Tag Archives: The Artist

2012 Oscar Nominations: Hugo Vs. The Artist (nom, nom, nom)

Posted by grimdreaper on

The 2012 Oscar Nomination are out. Some highlights and interesting bits:

  • There were 11 nominations for Hugo (more technical noms) and 10 for The Artist (more for acting noms). Both are up for Best Picture and Director.
  • Warhorse and Moneyball took 6 nominations each, while The Decsendents and The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo took 5 nominations each.
  • Pixar does NOT have a movie up for Animation Feature Film this year while DreamWorks has been nominated for two: Kung Fu Panda 2 and Puss in Boots.
  • The Muppets are likely a shoo-in for Original Song with “Man or Muppet.”
  • The producers for The Tree of Life are “to be determined.” Are they in hiding someplace? They SHOULD be.

The carnage all happens on Sunday, February 26th, 2012 on ABC (and then we get on with our lives).

Golden Globes 2012 Winners!

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Here’s a few of my favorite highlights…

  • Best Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical – The Artist
  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical – Michelle Williams – My Week With Marilyn
  • Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical – Jean Dujardin – The Artist
  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television – Jessica Lange – “American Horror Story” on (FX)

See the entire list of winners at GoldenGlobes.org.

Review: ‘The Artist’ (awards season is getting the silent treatment)

Posted by grimdreaper on

A story that’s so sweet and innocent, it’s practically forgivable for being the awards bait it’s being offered up as.

One of the biggest actors in 1927 Hollywood is George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), a silent film star working for a studio owned by Al Zimmer (John Goodman). On the set of his latest film, George meets Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo), an extra he’d had a previous encounter with and a fellow dancer as well. Soon after, Zimmer shows off to George the latest in film technology: a recorded soundtrack with voices instead of cue cards. George laughs off any chance of it ever catching on, but it isn’t long before he sees his silent star begin to fade as Peppy Miller’s “talkie star” begins to rise. With the fruits of George’s former success souring all around him and no prospects of returning to the big screen, what hope does a silent film star have to entertain audiences he’s certain doesn’t want to ever hear him?

The ambition of this project is evident from the start: a black and white, virtually silent movie about a silent film star struggling to find relevance without a voice of his own. The timing, of course, in releasing such a high-concept film at awards season isn’t a coincidence, especially being composed of elements that seasonal award voters gravitate toward. In spite of this, the story has merit as a compelling yet innocent tale that just isn’t told anymore, and what’s more, it works. It’s obvious that the movie is made with modern equipment and cinematography, but special care has been taken to evoke the era rather than duplicate it. This may be the final time anyone will attempt a film of this sort, but building the reasons for its obsolescence into the plot as a story element is how the movie gets away with its premiss. This is the kind of film that award voters all give points to while championing other films individually for the bigger prizes, and it’s for that reason that The Artist may be poised to sneak up and win a few of those prestigious awards this year.

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