Sunday, February 27, 2011

15th "An Irish Person" FILM Awards RECAP!!

1. Black Swan
2. The Kids Are All Right
3. Blue Valentine
4. Fish Tank
5. I Am Love
6. Another Year
7. A Prophet
8. Inception
9. How to Train Your Dragon
10. Exit Through the Gift Shop


OUTSTANDING PICTURE:
01. Black Swan (Produced by Ari Handel, Scott Franklin, Mike Medavoy, Arnold Messer & Brian Oliver)
02. The Kids Are All Right (Produced by Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, Celine Rattray, Jordan Horowitz, Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Philippe Hellmann & Joel Newton)
03. Blue Valentine (Produced by Lynette Howell, Alex Orlovsky & Jamie Patricof)
04. Fish Tank (Produced by Nick Laws & Kees Kasander)
05. I Am Love (Produced by Luca Guadagnino, Tilda Swinton, Francesco Melzi d'Eril, Marco Morabito, Alessandro Usai & Massimiliano Violante)
06. Another Year
07. A Prophet
08. Inception
09. How to Train Your Dragon
10. Exit Through the Gift Shop

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR:
Andrea Arnold for Fish Tank
Darren Aronofsky for Black Swan
Derek Cianfrance for Blue Valentine
David Fincher for The Social Network
Luca Guadagnino for I Am Love

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTOR:
Christian Bale as Dick "Dicky" Eklund in "THE FIGHTER"
Aaron Eckhart as Howie Corbett in "RABBIT HOLE"
Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Suckerberg in "THE SOCIAL NETWORK"
Ryan Gosling as Dean in "BLUE VALENTINE"
Taran Rahim as Malik El Djebena in "A PROPHET"

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS:
Kim Hye-ja as Mother in "MOTHER"
Nicole Kidman as Becca Corbett in "RABBIT HOLE"
Lesley Manville as Mary Smith in "ANOTHER YEAR"
Natalie Portman as Nina Sayers/The Swan Queen in "BLACK SWAN"
Michelle Williams as Cindy in "BLUE VALENTINE"

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Niels Arestrup as César Luciani in "A PROPHET"
Michael Fassbender as Connor O'Reily in "FISH TANK"
Andrew Garfield as Eduardo Saverin in "THE SOCIAL NETWORK"
Mark Ruffalo as Paul Hatfield in "THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT"
Miles Teller as Jason in "RABBIT HOLE"

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Amy Adams as Charlene Fleming in "THE FIGHTER"
Barbara Hershey as Erica Sayers / The Queen in "BLACK SWAN"
Rooney Mara as Erica Albright in "THE SOCIAL NETWORK"
Mia Wasikwoska as Joni Allgood in "THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT"
Olivia Williams as Ruth Lang in "THE GHOST WRITER"

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz & John McLaughlin for Black Swan
Barbara Alberti, Ivan Cotroneo, Walter Fasano & Luca Guadagnino for I Am Love
Christopher Nolan for Inception
Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg for The Kids Are All Right
Park Eun-kyo & Boon Jong-ho for Mother

OUTSTANDING ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
Screenplay by Roman Polanski & Robert Harris; Based on The Ghost by Robert Harris, The Ghost Writer
Screenplay by David Lindsay-Abaire; Based on Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire, Rabbit Hole
Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin; Based on The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius, and Betrayal by Ben Mezrich, The Social Network
Screenplay by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen; Based on True Grit by Charles Portis, True Grit
Screenplay by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini; Based on Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell, Winter's Bone

OUTSTANDING ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
How to Train Your Dragon (Directed by Chris Sanders & Dean DeBlois)
The Illusionist (Directed by Sylvain Chomet)
The Secret of Kells (Directed by Tomm Moore)
Tangled (Directed by Nathan Greno & Byron Howard)
Toy Story 3 (Directed by Lee Unkrich)

OUTSTANDING ART DIRECTION:
Production Design by Thérèse DePrez; Set Design by Tora Peterson for Black Swan
Production Design by Albrecht Konrad; Set Design by Bernhard Henrich & Ulli Isfort for The Ghost Writer
Production Design by Francesca Balestra Di Mottola; Set Design by Monica Sironi for I Am Love
Production Design by Guy Hendrix Dyas; Set Design by Larry Dias & Douglas A. Mowat for Inception
Production Design by Dante Ferretti; Set Design by Francesca Lo Schiavo for Shutter Island

OUTSTANDING BREAKTHROUGH/DEBUT:
Katie Jarvis (Fish Tank)
Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone)
Rooney Mara (The Social Network)
Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit)
Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland/The Kids Are All Right)

OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Matthew Lipatique for Black Swan
Yorick Le Saux for I Am Love
Hyong Pyung-Ko for Mother
Stephane Fontaine for A Prophet
Roger Deakins for True Grit

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN:
Amy Westcott for Black Swan
Michael Kaplan for Burlesque
Antonella Cannarozzi for I Am Love
Louise Stjernsward for Made in Dagenham
Mary Zophres for True Grit

OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY:
Exit Through the Gift Shop (Directed by Banksy)
Gasland (Directed by Josh Cox)
Insider Job (Directed by Charles Ferguson)
Marwencol (Directed by Jeff Malmberg)
The Oath (Directed by Laura Poitras)

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE OF THE YEAR:
Animal Kingdom (James Frecheville, Ben Mendelsohn, Guy Pearce, Jacki Weaver, Joel Edgerton, Sullivan Stapleton, Luke Ford, Dan Wyllie, Anthony Hayes, Laura Wheelwright, Mirrah Foulkes, Justin Rosniak, Susan Prior, Clayton Jacobson, Anna Lise Phillips)
Another Year (Jim Broadbent, Ruth Sheen, Lesley Manville, Peter Wight, Oliver Maltman, David Bradley, Karina Fernandez, Martin Savage, Michele Austin, Philip Davis, Stuart McQuarrie, Imelda Staunton)
The Fighter (Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Jack McGee)
The Kids Are All Right (Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson, Yaya DaCosta, Eddie Hassell, Zosia Mamet, Kunal Sharma)
Please Give (Catherine Keener, Oliver Platt, Ann Guilbert, Amanda Peet, Rebecca Hall, Elizabeth Keener, Sarah Steele)

OUTSTANDING FILM EDITING:
Andrew Weisblum for Black Swan
Walter Fasano for I Am Love
Lee Smith for Inception
Jonathan Amos & Paul Machliss for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Angus Wall & Kirk Baxter for The Social Network

OUTSTANDING FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
Air Doll (Directed by Horolazu Koreeda)
I Am Love (Directed by Luca Guadagnino)
Mother (Directed by Bong Joon-Ho)
A Prophet (Directed by Jacques Audiard)
Secret Sunshine (Directed by Lee Joon-dong)

OUTSTANDING MAKEUP:
Valli O'Reilly & Paul Gooch for Alice in Wonderland
Judy Chin, Marjorie Durand & Geordie Sheffer for Black Swan
Frédérique Ney & Alice Robert for A Prophet
Tanya Cookingham, Robin Matthews, Yesmin 'Shimmy' Osman & Terrie Velazquez Owen for The Runaways
Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk & Yolanda Toussieng for The Way Back

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SCORE:
Clint Mansell for Black Swan
Alexandre Desplat for The Ghost Writer
John Powell for How to Train Your Dragon
Hans Zimmer for Inception
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross for The Social Network

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SONG:
"If I Rise", 127 Hours (Music by A. R. Rahman, Lyrics by Rollo Armstrong, and Dido)
"You Haven't Seen the Last of Me", Burlesque (Music and Lyrics by Diane Warren)
"I See the Light", Tangled (Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Glenn Slater)
"Mother Knows Best", Tangled (Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Glenn Slater)
"Shine", Waiting for 'Superman' (Music and Lyrics John Legend)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMER OF THE YEAR:
Helena Bonham Carter (Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, The King's Speech)
Matt Damon (Green Zone, Hereafter, True Grit)
Mark Wahlberg (Date Night, The Fighter, The Other Guys)
Kerry Washington (For Colored Girls, Mother and Child, Night Catches Us)
Naomi Watts (Fair Game, Mother and Child, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger)

OUTSTANDING SOUND EDITING:
Craig Henighan, Brian Emrich & Wayne Lemmer for Black Swan
Jonathan Null, Randy Thom, Colette D. Dahanne, Josh Gold & Pete Horner for How To Train Your Dragon
Richard King for Inception
Jeremy Price & Julian Slater for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Addison Teague & Gwendolyn Yates Whittle for Tron: Legacy

OUTSTANDING SOUND MIXING:
Brian Emrich, Craig Henighan & Dominick Tavella for Black Swan
Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo & Ed Novick for Inception
Jeffrey J. Haboush, William Sarokin, Scott Millan & Greg P. Russell for Salt
Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick & Mark Weingarten for The Social Network
Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff & Peter Kurland for True Grit

OUTSTANDING VISUAL EFFECTS:
Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas & Sean Phillips for Alice in Wonderland
Dan Schrecker, Brad Kalinoski, Michael Capton & Collen Bachman for Black Swan
Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley & Peter Bebb for Inception
Arthur Langevin, Dennis Berardi & Frazer Churchill for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Karl Denham, Steve Preeg, Eric Barba & Nikos Kalaitzidis for Tron Legacy

MOST NOMINATIONS:
14 nominations: Black Swan
8 nominations: I Am Love, The Social Network
7 nominations: Inception
5 nominations: A Prophet, The Kids Are All Right
4 nominations: Blue Valentine, The Ghost Writer, Mother, True Grit
3 nominations: The Fighter, Fish Tank, How to Train Your Dragon, Rabbit Hole, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Tangled
2 nominations: Alice in Wonderland, Another Year, Burlesque, Tron: Legacy
1 nomination: 127 Hours, Air Doll, Animal Kingdom, Exit Through the Gift Shop, Gasland, The Illusionist, Inside Job, Made in Dagenham, Marwencol, The Oath, Please Give, The Runaways, Salt, Secret Sunshine, The Secret of Kells, Shutter Island, Toy Story 3, Waiting for 'Superman’, The Way Back, Winter’s Bone

MOST WINS:
9 wins: Black Swan
4 wins: Inception
2 wins: The Kids Are All Right
1 win: Blue Valentine, Burlesque, The Ghost Writer, Exit Through the Gift Shop, How to Train Your Dragon, I Am Love, The Social Network

Saturday, February 26, 2011

OUTSTANDING PICTURE

Black Swan (Produced by Ari Handel, Scott Franklin, Mike Medavoy, Arnold Messer & Brian Oliver)

Blue Valentine (Produced by Lynette Howell, Alex Orlovsky & Jamie Patricof)

Fish Tank (Produced by Nick Laws & Kees Kasander)

I Am Love (Produced by Luca Guadagnino, Tilda Swinton, Francesco Melzi d'Eril, Marco Morabito, Alessandro Usai & Massimiliano Violante)

The Kids Are All Right (Produced by Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, Celine Rattray, Jordan Horowitz, Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Philippe Hellmann & Joel Newton)


AND THE WINNER:


BLACK SWAN (PRODUCED BY ARI HANDEL, SCOTT FRANKLIN, MIKE MEDAVOY, ARNOLD MESSER & BRIAN OLIVER)

These are the first wins and nominations for Ari Handel, Mike Medavoy, Arnold Messer & Brian Oliver. Scott Franklin was previously nominated for producing The Wresler (2008). With this win First Cow wins a total of nine prizes and fourteen total nominations. The film won for picture, director, leading actress (Portman), art direction, cinematography, costume design, film editing, makeup & original score. It was also nominated for supporting actress (Hershey), original screenplay, sound editing, sound mixing & visual effects.

Aronofsky has proven since his breakout 12 years ago that he is a master of suspence and with Black Swan he has crafted his greatest film achievement. Black Swan is a film we will be talking about for years to come. The film is beautiful and based on my multiple viewings this awards season a film that can be rewatched over and over again.

Friday, February 25, 2011

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR

Andrea Arnold for Fish Tank

Darren Aronofsky for Black Swan

Derek Cianfrance for Blue Valentine

David Fincher for The Social Network

Luca Guadagnino for I Am Love


AND THE WINNER:


DARREN ARONOFSKY FOR BLACK SWAN

This is the first win and third nomination for Darren Aronofsky. He was previously nominated for directing and producing The Wreslter (2008).

I have loved basically every film that Aronofsky has directed but there is just something so unique and great about Black Swan that has instantly made it my favourite film of his entire filmography. The film is so suspenseful and as the film progresses the tension rises and under the great direction of Aronofsky the film never feels over the top or out of control. Even as the film gets wilder and wider its Aronofskys steady hand that keep the film perfectly pitched. He showed a great control with his previous film The Wrestler when it came to a intimate character study that with Black Swan he achieves the same thing and does it to an even greater level.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Kim Hye-ja as Mother in "MOTHER"

Nicole Kidman as Becca Corbett in "RABBIT HOLE"

Lesley Manville as Mary Smith in "ANOTHER YEAR"

Natalie Portman as Nina Sayers/The Swan Queen in "BLACK SWAN"

Michelle Williams as Cindy in "BLUE VALENTINE"


AND THE WINNER:


NATALIE PORTMAN AS NINA SAYERS/THE SWAN QUEEN IN "BLACK SWAN"

This is the first win and third nomination for Natalie Portman. She was previously nominated individually and with the ensemble of Closer (2004).

Natalie Portman's career has been a mixed bag for me with the highs of Closer and the low lows of the Star Wars franchise. With her performance as Nina Sayers Natalie has brought herself to an even higher level of greatness. The role of Nina is such a complex one to play because it requires the performer to believably play all the emotions of a performer rising and quickly falling. Portman is so secure in this role that she strongly leads the film with her wonderful performance. A lot of Natalie's work require heightened reactions and Portman's whole body is so expressive that the thrilling moments of the film are so well sold by her that you can't help but describe her performance as captivating.

If Portman's career continues in the vein of this performance a decade from now Portman will have to be referred to as one of the best actors of her generation.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Christian Bale as Dick "Dicky" Eklund in "THE FIGHTER"

Aaron Eckhart as Howie Corbett in "RABBIT HOLE"

Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Suckerberg in "THE SOCIAL NETWORK"

Ryan Gosling as Dean in "BLUE VALENTINE"

Taran Rahim as Malik El Djebena in "A PROPHET"


AND THE WINNER:


RYAN GOSLING AS DEAN IN "BLUE VALENTINE"

This is the second win and nomination for Ryan Gosling. He previously won for Half Nelson (2006).

How any voting body could think to just nominate Michelle and not her co-star Gosling is so odd to me. Years from now Gosling's omission by the academy will look terrible as people examine his career as a whole. Gosling as the years go on keeps producing work that make me view him as one of the best of his generation. Blue Valentine marks another triumph in his career giving him the opportunity to play a character through a long period of time. Gosling plays all the ages of Dean so wonderfully and really makes you believe he is the different eras of his character. Gosling and Williams together are such a devastating screen couple together and both excel so well. I do hope Gosling can get more roles like this as I found him to be so brilliant like i've never quite seen him before.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

OUTSTANDING FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Air Doll (Directed by Horolazu Koreeda)

I Am Love (Directed by Luca Guadagnino)

Mother (Directed by Bong Joon-Ho)

A Prophet (Directed by Jacques Audiard)

Secret Sunshine (Directed by Lee Joon-dong)


AND THE WINNER:


I AM LOVE (DIRECTED BY LUCA GUADAGNINO)

This is the first win and nomination for Luca Guadagnino in this category. He was also nominated for screenwriting this year.

Tilda Swinton in an Italian feature film beautifully eating food in beautiful costuming surrounded by beautiful sets. I Am Love as a film almost feels made for me. While there were some great films not in the english language throughout this year I always returned to I Am Love when I think of the best international feature of the year. Guadagnino is such a brilliant artist and his feature from this year is easily one of the greatest of the entire cinematic year.

Monday, February 21, 2011

OUTSTANDING FILM EDITING

Andrew Weisblum for Black Swan

Walter Fasano for I Am Love

Lee Smith for Inception

Jonathan Amos & Paul Machliss for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Angus Wall & Kirk Baxter for The Social Network


AND THE WINNER:


ANDREW WEISBLUM FOR BLACK SWAN

This is the first win and second nomination for Andrew Weisblum. He was previously nominated for The Wresler (2008).

Black Swan is edited within an inch of itself. The film being set in the strict world of ballet really falls into the structure of how the dance is performed. Basically every scene in the film whether there is or isn't dance involved has the fast and controlled structure invoved. The dance scenes are especially a triumph in dancing as they pay respect towards the dance of ballet but also keeps the horrifying terror throughout. The above scene is especially a highlight for how perfect the editing of the film is.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY

Exit Through the Gift Shop (Directed by Banksy)

Gasland (Directed by Josh Cox)

Insider Job (Directed by Charles Ferguson)

Marwencol (Directed by Jeff Malmberg)

The Oath (Directed by Laura Poitras)


AND THE WINNER:


EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP (DIRECTED BY BANKSY)

This is the first win and nomination for Banksy.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SCORE

Clint Mansell for Black Swan

Alexandre Desplat for The Ghost Writer

John Powell for How to Train Your Dragon

Hans Zimmer for Inception

Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross for The Social Network


AND THE WINNER:


CLINT MANSELL FOR BLACK SWAN

This is the first win and second nomination for Clint Mansell. He was previously nominated for The Fountain (2006).

While Mansell's score does feature a lot of the Swan Lake score and a lot of Mansell's work is deconstructing the famous score I think there was enough original music there and all the music was used so brilliantly throughout the film that Black Swan was the only choice I could make for a winner. The score is so effective that i can listen to it during and outside the film and still have the same reaction towards it. It truly is some beautiful work being done by Mansell.

Friday, February 18, 2011

OUTSTANDING VISUAL EFFECTS

Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas & Sean Phillips for Alice in Wonderland

Dan Schrecker, Brad Kalinoski, Michael Capton & Collen Bachman for Black Swan

Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley & Peter Bebb for Inception

Arthur Langevin, Dennis Berardi & Frazer Churchill for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Karl Denham, Steve Preeg, Eric Barba & Nikos Kalaitzidis for Tron Legacy


AND THE WINNER:


PAUL FRANKLIN, CHRIS CORBOULD, ANDREW LOCKLEY & PETER BEBB FOR INCEPTION.

These are the first wins and nominations for Andrew Lockley & Peter BebbChris Corbould & Paul Franklin were previously nominated for The Dark Knight (2008)Corbould was also nominated for The Mummy (1999) & Batman Begins (2005).

Thursday, February 17, 2011

OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY

Matthew Libatique for Black Swan

Yorick Le Saux for I Am Love

Hyong Pyung-Ko for Mother

Stephane Fontaine for A Prophet

Roger Deakins for True Grit


AND THE WINNER:


MATTHEW LIBATIQUE FOR BLACK SWAN

This is the first win and nomination for Matthew Libatique.

Libatique in collaboration with Aronofsky have crafted a stunningly beautiful film. With so much going on between the always running plot of the film and the constantly moving camera this job was not going to be easy for any DP. Thankfully Libatique is one of the best in the business and the tricky tightrope he had to walk is expertly achieved. Every scene is well captured and images from this film are sure to stay with me for years to come.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

OUTSTANDING SOUND MIXING

Brian Emrich, Craig Henighan & Dominick Tavella for Black Swan

Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo & Ed Novick for Inception

Jeffrey J. Haboush, William Sarokin, Scott Millan & Greg P. Russell for Salt

Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick & Mark Weingarten for The Social Network

Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff & Peter Kurland for True Grit


AND THE WINNER:


LORA HIRSCHBERG, GARY RIZZO & ED NOVICK FOR INCEPTION

These are the second wins and nominations for Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo & Ed Novick. They previously won for The Dark Knight (2008)Hirschberg & Rizzo were previously nominated for Batman Begins (2005) & Rizzo was also nominated for The Incredibles (2004).

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

OUTSTANDING SOUND EDITING

Craig Henighan, Brian Emrich & Wayne Lemmer for Black Swan

Jonathan Null, Randy Thom, Colette D. Dahanne, Josh Gold & Pete Horner for How To Train Your Dragon

Richard King for Inception

Jeremy Price & Julian Slater for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Addison Teague & Gwendolyn Yates Whittle for Tron: Legacy


AND THE WINNER:


RICHARD KING FOR INCEPTION

This is the first win and nominations for Richard King. He was previously nominated for Unbrekable (2000)Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) & The Dark Knight (2008).

Monday, February 14, 2011

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN

Amy Westcott for Black Swan

Michael Kaplan for Burlesque

Antonella Cannarozzi for I Am Love

Louise Stjernsward for Made in Dagenham

Mary Zophres for True Grit


AND THE WINNER:


AMY WESTCOTT FOR BLACK SWAN

This is the first win and nomination for Amy Westcott.

Westcott had the difficult task with Black Swan of making costuming for Swan Lake be unique from any other production of the play ever done while also believably setting it in some sort of reality. The costuming for this film was incredible well done and many of the outfits in and outside of performing will stay with me. I especially loved how Nina's clothing really emphasised the experiences her character was going through whether it was rising in her confidence or falling off the cliff into her madness.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

OUTSTANDING ART DIRECTION

Production Design by Thérèse DePrez; Set Design by Tora Peterson for Black Swan

Production Design by Albrecht Konrad; Set Design by Bernhard Henrich & Ulli Isfort for The Ghost Writer

Production Design by Francesca Balestra Di Mottola; Set Design by Monica Sironi for I Am Love

Production Design by Guy Hendrix Dyas; Set Design by Larry Dias & Douglas A. Mowat for Inception

Production Design by Dante Ferretti; Set Design by Francesca Lo Schiavo for Shutter Island


AND THE WINNER:


PRODUCTION DESIGN BY THERESE DEPREZ; SET DECORATION BY TORA PETERSON FOR BLACK SWAN

These are the first wins and nominations for Thérèse DePrez & Tora Peterson.

Each and every design element of Black Swan is at such a high level of success that I am finding it a real struggle to look any further than the one film when it comes to awarding all of my prizes this year. Black Swan stylistically is set in many grand spaces from the dance school to even the part setting shown in the above clip. All these lavish settings whether on stage or not as magnificent to behold and really invested me in the cinematic world that is Black Swan. A special shoutout must be given to how detailed the Sayers house is.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Amy Adams as Charlene Fleming in "THE FIGHTER"

Barbara Hershey as Erica Sayers / The Queen in "BLACK SWAN"

Rooney Mara as Erica Albright in "THE SOCIAL NETWORK"

Mia Wasikwoska as Joni Allgood in "THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT"

Olivia Williams as Ruth Lang in "THE GHOST WRITER"


AND THE WINNER:


OLIVIA WILLIAMS AS RUTH LANG IN "THE GHOST WRITER"

This is the first win and second nomination for Olivia Williams. She was previously nominated as part of the ensemble of An Education (2009).

Williams for over a decade now has been such an overlooked performer whether it's being great in Sixth Sense or even last year in her role in An Education. I was so thankful for The Ghost Writer as it provided Williams with a role which allowed her to shine. Williams performance is built on so many emotions as you never are truly sure how to feel about her character and thank you to Williams usual unknowingness it adds to the character making it such a captivating performance to behold. In a season full of many great supporting actress turns it's Williams who stands out as the best.

Friday, February 11, 2011

OUTSTANDING ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Screenplay by Roman Polanski & Robert Harris; Based on The Ghost by Robert Harris, The Ghost Writer

Screenplay by David Lindsay-Abaire; Based on Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire, Rabbit Hole

Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin; Based on The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius, and Betrayal by Ben Mezrich, The Social Network

Screenplay by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen; Based on True Grit by Charles Portis, True Grit

Screenplay by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini; Based on Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell, Winter's Bone


AND THE WINNER:


SCREENPLAY BY AARON SORKIN; BASED ON THE ACCIDENTIAL BILLIONAIRES: THE FOUNDING OF FACEBOOK, A TALE OF SEX, MONEY, GENIUS, AND BETRAYAL BY BEN MEZIRCH, THE SOCIAL NETWORK

This is the first win and nomination for Aaron Sorkin.

The choice for an adapted screenplay winner this year was perhaps the easiest choice i was make throughout the rest of the categories. Not to say the other nominees are bad but Social Network is such an expert screenplay and one of the best I've come across in my lifetime that the win was pretty simple. The adaptation Sorkin did was so great and in collaboration with Fincher spotlights the wonders of the writing.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

OUTSTANDING MAKEUP

Valli O'Reilly & Paul Gooch for Alice in Wonderland

Judy Chin, Marjorie Durand & Geordie Sheffer for Black Swan

Frédérique Ney & Alice Robert for A Prophet

Tanya Cookingham, Robin Matthews, Yesmin 'Shimmy' Osman & Terrie Velazquez Owen for The Runaways

Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk & Yolanda Toussieng for The Way Back


AND THE WINNER:


JUDY CHIN, MARJORIE DURAND & GEORDIE SHEFFER FOR BLACK SWAN

These are the first wins and nominations for Marjorie Durand & Geordie Sheffer. This is Chin's second win and third nomination, she previously won for Synecdoche New York (2008) and was nominated for Requiem for a Dream (2000).

With Black Swan being set in a the world of performance arts makeup and hairstyling was very likely to be included and whether it's the performance makeup of the ballet towards the end of the film or the horror work which preceds the show it's all excellent work by the team I've highlighted above.