#OSCARS: 2014 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED

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)

#BOXOFFICE: “BAD GRANDPA” GIVES MOVIEGOERS PLENTY OF TRICKS ON HALLOWEEN WEEKEND

Fans of the Jackass Franchise know v. well what they’d  be getting with Jackass: Bad Grandpa, clamouring to the Box Office this Halloween Weekend for some Tricks along with the Treats.  Starring Johnny Knoxville disguised as 86-year-old Irving Zisman, the Comedy debuts easily at number one with $32 million for Paramount Pictures, opening in 3,336 theatres.  Not only did Audiences enjoy it giving it a B CinemaScore,  but Critics gave it fairly positive reviews, tallying-in at 63% on the Tomatometer.

Gravity slips to second spot after an impressive three-week-reign for Warner Bros., earning a still great $20.3 million in its fourth week of release, closing-in on that $200-million mark.

Slipping to third spot is Sony Pictures’ Captain Phillips which makes $11.8 million in this its third week of release.  The Drama is en route to surpassing the $70-million mark domestically.

Although expectations were higher, Sir Ridley Scott‘s latest, The Counselor, manages only a fourth-place debut with $8 million for 20th Century Fox.  Surprisingly, it received a detrimental D CinemaScore from Audiences despite its stellar Cast which includes Michael Fassbender, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz and Rising Star Natalie Dormer.  It opened in 3,044 theatres and had an estimated $25-million Production Budget.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2  finds itself in sixth spot with $5 million, just surpassing the $100-million mark domestically, ahead of the Carrie  Remake in sixth, in this its second week of release.  The Horror garners $5.9 million for Sony Pictures.

Despite it showing only in 123 theatres across North America, Best Picture Contender and TIFF ’13 People’s Choice Award Winner 12 Years a Slave, still manages a placing in eighth for Fox Searchlight, with $2.1 million.  The Slavery-themed Drama from Director Steve McQueen with a whopping 95% rating at Rotten Tomatoes, continues to expand in coming weeks.

Prisoners rounds-out the Top Ten with $1 million for Warner Bros., in its sixth week of release, just shy of the $60-mark in its North American run.

#BOXOFFICE: “GRAVITY” CONTINUES PUSHING MOVIEGOERS IN ITS THIRD WEEK AT #1

For a third consecutive week, Gravity  continues to push Moviegoers to the Theatres as it continues its dominant reign atop the Box Office with $29.3 million this weekend. The Sci-Fi Flick starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney cumulatively has grossed $168 million to date for Warner Bros., from 3,820 theatres.  According to Variety some of these astronomical numbers are from repeat Viewers – it genuinely is that great a Film!

Despite opening right in-time for Halloween when Moviegoers are thirsty for Horror, Carrie debuts in second spot with $18 million from 3,157 theatres for Sony Pictures. Filmed in Toronto, the Remake of Brian De Palma‘s 1976 Stephen King Adaptation, garnered mixed Reviews from Critics with a 50% rating on the Tomatometer. Audiences however gave it a B- CinemaScore, which might not really help in terms of word-of-mouth, but hopefully there will be a hold next week as we edge closer to Halloween.

Captain Phillips starring Tom Hanks, continues to garner tons of Oscar buzz and in its second week with a great $16.9 million. To date the  fact-based Drama has grossed $53 million for Sony Pictures.

Escape Plan starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone merges some Heavyweights together on-screen, but still couldn’t draw the Moviegoers in big numbers as it debuts with $9.8 million for Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate Films/eOne Films from 2,883 theatres. Audiences however did respond well with a B+ CinemaScore, although Critics didn’t think much of it with a 45% rating on the Tomatometer.

After its Premiere at TIFF ’13, The Fifth Estate debuts in sixth with $2 million from 1,769 theatres. The Drama based on the rise of WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange was panned by Critics with a 40% rating on the Tomatometer. Audiences did however give it a B- CinemaScore, but overall the Bill Condon-directed Film starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Daniel Brühl, has received a less-than-ideal reception.

Also premiering at TIFF ’13 and starring Brühl alongside Chris Hemsworth, rounds-out the Top Ten with $1.5 million. To date in North America it has earned $24 million, while overseas it has fared much better with $47.5 million garnered to date.

#BOXOFFICE: “GRAVITY” STAYS AFLOAT AT #1 A SECOND WEEK

For the second week in a row, Warner Bros. finds itself on-top with the Film on everyone’s lips these days, Gravity.  The Best Picture Contender powers-on in its second week of release, earning $44.3 million this weekend – a cumulative total of $124 million in two weeks.  The Sci-Fi Flick starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney is playing in 3,660 theatres currently across North America.

Opening with almost universally-positive reviews in second spot is Captain Phillips from Sony Pictures.  Starring Tom Hanks, the Drama opens with $25 million from 3,020 theatres and an A CinemaScore, and also a stupendous 95% on the Tomatometer. Much Oscar buzz is building around Hanks’ performance here as the Captain who oversaw the Maersk Alabama Ship which was hijacked by Somali Pirates in 2009.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 slips to third in its third week for Sony Pictures, still going strong to earn $15 million this weekend. To date it has grossed almost $80 million domestically.

Machete Kills debuts in fourth spot for Open Road Films/VVS Films with $5 million this weekend, a Follow-up to the 2009 Film by Robert Rodriguez. Critics didn’t think much of the Action Flick which features Lady Gaga‘s first-ever acting role, garnering a 30% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a B- CinemaScore from Audiences.

Prisoners continues to hang tough in sixth spot, now in its fourth week of release for Warner Bros., earning $3.7 million, just surpassing the $50-million mark.  Rush slips to ninth spot with $2.3 million for Imagine/Universal Pictures/eOne Films, the Oscar Contender playing in 2,130 theatres.

Baggage Claim rounds-out the Top Ten with $1.3 million for Fox Searchlight, now having made $18.2 million in its three-week run.