The Palm Springs International Film Festival has announced its final honorees for this year’s Awards Gala. Jessica Chastain will receive the Spotlight Award for her work in “The Help,” “The Tree of Life,” “Take Shelter,” “The Debt” and “Coriolanus,” while composer Howard Shore will be feted with the Frederick Loewe Music Award for “Hugo.”
Jessica Chastain and Howard Shore to be honored at Palm Springs
Posted by Roth Cornet · 6:41 pm · December 28th, 2011
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Austin film critics like 'Hugo,' Refn and Shannon
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:13 am · December 28th, 2011
The Austin Film Critics Association is the latest group to speak up on the year’s best, tapping “Hugo” as the best picture of the year. The film didn’t show up anywhere else on the unique slate of superlatives, though, which included two acting wins for “Take Shelter.”
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Off the Carpet: Setting the field with the precursors so far
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:41 am · December 19th, 2011
In just three weeks we’ve gone from zero to a hundred on the circuit as the film awards landscape has been sculpted into a bit of a consensus in these waning moments of 2011. Let’s see what that consensus appears to be.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Tree of Life' wins four awards from Chicago critics, including Best Picture
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:03 am · December 19th, 2011
After Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life” led with seven nominations from the Chicago Film Critics Association, it seemed obvious the film was likely to win the group’s Best Picture award. But the film ended up walking away with four big wins in total.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
2011: the year in superlatives
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:11 am · December 16th, 2011
Who am I to complain about the amount of year-end kudos announcements when I had this post coming all along? I know. I’m so hypocritical.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Tree of Life' leads Chicago film critics nods
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:56 am · December 16th, 2011
The Chicago Film Critics Association has announced its list of nominees this year, and it’s full of the usual. But most interesting is that “The Tree of Life” star Hunter McCracken has finally received some attention.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Detroit critics go with 'The Artist,' Fassbender
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:47 am · December 16th, 2011
The Detroit Film Critics Society has joined the chorus of superlatives for “The Artist,” giving the film Best Picture and Best Director after it racked up five nominations from the group. “Take Shelter,” which led the nominees, only won as part of Jessica Chastain’s Breakthrough Artist award.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
San Diego critics pick 'Artist,' Refn
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:04 pm · December 14th, 2011
The San Diego Film Critics Society has chosen “The Artist” as Best Picture for 2011 and Nicolas Winding Refn as Best Director for “Drive,” among other honors.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Toronto critics tap 'Tree of Life,' Terrence Malick
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:22 pm · December 13th, 2011
One more before you shut out the lights. The Toronto Film Critics Association has named “The Tree of Life” the best film of the year. The film’s director, Terrence Malick, was also awarded.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Oscarweb Round-up: The year's best performances
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:13 am · December 13th, 2011
In today’s round-up, consideration of the year’s best performances, Christopher Nolan opens up a bit on “The Dark Knight Rises” and in honor of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” the top five badass female roles.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Bottled up: the best films of 2011
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:28 am · December 12th, 2011
With the year winding to a close, it’s time to showcase the 10 best films of 2011. If you heard Friday’s podcast, you know. If you didn’t, dig in.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Take Shelter' leads Detroit critics nods
Posted by Guy Lodge · 3:03 pm · December 11th, 2011
“Take Shelter” leads the Detroit critics’ nominees with five mentions, the odd one out in a Best Picture lineup heavy on established critical favorites.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'The Descendants,' Terrence Malick win with LA film critics
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 1:13 pm · December 11th, 2011
The Los Angeles Film Critics Association has tapped Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants” for its Best Picture prize, a bit of an anti-climactic conclusion to what had until then been a fresh and exciting vote.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'The Artist' wins Best Pic from NY online critics, 'Bridesmaids' clearly a favorite
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:09 pm · December 11th, 2011
The New York Film Critics Online have gone the way of the rest and awarded “The Artist” the prize for Best Picture of 2011. Michael Shannon and Meryl Streep were also singled out.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Oscar Talk: Ep. 73 — Our top 10 films of 2011!
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:58 am · December 9th, 2011
In today’s podcast, Kris and Anne take a break from the usual order of things to count down, separately, their picks for the best films of the year.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Interview: Michael Barker talks 'Midnight in Paris,' 'Take Shelter' and 20 years of Sony Classics
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:28 am · December 6th, 2011
Sony Pictures Classics co-president Michael Barker has seen a lot in his 20 years at that post. This year his company has a typically heavy slate of awards hopefuls, two of them — “Midnight in Paris” and “Take Shelter” — beginning to light up the awards circuit. He recently discussed as much with In Contention.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention · Interviews
'Artist,' 'Tinker,' 'Shame' and 'Marilyn' among contenders not eligible for WGA
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 3:52 pm · December 2nd, 2011
As happens every year, a list of potential Oscar nominees is ineligible for WGA consideration due to a number of issues (signatory concerns, paperwork avoidance, etc.). This year, though, the list seems particularly long.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Film Independent spotlights the right stuff in Independent Spirit Award nominations
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:57 am · November 29th, 2011
The Independent Spirit Award nominations were announced this morning, and they showcased some of the absolute best in cinema this year.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention