'Argo' tops with Southeastern Film Critics

Posted by · 12:20 pm · December 17th, 2012

Yet more honors for Daniel Day-Lewis and Jennifer Lawrence.

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'Argo,' Ben Affleck win with St. Louis critics

Posted by · 8:59 am · December 17th, 2012

The St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association has decided on winners and stuck up for Ben Affleck’s “Argo,” which won Best Picture and Best Director. Daniel Day-Lewis and Jessica Chastain won top honors for acting. Christoph Waltz won Best Supporting Actor while Ann Dowd and Helen Hunt tied for Best Supporting Actress.

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From 'A(mour)' to 'Z(ero Dark Thirty)': the best films of 2012

Posted by · 6:56 am · December 17th, 2012

It’s been said here and in the podcast a number of times, but I might as well offer it up once more for good measure: 2012 was a pretty good year for movies.

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Off the Carpet: Ballots are out

Posted by · 6:00 am · December 17th, 2012

Normally this column would begin with something like, “Ballots have been mailed to Oscar voters today,” but that begs reminding that for the first time ever, the Academy has adopted an electronic voting system in addition to paper ballots (for those who request them). How will that change the course of the season? Is chatter about glitches and lack of understanding just a facile talking point blown out of proportion? Maybe. But what is tangible in all of this is the landscape as a result of the first major nominations announcements of the season.

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'The Master,' Bigelow, Phoenix, Riva win San Francisco Film Critics Circle awards

Posted by · 7:16 pm · December 16th, 2012

The San Francisco Film Critics Circle has joined the game, and the bandwagon for Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Master,” handing the film Best Picture and Best Actor honors. Kathryn Bigelow won Best Director for “Zero Dark Thirty” while Emmanuelle Riva won Best Actress for “Amour.”

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Tech Support: 'Lincoln,' 'Life of Pi' and 'Anna Karenina' lead the race for Best Original Score

Posted by · 11:58 am · December 13th, 2012

As always, international flavor abounds.

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'Argo' takes top honors from San Diego Film Critics, 'Perks' gets some love

Posted by · 6:20 pm · December 11th, 2012

Critics go their own way with awards for Michelle Williams and Emma Watson.

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'Lincoln' leads nominations for the 18th annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards

Posted by · 7:40 am · December 11th, 2012

Not that this is something to be particularly proud of, but the Broadcast Film Critics Association has done its annual duty of distilling the Oscar race into what we think it is now.

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'Django Unchained' lands eight St. Louis film critics nods

Posted by · 7:18 am · December 11th, 2012

As we wait for the BFCA news to drop, the St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association has tossed its hat into the ring with a list of nominations as well. It’s nice to see that Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained” registered so well, landing eight nominations. Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom” was also a favorite from the group, as well as fellow indie “Beasts of the Southern Wild.”

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'Silver Linings Playbook' and 'Take This Waltz' stand out in Detroit Film Critics Society nods

Posted by · 6:56 am · December 11th, 2012

The Detroit Film Critics Society has announced its list of nominees, and they refreshingly go their own way in a number of areas. “Silver Linings Playbook” led the way with seven nominations and Sarah Polley’s “Take This Waltz” was a favorite, too. Other unique picks include Bill Murray in the Best Actor line-up for “Hyde Park on Hudson” and Greta Gerwig in Best Actress for “Damsels in Distress.”

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'The Master' leads San Diego film critics nominations

Posted by · 1:12 pm · December 10th, 2012

The San Diego Film Critics Society also dropped its nominees over the weekend and, well, they flew under my radar. But here they are, and “The Master” led the way with nine nominations. Not far behind was “Argo” with eight. “Django Unchained’ picked up five while “Zero Dark Thirty” only managed four. “Silver Linings Playbook” rounded out the Best Film nominees with six nominations.

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'Lincoln' leads Washington DC Area film critics nominations, 'Zero Dark Thirty' wins

Posted by · 11:45 am · December 10th, 2012

The Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association has announced its list of nominees for the 2012 film awards season. No surprise that Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” led the field with eight nominations. Tom Hooper’s “Les Misérables” wasn’t far behind with seven. It wouldn’t be too crazy to expect a number of these categories to match up perfectly with Oscar. “Zero Dark Thirty,” meanwhile, took the win for Best Film.

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'Argo,' 'Dark Knight Rises,' 'Django Unchained' make AFI's top 10 American films list for 2012

Posted by · 10:49 am · December 10th, 2012

Adding another announcement to the stack this week is the American Film Institute. Remember, the Institute’s annual list of the year’s best films is limited to American cinema, so you won’t see efforts like “Amour” or what have you pop up.

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Tech Support: William Goldenberg on building tension in 'Argo' and 'Zero Dark Thirty'

Posted by · 9:33 am · December 10th, 2012

The BSFC- and LAFCA-winning editor’s busy year could yield a pair of Oscar nods

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'Amour,' 'The Master' win big with Los Angeles Film Critics Association

Posted by · 1:54 pm · December 9th, 2012

Over a week after their colleagues on the east coast went in big for Kathryn Bigelow’s “Zero Dark Thirty,” the Los Angeles Film Critics Association put the brakes on Kathryn Bigelow’s film, which has been dominating the circuit. It even won two Best Picture prizes today, but one of them was not LAFCA’s crown. Instead, the LA critics went with Michael Haneke’s “Amour,” and as a runner-up, a film clearly beloved by the group that won four other prizes, including Best Director, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress.

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'Zero Dark Thirty' tops New York Film Critics Online winners

Posted by · 12:09 pm · December 9th, 2012

Just minutes after the Boston Society of Film Critics crowned “Zero Dark Thirty” the year’s best film, the New York Film Critics Online went and did the very same thing. They also spotlighted Kathryn Bigelow in the Best Director category (as well as Mark Boal’s screenplay), and, like Boston, went with Daniel Day-Lewis and Emmanuelle Riva in the lead acting categories.

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Roundup: Soderbergh's plea for 'bananas' McConaughey, and other campaign oddities

Posted by · 3:57 am · December 7th, 2012

Also: Critics split on ‘Les Mis,’ and stage elite pick their film directors of 2012

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Palm Springs fest to honor 'Argo' ensemble and Sally Field

Posted by · 9:14 am · December 6th, 2012

Could Ben Affleck’s thriller regain its autumn buzz?

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