Wolfman gets a couple of Posters...

Thoughts?

Trailer for The Yellow Handkerchief

-I love the cast, so I'll see this...thoughts?

4 Posters for next year's anticipated flick Kick-Ass

Thoughts?

Take a look at our latest Golden Globe predictions at The Awards Circuit!

Go here to see Clayton's picks for the Golden Globes. It's still early, but with most sites focusing solely on the Oscars, it's good to take an early look at the Globes before the rush begins.
-What do you think of the predictions?

Trailer day continues with a new one for Sherlock Holmes...

Take a gander at the latest from Guy Ritchie:

-Thoughts?

An Oscar Nomination for Sandra Bullock?

I'm not so sure, but according to the Envelope, Sandra Bullock might nab her first Oscar nod with her performance in The Blind Side. She has absolutely no buzz at this point, but who knows what will happen now. She was in a stinker (All About Steve) this year, so that might hurt her chances. However, if the performance is as good as the article states, then perhaps there is a chance for her. To be honest, when I first saw the trailer, I thought it was a ESPN made for TV movie and that Bullock was sporting an awful wig.

Brothers gets a new Trailer...

Behold:

-I think it's a step down from the first trailer, but the material still could make for some Oscar attention...thoughts?

Today's Posters: A new one for It's Complicated and Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Thoughts?

A new Trailer for It's Complicated...

Here it is:

-Thoughts?

Crazy Heart to come out in 2009 after all...

...I wonder if this article here that we ran a few days ago wasn't the first sign of things to come. Here's the synopsis of the film, just because:

Four-time Academy Award® nominee JEFF BRIDGES stars as the richly comic, semi-tragic romantic anti-hero Bad Blake in the debut feature film CRAZY HEART from writer-director Scott Cooper. Bad Blake is a broken-down, hard-living country music singer who’s had way too many marriages, far too many years on the road and one too many drinks way too many times. And yet, Bad can’t help but reach for salvation with the help of Jean (MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL), a journalist who discovers the real man behind the musician. As he struggles down the road of redemption, Bad learns the hard way just how tough life can be on one man’s crazy heart.

-Is this going to be a major Oscar player?

The winners of the 2004 ACCA's are announced!

The results for ACCA 2004 are here. Be sure to let us know what you think, what you would have changed, and any comments you have about ACCA in general.
Also, our editor Clayton Davis puts forward his own picks for 2004, and it's definitely a very good list, one I'd have liked to have seen be the actual nominees in 2004, but that's just me. Check them out here and let us know what you think!
-Thoughts?

Poster for A Single Man

Thoughts?

Curious what Danny Boyle's next project after Slumdog will be?

Wonder no further:

Fox Searchlight and Danny Boyle have firmed plans to make their next collaboration “127 Hours,” a film that tells the story of mountaineer Aron Ralston.

After his right forearm got pinned for nearly five days under a boulder during a climb in Utah in May, 2003, Ralston used a dull knife to amputate the limb. He then scaled a 65-foot sheer wall and hiked out before running into a family that gave him water and food. He was finally rescued by helicopter.

Boyle will direct the film, with production to begin next year for a late 2010 release. Pic is financed and distributed by Searchlight in partnership with Pathe.

The film reteams the financiers and also the creative team behind “Slumdog Millionaire,” which won eight Oscars.

Boyle has written a treatment, and Simon Beaufoy is in talks to write the script, and Christian Colson will produce. Pic marks Boyle’s fifth collaboration with Fox Searchlight, following “Slumdog Millionaire" (which the distributor picked up from Warner Bros.), “Sunshine,” “28 Days Later” and “Millions.” Boyle directed “A Life Less Ordinary” and “The Beach” at 20th.

He’s repped by WME.

Boyle is now looking for an actor to play Ralston, a plum job considering the character is alone for most of the film, much the way that Tom Hanks was during “Cast Away.” Ryan Gosling had been rumored to be in contention, but sources said nobody is set at this point.

-I think Gosling would be perfect...thoughts?

Green Zone gets a Poster

Thoughts?

Trailer for Salt

How does Angelina Jolie stack up instead of Tom Cruise? See for yourself:

-Thoughts?

Could we still see 'Crazy Heart' make a push for Oscar glory this year?

It seems like the possibility is there, as it's being called the "Country Music version of The Wrestler" by some. This article here does a good job of laying out the story, but here's a piece of it:

Last year, Fox Searchlight became the toast of awards season by cutting it close — it picked up the season’s two darlings, “Slumdog Millionaire” and “The Wrestler,” as late as August and September, respectively.

This year it could be cutting it even closer.

After the lukewarm response to one-time hopeful “Amelia” (not to mention boxoffice doldrums for young-skewing comedies “Whip It!” and “Gentlemen Broncos”), the specialty division may be making a fall push for “Crazy Heart,” the country-music drama starring Jeff Bridges.

At the moment, the picture remains dated for next year, as it has been since Searchlight acquired it this summer. But the specialty division has scheduled a surprise, last-minute screening for Wednesday in what wagging tongues are saying is a trial balloon for a 2009 release and awards push.

Company reps aren’t formally saying if there’s a calendar move or awards-push in the offing. But given how much Searchlight has been a fixture on the Oscar circuit the past few years (best pic noms or wins three straight years) — and how high expectations are for this pic (execs have been buzzing about it to reporters for several months), it would almost be odd if they didn’t (assuming the movie is deemed ready, of course — which is likely exactly the point of Wednesday’s screening).

The content of the film: Scott Cooper makes his directional debut with “Crazy Heart,” which is based on Thomas Cobb’s novel and centers on a washed-up country singer (Bridges) who gets his life back on track thanks to the help of a female reporter, and a close but complicated relationship with a younger country star.

It’s got some impressive bona fides: Music icon T-Bone Burnett serves as a producer, and Colin Farrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Robert Duvall also star.

Early buzz had the picture as “The Wrestler” for country music. If it plays well, expect that to continue. Jeff Bridges may not be the loose cannon that Mickey Rourke was last year (though is it us or does he even look a little like him in this photo?). And we’ll see if this pic can bring the drama. At the very least, though, it looks like we’ll have some drama on the awards circuit.

-It's still scheduled for 2010, but it's something worth keeping an eye on....

Sony Pictures Classics picks up 'Mother and Child' for distribution...

Here's the story from The Hollywood Reporter:

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired U.S. rights to Rodrigo Garcia's "Mother and Child," starring Annette Bening.

The film, which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival, was produced by Lisa Maria Falcone through her Everest Entertainment and Julie Lynn via her Mockingbird Pictures. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu served as exec producer.

Written and directed by Garcia, the film also stars Naomi Watts, Samuel L. Jackson, Jimmy Smits, and Kerry Washington.

The deal reunites SPC with Lynn, one of the producers of SPC's "The Jane Austin Book Club." Bening also previous worked with SPC, which when she was nominated for a best actress Oscar for "Being Julia."

WestEnd Films is the international sales agent on "Mother."

-Seems like we'll be adding another film to this year's race...

Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin named Oscar Co-Hosts

Looks like producers Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman settled on Baldwin and Martin. Both are funny, so it could be good.

Beverly Hills, CA (November 3, 2009) — Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will serve as co-hosts of the 82nd Academy Awards®, Oscar telecast producers Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman announced today.

“We think the team of Steve and Alec are the perfect pair of hosts for the Oscars,” said Shankman and Mechanic. “Steve will bring the experience of having hosted the show in the past and Alec will be a completely fresh personality for this event.”

“I am happy to co-host the Oscars with my enemy Alec Baldwin,” said Martin.

“I don’t play the banjo but I’m thrilled to be hosting the Oscars – it’s the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Baldwin.

Apparently Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. were offered the job of hosting the Oscars...

...but they turned it down, going by this story here.
-Is it just me or are Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic (the producers of the Oscars this year) thinking just a bit more outside of the box than they necessarily should?

There's just about every genre of film on DVD this week...

...but are any of them good? Well, there are a few interesting ones, but only one or two of any real quality. When it comes to my PICK OF THE WEEK this week, it was a fairly easy choice. It's:
Food, Inc.
One of the better documentaries of the year, this is a very eye opening look at who exactly controls the food supply and in turn, what we eat. It may very end up being one of the 5 nominees for Best Documentary this year at the Oscars, so keep your eye open for this one.
-The only other film that is above average is The Answer Man, a flawed romantic comedy that features a good performance by Jeff Daniels. It'll play better at home, so it could be worth a look on DVD.
-The rest of the releases this week are a motley crew. They range from the simply average, which would be The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The Marc Pease Experiment, Aliens in the Attic, and I Love You, Beth Cooper, to the truly bad, which would be G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. None of these did much for me, but if they do anything for you, knock yourself out and enjoy.
-My Vintage pick this week is, in honor of the release of Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, is a film that I think handled rough material similarly last year...The Wrestler. An acting triumph, the film is an instant classic in my eyes, so if you haven't seen Mickey Rourke own the screen yet, get on that.
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

Today's Trailers: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, and How to Train Your Dragon

First up we have the adaptation of the video game of the same name, 'Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time':

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Trailer Park | MySpace Video
Second we have the trailer for the animated flick 'How to Train Your Dragon':

-Thoughts?

Today's Posters: Defendor, Tell Tale, and Skin

Thoughts?

Awards Profile: A Single Man

Writer Keith Lucas looks at the prospects for Tom Ford's latest starring Academy Award hopefuls Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, and Matthew Goode.

Check it out HERE.

We have a whole bunch of updates all over the site for you!

Indeed, today was a big day for updates at The Awards Circuit. For starters, predictions have been updated on the Main Page in all categories, so start here with Best Picture and go check them all out from there!
There are also updates to what the entire staff here at the site is predicting, so go here to see what we all think will get nominated.
Speaking of the staff, in honor of the close of voting for ACCA 2004, we've come out with our Staff Top 10 of 2004. Go here and see what we all thought were the cream of the crop in 2004.
Finally, we have three new reviews for you to check out. We have a review for the big Oscar contender An Eduction, a review of the Oscar misfire Amelia, and the Michael Jackson film This Is It. Go here to see them all and let us know what you think!
-What do you think of the new predictions (both Clayton's and everyone else's) as well as the other updates?

Will Oscar voters make 2009 resemble 1969 come nomination time?

Maybe not, but as this article here in Variety posits, the films competing in awards season are very much in tune with the 60's (and in some cases, the 70's, looking back on the 60's) in one form or another. Some make use of nostalgia, but a surprisingly large number of films in contention this year take place during that changing time in the world. Films that fall into this category this year include An Education, The Lovely Bones, A Serious Man, Pirate Radio, Nine, A Single Man, The Damned United, Taking Woodstock, and Nine. It's definitely a lot of period pieces set in one particular period.
-Thoughts?

Entertainment Weekly declares the 25 most essential cult movies...

The full list can be found here, but it's an odd assortment of films, to say the least. Also, just to put a personal touch on this, these are the ones from the list that I hold near and dear to my heart (and again, drop by EW's site or follow that link above to see all 25):
Heathers
Clerks
Dazed and Confused
This is Spinal Tap
The Shawshank Redemption
-What are your essential cult movies?

A Serious Man debuts the first FYC ad of the season...

Thoughts?

Prepare for a Roger Rabbit Sequel to happen?

Robert Zemeckis speaks of this potentially happening:

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

-Thoughts?

Here's one Film Festival that would never show Antichrist...

I really like the idea of some fests now getting children involved. This article here is a good read, so take a gander at it.
-Thoughts?

Variety now takes a look at the negatives of the expansion of Best Picture to 10

This article, which can be found here, is the second in a two part series on the pros and cons of the change in Best Picture. It makes some really good points, though personally I could already make a solid lineup of 10 films from what I've seen this year, but I of course won't be voting...
-Thoughts?

The obligatory Halloween related video...this one on the 16 greatest Horror Movie quotes!

It's certainly debatable if these are the best, but they're certainly good ones:

-My favorite of these is "They're coming to get you Barbara"...what are yours?

What are the scariest non-horror movies around?

An interesting list, to say the least (since it's Halloween today and all), but I came across this and had to post it. The entire article is here, but these are supposedly the 10 scariest films that can't be classified as "horror" films:

• Requiem for a Dream (2000)
• Mulholland Drive (2001)
• Open Water (2003)
• Hard Candy (2005)
• Lake of Fire (2006)
• Apocalypto (2006)
• United 93 (2006)
• Funny Games (2008)
• Standard Operating Procedure (2008)
• Antichrist (2009)

-Thoughts?

Happy Halloween from all of us at The Awards Circuit!

Be safe, of course, but have fun!
-And because I can't resist...what's your favorite scary movie?

Since we're mere hours away from Halloween, why don't we find out what films scare Martin Scorsese?

I've been saving this for a few days now, and it seems like a good time to post at the given moment. The full article is here, but this is the list of the 11 scariest flicks to Mr. Scorsese:

1. “The Haunting” (Robert Wise, 1963)
2. “Isle of the Dead” (Val Lewton, 1945)
3. “The Uninvited” (1944)
4. “The Entity” (Sidney J. Furie, 1981)
5. “Dead of Night” (Alberto Cavalcanti, 1945)
6. “The Changeling” (Peter Medak, 1980)
7. “The Shining” (Stanley Kubrick, 1980)
8. “The Exorcist” (William Friedkin, 1973)
9. “Night of the Demon” (Jacques Tourneur, 1957)
10. “The Innocents” (Jack Clayton, 1961)
11. “Psycho” (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)
-What do you think about Marty's list?

A new Trailer for The Road

-Thoughts?