Category Archives: Oscars

Actors, Awards, Comedy, Drama, Filmmakers, Independent Film, Narrative, Oscars

2015 Memo to the Academy

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(Re-posted from LimitéMagazine.com)

Dear Academy,

It’s that time of year again. You’ve watched dozens of movies, you’ve seen plenty of “For Your Consideration” ads, and you’ve heard everyone’s reasons why one film or another deserves to win. There’s a lot going through your mind; maybe you’re confused. No worries. Once again, Limité’s Film Team is ready to step up with its picks in some of the most hotly contested categories. Read below, then mark your ballots with confidence.

Your friends,

Dan Quitério, Joy Ganes, Morgan Goldin

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Awards, Comedy, Independent Film, Narrative, Oscars

Nomination? We don’t need no stinkin’ nomination!—Antonio Sánchez Drums up Live Performance of “Birdman” Score

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Often, this time of year, Oscar-nominated films attempt to drum up last-minute support with special live events—whether it be a live musical performance by the cast of Frozen or a Mary Poppins sing-along event for Saving Mr. Banks. These events usually highlight an aspect of the film that’s nominated (or would be potentially nominated), which is why I found it interesting that Birdman‘s score was recently performed live in LA during a screening of the film.

Since the film’s release in November, the unique jazz drum score has reverberated in viewers’ minds. The Golden Globe- and BAFTA Award-nominated music by Antonio Sánchez was famously disqualified for Oscar consideration because it samples about 17 minutes of previously recorded classical music (an Oscar no-no). Despite his ineligibility, Sánchez took to his drum kit for the live performance last night at the ACE Hotel. Although the performance does nothing to support the film’s (nonexistent) chances in the Original Score category, perhaps it does help further boost Birdman‘s profile, keeping it top of mind for voters who are currently filling in their ballots. And with only one other film acting as serious competition for Best Picture, Birdman can use the added boost to make it to the Dolby’s stage on Oscar Sunday.

Animation, Awards, Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Foreign Film, Independent Film, Narrative, Oscars

Oscar-Nominated Films on Netflix

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With 9 nominations, THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL ties BIRDMAN with the most nominations. Watch THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, currently available on Netflix.

This morning, the nominations for the 87th Academy Awards were announced. View all nominees here.

If you’re like me, you watch as many of the nominated films as possible before the ceremony (on February 22 this year). Got some catching up to do? Watch 11 of the nominated films, currently on Netflix.

Available Via Streaming

Ida

  • Best Foreign Language Film (Poland)
  • Best Cinematography

Virunga

  • Best Documentary

Available Via Netflix DVD

Begin Again

  • Best Original Song

Boyhood

  • Best Picture
  • Best Director
  • Best Original Screenplay
  • Best Supporting Actor
  • Best Supporting Actress
  • Best Film Editing

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

  • Best Visual Effects

Finding Vivian Maier

  • Best Documentary

The Grand Budapest Hotel

  • Best Picture
  • Best Director
  • Best Original Screenplay
  • Best Cinematography
  • Best Original Score
  • Best Film Editing
  • Best Makeup and Hairstyling
  • Best Costume Design
  • Best Production Design

Guardians of the Galaxy

  • Best Makeup and Hairstyling
  • Best Visual Effects

The Lego Movie

  • Best Original Song

Maleficent

  • Best Costume Design

X-Men: Days of Future Past

  • Best Visual Effects
Actors, Awards, Coming Soon, Drama, Independent Film, Narrative, Oscars, Preview

And the Oscar Goes to…Julianne Moore

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[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrXrZ5iiR0o]

This year, Oscar’s always-a-bridesmaid, Julianne Moore, goes for her fifth nomination. And among all of this year’s leading ladies, Moore seems to be a lock for her first—and much overdo—win. In fact, hers is one of the few categories that’s nearly a sure thing at this stage of the Oscar season. (Let’s hope I didn’t just jinx it.)

Playing a linguistics professor with early-onset Alzheimer’s, Moore’s performance in Still Alice is ripe for awards consideration, and, indeed, it has received several positive notices and recognition. Among her accolades, Moore has already won Best Actress from the Gotham Awards and National Board of Review, among others, and she counts a Golden Globe nomination (two, actually—the other for Maps to the Stars) and SAG Award nomination among her accolades.

Still Alice also stars Alec Baldwin, Kristen Stewart, and Kate Bosworth, and opens January 16. Oscar nominations will be announced the morning of January 15.

Awards, Coming Soon, In Theatres, Independent Film, Narrative, New Release, Oscars

Oscar Film Season: Movie Watching Checklist

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Jack O’Connell in UNBROKEN (photo courtesy of Universal Pictures. © 2014. All rights reserved.)

If you’re anything like me, you make a point to watch as many “Oscar films” as possible before the February ceremony. To help me with this, I assemble a checklist of sorts every fall, ordering each film by release date. To that end, listed below are some of this year’s biggest prospects that are either currently in theatres or set to be released in the upcoming weeks. In the event that I’ve seen one of the films listed, I included my rating out of 10.

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Actors, Awards, Oscars

Waiting in the Rain: My Oscars 2014 Experience

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It’s not every day I get the opportunity to fly out to LA for the Oscars, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t post about my experience at this year’s Academy Awards. My friend Stephanie and I ventured to Hollywood primarily for our Red Carpet experience, but we took our extended weekend to meet with friends, see some sites, and tour the Paramount Pictures studios. Still, our Oscar Fan Experience was the weekend’s crown jewel, so I’ll be focusing this post on that.

Our call time was 10am and we arrived a bit early, so we hung out at a donut shop nearby for our “pre-gaming.” (I had been to LA just a few years earlier and didn’t notice all of the donut shops. This time, however, that’s all I could see—for miles and miles. And these aren’t fancy, gourmet donut shops; these are hole-in-the-wall, cheapo places.)

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Classic Film, Drama, Narrative, Oscars

A Film of Olympic Proportions

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In light of the Olympic Winter Games and TCM’s 31 Days of Oscar, it seems appropriate to draw focus to the classic film Chariots of Fire. Set during the 1924 Olympic Games, one Jewish and one Christian track athlete—both British—compete against each other in this epic story of sportsmanship. Directed by Hugh Hudson, the 1981 film went on to capture four Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Costume Design, and its now Olympics-synonymous score. Other nominations were earned for the film’s directing, editing, and supporting performance by Ian Holm.

Transport yourself back to 1924 and the Olympic games and take a listen to this iconic, Oscar-winning score:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY3XiM7oGj0]
Oscars

How I Won an Oscar Fan Experience

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A continuation from my last post …

Here are the questions the Academy posed during Academy Fan Appreciation Week, along with my responses.

1

I’d probably stand in silent disbelief for a few seconds before saying, “I’ve been fantasizing about this moment for most of my life. I’m so grateful to be standing here, welcomed by this honorable community. For me, film isn’t about the awards–though I gladly accept this Oscar–it’s about the magic that stretches through the screen and reaches each wide-eyed dreamer sitting in the audience–myself included. For some, an Oscar represents the culmination of a long, amazing career, but for me, it represents my inclusion with this industry that I love and respect so much. I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the worthy nominees in this category, because it’s when I watch films like [INSERT FELLOW NOMINATED FILM TITLES] that I’m reminded why I love movies so damn much. Thank you for this honor. This is the greatest moment of my life.”

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Oscars

I’m Going to the Oscars!

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When I visited LA a couple of years ago, I met Barbara, a tour guide at the then-Kodak Theatre. She took my friend Stephanie and me on a tour of the hallowed grounds that are the home of the Academy Awards. It was an amazing experience being in that building and getting Barbara’s insider’s perspective. She told us about the Red Carpet bleacher seats and how the Academy chooses lucky fans via lottery to occupy those seats. (I suspect one would have an easier time getting into Harvard then winning one of these highly sought-after seats.) Ever since then, I had hoped that perhaps one day I’d get the chance, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon …

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Animation, Awards, Documentary, Foreign Film, Narrative, News, Oscars, Short Film

2014 Oscars: Short Film Shortlists

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84th Annual Academy Awards - Arrivals

In the past few weeks, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed the shortlists for all short film categories for the 2013 Oscars. Official nominations will be announced on January 16, 2014. Here’s what will be vying for a nomination in all three categories:

LIVE ACTION

  • “Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn’t Me),” Esteban Crespo, director (Producciones Africanauan)
  • “Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just before Losing Everything),” Xavier Legrand, director, and Alexandre Gavras, producer (KG Productions)
  • “Dva (Two),” Mickey Nedimovic, director, and Henner Besuch, director of photography (Filoufilm Dani Barsch)
  • “Helium,” Anders Walter, director, and Kim Magnusson, producer (M & M Productions)
  • “Kush,” Shubhashish Bhutiani, director (Red Carpet Moving Pictures)
  • “Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?),” Selma Vilhunen, director, and Kirsikka Saari, screenwriter (Tuffi Films)
  • “Record/Play,” Jesse Atlas, director, and Thom Fennessey, executive producer (Collaboration Factory)
  • “Throat Song,” Miranda de Pencier, director (Northwood Productions)
  • “Tiger Boy,” Gabriele Mainetti, director (Goon Films)
  • “The Voorman Problem,” Mark Gill, director, and Baldwin Li, producer (Honlodge Productions)

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