Awards: 2014 Golden Globes Nominations!

GETT: The Trial of Viviane Ansalem

Movies from Israel, Poland, Russia, Estonia and Sweden make the Best Foreign Language Film list !

"Birdman" leads noms with 7 nods. "Boyhood", "Foxcatcher", "The Imitation Game", "The Theory of Everything" are solid Oscar contenders now!

"Selma" is back with multiple noms!

"Unbroken", "American Sniper", "Mr. Turner", "Wild Tales", "Mommy" snubbed!

2014 NOMINATIONS

Motion Pictures

Best Drama
"Boyhood" - Predicted Winner
"Foxcatcher"
"The Imitation Game"
"Selma"
"The Theory of Everything"

Best Comedy
"Birdman" - Predicted Winner
"The Grand Budapest Hotel"
"Into the Woods"
"Pride"
"St. Vincent"

Best Director
Wes Anderson, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Ava Duvernay, "Selma"
David Fincher, "Gone Girl"
Alejandro González Iñárritu, "Birdman"
Richard Linklater, "Boyhood" - Predicted Winner

Best Actress in a Drama
Jennifer Aniston, "Cake"
Felicity Jones, "The Theory of Everything"
Julianne Moore, "Still Alice" - Predicted Winner
Rosamund Pike, "Gone Girl"
Reese Witherspoon, "Wild"

Best Actor in a Drama
Steve Carell, "Foxcatcher"
Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Imitation Game"
Jake Gyllenhaal, "Nightcrawler"
David Oyelowo, "Selma"
Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything" - Predicted Winner

Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy
Ralph Fiennes, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Michael Keaton, "Birdman" - Predicted Winner
Bill Murray, "St. Vincent"
Joaquin Phoenix, "Inherent Vice"
Christoph Waltz, "Big Eyes"

Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy
Amy Adams, "Big Eyes" - Predicted Winner
Emily Blunt, "Into the Woods"
Helen Mirren, "The Hundred-Foot Journey"
Julianne Moore, "Map to the Stars"
Quvenzhané Wallis, "Annie"

Best Supporting Actress
Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood"
Jessica Chastain, "A Most Violent Year" - Predicted Winner
Keira Knightley, "The Imitation Game"
Emma Stone, "Birdman"
Meryl Streep, "Into the Woods"

Best Supporting Actor
Robert Duvall, "The Judge"
Ethan Hawke, "Boyhood"
Edward Norton, "Birdman"
Mark Ruffalo, "Foxcatcher"
J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash" - Predicted Winner

Best Screenplay
Wes Anderson, "The Grand Budapest Hotel" - Predicted Winner
Gillian Flynn, "Gone Girl"
Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, and Armando Bo, "Birdman"
Richard Linklater, "Boyhood"
Graham Moore, "The Imitation Game"

Best Foreign Language Film
"Force Majeure Turist," Sweden
"Gett: The Trial of Viviane Ansalem Gett," Israel
"Ida," Poland/Denmark - Predicted Winner
"Leviathan," Russia
"Tangerines Mandariinid," Estonia

Best Animated Feature
"Big Hero 6"
"The Book of Life"
"The Boxtrolls"
"How to Train Your Dragon 2"
"The Lego Movie" - Predicted Winner

Best Original Song
"Big Eyes" from "Big Eyes" music and lyrics by Lana Del Rey
"Glory" from "Selma," Music and lyrics by John legend and Common - Predicted Winner
"Mercy Is" from "Noah," Music and lyrics by Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye
"Opportunity" from "Annie," Music and lyrics by Greg Kurstin, Sia Furler, Will Gluck
"Yellow Flicker Beat" from "The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1," Music and lyrics by Lorde

Best Score
"The Imitation Game" - Predicted Winner
"The Theory of Everything"
"Gone Girl"
"Birdman"
"Interstellar"

Television

Best TV Comedy or Musical
"Girls"
"Jane the Virgin" - Predicted Winner
"Orange Is the New Black"
"Silicon Valley"
"Transparent"

Best TV Drama
"The Affair"
"Downton Abbey"
"Game of Thrones"
"The Good Wife"
"House of Cards" - Predicted Winner

Best Actress in a TV Drama
Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Viola Davis, "How to Get Away with Murder" - Predicted Winner
Julianna Margulies, "The Good WIfe"
Ruth Wilson, "The Affair"
Robin Wright, "House of Cards"

Best Actor in a TV Drama
Clive Owen, "The Knick"
Liev Schreiber, "Ray Donovan"
Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards" - Predicted Winner
James Spader, "The Blacklist"
Dominic West, "The Affair"

Best Actress in a TV Comedy
Lena Dunham, "Girls"
Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"
Gena Rodriguez, "Jane the Virgin" - Predicted Winner
Taylor Schilling, "Orange Is the New Black"

Best Actor in a TV Comedy
Louis CK, "Louie"
Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"
Ricky Gervais, "Derek"
William H. Macy, "Shameless" - Predicted Winner
Jeffrey Tambor, "Transparent"

Best Miniseries or TV Movie
"Fargo"
"The Missing"
"The Normal Heart"
"Olive Kitteridge"
"True Detective" - Predicted Winner

Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie
Maggie Gyllenhaal, "The Honorable Woman"
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Freak Show" - Predicted Winner
Frances McDormand, "Olive Kitteridge"
Frances O'Connor, "The Missing"
Allison Tolman, "Fargo"

Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie
Martin Freeman, "Fargo"
Woody Harrelson, "True Detective"
Matthew McConaughey, "True Detective" - Predicted Winner
Mark Ruffalo, "The Normal Heart"
Billy Bob Thornton, "Fargo"

Best Supporting Actress in a TV Show, Miniseries or TV Movie
Uzo Aduba, "Orange Is the New Black"
Kathy Bates, "American Horror Story: Freak Show" - Predicted Winner
Joanne Froggatt, "Downton Abbey"
Allison Janney, "Mom"
Michelle Monaghan, "True Detective"

Best Supporting Actor in a TV Show, Miniseries or TV Movie
Matt Bomer, "The Normal Heart" - Predicted Winner
Alan Cumming, "The Good Wife"
Colin Hanks, "Fargo"
Bill Murray, "Olive Kitteridge"
Jon Voight, "Ray Donovan"

XXX
Raymond Lo

Awards: 2014 American Film Institute Best List

"American Sniper"

The American Film Institute (AFI) revealed their highly anticipated yearender list featuring the best films and television shows of the year. The list usually have ten film and ten TV shows but this year, AFI decided to come up with 11 films - which, in my opinion, represents the general lack of truly outstanding and excellent films this year thus the inability to exclude a title over another. But that's just me.

The list is non-competitive and acknowledges the collaborative nature of film and TV production, bringing the community’s creative teams together in a unique celebration of their work.

Movies of the Year
AMERICAN SNIPER
BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)
BOYHOOD
FOXCATCHER
THE IMITATION GAME
INTERSTELLAR
INTO THE WOODS
NIGHTCRAWLER
SELMA
UNBROKEN
WHIPLASH

TV Programs of the Year
THE AMERICANS
FARGO
GAME OF THRONES
HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER
JANE THE VIRGIN
THE KNICK
MAD MEN
ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK
SILICON VALLEY
TRANSPARENT

XXX
Raymond Lo

Awards: 2015 Independent Spirit Award Nominees!

Lav Diaz' "Norte, The End of History" lands a Spirit nomination!!! 

"A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night", "Birdman", "Boyhood", "Whiplash" all nominated!

NOMINEES

BEST FEATURE
(Award given to the producer, Executive Producers are not awarded.)

BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)
PRODUCERS: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan, James W. Skotchdopole

BOYHOOD - Predicted Winner
PRODUCERS: Richard Linklater, Jonathan Sehring, John Sloss, Cathleen Sutherland

LOVE IS STRANGE
PRODUCERS: Lucas Joaquin, Lars Knudsen, Ira Sachs, Jayne Baron Sherman, Jay Van Hoy

SELMA
PRODUCERS: Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey

WHIPLASH
PRODUCERS: Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook, David Lancaster, Michael Litvak

BEST FIRST FEATURE
(Award given to the director and producer)

A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT - Predicted Winner
DIRECTOR: Ana Lily Amirpour
PRODUCERS: Justin Begnaud, Sina Sayyah

DEAR WHITE PEOPLE
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Justin Simien
PRODUCERS: Effie T. Brown, Ann Le, Julia Lebedev, Angel Lopez, Lena Waithe

NIGHTCRAWLER
DIRECTOR: Dan Gilroy
PRODUCERS: Jennifer Fox, Tony Gilroy, Jake Gyllenhaal, David Lancaster, Michel Litvak

OBVIOUS CHILD
DIRECTOR: Gillian Robespierre
PRODUCER: Elisabeth Holm

SHE’S LOST CONTROL
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Anja Marquardt
PRODUCERS: Mollye Asher, Kiara C. Jones

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD
(Award given to the best feature made for under $500,000; award given to the writer, director, and producer)

BLUE RUIN
WRITER/DIRECTOR: Jeremy Saulnier
PRODUCERS: Richard Peete, Vincent Savino, Anish Savjani

IT FELT LIKE LOVE
WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Eliza Hittman
PRODUCERS: Shrihari Sathe, Laura Wagner

LAND HO!
WRITERS/DIRECTORS: Aaron Katz, Martha Stephens
PRODUCERS: Christina Jennings, Mynette Louie, Sara Murphy

MAN FROM RENO - Predicted Winner
WRITER/DIRECTOR: Dave Boyle
WRITERS: Joel Clark, Michael Lerman
PRODUCER: Ko Mori

TEST
WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Chris Mason Johnson
PRODUCER: Chris Martin

BEST DIRECTOR
DAMIEN CHAZELLE – Whiplash
AVA DUVERNAY – Selma
ALEJANDRO G. IÑÁRRITU – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
RICHARD LINKLATER – Boyhood - Predicted Winner
DAVID ZELLNER – Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter

BEST SCREENPLAY
SCOTT ALEXANDER, LARRY KARASZEWSKI – Big Eyes
J.C. CHANDOR – A Most Violent Year
DAN GILROY – Nightcrawler - Predicted Winner
JIM JARMUSCH – Only Lovers Left Alive
IRA SACHS, MAURICIO ZACHARIAS – Love is Strange

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
DESIREE AKHAVAN – Appropriate Behavior
SARA COLANGELO – Little Accidents
JUSTIN LADER – The One I Love
ANJA MARQUARDT – She’s Lost Control
JUSTIN SIMIEN – Dear White People - Predicted Winner

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
DARIUS KHONDJI – The Immigrant
EMMANUEL LUBEZKI – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
SEAN PORTER – It Felt Like Love
LYLE VINCENT – A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night - Predicted Winner
BRADFORD YOUNG – Selma

BEST EDITING
SANDRA ADAIR – Boyhood - Predicted Winner
TOM CROSS – Whiplash
JOHN GILROY – Nightcrawler
RON PATANE – A Most Violent Year
ADAM WINGARD – The Guest

BEST MALE LEAD
ANDRÉ BENJAMIN – Jimi: All Is By My Side
JAKE GYLLENHAAL – Nightcrawler
MICHAEL KEATON - Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) - Predicted Winner
JOHN LITHGOW – Love is Strange
DAVID OYELOWO – Selma

BEST FEMALE LEAD
MARION COTILLARD – The Immigrant
RINKO KIKUCHI – Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter
JULIANNE MOORE – Still Alice - Predicted Winner
JENNY SLATE – Obvious Child
TILDA SWINTON – Only Lovers Left Alive

BEST SUPPORTING MALE
RIZ AHMED – Nightcrawler
ETHAN HAWKE – Boyhood
ALFRED MOLINA – Love is Strange
EDWARD NORTON – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) - Predicted Winner
J.K. SIMMONS – Whiplash

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
PATRICIA ARQUETTE – Boyhood
JESSICA CHASTAIN – A Most Violent Year - Predicted Winner
CARMEN EJOGO – Selma
ANDREA SUAREZ PAZ - Stand Clear of the Closing Doors
EMMA STONE – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
FORCE MAJEURE (Sweden) - DIRECTOR: Ruben Östlund
IDA (Poland) - DIRECTOR: Pawel Pawlikowski
LEVIATHAN (Russia) - DIRECTOR: Andrey Zvyagintsev
MOMMY (Canada) - DIRECTOR: Xavier Dolan - Predicted Winner
NORTE, THE END OF HISTORY (Philippines) - DIRECTOR: Lav Diaz
UNDER THE SKIN (United Kingdom) - DIRECTOR: Jonathan Glazer

BEST DOCUMENTARY
(Award given to the director and producer)

20,000 DAYS ON EARTH
DIRECTORS: Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard
PRODUCERS: Dan Bowen, James Wilson

CITIZENFOUR
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Laura Poitras
PRODUCERS: Mathilde Bonnefoy, Dirk Wilutzky

STRAY DOG
DIRECTOR: Debra Granik
PRODUCER: Anne Rosellini

THE SALT OF THE EARTH - Predicted Winner
DIRECTORS: Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, Wim Wenders
PRODUCER: David Rosier

VIRUNGA
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Orlando von Einsiedel
PRODUCER: Joanna Natasegara

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD
(Award given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast)

INHERENT VICE
DIRECTOR: Paul Thomas Anderson
CASTING DIRECTOR: Cassandra Kulukundis
ENSEMBLE CAST: Josh Brolin, Hong Chau, Martin Donovan, Jena Malone, Joanna Newsom, Joaquin Phoenix, Eric Roberts, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short, Serena Scott Thomas, Benicio del Toro, Katherine Waterston, Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon, Michael Kenneth Williams

SPECIAL DISTINCTION AWARD

FOXCATCHER
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Bennett Miller
WRITERS: E. Max Frye, Dan Futterman
PRODUCER: Anthony Bregman, Megan Ellison, Jon Kilik
CAST: Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum

Winners will be announced February 21, 2015, one day before the Oscars!

XXX
Raymond Lo

AFIFest2014: "Foxcatcher" to close AFIFest

The American Film Institute (AFI) announced Monday that Sony Pictures Classics’ "Foxcatcher", directed by Academy Award® nominee Bennett Miller and starring Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Academy Award® nominee Mark Ruffalo, Academy Award® winner Vanessa Redgrave and Sienna Miller, will be the Closing Night Gala of AFI FEST presented by Audi on Thursday, November 13 at the Dolby Theatre®.

”Bennett Miller and the film’s incredible cast are going to close the festival and our last night at the iconic Dolby Theatre with an enthralling psychological drama that is one of the highlights of American independent filmmaking this year,” said Jacqueline Lyanga, Director, AFI FEST.

"Foxcatcher" tells the story of Olympic Gold Medal-winning wrestler Mark Schultz (Tatum), who sees a way out from the shadow of his more celebrated wrestling brother Dave (Ruffalo) and a life of poverty when he is summoned by eccentric multi-millionaire John du Pont (Carell) to move onto his estate and train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics.  Desperate to gain the respect of his disapproving mother, du Pont begins "coaching" a world-class athletic team and begins to lure Mark into an unhealthy lifestyle and erodes the athlete's already shaky self-esteem.  Fueled by du Pont's mercurial personality, increasing paranoia and alienation from the brothers, the trio is propelled towards a tragedy no one could have foreseen.  Based on actual events, "Foxcatcher", is a gripping and profoundly American story of brotherly love, misguided loyalty, and the corruption and emotional bankruptcy that can accompany great power and wealth.

This film was supposed to be the Opening Weekend Gala Premiere last year but the movie delayed and it instead premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last May.

To attend the Closing Night Gala with reserved seats, guests must purchase a festival package at the Star Patron or Marquee Patron levels.  These and other AFI FEST Patron Packages and Passes – that can include access to sold-out galas and other high-demand films and events – are on sale now at AFI.com/AFIFEST.  AFI members at the Two-Star level and above receive a 10% discount on all AFI FEST Patron Packages and Passes.  AFI Members will be given access to regular screenings with a Cinepass for this year’s festival.  Information about AFI Membership is available at AFI.com/membership.  The American Film Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational and cultural organization, and Patron Packages are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

Free individual tickets to AFI FEST screenings and galas will be available to the general public online at AFI.com beginning Friday, October 24.

The Dolby Theatre, home of the Academy Awards®, will be the festival’s newest venue for red carpet galas from November 10-13.  The Dolby Theatre, an iconic Hollywood landmark, provides filmmakers an impressive platform to showcase their work with the very best in audio and imaging capabilities.  

AFI FEST will take place November 6 through 13 in Hollywood, CA, at the Dolby Theatre, the TCL Chinese Theatre, the Chinese 6 Theatres, the Egyptian Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.  As previously announced, the Opening Night Gala will be the world premiere of A MOST VIOLENT YEAR (DIR J.C. Chandor) on Thursday, November 6 and Sophia Loren will be honored with a special Tribute on Wednesday, November 12. The full festival lineup will be unveiled later this month.

For the 11th year, Audi is the festival’s presenting sponsor.  Additional top sponsors include AT&T, Coca-Cola, VIZIO, American Airlines (the official airline of AFI) and Stella Artois.  The festival’s venue sponsors include the Dolby Theatre, TCL Chinese Theatres, the Hollywood & Highland Center, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and the Egyptian Theatre.

See you at the movies!

XXX

Raymond Lo

Cannes 2014: Winners!

The most prestigious film festival in the world has drawn to a close. The jury headed by Jane Campion ("The Piano", "Bright Star") has chosen the winners in tonight's suspenseful, glittering and star-studded presentation.

And the winners are ---

Short Film Palme d'Or: "Leidi"

Camera d'Or: "Party Girl"
Best Actor: Timothy Spall, "Mr Turner"

Timothy Spall, "Mr Turner"

Best Actress: Julianne Moore, "Maps to the Stars"
Best Screenplay: "Leviathan"
 

Best Screenplay, "Leviathan"
















Jury Prize: TIE "Mommy" and "Goodbye to Language"

Xavier Dolan, "Mommy"

Jean-Luc Godard, "Goodbye to Language"

Best Director: Bennett Miller, "Foxcatcher"

Grand Prix: "The Wonders"

The Wonders - Alice Rohrwacher



Palme d'Or: "Winter Sleep"



Winter Sleep - Palme d'Or Winner

 Congratulations to the winners!

XXX

Raymond De Asis Lo