Grammys Set 2013 Date

This year's eligibility October 1, 2011 to September 31, 2012, and the nominations will be announced on December 5, in CBS's new tradition of having a live concert. The actual ceremony will air live Sunday, February 10, 2013 on CBS. There has been speculation that, if not this year, but in subsequent years, that in the General categories they would increase to 10 nominees, following the lead of the Latin Grammys. We'll have to wait and see, but if it means that more people like Bruno Mars and Katy Perry rack up General Field nods, then I am completely against it.

2012 Emmy Contenders: Best TV Movie/Miniseries

2012 Contenders
Game Change
American Horror Story
Hatfields & McCoys
Hemingway and Gelhorn
Great Expectations
The Hour
Page Eight
Appropriate Adult
Luther
Titanic
Birdsong
The Space Between
Sherlock
Five
Moby Dick
Have a Little Faith
The River
Treasure Island
Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost
The Song of Lunch
Of Two Minds
Bag of Bones
Certain Prey
Drew Peterson: Untouchable
Neverland

Commentary - Not the greatest year for movies and miniseries, but despite that, there are still some strong contenders. Probably the strongest is Game Change, with great reviews, lots of press, and some stunning performances, it is the one to beat. Hemingway and Gelhorn has been getting too many mixed reviews probably for a win, but still may squeak out of nomination. American Horror Story made the switch, and it will probably work in its favor, unless the stuffy Television Academy thinks that it is too much for them. Hatfields & McCoys had some decent to mixed reviews, but now that it has become the highest rated, non-sports program in cable history, it will probably rack up on popularity alone. Luther only managed a nomination for Idris Elba last year, but with a weaker competition, it could get in. Beyond these, there are a slew of good British productions, all with great pedigrees and casts, and great reception including Great Expectations, The Hour, Appropriate Adult, and Page Eight. All could get in, or just a few, as the nomination announcement get closer, I will do a better job of dissecting which ones are the biggest contenders among the bunch. Remember that a stately British miniseries beat out the big, bold HBO production, leading to its renewal as a regular drama series.

Les Miserables Trailer

This haunting trailer, featuring a beautiful rendition of I Dreamed a Dream by the stunning Anne Hathaway has given me goosebumps, and makes me think that this could be a really great movie. Of course looks can be deceiving, but with the talent involved both on and off the screen, this could be one to watch for.

Top 100 Films of the 1990's: 1997, 1998, and 1999 Finalists

Titanic
Jackie Brown
L.A. Confidential
Good Will Hunting
Wag the Dog
Deconstructing Harry
The Sweet Hereafter
Donnie Brasco
As Good As it Gets
The Apostle
Princess Mononoke
Boogie Nights
The Fully Monty
Chasing Amy
Kundun
A Taste of Cherry
4 Little Girls
Lost Highway
Happy Together
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
The Fifth Element
Grosse Point Blank
In the Company of Men
Open Your Eyes
Waiting For Guffman
Scream 2
Saving Private Ryan
Shakespeare in Love
The Thin Red Line
The Big Lebowski
Rushmore
American History X
Out of Sight
The Truman Show
Celebration
Beau Travail
Happiness
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
42 UP
Run Lola Run
Dark City
The Idiots
Pi
Ringu
A Simple Plan
There's Something About Mary
Pleasantville
A Bug's Life
Flower of Shanghai
American Beauty
The Sixth Sense
The Green Mile
The Matrix
Being John Malkovich
Magnolia
Fight Club
Toy Story 2
Three Kings
Eyes Wide Shut
Election
All About My Mother
The Straight Story
Topsy-Turvy
Sleepy Hollow
The Wind Will Carry Us
My Voyage to Italy
The Iron Giant
Boys Don't Cry
American Movie
The Audition
The Blair Witch Project
The Insider
South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Man on the Moon

2012 Emmy Contenders: Best Actor in a Drama Series

2012 Contenders
Bryan Cranston "Breaking Bad"
Jon Hamm "Mad Men"
Damian Lewis "Homeland"
Steve Buscemi "Boardwalk Empire"
Kelsey Grammer "Boss"
Dustin Hoffman "Luck"
Hugh Bonneville "Downton Abbey"
Timothy Olyphant "Justified"
Hugh Laurie "House"
Michael C. Hall "Dexter"
Kiefer Sutherland "Touch"
Nathan Fillion "Castle"
William H. Macy "Shameless"
Andrew Lincoln "The Walking Dead"
Patrick J. Adams "Suits"
Jeremy Irons "The Borgias"
Jason Isaacs "Awake"
Tom Selleck "Blue Bloods"
Anson Mount "Hell on Wheels"
Simon Baker "The Mentalist"
Stephen Moyer "True Blood"
Patrick Wilson "A Gifted Man"
Charlie Hunnam "Sons of Anarchy"
Jeffrey Dean Morgan "Magic City"
Peter Krause "Parenthood"
Jim Caveziel "Person of Interest"
Jeffrey Donovan "Burn Notice"
Denis Leary "Rescue Me"

Commentary - Can anybody beat Bryan Cranston? When he wasn't eligible last year, I thought that Jon Hamm was finally going to snag a win, but then sentimentality ruled the day, and Kyle Chandler got a surprising, albeit deserving win. So now that Cranston is back it is once again him vs. Hamm, and I think that Hamm will have to wait around again for that Emmy. Beyond those two, there are some other fairly strong contenders. Steve Buscemi returns for Boardwalk Empire, fresh off another SAG Ensemble win, meaning it has actor's support. Three of last year's nominees are also returning: Michael C. Hall, Hugh Laurie for the last season of House, and Timothy Olyphant, but with a slew of new contenders, none of their spots are safe, and there is a good chance that none of them return. Of the newcomers, Damian Lewis might be the most competitive for his meaty role in Homeland. But television and Emmy favorite Kelsey Grammer playing bad in Boss and legend Dustin Hoffman are not far behind, although in Hoffman's case, the controversial cancelling of his show Luck may work against him. The other newcomer to this particular race is Hugh Bonneville, but since he failed to get a Movie/Mini nomination last year, I don't think he can get in here, but hey, anything is possible. Beyond those names, the list of possibilities is long, but not much chance, with the exception of Kiefer Sutherland, because he is well, Kiefer Sutherland.

2012 Cannes: Amour Wins Palme d'Or

MAIN JURY PRIZES
Palme d’Or: “Amour” (Michael Haneke, France-Germany-Austria)
Grand Prix: “Reality” (Matteo Garrone, Italy-France)
Director: Carlos Reygadas, “Post tenebras lux” (Mexico-France-Germany-Netherlands)
Jury prize: “The Angels’ Share” (Ken Loach, U.K.-France-Belgium-Italy)
Actor: Mads Mikkelsen, “The Hunt” (Denmark-Sweden)
Actress (tie): Cristina Flutur and Cosmina Stratan (“Beyond the Hills,” Romania-France-Belgium)
Screenplay: Cristian Mungiu (“Beyond the Hills,” Romania-France-Belgium)

UN CERTAIN REGARD JURY PRIZES
Main prize: “After Lucia” (Michel Franco, Mexico)
Jury prize: “Le grand soir” (Benoit Delepine and Gustave Kervern, France)
Actress (tie): Emilie Dequenne (“Our Children,” Belgium-Luxembourg-France-Switzerland) and Suzanne Clement, “Laurence Anyways” (Canada-France)
Special distinction of the jury: “Children of Sarajevo” (Aida Begic, Bosnia-Herzegovina-Germany-France-Turkey)

OTHER JURY PRIZES
Camera d’Or: “Beasts of the Southern Wild” (Benh Zeitlin, U.S.)
Critics’ Week Grand Prix: “Here and There” (Antonio Mendez Esparza, Spain-U.S.-Mexico)

SHORT FILMS JURY PRIZES
Palme d’Or: “Silence” (Rezan Yesilbas, Turkey)

FIPRESCI AWARDS
Competition: “In the Fog” (Sergei Loznitsa, Germany-Russia-Latvia-Netherlands-Belorussia)
Un Certain Regard: “Beasts of the Southern Wild” (Benh Zeitlin, U.S.)
Directors’ Fortnight: “Hold Back” (Rachid Djaidani, France)
Ecumenical Prize: “The Hunt” (Thomas Vinterberg, Denmark-Sweden)

Top 100 Films of the 1990's: 1995 and 1996 Finalists

Braveheart
The Usual Suspects
Se7en
Dead Man Walkings
Toy Story
Leaving Las Vegas
Dead Man
Casino
Heat
Babe
Apollo 13
12 Monkeys
Clockers
Sense and Sensibility
Heavenly Creatures
Kids
Before Sunrise
Clueless
GoldenEye
Il Postino
Safe
Nixon
Strange Days
Naked
Welcome to the Dollhouse
To Die For
The American President
Trainspotting
Fargo
Sling Blade
The English Patient
Scream
Shine
Breaking the Waves
Secrets & Lies
Hamlet
The People vs. Larry Flynt
Jerry Maguire
Waiting For Guffman
Lonestar
Bound
Crash
Independence Day
Lost Highway
The Pillow Book
A Moment of Innocence
When We Were Kings

2012 Emmy Contenders: Best Actress in a Drama Series

2012 Contenders
Claire Danes "Homeland"
Julianna Margulies "The Good Wife"
Elisabeth Moss "Mad Men"
Glenn Close "Damages"
Mariska Hargitay "Law & Order: SVU"
Elizabeth McGovern "Downton Abbey"
Debra Messing "Smash"
Mirelle Enos "The Killing"
Kathy Bates "Harry's Law"
Kyra Sedgwick "The Closer"
Jessica Pare "Mad Men"
Michelle Dockery "Downton Abbey"
Katey Segal "Sons of Anarchy"
Madeline Stowe "Revenge"
Anna Paquin "True Blood"
Emily Van Camp "Revenge"
Emmy Rossum "Shameless"
Ellen Pompeo "Grey's Anatomy"
Callie Thorne "Necessary Roughness"
Piper Perado "Covert Affairs"
Anna Torv "Fringe"
Dana Delaney "Body of Proof"
Sarah Wayne Callies "The Walking Dead"
Mary McCormack "In Plain Sight"
Stana Katic "Castle"
Lauren Graham "Parenthood"

Commentary - A lot of great women, including one winning newcomer, and a lot of old favorites. Claire Danes may be new to the race, but not to the Emmys, winning recently for Temple Grandin. Her role in Homeland may have not managed a SAG nomination this year, but I think she is a lock for an Emmy nod, and may even be the frontrunner. Right behind her is last year's winner Julianna Margulies, who had another stellar season on The Good Wife, and could easily upset Danes. As could Elisabeth Moss, who continues to dazzle on Mad Men, and could be the member of the cast that breaks its Emmy curse in acting awards. Glenn Close returns to the race, but Damages may have lost some Emmy heat, so while a nomination is mostly certain, a win is probably out of the discussion. Neither Kathy Bates nor Mariska Hargitay had great seasons on their respective shows, but Bates is a legend, and this is the Television Academy's last chance to honor Hargitay, I don't think they'll pass it up. The Killing's second season did better than expected, but I still don't think Mierelle Enos will get another nomination this year. Finally, Kyra Sedgwick could get in for the last season of The Closer, as could Debra Messing for Smash's 1st season. There are some outside contender such as the other contenders from Downton Abbey and Mad Men, McGovern and Pare, Anna Torv for the renewed Fringe, Katey Segal, Emmy Rossum, and Golden Globe Nominees Callie Thorne and Madeline Stowe.

Top 100 Films of the 1990's: 1993 and 1994 Finalists

Schindler's List
The Piano
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Remains of the Day
Jurassic Park
Short Cuts
The Fugitive
Mad Dog and Glory
Philadelphia
The Age of Innocence
Groundhog Day
In the Name of the Father
Dazed and Confused
Six Degrees of Separation
Shadowlands
Sleepless in Seattle
Three Colours: Blue
Farewell, My Concubine
The Last Seduction
The Firm
Mrs. Doubtfire
Pulp Fiction
The Shawshank Redemption
Forrest Gump
Quiz Show
Ed Wood
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Three Colours: Red
The Lion King
Clerks
Leon: The Professional
Speed
Nobody's Fool
Guarding Tess
Dumb and Dumber
Chungking Express
Crumb
Three Colours: White
Satantango
Hoop Dreams
Heavenly Creatures
Natural Born Killers

Cannes 2012: Lee Daniel's The Paperboy

Well, these are some of the wildest, most distant reviews that I have seen for a movie in a while. Lee Daniel's The Paperboy premeired at Cannes and apparently it is a sex-filled wild, trashy romp. Early reviews suggest that this is going to be a film that very much divides critics, most mainstream ones hating it, but others seeing a campy classic in the making. With more reviews we can get a better sense of whether the outcome is more positive or negative.

Todd McCarthy praises Daniel's embrace of this trashy style:

"Daniels starts the film in unnecessarily choppy fashion with interview-style narration from the Jansen family’s maid and cook (Macy Gray) that misleadingly makes her an early center of attention. But once it settles in, the story and the characters’ often misguided obsessions take hold. So do the stylistic choices; the film is gloriously grubby in a fashion that technical improvements over the last 40 years have made obsolete. The colors and contrasts are ugly, the lighting garish, the cutting sometimes jarring and jumpy, combining for an inelegant look of a sort that marked low-budget, and often southern-shot, programmers during the AIP, New World and Crown-International era. And it’s perfect for this material and its period."

Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian (UK) also found the film endearing, particularly praising Kidman's performance:

"A heady, humid swamp fever rises from Lee Daniels's violent and black-comic Florida noir The Paperboy, based on the thriller by Pete Dexter: a lazy, funny tone co-exists with menace, and Nicole Kidman gives her best performance since To Die For. Race, sex, journalism, publishing and 60s America are all part of the mix – The Help - was never like this – and Daniels keeps it bubbling. This gripping, scary and queasily funny picture nurtures a dark threat which lurks like one of its gators just below the surface."

In contrast, Eric Kohn of Indiewire found the whole thing a huge mess giving it a dismal D+ -

"Lee Daniels' "The Paperboy" is a rare case of serious commitment to outright silliness. The director's follow-up to "Precious" takes the mold of an investigative period piece set amid racial tensions in late sixties Florida, but Daniels fries the dramatic content with a blazingly absurd grindhouse style as extreme as the humidity bearing down on his characters.  It's possible to enjoy aspects of "The Paperboy" if one assumes a certain self-awareness behind the campier bits, but even then, the movie drowns in an overwhelming barrage of excesses."

Top 100 Films of the 1990's: 1990, 1991, and 1992 Finalists

These are the finalists for the first three years of the decade. Once we get through the finalists, then I will start making my final list, and begin the countdown of The Awards Psychic's Top 100 Films of the 1990's.

GoodFellas
Dances With Wolves
The Grifters
Miller's Crossing
Batman
Edward Scissorhands
The Hunt For Red October
Ghost
King of New York
Misery
Pretty Woman
Wild at Heart
Close-Up
Days of Being Wild
Reversal of Fortune
Total Recall
The Silence of the Lambs
Barton Fink
Boyz N the Hood
JFK
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Beauty and the Beast
Thelma and Louise
The Fisher King
Raise the Red Lantern
Slacker
Bugsy
The Double Life of Veronique
Point Break
A Brighter Summer Day
Europa
And Life Goes On
Cape Fear
Fried Green Tomatoes
Father of the Bride
Unforgiven
Malcolm X
Reservoir Dogs
Howard's End
The Crying Game
Glengarry Glen Ross
The Player
Scent of a Woman
A Few Good Men
Bob Roberts
The Last of the Mohicans
Bad Lieutenant
Basic Instinct
Single White Female
Aladdin
Sister Act
A League of Their Own

Cannes 2012: On The Road

I was skeptical of this film from the trailer, because it looked like it was trying too hard, and of course the obvious black mark: Kristen Stewart's incredibly bad acting. But the first reviews out of Cannes seem to be proving me wrong. While most aren't exactly raves, there is a lot of praise for the performances, the visual treat of watching it, and some great moments in the uneasy script. As a contender, it could be one to look out for, at least for a modest box office hit if nothing else.

Eric Kohn from Indiewire, seems surprised like me, and even likes Stewart:

"But that owes more to ingredients that make the movie durable in individual moments than anything from the original book. The filmmaker's use of handheld camerawork, a jazzy soundtrack and all around committed performances help "On the Road" remain steadily watchable even as it meanders through a problematic middle section....Setting aside the novel's legacy, however, "On the Road" successfully showcases its main performances. Riley stands out in the Kerouac role, which has a certain soulfulness that echoes his breakthrough turn in Anton Corbijn's "Control." Hedlund is sufficiently overconfident as Moriarty, but Riley's true counterpoint in the story comes from Stewart's achievement as the giddy, pleasure-seeking Marylou, a credible performance made particularly noteworthy for her current fame in the "Twilight" franchise; frequently going nude, speaking up and dominating most of her scenes, she buries her movie stardom with this refreshingly non-commercial gig...In fact, the engine of "On the Road" largely stems from its lack of commerciality. It's usually a bad sign when any movie resorts to putting a writer in front of his typewriter as his prose takes the form of voiceover narration. But "On the Road" only does that near the very end, when it must inevitably arrive at the creation of the text. Before that point, Salles manages -- as he did with "The Motorcycle Diaries" -- to translate render most of the prose in experiential terms. In the process, it gets weighed down by the idealism of the work, but that's exactly what allows it to convey the sentiments of the original work."

Jeff Wells from Hollywood Elsewhere enjoyed it more than Kohn:

"Walter Salles' On the Road is masterful and rich, meditative and senseual and adventurous and lamenting all at once....I was stirred and delighted and never less than fully engrosses as I watcherd it, and it's great to finally run into a film that really hits it, and then hits it again and again. This is a big surprise. It's a certaintly contender for the Palme d'Or"

Todd McCarthy overall liked it, despite some of its dramatic flaws:
"While the film’s dramatic impact is variable, visually and aurally it is a constant pleasure. Eric Gautier’s cinematography is endlessly resourceful, making great use of superb and diverse locations (including New York, Canada, New Mexico, California, Louisiana, Mexico and Argentina). The cars, beginning with the central Hudson, are terrific, as are the décor, clothes and wide range of music. The film was researched to the limit, and it shows."

2012 Emmy Contenders: Best Actor in a Comedy Series

2012 Contenders
Jim Parsons "The Big Bang Theory"
Alec Baldwin "30 Rock"
Louis C.K. "Louie"
Larry David "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
Don Cheadle "House of Lies"
Jon Cryer "Two and a Half Men"
Johnny Galecki "The Big Bang Theory"
Joel McHale "Community"
Will Arnett "Up All Night"
Tim Allen "Last Man Standing"
Matthew Morrison "Glee"
Adam Scott "Parks & Recreation"
Josh Radnor "How I Met Your Mother"
Thomas Jane "Hung"
Rob Lowe "Parks & Recreation"
Warwick Davis "Life's Too Short"
 Lucas Neff "Raising Hope"
Elijah Wood "Wilfred"
Jeremy Sisto "Suburgatory"
Billy Gardell "Mike and Molly"
Ed Helms "The Office"
Ashton Kutcher "Two and a Half Men"
Neil Flynn "The Middle"
Jason Schwartzman "Bored to Death"

Commentary - In recent years, this has become a category where it is hard to find enough qualified nominees. This year, while not too expansive, there does seem to be at least some competition for the six slots. In terms of winning, I don't think anyone can beat Jim Parsons at this point. If Steve Carell couldn't beat him with his final Office episode, I don't see anyone this year being able to unless their episode submission is simply perfect. Alec Baldwin will most likely be nominated this year (and next year for 30 Rock's final season), but I think his time of winning was up long ago. Another nominee from last year, Louis C.K. was a surprise, but now that people have recognized the brilliance of Louie, I think he is in again. Johnny Galecki could return to this year's race, but with a little more competition this year, he is not a sure thing. More of a sure thing is Larry David, who returns for Curb Your Enthusiasm, which has always been an Emmy favorite. Jon Cryer is also a good possibility, as much as it pains me to say so, after his switch back to lead. I'm hoping that Emmy voters recognize how bad that show has gotten and move on, but don't count on it. On a happier note, Don Cheadle's perfomance in the sharp House of Lies looks like it too is a strong Emmy contender. Beyond that, names like Matthew Morrison, Tim Allen, Joel McHale, and Will Arnett are outside possibilities, but none of them are apparently strong.

The Great Gatsby Trailer

Well, what can I say? It definitely has the pizzaz and glamour that was expected from Luhrmann. But I hope that the final product, with its great set of actors, also hits all the depths and isn't too surface level. There does appear to be darkness within the trailer, so I have high hopes. Either way this is going to be a spectacle.

Top 100 Films of the 1990's: 1999 Contenders

The Insider
The Straight Story
Sweet and Lowdown
American Beauty
The Hurricane
The Cider House Rules
Magnolia
The Green Mile
The Talented Mr. Ripley
The Sixth Sense
Tumbleweeds
The End of the Affair
Music of the Heart
Boy's Don't Cry
Girl, Interrupted
Being John Malkovich
Anna and the King
Topsy-Turvy
Sleepy Hollow
Snow Falling on Cedars
Titus
All About My Mother
Caravan
East-West
Solomon and Gaenor
Under the Sun
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Bicentennial Man
Life
Angela's Ashes
The Red Violin
South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut
Toy Story 2
Tarzan
The Matrix
The Mummy
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Stuart Little
Fight Club
Election
A Map of the World
Man On the Moon
Notting Hill
Analyze This
An Ideal Husband
The Muse
Aimee & Jaguar
All About My Mother
Girl on the Bridge
Anywhere But Here
The Legend of 1900
Eyes Wide Shut
The Audition
The Blair Witch Project
The Iron Giant
Three Kings
The Wind Will Carry Us
My Voyage to Italy
American Movie
Tea With Mussolini
Any Given Sunday
American Pie
Cruel Intentions
Runaway Bride
The Virgin Suicides
Wonderland

2012 Billboard Music Award Winners

Adele dominates, along with LMFAO and others

Top Artist
Adele

Top New Artist
Wiz Khalifa

Top Male Artist
Lil Wayne

Top Female Artist
Adele

Top Duo/Group
LMFAO

Top Billboard 200 Artist
Adele

Top Hot 100 Artist
Adele

Top Digital Songs Artist
Adele

Top Radio Songs Artist
Adele

Top Touring Artist
U2

Top Social Artist
Justin Bieber

Top Streaming Artist
Rihanna

Top Digital Media Artist
Adele

Top Pop Artist
Adele

Top R&B Artist
Chris Brown

Top Rap Artist
Lil Wayne

Top Country Artist
Lady Antebellum

Top Rock Artist
Coldplay

Top Alternative Artist
Coldplay

Top Latin Artist
Shakira

Top Dance Artist
Lady Gaga

Top Christian Artist
Casting Crowns

Top Billboard 200 Album
Adele, 21

Top Pop Album
Adele, 21

Top R&B Album
Beyoncé, 4

Top Rap Album
Lil Wayne, Tha Carter IV

Top Country Album
Jason Aldean, My Kinda Party

Top Rock Album
Coldplay, Mylo Xyloto

Top Alternative Album
Coldplay, Mylo Xyloto

Top Latin Album
Romeo Santos, Formula: Vol. 1

Top Dance Album
Lady Gaga, Born This Way

Top Christian Album
Casting Crowns, Come To The Well

Top Hot 100 Song
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock “Party Rock Anthem”

Top Digital Song
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock “Party Rock Anthem”

Top Radio Song
Pitbull Feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer “Give Me Everything”

Top Streaming Song (Audio)
Adele “Rolling in the Deep”

Top Streaming Song (Video)
Nicki Minaj “Super Bass”

Top Pop Song
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock “Party Rock Anthem”

Top R&B Song
Kelly Rowland Feat. Lil Wayne “Motivation”

Top Rap Song
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock “Party Rock Anthem”

Top Country Song
Jason Aldean “Dirt Road Anthem”

Top Rock Song
Foster The People “Pumped Up Kicks”

Top Alternative Song
Adele “Rolling In The Deep”

Top Latin Song
Don Omar & Lucenzo “Danza Kuduro”

Top Dance Song
LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock “Party Rock Anthem”

Top Christian Song
Laura Story “Blessings”

2012 Emmy Contenders: Best Actress in a Comedy Series

2012 Contenders
Amy Poehler "Parks & Recreation"
Tina Fey "30 Rock"
Melissa McCarthy "Mike & Molly"
Laura Linney "The Big C"
Julia Louis-Dreyfuss "Veep"
Laura Dern "Enlightened"
Zooey Deschanel "New Girl"
Edie Falco "Nurse Jackie"
Martha Plimpton "Raising Hope"
Kaley Cuoco "The Big Bang Theory"
Lena Dunham "Girls"
Kristin Chenoweth "GCB"
Courtney Cox "Cougar Town"
Christina Applegate "Up All Night"
Patricia Heaton "The Middle"
Kat Dennings "2 Broke Girls"
Beth Behrs "2 Broke Girls"
Lea Michele "Glee"
Mary-Louise Parker "Weeds"
Fran Drescher "Happily Divorced"
Eva Longoria "Desperate Housewives"
Marcia Cross "Desperate Housewives"
Teri Hatcher "Desperate Housewives"
Felicity Huffman "Desperate Housewives"
Jane Levy "Suburgatory"
Kristen Ritter "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23"

Commentary - Once again an interesting categories, there are as many contenders as in other categories, but among this select group there are at least 15 women with legitimate shots at getting nominations. So much competition in fact that last year's surprise winner Melissa McCarthy will have to fight just to get a second nomination for Mike and Molly. Other nominees from last year are also on the bubble. Martha Plimpton was a slightly surprising nomination, and with so many newcomers, I don't know if she will reap another bid. Laura Linney and Edie Falco are also on the bubble, but it might not be smart to bet against them, as both have always been a favorite of the Television Academy. Of last year's nominee, I am pretty confident about the return of both Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, but in terms of wins they will face some stiff competition from newcomers. Julia Louis-Dreyfuss won this category for New Christine, and her performance on Veep is hilarious, and getting a lot of positive buzz. As is the performance of Golden Globe winner Laura Dern, also an Emmy favorite. Zooey Deschanel should get a nomination for her adorkable performance in New Girl, but it may be just a little bit too quirky for Emmy voters. Christina Applegate is also in the race for her role in Up All Night, but it might not have made enough of an impact. Other newcomers including the 2 Broke Girls, Lena Dunham, Jane Levy, and Kristen Ritter are also possibilities, albeit to a lesser extent. Also in the mix are previous winners, nominees, and television veterans, whose name recognition could be enough to get some recognition, including: Kaley Cuoco, Fran Drescher, Courtney Cox, Patricia Heaton, and Mary-Louise Parker. Finally, I wonder about the last season of Desperate Housewives, and whether sentimentality will render any final nods for its wonderful ladies.

Top 100 Films of the 1990's: 1998 Contenders

Life is Beautiful
Saving Private Ryan
Gods and Monsters
Affliction
American History X
A Civil Action
The Truman Show
Shakespeare in Love
A Simple Plan
Elizabeth
Central Station
One True Thing
Hilary and Jackie
Primary Colors
Little Voice
Pleasantville
What Dreams May Come
The Thin Red Line
Velvet Goldmine
Beloved
Out of Sight
Children of Heaven
The Grandfather
Tango
A Bug's Life
Mulan
Patch Adams
The Prince of Egypt
Armageddon
Quest for Camelot
Pig in the City
The Horse Whisperer
The Mask of Zorro
Mighty Joe Young
Bulworth
Stepmom
Wilde
There's Something About Mary
Still Crazy
You've Got Mail
The Opposite of Sex
The Celebration
The Mighty
Rushmore
Without Limits
The Polish Bride
Men With Guns
Happiness
City of Angels
The Big Lebowski
Beau Travail
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Run Lola Run
Flowers of Shanghai
Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels
42 Up
Dark City
The Idiots
Pi
Ringu
Eternity and a Day
The Way We Laughed
Ever After
How Stella Got Her Groove Back
The Parent Trap
Les Miserables
The X-Files

Cannes 2012: Lawless

Lawless, John Hillcoat's latest feature has one hell of a cast, and an old-school western vibe that from its trailer seemingly had a lot of potential. At Cannes however, it seems to be getting mixed reviews, and even those that liked it seem to find it flawed. In terms of Oscar potential it is hard to tell. They are finnicky when it comes to Westerns, sometimes loving them, other times not so much. With mixed reviews like this, it is going to need a big release stateside to remain a contender as we head through the summer and the fall. We also have to remember that these first reactions are from bloggers and Oscar watchers, which sometimes have a different look at things than more mainstream critics, and definitely have a different look than Academy members. We'll just have to wait and see on this one.

Eric Kohn at Indiewire, found the film to be "lame" writing:

"There's a good reason to clobber "Lawless" even though, with its competent cinematography and a likable cast, it stumbles more often than it flies off the rails: Everyone in front and behind the camera can do better than this, and so can the genre. A great revisionist western might resurrect the genre's appeal, but "Lawless" makes the case for a moratorium. The only truly successful ingredient is the bouncy musical accompaniment that underscores several scenes, particularly several covers of the Velvet Underground's "White Light/White Heat," which oddly fit the setting better than the uninspired scenario. As a result, the ideal way to enjoy "Lawless" is to avoid the movie and just listen to the soundtrack."

Glenn Heath Jr. at Press Play finds flaws, but also some masterful work within the film:

"While Lawless goes astray during an odd prologue mired in voice-over, it’s a genre film with many bold ideas and characterizations. Hillcoat’s ongoing deconstruction of backwoods legends, something he and Cave began to address in the grimy, sweat-soaked The Proposition (2005), takes a more sobering and human turn in Lawless. This is the American outback in all its bloody glory"

Sasha at AD once again points out the flaws, but says that the cast is what ultimately saves the movie and makes it worth watching:

"There are, come to think of it, a few things that don't end up making sense.But you'll probably find you're either with the movie or against it. Even with its flaws, Lawless will be one of the most anticipated films of the year, and, thanks to the ensemble cast, one of the most memorable."

Hyde Park on Hudson Trailer

Not sure what to think. The cast looks great, especially the women, although there is not enough Laura Linney, and the story seems to have two completely different strains, which I hope are pulled together more flawlessly than the trailer suggest. That being said, I have always been a huge fan of FDR, and Murray looks to be a good match for the role, and this film could be this year's King's Speech (which is a compliment from this blogger). Check out the first trailer below:

Top 100 Films of the 1990's: 1997 Contenders

Good Will Hunting
The Apostle
Ulee's Gold
Wag the Dog
As Good As it Gets
Jackie Brown
Amistad
Boogie Nights
The Wings of the Dove
Afterglow
Mrs. Brown
Titanic
L.A. Confidential
In & Out
Gattaca
Kundun
Oscar and Lucinda
The Full Monty
The Sweet Hereafter
The Long Way Home
Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life
Air Force One
Beyond Silence
Character
Four Days in September
Secrets of the Heart
The Thief
Men in Black
Anastasia
My Best Friend's Wedding
Hercules
Con Air
Contact
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Face/Off
The Fifth Element
Starship Troopers
Donnie Brasco
Deconstructing Harry
The Boxer
A Thousand Acres
Chasing Amy
Liar Liar
Selena
Artemisia
Lea
The Best Man
My Life in Pink
The Ice Storm
John Grisham's The Rainmaker
Seven Years in Tibet
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Grosse Point Blank
In the Company of Men
Open Your Eye
Princess Mononoke
A Taste of Cherry
Lost Highway
4 Little Girls
Happy Together
Hana-Bi
Romeo + Juliet
Absolute Power
The Game
Scream 2
Waiting for Guffman

2012 Emmy Contenders: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

2012 Contenders
Aaron Paul "Breaking Bad"
Giancarlo Esposito "Breaking Bad"
Peter Dinklage "Game of Thrones"
John Slattery "Mad Men"
Mandy Patinkin "Homeland"
Walton Goggins "Justified"
Neal McDonough "Justified"
Alan Cumming "The Good Wife"
Josh Charles "The Good Wife"
Chris Noth "The Good Wife"
John Goodman "Damages"
Nick Nolte "Luck"
Dennis Farina "Luck"
Vincent Kartheiser "Mad Men"
Dylan Baker "Damages"
Andre Braugher "Men of a Certain Age"
Michael Emerson "Person of Interest"
Danny Huston "Magic City"
Michael Pitt "Boardwalk Empire"
Michael Cudlitz "Southland"
Benjamin McKenzie "Southland"
Ron Perlman "Sons of Anarchy"
John Noble "Fringe"
Brent Sexton "The Killing"
Bill Campbell "The Killing"
Dean Norris "Breaking Bad"
Brian d'Arcy James "Smash"
Christopher McDonald "Harry's Law"
Danny Glover "Touch"
Dax Shepherd "Parenthood"
Craig T. Nelson "Parenthood"
Jack Davenport "Smash"
Jared Harris "Mad Men"
John Ortiz "Luck"
Kit Harrington "Game of Thrones"
Michael K. Williams "Boardwalk Empire"
Kevin Dunn "Luck"
Richard Kind "Luck"
Michael Shannon "Boardwalk Empire"
Michael Stuhlberg "Boardwalk Empire"
Donnie Wahlberg "Blue Bloods"

Commentary - This, along with its counterpart, will prove to be some of the most interesting categories at this year's Emmys. Last year's winner Peter Dinklage returns to the race, but this year he faces some stiff competition. Previous winner Aaron Paul returns for Breaking Bad, and could take home another Emmy, unless his co-star Giancarlo Esposito has anything to say about it. Perennial loser John Slattery also enters the race, but his episode submission last year was pitch perfect, so if he couldn't win there, I don't know if he ever will. Walton Goggins was a surprise, but well-deserved, nominee last year, but he will face stiff internal competition from Neal McDonough. Mandy Patinkin is a sure-fire nominee, especially if Homeland is as big of a hit with the Television Academy as I think it will be. The Good Wife boys return this year, but once again, with such stiff competition, their spots in the race are not certain at all. Damages is a curious case this year, with its long-awaited return on Direct TV. If Emmy lovers are still enthralled in the populer John Goodman's name will be hard to pass. So will the names of Dennis Farina and Nick Nolte, if people are not turned off by the PETA-cancelled HBO show Luck. There are a lot of outside contenders beyond these names, that may be sorted through in the months to come. The one to continue to look out for is Andre Braugher. No one expected him to be nominated for the first season of Men of a Certain Age, and then he was nominated two years in a row. Although the show was cancelled, and has not been on for awhile, never underestimate the power of Braugher. And yes, I realize that that rhymes.

Top 100 Films of the 1990's: 1996 Contenders

Jerry Maguire
The English Patient
The People vs. Larry Flynt
Shine
Sling Blade
Fargo
Primal Fear
Ghosts of Mississippi
Secrets & Lies
Marvin's Room
Breaking the Waves
The Crucible
The Mirror Has Two Faces
The Portrait of a Lady
The Birdcage
Evita
Michael Collins
Fly Away Home
Angels and Insects
Emma
Hamlet
A Chef in Love
Kolya
The Other Side of Sunday
Prisoner of the Mountains
Ridicule
The Nutty Professor
Star Trek: First Contact
Sleepers
The First Wives Club
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
That Thing You Do!
James and the Giant Peach
Up Close in Personal
One Fine Day
The Rock
Twister
Independence Day
Dragonheart
The Ghost and the Darkness
Daylight
Eraser
Trainspotting
Lone Star
Ransom
Everyone Says I Love You
101 Dalmatians
Mother
Tin Cup
The Eighth Day
Prisoner of the Mountains
The Evening Star
A Time to Kill
Scream
Waiting For Guffman
A Moment of Innocence
Crash
Bound
Lost Highway
Mission: Impossible
The Pillow Book
Flirting With Disaster
The Preacher's Wife
The Truth About Cats & Dogs
When We Were Kings

Won't Back Down Trailer

The first trailer for Won't Back Down, featuring Viola Davis, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Holly Hunter has hit. When you first watch the trailer, your reaction will probably be: Cheese Factor Alert. But, I can already tell there is a lot of zip and zest to the performances of Davis and Gyllenhaal, and let's not forget that with at least decent reviews, the Academy could really eat this story up. They love sentimentality, and feel-good efforts as much as they like anything else, and with its big stars and Fall release date, this could be a contender.

2012 Emmy Contenders: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

2012 Contenders
Maggie Smith "Downton Abbey"
Christine Baranski "The Good Wife"
Archie Panjabi "The Good Wife"
Christina Hendricks "Mad Men"
Angelica Huston "Smash"
Michelle Forbes "The Killing"
Kelly MacDonald "Boardwalk Empire"
Anna Gunn "Breaking Bad"
Rose Byrne "Damages"
Megan Hilty "Smash"
Lauren Graham "Parenthood"
Meg Whitman "Parenthood"
Bonnie Bedalia "Parenthood"
Erika Christensen "Parenthood"
Monica Potter "Parenthood"
Morena Baccarin "Homeland"
Regina King "Southland"
Sandra Oh "Grey's Anatomy"
Chandra Wilson "Grey's Anatomy"
Sara Ramirez "Grey's Anatomy"
Jessica Capshaw "Grey's Anatomy"
Kim Raver "Grey's Anatomy"
Katharine McPhee "Smash"
Jennifer Carpenter "Dexter"
Emilia Clarke "Game of Thrones"
Lena Headey "Game of Thrones"
January Jones "Mad Men"
Cherry Jones "Awake"
Taraji P. Henson "Person of Interest"
Kiernan Shipka "Mad Men"
Betsy Brandt "Breaking Bad"
Connie Nielsen "Boss"
Sharon Gless "Burn Notice"
Mary McDonnell "The Closer"
Jill Hennessey "Luck"
Gretchen Mol "Boardwalk Empire"

Commentary - A combination of new and old faces to this race makes it one of the more interesting at this year's Emmys, especially since it has been a category that has afforded us many surprises over the years. Maggie Smith is surely one of the biggest contenders after winning for the same role last year in the Mini category, she returns again in the Drama one. Everyone loves Maggie Smith, and she is a scene-stealer in the popular Downton Abbey. Christina Hendricks returns to the race, trying once again to reap a win for Mad Men. At this rate it looks like the show will never win an acting award, but Hendricks is, as she has been now for a couple of years, a strong contender and sure-fire nominee. The Good Wife women also return to the race, and both Panjabi and Baranski look like they will be nominees again, and with Panjabi's cliff hanging series finale, she could take home another Emmy. Kelly MacDonald also returns to the race, as does Michelle Forbes. MacDonald looks like a good possibility, but I don't know if The Killing has enough power behind it to warrant a second nomination for Forbes. A great possibility this year is Anna Gunn, whose performance in the ever-popular Breaking Bad is stunning, and I genuinely think this is the show's year to really tear up the Emmys. While I personally find Smash boring as hell, and honestly a mess, Angelica Huston is great in the show, and with her name recognition alone is not to be ruled out, although most likely her co-stars Hilty and McPhee are long shots. After returning to Direct-TV, I do wonder about the residual Emmy strength of Damages. If voters are still fascinated with it, then watch out for Rose Byrne. I know that Grey's has lost its Emmy prowless, but this has been a fantastic season, particularly for Sandra Oh, and I wonder if any of its supporting ladies have a shot at getting in. Finally, there are some individuals receiving a good amount of support, like Morena Baccarin, Emilia Clarke, Gretchen Mol, Regina King, and the outstanding Parenthood ladies, and all of them are still in the race, albeit to a lesser extent than the others.

Cannes 2012: Moonrise Kingdom and Rust & Bone Reviews

About a week ago, the Emmy season officially started at The Awards Psychic! Today I am happy to announce that the 2012-2013 Oscar season is now upon us as well with the opening of the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. In the first day, critics have already seen two high-profile Oscar contenders, Moonrise Kingdom and Rust & Bone. Moonrise Kingdom looks to be classic Wes Anderson, so quirky that apparent flaws in the film get pushed to the side. I am not sure at all whether the Academy will like this, and at this moment I am leaning towards, no. Simply because of its premise. However, there are a lot of stars, and so far the reviews have been decent to great, so you can't write it off just yet.

Reviews:

• Drew McWeeney of Hit Fix thinks that it is a success, he writes:
• "Gilman and Hayward are exquisite as Sam and Suzy, and I like that they don’t look like polished, perfect Disney Channel kids.  They have big personalities that are just starting to come into focus, and they feel like real kids, struggling with the disappointments that are inherent to the maturation process."
• Similarily Simon Gallagher of Film School Rejects enjoyed the film, particularly Bruce Willis, he writes:
•  "Bruce Willis is good here, offering an understated, tragicomic turn as Captain Sharp, the sheriff charged with leading the search party, who could quite easily be the geographically removed twin of Willis’ other fine comic character Ernest Menville. Like that Death Becomes Her performance, Willis plays down the star quality and paints Sharp as a slightly bumbling, completely charming fool and hopefully the sometimes Die Hard actor will explore the possibility of taking on more roles like this."
• Sasha Stone of Awards Daily admits that its flaws are noticeable, but says it is so damn charming you simply fall for it:
• "But in the end, it’s hard to hate Moonrise Kingdom — even with all of the parts of it that make it too conscious of itself, too drenched in sun-kissed nostalgia, at times irritatingly quirky — it works ultimately because Gilman and Hayward are so good. Somehow, these two pierced the surface of the Wes Anderson oeuvre and found the core of truth. And that is a story worth telling, no matter how old the characters are, no matter how young."
• Not all the reviews are positive, Xan Brooks of The Guardian was particularly critical:
• "In the meantime, I’m sticking with my gut feeling that Moonrise Kingdom is neither especially funny, or soulful, or even cute, exactly. Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward play the pre-teen lovers who light out along the old Chickchaw trail like a pint-sized Lewis and Clark while the adults (Willis, Bill Murray, “Tilda Swinton as Social Services”) play hapless catch-up behind them. Yet the whole affair feels mannered and makeweight, and I could never shake the sense that Gilman and Hayward were acting for the director as opposed to talking to each other"

Rust & Bone is the next film for Un Prophet auteur Jacques Audiard. The initial reaction is that while it may not be as brilliant as Un Prophet, it is still a well-made film with some stunning performances, particularly Marion Cotillard, who some think will receive Oscar attention for the role. The one negative thing I have heard is that it will most likely not satisfy American audiences. Its conclusion is not satisfactory enough, and its hardened title does not convey the fact that the film is actually a heartstring puller.

Reviews:

• Eric Kohn of Indiewire gives it a B+ praising Cotillard, while also having concerns about the film overall:
• "The filmmaker achieved the apotheosis of this focus with 2009's "A Prophet," in which a lower-class criminal finds his catharsis in religious transcendence. "Rust and Bone," Audiard's latest effort, never reaches those same heights, although it concerns the same fundamental trajectory. Satisfying for what it is, the movie merely confirms Audiard's skill with engaging actors in the potent theme of retribution."
• At The Hollywood Reporter, Todd McCarthy describes the film as solid, with good performances:
• "Ultimately, Rust and Bone emerges as a study of human frailty and strength, the habitual tendancy toward the latter and the unexpected assertions of the latter. The polarities of Audiard’s storytelling and visual approach have been crafted to reinforce this dualty, with the film gathering focus and power in the second half...With overt histrionics having been largely bridled by the director, Cotillard and Schoenaerts give heavily internalized performances marked by sporadic physical outbursts involving athletics and sex. Cotillard’s loveliest moments come late, as, emboldened by the beginnings of a physical and emotional reawakening, she wordlessly expresses Stephanie’s growing awareness of a potentially positive future for herself.  For Ali, it takes a major trauma to penetrate his thick skull and turn his attitude around."
• Finally, Sasha at AD calls the film "a beautifully rendered, deeply felt film." She also admits that while, "not everyone will connect with Rust & Bone...those who do the film will burrow deeply in."

Top 100 Films of the 1990's: 1995 Contenders

Leaving Las Vegas
Mr. Holland's Opus
Nixon
Dead Man Walking
The Postman (Il Postino)
Babe
Apollo 13
12 Monkeys
Rob Roy
The Usual Suspects
Casino
The Bridges of Madison County
Sense and Sensibility
Mighty Aphrodite
Georgia
A Little Princess
Restoration
Richard III
Batman Forever
Braveheart
Shanghai Triad
Crimson Tide
Se7en
All Things Fair
Antonia's Line
Dust of Life
O Quatrilho
The Star Maker
Roommates
My Family, Mi Familia
The American President
Sabrina
Toy Story
Pocahontas
Unstrung Heroes
Don Juan DeMarco
Get Shorty
While You Were Sleeping
A Month By the Lake
To Die For
Father of the Bride Part II
Brother of Sleep
Les Mis
French Twist
Like Two Crocodiles
Something to Talk About
The Crossing Guard
A Walk in the Clouds
Before Sunrise
Clueless
GoldenEye
Heat
Kids
Safe
Strange Days
Dead Man
Clockers
Heavenly Creatures
Trainspotting
Naked
Welcome to the Dollhouse
Cry, The Beloved Country
Dolores Clairbourne
Heavy

Top 100 Films of the 1990's: 1994 Contenders

The Shawshank Redemption
Forrest Gump
The Madness of King George
Nobody's Fool
Pulp Fiction
Ed Wood
Bullets Over Broadway
Quiz Show
Nell
Blue Sky
Tom & Viv
Little Women
The Client
Interview With a Vampire
Legends of the Fall
Red
Wyatt Earp
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Maverick
Queen Margot
Hoop Dreams
Before the Rain
Burnt By the Sun
Speed
Eat Drink Man Woman
Farinelli II: Il Castrato
Strawberry and Chocolate
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
The Lion King
Junior
The Paper
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Clear and Present Danger
The Mask
True Lies
Heavenly Creatures
Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle
The River Wild
Ready to Wear
Speechless
Guarding Tess
To Live
Natural Born Killers
Leon (The Professional)
Chungking Express
Crumb
Through the Olive Trees
Little Women
Satantango
Clerks
Dumb and Dumber
Exotica
The Last Seduction
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
The Crow
The Hudsucker Proxy
Muriel's Wedding
The Santa Clause
Wes Craven's New Nightmare
Wolf

2012 Emmy Contenders: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

2012 Contenders
Ty Burrell "Modern Family"
Eric Stonestreet "Modern Family"
Ed O'Neill "Modern Family"
Jesse Tyler Ferguson "Modern Family"
Chris Colfer "Glee"
Nick Offerman "Parks & Recreation"
Max Greenfield "New Girl"
James Spader "The Office"
Neil Patrick Harris "How I Met Your Mother"
Tony Hale "Veep"
Simon Helberg "The Big Bang Theory"
Kunal Nayyar "The Big Bang Theory"
Bill Hader "SNL"
Fred Armisen "SNL"
Jack Johnson "New Girl"
John Benjamin Hickey "The Big C"
Oliver Platt "The Big C"
Jack McBrayer "30 Rock"
Tracy Morgan "30 Rock"
Nolan Gould "Modern Family"
Rico Rodriguez "Modern Family"
Donald Glover "Community"
Chevy Chase "Community"
Zach Galifianakis "Bored to Death"
Rainn Wilson "The Office"
John Krasinski "The Office"
Charlie Day "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"
Aziz Ansari "Community"
Damon Wayans Jr. "Happy Endings"
Adam Patty "Happy Endings"
James Van der Beek "Don't Trust the B---- In Apartment 23"
Jeremy Piven "Entourage"
Kevin Dillon "Entourage"
Jeff Garlin "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
Danny Pudi "Community"
Garret Dillahunt "Raising Hope"

Commentary - Well, the Modern Family boys strike again, and unless something strange happens, I forsee all four male leads getting in once again. Out of the four, I think Burrell is probably the best chance for a repeat win, although it might be time for Ed O'Neill to finally win an Emmy. This leads two spots for a plethora of contenders. Jon Cryer has moved to lead, but Chris Colfer is still certaintly a possibiltiy, although his failure to get a SAG nod this year, and the general decline of quality for Glee hurts his chances. Newcomer Max Greenfield made a splash on New Girl this year, and is just the sort of over-the-top comedic performance that Emmy voters have gone for in this category in the past. Nick Offerman is also a great possibility, especially with Parks recent renewal and recent Emmy rise. James Spader does not, I repeat, does not deserve another Emmy nod for The Office, but the Television Academy is a sucker for Spader, and he is definitely a possibility for a nod, and hell he could win again. Last year, Neil Patrick Harris was surprisingly excluded from the nomination list, and if the Emmys stick with tradition, he probably won't be back. Once they jump off a train, they don't tend to hop back on it. The Big Bang Theory sidekicks could reap their first nods as the Emmys have finally started to recognize the brilliance of that show. Finally, I say watch out for Tony Hale on Veep. That show has the potential to hit it big with nominations, and he is the best possibility for a nod outside of JLD. Beyond that there are a lot of names, but to be honest I don't think many of them are even on the radar.

Top 100 Films of the 1990's: 1993 Contenders

In the Name of the Father
What's Love Got To Do With It
Philadelphia
In the Line of Fire
The Fugitive
The Remains of the Day
Schindler's List
What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Six Degrees of Separation
Shadowlands
The Piano
The Firm
Fearless
The Age of Innocence
Addams Family Values
Orlando
Farewell My Concubine
Searching for Bobby Fischer
Short Cuts
The War Room
Belle Epoque
Hedd Wyn
The Scent of Green Papaya
The Wedding Banquet
Mrs. Doubtfire
Poetic Justice
Beethoven's 2nd
Sleepless in Seattle
Cliffhanger
Geronimo: An American Legend
Jurassic Park
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Dave
Blue
A Dangerous Woman
Much Ado About Nothing
Strictly Ballroom
Manhattan Murder Mystery
Benny & Joon
The Snapper
Justice
Flight of The Innocent
Carlito's Way
Heaven & Earth
Mad Dog and Glory
Groundhog Day
Dazed and Confused
The Puppetmaster
Naked
The Last Seduction
Three Colours: Blue
The Pelican Brief
Evil Dead III: Army of Darkness
Free Willy
Gettysburg
Grumpy Old Men
Cronos
Hocus Pocus
King of the Hill
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

Top 100 Films of the 1990's: 1992 Contenders

Unforgiven
Chaplin
Scent of a Woman
The Crying Game
Malcolm X
A Few Good Men
Glengarry Glen Ross
Mr. Saturday Night
Indochine
Passion Fish
Love Field
Lorenzo's Oil
Howard's End
Husbands and Wives
Enchanted April
Damage
My Cousin Vinny
Bram Stoker's Dracula
Toys
Hoffa
The Lover
A River Runs Through It
The Player
Basic Instinct
Close to Eden
A Place in the World
Schtonk!
Daens
Batman Returns
Aladdin
The Mambo Kings
The Bodyguard
Under Siege
The Last of the Mohicans
Alien 3
Death Becomes Her
Sister Act
Honeymoon in Vegas
A League of Their Own
Used People
Bob Roberts
All the Mornings of the World
Like Water For Chocolate
1492: A Conquest of Paradise
Reservoir Dogs
Hero
Bad Lieutenant
Candyman
Single White Female
Wayne's World
Orlando
The Best Intentions
A Heart in Winter

2012 Emmy Contenders: Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

2012 Emmy Contenders
Jane Lynch "Glee"
Betty White "Hot In Cleveland"
Sofia Vergara "Modern Family"
Julie Bowen "Modern Family"
Kristen Wiig "SNL"
Jane Krakowski "30 Rock"
Annie Potts "GCB"
Cloris Leachman "Raising Hope"
Mayin Bialik "The Big Bang Theory"
Wendie Malick "Hot in Cleveland"
Jane Leeves "Hot In Cleveland"
Valerie Bertinelli "Hot in Cleveland"
Maya Rudolph "Up All Night"
Diane Ladd "Enlightened"
Susie Essman "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
Sarah Hyland "Modern Family"
Naya Rivera "Glee"
Heather Morris "Glee"
Amber Riley "Glee"
Leslie Bibb "GCB"
Busy Phillips "Cougar Town"
Kristen Bell "House of Lies"
Holland Taylor "Two and a Half Men"
Kathryn Joosten "Desperate Housewives"
Vanessa Williams "Desperate Housewives"
Aubrey Plaza "Parks and Recreation"
Eden Sher "The Middle"
Gabourey Sidibe "The Big C"
Alyson Hannigan "How I Met Your Mother"
Cobie Smulders "How I Met Your Mother"
Anna Chlumsky "Veep"
Alison Brie "Community"
Casey Williams "Happy Endings"
Gillian Jacobs "Community"
Melissa Rauch "The Big Bang Theory"
Yvette Nicole Brown "Community"
Swoosie Kurtz "Mike & Molly"
Rashida Jones "Parks & Recreation"
Tichina Arnold "Happily Divorced"
Rita Moreno "Happily Divorced"

Commentary - All six women from last year's race could compete once again, but I get a feeling that not all of them will make the cut. The two Modern Family women will definitely return, as will the great Betty White. Kristen Wiig is still riding on her Bridesmaids high, and if this is her last season on SNL (or at least one of the final ones), then there is a good chance she gets in again as well. The ones I am worried about are Jane Krakowski and Jane Lynch. 30 Rock is getting one final season, and while it has remained popular among the Television Academy, I wonder if it can continue to hold on to its perennial nominations. The other one is Jane Lynch. She has won for this role, but Glee is not that good this year, and there has not been enough of classic Sue, meaning she has some decent episodes, but none that really knock it out of the park. Cloris Leachman may submit herself as Supporting this year instead of Guest for Raising Hope, which is another reason I think one of the Janes are out, because the Emmys love love love love Cloris Leachman, and will find a spot for her when they can. Maya Rudolph is a decent possibility her and in the Guest category. The only problem is whether voters will latch on to Up All Night, particularly as it is a toss up whether it is renewed. Same thing for the GCB gals, particularly veteran Annie Potts who is a scene stealer in an otherwise okay show. Hot in Cleveland only got in Betty White last year, but don't count out its other stars, all of which are well-liked veterans. The Big Bang Theory gals are also possibilities, but I wonder if people will look beyond simply Jim Parson's performance. Some singluar work such as Diane Ladd, Susie Essman, Kristen Bell, Swoosie Kurtz, Holland Taylor, and others are all outside shots, although Ladd could easily hear her named called. In the cases of Parks & Rec and Community, there is so much talent that voters will find it hard to discern. Finally, I am personally putting in my plug for the always great Busy Phillips, who will return next year to Cougar Town on TBS! She was vetted by the Television Critics Choice Awards, and its time the Television Academy took notice as well.

Daytime Emmy Nominations

Sorry I completely missed the boat on these yesterday. General Hospital racks up, as does the outgoing All My Children. Surprisingly, Young and the Restless, the highest rated daytime soap received no lead acting nominations, despite some really great performances in the long lists.

BEST DRAMA SERIES
"All My Children," ABC
"Days of Our Lives," NBC
"General Hospital," ABC
"The Young and the Restless," CBS

BEST ACTOR
Maurice Bernard as Michael "Sonny" Corinthos, Jr., "General Hospital," ABC
Anthony Geary as Luke Spencer, "General Hospital," ABC
John McCook as Eric Forrester, "The Bold and the Beautiful," CBS
Darnell Williams as Jesse Hubbard, "All My Children," ABC
Robert S. Woods as Bo Buchanan, "One Life to Live," ABC

BEST ACTRESS
Crystal Chappell as Dr. Carly Manning, "Days of our Lives," NBC
Debbie Morgan as Angie Hubbard, "All My Children," ABC
Erika Slezak as Viki Lord, "One Life to Live," ABC
Heather Tom as Katie Logan Spencer "The Bold and the Beautiful," CBS
Laura Wright as Carly Corinthos Jax, "General Hospital," ABC

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Bradford Anderson as Damien Spinelli, "General Hospital," ABC
Matthew Ashford as Jack Deveraux, "Days of Our Lives," NBC
Sean Blakemore as Shawn Butler, "General Hospital," ABC
Jonathan Jackson as Lucky Spencer, "General Hospital," ABC
Jason Thompson as Patrick Drake, "General Hospital," ABC

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Melissa Claire Egan as Annie Chandler, "All My Children," ABC
Genie Francis as Genevieve Atkinson, "The Young and the Restless," CBS
Nancy Lee Grahn as Alexis Davis, "General Hospital," ABC
Elizabeth Henderickson as Chloe Mitchell, "The Young and the Restless," CBS
Rebecca Herbst as Elizabeth Webber, "General Hospital," ABC

BEST YOUNGER ACTOR
Eddie Alderson as Matthew Buchanan, "One Life To Live," ABC
Chad Duell as Michael Corinthos, "General Hospital," ABC
Chandler Massey as Will Horton, "Days of Our Lives," NBC
Nathan Parsons as Ethan Lovett, "General Hospital," ABC

BEST YOUNGER ACTRESS
Molly Burnett as Melanie Layton, "Days of Our Lives," NBC
Shelley Hennig as Stephanie Johnson, "Days of Our Lives," NBC
Christel Khalil as Lily Winters, "The Young and the Restless," CBS
Jacque Macinnes Wood as Steffy Forrester, "The Bold and the Beautiful," CBS

BEST DIRECTING TEAM
"The Bold and the Beautiful," CBS
"General Hospital," ABC
"One Life to Live," ABC
"The Young and the Restless," CBS

BEST WRITING TEAM
"All My Children," ABC
"Days of Our Lives," NBC
"General Hospital," ABC
"The Young and the Restless," CBS
BEST TALK SHOW (ENTERTAINMENT)
"The Ellen DeGeneres Show," Syndicated
"Live with Regis and Kelly," Syndicated
"The Talk," CBS
"The View," ABC

BEST TALK SHOW (INFORMATIVE)
"Anderson," Syndicated
"The Dr. Oz Show," Syndicated
"The Doctors," Syndicated

BEST TALK SHOW HOST
Anderson Cooper, "Anderson"
Dr. Mehmet Oz, "The Dr. Oz Show"
Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, "Live with Regis and Kelly"
Rachael Ray, "Rachael Ray"
Dr. Lisa Masterson, Jillian Michaels, Dr. Andrew Ordon, Dr. Jim Sears, Dr. Travis Stork, Wendy Walsh, "The Doctors"

BEST GAME/AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION SHOW
"BrainSurge," Nickelodeon
"Cash Cab," Discovery Channel
"Jeopardy!," Syndicated
"Let's Make A Deal," CBS
"Wheel of Fortune," Syndicated
"Who Wants To Be A Millionaire," Syndicated

BEST GAME SHOW HOST
Ben Bailey, "Cash Cab," Discovery Channel
Todd Newton, "Family Game Night," The Hub
Wayne Brady, "Let's Make a Deal," CBS
Meredith Vieira, "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire," Syndicated

BEST LEGAL/COURTROOM SHOW
"America's Court with Judge Ross," Syndicated
"Judge Joe Brown," Syndicated
"Last Shot with Judge Gunn," Syndicated
"We the People with Gloria Allred," Syndicated

BEST LIFESTYLE SHOW
"Cars.TV," Cars.TV
"Chop Cut Rebuild," SPEED
"The Martha Stewart Show," Hallmark
"My Generation," PBS
"Rough Cut," PBS

BEST CULINARY SHOW
"Bobby Flay's Barbecue Addiction," Food Network
"Giada At Home," Food Network
"Guy's Big Bite," Food Network
"Sandwich King," Food Network

BEST LIFESTYLE/CULINARY HOST
Giada De Laurentiis, "Giada At Home," Food Network
Rick Bayless, "Mexico One Plate at a Time with Rick Bayless," PBS
Nate Berkus, "The Nate Berkus Show," Syndicated
Paula Deen, "Paula's Best Dishes," Food Network
Sandra Lee, "Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee," Food Network

BEST MORNING SHOW
"Good Morning America," ABC
"Today Show," NBC

Gangster Squad Trailer

So I'm not going to lie, this looks pretty bad ass, with a cast that is nothing short of stellar. I hope this doesn't turn out like Public Enemies though and end up only being decent. I think it has the potential to be great. Check out the trailer below:

Top 100 Films of the 1990's: 1991 Contenders

Bugsy
The Silence of the Lambs
Cape Fear
The Prince of Tides
The Fisher King
JFK
Barton Fink
City Slickers
Thelma and Louise
Rambling Rose
For the Boys
Fried Green Tomatoes
Hook
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
The Addams Family
Madame Bovary
Boyz N the Hood
The Commitments
Mediterraneo
The Ox
Raise the Red Lantern
Children of Nature
The Elementary School
Star Trek VI The Undiscovered Country
Beauty and the Beast
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Backdraft
Europa Europa
Grand Canyon
Switch
La Femme Nikita
High Heels
Lost in Siberia
Soapdish
Frankie & Johnny
Billy Bathgate
Hear My Song
Dead Again
Rush
Raise the Red Lantern
The Double Life of Veronique
A Brighter Summer Day
Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film
And Life Goes On
La Belle Noiseuse
Slacker
Delicatessen
My Own Private Idaho
Point Break
The Rapture
Close to Eden
Father of the Bride
Jungle Fever
Not Without My Daughter
Regarding Henry

2012 Emmy Contenders: Best Actor in a TV Movie/Miniseries

2012 Contenders
Woody Harrelson "Game Change"
Bill Nighy "Page Eight"
Clive Owen "Hemingway and Gelhorn"
Bill Paxton "Hatfields & McCoys"
Kevin Costner "Hatfields & McCoys"
Dominic West "The Hour"
Idris Elba "Luther"
Alan Rickman "The Song of Lunch"
Dylan McDermott "American Horror Story"
Laurence Fishburne "Have a Little Faith"
Eddie Redmayne "Birdsong"
Dominic West "Appropriate Adult"
Eddie Izzard "Treasure Island"
Rob Lowe "Scott Peterson: Untouchable"
Ray Winstone "Great Expectations"
Pierce Brosnan "Bag of Bones"
Bill Pullman "Innocent"
Bruce Greenwood "The River"
Cuba Gooding Jr. "Firelight"
Ethan Hawke "Moby Dick"
Jason Isaacs "Case Histories"
John Corbett "A Smile As Big as the Moon"
Rhys Ifans "Neverland"
William Hurt "Moby Dick"
Tom Selleck "Jesse Stone Innocents Lost"

Commentary - There seem to be a lot more contenders than in the Actress category, further proof that women do not have enough meaningful roles in Hollywood. While his co-star Nicole Kidman will most likely lose to Julianne Moore, Clive Owen looks to be the frontrunner for this prize. Although Moore's co-star in Game Change Woody Harrelson is not far behind. Idris Elba also returns with Luther, but Emmy voters may not think he should be in the miniseries category. Hatfields & McCoys offers two options, Bill Paxton and Kevin Costner, but which one still remains a mystery, and both could get in and both could be left off. Some talented veterans also join the race including Alan Rickman, Laurence Fishburne, Ray Winstone, Bill Pullman, and others, but their vehicles are not as strong as some of those in front of them, and their name recognition plus a decent campaign will be needed to get them into the final five. Stronger cotenders include Dominic West, who looks like he will be getting a nod for The Hour, and Dylan McDermott, whose TV past, combined with the popularity of AHS could combine and end up with a nomination. Finally, Bill Nighy's performance in Page Eight will most likely get recognition, although his chances of winning are less with Harrelson and Owen now in the race.

Argo Trailer

Ben Affleck has really hit is stride as filmmaker, in a way he never quite could do as an actor. This features a top notch cast (which does include Affleck), an event of recent historical importance, and has a twist in the storyline which adds something new, and to be honest it looks great, something right up the Academy's alley. Here is the first trailer below:

Top 100 Films of the 1990's: 1990 Contenders

So every summer I tackle a new list of my favorite films from a particular era, genre, etc. This summer I am taking on the decade of my childhood, the 1990's. Many of these films were included in the Top 100 Films of the Last 25 and 50 Years, but this is specifically for the 90's. So starting with 1990, here is the long list of contenders for that year. If you think of any other titles, feel free to comment:

Dances With Wolves

Awakenings

Cyrano de Bergerac

The Field

Reversal of Fortune

Longtime Companion

The Godfather Part III

Dick Tracy

GoodFellas

Misery

The Grifters

Pretty Woman

Postcards from the Edge

Mr. & Mrs. Bridge

Ghost

Wild at Heart

Hamlet

Avalon

Henry & June

The Hunt for Red October

Journey of Hope

Open Doors

The Nasty Girl

Edward Scissorhands

Ju Dou

Home Alone

Havana

Days of Thunder

Alice

Green Card

Metropolitan

Total Recall

The Russia House

White Palace

Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams

Mermaids

Q&A

The Sheltering Sky

Miller’s Crossing

Close-Up

Gone: An Angel At My Table

Days of Being Wild

Back to the Future III

Die Hard 2

King of  New York

The Rescuers Down Under

2012 Emmy Contenders: Best Actress in a TV Movie/Miniseries

2012 Contenders
Julianne Moore "Game Change"
Emily Watson "Appropriate Adult"
Nicole Kidman "Hemingway and Gelhorn"
Patricia Clarkson "Five"
Gillian Anderson "Great Expectations"
Rachel Weisz "Page Eight"
Romola Garai "The Hour"
Connie Britton "American Horror Story"
Melissa Leo "The Space Between"
Emma Thompson "The Song of Lunch"
Lauren Ambrose "Coma"
Kristin Davis "Of Two Minds"
Jeanne Triplehorn "Five"
Rosario Dawson "Five"
Ashley Judd "Missing"
Anna Friel "Neverland"
Poppy Montgomery "Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story"

Commentary - I would be stupid, as would any of you who make their own personal predictions to bet against Julianna Moore, for the nomination and the win. She is a huge star, and her performance in Game Change received nothing less than raves. But she has got some stiff competition. Emily Watson has already received a SAG nomination for Appropriate Adult, and an Emmy one should follow. Nicole Kidman has worked with Moore before, but now will face off against her with her performance in Hemingway and Gelhorn. The women of Five: Rosario Dawson, Jeanne Triplehorn, and Patricia Clarkson all are possbilities, but I would put my money on Clarkson if only one gets in, as hers was the strongest performance of the three. Gillian Anderson was originally put in Supporting for me for Great Expectations, but it could either way, and she may contend as a lead. Connie Britton finally got some recognition for Friday Night Lights, but she is going to need a boost if American Horror Story is going to get her another nod. Previous Oscar winners and Emmy winner/nominee Emma Thompson and Melissa Leo return to the race, but neither have the best vehicles for another nomination. Finally, Lauren Ambrose and Kristin Davis, both TV veterans at this point are outside possibilties in a crowded race.

2012 Emmy Contenders: Best Supporting Actor in a TV Movie/Miniseries

2012 Contenders
Ed Harris "Game Change"
Michael Gambon "Page Eight"
Powers Booth "Hatfields & McCoys"
David Strathairn "Hemingway and Gelhorn"
Martin Landau "Have a Little Faith"
Tony Shalhoub "Hemingway and Gelhorn"
Peter MacNicol "Game Change"
Richard Dreyfuss "Coma"

Robert Duvall "Hemingway and Gelhorn"
Denis O'Hare "American Horror Story"
Evan Peters "American Horror Story"
Ralph Fiennes "Page Eight"
James Woods "Coma"
Tom Berenger "Hatfields & McCoys"
Jeffrey Tambor "Five"
Donald Sutherland "Moby Dick"
Bradley Whitford "Have a Little Faith"
Alfred Molina "Innocent"
Martin Freeman "Sherlock"
Elijah Wood "Treasure Island"
Donald Sutherland "Treasure Island"
Donald Sutherland "Moby Dick"
Anthony Keyvan "The Space Between"
Bob Hoskins "Neverland"
Douglas Booth "Great Expectations"

Commentary - Unlike its Actress counterpart this one is not a slam-dunk at this point with many potential contenders. The field seems to be populated by a few series/movies, each offering several contenders. Ed Harris seems like a safe bet from Game Change, with Peter MacNicol is another possibility. From Hemingway & Gelhorn, Robert Duvall, Tony Shalhoub, and its best bet, David Strathairn all could see their names checked off. Strathairn won just two years ago, Shalhoub won so many times for Monk I can't count, and Robert Duvall is well, Robert Duvall. Michael Gambon is a safe bet from Page Eight, along with his co-star Ralph Fiennes. Hatfields & McCoys could get few in on the Supporting Actress category, and a few in here as well with names like Powers Boothe and Tom Berenger both possibilities. Coma seems to have some muted buzz but Richard Dreyfuss and James Woods are big enough names that they could easily get in the race. Same with Have a Little Faith because of names like Martin Landau and Bradley Whitford. While Evan Peters and Denis O'Hare would get my votes for their awesome performances in AHS, I think they will have to campaign pretty hard to overcome the names ahead of them. For the win, bet on a David Strathairn and Ed Harris battle, with Gambon being the spoiler.

2012 Emmy Contenders: Best Supporting Actress in a TV Movie/Miniseries

It is that time of year again! Emmy season is upon us, and it is time to start looking at this years contenders in the major categories.

2012 Contenders
Jessica Lange "American Horror Story"
Ellen Burstyn "Coma"
Judy Davis "Page Eight"
Mare Winningham "Hatfields and McCoys"
Sarah Paulson "Game Change"
Tammy Blanchard "Of Two Minds"
Francis Conroy "American Horror Story"
Jena Malone "Hatfields and McCoys"
Geena Davis "Coma"
Gillian Anderson "Moby Dick"
Gillian Anderson "Great Expectations"
Molly Parker "Hemingway and Gellhorn"
Monica Dolan "Appropriate Adult"
Louise Fletcher "Of Two Minds"
Anika Noni Rose "Bag of Bones"
Anika Noni Rose "Have a Little Faith"
Marcia Gay Harden "Innocent"
Kaley Cuoco "Drew Peterson: Untouchable"
Clemence Poesy "Birdsong"
Kathy Baker "Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost"
Rosario Dawson "Five"
Ruth Wilson "Luther"
Melissa George "Bag of Bones"

Commentary - When American Horror Story switched from Drama Series to Miniseries (which I was initially skeptical of, but when I heard the new plot for Season 2, I realized it actually fits this category better), Jessica Lange went from being the frontrunner in one category, to well...being the frontrunner in this one. She is loved by the Television Academy (3 Nominations, 1 Win) almost as much as she is by the Motion Picture one (6 Nominations, 2 Wins), and her role as Constance in AHS is simply stunning, and will be hard to beat. But there are a couple of excellent actresses that will be putting up a fight. Judy Davis was probably in the lead before Lange's switch, and she is a previous Emmy winner. So is Ellen Burstyn, who also managed to get nominated before in this category for literally seconds on the screen, so she is definitely in the running for Coma, as is her co-star, and previous Emmy nominee Geena Davis. Also a previous nominee, Frances Conroy, Lange's co-star in AHS could get in on the coat tails of Lange. Sarah Paulson is almost a certain nominee for holding her own and standing out in the critically acclaimed Game Change alongside the likes of Julianne Moore, Ed Harris, and Woody Harrelson. Hatfields and McCoys offers several options including Jena Malone, and previous Emmy champ Mare Winningham. Another past winner Tammy Blanchard will contend again for her role in Of Two Minds. There are some contending in two categories, Gillian Anderson and Anika Noni Rose, but neither of their roles look like they are going to make the final cut. I hope this race remains interesting, and the competition is strong, although a win for Jessica Lange would make me very happy.

Best of the Academy Awards Winners: Best Picture

Winner - The Godfather
Runner Up - On the Waterfront, Lawrence of Arabia, It Happened One Night

Commentary - For those who were wondering, there has only ever been one perfect movie. That movie of course is Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 classic The Godfather. A perfect opening scene (quite possibly one of the most extended in history. A perfect cast. A perfect directorial feat. It is mesmerizing and unassuming at the same time. It is haunting and gritty, yet somehow polished. It is long, yet you never get tired of watching it. As Tom Hanks said in the underrated You've Got Mail: "The Godfather is the I-ching. The Godfather is the sum of all wisdom. The Godfather is the answer to any question. What should I pack for my summer vacation? "Leave the gun, take the cannoli." What day of the week is it? "Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday." The Godfather is perfection.

Beasts of the Southern Wild Trailer

Beast of the Southern Wild is the huge Sundance hit with tremendous Oscar buzz. Critics are raving about the film, and its trailer is surreal to say the least:

Best of the Academy Awards Winners: Best Director

Winner - Frank Capra "It Happened One Night"
Runner Up - Francis Ford Coppola "The Godfather Part II", David Lean "Lawrence of Arabia", Mike Nichols "The Graduate", and Elia Kazan "On the Waterfront

Commentary - If Coppola had won for the first Godfather, this would have been an easy pick. But, while Part II is fantastic, I think that in the absence of the first, there is a clear choice. Frank Capra is one of the greatest, some would argue the greatest, American film directors of all time. He knew how to pull heartstrings without ever being cheesy, and always incorporated darker and more adult themes within the frames. And Capra was no better than he was in the little romantic comedy from 1934, It Happened One Night. A fantastic movie that has served as a benchmark for other romantic comedies. Actually some of the films today should take a lesson from Capra and learn that less is more, that love cannot be manufactured, and that memorable cinema comes from the heart.

2012 Tony Nomination Reactions, Snubs, and Surprises

There were some surprises, snubs ,etc. in the various Tony categories announced early this morning:

• There is apparently a curse at the Tony's regarding A Streetcar Named Desire, and it apparently continues with only one nomination
• Matthew Broderick, Bernadette Peters, Angela Bassett, Samuel L. Jackson, John Larroquette, Eric McCormack, Stacy Keach, Tyne Daly, Elena Rogers and stunningly Raul Esparza, were some of the big names left off the nomination list.
• In the Featured Actress in a Play race, Tony winner Angela Lansbury was snubbed in favor of Condola Rashad, who surprised as a nominee for the short-lived Stick Fly
• Also, Venus in Fur managed a nomination over One Man Two Guvnors in Best Play
• Other surprises included Frank Langella in Man and Boy, as well as Laura Osnes, who surprisingly got a nod for Bonnie and Clyde which was certaintly not a hit.

The Tony Awards will be on June 10 at 8 p.m. on CBS, and stay tuned for the end of May, early June when I begin to make final predictions.

2012 MTV Movie Award Nominees

As always, there are some interesting categories, and I am thrilled to see that Twilight only got a few nominations. Of course it was still nominated for Movie of the Year, and will somehow beat out four great movies. A shame really. But either way, the MTV Movie Awards reflect a popular consensus, and sometimes its great (Harry Potter, Bridesmaids, Ryan Gosling in Drive), and sometimes not (Twilight, Channing Tatum in The Vow...seriously how did he not get nominated for 21 Jump Street?), but overall this is a better list than some recent years.

Movie of the Year
» "Bridesmaids"

» "The Hunger Games"

» "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2"

» "The Help"

» "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1"

Best Male Performance

» Daniel Radcliffe, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2"

» Ryan Gosling, "Drive"

» Joseph Gordon-Levitt, "50/50"

» Josh Hutcherson, "The Hunger Games"

» Channing Tatum, "The Vow"

Best Female Performance

» Jennifer Lawrence, "The Hunger Games"

» Kristin Wiig, "Bridesmaids"

» Emma Stone, "Crazy, Stupid, Love"

» Emma Watson, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2"

» Rooney Mara, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"

Best Comedic Performance

» Melissa McCarthy, "Bridesmaids"

» Kristen Wiig, "Bridesmaids"

» Zach Galifianakis, "The Hangover Part II"

» Jonah Hill, "21 Jump Street"

» Oliver Cooper, "Project X"

Breakthrough Performance

» Melissa McCarthy, "Bridesmaids"

» Rooney Mara, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"

» Liam Hemsworth, "The Hunger Games"

» Elle Fanning, "Super 8"

» Shailene Woodley, "The Descendants"

Best Cast

» "Bridesmaids"

» "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2"

» "The Hunger Games"

» "21 Jump Street"

» "The Help"

Best On-Screen Transformation

» Elizabeth Banks, "The Hunger Games"

» Rooney Mara, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"

» Johnny Depp, "21 Jump Street"

» Michelle Williams, "My Week With Marilyn"

» Colin Farrell, "Horrible Bosses"

Best Fight

» Daniel Radcliffe vs. Ralph Fiennes, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2"

» Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson vs. Alexander Ludwig, "The Hunger Games"

» Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill vs. Kid Gang, "21 Jump Street"

» Tom Hardy vs. Joel Edgerton, "Warrior"

» Tom Cruise vs. Michelle Nyqvist, "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol"

Best Kiss

» Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, "Crazy, Stupid, Love"

» Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2"

» Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, "The Hunger Games"

» Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, "The Vow"

» Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1"

Best Gut-Wrenching Performance

» "Bridesmaids" (Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McClendon-Covey and Ellie Kemper)

» "The Help" (Bryce Dallas Howard)

» "21 Jump Street" (Jonah Hill and Rob Riggle)

» "Drive" (Ryan Gosling)

» "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" (Tom Cruise)

Best On-Screen Dirt Bag

» Bryce Dallas Howard, "The Help"

» Jon Hamm, "Bridesmaids"

» Jennifer Aniston, "Horrible Bosses"

» Colin Farrell, "Horrible Bosses"

» Oliver Cooper, "Project X"

Best Music

» "Party Rock Anthem," LMFAO ("21 Jump Street")

» "A Real Hero," College with Electric Youth ("Drive")

» "The Devil Is in the Details," Chemical Brothers ("Hanna")

» "Impossible," Figurine ("Like Crazy")

» "Pursuit of Happiness," Kid Cudi (Steve Aoki remix) ("Project X")