Life of Pi – Way Too Indie

Giveaway: Win Life of Pi on Blu-ray

Dustin Jansick — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Life of Pi is truly a film that you must see on the highest resolution possible in order to immerse yourself in the glorious picture director Ang Lee and cinematographer Claudio Miranda create. Which is why Way Too Indie is happy to giveaway a Blu-ray of Life of Pi to one of our readers.

How do you enter the giveaway?

Simply email me (dustin AT waytooindie.com) your favorite 3D movie you’ve seen.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest on indie films.

About Life of Pi:

A “magnificent and moving” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone) motion picture event that has been hailed as “a masterpiece” (Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times), taking in over $500 million in worldwide box office. LIFE OF PI follows Pi Patel, a young man on a fateful voyage who, after a spectacular disaster, is marooned on a lifeboat with the only other survivor, a fearsome 450 lb Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker.

LIFE OF PI 3-Disc BD3D/BD/Ultraviolet/DVD & DC

Disc 1: Blu-ray
- Film
- Documentary: A Remarkable Vision (19:35 min)
- Documentary: A Filmmaker’s Epic Journey (63:29 min)
- Documentary: Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright ( 8:35min)
- Stills: Gallery
  - Art by Joanna Bush
  - Art by Haan Lee
  - Art by Dawn Masi
  - Art by Alexis Rockman
- Stills: Storyboards
Disc 2: DVD & Digital Copy (Film only)
Disc 3: Blu-ray 3D
- 3D Film
- 3D/2D Deleted Scenes:
  - Anandi’s Second Dance
  - Time to Grow Up
  - Happy Birthday
  - Did I Say Something Wrong?
  - Darkness
- 3D/2D VFX Progressions:
  - Tsimstum Sinking
  - The Wave Tank
- 3D/2D Theatrical Trailer

LIFE OF PI 2-Disc BD/Ultraviolet/DVD & DC Combo

Disc 1: Blu-ray
- Film
- Documentary: Remarkable Vision (20 min)
- Documentary: Epic Journey (60 min)
- Documentary: Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright (5 min)
- Stills: Gallery
  - Art by Joanna Bush
  - Art by Haan Lee
  - Art by Dawn Masi
  - Art by Alexis Rockman
- Stills: Storyboards
Disc 2: DVD & Digital Copy (Film only)

Available on Blu-ray and DVD March 12th

GUIDE TO 3D BLU-RAY

One of the latest developments in the world of home entertainment is the introduction of 3D Blu-ray. Ang Lee made the most of 3D technology in the making of Life of Pi, which is being released on 3D Blu-ray March 12. The 3D Blu-ray will allow select bonus features to be seen in 3D, which is a first for the market. In this feature, we’ll take a closer look into at-home 3D technology and how it is evolving.

When 3D HDTVs were first sold in 2010 many believed that TV technology had reached its peak. However, TV giants such as Samsung, LG and Panasonic and Sony were already looking ahead. They immediately began work on passive 3D glasses, similar to what audiences use in the cinema, which were more comfortable than the chunky active-3D glasses, which consumers had to sync with their TV in order to use.

In 2012 we witnessed the first glasses-free 3D HDTV. This marked a huge breakthrough for at-home 3D but there were still problems. For example, each person watching had to sync their position with the TV to ensure clear viewing, which proved tiresome in big groups. But the price remains the biggest barrier to consumer conversion to glasses-free 3D TV. These products are, on average, $10,000 more expensive than your run-of-the-mill passive or active 3D HDTVs, which means you are unlikely to see them in your friends’ living room anytime soon.

So what should we look out for in 2013? 4K technology has been on our cinema screens since 2007 but will be entering the home in 2013. 4KTVs will have a mind-blowing 8 million individual pixels and some brands will even allow users to play 2-player games with no split-screen. The $24,999 price-tag means you won’t be seeing many 4KTVs around but with at-home 3D technology evolving at such a pace, it won’t be long before you can watch your Life of Pi 3D Blu-ray in 4K at home.

2013 Oscar Winners

Dustin Jansick — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Just as many expected, Argo took home the top award of Best Picture at the 85th Academy Awards, despite Ben Affleck not receiving a Best Director nomination, something that has only happened four times in 85 years. It was a year for records as Daniel Day-Lewis winning Best Actor for his role in Lincoln means that he is now the only person to have won three Best Actor awards in Oscar history. Also, the first time since 1969 there was a tie for a category (both Skyfall and Zero Dark Thirty won for Best Sound Editing).

Even though Argo walked away with the top honors and two other awards (Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing), Life of Pi was the film that took home the most awards this year with four wins (Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Score and Best Visual Effects). And while Lincoln had 12 nominations, the film only ended up winning two awards (Best Actor and Best Production Design).

List of 2013 Oscar Winners:

(The winners are highlighted in bold red font)

Best Picture:

Amour
Argo
Beasts Of The Southern Wild
Django Unchained
Les Misérables
Life Of Pi
Lincoln
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty

Best Director:

Michael Haneke – Amour
Benh Zeitlin – Beasts Of The Southern Wild
Ang Lee – Life Of Pi
Steven Spielberg – Lincoln
David O. Russell – Silver Linings Playbook

Best Actor:

Denzel Washington – Flight
Hugh Jackman – Les Miserables
Daniel Day-Lewis – Lincoln
Joaquin Phoenix – The Master
Bradley Cooper – Silver Linings Playbook

Best Actress:

Emmanuelle Riva – Amour
Quvenzhane Wallis – Beasts Of The Southern Wild
Naomi Watts – The Impossible
Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings PLaybook
Jessica Chastain – Zero Dark Thirty

Best Supporting Actor:

Alan Arkin – Argo
Christoph Waltz – Django Unchained
Tommy Lee Jones – Lincoln
Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Master
Robert De Niro – Silver Linings Playbook

Best Supporting Actress:

Anne Hathaway – Les Misérables
Sally Field – Lincoln
Amy Adams – The Master
Helen Hunt – The Sessions
Jacki Weaver – Silver Linings Playbook

Best Original Screenplay:

Michael Haneke – Amour
Quentin Tarantino – Django Unchained
John Gatins – Flight
Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola – Moonrise Kingdom
Mark Boal – Zero Dark Thirty

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Chris Terrio – Argo
Lucy Alibar, Benh Zeitlin – Beasts of the Southern Wild
David Magee – Life Of Pi
Tony Kushner – Lincoln
David O. Russell – Silver Linings Playbook

Best Foreign Film:

Amour
Kon-Tiki
No
A Royal Affair
War Witch

Best Cinematography:

Seamus McGarvey – Anna Karenina
Robert Richardson – Django Unchained
Claudio Miranda – Life Of Pi
Janusz Kaminski – Lincoln
Roger Deakins – Skyfall

Best Animated Film:

Brave
Frankenweenie
ParaNorman
The Pirates! Band Of Misfits
Wreck-It Ralph

Best Documentary:

5 Broken Cameras
The Gatekeepers
How To Survive A Plague
The Invisible War
Searching For Sugar Man

Best Film Editing:

William Goldenberg – Argo
Tim Squyres – Life Of Pi
Michael Kahn – Lincoln
Jay Cassidy and Crispin Struthers – Silver Linings Playbook
William Goldenberg, Dylan Tichenor – Zero Dark Thirty

Best Original Score:

Dario Marianelli – Anna Karenina
Alexandre Desplat – Argo
Mychael Danna – Life Of Pi
John Williams – Lincoln
Thomas Newman – Skyfall

Best Original Song:

“Before My Time” – Chasing Ice
“Pi’s Lullaby” – Life Of Pi
“Suddenly” – Les Miserables
“Skyfall” – Skyfall
“Everybody Needs A Best Friend” – Ted

Best Production Design:

Anna Karenina
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Les Misérables
Life Of Pi
Lincoln

Best Costume Design:

Anna Karenina
Les Misérables
Lincoln
Mirror Mirror
Snow White and the Huntsman

Best Makeup and Hairstyling:

Hitchcock
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Les Misérables

Best Sound Editing:

Argo
Django Unchained
Life Of Pi
Skyfall
Zero Dark Thirty

Best Sound Mixing:

Argo
Les Misérables
Life Of Pi
Lincoln
Skyfall

Best Visual Effects:

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Life Of Pi
Marvel’s The Avengers
Prometheus
Snow White And The Huntsman

Best Documentary (Short Subject):

Inocente
Kings Point
Mondays At Racine
Open Heart
Redemption

Best Visual Short Film (Animated):

Adam And Dog
Fresh Guacamole
Head Over Heels
Maggie Simpson In The Longest Daycare
Paperman

Best Short Film (Live Action):

Asad
Buzkashi Boys
Curfew
Death Of A Shadow
Henry

2013 Golden Globe Award Winners

Dustin Jansick — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 16:35:50 +0000

The Golden Globes Award show got off to a bit of a shaky start when the Teleprompters malfunctioned during Paul Rudd and Salma Hayek’s award presentation, leaving them in an awkward speechless moment. Despite a couple minor out of sync setbacks though, the awards giving out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association went fairly well, thanks in part to the wonderful hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. A couple other highlights on the night were ex-president Bill Clinton appropriately presenting the film Lincoln and Jodie Foster gave a wonderful coming-out speech while accepting a lifetime achievement award.

There were some surprises at the Golden Globes, but because the HFPA voting size is approximately 1.5% of the voting size of the Academy, using the results here to predict the Oscars would not be highly advised.

The biggest surprise was when Argo picked up the Best Picture in drama and when Ben Affleck won Best Director for it, an award for which he was not Oscar nominated for. Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained also received some love from the Globes when it won Best Original Screenplay and the Supporting Actor award by Christoph Waltz.

Full list of 2013 Golden Globes award winners:

(Winners are highlighted in bold red font)

FILM

Best Motion Picture – Drama
Argo
Django Unchained
Life Of Pi
Lincoln
Zero Dark Thirty

Best Picture – Comedy/Musical
Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Les Miserables
Moonrise Kingdom
Salmon Fishing In The Yemen
Silver Linings Playbook

Best Director
Ben Affleck – Argo
Quentin Tarantino – Django Unchained
Ang Lee – Life Of Pi
Steven Spielberg – Lincoln
Kathryn Bigelow – Zero Dark Thirty

Best Actress – Drama
Rachel Weisz – The Deep Blue Sea
Helen Mirren – Hitchcock
Naomi Watts – The Impossible
Marion Cotillard – Rust And Bone
Jessica Chastain – Zero Dark Thirty

Best Actor – Drama
Richard Gere – Arbitrage
Denzel Washington – Flight
Daniel Day-Lewis – Lincoln
Joaquin Phoenix – The Master
John Hawkes – The Sessions

Best Actress – Comedy/Musical
Judi Dench – Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Meryl Streep – Hope Springs
Maggie Smith – Quartet
Emily Blunt – Salmon Fishing In The Yemen
Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook

Best Actor – Comedy/Musical
Jack Black – Bernie
Bill Murray – Hyde Park On Hudson
Hugh Jackman – Les Miserables
Ewan McGregor – Salmon Fishing In The Yemen
Bradley Cooper – Silver Linings Playbook

Best Supporting Actress
Anne Hathaway – Les Miserables
Sally Field – Lincoln
Amy Adams – The Master
Nicole Kidman – The Paperboy
Helen Hunt – The Sessions

Best Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin – Argo
Christoph Waltz – Django Unchained
Leonardo DiCaprio – Django Unchained
Tommy Lee Jones – Lincoln
Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Master

Best Screenplay
Chris Terrio – Argo
Quentin Tarantino – Django Unchained
Tony Kushner – Lincoln
David O Russell – Silver Linings Playbook
Mark Boal – Zero Dark Thirty

Best Original Score
Alexandre Desplat – Argo
Dario Marianeli – Anna Karenina
Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek, Reinhold Heil – Cloud Atlas
Mychael Danna – Life Of Pi
John Williams – Lincoln

Best Original Song
Keith Urban – For You (Act Of Valor)
Taylor Swift – Safe & Sound (The Hunger Games)
Hugh Jackman – Suddenly (Les Miserables)
Adele – Skyfall (Skyfall)
Jon Bon Jovi – Not Running Anymore – (Stand Up Guys)

Best Animated Feature Film
Brave
Frankenweenie
Hotel Transylvania
Rise Of The Guardians
Wreck-It Ralph

Best Foreign Film
Amour
The Intouchables
Kon-Tiki
A Royal Affair
Rust & Bone

TELEVISION

Best Television Series – Drama
Breaking Bad
Boardwalk Empire
Downton Abbey
Homeland
The Newsroom

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series – Drama
Connie Britton, Nashville
Glenn Close, Damages
Claire Danes, Homeland
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series – Drama
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Damian Lewis, Homeland
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad

Best Television Series – Comedy Or Musical
The Big Bang Theory
Episodes
Girls
Modern Family
Smash

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series – Comedy Or Musical
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Lena Dunham, Girls
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series – Comedy Or Musical
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Louis CK, Louie
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television
Game Change
The Girl
Hatfields & McCoys
The Hour
Political Animals

Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Nicole Kidman, Hemingway and Gelhorn
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Asylum
Sienna Miller, The Girl
Julianne Moore, Game Change
Sigourney Weaver, Political Animals

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Kevin Costner, Hatfields & McCoys
Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock
Woody Harrelson, Game Change
Toby Jones, The Girl
Clive Owen, Hemingway and Gelhorn

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Hayden Panettiere, Nashville
Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
Sarah Paulson, Game Change
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Max Greenfield, New Girl
Ed Harris, Game Change
Danny Huston, Magic City
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

2013 Oscar Nominations

Dustin Jansick — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The nominations for the 2013 Oscars were announced this morning with Lincoln brining in the most nominations with a whopping 12, including most of the main categories. Almost every year at the Academy Awards the showdown for Best Picture is normally between just two films, this year may be a little different. I have always thought Lincoln and Zero Dark Thirty are the two films considered to have the best chance at taking the top prize, but with Kathryn Bigelow not getting a nod for Best Director, that severely hurts Zero Dark Thirty’s chances of winning Best Picture.

There were a few surprise nominations this morning, most which were welcoming. First off, Beasts of the Southern Wild got a lot more support from the Academy than what some were predicting. The film walked away with a total of 4 nominations, includes ones for Best Picture and perhaps the most surprising, Best Director. You could say because Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild) got that nod, that it shut out Kathryn Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty) for that final spot. Quvenzhane Wallis got a well-deserved nomination for Best Actress and although it is unlikely, she would be the youngest award winner if she ended up winning.

Some were worried that The Master would not end up getting any love from the Academy, but we can know breathe a sigh of relief as Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams were all thankfully nominated for acting awards. Amour got some love (pun intended) in more than just the Best Foreign Language category (where it is thought to be the front-runner in). The film also picked up nominations for Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Picture.

The 85th Academy Awards will air February 24, 2013 at 5:30 p.m., PT/ 8:30 p.m., ET on ABC.

Full List of 2013 Oscar Nominations:

Best Picture:

Amour
Argo
Beasts Of The Southern Wild
Django Unchained
Les Misérables
Life Of Pi
Lincoln
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty

Best Director:

Michael Haneke – Amour
Benh Zeitlin – Beasts Of The Southern Wild
Ang Lee – Life Of Pi
Steven Spielberg – Lincoln
David O. Russell – Silver Linings Playbook

Best Actor:

Denzel Washington – Flight
Hugh Jackman – Les Miserables
Daniel Day-Lewis – Lincoln
Joaquin Phoenix – The Master
Bradley Cooper – Silver Linings Playbook

Best Actress:

Emmanuelle Riva – Amour
Quvenzhane Wallis – Beasts Of The Southern Wild
Naomi Watts – The Impossible
Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings PLaybook
Jessica Chastain – Zero Dark Thirty

Best Supporting Actor:

Alan Arkin – Argo
Christoph Waltz – Django Unchained
Tommy Lee Jones – Lincoln
Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Master
Robert De Niro – Silver Linings Playbook

Best Supporting Actress:

Anne Hathaway – Les Misérables
Sally Field – Lincoln
Amy Adams – The Master
Helen Hunt – The Sessions
Jacki Weaver – Silver Linings Playbook

Best Original Screenplay:

Michael Haneke – Amour
Quentin Tarantino – Django Unchained
John Gatins – Flight
Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola – Moonrise Kingdom
Mark Boal – Zero Dark Thirty

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Chris Terrio – Argo
Lucy Alibar, Benh Zeitlin – Beasts of the Southern Wild
David Magee – Life Of Pi
Tony Kushner – Lincoln
David O. Russell – Silver Linings Playbook

Best Foreign Film:

Amour
Kon-Tiki
No
A Royal Affair
War Witch

Best Cinematography:

Seamus McGarvey – Anna Karenina
Robert Richardson – Django Unchained
Claudio Miranda – Life Of Pi
Janusz Kaminski – Lincoln
Roger Deakins – Skyfall

Best Animated Film:

Brave
Frankenweenie
ParaNorman
The Pirates! Band Of Misfits
Wreck-It Ralph

Best Documentary:

5 Broken Cameras
The Gatekeepers
How To Survive A Plague
The Invisible War
Searching For Sugar Man

Best Film Editing:

William Goldenberg – Argo
Tim Squyres – Life Of Pi
Michael Kahn – Lincoln
Jay Cassidy and Crispin Struthers – Silver Linings Playbook
William Goldenberg, Dylan Tichenor – Zero Dark Thirty

Best Original Score:

Dario Marianelli – Anna Karenina
Alexandre Desplat – Argo
Mychael Danna – Life Of Pi
John Williams – Lincoln
Thomas Newman – Skyfall

Best Original Song:

“Before My Time” – Chasing Ice
“Pi’s Lullaby” – Life Of Pi
“Suddenly” – Les Miserables
“Skyfall” – Skyfall
“Everybody Needs A Best Friend” – Ted

Best Production Design:

Anna Karenina
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Les Misérables
Life Of Pi
Lincoln

Best Costume Design:

Anna Karenina
Les Misérables
Lincoln
Mirror Mirror
Snow White and the Huntsman

Best Makeup:

Hitchcock
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Les Misérables

Best Sound Editing:

Argo
Django Unchained
Life Of Pi
Skyfall
Zero Dark Thirty

Best Sound Mixing:

Argo
Les Misérables
Life Of Pi
Lincoln
Skyfall

Best Visual Effects:

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Life Of Pi
Marvel’s The Avengers
Prometheus
Snow White And The Huntsman

Best Documentary (Short Subject):

Inocente
Kings Point
Mondays At Racine
Open Heart
Redemption

Best Visual Short Film (Animated):

Adam And Dog
Fresh Guacamole
Head Over Heels
Maggie Simpson In The Longest Daycare
Paperman

Best Short Film (Live Action):

Asad
Buzkashi Boys
Curfew
Death Of A Shadow
Henry

Way Too Indie’s Best Films of 2012

Dustin Jansick — Mon, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

As the Way Too Indie Staff compiled their favorite films that had a U.S. theatrical release in 2012, there was some debate as to whether or not 2012 was an overall good year for films. I landed in the “it was a pretty good year” camp personally, but let’s take a moment to recap some of the big releases that came out. In particular, 2012 was quite a year for blockbuster films as The Avengers broke 28 box office records during the summer. Christopher Nolan finished up his Batman trilogy with The Dark Knight Rises. Steven Spielberg shot an epic biopic about the history behind one of America’s most famous presidents with his film Lincoln. No one from the staff had a chance to see Zero Dark Thirty before making their list, which is bound to have a nice box office run. Next, consider how many modern legendary filmmakers released a film this year; Wes Anderson (Moonrise Kingdom), Paul Thomas Anderson (The Master), Quentin Tarantino (Django Unchained), Leos Carax (Holy Motors) and the final film by Bela Tarr (The Turin Horse). While there may not have been a plethora of masterpieces in 2012, overall it was a solid year for fans of cinema.

Way Too Indie’s Best Films of 2012

#1 This Must Be the Place

Paolo Sorrentino’s new film about a retired gothic rock star living in Dublin, Ireland who sets out across America to find the ex-Nazi who tortured his father is one hell of a road trip film. Sean Penn plays the rocker and it’s one of his best performances in years. Some parts are very funny and others will touch your heart. Supporting turns from Judd Hirsch, Frances McDormand, Harry Dean Stanton and real life rock star David Byrne are just a few of the quirky people that populate Sorrentino’s whimsical journey into the heart of not only America, but darkness itself. (Blake)
This Must Be the Place Review | Watch Trailer

#2 Looper

Having worked in a cinema over the summer I can say that in the UK, Looper wasn’t a film that generated that much hype, I think we were all sure that it was just another Bruce Willis action stereotype. After seeing the trailer, my opinion changed dramatically and I was forced to admit I was eagerly awaiting the release. This sci-fi designed to avoid the deep nature of time travel and accept that there are many ‘loop holes’ to the whole experience focuses on a single man’s fight for survival. The people and/or person that he is fighting against are where this story pulls at the complex strings of our mind. We’re constantly fighting our own battle to understand what’s happening and our constant personal debate as to who to root for is why this film is so high in this list. (Amy)
Looper Review | Watch Trailer

#3 Beasts of the Southern Wild

Benh Zeitlin blindsided everyone this year with his fantastic filmmaking debut in Beasts of the Southern Wild. One of the year’s best films was comprised of people who have never acted before, making the film that much more impressive. The film is told through the eyes of a self-aware child who has extraordinary determination to find her place in the world. Many allegories can be found within this poetic fairy tale of a film, making it not only an imaginative coming-of-age story but also a though-provoking one as well. (Dustin)
Beasts of the Southern Wild Review | Watch Trailer

#4 Oslo, August 31

You will not find a more devastating film in this year (or possibly any year). Led by the best performance by an actor this year, this Norwegian drama will have you weeping in parts and your hands balled in fists rage in others. Anders, a recovering drug addict, wanders the streets of the Norwegian capital for 24 hours wondering his life’s worth and where he fits it in the grand scheme of things. The film is brutally honest for most of it’s 95 minutes, but you’d be hard pressed to find a more complete film than this Scandinavian masterpiece. (Blake)
Oslo, August 31 Review | Watch Trailer

#5 Moonrise Kingdom

Wes Anderson has created such a spectacular adventure fantasy I challenge anyone to dislike it. With two fantastic young actors portraying disturbed and lonely children searching for love, happiness and adventure you can’t help but adore their almost-adolescent behaviour. Suzy Bishop (Kara Hayward) the daughter of Laura (Frances McDormand) and Walt (Bill Murray) Bishop always carries a pair of binoculars due to her investigative and interesting nature. Sam Shakusky (Jared Gilman) is a devoted boy scout who doesn’t fit in with his group of peers. His destructive attitude towards bullies makes him an outsider to society and abandoned by his foster family. The pair’s loneliness and abstract personalities force them to run away with each other. The story is brilliant and a personal favourite of the year. (Amy)
Moonrise Kingdom Review | Watch Trailer

#6 Jeff, Who Lives at Home

In this fourth feature film from the indie darlings Jay and Mark Duplass, they have perfected the comradery of brotherhood using their signature approach of quick zoom cinematography and less scripted dialog. Jeff, Who Lives at Home delivers a powerful message about believing things happen for a reason by blurring the line between choice and destiny. Along the way are some hilarious scenes that make the film an easy and entertaining watch. The Duplass brothers may be edging into more mainstream movie making, but they are not sacrificing their style or creativity. (Dustin)
Jeff, Who Lives at Home Review | Watch Trailer

#7 The Deep Blue Sea

“You know what real love is? It’s wiping someone’s ass … and lettin’ ‘em keep their dignity so you can both go on.” That advice one character gives to Hester (Rachel Weisz) more or less sums up the message of Terence Davies’ film. Hester, who left her marriage to a wealthy judge for a young Air Force pilot (Tom Hiddleston), is so madly in love with her boyfriend that she resorts to suicide if he doesn’t return the same feelings entirely. Weisz is naturally terrific at earning sympathy despite her character’s irrational behaviour, but it’s Davies who stands out (returning to narrative filmmaking after a long hiatus). Shooting through the same perspective as Hester, Davies uses a soft, hazy look and plenty of jaw-dropping sequences/shots that make The Deep Blue Sea the most romantic film of 2012. (CJ)
Watch Trailer

#8 Your Sister’s Sister

Lynn Shelton shot Your Sister’s Sister in under two weeks, but there is no evidence that the film suffers from such a short production. While the premise is simple, a man falls for his friend’s sister, the film turns out to be more intelligent and less conventional that it may sound like. Shelton brilliantly takes simple situations and turns them into extraordinary ones without sacrificing believability. Because the film mostly consists of improvisational dialog, genuine emotions and conversations are fully captured. To top it off, it wisely steers clear of a safe ending and goes with one that perfectly fits with the rest of the film. (Dustin)
Your Sister’s Sister Review | Watch Trailer

#9 The Turin Horse

Bela Tarr’s final film (and final masterpiece) is such a satisfying end to the Hungarian director’s career that it’s easy to understand why he retired. Unfolding over two and a half hours in 30 long takes, The Turin Horse observes six days in the life of a farmer and his daughter in a desolate landscape. They do the same tasks repeatedly with each passing day, but soon their world is slowly dismantled piece by piece until there’s nothing left. Tarr’s bleak vision, with the brutal soundscape of pummeling winds and intense focus on the farmer’s tedious tasks, are so gorgeously realized with DP Fred Kelemen that it’s impossible not to be affected by it. The Turin Horse may not be an easy watch, but it’s undeniably pure cinema. (CJ)
Watch Trailer

#10 Cabin in the Woods

Reading through Blake’s review of this movie, I can safely say that I agree with him quite strongly. The film was 100% refreshing to the horror genre and indeed “on the edge of being great”. The Cabin in the Woods offers us a chance to see horror for what it is and what it should be, awesome, ‘scary’ and sometimes absolutely spontaneous. In a genre that suffers from over use of the stereotype high-school death sequences this film gives it a breath of fresh air, something much needed due to the drivel that’s been pumped out over the years. (Amy)
Cabin in the Woods Review | Watch Trailer

#11 End of Watch

Set on the mean streets of Los Angeles this tale of two beat cops is one hell of a thriller. Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena are magnificent as the two cops. The film lives or dies on their chemistry and honestly you won’t find a better on screen duo this year. Director David Ayers supports them with a great screenplay and even better directing. His film builds from minute one all the way to the frantically intense finale where the two cops find themselves marked men by the Mexican drug cartel. This is visceral filmmaking. (Blake)
Watch Trailer

#12 The Raid: Redemption

The premise is simple: A SWAT team takes on an apartment complex run by a drug lord but soon have to fight their way out in order to survive. Gareth Evans, evoking the no-bullshit attitude of 70s exploitation films from the likes of John Carpenter, takes his straightforward concept and fills it with some of the most brutal and exciting action sequences from the last decade. Starting with guns and slowly moving his way towards hand-to-hand combat, Evans maintains a breathless pace while upping the brutality with each passing minute. When it comes to action filmmaking this is as close to perfect as it can get. (CJ)
The Raid: Redemption Review | Watch Trailer

#13 The Dark Knight Rises

To be clear, The Dark Knight Rises is not my favorite of Christopher Nolan’s three-film franchise. But is it one of the best of 2012? Absolutely! There is enough that works in this film to forgive its more obvious flaws, ahem pacing. Nolan maintains the dark tragic arc of the Batman introducing him to, if not his most tantalizing of villains, definitely his most dogged. Bain manages to invoke more damage than any other criminal introduced, on both Gotham and Batman. And there is the true connection Nolan presents: Batman is Gotham and his fate ties directly to the city. This emotional tie, and the barriers Bruce Wayne, who may now always be remembered with Christian Bale’s cool collected mannerisms, must overcome, grow our love for this favorite of the superhero universes. Nolan’s conclusion to what is clearly the best comic book film series ever made, gives us the best of the Batman and this leaves a satisfying sense of closure. (Ananda)
The Dark Knight Rises Review | Watch Trailer

#14 The Master

An alcoholic war veteran (played by Joaquin Phoenix) stumbles into a cult circle run by Philip Seymour Hoffman. From there The Master keeps the audience on edge with massive amounts of psychological realism resulting with more questions than answers. The Master is a hypnotic film that is challenging but ultimately rewarding if you are willing to read between the lines. Containing acting performances that are not only among the best of the year, but the best in recent memory. Paul Thomas Anderson is considered to be one of the best filmmakers of the last 20 years and it is easy to see why after watching this film. (Dustin)
The Master Review | Watch Trailer

#15 The Avengers

Though I may perhaps be one of few who would call this one, if not the, best film of the year, any film that perfectly executes its genre, should be given accolade. With comic book films starting to lose originality, Joss Whedon stays true to the character of each of The Avengers’ six superheroes by presenting them truer to their comic book form than trying to adapt them to film. Using his particular comedic wit (all that we loved about Dr. Horrible) and incredibly executed action (all the greatness of Firefly) and suddenly we’re watching a different sort of comic book movie. One which gratifies fanboys and moviegoers alike with its presentation. Combined with Whedon’s sly horror film Cabin in the Woods (also on our list of the Best of 2012), which manages to reinvent genres by cleverly laughing both with and at Horror, I’d say Whedon’s in the zone. (Ananda)
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#16 Headhunters

The best description I’ve heard about this brilliant thriller from Norway was, “a mix of Coen brothers and Wiley Coyote.” A corporate headhunter is way in debt. So much so that he resorts to stealing valuable art pieces from clients. His new client, whom he also suspects of sleeping with his wife, turns out to be an ex-Mercenary who specialized in tracking down humans. Once the chase starts there is no letting up. The film is brilliant at mixing brutal and bloody violence with ironic comedy and great human moments. (Blake)
Headhunters Review | Watch Trailer

#17 Ruby Sparks

I had very high hopes for Ruby Sparks, and I’m absolutely positive it was rooted from my love of Little Miss Sunshine. The makers did not disappoint. Ruby Sparks is funny, crazy and a little bit lovely. Calvin (Paul Dano – “Dwayne” from Little Miss Sunshine) has writers block when we are first introduced to him. He’s seeing a therapist (Elliot Gould) in order to help him overcome some personal issues; however his need to write overshadows dealing with those problems. A writing assignment given by his therapist turns into the narrative for this story. Calvin creates a woman “Ruby Sparks” (Zoe Kazan) from the words he writes on his typewriter and she comes to life; cue love story. Ruby isn’t an ordinary girl however, she’s everything Calvin wants and has ever dreamed of quite literally; until the day she isn’t. A self-destructive Calvin realises he is living out a dream and not a reality. A typical boy meets girl love story but with some serious edge. (Amy)
Ruby Sparks Review | Watch Trailer

#18 Arbitrage

After seeing Dustin’s review for a new Richard Gere film I had to check it out for myself. Arbitrage was an almost perfect film that grips you from the very beginning and doesn’t lose you at any point at all. Robert Miller (Richard Gere) is the CEO of Miller Capital with an intention to sell his business, the reasons why cause trauma and deceit throughout the entirety of the film. His family and friends can’t seem to understand why he wants to sell the firm but the need to preserve his dignity a financial standing pushes him to do so. Keeping concentration during Arbitrage is effortless. In Dustin’s review he said the film, “uses its runtime effectively, making it seemingly fly by” – and because the ending came as such a shock to me I’d have to agree. I hadn’t realised I’d been watching the film for 107 minutes and it seemed to jump out of the blue. Arbitrage leaves you with some unanswered questions and the film ends quite abruptly, however the journey is so exciting you don’t seem to mind all that much. (Amy)
Arbitrage Review | Watch Trailer

#19 Lincoln

I was skeptical before seeing this film; unsure Spielberg wasn’t out to extort one of America’s most beloved political heroes. As a timely film, during the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, I worried the film would focus on the war, the most gruesome event of Lincoln’s presidency, but instead Lincoln is a well-crafted political drama. The film portrays Lincoln as a politician who could play the game as well as any of them and still bring a sense of dignity to it all. Daniel Day Lewis, a Brit who has my permission to play any American figure he pleases, portrays Lincoln’s affability but also shows the toll such empathy for people took on him. With an inspired ensemble (I literally spent the first 30 minutes gawking at how many great actors kept popping up), Lincoln’s greatest Presidential act, the abolishment of slavery, is acted to perfection. And at a time when our own politicians seem unable to reach compromises, this film offers greater encouragement and a timely reminder of what one man was able to accomplish. (Ananda)
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#20 Holy Motors

This French gem of a film is one that I can honestly say I haven’t quite figured out fully yet. But, I guarantee you won’t find a better film this year about the love (and loss) of cinema. A man rides in the back of a limo from one “appointment” to another. To describe what he does over the course of the film in one paragraph is simply impossible, but I would bet my life that as a cinema lover you’ll lose count of how many times you’ll be picking your jaw up from the floor. This is a film that drips with the blood, sweat and tears of all eras of cinema. Denis Levant’s lead performance is one for the ages. You owe yourself to see this film. (Blake)
Holy Motors Review | Watch Trailer

#21 This is Not a Film

Jafar Panahi’s film, while sitting closer to the bottom of this list, would certainly be at the top if we were going by the most impressive films of the year. Panahi, who is currently on house arrest with a 6 year prison sentence and 20 year ban on filmmaking, tries to work around his limitations by filming himself acting out a script he was working on before his arrest. It’s through this seed of an idea that This is Not a Film transforms into so much more: a portrait of a man who’s lost his livelihood, a defiant act of protest, a meditation on cinema itself and so much more. It’s one of the most daring and original works from this year with a final sequence that has to be seen to be believed. (CJ)
This is Not a Film Review | Watch Trailer

#22 Silver Linings Playbook

Granted, I’m a sucker for an untraditional romance any day, but throw in amazing performances and I have no problem calling Silver Linings Playbook one of the best of the year. David O. Russel makes a romance between two emotionally disturbed people both heartwarming and realistic. Bradley Cooper gives a career-defining performance as Pat, just out of a state institution after going ballistic when he found his wife in the shower with a co-worker, and now living back at home with his parents. Robert De Niro (only improved with age) is Pat’s borderline OCD father who loves his son the only way he knows how. But Jennifer Lawrence picked the perfect way to cast off any young-adult-leading-lady stigma by playing Tiffany, a manic recently widowed young woman who befriends Pat and proves that two crazies cancel each other out. Through their self-devised form of therapy they bring out the best in each other while accepting each other in fully flawed form. Both hilarious and heart-wrenching, Silver Linings Playbook proves that today’s romance no longer fits the rom-com mold, and I say out with the old and in with new. (Ananda)
Silver Linings Playbook Review | Watch Trailer

#23 Beyond the Black Rainbow

Beyond The Black Rainbow is more of an experience than anything else. This sci-fi thriller is a highly stylized head trip; weather it is an enjoyable one will come down to your tolerance of slow-paced atmospheric films that replace a traditional narrative for abstract visuals. The film is set in a futuristic 1983 facility where an experimental doctor holds his patient captive to perform tests on her. The film appears heavily influenced from the masterminds of Stanley Kubrick and Dario Argento. If you can overlook the dreadful ending, you may just find the most bizarre film of 2012. (Dustin)
Beyond the Black Rainbow Review | Watch Trailer

#24 Life of Pi

Based on the acclaimed novel of the same name, Life of Pi, dubbed “unfilmable” by some, is at once both true to it’s source as well as a stand alone masterful film. The story of a young man who loses everything when shipwrecked and winds up lost at sea with a Bengal tiger, is fantastical and yet at all times believable, because Pi’s spiritual journey is so in tune with that of the struggle within many of us. Ang Lee has told every manor of story in his many films, covering both history and the globe with his settings. With Life of Pi, he proves there is no story he can’t get to the heart of, and no visual element he can’t master. Turns out a film can combine the visual elements of a major blockbuster with the artistic emotion of an independent film, where one element need not trump the other. (Ananda)
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#25 Killer Joe

William Friedkin and Tracy Letts’ pitch black comedy isn’t afraid to revel in the vile world it creates. The hick family, who hire an assassin to kill their mother and use their mentally impaired daughter as a retainer, are either dumb as a doornail or reprehensible on every level. People only communicate through shouting matches, and everyone is just trying to make money without any care for who might get hurt along the way. Friedkin and Letts slowly let the story develop along the way, letting things play out as a sort of warped take on a Coen Brothers film while slowly building up the tension until everything goes wrong. What elevates Killer Joe into something truly great is the final act, where all the tension explodes in a horrifying conclusion that’ll have viewers mortified or cackling with glee. William Friedkin might not be churning out classics like The Exorcist or The French Connection nowadays, but there’s no denying the man hasn’t lost his edge. (CJ)
Killer Joe Review | Watch Trailer

Honorable Mentions

Sleepwalk With Me
Alps
Prometheus
Barbara
The Color Wheel

2013 Golden Globes Nominations

C.J. Prince — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:37:08 +0000

Now look, I don’t have to tread familiar ground here (but I will for fun). Anyone who knows about awards season knows how much of a joke the Golden Globes are. The awards, which are selected by 90 or so people who make up the ‘Hollywood Foreign Press Association’ or HFPA, have very little significance. The studios pour out money shoving their stars around to HFPA parties, wining and dining the members in order to get some sort of recognition. This isn’t much of a secret since it’s so blatant. A quick Google search can show you how messed up the awards are, and it seems that with every year they’ve stopped bothering with trying to make themselves look somewhat prestigious.

There are definitely some shocking nominations here, but most of them are of the ‘Huh?!’ variety. Expectantly this comes from the Musical or Comedy category, where Salmon Fishing in the Yemen scored three nominations! Other odd surprises include Maggie Smith getting nominated for Quartet instead of Comedy/Musical Picture nominee The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and The Hobbit getting completely shut out.

As for the serious contenders, Lincoln and Les Misérables continue their race at the top with Zero Dark Thirty closing in fast. Lincoln scored the most nominations with 7 while Argo and Django Unchained got 5 a piece. Les Misérables, which was the presumed front-runner for the Musical/Comedy category, only got nods for Picture, Actor (Hugh Jackman) and Supporting Actress (Anne Hathaway). It could be a sign of that movie losing steam, but treating the Globes as a predictor of anything would be a grave mistake.

As for the pleasant surprises: Moonrise Kingdom scores a Best Picture nod, Life of Pi got some love (while it isn’t the best movie of the year it’s definitely one of the more unique films in the awards race), Django Unchained and Argo proving that they have staying power, Rachel Weisz, Richard Gere and Jack Black all getting acting nods and Cloud Atlas picking up a nomination for its excellent score. Read (or weep at) the nominations below. The awards show, which is more about watching celebs get drunk and hoping tabloid fodder happens, air on January 13th. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will host.

The full list of 2013 Golden Globes nominations: