Clik here to view.
TECH SUPPORT: Best Original Score — Volume II
A great score can take a film from memorable to unforgettable. Whether it be Vangelis’s synthesizer on the beach in “Chariots of Fire,” Nino Rota’s haunting waltz from “The Godfather” or John...
View ArticleClik here to view.
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...
View ArticleClik here to view.
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...
View ArticleClik here to view.
TECH SUPPORT: Best Sound Editing — Volume II
Last week we discussed how a movie’s soundtrack can be immeasurably improved by music. This week, we turn to the sound technicians. While next week will concentrate on sound mixing (the overall mix...
View ArticleClik here to view.
TECH SUPPORT: Best Sound Mixing — Volume II
Sound mixing has a lot in common with sound editing, but the distinctions are still critical. While both clearly relate to what we hear in the theater, sound editing specifically relates to the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
‘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...
View ArticleClik here to view.
WEEKLY WRAP: The circuit takes hold, chatting up DiCaprio and Harris, top 10...
• The week started off with “How to Train Your Dragon” predictably dominating the slate of Annie Award nominations. • Kris sat down with Leonardo DiCaprio and got Martin Scorsese on the phone for a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
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...
View ArticleClik here to view.
FIRST HALF FYC: Best Screenplay (Original and Adapted)
For the third episode in our new Oscar-season feature, we take a recess from the acting races and look instead to the screenplays that roped the actors in to begin with. If you’re new to the feature...
View ArticleClik here to view.
If I had a ballot
The year is winding down. Today, as part of the week’s on-going year-in-review specials, I’m offering up my annual “if I had a ballot” post. In years past I’ve tended to defer to studio campaigns for...
View ArticleClik here to view.
12/28 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: Duke or Dude?, Jonsi’s music video, Karger sticks...
• The Duke or The Dude? Which Rooster has more true grit? [Entertainment Weekly] • Russ Fischer has the music video for Jonsi’s “Sticks & Stones” from “How to Train Your Dragon.” [/Film] • Brendon...
View ArticleClik here to view.
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 ArticleClik here to view.
CONTEST: Win the ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ score and coffee table book
More to give away this week as we’ve got something for the animation fans. Up for grabs: Tracey Miller-Zarneke and Cressida Cowell’s lovely coffee table book “The Art of ‘How to Train Your Dragon’”...
View ArticleClik here to view.
‘How to Train Your Dragon’ contest winner(s)!
First a big thank you to everyone who participated in Monday’s “How to Train Your Dragon” haiku contest. Moving right along here on clearing out my office of the season’s swag! There were a number of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
FIRST-HALF FYC: Best Picture
For the past eight weeks, I’ve been spotlighting nomination-worthy names, in all major Ocar categories, from the first half of the US release calendar. Today, we close out the series with an...
View ArticleClik here to view.
TECH SUPPORT: Final analysis, part one
It seems hard to believe that it’s been more than six months since I wrote this year’s introductory Tech Support column ( a dissection of the art direction race). Much has changed since then,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
My dream Oscar ballot, part two
Yesterday, I began my very far-fetched (and in some cases, frankly impossible) wishlist for Tuesday’s Oscar nominations with my favorite achievements in the technical categories. Today, I offer up my...
View ArticleClik here to view.
OSCAR GUIDE: Best Animated Feature Film
The animated feature field unfortunately fell one film short of the required 16 eligible contenders to expand the category to five nominees this year. As a result of this bewildering and arbitrary...
View ArticleClik here to view.
‘Inception,’‘Dragon’ reign at VES awards
Four for “Inception,” three for “How to Train Your Dragon” (which beat out “Toy Story 3″ every step of the way). “Hereafter,” meanwhile, took the supporting effects award. Key quote from Christopher...
View ArticleClik here to view.
2/3 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: Animated feature speculation, Cameron says Nolan was...
• Carolyn Giardina floats the possibility of “How to Train Your Dragon” beating “Toy Story 3″ for Best Animated Feature with nothing but those (not unexpected) Visual Effects Society wins to justify...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Clean sweep for ‘Dragon’ at Annie Awards
(Sorry we’re a bit late getting to this — Kris had more exciting plans for the evening and I like to sleep sometimes.) It’s a shame one can’t talk about “How to Train Your Dragon”‘s success at the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Desplat leads International Film Music Critics nods
Alexandre Desplat has enjoyed a brilliant career in U.S. features as of late (on the back of immense talent, naturally). 2010 was a grand year for the composer as he, once again, balanced scoring...
View ArticleClik here to view.
OSCAR GUIDE: Best Music (Original Score)
Recently the International Film Music Critics Association were the last critics group to offer their (specialized) thoughts on the 2010 film year. The announcement made for an interesting counter to...
View Article‘Dragon,’‘King’s Speech,’‘TRON’ win with film music critics
Check out the full list of winners at The Circuit.
View ArticleClik here to view.
TECH SUPPORT: Final analysis, part two
Yesterday we began our final look at the 10 crafts categories. Check out part one here. Today, the conclusion. Meanwhile, you can find my final predictions in all categories here. Best Music...
View Article
