2015 Annie Awards Announced!

How to Train Your Dragon 2 beat out the competition to emerge the big winner at the 42nd annual Annie Awards with six wins including Best Animated Feature and Best Director.  The first How to Train Your Dragon went up against Toy Story 3 at the Annies and won, but lost animated feature at the Oscars.  This time around, its sequel also had a fierce contender in the incredibly lovable and funny The LEGO Movie (which won the writing award for the co-directors, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller).  Other winners included Laika's charming The Boxtrolls which was honored with best production design and best voice acting (an inspired Sir Ben Kingsley) and Disney's Feast for best short film. Weta's character animation design in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (featuring the stellar Andy Serkis as Caesar) and Edge of Tomorrow and Big Hero 6 walked away with the live action and animated effects respectively. This was one of those rare years where a Pixar studios film wasn't released and the troubled DreamWorks, whose latest releases have underperformed, had a rare opportunity to shine. I doubt this will be the same case next year. 

Below are the full list of feature film winners:

Best Animated Feature
How to Train Your Dragon 2, DreamWorks Animation

Directing in an Animated Feature Production
Dean DeBlois, How to Train Your Dragon 2; DreamWorks Animation

Writing in an Animated Feature Production
Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, The Lego Movie; Warner Bros. Pictures

Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production
Sir Ben Kingsley as the voice of Archibald Snatcher, The Boxtrolls; Focus Features/Laika

Production Design in an Animated Feature Production
Paul Lasaine, Tom McClure, August Hall, The Boxtrolls; Focus Features/Laika

Character Animation in an Animated Feature Production
Fabio Lignini, How to Train Your Dragon 2; DreamWorks Animation

Character Animation in a Live Action Production
Daniel Barrett, Paul Story, Eteuati Tema, Alessandro Bonora, Dejan Momcilovic, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes; Weta Digital

Best Animated Short Subject
Feast, Walt Disney Animation Studios

Animated Effects in a Live Action Production
Steve Avoujageli, Atsushi Ikarashi, Pawel Grochola, Paul Waggoner, Viktor Lundqvist, Edge of Tomorrow; Sony Pictures Imageworks

Animated Effects in an Animated Production
Michael Kaschalk, Peter DeMund, David Hutchins, Henrik Falt, John Kosnik, Big Hero 6; Walt Disney Animation Studios

Music in an Animated Feature Production
John Powell, Jónsi, How to Train Your Dragon 2; DreamWorks Animation

Character Design in an Animated Feature Production
Paul Sullivan, Sandra Equihua, Jorge R. Gutierrez, The Book of Life; Reel FX

Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
John K. Carr, How to Train Your Dragon 2; DreamWorks Animation

Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
Truong “Tron” Son Mai, How to Train Your Dragon 2; DreamWorks Animation

Best Student Film
Jason Rayner, My Big Brother; Savannah College of Art and Design

Winsor McCay Award
Didier Brunner
Lee Mendelson
Don Lusk

June Foray Award
Charles Solomon

Ub Iwerks Award
DreamWorks Animation’s Apollo Software

Special Achievement Award
The Walt Disney Family Museum

2015 BAFTA nominations announced!

The British are coming! The British are coming! Well, not really, but the nominations for the 68th Annual BAFTAs are in and they're a doozy. I already see lots of snubs and omissions: Unbroken, Selma, Mr. Turner all have been denied a nomination. Smaller movies and movies that didn't just release only last month have also been rewarded quite nicely as The Grand Budapest Hotel, Boyhood and Nightcrawler all earned nods today.

I was delighted to see Ritesh Batra's The Lunchbox score a nomination in Film Not in English Language category. Hindi films have had some success landing nominations in this category before. And I'm equally pleased to see The Grand Budapest Hotel getting so much love (leading the pack with 11 nominations!). Now that I think about it, it was one of my favorite films last year. But I was definitely surprised to see that How To Train Your Dragon 2 was left out in Best Animated film category, it sure seems like The LEGO Movie is going to have a clear path to the podium, unless Laika's utterly charming The Boxtrolls has something to say about that.

In a year that hasn't had much clear consensus except for the praise that Boyhood has been receiving, the Best Picture category does seem like it could be anyone's guess.  We'll see how it all works out next week when the Oscar noms are announced.  Get ready everyone, awards season is full swing!

Here are the full list of nominations for the BAFTAs:

Best film

Birdman Alejandro González Iñárritu, John Lesher, James W Skotchdopole

Boyhood Richard Linklater, Cathleen Sutherland

The Grand Budapest Hotel Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson

The Imitation Game Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky, Teddy Schwarzman

The Theory of Everything Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten

Outstanding British film

’71 Yann Demange, Angus Lamont, Robin Gutch, Gregory Burke

The Imitation Game Morten Tyldum, Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky, Teddy Schwarzman, Graham Moore

Paddington Paul King, David Heyman

Pride Matthew Warchus, David Livingstone, Stephen Beresford

The Theory of Everything James Marsh, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten

Under the Skin Jonathan Glazer, James Wilson, Nick Wechsler, Walter Campbell

Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer

Elaine Constantine (writer/director) Northern Soul

Gregory Burke (writer), Yann Demange (director) ’71

Hong Khaou (writer/director) Lilting

Paul Katis (director/producer), Andrew Lotbinière (producer) Kajaki: The True Story

Stephen Beresford (writer), David Livingstone (producer) Pride

Film not in the English language

Ida Paweł Pawlikowski, Eric Abraham, Piotr Dzięcioł, Ewa Puszczynska

Leviathan Andrey Zvyagintsev, Alexander Rodnyansky, Sergey Melkumov

The Lunchbox Ritesh Batra, Arun Rangachari, Anurag Kashyap, Guneet Monga

Trash Stephen Daldry, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Kris Thykier

Two Days, One Night Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, Denis Freyd

Documentary

20 Feet from Stardom Morgan Neville, Caitrin Rogers, Gil Friesen

20,000 Days on Earth Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard

Citizenfour Laura Poitras

Finding Vivian Maier John Maloof, Charlie Siskel

Virunga Orlando von Einsiedel, Joanna Natasegara

Animated film

Big Hero 6 Don Hall, Chris Williams

The Boxtrolls Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable

The Lego Movie Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

Director

Alejandro González Iñárritu Birdman

Richard Linklater Boyhood

Wes Anderson The Grand Budapest Hotel
James Marsh The Theory of Everything

Damien Chazelle Whiplash

Original screenplay

Birdman Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr, Armando Bó

Boyhood Richard Linklater

The Grand Budapest Hotel Wes Anderson

Nightcrawler Dan Gilroy

Whiplash Damien Chazelle

Adapted screenplay

American Sniper Jason Hall

Gone Girl Gillian Flynn

The Imitation Game Graham Moore

Paddington Paul King

The Theory of Everything Anthony McCarten

Leading actor

Benedict Cumberbatch The Imitation Game

Eddie Redmayne The Theory of Everything

Jake Gyllenhaal Nightcrawler

Michael Keaton Birdman

Ralph Fiennes The Grand Budapest Hotel

Leading actress
Amy Adams Big Eyes

Felicity Jones The Theory of Everything

Julianne Moore Still Alice

Reese Witherspoon Wild

Rosamund Pike Gone Girl

Supporting actor

Edward Norton Birdman

Ethan Hawke Boyhood

JK Simmons Whiplash

Mark Ruffalo Foxcatcher

Steve Carell Foxcatcher

Supporting actress

Emma Stone Birdman

Imelda Staunton Pride

Keira Knightley The Imitation Game

Patricia Arquette Boyhood

Rene Russo Nightcrawler

Original music

Birdman Antonio Sánchez

The Grand Budapest Hotel Alexandre Desplat

Interstellar Hans Zimmer

The Theory of Everything Jóhann Jóhannsson

Under the Skin Mica Levi

Cinematography

Birdman Emmanuel Lubezki

The Grand Budapest Hotel Robert Yeoman

Ida Lukasz Zal, Ryzsard Lenczewski

Interstellar Hoyte van Hoytema

Mr Turner Dick Pope

Editing

Thanks to a tie in voting in this category, there are six nominations.

Birdman Douglas Crise, Stephen Mirrione

The Grand Budapest Hotel Barney Pilling

The Imitation Game William Goldenberg

Nightcrawler John Gilroy

The Theory of Everything Jinx Godfrey

Whiplash Tom Cross

Production design

Big Eyes Rick Heinrichs, Shane Vieau

The Grand Budapest Hotel Adam Stockhausen, Anna Pinnock

The Imitation Game Maria Djurkovic, Tatiana MacDonald

Interstellar Nathan Crowley, Gary Fettis

Mr Turner Suzie Davies, Charlotte Watts

Costume design

The Grand Budapest Hotel Milena Canonero

The Imitation Game Sammy Sheldon Differ

Into the Woods Colleen Atwood

Mr Turner Jacqueline Durran

The Theory of Everything Steven Noble

Make-up and hair

The Grand Budapest Hotel Frances Hannon

Guardians of the Galaxy Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou, David White

Into the Woods Peter Swords King, J Roy Helland

Mr Turner Christine Blundell, Lesa Warrener

The Theory of Everything Jan Sewell

Sound
Birdman Thomas Varga, Martin Hernández, Aaron Glascock, Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño

American Sniper Walt Martin, John Reitz, Gregg Rudloff, Alan Robert Murray, Bub Asman

The Grand Budapest Hotel Wayne Lemmer, Christopher Scarabosio, Pawel Wdowczak

The Imitation Game John Midgley, Lee Walpole, Stuart Hilliker, Martin Jensen

Whiplash Thomas Curley, Ben Wilkins, Craig Mann

Special visual effects

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Erik Winquist, Daniel Barrett

Guardians of the Galaxy Stephane Ceretti, Paul Corbould, Jonathan Fawkner, Nicolas Aithadi

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, R Christopher White

Interstellar Paul Franklin, Scott Fisher, Andrew Lockley

X-Men: Days of Future Past Richard Stammers, Anders Langlands, Tim Crosbie, Cameron Waldbauer

British short animation

The Bigger Picture Chris Hees, Daisy Jacobs, Jennifer Majka

Monkey Love Experiments Ainslie Henderson, Cam Fraser, Will Anderson

My Dad Marcus Armitage

British short film

Boogaloo and Graham Brian J Falconer, Michael Lennox, Ronan Blaney

Emotional Fusebox Michael Berliner, Rachel Tunnard

The Kármán Line Campbell Beaton, Dawn King, Tiernan Hanby, Oscar Sharp

Slap Islay Bell-Webb, Michelangelo Fano, Nick Rowland

Three Brothers Aleem Khan, Matthieu de Braconier, Stephanie Paeplow

The EE rising star award (voted for by the public)
Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Jack O’Connell

Margot Robbie

Miles Teller

Shailene Woodley

What I'm Thankful for in 2014: Movies Edition

There's so much to be thankful about every year: family, friends, your health.  But I always make it a point to make a list of movies I'm thankful for. Why? As Mel Brooks once said, "Movies saved my life. They rescued my soul."  I feel the same way.  Through the good times and the bad times, they've been my companion in life.  So without further ado, here's my list of top 5!

GONE GIRL

1) Book adaptations: There were some great book to film adaptations out this year from Gone Girl to The Fault in Our Stars to The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1.  And while they stayed faithful to the original material, they have retained their voice.  All of these films debuted at number one at the box office, a pretty impressive feat.  Who says the book is better?

THE LEGO MOVIE

2) The LEGO Movie: I'm still humming the crazily catchy 'Everything is Awesome' from the extremely funny and clever The LEGO Movie from co-directors and writers, Chris Miller and Phil Lord.  With a surprisingly emotional core and hilarious interpretations of iconic characters (I loved Will Arnett's angsty Batman), the animated film was meta to the extreme. But hey, it worked, I can't remember another film where there were more adults for an animated film than children.

THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

3) Comic book adaptations: From March until the end of summer, you couldn't go far without bumping into a comic book film.  They were everywhere, from the universes featuring Spider-Man, some Avengers, X-Men and even some new Guardians of the Galaxies.  And there's here to stay, as is evidenced by both Warner Bros. and Marvel Studios both unveiling a superhero franchise lineup that goes deep in 2020. And I'm afraid that's only the start as The Guardians of the Galaxy proved with claiming the number one this summer season.  Clearly, this audience wants more.

THE EDGE OF TOMORROW

4) Time Travel: This oft used trope was back early this summer in two highly enjoyable films, The Edge of Tomorrow (a clever sci fi Groundhog Day starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt for 2014) and X-Men: Days of Future Past where the X-Men generations past and present collided in an A-list bonanza that audiences loved.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2

5) Hiccup and Toothless: It was a long wait but 2014 featured the return of one of my most favorite animated duos, Hiccup and Toothless, older and wise, but just as adorable in How to Train Your Dragon 2.  Their friendship goes through some pretty difficult tests in the second film from the trilogy and that ominous line about Toothless's future has me pretty worried for the finale.  But, until then, let's enjoy the lovable antics these two get into up high in the skies.  

New How To Train Your Dragon 2 Trailer!

I think I've been quite effusive with my fondness for How To Train Your Dragon on this blog so it's quite evident that how I am keenly anticipating the film's sequel.  This time around, our heroes Hiccup and Toothless are older, wiser and more confident.  But the island of Berk still faces threats from those who wish to harm the dragons and it's up to Hiccup, Toothless and their friends to make sure that doesn't happen.  Hiccup too must confront a figure from his past he thought was lost to him and Toothless, he's just adorably being Toothless still. I really do love that dragon!

How To Train Your Dragon 2 is directed by Dean DeBlois who co-directed and co-scripted the first film along with Chris Sanders. Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Craig Ferguson and Gerard Butler are all back to voice their characters and Cate Blanchett is the new addition to the cast. This is going to be the highlight of my movie-viewing year and one of the biggest animation films of 2014 as well.  How To Train Your Dragon 2 releases in theaters on June 13, 2014! This is one Friday the 13th that I'm actually looking forward to!

Around the World in Posters: X-Men, Saving Mr. Banks, How To Train Your Dragon 2 and more!

 I would watch any movie of Rooney Mara's, I find her choice of movie roles fascinating. 

 Here she is in Ain't Them Bodies Saints.

 

How do I get myself one of those T-shirts? 

Keri Russell plays out the ultimate Jane Austen fantasy in Austenland.

 I love this busy comic poster of The To Do List.



Beautiful poster of Saving Mr. Banks with Walt Disney and P.J. Travers
alongside their creations, Mickey Mouse and Mary Poppins.

 More posters of X-Men, Don Jon, Saving Mr. Banks, Diana and more after the cut!

Teaser Trailer of How To Train Your Dragon 2

Guess who's back? The ragtag duo from How to Train Your Dragon, Hiccup and Toothless, return in the first teaser to sequel of the surprisingly successful film from 2010, looking not so ragtag.  This time around, they seem more fearless and confident but are just as endearing in their friendship.  There is definitely a drastic change in Hiccup as he's matured into a young Viking.  The original film was one of my favorite animated films of the 2010 and it has become a sentimental favorite now. I must say I'm excited to see what the sequel has to offer.  How to Train Your Dragon 2 releases next June. 

DreamWorks announces animation films slate through 2014!

Loads of information coming through from DreamWorks Animation regarding their slate of films through the year 2014.  Looks like someone's going to be busy.

Here's a very detailed breakdown of each of the nine films.

• Kung Fu Panda 2 will be released on May 26, 2011. It is being directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson (Kung Fu Panda), produced by Melissa Cobb (Kung Fu Panda) and written by Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger (Kung Fu Panda). It stars Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, James Hong and Michelle Yeoh. In the sequel, Po is living his dream as The Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five. But Po’s life of awesomeness is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. Po must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins… only then will he be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed.
• Puss In Boots will be released on November 4, 2011. It is directed by Chris Miller (Shrek the Third) and produced by Joe Aguilar (Merry Madagascar) and Latifa Ouaou (Monsters vs. Aliens). It is being written by Tom Wheeler (The Cape). Andrew Adamson (Shrek, The Chronicles of Narnia) and Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth) are serving as executive producers on the film, which stars Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris. Way before he ever met Shrek, the legendary Puss In Boots goes on a heroic journey, teaming up with mastermind Humpty Dumpty and the street-savvy Kitty Softpaws to steal the famed Goose that lays the Golden Eggs. It’s the adventure of nine lifetimes!
• Madagascar 3 will be released on June 8, 2012. It is directed by Eric Darnell (Madagascar, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa) and produced by Mireille Soria (Madagascar, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa) and Mark Swift (Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa). It is being written by Noah Baumbach (Fantastic Mr. Fox) and once again stars Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric The Entertainer and Andy Richter. Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo, and Melman the Giraffe are still fighting to get home to their beloved Big Apple and of course, King Julien, Maurice and the Penguins are all along for the comedic adventure. Their journey takes them through Europe where they find the perfect cover: a traveling circus, which they reinvent — Madagascar style.
• Rise of the Guardians, based on the forthcoming books by William Joyce, will be released on November 21, 2012. It is directed by Peter Ramsey (Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space) and co-directed by Joyce. The film is being produced by Christina Steinberg (Bee Movie, National Treasure) and Nancy Bernstein, long-time head of production at DreamWorks Animation. Rise of the Guardians is being written by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole) and executive produced by Guillermo del Toro and Michael Siegel. It stars Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, Isla Fisher and Jude Law. More than a collection of the well-known childhood legends, Rise of the Guardians is an epic adventure that tells the story of a group of heroes — each with extraordinary abilities. When an evil spirit known as Pitch lays down the gauntlet to take over the world, the immortal Guardians must join forces for the first time to protect the hopes, beliefs and imagination of children all over the world.
• The Croods will be released on March 1, 2013. It is being written and directed by two-time Academy Award nominee Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon, Lilo & Stitch) and Kirk DeMicco (Space Chimps) and produced by Kristine Belson (How to Train Your Dragon) and Jane Hartwell (Shrek). It stars Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone, Catherine Keener, Clark Duke and Cloris Leachman. The Croods is a comedy adventure that takes us back to a previously undiscovered era in the history of our planet known as the Croodaceous, when nature was still a work-in-progress… full of never-before- seen creatures and landscapes. Audiences will relate to the hilarious family antics as an imaginative and resourceful newcomer helps the Croods navigate their way through the fantastic world beyond their cave.
• Turbo will be released on June 7, 2013. It is being directed by David Soren (Merry Madagascar), who first brought the project to the studio, and produced by Lisa Stewart (Monsters vs. Aliens). It is being written by Darren Lemke (Shrek Forever After) together with Soren. Turbo tells the story of an ordinary garden snail with an impossible dream: to become the fastest snail in the world. When a freak accident gives him extraordinary speed, Turbo sets out to try to make this dream come true.
• In Me and My Shadow, which will be released on November 8, 2013, the studio will pioneer a groundbreaking combination of both CG and traditional animation techniques seamlessly together throughout the film. The film is directed by Mark Dindal (Chicken Little, The Emperor’s New Groove) and produced by Melissa Cobb (Kung Fu Panda, Kung Fu Panda 2) and Teresa Cheng (Shrek Forever After, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron). It is being written by Tom Astle and Matt Ember (Get Smart). Me and My Shadow tells the story of Shadow Stan, an extremely frustrated shadow who yearns for a dynamic life but happens to be stuck with Stanley Grubb, the world’s most boring human. Finally pushed to the brink, Shadow Stan breaks the singular rule of the Shadow World — “They lead, we follow” — and takes control of Stanley!
• Mr. Peabody & Sherman will be released on March 21, 2014. It is directed by Rob Minkoff (Stuart Little, The Lion King) and produced by Jason Clark (Monster House, Stuart Little) and Denise Nolan Cascino (Megamind). It is being written by Craig Wright (United States of Tara, Six Feet Under). Robert Downey Jr., Susan Downey, Bullwinkle Studio’s Tiffany Ward and Classic Media’s Eric Ellenbogen are serving as executive producers on the film, which stars two-time Academy Award nominee Robert Downey Jr. Based on Jay Ward’s classic cartoon, Mr. Peabody is the world’s smartest person who happens to be a dog. He and his “pet” boy Sherman discover that someone has stolen their time traveling WABAC machine and is changing moments in history to disastrous and comical results. It’s up to this most unexpected of father-son teams to somehow put a stop to this villain before his actions destroy the space-time continuum in Mr. Peabody & Sherman.
• How to Train Your Dragon 2, the sequel to the Academy Award-nominated original film from 2010, will be released on June 20, 2014. It is being directed and written by Dean DeBlois (How to Train Your Dragon) and produced by Bonnie Arnold (How to Train Your Dragon). Also based on the book series by Cressida Cowell, the sequel is being executive produced by Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon) together with DeBlois. How to Train Your Dragon 2again stars Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, T.J. Miller and Kristen Wiig.

What are you looking forward to the most? I've got my favorites, Kung Fu Panda 2 and How to Train Your Dragon 2.  Shame that they're first and last on the list.  I've got a long wait to see Hiccup and Toothless again.  

For Your Consideration

Today is the last day for the ballots to vote for Oscar and since this is my blog, I'm going to make a case for the films that I loved over the past year.  This will make absolutely no difference to the Oscars being held on Sunday, but I'd like to believe they will.  Humor me! Without further ado, here are a few films that deserve the big prize:

How To Train Your Dragon

Inception

The Social Network

Tangled

Weekly News Roundup: Clint Eastwood is a busy man and the return of James Bond!

• Clint Eastwood, at 70, isn't resting on his laurels.  His much anticipated Hoover biopic is already underproduction.  Leonardo DiCaprio tweeted about J. Edgar starting shooting on February 5th and they have a new cast member, Josh Lucas, who will be playing Charles Lindbergh.  Ed Westwick aka Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl also has a role of Agent Smith.
• But that's not his only production.  Eastwood might possibly be directing Beyonce (!) in a remake of A Star is Born.  I honestly thought this was a joke at first.  Dirty Harry directing a musical?  But it's completely legit.  Let's give him a chance, right?
• Dark Horizons has some new details from producer Tim Johnson on the upcoming sequel for How to Train Your Dragon and the TV series spin-off.   This means awesome adventures ahead for Hiccup and Toothless.
• Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge) is actually thinking of filming The Great Gatsby in 3D! The horror!! This is a very bad idea, very very bad idea.  
• Bond is back! Don't count out James Bond out of the movie business yet.  The 23rd Bond flick is set to release on November 9th, 2012.  Sam Mendes is attached to direct.  The film could potentially be called "Red Sky at Night" and word is that, Rachel Weisz has been offered a role.    
• Mike White exits Pride and Prejudice and Zombies as director.  Despite another setback, I am still stoked for this project to get off the ground.  Please Universe, we need for this movie to find its director along with Elizabeth Bennett and Darcy.   

My Top 10 movies of 2010!

As the year winds down, it's time to look back and check back at the movies that made 2010 great.  It should be noted that while this is a top ten list, there are many good movies of 2010 as yet unreleased here in India and therefore I did not get to see them.  So, therefore, this is a list of the top ten movies I saw in 2010.  This is in no random order but I am kind of rating it in order of preference so here goes.  And I'm sure you can guess my all-too-predictable number one film.

1) INCEPTION: How much do I love this movie? Let me count the ways.  This movie has all the requirements that make it great in my book: tortured characters with plenty of angst, a screenplay that delivers, stunning visuals, stellar cast of actors, soundtrack that complements the film and a director whose imagination brings it all together.  And, oh yeah, let's not forget about that ending.  It's the ending that cinches it all for me.  You had me at spinning top!  My vote for best film of the year.

2) THE SOCIAL NETWORK: Another good film that is on the top of every critic's list.  How is it that movie about Facebook become so popular? How could it not? The "origin" story of how the one of the world's most popular social networking sites may not be all factual but it sure is entertaining.  Led by Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg and a young cast that includes Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, and Rooney Mara, the film contains some of the best dialogues of the year and is fascinating from start to finish.  Come Oscar night, this is going to be a contender for sure.

The rest of my list under the cut...

Annie Awards Nominations

The Annie Awards nominations are out!! No, it's not about little red-haired orphan girls.  These are the Animation Awards, the highest awards given out by the animation industry.  As usual, it's mostly between the big 2, DreamWorks and Pixar.  A couple of months ago, Pixar famously withdrew from the Annie Awards for unjust judging.  A close eye shall be kept on these proceedings for sure.

PRODUCTION CATEGORIES

Best Animated Feature
Despicable Me – Illumination Entertainment
How to Train Your Dragon – DreamWorks Animation
Tangled – Disney
The Illusionist – Django Films
Toy Story 3 – Disney/Pixar

Best Animated Short Subject
Coyote Falls – Warner Bros. Animation
Day & Night – Pixar
Enrique Wrecks the World – House of Chai
The Cow Who Wanted To Be A Hamburger – Plymptoons Studio
The Renter – Jason Carpenter


Rest of the nominees under the cut

What I'm Thankful for: Movies Edition

There are many things in life I'm grateful for but I'm always grateful for good movies and great cinema.  It's got the power to cheer you up when you're down and distract you from life's everyday problems and transport you to someplace special.

A little late but still nevertheless, here's what I give thanks for this past year:

• Christopher Nolan and Inception: One of the finest directors working today, Nolan has moved into the auteur category.  He can open a big movie with his name alone, despite having big Hollywood actors in it. This summer's biggest blockbuster, Inception, proved that he is in a league of his own, demanding complete control of his film from Warner Brothers and for having an original script in a sea of sequels and remakes.  Inception was on everyone's lips this summer, how did they do that? How is that possible? Is that real? And how do I get my own totem? (Yeah, that was all me.) Inception is that rare film that keeps you wondering long after you've left the theater.  For my new movie obsession and favorite director, I'm grateful.  Up next, Batman 3 and the Superman reboot, we can't wait.

• How to Train Your Dragon: Why do I love this animated film so? Mainly because it's about two leads, a one-of-kind dragon named Toothless with behavioral issues and a young Viking apprentice named Hiccup with daddy issues.  This unlikely pair become the pride of the Viking village, Berk, and how they do it is the reason why How to Train Your Dragon is my favorite animated film this year.  This movie has what was lacking in previous DreamWorks films, heart!  And it is this fierce heart and an attitude that being different is not necessarily bad that makes this a top movie for kids to watch and enjoy.  Bonus: The soundtrack composed by John Powell is one of the best of year behind only to Inception. 

• Kathryn Bigelow: She broke the glass ceiling and how! Going up against the big juggernaut that was Avatar, the studio system and director, James Cameron, who was also her ex-husband, Bigelow took a gritty independent war movie called The Hurt Locker and turned it into the movie that Hollywood was talking about.  The winner of almost every major directing award (what were you thinking, Golden Globes?), Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win an Oscar and an Director's Guild of America (DGA) award.  For all the little girls who grow up wanting to be behind the cameras rather than in front of it, that's an amazing achievement to look up to.

• Robert Downey Jr: Now this is some comeback story.  A decade ago, Robert Downey Jr. headlining his own True Hollywood Story about his very public addiction problems.  But today, he is a highly respected and sought after actor for so many projects.  There is no genre he can't do.  Comedy (Tropic Thunder, Due Date) to drama (Zodiac, The Soloist) to becoming the ultimate hero Iron Man and leading The Avengers and rebooting how many imagined Sherlock Holmes to be, this is an actor we should be thankful for.  More please!

• Clint Eastwood: He makes us all ashamed to be young and idle.  At 70, he is churning out film upon film per year as an actor, a director, a producer, and composer too.  His past few films have all been Oscar and award contenders and they keep showing us again and again, that his best is yet to come.  Simply amazing!  

• Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio: It's no secret that Leonardo is my favorite actor.  But when he pairs up with his favorite director, he pulls out a performance that's extraordinary.  Shutter Island, the most recent collaboration of Scorsese and Leo, was a masterful film of suspense and thrills.  It shows us once again why Scorsese is America's most legendary directors and why the pair of them always produce movie magic.   

This post contains a whole lotta news!

Onwards and let's begin!

• The first Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides teaser trailer will debut alongside the Tron: Legacy movie.
• Not only has the How To Train Your Dragon sequel been sanctioned, a TV series is also set to air on the Cartoon Network.
• Tarsem Singh is going to direct a live-action feature on Snow White.  I'm really excited about this, his last film, The Fall, was completely underrated.  I wish more people had seen it, each frame was an astonishing visual and I was so moved by young Cantinca Untaru's performance in the film.  Please see it if you ever get a chance.
• Ok, so I was all been that, seen that with the news that Men in Black 3 was announced.  But now they might bring on board Alec Baldwin, Sharlto Copley (District 9), Gemma Arterton (Prince of Persia) to join Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones.  Emma Thompson and Jermaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) are already in the cast.  What am I to do?  Fine, I'm in. Please release it around the Fourth of July.  Doesn't Will Smith have it in his contract that he must release a movie on the Fourth of July?  
• From Harry Potter to Spiderman, Rhys Ifans is will play the new villain in the new Spiderman prequel.  No official confirmation on the character though many are guessing the Lizard.  Whatever happened to Venom? And how about a title?  Let's work on that.  I can't keep typing Spiderman prequel each time.
• Another superhero franchise is also abuzz with casting rumors.  Christopher Nolan is re-teaming with Tom Hardy (Eames the Forger from Inception) on the next Batman.  No word whatsoever on what role he'll play but that hasn't stopped the Internet from its wild speculations.  It's fun, no?
• After Brad Bird and Pete Docter, John Lasseter will now use Michael Giacchino (Oscar winner for Best Score for last year's Up) for Cars 2.  Giacchino and Newman are both becoming the go-to music directors for Pixar and I wholly approve.   Their soundtracks always fits so perfectly and are sublime.
• As I had suspected, Warner's Brothers isn't completely abandoning the idea of 3D for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.  Never fear, it'll be waiting for you when the Blu-Ray discs come out.

Finally, I'm going to end this long post with the link of the day!!!  Zach G poses in his swimsuit for Vanity Fair.  Warning: You will collapse with laughter and oh yeah, these are not safe for small kids and pets.  You have been warned!

Whew, that was exhausting.  I might take tomorrow off.