Oscar frontrunner “Frozen” was the big winner at this year’s Annie Awards, but it wasn’t a sweeper — as “The Croods,” “The Wind Rises” and “Monsters University” all took home awards.
'Frozen' takes top honors at Annie Awards
Posted by Guy Lodge · 9:07 pm · February 1st, 2014
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Gravity' wins Best Picture from Central Ohio critics
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:48 pm · January 2nd, 2014
“Gravity” picked up another Best Picture prize on the critics circuit today as the Central Ohio Film Critics Association handed it the year’s top honor. Alfonso Cuarón won Best Director for the film and Emmanuel Lubezki won Best Cinematography. Top acting honors went to Chiwetel Ejiofor and Adèle Exarchopoulos and James Franco was recognized for his work in “Spring Breakers.”
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Roundup: Is there a holiday movie overload?
Posted by Guy Lodge · 2:55 am · December 18th, 2013
In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, The Wall Street Journal looks at the unusually high number of wide releases set for the holiday season, and wonders if the box office is overloaded. Meanwhile, Film Comment names “Inside Llewyn Davis” the year’s best.
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Toronto critics go their own way, name 'Inside Llewyn Davis' the year's Best Picture
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:24 pm · December 16th, 2013
“Inside Llewyn Davis” won Best Picture and Best Actor from the Toronto Film Critics Association, splitting from the herd and handing the Coen Bros. musical its first top critics award in the process.
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'12 Years a Slave' dominates Chicago film critics awards
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:36 pm · December 16th, 2013
Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” kept up its regional precursor dominance tonight winning the Best Picture prize from the Chicago Film Critics Association. The group’s acting winners filled out accordingly with nary a surprise to be found.
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'Philomena' and 'Before Midnight' top Women Film Critics Circle awards
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:04 am · December 16th, 2013
After a colorful list of nominations last week (check them out here if you missed them), the Women Film Critics Circle has deemed “Philomena” the best film of 2013…about women. The film picked up two other awards as well (the only other two for which it was nominated, in fact, making it a sweeper). “Before Midnight” also scored a hat trick.
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'12 Years a Slave' rules Online critics awards, nabs three acting wins
Posted by Guy Lodge · 9:00 am · December 16th, 2013
The Online Film Critics Society showed a lot of love to “12 Years a Slave” in their voting, as the film claimed Best Picture and three acting awards. “Gravity,” however, once more pipped it to Best Director.
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'American Hustle' and '12 Years a Slave' lead Critics' Choice Movie Awards nominations
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:47 am · December 16th, 2013
“American Hustle” and “12 Years a Slave” led the way with this year’s Critics’ Choice Movie Awards nominations with 13 apiece. David O. Russell’s Abscam comedy had the added benefit of padding in the comedy categories, however, a luxury “12 Years a Slave” couldn’t boast.
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'Her' crowned best film of the year by San Diego Film Critics Society
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:09 am · December 11th, 2013
The San Diego Film Critics Society has just announced “Her” as the year’s best film. Spike Jonze’s latest picked up three awards total, including Best Original Screenplay and Best Score. “12 Years a Slave” led the way with Tuesday’s nominations announcement, but was ultimately shut out of the winning pool entirely. Oscar Isaac (“Inside Llewyn Davis”)and Cate Blanchett (“Blue Jasmine”) won top acting honors, while Matthew McConaughey received a special prize for his body of work in 2013.
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The 2013-2014 Film Awards Circuit
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:12 am · December 9th, 2013
Welcome to the 2013-2014 Film Awards Circuit. In Contention will be tracking all the ups and downs of the season right here, from critics awards to industry kudos and more.
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'12 Years a Slave' leads 2013 Online Film Critics Society nominees
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:29 am · December 9th, 2013
The Online Film Critics Society has announced 2013 nominees and once again, “12 Years a Slave” is a dominating force on the regional circuit. The film picked up a field-leading eight nominations. The Coen brothers’ “Inside Llewyn Davis” and Spike Jonze’s “Her” were a few steps behind with six apiece. The line-up includes passion for Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Wind Rises” and Johnnie To’s “Drug War.”
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New York Film Critics Online award '12 Years a Slave,' Cuarón, Ejiofor
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 3:33 pm · December 8th, 2013
The New York Film Critics Online also jumped into the fun on a very busy day for the precursor circuit by handing “12 Years a Slave” its Best Picture award. “Gravity” helmer Alfonso Cuarón took Best Director while acting honors went to Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cate Blanchett, Jared Leto and Lupita Nyong’o: the consensus quartet at this stage, I think it’s safe to say. Check out the full list of winners below.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Gravity' ties with 'Her' as LA critics' Best Picture winner
Posted by Guy Lodge · 12:14 pm · December 8th, 2013
The Los Angeles Film Critics Association were in an indecisive mood today, as three categories ended in ties — most notably Best Picture, which was shared by two very different technological visions: “Gravity” and “Her.”
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Boston online critics hand '12 Years a Slave' seven awards
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:02 pm · December 7th, 2013
It’s safe to say members of the Boston Online Film Critics Association were big fans of Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave.” The group handed the film seven awards Friday including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Best Supporting Actress (Luipta Nyong’o). Cate Blanchett (“Blue Jasmine”) and Jared Leto (“Dallas Buyers Club”) rounded out the acting honors, while “Before Midnight” took Best Screenplay. Check out the full list below.
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'American Hustle' wins big with New York Film Critics Circle
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:51 am · December 3rd, 2013
David O. Russell’s “American Hustle” was crowned the best film of 2013 today by the New York Film Critics Circle, capping off a nearly five-hour vote and marking the first critics awards announcement of the year. The film also received wins for Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Lawrence) and Best Screenplay.
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'Despicable Me 2' comes out strong with Annie Awards nominations
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:32 am · December 2nd, 2013
It was Universal’s “Despicable Me 2” leading the way today with 11 nominations for the 41st annual Annie Awards. But Disney’s “Frozen” — not far behind with 10 mentions — was the only film to receive nominations for Best Animated Feature, Best Direction and Best Writing.
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Roundup: Is it time for the animated Oscar to grow up?
Posted by Guy Lodge · 5:00 am · November 28th, 2013
In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, a writer wonders if the Best Animated Feature competition between perceived frontrunners “Frozen” and “The Wind Rises” presents the kid-focused category with a chance to come of age. Meanwhile, “The Wolf of Wall Street” gets a running time and dodges the NC-17 bullet.
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'Blue is the Warmest Color' competes for foreign Globe… as does Keanu Reeves
Posted by Guy Lodge · 2:16 pm · November 11th, 2013
France’s “Blue is the Warmest Color,” Japan’s “Like Father, Like Son” and India’s “The Lunchbox” are among the films that were controversially ineligible for this year’s Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. But at least they’ll get to compete for the Golden Globe — along with Keanu Reeves’ “Man of Tai Chi” — as the HFPA’s longlist of 48 films is revealed.
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