with expecting-Father Chris Hemsworth and Academy President Cheryl Isaac Boone on-hand to make the announcements. Leading the way each with ten nominations are Gravity and American Hustle. 12 Years a Slave certainly wasn’t far behind with nine nominations. American Hustle and 12 Years a Slave are seen as being in close contention after each winning a Golden Globe Award this past weekend for Best Motion Picture Comedy and Drama respectively.
There was little dispute that this year’s Nominees for Best Picture this year aren’t a deserving bunch, that eclectic List including: 12 Years a Slave, American Hustle, Her, Dallas Buyers Club, Philomena, The Wolf of Wall Street, Captain Phillips, Nebraska and Gravity. Some are surprised the highly-buzzed Inside Llewyn Davis and Saving Mr. Banks lacked recognition from the Academy. Canada received a Nod with Director Jean-Marc Vallée responsible for Dallas Buyers Club.
Even more heated a battle is the Category of Actor in a Leading Role, where again there are no major surprises, but the question now exactly is who will be victorious. Up for the Oscar are: Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street), Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club), Bruce Dern (Nebraska) and Christian Bale (American Hustle).
Actress in a Leading Role also again presents few surprises, although Fans of the well-receieved Saving Mr. Banks might make a case that its Star Emma Thompson was snubbed. Nominated this year are: Amy Adams (American Hustle), Judi Dench (Philomena), Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine), Sandra Bullock (Gravity) and Meryl Streep (August: Osage County). Indeed a tough Category with the exception of Adams is filled by previous Winners, with Blanchett regarded as a Favourite to take it all despite her Film being released far in advance of Awards Season.
For Actor in a Supporting Role, we see repeat Nominees Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street), Bradley Cooper (American Hustle) up against a trio of first-time Nominees in Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave), Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips) and definitive Choice Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club).
The Actress in a Supporting Role Category also is an immensely-talented Group including a Newcomer in Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave), in addition to Screen Veteran June Squibb (Nebraska) and previous Golden Globe Winner Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine) being recognized. Previous Winners Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle) and Julia Roberts (August: Osage County) add mega-watt Starpower to the Race. Much controversy came of Nyong’o‘s loss to Lawrence in the same Category at last weekend’s Golden Globes and this outcome will be highly-watched by Award Pundits and Fans.
Up for Directing this year are first-time Nominee Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave), two-time Nominee Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity), three-time Alexander Payne (Nebraska), five-time Nominee David O. Russell (American Hustle) and eight-time Nominee/one-time Winner Martin Scorcese (The Wolf of Wall Street).
Watch the Nominations below courtesy of The Telegraph:
Click here to view a complete List of Nominees.
CBS airs the 86th annual Academy Awards, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, on Sunday, March 2, 2014 at 7:00 PM EST.
(Photo credit: The Telegraph)
The Critics have spoken! The Toronto Film Critics Association last night gathered to determine Winners of their annual Awards, one of the earlier Pre-Cursors to the thick of Awards Season. Winning top honours this year is The Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis, set deep within New York City’s Folk Music Scene during the early ’60s. Its Star Oscar Isaac also nabbed Best Actor and although he was set to walk the Red Carpet at the Film’s Canadian Premiere here in Toronto last week, alas his scheduling didn’t permit the visit. The Brothers in 2007 had won Best Picture at the Awards also with No Country for Old Men, before going-on to sweep the Academy Awards. Inside Llewyn Davis is released by Mongrel Media in Canada, in theatres Friday.
Taking Best Actress is a well-deserving Cate Blanchett for her mesmerizing performance in Woody Allen‘s Blue Jasmine, playing a former Socialite on a downward spiral.
Warner Bros.’ Her also received warm recognition, garnering Runner-Up in the Best Picture category and ultimately winning Best Screenplay for Director/Writer Spike Jonze. The Film opens in Toronto this weekend.
Despite being expected to be a Favourite this Awards Season, Fox Searchlight‘s 12 Years a Slave which won People’s Choice Award at TIFF ’13, performed respectably with Runner-Up placings for Best Picture, Best Actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Best Supporting Actor (Michael Fassbender) and Best Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong’o).
The actual Awards Gala will be held at The Carlu in Toronto on Tuesday, January 7, 2014, where the Winner of the Rogers Best Canadian Film Award will be announced, receiving a $100k Cash Prize.
Winners as follows:
BEST PICTURE
Inside Llewyn Davis (Mongrel Media)
Runners-up
Her (Warner Bros.)
12 Years a Slave (Fox Searchlight)
BEST ACTOR
Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis
Runners-up
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
BEST ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Runners-up
Julie Delpy, Before Midnight
Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Runners-up
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
James Franco, Spring Breakers
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Runners-up
Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave
June Squibb, Nebraska
BEST DIRECTOR
Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity
Runners-up
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, Inside Llewyn Davis
Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
BEST SCREENPLAY, ADAPTED OR ORIGINAL
Spike Jonze, Her
Runners-up
Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke & Julie Delpy, Before Midnight
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, Inside Llewyn Davis
BEST FIRST FEATURE
Neighboring Sounds, directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho
Runners-up
Fruitvale Station, directed by Ryan Coogler
In a World …, directed by Lake Bell
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
The Wind Rises (Touchstone Pictures)
Runners-up
The Croods (20th Century Fox)
Frozen (Walt Disney Pictures)
BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
A Touch of Sin (Films We Like)
Runners-up
Blue Is the Warmest Color (Mongrel Media)
The Hunt (Mongrel Media)
BMO ALLAN KING DOCUMENTARY AWARD
The Act of Killing (Films We Like)
Runners-up
Leviathan (Films We Like)
Tim’s Vermeer (Mongrel Media)
ROGERS BEST CANADIAN FILM AWARD FINALISTS
The Dirties (Phase 4 Films)
Gabrielle (Entertainment One)
Watermark (Mongrel Media)
(Photo credit: Mongrel Media)
On what traditionally is a slower time of the year at the Box Office, Historical-Drama, The Butler, remains the number one Film in North America for a second week in-a-row with $17 million from 3,110 theatres. The Film starring Forrest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey in two weeks has grossed over $52.2 million for The Weinstein Co. and eOne Films.
We’re the Millers for the third consecutive week remains the number two Film with $13.5 million earned for Warner Bros. The Comedy has earned$91.4 million thus far and is showing at 3,445 theatres.
Despite higher expectations, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones manages to debut in third with $9.2 million, a five-day gross of $14 million from 3,118 theatres after a Wednesday opening for Sony Screen Gems and eOne Films. Although Critics were harsh on the first Adaptation of Cassandra Clare‘s bestselling Novels, giving it 21% on the Tomatometer, Audiences enjoyed it far more with a B+ CinemaScore. A second Installment films in Toronto this September.
Edgar Wright certainly has loyal Fans on both sides of the Atlantic and after performing well in the UK earlier this Summer, his latest The World’s End debuts in fourth spot with $8.9 million from only 1,549 theatres. Critics loved the Sci-Fi/Action/Comedy starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, giving it 91% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it a decent B+ CinemaScore.
After debuting at TIFF two years ago, You’re Next debuts finally in fifth with $7 million for Lionsgate Films and eOne Films from 2,437 theatres. Critics responded well to the Horror starring Sharni Vinson, with an 80% rating on the Tomatometer, while Audiences weren’t as responsive with a B- CinemaScore.
Blue Jasmine in its fifth week continues to see the benefit of strong word-of-mouth thanks to Cate Blanchett‘s stellar performance in ninth spot $4.3 million for Sony Classics and Mongrel Media. Kick-Ass 2 slips to tenth spot this weekend already in its second week with $4 million for Universal Pictures.
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