CANON OF FILM: "FAME"

FAME (1980)

Director: Alan Parker

Screenplay: Christopher Gore

Somehow in the midst of watching numerous late 70s-80s films about teenagers, I missed “Fame,” until very recently. For some reason I kept skipping it when it would be played on TV, and maybe that’s a good thing because I don’t think it would’ve effected me as much when I was younger as it does now. Having my whole life now based being a part of and relying on a community of artistic and creative people, it certainly makes more sense for me now, the benefits and the struggles of going to a high school for performing arts. I’ve noticed how many characters in British Director Alan Parker’s films struggle, both inwardly and outwardly. Probably his best film is “Mississippi Burning”, which I have a Canon of Film post written for somewhere, but it’s not one of my better writing’s, so I’ve long postponed posting that one; I need to revisit the film again before I talk about it, but that’s a great film dealing with the struggles of racism, both overcoming and fighting in, in the public eye, lawful eye and even within oneself. Before “Fame,” however, he had made two other films, “Bugsy Malone,” a film noir although done with teenagers, and the Oliver Stone penned “Midnight Express”, about a man who gets caught trying to smuggle hash, and gets sent to a Turkish prison for ten years. I’ve also seen his film “The Commitments,” about a bunch of scrappy young Irishmen trying to form an R&B band, as well as the film adaptation of “Pink Floyd’s The Wall”, so there is also a musical stream in his work as well.

Looking at “Fame,” though I’m compelled not by the musical aspects of it. Despite the two Oscars the movie got for the music, I was more intrigued by the students, not just the personal stories, some of which go from melodramatic cliché to outright painful realism, but also by how ironically little fame itself is actually apart of their lives. (The title was a last minute addition to the film, but now, it’s the nickname of the New York High School of Performing Arts where the film takes place) There’s unbelievable hope that lies within the characters, but from the beginning we, and they, are constantly aware and reminded about how hard and unlikely it is for them to become quote-unquote “famous”. There’s hardly any talk about people becoming famous or successful, or becoming great stars, and the few characters that talk about it eventually seem to precede an impending doom that smashes their perception. 

Parker and Screenwriter Christopher Gore are observant, in that people don’t become successful; they’re not there to become successful, they're there because they’re artists, and they have to be, or at least they think they are. In the end of the movie, it’s interesting how you can imagine the characters in the future, and you can see where they’ll go and what paths they’ll probably take, but you don’t think about them as being successful, or which ones will probably be. Parker borrows a lot from Bob Fosse in how the songs and musical numbers are naturally incorporated into the film without suspending the narrative conceit like most musicals, and for the most part he’s quite successful. Parker’s films and characters are always striving for a greater goal but he hardly allows them to fully succeed, and if they do, it’s a hollow victory.

Look at how Doris (Maureen Teefy) who has the most drastic character arc, has success at finding herself from becoming a wallflower to an impromptu member of the local Rocky Horror troupe, or how Ralph (Barry Miller) nearly destroys himself, almost entirely because his hero, Freddie Prinze had done so. Some of the actors became famous after. Irene Cara won an Oscar for the title song to “Flashdance,” Paul McCrane you’ll recognize from “ER”, Isaac Mizrahi became the world famous fashion designer, and a few went on to do the TV series “Fame,” but for the most part, very few of these actors became well-known. They’ve remade this recently; I have no idea why but there’s so much good material in the original, that you really could’ve made five or six good movies out of it. (It very clear how a TV show could’ve been made from the film), and a surprising amount of the material is still original, especially compared to similar movies which seem to draw upon cliché storytelling than actually create fascinating characters. This is one of those movies that clearly makes others in the genre of coming-of-age musicals seem inadequate and unknowning. If you want to know why “Fame,” got six Oscar nominations, watch “High School Musical”.

(Oh, I did try to watch the remake recently, I barely got a few minutes into it before I just changed the channel. Just skip it.) 

2015 OSCAR NOMINATION ANALYSIS

Okay, the Oscar nominations are out, and I'm still busy as hell, but let's go through, see how my predictions went and give a few immediate thoughts on the Oscar nominations, before we all gear up for next week Critics Choice Awards, the only award show that actually matters, except of course for the One-Year-Later Awards, which I promise, I will start writing-, I mean finish writing soon. Okay, let's start at the bit.

BEST PICTURE
*The Big Short
*Bridge of Spies
1/2* Brooklyn
*Mad Max: Fury Road
*The Martian
*The Revenant
1/2*Room
*Spotlight

Well, I did technically vote for each of these films, but I now wonder about this year in film overall after falling back down to eight nominees. I had "Steve Jobs" and "Carol" getting in, "Steve Jobs" was probably a bit of wish-fulfillment on my part, figuring the bomb that those who all saw it seemed to like would sneak into a big field, but "Carol"'s lack of nomination does surprise. There's already a lot of talk about how there's a lack of Oscar nominations for minority actors, but how about the lack of nominations for directors who have a, for lack of a better word, more feminine approach to filmmaking!? Todd Haynes, should've been nominated years ago for "Far From Heaven", and it's of no surprise to me that the first female director to win the Oscar, was Kathryn Bigelow, the most masculine female director ever. Seriously, that's the main motif in nearly everyone of her movies, and I say that as a compliment, but movies with a feminine perspective are just too often getting ignored by the Academy, and Haynes, one of his strongest motifs is making great period pieces about women, put in positions that would've at the time undermined their supposed role in society. So, the actors get in, but he and the film don't. Now, I haven't seen "Carol", so maybe it just sucks, that's totally possible too, but just an observation. Bigelow has an Oscar, the Sofia Coppola's of the world don't. Yeah, needless to say African-American community, but there's only twenty acting nods per year, five for category, even as yours and other racial minorities influence continues to grow in Hollywood, let's not leave out the possibility quite yet, that, perhaps, there just were five better performances in each category this year. Not saying, it absolutely is what happened, but just consider that possibility.


BEST DIRECTOR
Lenny Abrahamson-"Room"
*Alejandro G. Inarritu-"The Revenant"
*Adam McKay-"The Big Short"
*Tom McCarthy-"Spotlight"
*George Miller-"Mad Max: Fury Road"

I'll be honest, I've never been much of a Ridley Scott fan, but yeah I like most everybody else figured he was getting into this category. And I certainly didn't have Lenny Abrahamson for "Room" getting in, "Room" way overperformed, except for SAG, it had continually underperformed at every award show, but boy they moved back up here. That was definitely the big shocker. And I can't possibly understand what would happen to the category now, is "The Revenant" actually gonna make Inarritu win three Oscar, in back-to-back years, no, that can't be right. That doesn't make sense. I can't even remember the last director to win back-to-back Oscars. Who was the last person to do that, John Ford? No, wait, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, won in '48 and '49 for "A Letter to Three Wives" and "All About Eve". Really, Joseph Mankiewicz has two Directing Oscars? In a row? That might be the most shocking statistic I mean, don't get me wrong, good director, not a great one. "All About Eve" is untouchable, but I think, I think screenwriter, not director. God, that family owns Hollywood. I swear if Ben ever makes a movie, he'll win something for it.


BEST ACTOR
*Bryan Cranston-"Trumbo"
*Matt Damon-"The Martian"
*Leonardo DiCaprio-"The Revenant"
*Michael Fassbender-"Steve Jobs"
Eddie Redmayne-"The Danish Girl"

Eh, I did something stupid and picked Geza Rohrig for "Son of Saul", I knew somebody foreign would get in, in this weird year, although I did hedge my bet that way and put Charlotte Rampling into Actress, but oh well, I should've picked Eddie Redmayne, but I wasn't sure how much they liked "The Danish Girl" anyway.


BEST ACTRESS
*Cate Blanchett-"Carol"
*Brie Larson-"Room"
*Jennifer Lawrence-"Joy"
*Charlotte Rampling-"45 Years"
*Saoirse Ronan-"Brooklyn"

Wow, got them all right. Jennifer Lawrence sets another record, youngest person to be nominated four times. Charlotte Rampling has her first ever nomination btw. That should've happened sooner.


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
*Christian Bale-"The Big Short"
Tom Hardy-"The Revenant"
Mark Ruffalo-"Spotlight"
*Mark Rylance-"Bridge of Spies"
*Sylvester Stallone-"Creed"

I had Idris Elba and Jacob Tremblay, Elba because he kept showing up at the forecasting awards, but also Tremblay I had in because I suspected that he was getting votes for Lead and Supporting roles, and if you know how they count votes, when a performance is nominated in both Lead and Supporting, they total the nominations together and put them all into the category that got the most votes, so a bit odd that he didn't get in. Hardy, is in for having a helluva year overall, and because the Academy really loves "The Revenant", although the "Spotlight" nominations, especially Ruffalo's surprised me, 'cause I figured this was gonna be the Ensemble that gets ignored 'cause nobody knew who to nominate entirely. Oh well. BTW, am I the only one who didn't like Stallone's Golden Globe speech? He forgot to thank the director Ryan Coogler and his co-star Michael B. Jordan! WTF!?


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
*Jennifer Jason Leigh-"The Hateful Eight"
*Rooney Mara-"Carol"
*Rachel McAdams-"Spotlight"
Alicia Vikander-"The Danish Girl"
*Kate Winslet-"Steve Jobs"

Here's a weird, I got the right nominees, but I picked the wrong movie. I had Vikander in for Supporting Actress for "Ex Machina", which seemed to have a lot more steam behind it than "The Danish Girl", but oh well. (BTW, if an actress is eligible for being nominated for two roles in the same category and gets the votes for both, she only ends up nominated one, so I presume she got more nominations for "The Danish Girl" and that's why she's in and not in for "Ex Machina", although I wouldn't be shocked if she got enough votes for both. BTW, great to finally see Jennifer Jason Leigh get nominated, long, long, long overdue nomination for her.


BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
*The Big Short-Charles Randolph and Adam McKay
*Brooklyn-Nick Hornby
*Carol-Phyllis Nagy
The Martian-Drew Goddard
Room-Emma Donaghue

There's no real excuse for not nominating Aaron Sorkin, ever; I'm not sure why "Steve Jobs" is getting so continuously snubbed, although "The Revenant"'s lack of a nomination is pretty interesting, instead choosing to nominate "The Martian" and "Room" here. Hmm, it's not impossible to win Best Picture without a Writing nomination, "Titanic" did it, but it's pretty rare, especially in this day and age. Well, at least Inarritu won't go 3-for-3 in back-to-back years.


BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
*Bridge of Spies-Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
Ex Machina-Alex Garland
*Inside Out-Pete Doctor, Meg Lefauve & Josh Cooley; Story by Pete Doctor & Ronnie Del Carmen
*Spotlight-Josh Singer & Tom McCarthy
*Straight Outta Compton-Jonathan Herman and Andrea Berloff; Story by S. Leigh Savidge & Alan Wenkus and Andrea Berloff

There's you're "Straight Outta Compton" nomination. Also, turns out, Quentin Tarantino backlash kicked in huge this year, "The Hateful Eight" underperformed everywhere, but he still showed up in Screenwriting categories most of the time, but not here. Oh well.


ANIMATED FEATURE
*Anomalisa-Charlie Kaufman, Duke Johnson and Rosa Tran
Boy and the World-Ale Abreu
*Inside Out-Pete Doctor and Jonas Rivera
*Shaun the Sheep Movie-Mark Burton and Richard Starzak
When Marnie was There-Hiromasa Yonebayashi and Yoshiaki Nishimura

Huh, even "Peanuts" couldn't get a nominated for Blue Sky. (Shrugs) I also had "...The Prophet" as the weird fifth nominee that no one's heard of, but that went to "Boy and the Beast" this time. Should've known that "When Marnie was There" would get in, they will do anything to get anime into the category these days. Nice to see Charlie Kaufman getting nominated again.


BEST DOCUMENTARY
*Amy-Asif Kapadia and James Gay-Rees
Cartel Land-Matthew Heineman and Tom Yellin
*The Look of Silence-Joshua Oppenheimer and Signe Byrge Serensen
What Happened, Miss Simone-Liz Garbus, Amy Hobby and Justin Wilkes
Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom-Evgeny Afineevsky and Den Tolmar

I would say that "Going Clear"'s lack of a nomination here was due to it screening on HBO shortly after a one-time theatrical screening, but "Winter on Fire..." got in, and that did the same thing, only on Netflix, huh. Netflix, are a TV channel, or a movie channel, make up your damn mind; I'm gonna make a call now, and say that, no, you can't be both. I suspected that could get in, so could "Cartel Land", that's actually what I projected would miss, but "What Happened, Miss Simone", came in, so that's two biopics on musicians, and I also threw in Michael Moore's movie, but this does appear to be a loaded year, and despite what some people might believe Michael Moore doesn't automatically get nominated every year, but I thought he might sneak in anyway. (Seriously, he's only been nominated twice, with one win, he's not an automatic nomination)


BEST FOREIGN FILM
A War (Denmark)-Tobias Lindholm
*Embrace of the Serpent (Columbia)-Ciro Guerra
*Mustang (France)-Deniz Gamze Erguven
*Son of Saul (Hungary)-Laszlo Nemes
Theeb (Jordan)-Naji Abu Nawar

Dammit, I knew I should've put "A War" in there. I had "The Brand New Testament" from Belgium instead, I also had "Labyrinth of Lies", which I had heard, had an outside shot at winning, but "Theeb" got in instead. Looks like Hungary will win for the first time since "Mephisto" back in '81.


CINEMATOGRAPHY
Carol-Ed Lachman
*Mad Max: Fury Road-John Seale
The Hateful Eight-Robert Richardson
*The Revenant-Emmanuel Lubezki
*Sicario-Roger Deakins

And that's thirteen times Roger Deakins's been nominated, and likely his 13th loss, I had "Bridge of Spies" and "The Martian" in, instead of "Carol", which did get overlooked most places, and "The Hateful Eight," so two films that underperformed everywhere else, were strong enough here. I suspect Lubezki might win three in a row, but John Seale could take it here. Actually, this might be the good year to give it to Deakins


COSTUME DESIGN
*Carol-Sandy Powell
Cinderella-Sandy Powell
*The Danish Girl-Paco Delgado
*Mad Max: Fury Road-Jenny Beavan
The Revenant-Jacqueline West

I had "Brooklyn" and "Trumbo" in, I think we've all underestimated "The Revenant", and underestimated Sandy Powell; she hasn't won since "The Aviator" but this seems like a decent spot, just not sure which film. Boy the Costume Designers really go horny for these live-action Disney remakes don't they?

FILM EDITING
*The Big Short-Hank Corwin
*Mad Max: Fury Road-Margaret Sixel
*The Revenant-Stephen Mirrione
*Spotlight-Tom McArdle
Star Wars: The Force Awakens-Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey

I didn't really think "Star Wars...:" would get in, I guess it makes sense; I thought the legendary Michael Kahn, would've gotten the Spielberg film in though. Still, with "Mad Max..." I'm not sure there was a reason to put "Star Wars..." in too. Oh well.


MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
*The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared-Love Larson and Eva von Bahr
*Mad Max: Fury Road-Lesley Vanderwalt, Elka Wardega and Damian Martin
*The Revenant-Sian Grigg, Duncan Jarman and Robert Pandini

Okay, here's how I got this right, first of all, ignore the Makeup Guild, they're useless. Second of all, Academy Branch is a bit, weird. They basically had two films that most everyone thought were great on their shortlist, and sure enough they got in. And remember, whenever there's a stupid and ridiculous title on their shortlist, like "Bad Grandpa" last year, sure enough, that happens to maybe have one or two good makeup jobs in it, sure enough, they will nominate it. So yeah, I called the nominations for "The 100-Year-Old Man..." and now I have to watch it. This better be better than Bad Grandpa" Makeup people.


BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
*Bridge of Spies-Thomas Newman
*Carol-Carter Burwell
*The Hateful Eight-Ennio Morricone
Sicario-Johann Johannsson
Star Wars: The Force Awakens-John Williams

God, they'll give any excuse to nominate John Williams, ugh. I had "The Danish Girl" in, although Desplat was honored last year, and nominated twice then, so, sure skip over him. Johann Johannsson was also up last year, he could be a spoiler here. He was up for "The Theory of Everything", up here for "Sicario". Hmm, other that than, Morricone is probably the favorite, 'cause QT is actually right, the Academy has never given him a competitive Oscar, which is wrong. That said, I do he lets Clint Eastwood talk for him this time; and QT, stop drinking, I know it's the Globes, but if you think you'll have to talk in public, just avoid drinking, please.


BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Earned It'-Fifty Shades of Grey-Music/Lyric: Abel Tesfaye, Ahmad Balshe, Jason Daheala Quenneville and Stephan Moccio
"Manta Ray"-Racing Extinction-Music: J. Ralph; Lyric: Antony Hegarty
*"Simple Song #3"-Youth-Music/Lyric: David Lang
*"Til It Happens to You"-The Hunting Ground-Music/Lyric: Diane Warren and Lady Gaga
"Writing's On the Wall"-Spectre-Music/Lyric: Jimmy Napes and Sam Smith

Okay, they picked the wrong song from "Fifty Shades of Grey" 'cause Ellie Goulding's song "Love the Way I Do", should've been nominated instead, that's one of the best songs of the year. I've been humming that songs for months, ever since I saw the "Fifty Shades of Grey" movie, which, I still contend, wasn't bad. What the hell is "Racing Extinction", and why does boring, forgettable J. Ralph keep getting nominated?! AGH! Okay, I'm cheering for the Lady Gaga and Diane Warren song, and yeah, Diane Warren, her eighth nomination, never won, it's time for her, and sure, bring Lady Gaga along. No, she shouldn't have won the Golden Globe, but who cares, that award doesn't matter anyway.


PRODUCTION DESIGN
*Bridge of Spies-Pro.: Adam Stockhausen; Set: Rena DeAngelo and Bernhard Henrich
*The Danish Girl-Pro.: Eve Stewart; Set: Michael Standish
*Mad Max: Fury Road-Pro.: Colin Gibson; Set: Lisa Thompson
The Martian-Pro.: Arthur Max; Set: Celia Bobak
The Revenant-Pro.: Jack Fisk; Set: Hamish Purdy

Wait, "The Revenant" got in here? Most of the movie takes place outdoors? Yeah, I know there's production design in outdoor scenes and it's a period piece, but still, this was where I had "Cinderella", and "Star Wars: The Force Awakens", I would've figured they would've been more impressive. Hmm. Oh well.


SOUND EDITING
*Mad Max: Fury Road-Mark Mangini and David White
*The Martian-Oliver Tarney
*The Revenant-Martin Hernandez and Lon Bender
Sicario-Alan Robert Murray
*Star Wars: The Force Awakens-Matthew Wood and David Acord

Okay, let's remember this again, Sound Editing is the creation of sounds, Sound Mixing is the putting together of sounds. That's why I had "Inside Out" in instead of "Sicario"; and "Inside Out", really, they didn't care for that one, did they. Well, I guess they did, but still, I thought that could've gotten into Best Picture, just a month ago, now, just Writing and Animated Feature.


SOUND MIXING
Bridge of Spies-Andy Nelson, Gary Rydstrom and Drew Kunin
*Mad Max: Fury Road-Gregg Rudloff and Ben Osmo
*The Martian-Paul Massey, Mark Taylor and Mac Ruth
*The Revenant-Jon taylor, Frank A. Montano, Randy Thom and Chris Duesterdiek
*Star Wars: The Force Awakens-Andy Nelson, Christopher Scarabosio and Stuart Wilson

I had "Straight Outta Compton", there's usually a music film that gets into this category, last year, "Whiplash" won the award, despite not getting into Sound Editing. I don't foresee that happening here.


VISUAL EFFECTS
Ex Machina-Andrew Whitehurst, Paul Norris, Mark Ardington and Sara Bennett
*Mad Max: Fury Road-Andrew Jackson, Tom Wood, Dan Oliver and Andy Williams
*The Martian-Richard Stammers, Anders Langlands, Chris Lawrence and Steven Warner
The Revenant-Rich McBride, Matthew Shumway, Jason smith and Cameron Waldbauer
*Star Wars: The Force Awakens-Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Neal Scanlan and Chris Corbould

Interesting to see "Ex Machina" got in, I had "Tomorrowland" getting in, just based on what I saw, it looked like a lot of work, but "Avengers: Age of Ultron", not getting in, quite surprised the hell out of me. The Oscars turned on Marvel, not that that shouldn't and yeah, I hated "Age of Ultron," when I get time to write reviews again, I'll explain it again, but oh well.


ANIMATED SHORT
*Bear Story-Gabriel Osorio and Pato Escala
*Prologue-Richard Williams and Imogen Sutton
*Sanjay's Super Team-Sanjay Patel and Nicole Grindle
We Can't Live Without Cosmos-Konstantin Bronzit
*World of Tomorrow-Don Hertzfeldt

Wow, I had "If I Was God..." winning the category, huh. I'm glad I called "Prologue", Richard Williams is a legendary animation legend, I figured the animation branch would recognize him. Kinda surprise, Gold Derby had that way down, weird.


LIVE-ACTION SHORT
*Ave Maria-Basil Khalil and Eric Dupont
*Day One-Henry Hughes
Everything Will Be Okay (Alles Wird Gut)-Patrick Vollrath
*Shok-Jamie Donoughue
*Stutterer-Benjamin Cleary and Serena Armitage

(Long Pause)
Yeah, I got nothing here. I'll look them up later. I think "Ave Maria" is the heavy favorite from all I've heard.

Oh btw, can somebody please tell Cheryl Boone-Isaacs not to announce the damn nominees anymore, she's already half-incompetent as an Academy President, can we please not have to hear her. You woke up Guillermo Del Toro and Ang Lee and John Krasinski, that should be enough. And stop waking people up at 5:30, even the Emmys learned from that. You're in L.A. you don't have to cater to New York, wait 'til noon or something to announce. Tell John to wake up his wife next year and take the year off Ms. Boone-Isaacs, please.

2015 OSCAR NOMINATION PREDICTIONS!

Sorry folks, for being a bit short this year when it comes to my Oscar Predictions, I'm really just overloaded and busy, and I'm already behind on this blog and everything else, so no descriptions of why for now, unfortunately, hopefully I'll be more concrete when I predicted the winners, but I'm gonna just provide a long list of possible nominees and then provide my predictions. Sorry, I can't be more than that this year, and I'm not even sure I'm gonna do the two music categories, (I did, but I don't have any confidence in those predictions, so ask your designated music/movie person for help)  but that's all I can do, and I promise I'll look through the nominees in great detail when they're announced and I'll try to finish more on this blog, in the near future, including the long-delayed One-Year-Later Awards. For now, let's just go through the categories, and who could be nominated and who I'm predicting! Again, sorry for being so rushed this year.

BEST PICTURE (Possibles)
"45 Years"
"Anomalisa"
"Beasts of No Nation"
"The Big Short"
"Black Mass"
"Bridge of Spies"
"Brooklyn"
"Carol"
"Clouds of Sils Maria"
"Creed"
"The Danish Girl"
"Ex Machina"
"The Hateful Eight"
"Inside Out"
"Joy"
"Mad Max; Fury Road"
"The Martian"
"The Revenant"
"Room"
"Sicario"
"Spotlight"
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens"
"Son of Saul"
"Steve Jobs"
"Straight Outta Compton"
"Tangerine"
"Trainwreck"
"Trumbo"

Predictions: 
BEST PICTURE
The Big Short
Bridge of Spies
Carol
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Steve Jobs
Spotlight
*Brooklyn
*Room

*(Denotes if there's a ninth and/or tenth nominee)


BEST DIRECTOR (Possible)
Lenny Abrahamson-"Room"
Olivier Assayas-"Clouds of Sils Maria"
Sean Baker-"Tangerine"
Danny Boyle-"Steve Jobs"
Ryan Coogler-"Creed"
John Crowley-"Brooklyn"
Pete Doctor-"Inside Out"
Cary Fukunaga-"Beasts of No Nation"
Alex Garlan-"Ex Machina"
F. Gary Gray-"Straight Outta Compton"
Todd Haynes-"Carol"
Tom Hooper-"The Danish Girl"
Alejandro G. Inarritu-"The Revenant"
Duke Johnson and Charlie Kaufman-"Anomalisa"
Tom McCarthy-"Spotlight"
Adam McKay-"The Big Short"
George Miller-"Mad Max: Fury Road"
David Robert Mitchell-"It Follows"
Laszlo Nemes-"Son of Saul"
David O. Russell-"Joy"
Ridley Scott-"The Martian
Steven Spielberg-"Bridge of Spies"
Quentin Tarantino-"The Hateful Eight"
Denis Villeneauve-"Sicario"
Robert Zemeckis-"The Walk"

Predictions: 
BEST DIRECTOR
Alejandro G. Inarritu-"The Revenant"
Tom McCarthy-"Spotlight"
Adam McKay-"The Big Short"
George Miller-"Mad Max: Fury Road"
Ridley Scott-"The Martian"


BEST ACTOR (Possibles)
Christopher Abbott-"James White"
Abraham Attah-"Beasts of No Nation"
Christian Bale-"The Big Short"
Michael Caine-"Youth"
Steve Carell-"The Big Short"
Kevin Corrigan-"Results"
Tom Courtenay-"45 Years"
Bryan Cranston-"Trumbo"
RJ Cyler-"Me and Earl and the Dying Girl"
Matt Damon-"The Martian"
Paul Dano-"Love & Mercy"
Robert De Niro-"The Intern"
Johnny Depp-"Black Mass"
Leonardo DiCaprio-"The Revenant"
Jake Gyllenhaal-"Southpaw"
Peter Sarsgaard-"Experimenter"
Colin Farrell-"The Lobster"
Michael Fassbender-"Steve Jobs"
Bill Hader-"Trainwreck"
Tom Hanks-"Bridge of Spies"
Tom Hardy-"Legend"
Tom Hardy-"Mad Max: Fury Road"
Michael B. Jordan-"Creed"
Michael Keaton-"Spotlight"
Ian McKellan-"Mr. Holmes"
Ben Mendelsohn-"Mississippi Grind"
Shameik Moore-"Dope"
Al Pacino-"Danny Collins"
Milo Parker-"Mr. Holmes"
Eddie Redmayne-"The Danish Girl
Geza Rehrig-"Son of Saul"
Mark Ruffalo-"Infinitely Polar Bear"
Jason Segal-"The End of the Tour"
Koudous Seihon-"Mediterranea"
Will Smith-"Concussion"
Jacob Tremblay-"Room" (Possible move to Supporting)

Predictions: 
BEST ACTOR
Bryan Cranston-"Trumbo"
Matt Damon-"The Martian"
Leonardo DiCaprio-"The Revenant"
Michael Fassbender-"Steve Jobs"
Geza Rohrig-"Son of Saul"


BEST ACTRESS (Possibles)
Elizabeth Banks-"Love & Mercy"
Juliette Binoche-"Clouds of Sils Maria"
Cate Blanchett-"Carol"
Emily Blunt-"Sicario"
Marion Cotillard-"MacBeth"
Blythe Danner-"I'll See You in My Dreams"
Jane Fonda-"Youth"
Nina Hoss-"Phoenix"
Brie Larson-"Room"
Jennifer Lawrence-"Joy"
Rooney Mara-"Carol"
Rachel McAdams-"Spotlight"
Melissa McCarthy-"Spy"
Julianne Moore-"Freeheld"
Helen Mirren-"Woman in Gold"
Carey Mulligan-"Suffragette"
Bel Powley-"The Diary of a Teenage Girl"
Charlotte Rampling-"45 Years"
Kitana Kiki Rodrigues-"Tangerine"
Saoirse Ronan-"Brooklyn"
Amy Schumer-"Trainwreck"
Sarah Silverman-"I Smile Back"
Maggie Smith-"The Lady in the Van"
Charlize Theron-"Mad Max: Fury Road"
Lily Tomlin-"Grandma"
Alicia Vikander-"The Danish Girl"
Rachel Weisz-"Youth"
Kristen Wiig-"Welcome to Me"

Predictions: 
BEST ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett-"Carol"
Brie Larson-"Room"
Jennifer Lawrence-"Joy"
Charlotte Rampling-"45 Years"
Saoirse Ronan-"Brooklyn"


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (Possibles)
Christian Bale-"The Big Short"
Kevin Corrigan-"Results"
Paul Dano-"Love & Mercy"
Robert De Niro-"Joy"
Benicio Del Toro-"Sicario"
Chiwetel Ejiofor-"The Martian"
Idris Elba-"Beasts of No Nation"
Tom Hardy-"The Revenant"
Corey Hawkins-"Straight Outta Compton"
Oscar Isaac-"Ex Machina"
O'Shea Jackson, Jr.-"Straight Otuta Compton"
Richard Jenkins-"Bone Tomahawk"
Michael Keaton-"Spotlight"
Mark Ruffalo-"Spotlight"
Kurt Russell-"The Hateful Eight"
Mark Rylance-"Bridge of Spies"
Michael Shannon-"99 Homes"
Sylvester Stallone-"Creed"
Jacob Tremblay-"Room"
Forest Whitaker-"Southpaw"

Predictions: 
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christian Bale-"The Big Short"
Idris Elba-"Beasts of No Nation"
Mark Rylance-"Bridge of Spies"
Sylvester Stallone-"Creed"
Jacob Tremblay-"Room"


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Joan Allen-"Room"
Elizabeth Banks-"Love & Mercy"
Angela Basset-"Chi-Raq"
Robin Bartlett-"H."
Helena Bonham Carter-"Suffragette"
Jane Fonda-"Youth"
Marin Ireland-"Glass Chin"
Jennifer Jason Leigh-"Anomalia"
Jennifer Jason Leigh-"The Hateful Eight"
Rooney Mara-"Carol"
Rachel McAdams-"Spotlight"
Helen Mirren-"Trumbo"
Cynthia Nixon-"James White"
Ellen Page-"Freeheld"
Phylicia Rashad-"Creed"
Kristen Stewart-"Clouds of Sils Maria"
Mya Taylor-"Tangerine"
Tessa Thompson-"Creed"
Alicia Vikander-"The Danish Girl"
Alicia Vikander-"Ex Machina"
Julie Walters-"Brooklyn"
Kate Winslet-"Steve Jobs"

Predictions: 
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jennifer Jason Leigh-"The Hateful Eight"
Rooney Mara-"Carol"
Rachel McAdams-Spotlight"
Alicia Vikander-"Ex Machina"
Kate Winslet-"Steve Jobs"

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY (Possibles)
45 Years
Anomalisa
Beasts of No Nation
The Big Short
Black Mass
Brooklyn
Carol
Creed
The Danish Girl
The End of the Tour
In the Heart of the Sea
The Lady in the Van
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
The Revenant
Room
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Steve Jobs
Trumbo
Truth
The Walk

Predictions
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Big Short-Charles Randolph and Adam McKay
Brooklyn-Nick Hornby
Carol-Phyllis Nagy
The Revenant-Mark L. Smith and Alejandro G. Inarritu
Steve Jobs-Aaron Sorkin


ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY (Possibles)
99 Homes
Bone Tomahawk
Bridge of Spies
Clouds of Sils Maria
Ex Machina
The Hateful Eight
Grandma
Inside Out
Joy
Love & Mercy
Mistress America
Rikki and the Flash
Sicario
Son of Saul
Spotlight
Suffragette
Straight Outta Compton
Trainwreck
While We're Young
Youth

Predictions: 
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Bridge of Spies-Matt Charman and Ethan & Joel Coen
The Hateful Eight-Quentin Tarantino
Inside Out-Pete Doctor, Meg Lefauve & Josh Cooley; Story by Pete Doctor & Ronnie Del Carmen
Spotlight-Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy
Straight Outta Compton-Jonathan Herman and Andrea Berloff; Story by S. Leigh Savidge & Alan Wenkus and Andrea Berloff


ANIMATED FEATURE (Shortlist)
Anomalisa
The Boy and the Beast
Boy and the World
The Good Dinosaur
Home
Hotel Transylvania 2
Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet
The Laws of the Universe-Part 0
Minions
Moomins on the Riviera
The Peanuts Movie
Regular Show: The Movie
Shaun the Sheep Movie
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge out of Water
When Marnie Was There

Predictions: 
ANIMATED FEATURE
Anomalisa
Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet
Inside Out
The Peanuts Movie
Shaun the Sheep Movie


BEST DOCUMENTARY (Shortlist)
Amy
Best of Enemies
Cartel Land
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
He Named Me Malala
Heart of a Dog
Listen to Me Marlon
The Look of Silence
Meru
3 1/2 Minutes, 10 Bullets
We Come as Friends
What Happened, Miss Simone?
Where to Invade Next
Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom

Predictions: 
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Amy
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
He Named Me Malala
The Look of Silence
Where to Invade Next


FOREIGN FILM (Shortlist)
The Brand New Testament [Belgium]
Embrace of the Serpent [Columbia]
A War [Denmark]
The Fencer [Finland]
Mustang [France]
Labyrinth of Lies [Germany]
Son of Saul [Hungary]
Viva [Ireland]
Theeb [Jordan]

Predictions: 
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Brand New Testament (Belgium)
Embrace of the Serpent (Columbia)
Labyrinth of Lies (Germany)
Mustang (France)
Son of Saul (Hungary)


CINEMATOGRAPHY (Possibles)
The Assassin
Beasts of No Nation
The Big Short
Bridge of Spies
Brooklyn
Carol
Creed
Crimson Peak
The Danish Girl
Ex machina
Everest
Goodnight Mommy
The Hateful Eight
In the Heart of the Sea
It Follows
Joy
Macbeth
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Room
Sicario
Son of Saul
Spectre
Spotlight
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
The Walk

Predictions: 
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Bridge of Spies-Janusz Kaminski
Mad Max: Fury Road-John Seale
The Martian-Dariusz Wolski
The Revenant-Emmanuel Lubezki
Sicario-Roger Deakins


COSTUME DESIGN (Predictions)
Beasts of No Nation
Black Mass
Brooklyn
Carol
Cinderella
Crimson Peak
The Danish Girl
Ex Machina
Far from the Maddening Crowd
The Hateful Eight
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2
Joy
Kingsman: The Secret Service
The Lobster
Macbeth
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
Mr. Holmes
Pan
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Suffragette
Trumbo
Youth

Predictions:
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Brooklyn-Odile Dicks-Mireaux
Carol-Sandy Powell
The Danish Girl-Paco Delgado
Mad Max: Fury Road-Jenny Beavan
Trumbo-Daniel Orlandi


EDITING (Possibles)
Anomalisa
Ant-Man
Beasts of No Nation
The Big Short
Black Mass
Bridge of Spies
Brooklyn
Carol
Creed
Ex Machina
The Good Dinosaur
The Hateful eight
Inside Out
Joy
Mad Max: Fury Road
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
The Martian
The Revenant
Room
Sicario
Son of Saul
Spotlight
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Steve Jobs
Straight Outta Compton
Trainwreck
The Walk

Predictions:
BEST EDITING
The Big Short-Hank Corwin
Bridge of Spies-Michael Kahn
The Revenant-Stephen Mirrione
Mad Max: Fury Road-Margaret Sixel
Spotlight-Tom McArdle


BEST MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING(Shortlist)
Black Mass
Concussion
Legend
Mad Max: Fury Road
Mr. Holmes
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared
The Revenant

Predictions: 
BEST MAKEUP/HAIRSTYLING
Mad Max: Fury Road
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared
The Revenant


ORIGINAL SCORE (Possibles)
Anomalisa
The Big Short
Black Mass
Bridge of Spies
Brooklyn
Carol
Chi-Raq
Creed
The Danish Girl
Ex Machina
Fifty Shades of Grey
The Good Dinosaur
The Hateful Eight
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 2
Inside Out
Joy
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
Sicario
Spectre
Steve Jobs
Straight Outta Compton
Trumbo

Predictions: 
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Bridge of Spies-Thomas Newman
Carol-Carter Burwell
The Danish Girl-Alexandre Desplat
The Hateful Eight-Ennio Morricone
Inside Out-Michael Giacchino


BEST ORIGINAL SONG (Possibles)
"Cold One"-Ricki and the Flash
"Earned It"-Fifty Shades of Grey
"Feels Like Simmer"-Shaun the Sheep Movie
:Flashlight"-Pitch Perfect 2
"I'll See You in My Dreams"-I'll See You in My Dreams
"Love Me Like You Do"-Fifty Shades of Grey
"Manta Ray"-Racing Extinction
"None of Them Are You"-Anomalisa
"One Kind of Love"-Love & Mercy
"Phenomenal"-Southpaw
"See You Again-"Furious 7"
"Simple Song #3"-Youth
"So Long"-Concussion
"Til It Happens to You"-The Hunting Ground
"Waiting for My Moment-Creed
"Writing's on the Wall"-Spectre

Predictions:
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"I'll See You in My Dreams"-I'll See You in My Dreams
"Phenomenal"-Southpaw
"Love Me Like You Do"-Fifty Shades of Grey
"Simple Song 3"-Youth
"Til it Happens to You"-The Hunting Ground


PRODUCTION DESIGN (Possibles)
Bridge of Spies
The Brand New Testament
Brooklyn
Carol
Cinderella
Crimson Peak
The Danish Girl
Ex Machina
Joy
Jurassic World
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Sicario
Spectre
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Tomorrowland
Trumbo


Predictions: 
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Bridge of Spies
Cinderella
The Danish Girl
Mad Max: Fury Road
Star Wars: The Force Awakens



SOUND EDITING (Possibles)
Ant-Man
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Arabian Nights
Beasts of No Nation
Bridge of Spies
Cinderella
Creed
Everest
Ex Machina
Furious 7
The Good Dinosaur
The Hateful Eight
Hotel Transylvania 2
The Hunger games: Mockingjay-Part 2
In the Heart of the Sea
Inside Out
Joy
Jurassic World
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
Minions
Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation
The Peanuts Movie
Pitch Perfect 2
The Revenant
Sicario
Spectre
Spotlight
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Straight Outta Compton
Tomorrowland

Prediction: 
BEST SOUND EDITING
Inside Out
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Star Wars: The Force Awakens


SOUND MIXING (Possibles)
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Bridge of Spies
Creed
Ex Machina
Furious 7
The Good Dinosaur
The Hateful Eight
Hotel Transylvania 2
In the Heart of the Sea
Inside Out
Jurassic World
Love & Mercy
Mad Max: Fury Road
Minions
Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation
The Peanuts Movie
Pitch Perfect 2
The Revenant
San Andreas
Sicario
Son of Saul
Spectre
Spotlight
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Steve Jobs
Straight Outta Compton

Predictions:
BEST SOUND MIXING
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Straight Outta Compton


VISUAL EFFECTS (Shortlist)
Ant-Man
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Ex Machina
Jurassic World
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Tomorrowland
The Walk

Predictions: 
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Avengers: Age of Ultron
The Martian
Mad Max: Fury Road
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Tomorrowland


ANIMATED SHORT FILM (Shortlist)
Bear Story (Historia De Un Oso)
Carface (Autos Portraits)
If I Was God...
Love in the Time of March Madness
My Home
An Object at Rest
Prologue
Sanjay's Super Team
We Can't Live without Cosmos
World of Tomorrow

Predictions: 
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
Bear Story
If I Was God...
Prologue
Sanjay's Super Team
World of Tomorrow


LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM (Shortlist)
Ave Maria
Bad Hunter
Bis Gleich (Till Then)
Contrapelo (Against the Grain)
Day One
Everything Will Be Okay (Alles Wird Gut)
The Free Man (Zi You Ren)
Shok
Stutterer
Winter Light

Predictions: 
BEST LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM
Ave Maria
Day One
Shok
Stutterer
Winter Light


DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM (Shortlist)
Body Team 12
Chau, beyond the Lines
Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah
50 Feet from Syria
A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness
Last Day of Freedom
Minerita
My Enema, My Brother
Starting Point
The Testimony

Predictions:
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
Body Team 12
Chau, beyond the Lines
Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah
A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness
The Testimony

CANON OF FILM: "YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN"

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974)

Director: Mel Brooks

Screenplay: Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks from their screen story based on the novel “Frankenstein,” by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

You know, every once in a while, there's a discussion, especially nowadays involving certain television shows about, the differences between comedy and drama. Whether something that seems dramatic can actually be a comedy, and probably the more interesting thought, is whether a comedy can be so dark that it actually becomes dramatic. I don't like this argument, 'cause I honestly don't see much difference. I've written both comedy and drama, and let me tell you something, you write them both the same way, the only real difference is, the infliction. Literally, any story can be a comedy or a drama; it basically just depends on how you decide you want to look at it. 

As an interesting exhibit into this debate, let's look at "Young Frankenstein", which along with “The Producers,” and “Blazing Saddles,” is regarded among his very best films. All his other work, some of it very good and very funny, has some uneven moments, or over-the-top parts that keep them from being great, but there’s no doubt about these three, not only are they consistently funny, even today, but in fact I think they get funnier the more you watch them. “Young Frankenstein,” is one I’ve seen a lot of lately, is Mel Brooks most carefully directed film, making sure every shot is as exact as he can get them. He's often played with and satire other films and genres, "Blazing Saddles" with westerns, "Spaceballs" with "Star Wars", but this one is clearly different than just him, making jokes about the movies. I bet he loves the old 1930s James Whale Frankenstein films the film is based on, because here, he doesn’t go for the over-the-top joke every time, he tells basically a very faithful retelling of the Frankenstein films, shooting in black and white, even using the actual laboratory set from the original 1931 film, and basically turns the horror film into a comedy by putting a comedic turn on the material whenever possible, rarely going too far for a joke, yet, there’s hundreds of jokes here, and all of them are funny.

We begin by following Dr. Frederick von Fronk-en-steen, (Gene Wilder, also co-writer of Oscar-nominated Screenplay) as he becomes aware of his infamous grandfather’s will and belongings being left to him, and he heads off to Transylvania to look into it. Enter Eye-gor (Marty Feldman) the grandson of Dr. Frankenstein’s assistant, as he and Inga (Teri Garr) go off to the castle where Frau Blucher, (Cloris Leachman) who’s name, whenever spoken makes the horses shriek, is the keeper of the house. Once there, Wilder finds his grandfather’s old library and notes, in a book titled “How I Did It,” by Victor Frankenstein, and he begins recommencing the re-animation of dead tissue. The monster, (Peter Boyle) is naturally accidentally given an Abnormal brain when Igor drops the original brain at the brain lab. (“After 5:00pm, slip brains through doorslot.”) One of my favorite scenes is a play-off from “Bride of Frankenstein,” when loose, the Monster becomes a guest at a Blindman’s house, (An unrecognizable and barely credited Gene Hackman) who tries to befriend the monster, but accidentally keeps hurting him. The most memorable scene involves a well-known unexpected musical number during a performance where the creature is shown to fellow scientists. There isn’t a bad performance in the film; I didn’t even mention Madeline Kahn, actually barking at the Monster when she realizes how, eh, big, he is. Or Kenneth Mars as the town police inspector who has one metal hand he uses to light cigarettes, throw darts, and even as a battering log when one isn’t provided. This bit is played out and stretched so brilliantly, you almost miss how this joke could have been screwed up in the first scene, but it’s played out to the very end. Maybe I like comedy better than horror, but I have a confession, I like this film better than the movies that inspired it. That’s blasphemy to “Frankenstein,” fans, but even they’ll say this film is hilarious. Unlike “Blazing Saddles,” which satires Western movies to the point where it's practically just elongated sketches, (And that's a compliment btw), I have more appreciation for this film, because it’s a truly, thoughtful homage. In fact, this movie adds to the overall enjoyment of monster movies, it also shows that, if Mel Brooks actually wanted to, he could make a serious, more fun for him and for us to use that legendary comedic sensibility of his instead. 

Perhaps comedy is just drama with the jokes put in, or drama is just comedy with the jokes taken out, but I think I prefer to think of Mel Brooks's definitions of tragedy and comedy as the ultimate answer to the argument of what is comedy and what is drama;  to quote the legend himself, "Tragedy, is when I cut my finger, comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die." Like I said, it's all in not the subject, it's how it's presented.  

THE 5TH ANNUAL OYL AWARDS NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCEMENT!

ME
(Standing at podium)
Good Morning, Everyone.

Welcome, to the announcement for the nominees for the 5th Annual One-Year-Later Awards, the OYLs!  I know, we're late this year, sorry about that, particularly since we're already a year late normally, this is embarrassing. So anyway, we're just gonna get to the nominations quickly. Here to present this year's nominees, last year's winner of the OYL Award for Best Supporting Actor for "Nebraska", Will Forte, and the winner of last year's OYL Award for Best Actress for "Crystal Fairy and the Magical Cactus & 2012", Gaby Hoffman.

(Gaby Hoffman and Will Forte come out entering from both sides of the stage and approach the podium as the press/audience claps. I walk off, exit stage right)

WILL FORTE
Good morning, Everyone. There are nine nominees this year, in the category of Best Supporting Actress, the nominees are....

 
     Patricia Arquette-"Boyhood"                                      Marion Bailey-"Mr. Turner" 

 
    Jessica Chastain-"A Most Violent Year"                      Suzanne Clement-"Mommy"

 
    Laura Dern-"Wild"                                                         Erica Rivas-"Wild Tales"

  
      Saxon Sharbino-"Trust Me"                                     Emma Stone-"Birdman or (The                                                                                                       Unexpected Virtue of  Ignorance)"

Katherine Waterston-"Inherent Vice"

(The full list of names are revealed on the big screen, after each singular nominee is announced.)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Patricia Arquette-"Boyhood"
Marion Bailey-"Mr. Turner"
Jessica Chastain-"A Most Violent Year"
Suzanne Clement-"Mommy"
Laura Dern-"Wild"
Erica Rivas-"Wild Tales"
Saxon Sharbino-"Trust Me"
Emma Stone-"Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)"
Katherine Waterston-"Inherent Vice"

GABY HOFFMAN
There are eight nominees this year in the category of Best Supporting Actor, the nominees are.... 

 
     James Gandolfini-"The Drop"                                     Andy Garcia-"Rob the Mob"

 
       Ethan Hawke-"Boyhood"                                          Ben Mendelsohn-"Starred Up"

 
      Miyavi-"Unbroken"                                                    Edward Norton-"Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of                                                                                                  Ignorance)"

 
     Mark Ruffalo-"Foxcatcher"                                       J.K. Simmons-"Whiplash"


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
James Gandolfini-"The Drop"
Andy Garcia-"Rob the Mob"
Ethan Hawke-"Boyhood"
Ben Mendelsohn-"Starred Up"
Miyavi-"Unbroken"
Edward Norton-"Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)"
Mark Ruffalo-"Foxcatcher"
J.K. Simmons-"Whiplash"

WILL FORTE
For the first time ever, there are ten nominees, the maximum in the category of Best Production Design. the nominees are
(Brief pause)
For "Belle", Production Design by Simon Bowles; Set Decoration by Tina Jones, for "Big Eyes, Production Design by Rick Heinrichs, Set Decoration by Craig Lewis and Shane Vieau, for "The Grand Budapest Hotel", Production Design by Adam Stockhausen, Set Decoration by Anna Pinnock, "How to Train Your Dragon 2"...,

(Audience murmurs is slight shock)

WILL FORTE
(Continuing)
Production Design by Pierre-Olivier Vince. "The Imitation Game", Production Design by Maria Djurkovic, Set Decoration by Tatiana Macdonald, "The Immigrant", Production Design by Happy Massee, Set Decoration by David Schlesinger, "A Most Violent Year", Production Design by John P. Goldsmith; Set Decoration by Melanie J. Baker, "Mr. Turner", Production Design by Suzie Davies; Set Decoration by Charlotte Watts, "Selma," Production Design by Mark Friedberg, Set Decoration by Elizabeth Keenan, and "Unbroken", Production Design by Jon Hutman; Set Decoration by Lisa Thompson. Whew!

(Audience giggle, murmurs.)


PRODUCTION DESIGN
Belle-Pro.: Simon Bowles; Set: Tina Jones
Big Eyes-Pro.: Rick Heinrichs; Set: Craig Lewis and William Reyes Jr.
The Grand Budapest Hotel-Pro.: Adam Stockhausen; Set: Anna Pinnock
How to Train Your Dragon 2-Pro.: Pierre-Olivier Vincent
The Imitation Game-Pro.: Maria Djurkovic; Set: Tatiana Macdonald
The Immigrant-Pro.: Happy Massee; Set: David Schlesinger
A Most Violent Year-Pro.: John P. Goldsmith; Set: Melanie J. Baker
Mr. Turner-Pro.: Suzie Davies; Set: Charlotte Watts
Selma-Pro.: Mark Friedberg; Set: Elizabeth Keenan
Unbroken-Pro.: Jon Hutman; Set: Lisa Thompson

GABY HOFFMAN
That's a lot to say, isn't it?

WILL FORTE
A lot more left.

GABY HOFFMAN
I know. For the first time ever, the One-Year-Later Award have decided to present the Award in the field of Outstanding Costume Design for a Feature Film. They are also proud to announce the ten nominees, the maximum, in the category this year, they are...
(Brief Pause)
"Belle", Costumes by Anushia Nieradzik, "Big Eyes", Costumes by Colleen Atwood, "The Grand Budapest Hotel", Costumes by Milena Canonero, "The Imitation Game", Costumes by Sammy Sheldon Differ, "The Immigrant", costumes by Patricia Norris, "Inherent Vice", Costumes by Mark Bridges, "Jimi: All is By My Side", Costumes by Leonie Prendergast, "Magic in the Moonlight, Costumes by Sonia Grande, "Mr. Turner, Costumes by Jacqueline Durran and "Selma", Costumes by Ruth E. Carter


COSTUME DESIGN
Belle-Anushia Nieradzik
Big Eyes-Colleen Atwood
The Grand Budapest Hotel-Milena Canonero
The Immigrant-Patricia Norris
The Imitation Game-Sammy Sheldon Differ
Inherent Vice-Mark Bridges
Jimi: All is By My Side-Leonie Prendergast
Magic in the Moonlight-Sonia Grande
Mr. Turner-Jacqueline Durran
Selma-Ruth E. Carter

WILL FORTE
For the third consecutive year, there are ten nominees, the maximum in the category of Best Cinematography, the nominees are now....
(Brief Pause)
"Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)"; Emmanuel Lubezki, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"; Robert D. Yeoman, "The Immigrant"; Darius Khondji, "Inherent Vice"; Robert Elswit, "Interstellar"; Hoyte van Hoytema, "Locke"; Haris Zam-bar-louk-ous, Zambarloukos, yikes.

(Audience laugh at Will's struggle)

WILL FORTE
(Continues)
"Moebius", Kim Ki-Duk, "Mr. Turner", Dick Pope,- didn't make that mistake.

(Audience laughs)

WILL FORTE
(Continues)
"Unbroken", Roger Deakins, and "Under the Skin", Daniel Landin.


CINEMATOGRAPHY
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)-Emmanuel Lubezki
The Grand Budapest Hotel-Robert D. Yeoman
The Immigrant-Darius Khondji
Inherent Vice-Robert Elswit
Interstellar-Hoyte van Hoytema
Locke-Haris Zambarloukos
Moebius-Kim Ki-Duk
Mr. Turner-Dick Pope
Unbroken-Roger Deakins
Under the Skin-Daniel Landin

GABY HOFFMAN
Congrats on avoiding that.

(Audience laughs again, Will nods)

WILL FORTE
(Under breath)
Thanks.

GABY HOFFMAN
There are ten nominees, the maximum, this year, in the category of Outstanding Editing, the nominees are...
(Brief pause)
For "Boyhood"; Sandra Adair, for "Edge of Tomorrow"; James Herbert and Laura Jennings, for "The Grand Budapest Hotel"; Barney Pilling, for "Locke"; Justine Wright, for "Moebius"; Kim Ki-Duk, for "Mommy"; Xavier Dolan, for "Nightcrawler"; John Gilroy, for "Whiplash"; Tom Cross,...
(Smiling)
for "Wild", Martin Pensa and John Mac McMurphy, and for "Wild Tales" Pable Barbieri Carrera and Damian Szifron.


EDITING
Boyhood-Sandra Adair
Edge of Tomorrow-James Herbert and Laura Jennings
The Grand Budapest Hotel-Barney Pilling
Locke-Justine Wright
Moebius-Kim Ki-Duk
Mommy-Xavier Dolan
Nightcrawler-John Gilroy
Whiplash-Tom Cross
Wild-Martin Pensa and John Mac McMurphy (aka John-Marc Vallee)
Wild Tales-Pablo Barbieri Carrera and Damian Szifron

For the first time ever the One-Year-Later Awards have decided to separate the Casting category, into two separate categories, one for the Casting of the film itself, and a separate category for the Outstanding Ensemble Performance of the Cast. The Award for Casting is awarded to the Casting Director; if no Casting Director is listed, the nominee is given to a film's Producer and/or Executive Producers. There are nine nominees this year, in the Casting category and they are...
(Brief pause)
"Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)"; Casting by Francine Maisler, "Boyhood", Casting by Beth Sepko, "Foxcatcher", Casting by Jeanne McCarthy, "The Grand Budapest Hotel"; U.S. Casting by Douglas Aibel; U.K. Casting by Jina Jay; "Inherent Vice", Casting by Cassandra Kulukindis, "It Felt Like Love", Casting by Henry Russell Bergstein; "R100"; Casting by Masunobu Motokawa, "Selma"; Casting by Aisha Coley, and "Wild Tales", Casting by Javier Braier.


CASTING
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)-Casting by Francine Maisler
Boyhood-Casting by Beth Sepko
Foxcatcher-Casting by Jeanne McCarthy
The Grand Budapest Hotel-U.S. Casting by Douglas Aibel, U.K. Casting by Jina Jay
Inherent Vice-Casting by Cassandra Kulukindis
It Felt Like Love-Casting by Henry Russell Bergstein
R100-Casting by Masunobu Motokawa
Selma-Casting by Aisha Coley
Wild Tales-Casting by Javier Braier

GABY HOFFMAN
And now for the nominees for Outstanding Performance by a Casting Ensemble, the award is given to every credited member of the movie's cast, with the complete list of nominated performers to be announced later; and there are ten nominees, the maximum this year, and the nominees are...
(Brief pause)
The casts of "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)", "Boyhood", "Force Majeure", "The Grand Budapest Hotel", "Love is Strange", "Moebius", "Mommy", "Selma", "Wild"-, oh wait, really?

(Gaby stops for a moment's pause at the announcement, realizing that she's just been nominated, as audience laughs)

GABY HOFFMAN
I didn't remember that being there before.

WILL FORTE
Congratulations.

GABY HOFFMAN
Thanks. And "Wild Tales".

ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Boyhood
Force Majeure
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Love is Strange
Moebius
Mommy
Selma
Wild
Wild Tales

WILL FORTE
There are five nominees in the category of Best Animated Feature Film, the OYL Award is given to the film's Directors and Producers, the nominees are...
(Brief Pause)
"How to Train Your Dragon 2", Director Dean DeBlois; Producer, Bonnie Arnold, "The LEGO Movie", alright!

(Audience laughs)

WILL FORTE
(Continuing)
Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller; Producers, Roy Lee and Dan Lin, "A Letter to Momo", Director Hiroyuki Okiura; Producers Keiko Matsushita, Motoki Mukaichi, Mariko Noguchi, and Arimasa Okada, "Song of the Sea", Director/Producer, Tomm Moore; Producers Claus Toksvig Kjaer and Paul Young, and "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, Director Isao Takahata; Producers Yoshiaki Nishimura and Seiichiro Ujiie.

 

 

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
How to Train Your Dragon 2-Dir.: Dean DeBlois; Pro.: Bonnie Arnold
The LEGO Movie-Dir.: Phil Lord & Christopher Miller; Pro.: Roy Lee and Dan Lin
A Letter to Momo-Dir.: Hiroyuki Okiura; Pro.: Keiko Matsushita, Motoki Mukaichi, Mariko Noguchi and Arimasa Okada
Song of the Sea-Dir./Pro.: Tomm Moore; Pro.: Claus Toksvig Kjaer and Paul Young
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya-Dir. Isao Takahata; Pro.: Yoshiaki Nishimura and Seiichiro Ujiie


GABY HOFFMAN
There are ten films, the maximum, nominated in the Best Foreign Language Film category, the award is given to the films' Director, and the nominees are....
(Brief Pause)
from France, "Abuse of Weakness"; Director Catherine Breillat, from Sweden, "Force Majeure"; Director Ruben Ostlund, from Singapore, "Ilo Ilo"; Director Anthony Chen, from Russia "Leviathan", Director Andrey Zv-, oh God.

(Audience murmurs, laughs)

WILL FORTE
This is hard, isn't it?

GABY HOFFMAN
(Struggling with name)
Yeah. Z-vi-a-gintsev, I think, Sorry.

(Audience chuckles)

GABY HOFFMAN
(Continues)
from Japan, "Like Father, Like Son"; Hirokazu KOREEDA, from South Korea, "Moebius", Director Kim Ki-Duk, from Canada, "Mommy"; Director Xavier Dolan, from Japan, "R100"; Director Hitoshi Matsumoto, from Japan, "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya", Director Isao Takahata, and from Argentina, "Wild Tales", Director Damian Szifron.

 

 

 

 

 


FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Abuse of Weakness-Catherine Breillat (France)
Force Majeure-Ruben Ostlund (Sweden)
Ilo Ilo-Anthony Chen (Singapore)
Leviathan-Andrey Zvyagintsev (Russia)
Like Father, Like Son-Hirokazu KOREEDA (Japan)
Moebius-Kim Ki-Duk (South Korea)
Mommy-Xavier Dolan (Canada)
R100-Hitoshi Matsumoto (Japan)
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya-Isao Takahata (Japan)
Wild Tales-Damian Szifron (Argentina)


WILL FORTE
There are five nominees this year, in the category of Best Documentary Feature, the award is given to the film's Directors and Producers, the nominees are

(Slight murmurs from audience from shock)

WILL FORTE
(Continues)
"Citizenfour", Director/Producer Laura Poitras; Producers Mathilde Bonnefoy and Dirk Wilutzky, "Jodorowsky's Dune", Director/Producer Frank Pavich; Producers Stephen Scarlata and Travis Stevens, "Korengal", Director Sebastian Junger; Producer Nick Quested, "Life Itself," Director Steve James; Producers Garrett Basch and Zak Piper, and "The Unknown Known", Director/Producer Errol Morris; Producers; Amanda Branson Gill, Ali El Chami and Robert Fernandez

 

 

DOCUMENTARY
Citizenfour-Dir./Pro.: Laura Poitras; Pro.: Mathilde Bonnefoy, Dirk Wilutzky
Jodorowsky's Dune-Dir./Pro.: Frank Pavich; Pro.: Stephen Scarlata and Travis Stevens
Korengal-Dir.: Sebastian Junger; Pro.: Nick Quested
Life Itself-Dir./Pro.: Steve James; Pro.: Garrett Basch and Zak Piper
The Unknown Known-Dir./Pro.: Errol Morris; Pro.: Amanda Branson Gill, Ali El Chami and Robert Fernandez


GABY HOFFMAN
For the third consecutive year, there are ten nominees, the maximum, in the Best Actor category, the nominees are...

 
  Ralph Fiennes-"The Grand Budapest Hotel"                  Brendan Gleeson-"Calvary"

 
   Clark Gregg-"Trust Me"                                               Jake Gyllenhaal-"Nightcrawler"

 
    Tom Hardy-"Locke"                                                     Masaharu Fukuyama-"Like Father, Like Son"

 
   Michael Keaton-"Birdman or (The Unexpected            Antoine-Olivier Pilon-"Mommy"
   Virtue of Ignorance)"

 
      Andy Serkis-"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes"           Timothy Spall-"Mr. Turner"


BEST ACTOR
Ralph Fiennes-"The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Brendan Gleeson-"Calvary"
Clark Gregg-"Trust Me"
Jake Gyllenhaal-"Nightcrawler"
Tom Hardy-"Locke"
Masaharu Fukuyama-"Like Father, Like Son"
Michael Keaton-"Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)"
Antoine-Olivier Pilon-"Mommy"
Andy Serkis-"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes"
Timothy Spall-"Mr. Turner"

(Audience reacts heavily numerous times during the announcements and afterwards, as they analyze the surprising list of names.)

WILL FORTE
For the second consecutive year, there are ten nominees in the Best Actress category, the nominees are...

 
      Marion Cotillard-"The Immigrant"                           Anne Dorval-"Mommy"

 
       Isabelle Huppert-"Abuse of Weakness"                    Lee Eun-Woo-"Moebius"

 
         Stacy Martin-"Nymphomaniac: Vol. 1"                   Julianne Moore-"Still Alice"

 
          Gina Piersanti-"It Felt Like Love"                          Rosamund Pike-"Gone Girl"

 
           Jenny Slate-"Obvious Child"                                 Reese Witherspoon-"Wild"


BEST ACTRESS
Marion Cotillard-"The Immigrant"
Anne Dorval-"Mommy"
Isabelle Huppert-"Abuse of Weakness"
Lee Eun-Woo-"Moebius"
Stacy Martin-"Nymphomaniac: Vol. 1"
Julianne Moore-"Still Alice"
Gina Piersanti-"It Felt Like Love"
Rosamund Pike-"Gone Girl"
Jenny Slate-"Obvious Child"
Reese Witherspoon-"Wild"


GABY HOFFMAN
Congratulations, Jenny! And Reese! For the second consecutive year, there are seven films nominated in the Best Adapted Screenplay category, the nominees are...
(Brief pause)
For "The Imitation Game", Graham Moore, for "Inherent Vice", Paul Thomas Anderson, for "Still Alice", Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland, for "Under the Skin", Walter Campbell & Jonathan Glazer, for "We are the Best!", Lukas Moodysson,-

(Slight gasps of shocks from the audience)

GABY HOFFMAN
(Continues)
for "Whiplash", Damian Chazelle, and yes, for "Wild", Nick Hornby.

(Audience chuckles slightly.)


ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Imitation Game-Graham Moore
Inherent Vice-Paul Thomas Anderson
Still Alice-Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland
Under the Skin-Walter Campbell & Jonathan Glazer
We are the Best!-Lukas Moodysson
Whiplash-Damian Chazelle
Wild-Nick Hornby

WILL FORTE
(Slight pause)
For the third consecutive year, there are ten nominees, the maximum, in the category of Best Original Screenplay, the nominees are...
(Brief pause)
for "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)", Alejandro G. Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris & Armando Bo, for "Boyhood", Richard Linklater, for "Force Majeure", Ruben Ostlund, for "The Grand Budapest Hotel", Wes Anderson; Story by Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness, for "The LEGO Movie", Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, yeah! Finally somebody I work with getting nominated,-

(Audience and Gaby laughs)

WILL FORTE
(Continuing)
Story by Dan Hageman & Kevin Hageman and Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, for "Moebius", Kim Ki-Duk, for "Mommy", Xavier Dolan, for "Nightcrawler", Dan Gilroy, for "Selma", Paul Webb, and for "Wild Tales", Damian Szifron.


ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)-Alejandro G. Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris & Armando Bo
Boyhood-Richard Linklater
Force Majeure-Ruben Ostlund
The Grand Budapest Hotel-Wes Anderson, Story by Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness
The LEGO Movie-Phil Lord & Christopher Miller; Story by Dan Hageman & Kevin Hageman and Phil Lord & Christopher Miller
Moebius-Kim Ki-duk
Mommy-Xavier Dolan
Nightcrawler-Dan Gilroy
Selma-Paul Webb
Wild Tales-Damian Szifron

GABY HOFFMAN
For the second consecutive year, there are ten nominees, the maximum, in the category of Best Director, the nominees are....

 
        J.C. Chandor-"A Most Violent Year"                       Xavier Dolan-"Mommy"

 
        Richard Glatzner & Wash Westmoreland-"Still      Jonathan Glazer-"Under the Skin"
        Alice"

 
        Alejandro G. Inarritu-"Birdman or (The                  Kim Ki-Duk-"Moebius"
        Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)"

 
          Steven Knight-"Locke"                                            Richard Linklater-"Boyhood"

 
         Ruben Ostlund-"Force Majeure"                            Damian Szifron-"Wild Tales"


DIRECTOR
J.C. Chandor-"A Most Violent Year"
Xavier Dolan-"Mommy"
Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland-"Still Alice"
Jonathan Glazer-"Under the Skin"
Alejandro G. Inarritu-"Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)"
Kim Ki-Duk-"Moebius"
Steven Knight-"Locke"
Richard Linklater-"Boyhood"
Ruben Ostlund-"Force Majeure"
Damian Szifron-"Wild Tales"

WILL FORTE
And now, David will come back out, come up, David.

(Audience chuckles as I re-enter back onto the stage and approach the podium where I stand between them)

WILL FORTE
David Baruffi, will announce, the Best Picture category.

(Audience begins applauding, although I motion to calm them down)

ME
Thanks will, and Congrats on your nominations Gaby. As always there are ten nominees for Best Picture, and the nominees are....
(Brief pause)
"Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance; Producters, Alejandro G. Inarritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan and James W. Skotchdopole, "Boyhood"; Producers Richard Linklater, Jonathan Sehring, John Sloss and Cathleen Sutherland, "Force Majuere"; Producers Katja Adomeit, Erik Hemmendorff and Marie Kjellson, "Moebius"; Producer Soon-Mo Kim, "Mommy", Producers Xavier Dolan and Nancy Grant, "A Most Violent Year"; Producers J.C. Chandor, Neal Dodson and Anna Gerb, "Still Alice"; Producers, James Brown, Pamela Koffler and Lex Lutzus, "Under the Skin"; Producers Nick Wechsler and James Wilson, "Wild"; Producers Bruna Papandrea, Bill Pohlad and Reese Witherspoon, and "Wild Tales"; Producers, Agustin Almodovar, Pedro Almodovar, Esther Garcia, Matias Mosteirin and Hugo Sigman.

 

              

 

 

 


BEST PICTURE
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)-Pro.: Alejandro G. Inarritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan, and James W. Skotchdopole
Boyhood-Pro.: Richard Linklater, Jonathan Sehring, John Sloss and Cathleen Sutherland
Force Majeure-Pro.: Katja Adomeit, Erik Hemmendorff and Marie Kjellson
Moebius-Pro.: Soon-Mo Kim
Mommy-Pro.: Xavier Dolan and Nancy Grant
A Most Violent Year-J.C. Chandor, Neal Dodson and Anna Gerb
Still Alice-Pro.: James Brown, Pamela Koffler and Lex Lutzus
Under the Skin-Pro.: Nick Wechsler and James Wilson
Wild-Pro.: Bruna Papandrea, Bill Pohlad and Reese Witherspoon
Wild Tales-Pro.: Agustin Almodovar, Pedro Almodovar, Esther Garcia, Matias Mosteirin and Hugo Sigman

ME
(Continued)
Join us on, well, we're aiming for January 20th at the moment, hopefully we might get the ceremony put on earlier, might be later, keep an eye on the blog and on Facebook and Twitter, for more announcements on when we'll open the envelopes for the 5th Annual One-Year-Later Awards. Thank you all for coming.

(I, Will Forte and Gaby Hoffman all walk off stage, exit stage right. Audience/Press muttering and conversing as they begin dissecting the nominations.)