Country superstar Garth Brooks has decided to cancel or postpone publicity for his new album and tour because of the incident in Ferguson. He sent an email that reads: “We landed in NY last night to the news of the civil unrest that was going on in our nation. To spend the day promoting our stuff like nothing was wrong, seemed distasteful to me. I will gladly reschedule any or all appearances the networks will allow. Love one another…g”
Spirit Award Nominees Include 4 Possible Oscar Pictures: Boyhood,Birdman,Selma,Whiplash
The nominees for the Independent Spirit Awards are out. Four of the five Best Features could be Academy Award nominees for Best Picture– Whiplash, Boyhood, Birdman, and Selma. Their 5th nominee is Love is Strange. Very odd that The Imitation Game isn’t included, but that’s really an Oscar movie. Boyhood director Richard Linklater is hugely popular at the Spirit Awards. But I do think Ava DuVernay and Selma are going to rock that tent in February.
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2015 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS
BEST FEATURE (Award given to the Producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.)
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Producers: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan, James W. Skotchdopole
Boyhood Producers: Richard Linklater, Jonathan Sehring, John Sloss, Cathleen Sutherland
Love is Strange Producers: Lucas Joaquin, Lars Knudsen, Ira Sachs, Jayne Baron Sherman, Jay Van Hoy
Selma Producers: Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey
Whiplash Producers: Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook, David Lancaster, Michael Litvak
BEST DIRECTOR
Damien Chazelle Whiplash
Ava DuVernay Selma
Alejandro G. Iñárritu Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Richard Linklater Boyhood
David Zellner Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter
BEST SCREENPLAY
Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski Big Eyes
J.C. Chandor A Most Violent Year
Dan Gilroy Nightcrawler
Jim Jarmusch Only Lovers Left Alive
Ira Sachs & Mauricio Zacharias Love is Strange
BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to the director and producer)
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night Director: Ana Lily Amirpour Producers: Justin Begnaud, Sina Sayyah
Dear White People Director/Producer: Justin Simien Producers: Effie T. Brown, Ann Le, Julia Lebedev, Angel Lopez, Lena Waithe
Nightcrawler Director: Dan Gilroy Producers: Jennifer Fox, Tony Gilroy, Jake Gyllenhaal, David Lancaster, Michel Litvak
Obvious Child Director: Gillian Robespierre Producer: Elisabeth Holm
She’s Lost Control Director/Producer: Anja Marquardt Producers: Mollye Asher, Kiara C. Jones
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Desiree Akhavan Appropriate Behavior
Sara Colangelo Little Accidents
Justin Lader The One I Love
Anja Marquardt She’s Lost Control
Justin Simien Dear White People
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD – Given to the best feature made for under $500,000. Award given to the writer, director and producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.
Blue Ruin Writer/Director: Jeremy Saulnier Producers: Richard Peete, Vincent Savino, Anish Savjani
It Felt Like Love Writer/Director/Producer: Eliza Hittman Producers: Shrihari Sathe, Laura Wagner
Land Ho! Writers/Directors: Aaron Katz & Martha Stephens Producers: Christina Jennings, Mynette Louie, Sara Murphy
Man From Reno Writer/Director: Dave Boyle Writers: Joel Clark, Michael Lerman Producer: Ko Mori
Test Writer/Director/Producer: Chris Mason Johnson Producer: Chris Martin
BEST FEMALE LEAD
Marion Cotillard The Immigrant
Rinko Kikuchi Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter
Julianne Moore Still Alice
Jenny Slate Obvious Child
Tilda Swinton Only Lovers Left Alive
BEST MALE LEAD
André Benjamin Jimi: All Is By My Side
Jake Gyllenhaal Nightcrawler
Michael Keaton Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
John Lithgow Love is Strange
David Oyelowo Selma
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Patricia Arquette Boyhood
Jessica Chastain A Most Violent Year
Carmen Ejogo Selma
Andrea Suarez Paz Stand Clear of the Closing Doors
Emma Stone Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Riz Ahmed Nightcrawler
Ethan Hawke Boyhood
Alfred Molina Love is Strange
Edward Norton Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
J.K. Simmons Whiplash
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Darius Khondji The Immigrant
Emmanuel Lubezki Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Sean Porter It Felt Like Love
Lyle Vincent A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Bradford Young Selma
BEST EDITING
Sandra Adair Boyhood
Tom Cross Whiplash
John Gilroy Nightcrawler
Ron Patane A Most Violent Year
Adam Wingard The Guest
BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director and producer)
20,000 Days on Earth Directors: Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard Producers: Dan Bowen, James Wilson
CITIZENFOUR Director/Producer: Laura Poitras Producers: Mathilde Bonnefoy, Dirk Wilutzky
Stray Dog Director: Debra Granik Producer: Anne Rosellini
The Salt of the Earth Directors: Juliano Ribeiro Salgado and Wim Wenders Producer: David Rosier
Virunga Director/Producer: Orlando von Einsiedel Producer: Joanna Natasegara
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM (Award given to the director)
Force Majeure (Sweden) Director: Ruben Östlund
Ida (Poland) Director: Pawel Pawlikowski
Leviathan (Russia) Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Mommy (Canada) Director: Xavier Dolan
Norte, the End of History (Philippines) Director: Lav Diaz
Under the Skin (United Kingdom) Director: Jonathan Glazer
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD – (Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast)
Inherent Vice Director: Paul Thomas Anderson Casting Director: Cassandra Kulukundis Ensemble Cast: Josh Brolin, Martin Donovan, Jena Malone, Joanna Newsom, Joaquin Phoenix, Eric Roberts, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short Serena Scott Thomas, Benicio Del Toro, Katherine Waterston, Michael Kenneth Williams, Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon
SPECIAL DISTINCTION AWARD
Foxcatcher Director/Producer: Bennett Miller Producers: Anthony Bregman, Megan Ellison, Jon Kilik Writers: E. Max Frye, Dan Futterman Actors: Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum
18th ANNUAL PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD – The 18th annual Producers Award, sponsored by Piaget, honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality, independent films. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Piaget.
Chad Burris Elisabeth Holm Chris Ohlson
21st ANNUAL KIEHL’S SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The 21st annual Someone to Watch Award, sponsored by Kiehl’s Since 1851, recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by Kiehl’s Since 1851.
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night Director: Ana Lily Amirpour
H. Directors: Rania Attieh & Daniel Garcia
The Retrieval Director: Chris Eska
20th ANNUAL LENSCRAFTERS TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – The 20th annual Truer Than Fiction Award, sponsored by LensCrafters is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant funded by LensCrafters.
Approaching the Elephant Director: Amanda Rose Wilder
Evolution of a Criminal Director: Darius Clark Monroe
The Kill Team Director: Dan Krauss
The Last Season Director: Sara Dosa
BY DISTRIBUTOR
Distributor Nominations
#
A24
A Most Violent Year, Best Editing
A Most Violent Year, Best Screenplay
A Most Violent Year, Best Supporting Female
Obvious Child, Best Female Lead
Obvious Child, Best First Feature
Under the Skin, Best International Film
6
Amplify
Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter, Best Director
Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter, Best Female Lead
Little Accidents, Best First Screenplay
3
The Cinema Guild Norte, The End of History, Best International Film 1
Drafthouse Films 20,000 Days on Earth, Best Documentary 1
Fox Searchlight Pictures Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Best Cinematography
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Best Director
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Best Feature
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Best Male Lead
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Best Supporting Female
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). Best Supporting Male
6
Gravitas Ventures Appropriate Behavior, Best First Screenplay 1
IFC Films Boyhood, Best Director
Boyhood, Best Editing
Boyhood, Best Feature
Boyhood, Best Supporting Female
Boyhood, Best Supporting Male
5
Kino Lorber A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Best Cinematography
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Best First Feature
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award
3
Magnolia Pictures Force Majeure, Best International Film 1
Monument Releasing She’s Lost Control, Best First Feature
She’s Lost Control, Best First Screenplay
2
Music Box Films Ida, Best International Film 1
Netflix Virunga, Best Documentary 1
Open Road Films
Nightcrawler, Best Editing
Nightcrawler, Best First Feature
Nightcrawler, Best Male Lead
Nightcrawler, Best Screenplay
Nightcrawler, Best Supporting Male
5
Oscilloscope Pictures Stand Clear of the Closing Doors, Best Supporting Female
The Kill Team, LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award
2
Paramount Pictures Selma, Best Cinematography
Selma, Best Director
Selma, Best Feature
Selma, Best Male Lead
Selma, Best Supporting Female
5
Picturehouse The Guest, Best Editing 1
RADiUS-TWC Blue Ruin, John Cassavetes Award
The One I Love, Best First Screenplay
2
RADiUS-TWC / HBO Documentary Films / Participant Media CITIZENFOUR, Best Documentary
1
Roadside Attractions Mommy, Best International Film
1
Roadside Attractions/ Lionsgate Dear White People, Best First Feature
Dear White People, Best First Feature
2
Sony Pictures Classics
Foxcatcher, Special Distinction Award
Land Ho!, John Cassavetes Award
Leviathan, Best International Film
Love is Strange, Best Feature
Love is Strange, Best Male Lead
Love is Strange, Best Screenplay
Love is Strange, Best Supporting Male
Only Lovers Left Alive, Best Female Lead
Only Lovers Left Alive, Best Screenplay
The Salt of the Earth, Best Documentary
Still Alice, Best Female Lead
Whiplash, Best Director
Whiplash, Best Editing
Whiplash, Best Feature
Whiplash, Best Supporting Male
15
The Weinstein Company Big Eyes, Best Screenplay
The Immigrant, Best Cinematography
The Immigrant, Best Female Lead
3
Variance Films It Felt Like Love, Best Cinematography
It Felt Like Love, John Cassavetes Award
The Retrieval, Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award
3
Variance Films / Wolfe Video Test, John Cassavetes Award 1
Warner Bros. Inherent Vice, Robert Altman Award 1
XLrator Media Jimi: All Is By My Side, Best Male Lead 1
No Distributor Approaching the Elephant, LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award
Evolution of a Criminal, LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award
H., Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award
The Last Season, LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award
Man From Reno, John Cassavetes Award
Stray Dog, Best Documentary
6
46 FILMS NOMINATED
FILM TITLE CATEGORIES #
20,000 Days on Earth Best Documentary 1
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Best Cinematography
Best First Feature
Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award
3
A Most Violent Year Best Editing Best Screenplay Best Supporting Female 3
Approaching the Elephant LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award 1
Appropriate Behavior Best First Screenplay 1
Big Eyes Best Screenplay 1
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Best Cinematography
Best Director
Best Feature
Best Male Lead
Best Supporting Female
Best Supporting Male
6
Blue Ruin John Cassavetes Award 1
Boyhood Best Director
Best Editing
Best Feature
Best Supporting Female
Best Supporting Male
5
CITIZENFOUR Best Documentary 1
Dear White People Best First Feature
Best First Screenplay
2
Evolution of a Criminal
LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award 1
Force Majeure Best International Film 1
Foxcatcher Special Distinction 1
H. Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award 1
Ida Best International Film 1
Inherent Vice Robert Altman Award 1
It Felt Like Love Best Cinematography
John Cassavetes Award
2
Jimi: All Is By My Side Best Male Lead 1
Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter Best Director
Best Female Lead
2
Land Ho! John Cassavetes Award 1
Leviathan Best International Film 1
Little Accidents Best First Screenplay 1
Love is Strang Best Feature
Best Male Lead
Best Screenplay
Best Supporting Male
4
Man From Reno John Cassavetes Award 1
Mommy Best International Film 1
Nightcrawler Best Editing
Best First Feature
Best Male Lead
Best Screenplay
Best Supporting Male
5
Norte, The End of History Best International Film 1
Obvious Child Best Female Lead
Best First Feature
2
Only Lovers Left Alive Best Female Lead
Best Screenplay
2
Selma Best Cinematography
Best Director
Best Feature
Best Male Lead
Best Supporting Female
5
She’s Lost Control Best First Feature
Best First Screenplay
2
Stand Clear of the Closing Doors Best Supporting Female 1
Still Alice Best Female Lead 1
Stray Dog Best Documentary 1
Test John Cassavetes Award 1
The Guest Best Editing 1
The Immigrant Best Cinematography
Best Female Lead
2
The Kill Team LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award 1
The Last Season LensCrafters Truer Than Fiction Award 1
The One I Love Best First Screenplay 1
The Retrieval Kiehl’s Someone to Watch Award 1
The Salt of the Earth Best Documentary 1
Under the Skin Best International Film 1
Virunga Best Documentary 1
Whiplash Best Director
Best Editing
Best Feature
Best Supporting Male
Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2014/11/25/6564606/30th-film-independent-spirit-awards.html#storylink=cpy
Taylor Swift, One Direction Can’t Save American Music Awards: Ratings Down 16% from Last Year
All the really awful, commercial pop stars couldn’t save the really awful, commercial American Music Awards from a ratings disaster on Sunday night. The interminable display of greed and low class second tier tabloid fashion finished 16% down from last year’s ratings.
All the performers– none of which will now be allowed to perform on February’s Grammy show–were not enough to help beat shows like CBS’s “Madame Secretary” or “60 Minutes” and especially football on NBC. “The Good Wife” was a close second.
The ratings were pretty bad in total viewers– just 11.55 million– but the key demo stunk, too. Of that 11.5 mil, only 3.8 mil were between 18 and 49 years old. It must have been a big homework night.
Interesting that the TV audience smelled “crass” with these awards. Not a single real moment, everything is calculated and scripted. There are no actual musicians involved, either. The AMAs are the West World of music. On to the Grammys in February!
Taylor Swift – Blank Space (Live at American… by uploaderdisney
Ferguson: Police Officer Darren Wilson NOT Indicted by Grand Jury over Michael Brown Murder
The grand jury says no probable cause to file any charges. Not a surprise. Darren Wilson goes free. There can still be a civil lawsuit. There can also be a federal indictment. But there probably won’t be. Let’s hope the disappointment in Ferguson expresses itself peacefully.
“Hunger Game: Mockingjay” Box Office Was Less Than Originally Thought, Stock Price Down
Even the initial reports were wrong. “Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1” did less well than previously thought. The total according to boxofficemojo.com came to just $121.9 million. That’s about a million dollars less than the $123 million Lionsgate thought it had made from Friday to Sunday. And it’s way off the opening weekend one year ago for “Catching Fire,” at over $150 million.
Meanwhile, Lionsgate stock finished the day at $33.10. That’s a bit down from Friday, which was way off from the previous day. The stock was down to 31.71 at one point in the day. All eyes will be on the box office over Thanksgiving week to see how “Mockingjay” holds up.
Jennifer Lawrence Goes Top 5 on iTunes! Listen to Her Sing “The Hanging Tree” from “Hunger Games Mockingjay”
UPDATE: This track has hit number 4 on iTunes. Jennifer Lawrence goes top 5! She’s doing better than any of the pop stars on the “Mockingjay” soundtrack. Oh Lorde!
She’s pretty good. J-Law can do anything! Not exactly Keira Knightley singing from “Begin Again,” but not bad!
Oscars: Best Actress Is Not Such a “Slim” Category This Year, But Don’t Encourage Impossibles
I’m a little worried this morning about the Oscars, Best Actress in particular. The worry is that we’re headed into a real life version of Christopher Guest’s satire “For Your Consideration.” I’m reading some columns by well meaning writers who are encouraging impossible nominees. Please, stop it now before a lot of hearts are broken.
There is a small group of realistic candidates for Best Actress. Last night, Emily Blunt jumped into the pool with “Into the Woods.” She’s just great. Blunt joins Julianne Moore, Reese Witherspoon, Gugu Mbatha Raw, and Felicity Jones as a leading contender. Amy Adams is a dark horse for “Big Eyes.” I would have put Patricia Arquette in lead for “Boyhood.” She carries the movie; IFC should fix that.
But listen to me. I am the biggest Jennifer Aniston fan in the world. I think she’s got delicious comic timing. (She’s also not bad to look at.) But “Cake” is not going to take her into the Oscar race. Neither will their very good performances do it for Rosamund Pike in “Gone Girl” nor Shailene Woodley for “The Fault in our Stars.” They are all talented and will be in awards races in the future. Maybe The Golden Globes this year– likely.
I think it’s wrong to make these women think Oscar nominations are really possible. It’s only fun for the legions of “Oscar prognosticators.”
Everyone in a current movie should watch the Guest movie this weekend. It’s a really equalizer. Once you see Catherine O’Hara come down her driveway with that new face lift, reality sets in fast!
Oscars: Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden Join the Race with “Into the Woods”
I was going to call this article “Meryl Streep to Get 500th Oscar Nomination” for “Into the Woods.” What is it really? 10, 20, 30? But she’s so damn good as The Witch in Rob Marshall’s movie adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s musical that you really have to wonder: What the heck is going on? She’s sung before on film, but not like this. As The Witch she gets some show stoppers, and she handles them with more than her usual panache. She glows.
I felt kind of sorry for the other actresses, each of whom is so good in the “Woods”: Christine Baranski, Tracy Ullmann, Anna Kendrick, Lucy Punch and the horribly underused Tammy Blanchard. They are no slouches believe me.
Every film like has its revelations. In this case, they are Emily Blunt and James Corden as the Baker’s Wife, and the Baker himself. While Meryl will go into supporting for the Oscars, Blunt heads straight into Best Actress with Julianne Moore, Reese Witherspoon, Gugu Mbatha Raw, and maybe Amy Adams. Emily Blunt has never sung in a movie, didn’t know a bit of “Into the Woods” before she got it, and yet, she just shines as the Baker’s put upon but feeling her oats spouse. As even Emily said at the Q&A last night, Joanna Gleason was the superb original on Broadway. Last year we saw Amy Adams kill the part in Central Park. But Blunt, to put it bluntly, really cooks in the role.
James Corden– what can I say? I have no idea why he wants to host a nightly late night talk show here. He’s won a Tony, he was great in “Begin Again” and as Paul Potts. Now he’s the surprise male lead in “Into the Woods.” He and Emily Blunt work wonderfully together. The studio has him as a lead performer for Oscar consideration, but they should reconsider and move him to Supporting. Lead is too full now with about 10 candidates. In supporting, Corden should fit right in with the likes of Ethan Hawke, Mark Ruffalo, Edward Norton, Matthew Goode, JK Simmons, and so on.
Kudos also to Billy Magnussen and Chris Pine for hilariously good work, as well as a cameo from Johnny Depp, and the kid actors who hold their own — Daniel Huttlestone especially.
Rob Marshall’s “Chicago” winning Best Picture in 2002 was no accident. He knows his stuff. There was a lot to love about the way he made “Nine,” even if the show was unsympathetic and hard to translate. “Into the Woods” should be a big family hit, an adult, and a possible Oscar nominee itself. It’s the smartest and most entertaining film of this holiday season. You’ll also come out singing.
Box Office: Mockingjay Makes $55Mil Fri Night, But Lionsgate Stock Dips on Sequel Fatigue
“Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1” has made $55 million since Thursday night. Sounds like a lot of money, right? It is! It’s the biggest opening of 2014 for a feature film. And yet, it’s way off the pace of last year’s “Hunger Games” film. “Catching Fire”made $70 million on its opening night. And the year, the first “Hunger Games” had an opening night of $67 million.
What does this mean? It’s interesting to see how this one franchise can affect a small company. Liongate stock really dipped on Friday once the news got out that “Mockingjay” was not going to exceed “Catching Fire” but actually do much less well. The stock dropped almost $3 a share before recovering slightly. But not so much. It was an overall 5.03% drop. When the totals come in tomorrow for “Mockingjay,” and they’re substantially lower than last year, the result may be a bigger Monday drop.
But what can you do? Lionsgate panicked. They had a quickie premiere in Los Angeles. In New York, it was a small stealth event. They kept the press away. For all I know “Mockingjay” is a good movie. It has a 67% on Rotten Tomatoes. There is nothing worse than when a studio panics. You can smell the fear everywhere. I could not get one human being to call me back from Lionsgate last week. Their silence spoke volumes.
Now $55 million is great, everyone would like that for their own movies. We’ll see what actually happens tonight and tomorrow. The opening weekend for “Catching Fire” was $158 million. Predictions for “Mockingjay” are $125-$130 million. Too bad there isn’t another “Twilight” movie coming for Lionsgate. But they will prevail a year from now. The final “Hunger Games” is sure to score an arrow right on target.
Cosby Complaint–“Law & Order” Actress Writes: “I was instructed to NEVER tell anyone what we did together”
Michelle Hurd is a terrific actress who’s appeared as a series regular on “Law & Order SVU,” “90210,” “Gossip Girl,” among other shows. She posted this on Facebook last night. I hesitated to re-post it without her permission, but the story has traveled now. It’s brave of her, like all the other women, to tell the story at all.
Here’s the post:
LOOK, I wasn’t going to say anything, but I can’t believe some of the things i’ve been reading, SO here is MY personal experience:
I did stand-in work on The Cosby show back in the day and YES, Bill Cosby was VERY inappropriate with me. It started innocently, lunch in his dressing room, daily, then onto weird acting exercises were he would move his hands up and down my body, (can’t believe I fell for that) I was instructed to NEVER tell anyone what we did together, (he said other actors would become jealous) and then fortunately, I dodged the ultimate bullet with him when he asked me to come to his house, take a shower so we could blow dry my hair and see what it looked like straightened. At that point my own red flags went off and I told him,
“No, I’ll just come to work tomorrow with my hair straightened”.
I then started to take notice and found another actress, a stand-in as well, and we started talking….. A LOT …. turns out he was doing the same thing to her, almost by the numbers, BUT, she did go to his house and because I will not name her, and it is her story to tell, all I’ll say is she awoke, after being drugged, vomited, and then Cosby told her there’s a cab waiting for you outside.
I have ABSOLUTELY no reason to lie or make up this up!
Anyone that knows me, knows that!
Now you have a first hand account of my experience with Mr. Cosby.
Off you go…