Ben Affleck gets his Academy Award as a producer on the CIA thriller. By Amy Wilkinson Ben Affleck at the 2013 Oscars Photo: Christopher Polk/ Getty Images
Jennifer Lawrence takes a tumble, while ‘Argo’ wins the night’s biggest prize at the 85th Academy Awards. By Ryan J. Downey Seth MacFarlane at the 2013 Oscars Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
Kristen Stewart, Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt will take the stage at the Academy Awards. By Amy Wilkinson Kristen Stewart Photo: Getty Images
Here’s a shout-out for Naomi Watts , and I am afraid she’ll need it. She’s the sole Oscar nominee from director J.A. Bayona’s The Impossible, and that means she has a real uphill climb for a win. Watts is up against four other nominees in the Best Actress category — Jennifer Lawrence ( Silver Linings Playbook ), Jessica Chastain ( Zero Dark Thirty ), Emmanuelle Riva ( Amour) and 9-year old Quvenzhane Wallis ( Beasts Of The Southern Wild ) — whose movies have the additional momentum of a Best Picture nomination. It’s a huge disadvantage now that the Academy at large is voting, not just the actors branch. Although a big hit in Bayona’s native Spain, The Impossible — which tells the story of a family fighting to survive the catastrophic Thailand tsunami of 2004 — underperformed in its U.S. run. The movie’s mid-December opening, which took place the same week that Academy balloting began, didn’t help its Oscar chances either. That Watts made the Best Actress short list at all is a testament to her gritty, visceral performance, which she has described as the most physically challenging movie of her career. And she’d have a real shot at a statuette if Academy members actually took the time to watch the movie. (Voting begins Feb. 8 and ends Feb. 19.) The one advantage Watts does have over her fellow nominees is that she is playing a real life person: Maria Belon, a Spanish wife and mother who lived to tell the tale and has enthusiastically endorsed Watts’ performance at various events this season. Chastain’s character, Maya, is also said to be based on an actual CIA operative, but the actress claims to have never met the woman who inspired her Zero Dark Thirt y role. Although the Thailand tsunami took more than 200,000 lives, The Impossible is not about dying. Bayona and his screenwriter Sergio Sanchez have crafted a powerful, harrowing film about living and, more importantly, family. Particularly during its grueling first half, The Impossible is, at times, almost unbearable to watch as the injured and frightened Maria (Watts) and her older son Lucas ( Tom Holland ) attempt to find what’s left of civilization after being swept away and nearly killed by the tsunami. Gravely injured, Maria clings to life while her son leads them on, looking for medical attention and holding out hope that his father Henry ( Ewan McGregor ) and two younger brothers, who were separated from them by the cataclysmic event, are still alive. Once the pair finally make it to a makeshift hospital, Maria is not given much hope to survive, and Watt’s plays these scenes brilliantly, acting largely with her eyes. Meanwhile, Henry and his two other sons are desperately seeking to determine if Maria and Lucas are okay, and in one devastating scene that will resonate with any father, McGregor breaks down during a phone call home, no longer able to bear the emotional toll of what has happened to his family. It’s a sterling moment for McGregor, who should have joined Watts on the Oscar honor roll this year. He has never been more effective on screen as he is in those moments (surrounded, by the way, by many of the actual survivors of the 2004 Tsunami who were cast as extras). For those who know the true story of Maria, the decision to change the nationality of her and her family may seem jarring at first, but quickly becomes inconsequential thanks to the performances of Watts and McGregor in roles that would test the mettle of the best actors. As for the tsunami itself, it has been exquisitely re-created the old fashioned way using a water tank and models. Although it comprises only a few minutes of the film — in the beginning and in brief flashbacks near the conclusion — it is stunningly realistic and a chilling reminder of how fragile life can be. Bayona understands that the best way to accomplish this is not through special effects but through the extraordinary performances of his actors. The Impossible is impossible to shake off, and Academy members should not miss Watts’ incredible performance in this movie. Follow Pete Hammond on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.
She notably made her Brooklyn debut last year to much fan fair and now singing diva Barbra Streisand will make her way to the Academy Awards telecast for a return. [ Related: Norah Jones To Perform ‘Ted’ Oscar-Nominated Song At Academy Awards ] The two-time Academy Award-winner has only lent her voice to the Oscars once before back in March 28, 1977 when she sang the them song from “A Star Is Born.” Streisand won the Oscar for Best Original Song that same night for Evergreen . Streisand won her first Oscar for Best Actress in Funny Girl (1968), and was nominated again in 1973 for her lead performance in The Way We Were . She was also nominated for producing the Best Picture nominee The Prince of Tides (1991), which she also directed, and for co-writing the original song “I Finally Found Someone” from The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996). “In an evening that celebrates the artistry of movies and music,” said producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron in a statement, adding, “How could the telecast be complete without Barbra Streisand? We are honored that she has agreed to do a very special performance on this year’s Oscars, her first time singing on the show in 36 years.” The 85th Academy Awards takes place February 24th in Hollywood. Seth MacFarlane will host the live event, which will be broadcast on ABC.
“I would like to thank the Academy… I’m kidding, I’m kidding. This is the one that counts,” joked Ben Affleck Thursday night at the Critics Choice Awards, accepting his Best Director prize at the event hosted by the Broadcast Film Critics Association. If Affleck was more than simply disappointed by being passed up by the Academy in the Best Director category for Argo in yesterday’s Oscar nominations , he didn’t show it at last night at the event. [Related: Critics Choice Awards Spread The Love Around, Name ‘Argo’ Best Picture AND Academy Award Nominations — What Were The Biggest Snubs & Shocks Of The 2013 Oscar Noms? ] “It doesn’t feel like [I got robbed],” Affleck told Access Hollywood at the Critics Choice Awards. “We not nominated for Best Picture and seven other nominations. I guess I would of liked to personal have two or like three, four or five for myself, but I’ll take whatever we got – it’s a pretty cool thing.” Affleck along with other heavyweight Oscar contenders Kathryn Bigelow, Quentin Tarantino and Paul Thomas Anderson were passed over Thursday morning in Oscar’s Best Director category. The actor/filmmaker won an Academy Award in 1998 for Best Screenplay with pal Matt Damon in 1998 for Good Will Hunting . “If you go into the situation where you think you’re entitled to get nominated, you’re probably in trouble,” added Affleck. “The best picture nomination is an acknowledgement and then we got seven other nominations. Editing, score and all these like people who worked really hard. So, it’s really satisfying to see those folks get acknowledged.” [ Source: Access Hollywood ]
Katy Perry, Rick Ross and more got snubbed by Academy voters … here’s who we would have picked. By James Montgomery Katy Perry in her “Wide Awake” video Photo: EMI/Capitol
The film won a number of prizes including Best Picture. Also in Monday’s round-up of news, seven films made the Academy’s Shortlist of titles competing in the hair and makeup category; Lili Taylor’s latest is set for a Berlin premiere; newcomers in the Specialty Box Office opened weak over the weekend; and film critic Karina Longworth is leaving L.A. Weekly. Silver Linings Playbook Wins 4 Satellite Awards Including Best Picture David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook took five prizes at the 17th annual Satellite Awards Sunday including Best Picture and best director for Russell and best actor prizes for Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, THR reports . 7 Movies On Makeup Short List Seven films remain in competition for the Makeup and Hairstyling category for the 85th Academy Awards. Hitchcock , The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey , Les Misérables , Lincoln , Looper , Men in Black 3 and Snow White and the Huntsman made the short list. Three nominees will lead into the Oscar ceremony. Lili Taylor’s The Cold Lands Set for Berlin Premiere The film by Tom Gilroy will have its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival in February. Also starring John Ventimiglia, the pic revolves around Atticus who flees from authorities after his mother’s sudden death into the rugged mountains and dense forests of upstate New York. The feature is part of the initial films announced in the Berlinale’s Generation Programme. See the full list of announced titles here . Any Day Now Soft as Holdovers Hyde Park On Hudson and Silver Linings Playbook Stay Solid Any Day Now bowed in 16 theaters a brave story starring Alan Cumming about a gay couple fighting to retain custody of special needs child they reared. Any Day Now is a brave film and story that earned audience prizes at festivals throughout the year. Unfortunately it did not connect fully with paying audiences in its debut but hopefully its audience will build through word-of-mouth. It averaged only $2,563 per location. More specialty results at Deadline. Film Critic Karina Longworth Leaves L.A. Weekly Longworth began at L.A. Weekly replacing Scott Foundas who headed to the Film Society of Lincoln Center. He’s returning to Village Voice Media as its critic. She is writing a book about Meryl Streep for Cahiers du Cinema and will freelance, TOH reports .
Prognosticators have maybe five (or even as few as two) possible Oscar winners, and most lists of ten (or so) have many of the same titles though perhaps in various orders. But folks, the nominations have yet to come in and the Academy made that clear today with its list of 282 feature films for 2012 that are eligible for Best Picture. [ Related: Oscar Index: ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ Caught In The Cross-Hairs ] Rules are rules and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences officially considers a feature film that played in a commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles County by midnight, December 31 and begin a minimum seven consecutive day run. [ Related: Golden Globes Unveil 70th Edition Nominees ] Under Academy rules, a feature-length motion picture must have a running time of more than 40 minutes and must have been exhibited theatrically on 35mm or 70mm film, or in a qualifying digital format. Feature films that receive their first public exhibition or distribution in any manner other than as a theatrical motion picture release are not eligible for Academy Awards in any category. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days to Django Unchained ; The First Time to Flight ; Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted to Magic Mike ; 17 Girls to The Sessions … They’re all on the official list , so don’t count out the non-elite not making Awards headlines. The 85th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 10, 2013, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Sunday, February 24, 2013
Welcome back to the Gold Linings Playbook, otherwise known as the Oscar Index, in which we take the pulse of the pundits handicapping this year’s emerging Oscar class! Oscar handicapping began in earnest this week with The New York Film Critics Circle’s selection of Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty as Best Picture , adding further speculation that the hunt for Bin Laden drama may steal some of Ben Affleck’s Argo ’s thunder. In the past decade, four of the NYFCC’s Best Picture winners have gone on to win the Academy Award: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ; No Country for Old Men ; The Hurt Locker , and The Artist . But never mind Argo ; Lincoln better watch its back. On Wednesday, the National Board of Review also named Zero Dark Thirty Best Picture , Bigelow Best Director, and Jessica Chastain Best Actress. Also getting some newfound awards season cred courtesy of the NYFCC are Matthew McConaughey, named Best Supporting Actor for Magic Mike and Bernie , and Rachel Weisz, a below the radar choice for Best Actress for Deep Blue Sea , assuring that that DVD screener will be retrieved from the pile. Other NYFCC winners in the main categories are in line with pundit expectations: Bigelow for Best Director; Daniel Day-Lewis ( Lincoln ) for Best Actor, and Sally Field ( Lincoln ) for Best Supporting Actress. Independent Spirit Awards nominations, which were announced last week, have been harbingers for Academy Award consideration, but only twice — Platoon and last year’s The Artist — has the Best Feature winner gone on to win Hollywood’s ultimate prize. Still, Best Feature nods have given Beasts of the Southern Wild , Moonrise Kingdom and especially Silver Linings Playbook a decided Oscar boost. There is still time to mount Don Quixote-like quests for statuette consideration (Linda Cardinelli’s self-financed Best Actress campaign on behalf of Return ) or for critics to float their own long-shot candidates they deem to be at least worthy of consideration ( End of Watch , suggests Roger Ebert). But in this early going, it’s more fun for seasoned Oscar-watchers — literally those watching at home — to think about which nominees would make for a more entertaining Academy Awards broadcast, which is in dire need of a reboot. Luckily, Lincoln is a shoe-in for major award consideration, so we have host Seth McFarlane’s Ford Theatre jokes to look forward to. Here’s hoping the Academy once again allows Best Song contenders to perform, just so we can see the bombastic production number sure to accompany Adele’s “Skyfall.” The prospect of multi-nominations for Argo increases the possibility that an Oscar will be accepted with an “ Argo f*** yourself” flourish. And right now, there’s no denying that we like the possibility of another emotional Sally Field acceptance speech that would top her “you like me” outburst 27 years ago. Until then, how did the week’s developments impact the ever emerging Oscar field? Best Picture One can devise a potent drinking game out of every time click-savvy Huffington Post queries in a headline whether a certain film can be considered to be a “front-runner.” They have so far posed the question on behalf of Argo , Lincoln , Les Miserables , and Zero Dark Thirty . Into the fray gallops Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained , which had its hotly-anticipated Director’s Guild Association screening last weekend. Judging by the mostly rapturous Twitter response from acolytes, it went pretty good. But is it Oscar-worthy? Michael Haneke’s Amour swept the European film awards over the weekend, while The Master was annointed top film of 2012 by Sight & Sound. Just sayin’. But Zero Dark Thirty is making a direct assault on Hollywood’s top prize with its NYFCC and NBR wins this week for Best Picture and Best Director. Meanwhile, the bulk of this year’s buzziest Best Picture wannabes were fall and winter releases, which does not bode well for Moonrise Kingdom (a May release) and Beasts of the Southern Wild (June), but their DVD releases could help refresh memories. 1. Zero Dark Thirty 2. Lincoln 3. Les Miserables 4. Silver Linings Playbook 5. Life of Pi 6. Argo 7. Beasts of the Southern Wild 8. Moonrise Kingdom 9. The Sessions 10. Skyfall Ones to watch: Django Unchained , The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey , The Impossible , The Master Best Director “Standing ovation for Tarantino at DGA,” tweeted Anne Thompson from the first screening of Django Unchained . But it’s a strong field of contenders, in which four slots are by most accounts assured for Affleck, Bigelow, Hooper, and Spielberg. Bigelow’s NYFCC and NBR wins this week put her seriously in the hunt. That leaves one slot open for once-certain nominee Paul Thomas Anderson ( The Master ), or Wes Anderson ( Moonrise Kingdom ), Ang Lee ( Life of Pi ), and Behn Zeitlin ( Beasts of the Southern Wild ). 1. Kathryn Bigelow ( Zero Dark Thirty ) 2. Steven Spielberg ( Lincoln ) 3. Tom Hooper ( Les Miserables ) 4. Ben Affleck ( Argo ) 5. David O. Russell ( Silver Linings Playbook ) Ones to watch: Paul Thomas Anderson ( The Master ), Michael Haneke ( Amour ), Peter Jackson ( The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ), Quentin Tarantno ( Django Unchained ) Next: Best Actor & Best Actress
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