AWARDS 2011: National Board of Review throws "Hugo" into the race

If we were shrugging in a somewhat disgruntled manner when the New York Film Critics Circle announced their winners on Tuesday, the National Board of Review managed to inject a bit of personality into this race. How so? Well I don't think people were quite on board with "Hugo"s Best Picture chances until just now. With Scorsese and his film taking the top prizes from NBR, which was highly expected to go to "The Artist" and Michel Hazanavicius, it feels like there's new blood in there. What gets me even further buzzed is that Tilda Swinton took the Best Actress prize for her amazing performance in "We Need to Talk About Kevin". Fingers crossed that at least this one sticks.

The wins for "The Descendants" and "Beginners", on the other hand, were pretty predictable and within the grain of what we expected. The wins for "50/50" and "Margin Call", on the other hand, are just plain silly. Their top ten are considerably more interesting than I had originally diagnosed this season, but I don't imagine this bunch will all make it to the film list, least of which "Drive", "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", and for entirely different reasons, "J. Edgar" and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2".

BEST FILM: "Hugo"

BEST DIRECTOR: Martin Scorsese ("Hugo")

BEST ACTOR: George Clooney ("The Descendants")

BEST ACTRESS: Tilda Swinton ("We Need to Talk About Kevin")

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Christopher Plummer ("Beginners")

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Shailene Woodley ("The Descendants")

Box Office Update: "Dawn" Breaks B.O. Sanity

I think that if there's anything that is embellished by this weekend, or rather the year as a tedious whole, is that where "Harry Potter" may have some kind of staying power on its side, "Twilight" is an extremely frontloaded vehicle. True, both gain most of their earnings from the opening weekends alone, and they're very similar in that respect. They're also similar in that people outside the franchise don't care too much. "Potter" is done for, and after visiting it again recently, I hate it even more. I know. I clearly have no soul. "Twilight" is also on its way out. Slowly. Very needlessly slowly at that. The first part of their "Breaking Dawn" finale collected just $3 million below the opening "New Moon" mustered. Still a success for such an abysmal franchise.

Talking of abysmal, "Happy Feet Two" managed to fail in a much more obvious manner. Sure, $22 million is somewhat honest for a film opening opposite a vehicle like "Twilight". It's weak compared the grosses the last film mustered, mostly from kids, but also from penguin obsessed girls. Obsession is the main device that fuels the box office season, no matter the demographic. All other candidates this week fell greatly due to the opposition. Still, the weekend was an advance upon last year's pre-Thanksgiving frame.

1. "Breaking Dawn: Part 1" (First Weekend; $139.5 million)

2. "Happy Feet Two" (First Weekend; $22 million)

3. "Immortals" (Second Weekend; $12.2 million)

4. "Jack and Jill" (Second Weekend; $12 million)

5. "Puss in Boots" (Fourth Weekend; $10.7 million)

6. "Tower Heist" (Third Weekend; $7 million)

7. "J. Edgar" (Second Weekend; $5.9 million)

8. "Harold and Kumar" (Third Weekend; $2.9 million)

9. "In Time" (Fourth Weekend; $1.7 million)

10. "The Descendants" (First Weekend; $1.2 million)

Box Office Update: "Immortals" Conquers Dispersed Weekend

NOTE - Currently, my computer is completely incapacitated, so my ability to upload pictures is nixed. Sorry!

This weekend proved to set 2011 on the right track towards finishing up, with a series of prosperous debuts and holdovers holding excitement up to a generally positive level. I am not the least bit excited about any of the films in the top ten, but I don't expect it possible for them to satisfy me at such a time as this season. "Immortals" led the weekend box office, mostly from profits generated by 3D screenings. I'd also consider the generally masculine atmosphere about it as an important factor. Plenty are calling this film stunning, but I have no idea where they're drawing that conclusion. In any case, I expected this to do well with male demographics, and it did.

So where did everyone else go? Apparently the women went to see "Jack and Jill", since I can find no other demographic who might be interested in it. Hell, I can't find a single demographic aside from idiot children and their gullible parents, but they were more interested in "Puss in Boots" this weekend. That is, unless the kids flocked to "Jack and Jill" and older demographics went to "Puss in Boots" from positive word of mouth. I'll go with any estimates in this game. And no matter the reason for it, "Puss in Boots" still shot above $100 million this weekend, just a hair faster than "Paranormal Activity 3", which also passed the benchmark. Together, they're the first of the fall season.

The last debut of the weekend was "J. Edgar", which managed Clint Eastwood's strongest debut since "Space Cowboys", but still weak in comparison to "Hereafter" when it widened to further theaters last year. Holdovers were modest, but it's clear that "Tower Heist" and "Harold and Kumar" are beginning to evaporate from relevance. Overall, the weekend surged above the same weekend last year, when "Megamind" held modestly well against "Unstoppable", "Skyline", and "Morning Glory". But who's to say what % the films this weekend will fall next weekend, when "Happy Feet Two" and "Twilight: Breaking Dawn" launch onto the scene.

1. "Immortals" (First Weekend; $32 million)

2. "Jack and Jill" (First Weekend; $26 million)

3. "Puss in Boots" (Third Weekend; $25.5 million)

4. "Tower Heist" (Second Weekend; $13.2 million)

5. "J. Edgar" (First Weekend; $11.5 million)

6. "Harold and Kumar" (Second Weekend; $5.9 million)

7. "In Time" (Third Weekend; $4.2 million)

8. "Paranormal Activity 3" (Fourth Weekend; $3.6 million)

9. "Footloose" (Fifth Weekend; $2.7 million)

10. "Real Steel" (Sixth Weekend; $2 million)

For Your Anticipation: The Ladies Appreciate It

If anybody was hoping that "J. Edgar" was going to be a return to form for Clint Eastwood, they were sorely mistaken. I should stick more firmly to my guns when a trailer comes out and it rubs me wrong. I'd rather dismiss a film early on that have to go through the extended period of disappointment. After going wrong with "Invictus", "Hereafter", and "Gran Torino", he isn't showing signs of positive change. The Eastwood of that past 12+ years is not the Eastwood we'd rather remember. The problem with "J. Edgar" looks to be the problem with most Eastwood films. It looks plain.

Weekend Update: Pre-emptive Responses

This weekend seems to be a great deal quieter than most, of no fault to the high buzz comedies infecting the market today. There's just so little to talk about now comparative to last week or next week. With any luck, I'll actually be able to see "J. Edgar" next weekend, though given recent news out of AFI Fest, I wouldn't necessarily go ahead and call that good luck. DiCaprio is getting the most out of the film, as expected after the trailer that debuted weeks ago. I'll maintain my personal tentative feelings until next weekend, but for a more than fine dissection of the performance and the film itself, I hand off to Kris Tapley of In Contention.

Other news of note is that "Shame" finally got slapped with the NC-17 rating, which gave me a moment of rejoice on twitter (#NC17FUCKYEAH). "Young Adult" got a surprise screening to an amazingly positive response, which makes me optimistic at it being more than just a guilty pleasure. Hans Zimmer removed his name from the original score race, which is only a disappointment in regards to "Rango". And 2008 Oscar telecast producer Gil Cates passed away, which is a shame, as we're currently stuck in a sad rut of telecast producers and hosts. Let us never have duel hosts ever again.

And regarding the films releasing this weekend, my money's on "Tower Heist" to be the film to see. I've even had slight intrigue that may win out on me before the weekend is out. You can only spend so much time away from the theaters before it luring you back in. There's a solid cast, and it looks funny enough. For normal people, it would more than suffice. It's got a damn sight better of a chance than "A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas" does, indulging in the same obvious and honestly not even funny approach that so many inexplicably are drawn to. But it'll do great this weekend anyway. So what are you seeing this weekend, if anything? Comment below!

Films to See in 2011: November

I'm really down to the wire on this one, but I've been behind on a lot of things. I've been struggling to fit all of the things I want to do, or else need to do, into a schedule that's tight enough for me not to be staring at the ceiling in cynicism. I must admit that this month is hardly as exciting as I would have hoped for it to be. In the first week, all we get is the Brett Ratner comedic venture "Tower Heist" and "A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas", neither of which I feel any temptation to see. I can't say that the following week is much of an improvement either, only providing "Jack and Jill" (Yes, it's an actual film, and not just an abysmal trailer.), and "Immortals", which I am so dismally surprised to see that people are actually looking forward to it.

Not to say there isn't some good with the bad. "Melancholia" comes into limited release on the 11th, so I'd recommend you check that out if you can. There's also "J. Edgar", which opens wide that weekend, and it will likely get favorable Academy attention. I still maintain myself as unmoved, but I'll see it nonetheless. And also worthy of note is "Into the Abyss", Werner Herzog's upcoming documentary which was a sizable hit at Telluride this year. It almost made my list of most anticipated, but just missed out.The following week brings two films I'm not likely to support in any way, but one which I'm likely to see anyway, sadly.

I don't have the same enthusiasm for "Happy Feet Two" that I did for its predecessor, which was overrated at best. This one is simply to make bank, and looks as typical as you could've possibly hoped for. Then there's "Breaking Dawn: Part 1", which I'll only see out of desperation for something to make fun of. "The Descendants" is also going limited that weekend, but I still don't have much interest in that one. Then the following weekend brings Martin Scorsese's "Hugo", animated film "Arthur Christmas", typical British drama "My Week with Marilyn", and the odd bastard of my Telluride by the Sea viewings, "A Dangerous Method". There are three other films coming that weekend, but you'll have to follow after the jump to find them out.

"J. Edgar" Trailer

I think we can dismiss "J. Edgar" as the one to swoop in and take it all for this year's Oscar race, but it still remains a point of interest. After so many prominent failures, Clint Eastwood is somewhat back in well traveled territory. Three main points of this trailer are Leonardo DiCaprio, Judi Dench, and the makeup on display. It may be a bit too overly evident, but I'll wait till the film to do the ultimate judging. It looks like Eastwood is still messing around a bit with the visual effects that he started use of in "Hereafter". I'll wait to see how this pans out, but DiCaprio is wallowing in Orson Welles territory with his role this time.

Carpet-Bagging: Holding out for a frontrunner

Every single year it feels like the scope of the Academy Awards becomes far more narrow in focus, and considerably less dangerous. Remember that landmark four-punch of "The Departed", "No Country for Old Men", "Slumdog Millionaire", and "The Hurt Locker"? I fear those glory days are behind us. Although I may hopefully be wrong, as there's still no clear winner as of yet. Even this time last year, "The Social Network" and "The King's Speech" were set as the ones to beat, with favor put in the latter's arena. Right now there's a lot of favor put in the arena for "The Artist" which, as charming as it looks, seems so soft and safe. Then again, I'm not entirely sure you'd expect anything else from it.

"The Descendants" too, while gaining an array of well sought adoration from Telluride audiences, is Alexandre Payne's kindest film to date, taking on a subject less cynical than he has in the past. And not to piss off any of my Hawaiian readers, but the Hawaiian locale has never been much of a compelling backdrop. I've heard plenty saying George Clooney gives his best performance to date in the film, and he will definitely be a name we hear a lot of in the months to come. It's just that I have a layer of hesitation about the film's chances when it comes to going for the win.

It does seem a tad early to talk about winners, but the race is usually over far enough before the actual telecast. "True Grit" came into the game too late to make enough news for even one win, and "Another Year" scarcely got a single nomination. Both that and its frontrunner status put "War Horse" in the position for a fall. It could be one of those things that swoops in and becomes the film of the moment, but I doubt it.