Megamind – In Contention

Predict the PGA nominees

Tomorrow the guild circuit launches with the WGA (separate post coming) and PGA nominations. The critics’ circuit was well and good but this is where crossover memberships begin to give us a tangible view of how the race will fill out.

Last year the PGA (Producers Guild of America) piggy-backed the Academy’s plan to expand the field of nominees from five to 10. It also copied the new voting scheme, which uses the preferential balloting system to determine nominees.

The two films that missed with the guild but made it into the Best Picture 10 were “The Blind Side” (odd that it missed, given its box office take) and the Coens’ “A Serious Man.” In their place: Clint Eastwood’s “Invictus” (why?) and the blockbuster “Star Trek.” What can we expect this year? Continue after the jump to see what I’m thinking.

(more…)

January 3, 2011

Likability: the best films of 2010

I don’t quite know how to peg 2010.

On one hand it has felt like a weak year. On the other hand, I’ve enjoyed quite a few films. Maybe the story lies in that sentence: “enjoyed.” There were precious few films that really rocked me, but plenty that were a nice enough experience.

If you listened to Friday’s Oscar Talk, then you know my top 10. But before publishing it in this space, allow me to walk through the many films that fell short, starting at the top with Derek Cianfrance’s “Blue Valentine.” Here is an honest depiction of a relationship in crisis with performances that hit the mark. It wears its soul on its sleeve.

The Coen brothers’ dip into the western genre, “True Grit,” was a straight-forward piece of flavorful filmmaking much appreciated for its restraint, while similarly, Ben Affleck’s “The Town” didn’t attempt reinvention of the wheel while forging a resonant character study in a genre film’s clothing.

(more…)

December 13, 2010

‘Dragon’ dominates Annie Award nominations

It was cute of the Annies to throw “Tangled” and “Toy Story 3” a bone in the Best Animated Feature, directing and screenplay categories this year, but the absence of Disney product in virtually every other field is clearly evidence of a reaction to the studio withdrawing from the organization earlier this summer. Credibility: out the window.

As best as I can tell, “How to Train Your Dragon” led the way considerably with 15 nominations. And I think we can pretty well expect the film to triumph in quite a few of them, including Best Animated Feature, when the awards are handed out February 5.

A distant second with seven total bids was Universal’s “Despicable Me,” but fret not, DreamWorks was right back in there at third with six nods for “Shrek Forever After.”

(more…)

December 6, 2010

BOX OFFICE: ‘Potter’ tops ‘Tangled’

“Megamind” held pretty well for a fourth weekend, though of course it would given the holiday. “The Social Network,” meanwhile, crossed $90 million, which ought to be considered a big deal for a talky fall drama with no movie stars. “127 Hours” added nearly 200 screens and almost pushed into the top 10, while “Love & Other Drugs” opened to a soft $14 million for the five-day. “Tangled” did close to $70 million for the five-day.

(Courtesy: Exhibitor Relations)

November 28, 2010

Only 15 films qualify for Oscar’s animated feature race

I honestly didn’t expect the list to hit so soon on the heels of my item earlier this afternoon, but hit it has. And it actually appears that “The Dreams of Jinsha” was the other title submitted, not “Chico & Rita.”

Alas, there are only 15 titles that qualified, meaning we will only see three nominees in the category this year. “Yogi Bear,” predictably, did not qualify, while “Idiots and Angels,” it turns out, did. I’d LOVE to see Bill Plympton in an Oscar race.

The rest are the usual suspects, but it’s a real shame we can’t have a full slate this year. Speaking solely for myself, I’m liking a lot of feature animation in 2010. TheGolden Globes, however, could still see five nominees as long as 14 titles were submitted to the HFPA for consideration. Check out Oscar’s field of animated feature contenders after the jump.

(more…)

November 15, 2010

16 animated features submitted, but what will qualify?

The Academy will be announcing the list of qualifying films for this year’s Best Animated Feature Film Oscar some time this week. For now, we know of 16 titles that have submitted. They are indicated on our dedicated page.

There was some confusion recently over which film was the 16th submission, but I’m told it was “Chico & Rita,” which bowed at this year’s Telluride film festival (it was the first film I saw at the fest, in fact). (CORRECTION: Turns out it was “The Dreams of Jinsha” instead, as noted here.) If all 16 films qualify, then we’ll be looking at a slate of five nominees after all. But if just one falls out, then it’s back to three.

The most dubious contenders could be “Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore” and “Yogi Bear,” which may not meet eligibility requirements. But the language is a bit loose, noting that “a significant number of the major characters must be animated, and animation must figure in no less than 75 percent of the picture’s running time.”

(more…)

November 15, 2010

WEEKLY WRAP: ‘Fighter’ bows, Jackman bows out, Best Picture questions

• David O. Russell’s “The Fighter” unspooled at the AFI Fest. Kris was impressed and later reported from a Q&A with the film’s stars.

• This week’s Off the Carpet column pondered the presence of money-spinners in this year’s Best Picture race.

• The Long Shot, meanwhile, wondered if that very race is currently looking a little flimsy.

• News of Hugh Jackman turning down the gig prompted the annual speculation over who should host the Oscar ceremony.

(more…)

November 13, 2010

11/9 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: Screenwriting hopefuls, Hooper on fugly ‘King’s Speech’ poster, MPAA shamed

• Sasha Stone on the season’s screenwriting contenders. [Awards Daily]

• “The King’s Speech” director Tom Hooper also hates the poster everyone has been knocking. [Movieline]

• David Poland split screens “The Social Network” star Armie Hammer. [The Hot Blog]

(more…)

November 9, 2010

BOX OFFICE: ‘Megamind’ outsmarts ‘Due Date’

Keep forgetting to post these. “For Colored Girls” opened to respectable numbers, per the usual for Perry. I never saw the film because suddenly there was a cone of silence from the studio on invites (make of that what you will) and I didn’t much feel like chasing it down.

“Secretariat” is holding okay. “Red” even better. Go Malkovich.

(Courtesy: Exhibitor Relations)

November 7, 2010

Tell us what you thought of ‘Megamind’

DreamWorks Animation’s “Megamind” is opening wide today, so maybe more of you will be able to see it and comment. I’ve had my say (including a back and forth with Anne about the film on Oscar Talk this morning). But I’d be interested to hear what you all think. Once (or if) you see it, cut loose with your thoughts in the comments section below.

November 5, 2010

OSCAR TALK: Ep. 39 — ‘Megamind,’ ‘The Way Back,’ Oscar’s actress contenders and more

Welcome to Oscar Talk.

In case you’re new to the site and/or the podcast, Oscar Talk is a weekly kudocast, your one-stop awards chat shop between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood. The podcast is weekly, every Friday throughout the season, charting the ups and downs of contenders along the way. Plenty of things change en route to Oscar’s stage and we’re here to address it all as it unfolds.

As we move into November, AFI Fest is heating up, campaigns are in full swing (talent being pitched left and right) and pretty soon I’ll be eating turkey and watching “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” Crazy. We had a slightly shorter window this week, but let’s see what’s on the docket today…

(more…)

November 5, 2010

11/5 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: Boyle on ‘127 Hours’ faintings, best in animated villainy, lead actresses must suffer

• Steve Pond gets Danny Boyle’s thoughts on this rash of faintings at screenings of “127 Hours.” [The Odds]

• Sasha Stone calls 2010 (so far) one of the best years for film in recent history. [Awards Daily]

• “Megamind” gets Josh Wigler thinking about the best animated villains of all time. [MTV Movies Blog]

(more…)

November 5, 2010

11/4 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: Sit-down with Swinton, ‘Megamind’ using social gaming, Elise on ‘For Colored Girls’

• Pete Hammond talks “I Am Love” with dark horse Best Actress contender Tilda Swinton. [Deadline]

• How DreamWorks Animation is using social gaming to boost “Megamind.” [Hollywood Reporter]

• Meet the characters of “Morning Glory.” [MakingOf]

(more…)

November 4, 2010

11/2 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: Newton on ‘For Colored Girls,’ Godard’s Oscar revives controversy, ratings board drama

• Jean-Luc Godard’s Honorary Oscar revives controversy over the director’s supposed anti-Semitism. [New York Times]

• Amy Kaufman sits down with “Love & Other Drugs” director Edward Zwick. [The Envelope]

• Edward Douglas chats up “For Colored Girls” star Thandie Newton. [Coming Soon]

(more…)

November 2, 2010

11/1 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: ‘Four Lions’ on tour, Thompson remembers ‘Back to the Future,’ The Boss talks ‘The Promise’

• Devin Faraci goes on the road with Chris Morris and his film, “Four Lions.” [Badass Digest]

• Brian Truitt talks “Back to the Future” with Lea Thompson, 25 years later. I always forget it was nominated for Best Original Screenplay. (AWESOME.) [USA Today]

• Bruce Springsteen talks the making of “Darkness on the Edge of Town” at the London premiere of “The Promise.” [The Guardian]

(more…)

November 1, 2010

10/26 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: Ferrell talks ‘Megamind,’ SAG to simulcast kudocast, Coppola shoots with Kilmer

• Drew McWeeney talks to “Megamind” star Will Ferrell. [Motion/Captured]

• This year’s SAG Awards will be simulcast to all time zones at 5pm PST. [Variety]

• Francis Ford Coppola has “quietly” begun shooting his next film, a thriller with Val Kilmer. [Deadline]

(more…)

October 26, 2010

DreamWorks’ ‘Megamind’ brings out the best in Will Ferrell

Was I just in a really good mood Saturday night or did DreamWorks’ “Megamind” send me out of the theater with a legitimate smile on my face? The 3D never gets in the way, the concept is sound and crisp, the voice talent is top notch and it doesn’t feel like everyone’s just going through the motions (probably because Will Ferrell was passionate about the story, which he had a hand in conceiving).

Most importantly, it was a damn good time at the movies.

I’m fairly high on animation in general this year. Pixar’s “Toy Story 3,” of course, is one of the year’s best, as is DreamWorks’ own “How to Train Your Dragon.” Disney’s “Tangled” manages to stay fresh and progressive within the familiarity of the studio’s classic fairytale offerings and Sylvain Chomet’s “The Illusionist” is as touching as they come (with the year’s best score to boot — though a recently filed lawsuit over the copyright of the title could keep the film off the books this year).

(more…)

October 25, 2010

‘Megamind’ poster

DreamWorks Animation’s “Megamind” is set to battle Disney’s “Tangled” for early holiday audiences this November. The most recent trailer spoiled the movie for a great many but at least the poster is safe and, well standard. Is there something that’s supposed to be subconsciously attractive about yellow, though? Because consciously, it’s not doing it for me. Check out the full image after the jump.
(more…)

September 24, 2010

Tag: Megamind