Michel Hazanavicius Wins DGA, Season Collapses Under Weight of Predictability
DGA Winners-
Best Director for a Feature Film
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Feature Documentary
James Marsh, Project Nim
Drama Series
Patty Jenkins, The Killing, “Pilot” (AMC)
Comedy Series
Robert B. Weide, Curb Your Enthusiasm, “Palestinian Chicken” (HBO)
Movies for Television and Miniseries
Jon Cassar, The Kennedys (Reelz Channel)
Reality Series
Neil P. Degroot, The Biggest Loser, “Episode #1115” (NBC)
Musical/Variety Series
Glenn Weiss, 65th Annual Tony Awards (CBS)
Daytime Serials
William Ludel, General Hospital, “Intervention” (ABC)
Children’s Programs
Amy Schatz, A Child’s Garden of Poetry (HBO)
Commericals
Noam Murro, Ads for Heineken Premium Light, DirecTV, Volkswagen Tiguan, and EABattlefield 3
PREVIOUSLY:
I am going to bet most people think that Scorsese could pick up Best Director tonight as the one possible upset. But you know, it’s probably going to be Hazanavicius. If it’s Alexander Payne or Woody Allen? Total curve ball.
Prediction: Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist (as we keep driving that baby 55 on cruise control through February)
Potential surprise: Martin Scorsese, Hugo
244 Comments
Leave a Comment
Tracker Pages
Recently on AD
Follow Us!
Tags
Gallery
If “The Artist” was a silent film made in the 20′s or 30′s, it would today be one of those movies that would be shown on TCM at 3:30 in the morning.
The Director’s Guild has a chance to shake up the whole race by giving the prize to Scorsese and I hope they do just that.
If the SAG Ensemble goes to The Help, which I expect it will, than The Artist isn’t the lock everyone thought it was.
No Guts, No Glory, and basically throwing up a prayer: Fincher
Whoever wins tonight will take home the Oscar, and their picture will win also. The talk about Oscar splitting is wishful thanking.
Will there be a live feed of the DGA AWARDS?
The DGA NEVER surprises. If they didn’t last year, they sure won’t this year. Hazanavicius for the win; Scorsese for the surprise; Fincher NGNG.
Prediction: Hazanavicius
Alternate: Scorsese
NGNG: Allen
No Guts – Payne
Hope – Allen
Probably – Haz
John Oliver,
DGA Live Feed?
I’ll be watching this.
Havanvicious has this one in the bag….
Sensible or not, I’m going down with the Scorsese ship.
Scorsese should win.
Payne could win.
Hazanavicius will win.
Fincher is my NGNG
McQueen should have been here.
Are they actually going to feed Scorsese to Fincher?
Even if Haz wins the DGA, my gut sez that the Academy will reward Scorsese. If feels like a Marshall/Polanski kind of year.
NGNG – Allen
The race is pretty much over. I hope I am wrong, but I don’t think I am. Scoresese is not going to upset Havanvicious, neither is Payne.
But NGNG???
Payne.
steve50, that’s hilarious.
Accordingly to his famed style, Woody Allen didn’t even give the enough fucks to show up. So my NGNG pick goes to him.
Woody is not going to upset, but who knows?
My mind is wandering and wondering what those 4 men were thinking about each other in the top picture:
Payne (of Fincher): “Why don’t I make more cutting edge films like Dave – no – stick with what you know, Alex”
Hazanavicius (of the camera snapping this pic) “ooh la la, oh my god, oh my god oh my god, i am standing near Martin Scorsese!” (said with a most delighful French accent)
Scorsese of the other 3 : “I’ve made movies older than these teenagers”
or “I’ve got food in my refrigerator older than these 3″
Fincher of Scorsese: “Why am I here, and wow Marty really is that short, and Woody even shorter! (Rude version – “I’ve crapped bigger than Scorsese!”)
Woody of his limo driver: “No, um, th-this is not the Carlysle hotel – i w-won’t need my sax!”
steve50, that’s hilarious.
yes it was.
I set ‘em up. steve50 knocks ‘em down.
we laugh now.
In what European Time or in how much Hours the DGA will announce their winners? Sorry for my grammatic.
I just watched The Descendants earlier today and I must say that I was blown away. Emotional, funny, and extremely well-acted the whole way through. I have not seen The Artist but I think Payne deserves this.
I totally agree, m1.
Payne deserves this.
I think tonight is either Scorsese or Hazanavicius, the second more likely, but at the Oscar, now that Malick is in the list, nothing is sure. I’m pretty sure a lot of Academy members will vote for Malick even if they vote The Artist for best Pic.
Patrick,
DGA is always notorious for being a late late show. Probably 5 hours away.
Last year was 11 p.m. LA time (8 a.m. in Berlin?)
Nah, Malicks doesn’t stand a chance. It is either Scoresese or Havanavicius.
He has it in the bag unfortunately.
All five of these guys made great movies (including the not present Woody Allen)
Did anyone watch the American Masters on Woody Allen a couple months ago? Nearly every actor who ever worked with him said he doesn’t direct you at all, doesn’t even speak to you and if you ask him for guidance he just tells them to do whatever they want. Is that a great director? I’m seriously asking. How could you have no concern, input or relationship with your actors and be considered a great?
@RobertlowercaseA
We’ll see. The Tree of Life was dead and Malick doomed… than last Tuesday at 5:35… tonight is not nominated, which is a shame for this guild, and The Artist is the best achievement in directing of the list. Scorsese can win though, and I’m always Happy when it happens.
NGNG: David Fucking Fincher.
If he wins I will have some kind of stroke from happiness and I will be happy and all will be good in the world.
PGA: The Artist
DGA: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
SAG Ensemble: The Artist
That’s how it’s going to be, a hat trick, a trifecta, a turkey, a triumvirate…
Malicks was never dead. It was just that he didn’t get the guild support.
If there were to be real big surprise, it would be Payne.
Jacob Burns: I like that positive thinking. Let’s just remember the feeling when the DGA nominees were announced and Fincher was on it. My heart freakin lept. I’m just gonna try to ride that happiness.
Andrej, Woody Allen never goes to awards shows
Fincher won’t win.
Craig Z: I know, hence the “accordingly to his famed style” I mentioned.
Woody Allen went to the Oscars in 2002, after 9/11 happened.
@Mel,
The public’s perception of what a director actually does is very different from the reality of it. Most actor’s love director’s who do not try to coax, push or guide forcefully their performance.
When you work with the actor’s that Woody gets, you really don’t have to do much. And yeah, that is the definition of a great director.
So even if they ask for guidance and they are ignored that is great directing? I honestly just don’t think Woody cares. He stamps out his movie per year and moves along.
Of course actors do not like a director up their ass or coaxing them. But if a Director has no vision of his characters when asked by an actor for collaboration and really doesn’t care how the character is played, how much does he care about his film? Woody is quirky and writes some great screenplays. He is definitely iconic and you know any of his films when you see them…..but I just do not see him as one of the great directors. He’s a great writer. Just not a great director, imo. And I’m not just saying that b/c he doesn’t speak to his talent. It was just something that stood out to me and did not surprise me when I watched at documentary.
The ship may already have sunk for Scorsese, but I am still on it!
Go HUGO!
It is all up to the DGA members, we can speculate, we can say should’ve, could’ve, or who should win or who will win.
Everyone’s a critic. Havanvicius is winning, and there is nothing we can do about it. It is the industry’s choice, not ours. Sometimes I feel like who are we to say who should win or should have? Most of us don’t work in the film industry, and opinion is always subjective anyway. We are in a minority, we can cry and whine all we want and say Oscar ratings will drop this year because of The Artist, and nothing is going to change The Artist from taking Best Picture, Best Director and 2 or 3 other awards at Oscars. We all whine and cry when our favorite directors or films didn’t get nominated or win, maybe it is time to really impose this concept “the trick is not minding”.
Prediction: Michel Hazanavicius
NGNG: Woody freakin’ Allen.
It is Havanvicious’s night. Not Payne’s, Not Scoresese’s. Maybe we should just get over it and conceded that The Artist is winning everything.
At this point. NGNG is only a mode of wishful thinking. I am sorry to say.
The Winner of the DGA=Michel Havanavicious.
I hope I am wrong, but I don’t think I am. We always want to think the race is unpredictable, but it always ends up being predictable most of the time.
Side note: have you noticed, whenever a group like this is assembled for photos, it is always Scorsese, the demigod among men, who looks like he’s most pleased and honored to be there? No trace of “it is right that you honor my art” smugness or “I will not win because you do not understand me” cynicism. He, more than any of the others, could get away with throwing attitude, but he doesn’t. He exudes only the joy of the medium, the industry, and the process.
PGA: The Artist
DGA: The Artist
SAG Ensemeble: The Help
WGA: Original Screenplay=Midnight in Paris
Adapted Screenplay=The Descedants
Academy Awards:
Best Picture: The Artist
Best Director: Michel Havanvicious
Best Actor: George Clooney
Best Actress: Viola Davis
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer
Best Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Descendants
Best Original Score: The Artist
Best Foreign Language film: The Separation
Best Editing: Hugo
Best Art Direction: Hugo
It is very very predictable!!
Hazanavicius will win tonight and he and The Artist will win on Oscar night-done deal.
I love how everyone lets Weinstein win, gives up and just parrots who is going to win and doesn’t champion who they want to win. What a sickness. Sasha actually still cares and takes shit for it…..well fuck, someone has to care and talk about it. I for one am sick of reading article after article about who will win and why we don’t need to talk about anything else. Brilliant. I love the saying, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right”….and true we don’t hold any voting power (well, most of us) but we do hold buzz power and if we give that all to Weinstein and walk away, what’s the point anymore? What makes the movies special is their relationship to US, the audience.
Been reading The Secret, Mel? The voting is done, and the DGA doesn’t care what I want. I’d vote for HUGO. There, you happy? Jesus.
NGNG: Not Hazanavicius.
@Gentle Benj: Scorsese enjoys the awards. I remember in Peter Biskind’s great book Down and Dirty Pictures, he was quite crushed upon losing for Gangs of New York. There’s quite a bit of Old Hollywood to Marty and I imagine he holds large awards shows in high esteem.
“I love how everyone lets Weinstein win, gives up and just parrots who is going to win and doesn’t champion who they want to win. What a sickness.”
I know most Oscar watchers hate Weinstein, but one thing we don’t seem to realize that is that he just can’t “BUY” votes from AMPAS members, but he sure knows how to produce films that “appeal” to Oscar voters, not only they appeal to the them, they also get rave reviews. The people who work in the industry might feel jealous, but I don’t think they hate his as much as we do. We hate him because our films or our favorite films didn’t win the big prize, so we need to find someone to blame, and Weistein is an easy target for us. Look at The Artist, it just fucking won big at the Australian Academy Awards as well. Can we really say Weistein has something to do with it? Are we going to say he went to Australia and influence their film industry there? What if if we can just step back and think of why The Artist is so popular and keeps winning one award after another and is destined to get the big ones at the Oscars? Maybe it is not all because of Weinstein. Don’t get me wrong. I am tired of seeing Weistein’s company’s Oscar trophies, but maybe we have all over analyzed everything about the Oscars. How do we suppose to do to STOP Weinstein from winning?? We can’t? He simply produces films that appeal to voters and they usually critically acclaimed. Harvey didn’t bribe the Oscars voters. It is us, the Oscar watchers who make him an evil. He is no evil, he is just a brilliant producer who knows how to make Oscar type films during the award season, and he is also a producer who knows how to make profits. I think we should just get over it. The Artist is winning, it is unfortunate, but that is just the way it is.
I’m just saying, why even come here and discuss it then, Benj? Why do people come here just to in effect say, “Everyone just needs to shut up b/c this is what’s going to win and you are all stupid for thinking otherwise” Doesn’t make our feelings or thoughts any less worthy of discussion. Don’t we discuss b/c we have a passion for this stuff? Don’t they make these movies for us?
There’s nothing wrong with loving something and making a case for it. I understand most people who post the “thought stoppers” are really just disappointed….but we shouldn’t let it keep us from talking.
Prediction: Martin Scorsese “Hugo”
Wishe and Hope: Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris’
@ Jesse Crall: I wish that were true for more people. The cynicism that we see so much these days is a bad thing. It’s a sign of one of two things: a sense of moral/aesthetic superiority, which is both naive and arrogant; or a defense mechanism against the realization that people might not like what you do. Both are kind of terrible.
@Mel
Yes, people come here to talk about which film should have won or which actor will win or should have won as if they are all experts, even I am guilty of that, but I think if we can step back, and realize the Oscar voters are just as subjective as we are, and if we can really have this notion of “the trick is not minding”. We will be able to voice our opinion in a rational way, and not to say silly things about who is to blame.
That’s all I am saying. I have conceded since The Artist won PGA, and I am ready for its sweep at Oscars. It is fine for me.
RobertlowercaseA, I think your predictions are spot on, bullseye – that is exactly how I would call them at this moment (except I think the Artist would take editing, as that usually goes with BP). It actually feels more predictable than last year.
It’s deeper than just TWC gets the best movies. Do you think they really had nothing to do with everyone in the world saying, “It’s the Artist since Cannes”……like I said, I haven’t even seen the friggin Artist, but the entire entertainment reporting industry has had all of us convinced that’s what is winning for months now. So much so that we quit talking about anything else….it’s a cycle.
@RobertlowercaseA: You’re very correct. Harvey has the resources, contacts, and passion to make and market Oscar-bait. That’s it. Ballots are private and he’s just really good at his job.
But I still wouldn’t want to work for him…
I’ve never resigned myself to something other than my favorite winning. Sure, it hurts like hell when my horse loses, but I’m a stubborn SOB – and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Scorsese for the win!
Has it began yet?
@Gentle Benj: I still think I’d rather have a bunch of people on Awards Daily argue that I DESERVE an Oscar than actually win one.
I get what you’re saying, though. It’s a nice honor, a fancy event, and Marty always seems so bright and charming. Very refreshing.
Can we pronounce last rites on the Oscar BP race if the French guy wins tonight? It would seem that way. Let’s hope in 2013 the nominees reflect a little more of what we pithy moviegoers enjoyed than the handpicked choices of a megalomaniac like Harvey Weinstein.
@ Mel: Nothing wrong with that as stated. But making a shrewd prediction is a “sickness”? That’s what I have a problem with. That, and this bizarre demonization of TWC. At the height of Harvey’s powers, he could only win when he had a film that could go the distance. His campaigning abilities are impressive, but not mephistophelian. If CHOCOLAT had won Best Picture, I’d be on board with this whole “down with Harvey and the films he backs” thing. As it is, it’s just sour grapes adorned with five-dollar words.
@Mel
Clearly all the actors who have worked with Woody repeatedly over the years for very little money each time would disagree with you. I think you’re fishing for negatives here. The documentary wasn’t showing Woody as a distant director who has no concern for his actors, but that he allows his actors the freedom to create their characters as opposed to forcing them into a box by feeding them his idea of what the character should be.
The problem is that everyone has this image of directors as people who sit on chairs with megaphones barking out orders (ala Cecille B. Demille), but in reality the best filmmakers are the ones who create an environment of mutual respect between themselves and the performers. That’s all.
I still think I’d rather have a bunch of people on Awards Daily argue that I DESERVE an Oscar than actually win one.
This. And I hope most people involved in the industry feel this way also. Something that really endeared me to Rooney Mara was when anyone brought up Oscars she always brushed it aside and said she just wanted people to like the movie and her performance….and I truly believe her, she’s been nothing if not honest. I don’t think Fincher cares either. He just wants to make his movies…he might not even care if we like them though ahahaha
Although most of us have thrown our share of rocks at him, you have to give Weinstein his due. Nobody – absolutely, nobody – does a better job at guiding his films to oscar gold. He’s the master, He has great taste in movies (we never would have seen Sex, Lies…, Blue Valentine, and dozens in between), but he also has an eye for what is oscar material AND how to get it there.
Earlier in the year it was rumored that he was circling over Shame. Don’t know what happened or how it ended up with Fox, but we’d have a different best actor race had he taken it. You know, objectively, what a personal coup it will be for him to get the first “foreign” produced film a best pic nod, especially when it is silent and in B&W. And, in the same year, he will do his damndest to exorcize the curse that Meryl has had since Sophie’s Choice. Who else could pull this off? You have to bow to that.
Awards kicked off 10 minutes ago, per Steve Pond at The Wrap’s twitter feed. Moment of silence for Gil Cates.
Directors have different styles when it comes to working with actors (obviously). I know Scorsese worked very closely with DiCaprio on building the Teddy character in Shutter Island, although much of the work seemed to be prepping in pre-production, like watching old noir films and capturing the emotional atmosphere. Robert Altman liked to do 2 or 3 takes and then rock and roll, Fincher likes to do dozens at times. As long as the actor is well-cast, it really comes down to their comfort level and some work best in loose environs and some need more handling.
That’s the thing though. People only come out of the woodwork to extol the virtues of their favorites when those favorites are underdogs. Imagine a world in which SLUMDOG wasn’t the prohibitive favorite throughout the Oscar season. I, for one, would have been all over this site screaming about how it deserved to win over BUTTON, FROST, and the rest. I wouldn’t have been alone. The uprising would have been extraordinary. But that’s not how it played out. It was going to win, so there was no need to yell. Almost every Best Picture winner is viewed as a mistake because defeat makes the fans of other films more aggressive, while fans of the winner are content to enjoy victory quietly.
Benny,
I’m not trying to demonize Woody at all. Honestly. And I’m sorry if it came across that way. I just have never seen him as a great director. I’m sure he is an actor’s dream b/c you get to do whatever you want. And clearly that is why he uses the same actors again and again as well, b/c they did something he liked and he didn’t have to deal with them. If this makes sense, I see Woody as more of a singer-songwriter than a great performer and I guess my taste is that I admire a great performer when it comes to Directors. James Naremore was one of my film professors though, perhaps his auteur theory obsession has colored my preference or idea of what a great director is and isn’t.
Re Woody Allen, i feel it is hard to distinguish between the writer/director, as he has been such a visionary film maker – both as a writer and as a director. I don’t think his strike rate has been as good in recent years – and while i acknowledge that Midnight in Paris, is a return to form, he used to make great films – strong conceptual pieces that were not just great writing and performing – but his picture of it overall was brilliantly executed – i cite Radio Days, Purple Rose of Cairo, Zelig, Annie Hall, Play it again sam, Bananas. The ones i consider the ‘concept’ films. He kinda got a bit complacent, and formulaic with some of the later films, but he is one of the great filmmakers of the 20th century – and a great screenwriter. A one-off talent.
Zelig if my favorite Woody Allen movie. So good!
Fincher was there earlier today at a DGA panel, then skips the ceremony to fly to Japan to talk up GWTDT on its release next week (?). Allen…well, what do YOU think?
That’s the problem, Steve50; too many people give Weinstein his due, give him a free pass, look the other way.
The notion that Woody Allen doesn’t care what actors do doesn’t really match up with the fact that he hasn’t been shy about firing actors in the past (e.g. Michael Keaton or Sam Shepard). From what I’ve been able to glean, his technique seems to be to give the actors free reign and only step in when something’s going wrong. Here’s a Sean Penn quote on working with him:
“Most of his movies are ensemble pieces, but I had a very good line of communication. I did one scene, and he cut, and he said: “Sean – you know what’s wrong with that take? Everything.” [Laughs] He’s direct and that makes things easier.”
http://www.totalfilm.com/features/the-total-film-interview-sean-penn
Does that sound like the action of someone who doesn’t care how his characters are played?
The reason why I’m not fond of Midnight in Paris is because I know Woody Allen is capable of cutting edge fare like Zelig. MIP is amusing, cute and lovable, not so thought provoking though.
daveinprogress…..you are right about that. Thanks for bringing it up. I guess I’ve just become to put off by him in recent years making the same movie again and again. I loved Midnight in Paris. Radio Days was one of my favorite movies as a kid. Perhaps I’m too judgmental and forget his past too easily. I just don’t feel him on the level of Scorcese or even say Fincher.
He makes a movie every single year….how committed to each one can you be when you are churning them out like that? He’s definitely not trying to make any masterpieces, which I guess is why he was always so quirky. He never did really give a shit.
Talking serious, Woody Allen is the greatest director alive.
The greatest of all.
The rest is silence.
PaulH – true, but nobody seems up to the task of challenging him, having the balls to take him on at his own game. What he does is not magic, it’s hard work. To have someone like him in your corner is an actor or a director’s dream, I would imiagine.
@mel: I know from Woody Allen’s process that he’s a believer in scripts flowing very freely from his head. If he has to struggle through something, it’s not worth it. So, we get some films that seem slight and some that are masterpieces. Allen doesn’t think laboring on something makes it any better. He probably spent as much time on Hannah and Her Sisters (a masterpiece) as he did on Scoop or Deconstructing Harry.
Fabinho, with due respect, anyone who swiped a best director honor from George Lucas in 1977 and best picture with it…let’s just agree to disagree
Marty’s so cute. I have crush on him.
1977 – the last time the best film of the year actually won Best Pic.
Paul H,
Star Wars, that lovely… action movie?
Well, “Annie Hall”, one of the best and deep comedies in all times…
Flapp, salve meu camarada!
Last year Mrs. Sasha Stone predicts Tom Hooper, and behind my keyboard I LOL with a lot of cynism, doubting that possibility. Thankfully, I did not wrote any comentary mocking that prediction. So, to go against her is impossible.
But here is what I would like to happen: the DGA anounces that they did a misteka while anouncing the nominated, and Terrence Malick is among them. And then, they anounce the winner: Terrence Malick.
“He makes a movie every single year….how committed to each one can you be when you are churning them out like that?”
There have been plenty of great artists over the years who have moved at very quick paces. Off the top of my head: Spielberg, Huston, Altman, and Wilder. I’m sure there are many more.
How does DGA work? They have been awarding already. So when they present to someone, you know they did not win and whoever is last is the winner?
I never understood why anyone would think that Star Wars should have won over Annie Hall. Clearly that is one of the few times the academy really got it right.
Mel, it is one of the many reasons to come back to this site, whether to comment publicly or just go away and think to myself about it, or talk to friends – is the discourse about cinema – and flashbacks are good things too. I enjoyed Midnight in Paris, but did not expect it to be so prominent in the year’s end critics and guild prizes. But to be able to wax lyrical about his earlier gems, reminds me how wondrous that the cinema can be – i remember clearly sitting in the theatre watching Zelig in 1983, and being awestruck by the guy’s genius. Woody Allen and Alfred Hitchcock, my two favourite directors. Even Hitch didn’t always hit the mark. So too with Woody – i tired of some of the seemingly pointless ones – Melinda & Melinda, Scoop, Everyone says i love you; but remembering how many truly great films – Interiors (turgid, but great), Manhattan, Another Woman (another overlooked gem with the beautiful Gena Rowlands), and one of my faves – the “Oedipus Wrecks” part of the New York Stories movie – where Woody’s mother played by Betty Boop towers over him in the sky, reminds me of the immeasurable hours of joy, the guy has given me, and millions of other filmgoers. He may not be in attendance at the DGA
It’s funny how we can’t discuss the filmography of the guy who’s going to win: Hazanavicius.
Star Wars has the distinction of being Star Wars. It didn’t need an Oscar.
Woody may be absent today from DGA
Sorry Ryan and Sasha – having finger problems – middle aged joints! I am trying to say that Woody is being remembered anyway today! Even though he is absent from DGA (probably wasn’t worth the three entries – my apologies)
He taped something and they played it at the awards, daveinprogress.
At the day of the Oscar Woody will be playing some jazz somewhere, and Terrence Malick will be having some fun, drinking a few beers and watching some films, whitout paying any attentio to the cerimony, in the house of Thomas Pynchon.
Well, maybe Malick and Pynchon are actually the same person, so that willl probably never happen.
James: “It’s funny how we can’t discuss the filmography of the guy who’s going to win: Hazanavicius.”
What filmography except for a couple of French language movies (?)
@RobertlowercaseA
I love all your picks! Guessing the Oscar winners is easy……… until it ain’t.
I think The Artist wins the Best Pic and Director, and a couple of others, but I highly doubt it’ll sweep, similar to The Kings Speech last year.
It may not be everyone’s favorite but there have been worse winners.
Documentary: James Marsh, Project Nim
PROJECT NIM! Nice!
JM, it´s you! Mattos? I prefer Marcelo.
Eu vou dormir, porque estou cheio de sono e amanhã o dia será cheio…
Se Mester Allen não puder ganhar, qeu seja Mester Marty, mas não esse quase estreante (vão repetir o lixo Hooper do ano passado?)
Well, I must sleep, guys and dolls!
Good luck, Mr. Allen ou Mr. Scorsese.
Is documentary going to be (again) more competitive than Picture?
The only way Malick & Woody should appear at the Oscars is on stage … together … doing an Abbott & Costello routine.
Musical/Variety Program: 2011 Tony Awards
Like some others have said. I’ve predicted Scorsese for DGA for awhile now…and I’ll stick to it.
Upchuck moment #1: Comedy Series: Curb Your Enthusiasm??? Really, DGA?
CYE’s entry was ‘Palestinian Chicken’, FYI.
The Artist will get the DGA, and the SAG .. meh
Remaining:
Scorsese’s introduction
3 special awards
Drama Series
Miniseries/TV movie
Picture (not necessarily in that order)
pls god…….
pls scorsese….
i want scorsese will win
he well deserve.
pls….!
I pray Martin Scorese will get it or Woody Allen. If Michel Hazanvicius gets it, it will be his first shot at getting a award. Artist was popular at Canne but the award should go to a film vet
Jeez. These guys go late, huh?
Anywhere where I can watch the DGA awards?
Or at least tell me when we will know the winner? 30 minutes? An hour?
At least Project Nim won.
I’m hoping, expecting we’ll know within the next hour, Emil.
NOt televised, Emil. Should know within the next 30 minutes. Follow @stevepond or @Variety_DMcNary on Twitter for live tweeting. They are there and keeping us informed.
No watchee the DGA’s , sorry.
Drama Series: Patty Jenkins, The Killing (pilot)
Network TV series take it up the butt.
Well, I´m here again. Here in Brazil it´s 04:05 AM, but I´m very excited to sleep…
I’m really hoping that this goes in a different direction than most are thinking it will tonight. Although I will always care about Awards Season even if none of my favorites are in the running…it does make things a lot more exciting when you don’t know anything until the envelope is opened. With that being said
Will Win: Hazanavicius
Should Win: Scorsese
NGNG: Allen
I do think it is exciting when new talent is awarded. My complaint with the Emmys has always been its the same year after year. The Oscars often fall in love with certain actors/directors/etc. as well and nominate them almost religiously. (Meryl Streep is my exception to this frustration) I also like to keep in mind that regardless if that person ever makes it back in the race that the award was for the best of that year based on the specific guild/membership. And that it wasn’t a lifetime achievement award.
BTW have been reading this site for years…that was my very first post. Very excited to finally be jumping into the conversation.
Scorsese deserves it. And I’m Fincher obsessed….but fucking Hugo man. Instant classic. Pure magic. And it’s all b/c of Marty.
Fabinho Flapp, you’re a trouper. I’d set my alarm for 4 a.m. if I had to, too.
Whatever the outcome, nights like these are the culmination of a whole year’s worth of caring. Glad you rejoined the vigil party.
@PaulinJapan.
I should’v said a small sweep. In my opinion,a film wins Best Picture and Director Oscar is a small scale sweep,lol.
Anyway, this year’s is The Artist’s year unless something happens in the next hour at DGA that the winner goes to Payne which is highly unlikely.
I would choose Scorsese but I won’t be mad at the Hazanavicius win if it happens.
“pls god…….
pls scorsese….
i want scorsese will win
he well deserve.
pls….!”
I hear you and I feel you, but it is probably not going to happen..
Fuck…..
Hazanavicius just won DGA!
As expected, sigh.
The winner has been announced?
Hooray! Extremely deserved.
Yes, Ryan.
I was so disappointed last year, when Fincher was robbed…
But, it´s our live. Let´s do it.
Yes, the winner has been announced. According to Steve Pond, the winner is Hazanavicius.
I now feel no hesitance in predicting The Artist to take home best cast performance tomorrow night.
This is worse than 2009.
Give me next awards season, or give me death.
shitttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!
i hope academy better choise!
I thought Scorsese and Fincher’s direction was a little better than the already strong material, Woody had the most balance between style and substance, Payne’s best work was through the performers, and Hazanavicius elicited a palpable energy in a film without a whole lot else.
But man, Scorsese and Fincher are like The Beatles and The Who. You’re just not gonna top them, no matter what your source material is. They’re too talented. Hazanavicius is the nice songwriter with a pretty voice.
Ok, if Steve Pond says so, that is probably it.
Oh well, so predictable.
Oh, shit!
Rather than get upset (ok, I’m upset, it’s good to be alive), I have just decided to feel superior to all the people who vote on these things. Two years in a row, the DGA sells out. Just remember who got the only standing ovation tonight. (hint: It wasn’t the “winner”)
THE ARTIST WON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LATEST NEWS…
I don’t think The Artist is a lock for the SAG ensemble. The Help has a great shot at winning as the whole movie is an ‘ensemble’ piece. It depends if they want to honor the ‘best’ movie or the best ‘ensemble’.
Personally, I’d like The Descendants to win it, but that ain’t happening.
Looks like I’m gonna have to channel my stylist mother and watch for the fashion. Fick mich.
Oh wow. It’s over.
Ah well, hopefully Hugo can still sweep the techs at the Oscars. That’ll be something I guess.
Ugh.
Boo! The Awards season is over.
Please Academy, spread the wealth.
The DGA got it right this time. I do not know why so many of you hate The Artist. I love Marty aand Woody this year Michel deserved to win.
Now the director of The Artist has the same number of DGA Awards as Scorsese. Though Marty has received a lifetime achievement award from the DGA, right?
@Edkargir: No one hates The Artist. It’s just that a lot of us either think something else is more deserving or we want an actual Oscar race. I’m glad you’ll be happy on Oscar night, though.
Has there ever been so much dummy spitting on this site? Seriously guys , the awards are almost always predictable. This year is no different
I’ve got this horrible sinking feeling that The Artist wins SAG for it’s two person ensemble. Oh well, my prediction after Oscar night we will never see Hazanavicius at a Hollywood award ceremony again.
Where did all these people who are shitting on The Artist come from?
As expected again, see y’all tomorrow as we stalk another awards show. And The Artist will take SAG ensemble too.
Congrats to Hazanavicius! My choice wasn’t nominated, ha! But que se ra and all that jazz.
The race is really over, folks. Even if The Artist didn’t win SAG, it would not hurt it, not one bit. The Artist is no Brokeback Mountain either. The only way that that an upset could happen at Oscars would be a repeat history of BM, but that’s just not going to happen because BM has a controversial gay theme attache to it. The Artist can’t lose, it can’t.
It is unfortunate in my opinion, but I think The Artist represents something a bit different, a bit original and ballsy. A 99 percent silent film that was made in 2012. I think maybe that is why it is destined to win the Oscars. It makes you feel good, it is a feel good movie, and its format is ballsy and original in terms of creativity. It represents a breath of fresh air. That is not to say, Hugo, The Descendant, and other films are inferior. The Artist just represents something a bit different and fresh regardless of its screenplay. I think the best we can do is to concede to the fact that The Artist will take Best Picture and Best Director and try not to have any thought of the possibility of upsets because I have had learned my lesson. I don’t want to set myself to disappointment. Congratulation to the fans of The Artist and Hazanavicious. Next stop, SAG!!! Moving on.
Oh well, my prediction after Oscar night we will never see Hazanavicius at a Hollywood award ceremony again.
Yep.
I don’t hate The Artist. I just don’t think the director deserved to win over Scorsese. And I don’t think we’ll be seeing anything as popular as The Artist from Hazanavicious again. When I think of all the great foreign directors who have never won the DGA, this award really bothers me more than I thought I would.
Jay, at this point. It doesn’t really matter if The Artist wins the SAG ensemble or not. The Artist has Best Picture and Best Director in the bag.
I think The Artist is this’s year’s The Hurt Locker. I believe it will lose ensemble to The Help, but it is not going to make a difference for its Best Picture and Directing awards on the 26th of Feb!!!!
Aaand the Best Picture/Best Director race is over. If Clooney, Streep, Plummer, Spencer will take SAG, the race is REALLY over. Now it also seems obvious, that if Hazanvicius could win over Scorsese, ‘The Artist’ will take the Sag Ensemble award, too, which is a problem for me, because I don’t see 2 great performances and a bunch of cameos as a ‘great ensemble’…I see it as 2 great performances and a bunch of cameos. It should be also emphasized, that though Clooney and Spencer seem damn strong, with THIS kind of support, Bejo and Dujardin could easily beat them at the SAG and then at the Oscars, too…the good news, that these two at least delivered excellent performances…the bad news ? Bejo has no place in the supporting actress category and if she wins, she will win over someone who really DID give an outstanding SUPPORTING performance. But hey, of course Harve thought category fraud is the way to go, I mean it worked for ‘Chicago’ why not here ?
I guess every Guild is going to look for an opportunity to have the dog onstage, so to speak.
Look for Uggie to paw a SAG next.
It bugs me b/c it is not great film making. It is a STUNT. It is a gimmick. And it’s only popular with the “industry.” The people don’t really want to see this shit.
Remember Ang Lee won DGA for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and lost to Steven Soderberg, and Rob Marshall won DGA for Chicago and lost to Polanski?
I am not citing this to give you guys hope, but upsets do happen, but just very rarely.
Everyone, I predict that The Artist will win SAG ensemble tomorrow (for the record).
Mel, I totally agree with you!!
The Artist relies on its gimmick and “ballsiness” of attempt to be original, but what can we do? The film industry obviously loves it!!
I have no problem with anyone disagreeing with the choice. but wanting someone to win to keep the race interesting makes no sense. The voters should vote for the person they thing deserves the award on merit. The lack of excitement stems from all the pre-oscar awards.
Boring, boring, why are these awards so boring???
Absolutely ridiculous.
Frankly, I am amazed that this is happening again. I’m sorry, but this year the emperor is wearing no clothes. It was the weakest of the nominees tonight.
What exactly is it that people are seeing here that I seem to be missing? The story is so simple, and still they managed to screw it up, not showing Valentin nearly enough in love with Peppy for us to really care about that relationship. Hell, when he comes to in her home, he decides to return back to his dingy apartment and eat his gun, that’s how in love with her he is. Does she love him, feel sorry for him, or simply trying to exercise the guilt she feels for humiliating him in public? Ultimately, who cares? Nobody, that’s who, because the stakes are very, very small here.
There were wrong turns all the way through this movie. Every time something sweet happened, the director would turn right around and expect me to buy something completely absurd (like a huge movie star 2 years past going to a huge movie opening, with his famous dog, who then proceeds to sit in the theater with absolutely nobody either recognizing or acknowledging him or the dog; or that everybody knew he had an European accent, as we see him in the opening scene TALKING to the press AND the public. Or that the “Artist” made swashbucklers and inane comedies; he was hardly Murnau or anything remotely Artistic. And on and on).
In the immortal words of Seth Meyers: Really? REALLY?
The Artist will be The King’s Speech all over again at the SAG : the male lead wins, the supporting actress comes close but doesn’t win, BUT they take the ensemble even though it was a two-man-show…and The King’s Speech was a three-man-show…in my opinion, neither qualifies in any category that has ‘Cast’ or ‘Ensemble’ in its name, but that’s just my two cents.
I am not sure The Artist is really going to win SAG ensemble. Remember The Hurt Locker losing the ensemble to Inglorious Bastard? It doesn’t make much different anyway. I will go on record now predicting The Help to win Best Ensemble tomorrow, but it will be a meaningless win in terms of the race which ever wins Best Ensemble.
Relax, and enjoy the rest of the award season. The race is over!!
I’ll just never understand why all these different awards bodies always go for the SAME film. Certainly there’s got to be some difference of opinion throughout the industry.
Would it kill one of them to stand up on their desk and shout O Captain My Captain?
I think because The Artist represent something a bit different like I have been saying. The industry don’t really care much about the screenplay.
Well, if Malick wasn’t nominated, then Hazanavicius is a deserving choice. Congrats!
OK, I’m calling it : a year from now, either ‘The Master’ (Paul Thomas Anderson) OR Django Unchained (Quentin Tarantino) will be the big Oscar-winner. Both feature impressive casts, both are directed by outstanding yet (bd-wise) Oscarless directors, both have the potential to be actually THE best of 2012…and both have Harvey Weinstein in their corner. The acting awards will go to Philip Seymour Hoffman (MAYBE Day-Lewis could challenge him), Kerry Washington, Leonardo Dicaprio (just look how Tarantino’s last villain ended up Oscar-wise…and he wasn’t a three-time Oscar nominee international movie star/leading man, playing a baity supporting role) and Amy Adams (fourth time the charm ? if she gets a nod every two years or so, sooner or later they will have to award her, too).
Martin Scorsese made a fucking film, a complete film. ALL the other directors did. No one deserved it less than this guy. It’s a gimmick and a lame one at that. To my mind, it’s no fucking better than all this “found footage” bullshit. Lets hope this doesn’t start a trend b/c I don’t know, one of the advantages of living in the modern world is that well, shit is modern and keeps advancing. Scorsese brilliantly figured out a way to pay homage while blazing into the future at the same time….and LATE in his career…..and then we have this guy, early in his career, doing some hack ass gimmick that lacks one original element whatsofuckingever. He even bit the score from another film!
What is so staggering about the direction of this film? What am I missing here?
These awards are just like our government: bought and paid for. It’s absurd.
But, again: please, somebody come on here and explain just exactly what it is I’m so obviously missing about The Artist. Which individual scenes were exceptional difficult to execute? Is it so much more difficult to capture, broad, go for the cheap seat performances than something more nuanced and thought provoking? What is so “different” about this version of A Star Is Born than all the others?
Good Lord.
Robertlowerclassa — I wish you hadn’t reminded us that Ang Lee won the DGA for Crouching Tiger but lost the Oscar. I thought he deserved the Oscar that year. But Julia Roberts made it known that year there was no way Soderbergh would lose the Oscar. She choked when she has to present the Golden Globe to Ang Lee that year.
How did Ang Lee ever win the Oscar for Brokeback? It was a miracle really, considering the Academy backlash. He was the first director of color ever win to the director Oscar.
Phantom–I’m kind of hoping that The Great Gatsby and The Hobbit are great movies. Maybe Anna Karenina too. And dare I say it. I hope Les Miz is excellent too.
By now, I guess I can say that my problem with the ‘sweepy frontrunner’ is that usually it is NOT the film I consider the best BUT that doesn’t mean I don’t consider it good/great…only I usually think there are BETTER contenders. Just like last year : it wasn’t that ‘The King’s Speech’ wasn’t good, but there were SEVERAL considerably BETTER like The Social Network and Black Swan. And in ANOTHER year of modern masterpieces like Malick’s ‘The Tree of Life’, Fincher’s ‘Dragon Tattoo’, Scorsese’s ‘Hugo’, I am just not comfortable with ‘The Artist’ pulling off a clean sweep. But that’s just me. It doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate it for what it is…I just wish it was MORE substance/story-wise. That surprisingly unoriginal story is the main reason I can’t get on the bandwagon, even though I do think it features two excellent performances and is all around a good/great film with great direction.
In my personal opinion, Ang Lee’s winning BM for best directing was truly deserving. He was the first director of color(Asian)that ever won a best directing award, just like Bigelow being the first woman.
Yeah, I remember Julia Robert’s reaction. She was very slappable,lol,,,
I am glad Lee won his first Oscar, but Crash over BM? That is still a pretty big shocker after BM won DGA,PGA,WGA and tons of awards from critics groups as well.
Phantom.
I would say The Artist is being awarded for its being different and unique. Its format made it stand out very easily among other films.
My prediction for the Oscars stands: Martin Scorsese will win his 2nd Oscar for Best Director. (“Artist” will win Picture.) Mark my words!
Crash over BM? That is still a pretty big shocker after BM won DGA,PGA,WGA and tons of awards from critics groups as well.
Is it though when the demographic is so old? They weren’t gonna give it to a picture about a couple “queers.” No. Way. In. Hell. That year will go down as the most shameful in Academy history….at least in my mind and lifetime.
Totally agree about Crash over BM.
Back to this year.
WOW. Golden Globes have become more and more meaningless,,lol
“My prediction for the Oscars stands: Martin Scorsese will win his 2nd Oscar for Best Director. (“Artist” will win Picture.) Mark my words!”
Not going to happen!
There won’t be a picture/director split.
It is The Artist all the way.
daveylow, I have no doubt that there will be SEVERAL excellent films this year, I am also rooting for The Great Gatsby, Anna Karenina but I think the tiny fact that both Baz Luhrmann and Joe Wright have already directed masterpieces and the Academy STILL didn’t nominate them, says a lot about how the Academy doesn’t seem to get them…and it probably won’t change now when Luhrmann is 3ding an American Classic and Joe Wright leaves the classic period piece-routine behind and goes all experimental on Anna Karenina. I think these two films have the potential to be TRUE cinematic treasures and probably THE best of 2012…but if there is one thing I learnt last year – and this year – that being THE best doesn’t necessarily translate into Best Picture Oscar…so at this point, I’m only hoping that my most anticipated films of 2012 (I have at least a hundred) will turn out to be good/great/excellent, and then I won’t care about the rest…oh, who am I kidding, of course I will, I will be bitching here next year, just like I am now…especially if once again, they confuse ‘THE best’ with ‘THE most charming’…although it would be SO much easier if FOR ONCE the two were the same film. But I’m sticking to ‘The Master’ and ‘Django Unchained’…both have the potential to be THE best and if they will live up to their potential or at least come close to it, Harvey WILL make it happen, you’ll see!
If you want to see the pic of Michel with his award follow me on Twitter @AnthonyHolic I have the pic with link!!!
Robertlowercasea
“I would say The Artist is being awarded for its being different and unique. Its format made it stand out very easily among other films.”
I know…well, it definitely wasn’t the story, the one thing that makes it IMPOSSIBLE for me to consider it ‘THE’ best even if I appreciate several aspects of it.
Did I see the same The Artist that everyone else did here? I thought it was brilliantly directed, intelligently written, extremely entertaining, and well acted. Is it the best film of 2011? No, I preferred GWTDT. I don’t get the hate here.
The BBM vs The Artist connection is interesting and almost flawed.
Both won tons of precursor awards DGA, PGA, GG, etc. But when it came down to it, the older Academy members weren’t hip enough to vote for a gay film. Now those senior members are being asked to vote on a film about the Hollywood of old. BBM was the topical film they couldn’t vote for. The Artist is the film that safely reminds us how it was done “in the day.”
I honestly don’t care how predictable this race is getting right now. The Artist is a wonderful film and would deserve the Best Picture honor should it happen to win on Oscar night. Quite frankly, it’s annoying when one sees a headline reading “Season Collapses Under Weight of Predictability” as if it were an outright tragedy that Hazanavicius won the DGA or The Artist will now go on to win Best Picture. In my opinion, seeing The Artist win awards left and right is not the most horrible thing in the world. If it wins Best Picture on Oscar night, the legions of cinephiles out there will not have their knives sharpened like they did when The King’s Speech bested The Social Network, when Crash upended Brokeback Mountain, and when Shakespeare in Love dethroned Saving Private Ryan. This is not that kind of year because The Artist is a genuinely wonderful film and the only reason we’re seeing negative publicity about it now is because the Oscar race is getting incredibly predictable. Such negative publicity is rubbish in my opinion and is a poor excuse to not want The Artist or Hazanavicius to win.
I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that neither Martin Scorsese nor Terrence Malick are going to win Best Director this year for their respective masterpieces.
DOES NOT COMPUTE.
NO! Not another overrated newcomer! Scorsese should have it and everyone here knows it! Damn you Weinstein!
My dog is 10. He’s never been given table scraps. There’s still not a meal that goes down in this house during which he doesn’t think today will be the day he gets table scraps.
I’m still not gonna stop hoping for Marty at Oscar. I’m at least strong enough to handle the disappointment if this 12 lb. wiener dog can handle being let down every day of his life for over 10 years and still keep hope alive.
Now I shall go to my mirror and say, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough and doggone it, Don’t try it, fucker, YOU TALKIN TO ME???”
I think there are many lovers of film who have seen The Artist and are scratching their heads over this. It’s not a staggering achievement in any category, particularly direction or that screenplay. The performances are fine; of course Weinstein must cheat to put the lead actress in the supporting actress category.
One of the most puzzling elements of all is we have another film, Hugo, that was a far, far more difficult story to put together. With complicated sequences, large in scope, that’s telling a very similar story, and does it with so much more artistry and flair. And yet, it’s on the pay me no mind list.
I guess Mr. Scorsese should have filmed in black and white. I don’t know; that didn’t work for Raging Bull, but I guess that’s not nearly the achievement that The Artist is either.
To me, the last two seasons have made it crystal clear: the guilds and the academy are officially irrelevant. Right now I’m just glad that movies like There Will Be Blood, No Country, or Pulp Fiction were not made this year, as I don’t know what I’d think if I had to watch The Artist steamroll over those films instead of these. Last year was bad enough; to do this the very next year is like pulling the rug out from under your feet.
There’s no “there” there.
@Mel: I had a cat named Mischa who would jump on the table, steal food, and run away growling.
Moral of the story: Don’t buy a Bobcat if you don’t want your food stolen. For the rest of our lives, we’ll find disappointment in awards voting but I guess we let the triumphs and debates carry us on :/
The same argument being made for Scorsese echoes similar arguments made for David Fincher last year (I still in my heart believe Tom Hooper was the least-deserving nominee of both the DGA and Oscar, and that The Social Network is one of the best-directed films I’ve ever seen). Though at this point, you just gotta learn to roll with the punches and remember that in this race, it’s not about who SHOULD win but who WILL win.
Saying that last sentence just reminds me of how superficial and vapid this all has a tendency to be. Why do I care so much about the awards race again?
Just like last year! Boorriinngg….
Oh well, its a The Artist sweep at the Oscars in a few weeks. Right now the only award I dont (yet) see it win is supporting actress. And how is Berenice not a lead, but Viola is? Bah.
Its 2011, all over again. Except I dont dislike The Artist as much as I disapprove of The King’s Speech, an atrocious piece of directing.
T.
Ugh. More proof 2011 sucked donkey dung as a movie year. Let’s party like it’s 2008. And 2009. And last year. Complete utter predictability. Thanks a lot, point man for Satan; you’ve managed to suck the life out of ANOTHER Oscar ceremony.
Well deserved, congrats to the french guy!
“Season collapses” is just hilarious!
Meh, now the race is over, we can focus on more important things, like… who will NEXT year.
As for the other awards, while the pilot itself was a great episode, The Killing winnning anything should be forbidden.
I don’t get the complaining. Every single year for the last 20 the Oscars haven predictable. Not even Crash winning was a surprise.
Just wait till this time next year and you’ll read comments like these:
“The worse year in film history”
“Just like last year! Boorriinng”
“Most predictable OScar season EVER”
Hazanavicius deserved the prize of these five nominees for sure. Justice was served.
RobertlowerclassA– I totally agree that Ang Lee deserved to win the Oscar for BM. I just thought it was amazing he won because of the Academy’s backlash against the movie.
And though I like The Artist I am disappointed it is winning everything because there are other fine and even better movies this year.
I am already sick of Uggie.
Armando–if you don’t like complaining you may be reading the wrong web site.
@Daveylow
Complaining is fine. Just be original. It’s been the worse year in film history for several years running. The same with the predictabilty/boredom of Oscar night.
Oh, Armando…
You have to realize for most people, if they’re not complaining about the Oscar race in some way it means they’re not following it. They are few of us who just enjoy the ride. I have no stake what so ever as to what wins or loses — I get no money, not braggin rights, no career advancement, no clout — so it’s just a matter of letting whatever happens happen.
Others, though… They take it as a personal insult if their favortie films doesn’t win or feel as if their opinion doesn’t matter — and where would it? — if the race leans toward predictability. Almost as if they feel the AMPAS owes them something and should make more radical choices. But, as I said, what does it matter what the AMPAS chooses? They like what they like, and they pick what they pick.
The season hasn’t collapsed, imo, but the beams are creaking badly. I still think Scorsese might pull off a bit of a coup, but that possibility diminishes daily. I don’t think The Artist will take the SAG – I would be shocked if it was not The Help.
The real races remain in the lower categories, so the night will still be worthwhile.
And NO – it has not been “the worst year in film history.” Awards season became tedious and uninspired once the critics’ circles finished reporting in, but in just a few years, we’ll look back at the films that were realeased and compare to the major awards and say WTF?
DaveyLow.
Speaking of which. Uggie is retiring,.lol.
Heard it on NBC news the other day.
“Almost as if they feel the AMPAS owes them something”
Um, we’re the consumer who buys the product and keeps their industry afloat. That’s top of the foodchain – we’re the lion and they are the gazelles. Awards season is where everyone from the HP fanboys to indie lovers get to judge the industries selections as to what was best about the previous year. Without our varied interests, they’d be tits-up within two years.
in just a few years, we’ll look back at the films that were released and compare to the major awards and say WTF?
or perhaps in just a few seconds…
…
…
WTF?
@ phantom
If they like Lincoln… war is probably over. I was so bored with this year`s season that I made my first list of predictions from last year. Lincoln has the potential to gain 14 nominations so do The Hobbit if it takes the same nods Fellowship of The Ring took plus a sound editing one.
My Best Picture predictions. Although I have a feeling Les Miserables will be a flop, I put in there. Let`s wait until the end of the year to see.
Anna Karenina
Brave
The Dark Knight Rises
Django Unchained
Gravity
The Great Gatsby
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Les Miserables
Lincoln
The Master
Sorry Craig (and Mel), but you’re way off here and so blinded by your dislike of The Artist that you cannot see either the point of the film or its substance. It is not “gimmicky” at all. It is absolutely novel in its approach, and without listing the moments of visual poetry (all created by its terrific director, I might add), it is a gorgeously shot, romantic, evocative picture.
It is a story about:
Friendship
Loyalty
Self-doubt
Unemployment and career loss in a crisis (very timely and relevant)
Hitting rock bottom
Loss
Love
Rebirth
If you missed all of this, I suggest you see the film again and pay attention to how Dujardin and Bejo convey each and every one of these very specific things with their faces and bodies. The film is absolutely packed with emotion and it brims over with one thing the other films do not have:
Showmanship
Nit-picking if George Valentin really loved Peppy Miller when he put a gun in his mouth is way beside the point and to me, indicates a fundamental misreading of this movie’s themes.
And the business of celebrity
And what I intended to say at the bottom of my post is that it is also a very clever satire on the business of how celebrity is manufactured in Hollywood. So it get points for that very current and modern theme also.
Food for thought.
Had Scorcese not won for “The Departed”, would this have happened?
“I have a feeling Les Miserables will be a flop”
Tom Hooper directing a tedious musical with questionable singing talent? a flop? I’m already searching my thesaurus for new words.
Right now, if we just look at the categories The Artist is up to at the Oscars:
Cinematography (since Tree of Life managed to be BP nominee, it will probably get this one).
Editing (it`s the frontrunner along with Hugo).
Costumes and Art Direction (this usually go to the same film… don`t see the Academy giving those 2 to a black and white film… Hugo wins both).
Score (a locked winner…. John Williams takes it next year for Lincoln).
Screenplay (Woody Allen has this in the bag).
Sup. Actress (not taking it).
Actor (Clooney has this in the bag).
Directing (frontrunner).
Picture (near lock).
I can`t see it winning without directing considering it`s probably gonna get only a Score and an Editing win.
I`m starting to wish Scorsese did not win for The Departed (actually preferred Greengrass and Stephen Frears over him that year). If this hand`t happened, Hugo would have a better luck this year.
Williamfath: no.
But you’re asking the wrong question. The question is, had Scorsese not won for the departed, would Hugo have happened?
@Zach
Totally agree with you
@Steve50
I’m not the one saying 2011 has been the worse year in film history. That is what I read here year after year. Someone always makes that comment during the awards season.
Unlikelyhood: Very interesting question. I would like to think yes because it’s Scorcese. But him winning for “The Departed” certainly didn’t hurt him in greenlighting a film that cost $170,000,000.
Well, if Taylor Swift will REALLY get Eponine in ‘Les Miserables’, I won’t even bother watching it, it will be clearly doomed from start.
I only hope it will be a hit, because I would love to see Hugh Jackman get some real awards-love, I think he is remarkably underrated : we are talking about the actor who has a succesful-action franchise, a Tony Award for a Musical Lead, a Golden Globe nomination for playing a time-traveling prince from the 19th Century, a filmography that includes movies from visionary directors like Baz Luhrmann (Australia), Darren Aronofsky (The Fountain), Christopher Nolan (The Prestige); a sold-out one-man-show that broke Broadway-records…and even with all that, he has NEVER even come close to the Oscar-race. Jean Valjean could be his chance…
a very clever satire on the business of how celebrity is manufactured in Hollywood.
Sorry, I don’t see how it’s clever. Peppy gets her photo taken. The photo appears in Variety (which already makes no sense. They make Variety out to be a gossip rag — and it’s not a place where the general public would ever see it.) She tries to show off the photo one single time. Malcolm McDowell isn’t even impressed.
After that, she just works her way up from bit parts to larger roles. Where’s the celebrity machine? Nowhere in sight. Also nowhere in sight is any indication whatsoever about what makes Peppy stand out from the crowd (other drawing a mole on her face… er…)
She’s just an extra one day, and after 5 movies she’s an international superstar. Based on what? Where’s the celebrity come from? Where’s the evidence of any special star quality she’s got?
It’s just one of the many paper-thin conceits that’s sort of flopped out for us to accept. It tells me absolutely nothing about how Hollywood worked in the 1920s. Other than: Actresses sometimes begin their careers appearing in small roles. Wow, really?
Clever? Not very.
Friendship, Loyalty, Self-doubt, Hitting rock bottom, Love — they’re all given the same featherweight treatment.
Want to fall in love? Easy! Just dance with somebody and make sure you’re both gorgeous.
Friendship? Hang around outside on the sidewalk for a few hours, and then drive off. Come back later with a word of common sense advice. Disappear again.
Deep stuff.
the artist deserves it. what a risky undettaking to put a silent film out in a loud bang era. The Artist is one of thos efilms tht would be on TCM, nowadays if it were made in the 20′s and 30′s
here’s my rant. Scorese or Woody Allen should’ve won. both of their films were Hugo and Midsnightin Paris were delightful and different from their previous worrks even though they had a undeerestimated box office run and were overestimated before their release. they still turned out to be liberal and literal
The Artist is one of thos efilms tht would be on TCM, nowadays if it were made in the 20′s and 30′s
um, no. Highly doubtful. TCM shows silents that are cinematic milestones.
I don’t see how The Artist would ever even have been made in the 20s. It looks skimpy and threadbare next to 500 of the best silent films.
There’s nothing equivalent to it that exists. I can’t think of any silent film anywhere near as thin that has survived for 80 years.
ok, it might have been enough material for a 20-minute 2-reeler in the very early 20s.
But by the mid- to late 20s silent films were rich, complex, novelistic.
The Artist is slighter than an O.Henry story. There would be nothing to distinguish in from 1000 other forgotten toss-offs. As a comedy, there’s scant humor. As drama, it’s cliche on top of cliche.
Studio execs in the 1920s wouldn’t make a movie like this. Honestly, I truly believe they’d think the script was worthless.
I’m too spoiled from seeing, knowing and loving 200 genuinely great silent movies.
“I would love to see Hugh Jackman get some real awards-love”
So would I, but this (Les Miz) won’t be it, I’m afraid. I’d love to see Jackman get involved with a decent project that can take advantage of all his talents so that he can break free of the wolverine/song-’n-dance image that he now has. Those are lucrative for him right now, but he’s not getting any younger – time to stretch a bit.
Has Les Miz started shooting yet? or is Hooper still scouting for old porn sets to use, like they did for TKS? (sorry – just practicing for next year)
I think the problem, Ryan, is that for most movie-goers — perhaps more so for Americans — “The Artist” is the first silent film they’ve ever seen. Even worse, though for another conversation, some people don’t even acknowledge black-and-white films.
There’s a great book from BFI that goes through 100 great silent films that I always recommend for silent-era newbies. Hell, you could do worse than looking at the line-up for the first Academy Awards — but then you’re missing out of the fantastic wealth of artistry that were the 1910s and early to mid-1920s.
And, Ryan, you’re not too spoiled from seeing great silent films, you’re just a more well-rounded film-goer.
oscar season is not over yet I still think Scorese could win best director and the artist wins best picturearScre The WGA goes to the movies the Descendants and Midnightin Paris. The USC Scripter goes to Hugo
@ JP
I’m right there with you, man. This year has been the worst year for film and awards in as long as I can remember. I’m just looking to next season hoping that it’s Tarantino vs. Anderson. Django and The Master seem like they could both be masterpieces. Also hopefully if Dark Knight Rises is as good as everyone in the cast and crew says it is, maybe finally some Nolan love as well
and for whatever reason I don’t see The Hobbit being as good as LOTR.
I still don’t get why people think scorsese was robbed of the dga – the picture was a muddled mess (with beautiful elements), but directing children is not his strongest suits….some of the worse child acting I think i have ever seen….
Just because his last name is Scorcese doesn’t mean he automatically deserves to win…
And I find this season far from predictable….sure, picture/director seems sewn up, but the acting races (aside from Plummer, I believe) have not been secured – yet…..
Easy – the film was NOT a muddled mess. He did a GREAT job directing the children. Their acting was excellent. Scorsese deserved to win this because he crafted a masterpiece, not because of his name.
sundance winners!
http://thescreenteen.blogspot.com/2012/01/2012-sundance-winners.html
I still say Scorsese takes Best Director at the Oscars! The ship still hasn’t sunk! I can’t believe the DGA, Scorsese so deserved this or even Alexander Payne or hell even Woody Allen!
boring award season predictable winners.
The Artist is “overrated movie of the year”.
HUGO = masterpiece… thanks.
well beauty is in the eye of the beholder….I rolled my eyes more during Hugo than I have in a movie in a very long time…masterpiece it ain’t.
Now that the BP/BD race is over. Is there any real suspense in any other categories. Does Melissa McCarthy have a shot? Does Max Von Sydow have a shot? Does Glenn Close have a shot? Does Brad Pitt have a shot? Theres usually one or two upsets (the past three years excluded), can the acting races be shaken up a bit? That’s what I’d like to see
Sorry, Ryan. The Artist has an effervescence and life to it that is in every frame, and that is why it is being rewarded. If you didn’t see that in The Artist, then you didn’t see it.
Kind of like how I don’t see you and Sasha’s unrelenting and undeserved flag-waving for the real featherweight thin film this year, Dragon Tattoo, which is all directorial flash in service of a story with zero depth. Now THAT picture, not The Artist, is the real cipher, with its Blomkvist character who is less than two-dimensional and its “heroine,” who knows how to solve a mystery, yeah, but isn’t any deeper for it. Nothing beyond the rudimentary transpires between these two in nearly three hours.
But I digress.
Kind of like how I don’t see you and Sasha’s unrelenting and undeserved flag-waving for the real featherweight thin film this year, Dragon Tattoo, which is all directorial flash in service of a story with zero depth.
Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there. That reminds me of people who go see the Mona Lisa and say “it was no big deal.” Uh, yeah. The problem is with the painting. Right.
Filmboymichael – yeah Scorsese can’t direct children all right. What a terrible job he did in Alice doesn’t live here anymore, taxi driver, cape fear, and kundun.
Time to study up and become a filmman.
Filmboymichael – yeah Scorsese can’t direct children all right. What a terrible job he did in Alice doesn’t live here anymore, taxi driver, cape fear, and kundun.
Asa Butterfield is the same age now as Christopher Serrone was in 1990 — he played the Young Henry Hill in Goodfellas.
don’t tell me i should like something just because you do….I didn’t like the movie….i liked parts, but as a whole, it felt flat.
I thought Chloe Moretz was awful….and i normally like her as an actor.
filmboymichael…how dare you speak your mind about Hugo…everyone should love Hugo because it’s done by Scorsese…lol
I think Chloe Moretz is TERRIBLE in that movie, Sasha Baron Cohen and Emily Mortimer’s roles can be done by anyone really
I really love the storyline about Ben Kingsley, but everything else is only ok
I would rate the directors this year as follow: Malick, von Trier, Refn, Han, Allen, then Scorsese
Film Fatale: Thanks for your comments.
Unfortunately I can’t agree with you much about The Artist being novel in its approach. If the film was a superior example of a silent film, then maybe there would be something to talk about. But it isn’t. It’s a wisp of a thing, and it fails to convey any of its themes to an extent that would make it memorable.
Showmanship? You’re kidding. This film doesn’t have a single bravura set piece in its entire length. Look at Tree of Life. Hugo. Dragon Tattoo. These are films crammed with fabulous set pieces and breathtaking style. The Artist simply can’t stand up to some of the other pictures this year when looking at the components of style.
The film’s themes are self evident, and while there are indeed a few nice moments, it’s far from a best of the year type film. And themes like “hitting rock bottom”? Hell, I just watched The Grey today; THAT did a more succinct job of hitting that trope, and it was a January effort.