Throughout the month of December, TV Editor Kate Kulzick and Film Editor Ricky D will review classic Christmas adaptions, posting a total of 13 each, one a day, until the 25th of December. The catch: They will swap roles as Rick takes on reviews of television Christmas specials and Kate takes on Christmas movies. …
All those cinephiles out there wondering what is going to make the cut in time for next year’s Oscars can accurately forecast that more easily, now that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the integral dates for film’s biggest night. Similar to this year, the announcement of the nominations will be …
Well after dozens upon dozens of articles written here at Sound On Sight about Exit Through The Gift Shop, I would have to assume this would be the very last. The infamous street artist remained surprisingly quiet since the Academy Awards, after leaving behind a ton of street art around Los Angeles, but now he …
I will leave the discussion of what/who won/didn’t win and why/why not to others. I have only one concern: Did it work? For the now befuddled, let me recap what I laid out back in January when the 2011 Academy Award nominations were announced: A year earlier, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences …
Strange Win – Albert Lamorisse’s exquisite The Red Balloon remains one of the most beloved family films of all time. Weirdly, the 1956 film won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar = despite being a 35-minute French movie, and despite having no dialogue. Lawsuit – In 1988, the Academy itself managed to anger Disney over the …
The saying goes: If Hollywood is really the movie capital of the world, then Oscar night is the world’s biggest wrap party, and like all parties, each event comes with unwelcome guests, embarrassing situations, strange fashions and controversial moments. In fact, controversy and the Oscars seem to go hand in hand and despite the fact …
(Celebrating award week with a look at one of Oscar’s most notable champions: The French Connection. Thirty-nine years ago, Connection — besides being one of the biggest hits of the 1970s – was the top winner at the Academy Awards walking away with gold for Best Picture [collected by producer Phil D’Antoni], Director [William Friedkin], …
Are you already sick of Oscar coverage? Tough luck, ’cause Justine and Simon have some thoughts on the major categories at this year’s festivities, so if you’re planning an Oscar pool – well, maybe look elsewhere, ’cause frankly Simon’s batting average isn’t all that great. (Just ask his wallet.) Anyway, in this first installment, they’ll …
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Front Row Center, the new videocast from Sound on Sight. That’s right, for the first time ever, we’ve put our faces where our mouths are. Wait, that can’t be right. Anyway, in our first installment, we take on an appropriately patriotic subject: Justine and Simon discuss Canada’s (Quebec’s, really) entry …
Hereafter delivered nominations for Michael Owens, Bryan Grill, Stephan Trojanski and Joe Farrell in “Achievement in Special Effects” at this year’s Academy Awards. This marks the first nomination for each of the four Hereafter senior artists. The effects in the film recreates the Indonesian tsunami from 2004 and the following five-minute video offers an extensive …
There is an ambition among the best of films – and the best of filmmakers – for the work to carry the same dramatic heft and dignity, be treated with the same respect and appreciation as a fine work of literature. Think of the best works of Welles and Lean, of Kubrick and Coppola. Citizen Kane has …
According to The Wrap, out of this year’s roughly 200 Oscar nominees, the Academy is hoping that all but one of them show up at the Kodak Theatre on February 27. The problematic nominee of course being Banksy, the “director” and maybe “star” of the nominated documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop. The Academy’s executive …
At a time of the year that’s all about picking the best of the best among movies, it seems singularly appropriate to talk to someone whose year-round profession is assaying the good and the bad up on the big screen. “I’m one of the few people on the paper who’s never had a journalism class, …
What makes good movies good? As award season approaches its Oscar peak, it seems a fitting time to consider just what makes a movie stand out from the pack? What’s the difference between the popular, and a true creative accomplishment? I’m lucky enough to have worked with Chris Sarandon and he was gracious enough to …
The AMPAS have named 241 scripts eligible for the Academy Awards — 134 original, 107 adapted. Unlike the WGA, Winter’s Bone, King’s Speech, Toy Story 3, Never Let Me Go, and How to Train Your Dragon will be considered. The AMPAS have also released the list of nominees for best score. The list was narrowed …
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences have announced that 248 feature films are eligible for best picture at the 2010 Academy Awards. According to THR, 274 films were eligible in 2009, and 281 in 2008. If I had to guess which films will be selected I would have to say Inception, Black Swan, …
Forty-one songs are in contention to receive nominations for Best Original Song from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and there is not one song on the list that is even memorable. The original songs, along with the motion picture in which each song is featured, are listed below in alphabetical order by …
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the final 15 contenders for the 2010 Oscar for Best Visual Effects. Only seven will make the next cut at which point the members of the visual effects branch will watch 15 minute clip reels from those seven films and select the final five nominees. …
5. Brokeback Mountain vs. Crash (2005) A strong character has the privileged opportunity to reveal who we are, and sometimes whom we want to be, delivering a message linked to the consequences attached between the two. Ang Lee’s tender love story between two homosexual ranchers in the American Midwest effectively demonstrated this harrowing reality. It …
Revanche is a tough slow, depressing film, but incredibly well-acted, consistently believable, and an always entertaining, modest, satisfying arty crime story. – Revanche (2008) Directed by Gotz Spielmann Australia – 122 mi. Color Criterion Spine #502 “If you plan revenge, dig two graves,” the saying goes… A prostitute trying to escape her desperate existence, her …
The leaves are stirring and Oscar season is right around the corner. This year it has been announced that the old pro Steve Martin will be back to host with the friendly Mr. Alec Baldwin. This will be Alec’s first time hosting while Steve is an old pro making this third time the charm. It …
The October 1st deadline for all countries wanting into the Academy Award’s foreign-language film category has come and gone. According to IndieWIRE, The United Kingdom, which has predominantly submitted Welsh films over the years (if submitting at all), has surprisingly chosen the documentary Afghan Star as its 2009 submission for the Academy Awards. The last …
Don`t forget to come back and check out episode 91 of Sound On Sight when we start our look back at the history of the Academy Awards. For now here is a look back at the previous winners of best picture. Best Picture 1928-1938 Best Picture 1939-1949 Best Picture 1950-1959 Best Picture 1960-1969 Best Picture …