Jessica Chastain on mining for details and feminism's new moment in 'Zero Dark Thirty'

Posted by · 10:00 am · December 18th, 2012

On stage and screen, Jessica Chastain is playing a wide range of emotions and arcs. From the frailty of “The Heiress”‘s Catherine to the rigidity of “Zero Dark Thirty”‘s Maya, it’s a playground for an actress. She discusses her work in both.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention · Interviews

'Zero Dark Thirty' wins Best Picture from Austin film critics…and nothing else

Posted by · 8:27 am · December 18th, 2012

“Zero Dark Thirty” remains on top of the critics awards haul today with another Best Picture nod, this time from the Austin Film Critics Association. Oddly, though, the film won nothing else. “The Master” seemed to be more of a favorite, taking Best Director, Best Actor and Best Cinematography.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Lincoln' finally wins a critics award for Best Picture, from Dallas-Ft. Worth

Posted by · 7:26 am · December 18th, 2012

After sitting idly by and watching films like “Zero Dark Thirty” and “Argo” reap most of the critics’ Best Picture awards, Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” finally has one of its own, from the Dallas-Ft. Worth Film Critics Association. The film won Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress in addition to Best Picture, but fell to Kathryn Bigelow in the Best Director category.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Argo' wins big with Florida Film Critics Circle

Posted by · 6:50 am · December 18th, 2012

The Florida Film Critics Circle has joined a recent build for Ben Affleck’s “Argo” in the critics awards circuit, handing the film Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay honors. Daniel Day-Lewis and Jessica Chastain added to their lead actor and actress haul, while Philip Seymour Hoffman and Anne Hathaway were singled out in the supporting ranks.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Amour' and 'The Master' lead London Critics' Circle nominations

Posted by · 6:15 am · December 18th, 2012

‘Beasts,’ ‘Pi’ fend off ‘Lincoln,’ ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ in Film of the Year field

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Indiana Film Journalists Association goes its own way, crowns 'Safety Not Guaranteed'

Posted by · 10:27 am · December 17th, 2012

Well if you were looking for someone, anyone, to just go the least bit against the grain, the Iindiana Film Journalists Association is here to save the day. After announcing nominees last week, the group has handed Best Picture honors to Colin Trevorrow’s “Safety Not Guaranteed,” making it just one more film to win such honors in a year that is spreading the love quite a bit.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

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.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Zero Dark Thirty,' 'The Master' win big with Chicago film critics

Posted by · 6:27 am · December 17th, 2012

Another swift turnaround from nominations, as the Chicaco Film Critics Association has joined the chorus of “Zero Dark Thirty” supporters. The film won five awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress. “The Master,” meanwhile, won four, for Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography and Best Score.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

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.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'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.”

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

African-American Film Critics hail 'Zero Dark Thirty,' 'Middle of Nowhere'

Posted by · 1:44 pm · December 16th, 2012

Ben Affleck takes Best Director, while Denzel Washington is Best Actor.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Holy Motors' tops Film Comment's list of the year's best

Posted by · 12:23 pm · December 14th, 2012

The FIlm Society of Lincoln Center’s annual survey of film critics, journalists and editors left Leos Carax’s “Holy Motors” at the top of an auteur heavy list of films from fimmakers such as Paul Thomas Anderson, Nuri Bilge Ceylan and Wes Anderson, among others.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'The Master' leads with 10 Chicago critics' nods

Posted by · 9:25 am · December 14th, 2012

‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’ also gets a boost.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

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.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'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.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'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.”

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'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.”

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Roundup: Why 2012 has been a good year for movie heroines

Posted by · 5:23 am · December 11th, 2012

Also: Inside the LAFCA vote, and examining BAFTA’s rule changes

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention