Popscorn » News http://www.popscornweekly.com a salty look at movies from a couple of seasoned critics, Kevin Powers and Tim Plant Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:47:29 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 83rd Academy Award Nominations Announcedhttp://www.popscornweekly.com/2011/01/83rd-academy-award-nominations-announced/ http://www.popscornweekly.com/2011/01/83rd-academy-award-nominations-announced/#comments Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:40:14 +0000 Kevin Powers http://www.popscornweekly.com/?p=3999 Washington Area Film Critics Association. Just as a reminder.)]]> Nominations for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, which airs Feb. 27, are out and the full rundown is below. (Bolded, orange entries are those films picked recently by the Washington Area Film Critics Association. Just as a reminder.)

BEST PICTURE

  • Black Swan
  • The Fighter
  • Inception
  • The Kids Are All Right
  • The King’s Speech
  • 127 Hours
  • The Social Network
  • Toy Story 3
  • True Grit
  • Winter’s Bone

DIRECTING

  • Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
  • David O. Russell, The Fighter
  • Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech
  • David Fincher, The Social Network
  • Joel and Ethan Coen, True Grit

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

  • Javier Bardem, Biutiful
  • Jeff Bridges, True Grit
  • Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
  • Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
  • James Franco, 127 Hours

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

  • Anette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
  • Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
  • Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone
  • Natalie Portman, Black Swan
  • Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

  • Christian Bale, The Fighter
  • John Hawks, Winter’s Bone
  • Jeremy Renner, The Town
  • Geoffrey Rush, The King’s Speech

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

  • Amy Adams, The Fighter
  • Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s Speech
  • Melissa Leo, The Fighter
  • Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit
  • Jackie Weaver, Animal Kingdom

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

  • 127 Hours (Fox Searchlight), Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy
  • The Social Network (Sony Pictures Releasing), Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin
  • Toy Story 3 (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Michael Arndt. Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich
  • True Grit (Paramount), Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
  • Winter’s Bone (Roadside Attractions), Adapted for the screen by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

  • Another Year (Sony Pictures Classics), Written by Mike Leigh
  • The Fighter (Paramount), Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson. Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson
  • Inception (Warner Bros.), Written by Christopher Nolan
  • The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features), Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg
  • The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company), Screenplay by David Seidler

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

  • Biutiful
  • Dogtooth
  • In a Better World
  • Incendies
  • Outside the Law

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

  • How to Train Your Dragon
  • The Illusionist
  • Toy Story 3

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

  • Black Swan (Fox Searchlight) Matthew Libatique
  • Inception (Warner Bros.) Wally Pfister
  • The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company) Danny Cohen
  • The Social Network (Sony Pictures Releasing) Jeff Cronenweth
  • True Grit (Paramount) Roger Deakins

FILM EDITING

  • Black Swan (Fox Searchlight) Andrew Weisblum
  • The Fighter Paramount Pamela Martin
  • The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company) Tariq Anwar
  • 127 Hours (Fox Searchlight) Jon Harris
  • The Social Network (Sony Pictures Releasing) Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter

BEST DOCUMENTARY

  • Exit through the Gift Shop (Producers Distribution Agency) Banksy and Jaimie D’Cruz A Paranoid Pictures Production
  • Gasland Josh Fox and Trish Adlesic A Gasland Production
  • Inside Job (Sony Pictures Classics) Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs A Representational Pictures Production
  • Restrepo (National Geographic Entertainment) Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger An Outpost Films Production
  • Waste Land Lucy Walker and Angus Aynsley (Arthouse Films) An Almega Projects Production

ORIGINAL SCORE

  • How to Train Your Dragon (Paramount) John Powell
  • Inception (Warner Bros.) Hans Zimmer
  • The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company) Alexandre Desplat
  • 127 Hours (Fox Searchlight) A.R. Rahman
  • The Social Network (Sony Pictures Releasing) Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

  • Coming Home from Country Strong (Sony Pictures Releasing (Screen Gems)) Music and Lyric by Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey
  • I See the Light from Tangled (Walt Disney) Music by Alan Menken Lyric by Glenn Slater
  • If I Rise from 127 Hours (Fox Searchlight) Music by A.R. Rahman Lyric by Dido and Rollo Armstrong
  • We Belong Together from Toy Story 3 (Walt Disney) Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

  • Alice in Wonderland (Walt Disney) Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas and Sean Phillips
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (Warner Bros.) Tim Burke, John Richardson, Christian Manz and Nicolas Aithadi
  • Hereafter (Warner Bros.) Michael Owens, Bryan Grill, Stephan Trojanski and Joe Farrell
  • Inception (Warner Bros.) Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb
  • Iron Man 2 (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment, Distributed by Paramount) Janek Sirrs, Ben Snow, Ged Wright and Daniel Sudick
]]> http://www.popscornweekly.com/2011/01/83rd-academy-award-nominations-announced/feed/ 0 2010 Razzie Nominations Announcedhttp://www.popscornweekly.com/2011/01/2010-razzie-nominations-announced/ http://www.popscornweekly.com/2011/01/2010-razzie-nominations-announced/#comments Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:40:48 +0000 Kevin Powers http://www.popscornweekly.com/?p=4011 Academy Awards nominations for best films of the year comes the 2010 Razzies, recognizing the worst films. Not exactly a lot of surprises here, but I'm oh-so glad Sex and the City 2 made the list.]]> Alongside the Academy Awards nominations for best films of the year comes the 2010 Razzies, recognizing the worst films. Not exactly a lot of surprises here, but I’m oh-so glad Sex and the City 2 made the list.

WORST PICTURE

  • The Bounty Hunter
  • The Last Airbender
  • Sex and the City 2
  • Twilight Saga: Eclipse
  • Vampires Suck

WORST ACTOR

  • Jack Black / Gulliver’s Travels
  • Gerard Butler /The Bounty Hunter
  • Ashton Kutcher / Killers and Valentine’s Day
  • Taylor Lautner / Twilight Saga: Eclipse and Valentine’s Day
  • Robert Pattinson / Remember Me and Twilight Saga: Eclipse

WORST ACTRESS

  • Jennifer Aniston / The Bounty Hunter and The Switch
  • Mylie Cyrus / The Last Song
  • Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis & Cynthia Nixon / Sex & the City 2
  • Megan Fox / Jonah Hex
  • Kristen Stewart / Twilight Saga: Eclipse

WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

  • Jessica Alba / The Killer Inside Me, Little Fockers, Machete and Valentine’s Day
  • Cher / Burlesque
  • Liza Minnelli / Sex & the City 2
  • Nicola Peltz / The Last Airbender
  • Barbra Streisand / Little Fockers

WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR

  • Billy Ray Cyrus / The Spy Next Door
  • George Lopez / Marmaduke, The Spy Next Door and Valentine’s Day
  • Dev Patel / The Last Airbender
  • Jackson Rathbone / The Last Airbender and Twilight Saga: Eclipse
  • Rob Schneider / Grown Ups

WORST EYE-GOUGING MIS-USE Of 3-D

  • Cats & Dogs 2: Revenge of Kitty Galore
  • Clash of the Titans
  • The Last Airbender
  • Nutcracker 3-D
  • Saw 3-D (aka Saw VII)

WORST SCREEN COUPLE / WORST SCREEN ENSEMBLE

  • Jennifer Aniston & Gerard Butler / The Bounty Hunter
  • Josh Brolin’s Face & Megan Fox’s Accent / Jonah Hex
  • The Entire Cast of The Last Airbender
  • The Entire Cast of Sex & The City 2
  • The Entire Cast of Twilight Saga: Eclipse

WORST DIRECTOR

  • Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer / Vampires Suck
  • Michael Patrick King / Sex & The City 2
  • M. Night Shyamalan / The Last Airbender
  • David Slade / Twilight Saga: Eclipse
  • Sylvester Stallone / The Expendables

WORST SCREENPLAY

  • The Last Airbender, Written by M. Night Shyamalan, based on the TV series created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Brian Konietzko
  • Little Fockers, Written by John Hamburg and Larry Stuckey, based on Characters Created by Greg Glenna & Mary Roth Clarke
  • Sex & the City 2, Written by Michael Patrick King, Based on the TV Series Created by Darren Star
  • Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg, Based on the Novel by Stephenie Meyer
  • Vampires Suck, Written by Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer

WORST PREQUEL, REMAKE, RIP-OFF or SEQUEL

  • Clash Of The Titans
  • The Last Airbender
  • Sex & The City 2
  • Twilight Saga: Eclipse
  • Vampires Suck
]]> http://www.popscornweekly.com/2011/01/2010-razzie-nominations-announced/feed/ 0 New Captain America Photoshttp://www.popscornweekly.com/2011/01/new-captain-america-photos/ http://www.popscornweekly.com/2011/01/new-captain-america-photos/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:33:52 +0000 Kevin Powers http://www.popscornweekly.com/?p=3953 Captain America: The First Avenger isn't due out 'til the end of July but Marvel continues to tease. This time with a couple new, high-res photos of Chris Evans in full patriot gear.]]> Captain America: The First Avenger isn’t due out ’til the end of July but Marvel continues to tease. This time with a couple new, high-res photos of Chris Evans in full patriot gear.

Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige will produce CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER. Alan Fine, Stan Lee, David Maisel and Louis D’Esposito will executive produce. The film will be released in the US on July 22, 2011 and distributed by Paramount Pictures.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER will focus on the early days of the Marvel Universe when Steve Rogers volunteers to participate in an experimental program that turns him into the Super Soldier known as Captain America.

Born during the Great Depression, Steve Rogers grew up a frail youth in a poor family. Horrified by the newsreel footage of the Nazis in Europe, Rogers was inspired to enlist in the army. However, because of his frailty and sickness, he was rejected. Overhearing the boy’s earnest plea, General Chester Phillips offered Rogers the opportunity to take part in a special experiment… Operation: Rebirth. After weeks of tests, Rogers was at last administered the Super-Solider Serum and bombarded by “vita-rays.” Steve Rogers emerged from the treatment with a body as perfect as a body can be and still be human. Rogers was then put through an intensive physical and tactical training program. Three months later, he was given his first assignment as Captain America. Armed with his indestructible shield and battle savvy, Captain America has continued his war against evil both as a sentinel of liberty and as leader of the Avengers.

]]> http://www.popscornweekly.com/2011/01/new-captain-america-photos/feed/ 0 Rare Exports: A Christmas Talehttp://www.popscornweekly.com/2010/12/rare-exports-a-christmas-tale/ http://www.popscornweekly.com/2010/12/rare-exports-a-christmas-tale/#comments Fri, 24 Dec 2010 16:14:49 +0000 Kevin Powers http://www.popscornweekly.com/?p=3812 lucky locales), head on over to E Street Cinema and catch what has to be the pick for holiday family movie, Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale. ]]> If you happen to be in the D.C. area this holiday season (or one of these other lucky locales), head on over to E Street Cinema and catch what has to be the pick for holiday family movie, Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale. Unfortunately, we here at Popscorn have yet to catch the film (next time Oscilloscope, please?!), but we’re fairly confident this little indie present has all the camp and scare our Grinch-y dark hearts could hope for. Local outlet DCist unwrapped Exports early and said the film has “the goofy, kid-empowering spirit of ’80s flicks like Gremlins or The Goonies…[and] the content is just disturbing enough.” Sounds like a happy holiday time, and the perfect counter to all the traditional feel-good trimmings of the season. Ho-ho-ho everyone.

It’s the eve of Christmas in northern Finland, and an ‘archeological’ dig has just unearthed the real Santa Claus. But this particular Santa isn’t the one you want coming to town. When the local children begin mysteriously disappearing, young Pietari and his father Rauno, a reindeer hunter by trade, capture the mythological being and attempt to sell Santa to the misguided leader of the multinational corporation sponsoring the dig. Santa’s elves, however, will stop at nothing to free their fearless leader from captivity. What ensues is a wildly humorous nightmare – a fantastically bizarre polemic on modern day morality.

RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE is a re-imagining of the most classic of all childhood fantasies, and is a darkly comic gem soon to be required perennial holiday viewing.

]]> http://www.popscornweekly.com/2010/12/rare-exports-a-christmas-tale/feed/ 0 Poster for Thorhttp://www.popscornweekly.com/2010/12/poster-for-thor/ http://www.popscornweekly.com/2010/12/poster-for-thor/#comments Fri, 10 Dec 2010 15:53:44 +0000 Kevin Powers http://www.popscornweekly.com/?p=3738 Thor (May 2011). The first "real" trailer is supposedly to follow this weekend, despite the Comic-Con preview being around for some time. I can hear the marketing machine beginning to turn!]]> Marvel goes for the dramatic in the first official one-sheet for Thor (May 2011). The first “real” trailer is supposedly to follow this weekend, despite the Comic-Con preview being around for some time. I can hear the marketing machine beginning to turn!

]]> http://www.popscornweekly.com/2010/12/poster-for-thor/feed/ 0 WAFCA Announces 2010 Awardshttp://www.popscornweekly.com/2010/12/wafca-announces-2010-awards/ http://www.popscornweekly.com/2010/12/wafca-announces-2010-awards/#comments Mon, 06 Dec 2010 23:38:05 +0000 Kevin Powers http://www.popscornweekly.com/?p=3688 Since 2010 is coming to a close and the 83rd Academy Awards are just around the corner (February of next year), the Washington Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) announced their picks for the best films of this year. The Social Network took top recognition for Best Film, Best Director (David Fincher) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Aaron Sorkin). Notably, Black Swan and 127 Hours lost out across the board. Just like last year, here at Popscorn we’re raising our hands in a few areas of disagreement. Of course, we participated in the polling, but we’re just one of the 39 critics. And healthy, if not irritating descension, is what criticism is all about, right? The rundown of WAFCA’s 15 picks can be found after the jump.

Best Film: The Social Network


Popscorn would have picked: Black Swan

Best Director: David Fincher (The Social Network)


Popscorn would have picked: Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan)

Best Actor: Colin Firth (The King’s Speech)


Popscorn would have picked: James Franco (127 Hours)

Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone)


Popscorn would have picked: Natalie Portman (Black Swan)

Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale (The Fighter)


Popscorn would have picked: Jeremy Renner (The Town)

Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo (The Fighter)


Popscorn would have picked: We’re ok with this pick. Although, we miss the ensuing cat fight if Mila Kunis was nominated for Black Swan.

Best Acting Ensemble: The Town


Popscorn would have picked: Completely agree here.

Best Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network)


Popscorn would have picked: Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy (127 Hours)

Best Original Screenplay: Christopher Nolan (Inception)


Popscorn would have picked: Completely agree here.

Best Animated Feature: Toy Story 3


Popscorn would have picked: How could you not agree with this?

Best Documentary: Exit Through the Gift Shop


Popscorn would have picked: This has our vote, too, but fans of the darling Waiting for Superman are going to be pissed.

Best Foreign Language Film: Biutiful


Popscorn would have picked: We endorse this one.

Best Art Direction: Luke Freeborn, Brad Ricker and Dean Wolcott (Inception)


Popscorn would have picked: Inception totally deserves it.

Best Cinematography: Wally Pfister (Inception)


Popscorn would have picked: Here too.

Best Score: Hans Zimmer (Inception)


Popscorn would have picked: Zimmer scores (zing!).

]]> http://www.popscornweekly.com/2010/12/wafca-announces-2010-awards/feed/ 0 Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway Nude (Sorta)http://www.popscornweekly.com/2010/11/jake-gyllenhaal-and-anne-hathaway-nude-sorta/ http://www.popscornweekly.com/2010/11/jake-gyllenhaal-and-anne-hathaway-nude-sorta/#comments Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:11:49 +0000 Kevin Powers http://www.popscornweekly.com/?p=3665

I guess this is one way to get folks to the theater next weekend (Nov 24) to see Love and Other Drugs.

]]> http://www.popscornweekly.com/2010/11/jake-gyllenhaal-and-anne-hathaway-nude-sorta/feed/ 0 Transformers’ Bumblebee Stings DC Policehttp://www.popscornweekly.com/2010/10/transformers-bumblebee-stings-dc-polic/ http://www.popscornweekly.com/2010/10/transformers-bumblebee-stings-dc-polic/#comments Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:03:07 +0000 Kevin Powers http://www.popscornweekly.com/?p=3623 Transformers 3: The Dark of the Moon as yesterday yellow Camaro known as Bumblebee in the film t-boned a police SUV responding to an emergency call. Apparently that cop was the only person who wasn't aware of the filming and felt it prudent to bypass their own department's barricades. Local reports indicate that the officer was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, though it looks like the Autobot took most of the damage. Welcome to DC! ]]> The plague of shitty DC traffic has officially infected the local filming of Transformers 3: The Dark of the Moon as yesterday the yellow Camaro known as Bumblebee t-boned a police SUV responding to an emergency call. Apparently that cop was the only person who wasn’t aware of the filming and felt it wise to bypass their own department’s barricades. Local reports indicate that the officer was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, though it looks like the Autobot took most of the damage. Welcome to DC!

(images and video from Fox5DC)

]]> http://www.popscornweekly.com/2010/10/transformers-bumblebee-stings-dc-polic/feed/ 0 Poster for Black Swanhttp://www.popscornweekly.com/2010/08/poster-for-black-swan/ http://www.popscornweekly.com/2010/08/poster-for-black-swan/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:31:25 +0000 Kevin Powers http://www.popscornweekly.com/?p=3597 The covers are clearly off Darren Aronofsky‘s latest, Black Swan, with the trailer hitting yesterday and now the official (and quite artful) poster exposed for all to see.

Black Swan follows the story of Nina (Portman), a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her retired ballerina mother Erica (Barbara Hershey) who zealously supports her daughter’s professional ambition. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side with a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.

]]> http://www.popscornweekly.com/2010/08/poster-for-black-swan/feed/ 0 Poster for Monstershttp://www.popscornweekly.com/2010/08/poster-for-monsters/ http://www.popscornweekly.com/2010/08/poster-for-monsters/#comments Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:56:35 +0000 Kevin Powers http://www.popscornweekly.com/?p=3574 And if you recall, we saw a teaser trailer for the indie scare last month.

Six years ago previously, a NASA probe returning to earth with samples of an alien life form, crashed over Central America. Soon after, new life forms began to appear, and half of Mexico was quarantined as an INFECTED ZONE. Today, the American and Mexican military still struggle to contain “the creatures”… The story begins when a US journalist agrees to escort a shaken American tourist through the infected zone in Mexico to the safety of the US border.

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