Time for Academy Award Nominations. Members of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted and The Walt Disney Company racked up nominations in 6 categories with 7 overall nods (or 8 depending on how you count them). Best Original Song – Let it… Read More »Disney Scores 8 Oscar Nods
Well hey there everybody! I haven’t written an article in a while, so I thought I would catch everyone up on some recent Disney news, large or small. Into the Woods, the Sondheim classic musical, is becoming a film through Disney and Warner Brothers. They… Read More »Random Disney Musings: Meryl, Oscars, & Buses
In celebration of their Oscar nod, the fine folks at Industrial Light and Magic Visual FX (now a part of The Walt Disney Company thanks to the Lucasfilm acquisition) have released a special video highlighting how many of the special effects were made for Marvel’s… Read More »How’d They Do That: ILM releases Special Effects Video for Marvel’s The Avengers
For the second year in a row Disney’s slate of Oscar nominated films is dominated by pictures from a studio other that Walt Disney. Yep, outside of animation and special effects, Disney is now relying on Dreamworks to bring it any honors. That could be a problem as the rumor is Dreamworks wants to take its marbles and go home after perceived ineptitude in Disney Studios marketing efforts.
Anyway, the list isn’t a shock:
Best Picture – Lincoln – Producers Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy
Lead Actor – Lincoln – Daniel Day-Lewis
Supporting Actress – Lincoln – Sally Field
Supporting Actor – Lincoln – Tommy Lee Jones
Directing – Lincoln – Steven Spielberg
Adapted Screenplay – Lincoln – Tony Kushner
Music (Original Score) – Lincoln – John Williams
Cinematography – Lincoln – Janusz Kaminski
Costume Design – Lincoln – Joanna Johnston
Film Editing – Lincoln – Michael Kahn
Production Design – Lincoln – Rick Carter, Jim Erickson
Sound Mixing – Lincoln – Andy Nelson, Gary Rydstrom and Ronald Judkins
Animated Feature Film – Brave – Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman
Animated Feature Film – Frankenweenie – Tim Burton
Animated Feature Film – Wreck-It Ralph – Rich Moore
Animated Short Film – Paperman – John Kahrs
Visual Effects – Marvel’s The Avengers – Janek Sirrs, Jeff White, Guy Williams and Dan Sudick
Disney gets the triple whammy in the animated feature film category. Usually that means another film could sneak in if the academy splits its votes, but I don’t see that happening this year. Frankenweenie may not have been loved by the public, but the awards voters are enthralled. Paperman is up against some stiff competition, but I think it has a good chance too.
I fully expect Lincoln to clean up at the Academy Awards this year. With its message that fits in perfectly to today’s politics and a lineup of actors whom Hollywood has already shown their love, I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t garner 9 or 10 statues by the end of the night.
The Oscars are once again on ABC on Feb 24th and will be hosted by Seth MacFarlane, who is known for his raunchy and off-color brand of humor. I love him, but I’m worried about how he’ll go over with the television audience.
Below the cut are some of the TV spots featuring MacFarlane promoting the show:
Disney was the television host for the Academy Awards last night which means we were treated to a strange new trailer for Brave and a bunch of ads for ABC television during the telecast. Disney’s presence on the award stage itself was notably almost absent.… Read More »Oscar Night, Where was Disney?
The Muppets is currently the best reviewed wide-release film of 2011 and with good reason: it’s a comic and musical tour de force. (John and I will agree to disagree.) At 98% “Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes with 132 reviews counted, three unfavourable—“Rotten”—reviews are all stand between it and a perfect… Read More »‘Muppets’ Deserves Best Picture Nomination
The Oscars are in freaking disarray this year. Producer Bret Ratner and host Eddie Murphy are both out with less than four months to go till the show. But with crisis comes opportunity. It’s time to bring in the Muppets! I’m not even a huge fan (the… Read More »Oscar, It’s Time to Meet the Muppets
Congratulations to the Disney and Pixar Oscar Winners: Toy Story 3 for Best Animated Feature. Lee Unkrich Toy Story 3 for Best Original Song. “We Belong Together” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman Alice in Wonderland for Best Art Direction. Robert Stromberg (Production Design); Karen… Read More »Congratulations Disney and Pixar Oscar Winners