Film Fan Fridays for Friday January 27, 2012

Hello Film Fans and Fanatics!

Welcome to Film Fan Fridays for Friday January 27, 2012! Happy Oscar nominations week! As per tradition I've made my 3 lists for Oscar nominations including a details list, a film list with the details of what it's nominated for and a simple film list with # of nominations (great for printing & highlighting). I'm way behind - I've only seen 13 of the 46 nominated features! I'll get to at least one more this weekend but not sure how many I'll get to by February 26, 2012 for the awards. Here's hoping it's a lot more!

In limited release this week we have three films to choose from including the just nominated Canadian film Monsieur Lazhar, which has also been a part of the Canada's Top Ten 2011 and Winner of the Best Canadian Feature Award at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. It's from writer/director Philippe Falardeau (C'est pas moi, je le jure! / It's Not Me, I Swear!, Congorama) and stars Fellag, and has inspiring teacher film written all over it. I can't wait to see it. I also am thrilled to see Tyrannosaur hitting a Toronto theatre this week, it's the fantastic directorial debut from Paddy Considine with a story of a hard case man and a strong faith woman who have absolutely nothing in common. One of the best films I saw at TIFF 2011 and features fantastic performances from the cast including Peter Mullan, Olivia Colman and Eddie Marsan. You can hear my review as well as the intro and Q&A with Tyrannosaur director Paddy Considine here on the Movie Moxie Podcast #59. Last up for limited releases we have All's Well That Ends Well, a Hong Kong comedy that hooks up divorcees starring Donnie Yen, it has a really cute trailer showing the 'many different ways to hug' and remake of the 1988 film The Eight Happiness.

In wide release this week we have 5 films in release, first up is The Grey starring Liam Neeson, who I continue to love to see in action-y roles and it's really exciting to see Frank Grillo (Warrior (2011), 'The Gates') in this one as well, it's a survivalist action/thriller that is I understand the premise from the trailer (which is spoilery...), feels a little over the top, but still very interesting. We also have One for the Money, adapted from the book One for the Money by Janet Evanovich and stars Katherine Heigl who is down on her luck and turns to becoming a bail bondsman, and honestly - I think this one looks pretty funny. Also hitting theatres is Man on a Ledge starring Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell and Ed Harris and looks a mystery/thriller - from a ledge. Also out in release is the animated film Back to the Sea 3D and Bollywood release of Agneepath.

Have a great weekend!

Shannon

Festival Watch

The 8 Fest Small-Gauge Film Festival
A festival focusing on small-gauge film including 8mm, Super 8, 9.5mm, loops and zoetropes
January 27 - 29, 2012 at Trash Palace in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Friday January 27, 2012 Releases

Agneepath
Writer/Dir: Karan Malhotra - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Arush Bhiwandiwala, Deven Bhojani, Sunil Chauhan, Priyanka Chopra, Sanjay Dutt
India
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page

All's Well That Ends Well / Baat seng bou hei
Dir: Hing-Ka Chan (La comédie humaine, Poker King)
Cast: Donnie Yen, Louis Koo, Lynn Hung, Kelly Chen, Sandra Ng Kwan Yue, Chapman To
Hong Kong
Limited Release
No Official Film Site Found, IMDb Page, Trailer

Back to the Sea 3D
Dir: Thom Lu
Voices: Christian Slater, Tim Curry, Mark Hamill, Tom Kenny, Kath Soucie, John Di Maggio
China
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page

The Grey
Dir: Joe Carnahan (The A-Team, Smokin' Aces)
Cast: Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney, Frank Grillo
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Man on a Ledge
Dir: Asger Leth (Ghosts of Cité Soleil)
Cast: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Ed Burns, Keira Sedgwick, Ed Harris
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Monsieur Lazhar
Writer/Dir: Philippe Falardeau (C'est pas moi, je le jure! / It's Not Me, I Swear!, Congorama)
Cast: Mohamed Fellag, Sophie Nélisse, Émilien Néron, Danielle Proulx, Brigitte Poupart
Canada
Limited Release
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page

One for the Money
Dir: Julie Anne Robinson (The Last Song)
Cast: Katherine Heigl, Jason O’Mara, Sherri Sheppard, John Leguizamo, Debbie Reynolds
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Tyrannosaur
Writer/Dir: Paddy Considine - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Peter Mullan, Olivia Colman, Eddie Marsan, Paul Popplewell, Ned Dennehy
UK
Limited Release
Film 4 Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

**please note this list of releases reflects first run film released in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as of January 27, 2012**

Movie Moxie Podcast 59: Haywire, Underworld Awakening, Tyrannosaur Q&A and Oscars

On this weeks podcast I talk about the recent Oscar nominations including recommended approaches to how to choose what to see or even the option of seeing everything! Plus I review recent releases of Haywire, Underworld Awakening and share my vlog review of Tyrannosaur as well as share the intro and Q&A from the TIFF 2011 screening with writer/director Paddy Considine. There is a lot of cheering and clapping during the Q&A, as the film received a well-deserved standing ovation.

Time Coding
0:00 - 0:30 Intro
0:30 - 16:45 Oscar Nominations
16:45 - 25:25 Haywire Review
25:25 - 33:00 Underworld Awakening Review
33:00 - 41:30 Tyrannosaur Review from TIFF 2011
41:30 - 55:45 Tyrannosaur Intro and Q&A with writer/director Paddy Considine
55:45 - 1:03:45 DVD Releases
1:03:45 - 1:05:10 Outro

• I mention my traditional 3 lists for Oscar nominations including a details list, a film list with the details of what it's nominated for and a simple film list with # of nominations (great for printing & highlighting).
• I mention my Facebook Fan Page where I've been Sharing complicated characters who combine charisma and combustion.
• See my vlog and review of Tyrannosaur
• I mention Oscar Noms Hugo, The Help and Jane Eyre were all part of 2011 Movie Moxie Book to Film Club.
• I mention Oscar nominated film Monsieur Lazhur opens January 27, 2012 here in Toronto
• See recent Theatrical releases in my weekly Film Fan Fridays & DVD Releases in my DVD Tuesdays Post

Movie Moxie Podcast - A 100% spoiler-free film review podcast
You can also subscribe to the Movie Moxie Podcast here:
Subscribe through iTunes here.

84th Academy Awards Nominations (for 2011 Films)

It's that magical time! Oscar nomination day. Recently I've mentioned not feeling all on the excitement front of awards announcements, but the tide started to turn last week with the Genie nomination announcement and today I find myself back on the awards train and very excited about this years Oscars.

I could mope about how few nominated films I've seen this year (only 12 so far!), be feign puzzlement over Transformers: Dark of the Moon's 3 nominations (even though the first Transformers also had 3) or even sigh over the repetition of pattern that the films where actresses are nominated often aren't nominated for many awards but the acting awards. I could, but I'd rather celebrate.

Celebrate that Canada's Monsieur Lazhur is nominated in the Best Foreign Language Film category (it comes out in Toronto and Vancouver this Friday January 27, 2012). I'm going to celebrate Drive's Sound Editing nomination, and that The Tree of Life getting three prestigious nods for Film, Director and Cinematography. And it's wonderful to see Pina, the 3D dance documentary, be acknowledged with it's nomination in the documentary feature category.

I am also going to do a big happy dance that 3 titles from the 2011 Movie Moxie Book to Film Club are among the nominees here: Jane Eyre with 1 nomination, The Help with 4 nominations, and Hugo which leads the race with a whopping 11 nominations. I am just beaming with joy at the recognition given to these films.

I also realize there are many I should really get out to see before the Awards are presented on February 26, 2012. First and foremost, The Artist which came away with an impressive 10 nominations. That's the biggest omission on my list. There are also a few that have either just hit theatres (The Iron Lady, A Separation) or are just about to hit theatres (Monsieur Lazhur, Albert Nobbs), and there actually are quite a few already available out on DVD in a turn of the tide this year.

It's going to be an excited, and busy, month trying to pack more films onto my schedule before the winners are unveiled on Sunday February 26, 2012. Dust off the tiaras, it's Oscar time!

See also detailed film list with nominations listed and film list by number of nominations.

Here are the 84th Academy Awards Nominations

Actor in a Leading Role
Demián Bichir in "A Better Life"
George Clooney in "The Descendants"
Jean Dujardin in "The Artist"
Gary Oldman in "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"
Brad Pitt in "Moneyball"

Actor in a Supporting Role
Kenneth Branagh in "My Week with Marilyn"
Jonah Hill in "Moneyball"
Nick Nolte in "Warrior"
Christopher Plummer in "Beginners"
Max von Sydow in "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"

Actress in a Leading Role
Glenn Close in "Albert Nobbs"
Viola Davis in "The Help"
Rooney Mara in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
Meryl Streep in "The Iron Lady"
Michelle Williams in "My Week with Marilyn"

Actress in a Supporting Role
Bérénice Bejo in "The Artist"
Jessica Chastain in "The Help"
Melissa McCarthy in "Bridesmaids"
Janet McTeer in "Albert Nobbs"
Octavia Spencer in "The Help"

Animated Feature Film
"A Cat in Paris" Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli
"Chico & Rita" Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal
"Kung Fu Panda 2" Jennifer Yuh Nelson
"Puss in Boots" Chris Miller
"Rango" Gore Verbinski

Art Direction
"The Artist" Production Design: Laurence Bennett; Set Decoration: Robert Gould
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" Production Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
"Hugo" Production Design: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
"Midnight in Paris" Production Design: Anne Seibel; Set Decoration: Hélène Dubreuil
"War Horse" Production Design: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales

Cinematography
"The Artist" Guillaume Schiffman
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" Jeff Cronenweth
"Hugo" Robert Richardson
"The Tree of Life" Emmanuel Lubezki
"War Horse" Janusz Kaminski

Costume Design
"Anonymous" Lisy Christl
"The Artist" Mark Bridges
"Hugo" Sandy Powell
"Jane Eyre" Michael O'Connor
"W.E." Arianne Phillips

Directing
"The Artist" Michel Hazanavicius
"The Descendants" Alexander Payne
"Hugo" Martin Scorsese
"Midnight in Paris" Woody Allen
"The Tree of Life" Terrence Malick

Documentary (Feature)
"Hell and Back Again" Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner
"If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front" Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
"Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory" Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
"Pina" Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel
"Undefeated" TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Richard Middlemas

Documentary (Short Subject)
"God Is the Bigger Elvis" Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson
"Incident in New Baghdad" James Spione
"Saving Face" Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
"The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement" Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin
"The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom" Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen

Film Editing
"The Artist" Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius
"The Descendants" Kevin Tent
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
"Hugo" Thelma Schoonmaker
"Moneyball" Christopher Tellefsen

Foreign Language Film
"Bullhead" Belgium
"Footnote" Israel
"In Darkness" Poland
"Monsieur Lazhar" Canada
"A Separation" Iran

Makeup
"Albert Nobbs" Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight and Lisa Tomblin
"The Iron Lady" Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland

Music (Original Score)
"The Adventures of Tintin" John Williams
"The Artist" Ludovic Bource
"Hugo" Howard Shore
"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" Alberto Iglesias
"War Horse" John Williams

Music (Original Song)
"Man or Muppet" from "The Muppets" Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie
"Real in Rio" from "Rio" Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown; Lyric by Siedah Garrett

Best Picture
"The Artist" Thomas Langmann, Producer
"The Descendants" Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers
"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" Scott Rudin, Producer
"The Help" Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, Producers
"Hugo" Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers
"Midnight in Paris" Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers
"Moneyball" Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers
"The Tree of Life" Nominees to be determined
"War Horse" Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers

Short Film (Animated)
"Dimanche/Sunday" Patrick Doyon
"The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore" William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg
"La Luna" Enrico Casarosa
"A Morning Stroll" Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
"Wild Life" Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby

Short Film (Live Action)
"Pentecost" Peter McDonald and Eimear O'Kane
"Raju" Max Zähle and Stefan Gieren
"The Shore" Terry George and Oorlagh George
"Time Freak" Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey
"Tuba Atlantic" Hallvar Witzø

Sound Editing
"Drive" Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" Ren Klyce
"Hugo" Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty
"Transformers: Dark of the Moon" Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl
"War Horse" Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom

Sound Mixing
"Hugo" Tom Fleischman and John Midgley
"Moneyball" Deb Adair, Ron Bochar, Dave Giammarco and Ed Novick
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Bo Persson
"Transformers: Dark of the Moon" Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Peter J. Devlin
"War Horse" Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson and Stuart Wilson

Visual Effects
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson
"Hugo" Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossman and Alex Henning
"Real Steel" Erik Nash, John Rosengrant, Dan Taylor and Swen Gillberg
"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White and Daniel Barrett
"Transformers: Dark of the Moon" Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Matthew Butler and John Frazier

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
"The Descendants" Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
"Hugo" Screenplay by John Logan
"The Ides of March" Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
"Moneyball" Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin; Story by Stan Chervin
"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" Screenplay by Bridget O'Connor & Peter Straughan

Writing (Original Screenplay)
"The Artist" Written by Michel Hazanavicius
"Bridesmaids" Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
"Margin Call" Written by J.C. Chandor
"Midnight in Paris" Written by Woody Allen
"A Separation" Written by Asghar Farhadi

The 84th Academy Awards will be presented on Sunday February 26, 2012 at 7pm EST on ABC.

84th Academy Awards Nominations - detailed by film, by nomination

See also full nomination list (and commentary) and film list by number of nominations.

Hugo (11)
Art Direction
Cinematography
Costume Design
Directing - Martin Scorsese
Film Editing
Music (Original Score)
Best Picture
Sound Editing
Sound Mixing
Visual Effects
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

The Artist (10)
Actor in a Leading Role - Jean Dujardin
Actress in a Supporting Role - Bérénice Bejo
Art Direction
Cinematography
Costume Design
Directing - Michel Hazanavicius
Film Editing
Music (Original Score)
Best Picture
Writing (Original Screenplay)

Moneyball (6)
Actor in a Leading Role - Brad Pitt
Actor in a Supporting Role - Jonah Hill
Film Editing
Best Picture
Sound Mixing
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

War Horse (6)
Art Direction
Cinematography
Music (Original Score)
Best Picture
Sound Editing
Sound Mixing

The Descendants (5)
Actor in a Leading Role - George Clooney
Directing - Alexander Payne
Best Picture
Writing
Film Editing

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (5)
Actress in a Leading Role - Rooney Mara
Film Editing
Cinematography
Sound Editing
Sound Mixing

Midnight in Paris (4)
Art Direction
Directing - Woody Allen
Best Picture
Writing (Original Screenplay)

The Help (4)
Actress in a Leading Role - Viola Davis
Actress in a Supporting Role - Jessica Chastain
Actress in a Supporting Role - Octavia Spencer
Best Picture

Albert Nobbs (3)
Actress in a Leading Role - Glenn Close
Actress in a Supporting Role - Janet McTeer
Makeup

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (3)
Art Direction
Makeup
Visual Effects

The Tree of Life (3)
Cinematography
Directing - Terrance Malick
Best Picture

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (3)
Actor in a Leading Role - Gary Oldman
Music (Original Score)
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Transformers: Dark of the Moon (3)
Sound Editing
Sound Mixing
Visual Effects

Bridesmaids (2)
Actress in a Supporting Role - Melissa McCarthy
Writing (Original Screenplay)

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2)
Actor in a Supporting Role - Max von Sydow
Best Picture

My Week with Marilyn (2)
Actor in a Supporting Role - Kenneth Branagh
Actress in a Leading Role - Michelle Williams

The Iron Lady (2)
Actress in a Leading Role - Meryl Streep
Makeup

The Adventures of Tintin (1)
Music (Original Score)

Anonymous (1)
Costume Design

Beginners (1)
Actor in a Supporting Role - Christopher Plummer

A Better Life (1)
Actor in a Leading Role - Demián Bichir

Drive (1)
Sound Editing

The Ides of March (1)
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Jane Eyre (1)
Costume Design

Margin Call (1)
Writing (Original Screenplay)

The Muppets (1)
Music (Original Song) - "Man or Muppet"

Rio (1)
Music (Original Song) "Real in Rio"

Real Steel (1)
Visual Effects

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (1)
Visual Effects

W.E. (1)
Costume Design

Warrior (1)
Actor in a Supporting Role - Nick Nolte

Films in categories that are usually 1 nomination per film *

Foreign Language Film
Bullhead
Footnote
In Darkness
Monsieur Lazhar
A Separation*

Documentary (Feature)
Hell and Back Again
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Pina
Undefeated

Animated Feature Film
A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

Documentary (Short Subject)
God Is the Bigger Elvis
Incident in New Baghdad
Saving Face
The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement
The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom

Short Film (Animated)
Dimanche/Sunday
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
La Luna
A Morning Stroll
Wild Life

Short Film (Live Action)
Pentecost
Raju
The Shore
Time Freak
Tuba Atlantic

* This years exception to the rule is A Separation which has 2 nominations: 1 for Foreign Language and 1 for writing - Original Screenplay

84th Academy Awards Nominations - films by # of nominations only

See also full nomination list (and commentary) and film list with detail of nominations by film.

Hugo (11)
The Artist (10)
Moneyball (6)
War Horse (6)
The Descendants (5)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (5)
Midnight in Paris (4)
The Help (4)
Albert Nobbs (3)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (3)
The Tree of Life (3)
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (3)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (3)
Bridesmaids (2)
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2)
My Week with Marilyn (2)
The Iron Lady (2)
A Separation (2) *
The Adventures of Tintin (1)
Anonymous (1)
Beginners (1)
A Better Life (1)
Drive (1)
The Ides of March (1)
Jane Eyre (1)
Margin Call (1)
The Muppets (1)
Rio (1)
Real Steel (1)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (1)
W.E. (1)
Warrior (1)

Films in categories that are usually 1 nomination per film *

Foreign Language Film
Bullhead
Footnote
In Darkness
Monsieur Lazhar
A Separation*

Documentary (Feature)
Hell and Back Again
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Pina
Undefeated

Animated Feature Film
A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

Documentary (Short Subject)
God Is the Bigger Elvis
Incident in New Baghdad
Saving Face
The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement
The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom

Short Film (Animated)
Dimanche/Sunday
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
La Luna
A Morning Stroll
Wild Life

Short Film (Live Action)
Pentecost
Raju
The Shore
Time Freak
Tuba Atlantic

* This years exception to the rule is A Separation which has 2 nominations: 1 for Foreign Language and 1 for writing - Original Screenplay

DVD Releases for January 24, 2012

Time to take a look at a selection of DVD releases for Tuesday January 24, 2012!

• The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom I absolutely adored this Canadian young coming of age story following a girl who believes that yes, Dolly Parton could be her mom. Lovingly set in the early 70's with a true pulse of what young girls are like, and the strenuous relationships and friendships at a true time of change. Beautiful
• Paranormal Activity 3 I was quite impressed with this third installment and prequel in this horror franchise. The storytelling continues to be strong and the scares are still there. I even liked it better than the clever sequel, and there is a fourth film in the makings as well. Fun times.
• Real Steel I'm really looking forward to checking out this film starring Hugh Jackman as a fighter / operator during a time or robot boxing, and also has strong vibe of unlikely friendship with a kid that helps him out. Can't wait to watch it.
• The Woman With a premise of a family that traps and tries to tame a feral woman, The Woman is not you everyday film and thankfully it's also not one you can pigeonhole into extreme film or over the top for over the tops sake. I was happily surprized that this challenging watch had way more up it's sleeve than I had imagine. And, to top it all off the performances from Pollyanna McIntosh and Sean Bridgers are amazing.
• French Immersion follows four Canadian Anglos and one New Yorker who travel to St. Isidore-du-Coeur-de-Jésus in Northern Québec, to learn French where they learn that they will be learning without using any English at all. (not currently available on Amazon.com)
• The Whistleblower stars Rachel Weisz as a cop and peace keeper who unveils a scandal, and is based on true events.
• Godzilla on DVD & BluRay Criterion If you've never seen this classic Japanese monster movie, than seeing it on Criterion would be a great way to initiate yourself. I only caught up with it a few years ago and it truly is an excellent film
• Tales of an Ancient Empire I'm cautiously curious on this one that's got B-Movie all over it plus the description of "A princess is on a quest to unite the five greatest warriors to save her kingdom from a demon sorceress. " It starts Kevin Sorbo, Michael Paré, Melissa Ordway and Whitney Able (Monsters).
• Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and I'm a little surprized as the entire series is already out on DVD (on 5 discs); but this one season is a 6-Disc set so hopefully it's a really good transfer.
• 50/50 Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars in this semi-biographical film about a young man who struggles with cancer. And... it's a comedy. Hmm.
• Restless (DVD/Blu-Ray Combo) unconventional romance between two young misfits played by Mia Wasikowska & Henry Hopper; directed by Gus van Sant (Paranoid Park, Elephant).
  

Titles on Amazon.ca(Canada):


Titles on Amazon.com (US):

Most Anticipated Films for 2012

It's that magical time of year, time to look ahead and put on our scrying caps to hone in on what films we are most looking forward to. I usually leave my list until February but this year there is not only 1 but 2 January releases that made my list so I decided to hold out no longer and share the whole thing.

I've created my most anticipated lists for three years running now (see 2010 and 2011 lists), and time after time there are titles that don't make it to theatres, which has swayed me to keep the choices with pretty solid releases dates and/or pretty mainstream. That feels slightly against my own instincts, but it's really to keep disappointment to a minimum. It can allow for happy future surprizes as two of the titles from my 2011 list: The Woman in Black & The Apparition look like we will get them this year in 2012. Even with continual tweaking of this list, I actually ended up with the exact same number of films in 2012 as 2011: 26 titles. Bizarre. If it was a perfect world that would be one every other week, but in actuality it looks like I'll have a very busy March, June and August.

I've also discussed many of these titles on a recent episode of Before the Dawn with Marina, where we both share our most anticipated films of the 2012. My list changed just a little bit since then with a few more titles added, but it's very close to this final list below. Now, without further adieu....

Movie Moxie's Most Anticipated Films of 2012

26. Wettest Country
Let's start with the film I know the least about and actually will be the least likely that I'll enjoy. It's from director John Hillcoat (The Proposition, The Road - both way too dark for me), with a screenplay by Nick Cave (/swoon), and is set in the depression following bootleggers. And it stars Tom Hardy (Bronson, Warrior), Guy Pearce (The King's Speech, Memento), Jessica Chastian (The Help (2011), The Tree of Life), Shia LaBeouf and Gary Oldman. And it's based on the book The Wettest Country in the World by Matt Bondurant. This one gets a nod to Marina as I didn't even know about it until we discussed our picks on Before the Dawn.
Release Date: August 31 2012

25. Dark Shadows
Reduxing of the British supernatural soap opera from the 60's, this one comes to us from director Tim Burton and stars Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Eva Green and Helena Bonham Carter. Originally I wasn't super excited about the film until I saw this still, and then I was convinced it would all be gothic and awesome.
Release Date: May 11, 2012

24. Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter
Although this is a 2012 Movie Moxie Book to Film Club Selection, it actually makes the list because it's from director Timur Bekmambetov who brought us the gorgeously stylized urban supernatural films Night Watch / Nochnoi Dozor and Day Watch / Dnevnoy Dozor. And it's a vampire film. And as a side note one of my goals for 2012 is to be able to pronounce Bekmambetov. Thank goodness Night Watch has a commentary!
Release Date: June 22, 2012

23. The Bourne Legacy
I really loved all three Bourne films so far, and am excited they are continuing the series and the only reason this one is so far back is because it doesn't have Matt Damon in it. I love Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) though, so I have full confidence in him, but I have no clue what they are doing with the series. Plus, it also have Joel Edgerton (Animal Kingdom, The Thing (2011)) in is, which makes it a must-see film for me. Be curious to see how this one goes.
Release Date: August 3, 2012

22. Prometheus
This Alien prequel from Ridley Scott pretty much has to be on this list. But, it's this far back because I haven't watch the trailer yet and I'm just ever so leery of prequels (although last year we faired fine with The Thing). But, Ridley Scott is one of my favourite directors ever, so I'm always happy to see his work.
Release Date: June 8, 2012

21. The Amazing Spider-Man
There are not many superhero films on my list this year, although I'm sure I will see most of them this is the one I'm actually looking forward too. I've been a fan of Andrew Garfield for several years now (since Boy A at TIFF in 2007 to be exact), and after supporting roles in Never Let Me Go and The Social Network it's exciting to see him back in the lead saddle. So far the film looks a lot like the 2002 version, but I'm hoping it will be awesome whether it plays the similar game or not.
Release Date: July 3, 2012

20. GI Joe: Retaliation
I can't believe how many sequels are on this list, but seeing as I was a huge fan of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and the trailer for the sequel looks like it has more ridiculous fun in store for us, I had to include this film. I had to. So I did.
Release Date: June 19, 2012

19. Byzantium
This is one I don't know tons about but what I do know is more than enough. Neil Jordon (Interview with the Vampire) directs Gemma Arterton (The Disappearance of Alice Creed) & Saoirse Rosin (Hanna) as a mother/daughter vampire duo. Yep. That's enough. But the fact that it also has Sam Riley (Brighton Rock, Control) locks it as over the top must see film.
Release Date: no confirmed release date as of yet

18. Bel Ami
Finally we have a release date for this 2011 Book to Film Club Selection which we read last April! I was worried this beautiful French novel by Guy de Maupassant might have gotten lost in the distribution shuffle but no, we will be seeing Robert Pattinson in the title role as a penniless soldier who decides to invest in the company of women to make his fortune. It's a fascinating story with a fabulous cast including Christina Ricci, Kristin Scott Thomas, Uma Thurman, Holliday Grainger, Natalia Tena, Colm Meaney, James Lance and Philip Glenister and is the feature film directorial debut from Declan Donnellan & Nick Ormerod. I can't wait.
Release Date: March 2, 2012

17. Anna Karenina
Another 2012 Book to Film Club selection based on the classic novel by Leo Tolstoy, the adaptation is from Joe Wright (Pride and Prejudice, Atonement, Hanna), stars Keira Knightly, Emily Watson, Jude Law, Aaron Johnson, Matthew Macfadyen, and well, just and amazing slew of fabulous actors. I'm not usually a period piece person but there is something about this one that is speaking to me, so I'm going to listen.
Release Date: A little up in the air - previously I had seen August release in the UK but now I can only find September 7 , 2012 in Sweden. I'll keep my eye on it though!

16. The Raven
I've been quite on the book-connection love going on and as such I'm really excited for The Raven, which is a fictionalized period piece/biopic centred on Edgar Allen Poe (played by John Cusack). It drips of gothic tone and a mystery/suspense spin and a Sherlock Holmes-y feel to it. The film also starts Luke Evans & Alice Eve, is directed by James McTeigue (V for Vendetta, Ninja Assassin).
Release Date: March 9, 2012

15. John Carter
Why oh why did they take the 'of Mars' off the title of this film? I mean... it has the whole on a red planet feel, why not own it? I don't understand that choice, and I barely know what the film is or will be about. Is it Sci Fi? Fantasy? Sword & Sandals? All three? I don't know. But the old school feel and based on a serial I'm hoping we are in for some HiFi stylings of with LowFi classic storytelling. Fingers crossed.
Release Date: March 9, 2012

14. Paranormal Activity 4
So far the series has proven to be a nice paranormal inclusion and welcome horror choice every October over the years and I'm hoping this one will be too. They've had very creative turns on both sequels so far, so I'm not sure where they are going to go from here but I'm feeling confident it won't disappoint.
Release Date: No confirmed release date yet, but likely October 2012

13. Battleship
Possibly the most ridiculous film on the list (actually, that would be a close battle with GI Joe Retaliation), but this film that looks something between classic military at sea film and then with craziness of Battle LA or Skyline... I can't help but... want to see it! I know it's crazy. But it's also true. Looks like a lot of fun. Here's hoping.
Release Date: May 18, 2012

12. The Expendables 2
It's funny that this one ranks so high on my list and the original Expendables didn't even place on my 2010 list, but that leads me to the fact that seeing The Expendables actually woke me up to the fact that I really love action films. I always knew it, and it never stopped over the years, but I really started to claim it more as of then. Plus, I loved the cast and I was truly the target market. And it made me love Jason Statham again after hating Crank - which is something I never thought would have been possible.
Release Date: August 17, 2012

11. Coriolanus
So many reasons to be excited about this one. First - I missed it at TIFF and now we get it here in Toronto (YAY), second one of my side project called The Mega-List has a challenge I set for myself to #128 Read/Watch all of Shakespeare's Plays and I have already read (and watched a version of) Coriolanus. But this one is Ralph Fiennes directorial debut, and he stars in it alongside Gerard Butler, Vanessa Redgrave & Jessica Chastain. It's also a story that so far I've only started to understand even after all that, so I'm looking forward to seeing this adaptation.
Release Date: January 20, 2012

10. Step Up 4
I'm a big fan of dance films, and honestly was rather distraught that 2011 only had the Footloose reboot for our dancing shoes to tap along with (I wasn't a fan of that original and didn't see the reboot!), but Step Up is a series I've come to enjoy from both the first Step Up and Step Up 3D (#2 was shaky...even for a dance film). I'm ready for more dancing, grooving, stepping and ... well, if pattern holds true likely a different sides of the tracks romance all rolled into for fun too.
Release Date: August 10, 2012

9. Mars et Avril
I know almost nothing about this Canadian films other than setting of a future Montréal, based on the original graphic novels of screenwriter and director Martin Villeneuve (brother of Denis Villeneuve of Next Floor, Polytechnique & Incendies). It has an anti-cybernetic movement, people are about to move to Mars and feels like lots of artistic influences in there as well. Cast includes Caroline Dhavernas and Robert Lepage. I really, really hope this one comes out in Toronto this year!
Release Date: No release date yet, I'm guessing it will be at very least at Fantasia this year

8. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Another 2012 Book to Film Club Selection (we are reading it in February), and I actually have never read it before. And I only read The Lord of the Rings in their entirety in 2010 which actually was I believe the start of a journey that eventually became the Book to Film Club. More on the film, I'm more than happy to return to Middle Earth and see what adventures the hobbits, dwarves and other folks get up to.
Release Date: December 14, 2012

7. Snow White and the Huntsman
The ladies really start to take over the list from here on in, especially if wielding weapons. I've very excited for this re-interpretation of the Snow White story with Kristen Stewart as Snow White, Chris Hemsworth as The Huntsman and Charlize Theron as the Queen. It's very wintery-set and looks absolutely beautiful.
Release Date: June 1, 2012

6. Resident Evil: Retribution
I'm surprized at the number of sequels and series pieces on my list, and this one especially as I don't think I've even seen all the Resident Evil films and I know I didn't even love all the ones I saw. BUT, I loved the first one, and even the last one Resident Evil: Afterlife I had a huge technical issue when seeing it but somehow it still holds a special place in my heart. And it's Milla. You have to love Milla.
Release Date: September 14, 2012 (ACK - that's during TIFF!)

5. Underworld Awakening
This is almost a cheat as I am posting this after the film has been released, but I haven't seen it yet so I'm calling that a fine balancing act. I was a huge fan of the original Underworld and although I didn't love the sequel Underworld: Evolution I quite enjoyed the prequel of Rise of the Lycans; either way this one has the series going back to it's roots of Selene (Kate Beckinsdale) kicking butt. As she is one of my favourite film characters of all time, I'm all for that.
Release Date: January 20, 2012

4. Skyfall
Normally a Bond film wouldn't place so high on my list be there is a very particular reason that this one is. I'll be sharing that reason in the spring. Stay tuned!
Release Date: November 9, 2012

3. Brave
Pixar takes a stab at a female protagonist film, and it's an action/adventure/fantasy one with a fiery archer redhead in the lead. Oh yeah. If they can get this right, they really will be unstoppable.
Release Date: June 22, 2012

2. The Hunger Games
Based on the first book in the post-apocalyptic trilogy by Suzanne Collins, I'm very excited to see this female protagonist young adult action film take centre stage with Jennifer Lawrence in the lead. I'm also particularly fond of the film as I called the casting of Josh Hutcherson in the role of Peeta the moment I heard it was being adapted. It's a great story, a highly stylistic world that can be created and has fascinating characters. It's pretty dark though, which poses a bit of a YA challenge, but hopefully they find a way to make it all work. The freaking trailer made me cry so I can't help but place it this high. The second book is already set for an adaptation slated to be released in 2013.
Release Date: March 23, 2012

1. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 2
The vampire/human romance/fantasy saga comes to a close. I've been a TwiFan from seeing the first Twilight on opening night back in 2008, so much so that I have co-hosting a Twilight Podcast Before the Dawn for years now. It has been a bit of a bumpy road walking the parallel journeys of both a fan and someone who writes about film on an ongoing basis. It's be wild to follow both the energy of the fandom and challenge of not loving New Moon and only enjoying Eclipse, but for me it came full circle when I fell in love again with the series though Breaking Dawn: Part 1. It's been a whirlwind and I've very excited to see how the final chapter will play out.
Release Date: November 16, 2012

32nd Genie Award Nominations - film list

List organized by most nominations, then alphabetical. Documentaries and shorts are categories that lend themselves to only have 1 nomination per film are listed separately at the end.

See also: film list with nominations detailed or full nominations list

The 32nd Genie Awards will be broadcasted on Thursday March 8, 2012 at 8 p.m. (8:30 p.m. NT) on CBC Television.

Café de Flore (13)
A Dangerous Method (11)
Monsieur Lazhar (9)
The Bang Bang Club (7)
Starbuck (6)
The Whistleblower (6)
Edwin Boyd: Citizen Gangster (5)
Funkytown (3)
In Darkness (3)
Snow and Ashes (3)
Bumrush (2)
Jaloux (2)
Marécages / Wetlands (2)
Nuit #1 (2)
Oliver Sherman (2)
Take This Waltz (2)
Afghan Luke (1)
Amazon Falls (1)
Cloudburst (1)
Daydream Nation (1)
French Immersion (1)
Good Neighbours (1)
Keyhole (1)
Son of the Sunshine (1)
The Girl in the White Coat (1)
The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom (1)
You are Here (1)

BEST FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY / MEILLEUR LONG MÉTRAGE DOCUMENTAIRE - 1 nomination each
BEAUTY DAY - Jay Cheel, Kristina McLaughlin, Kevin McMahon, Roman Pizzacalla
FAMILY PORTRAIT IN BLACK AND WHITE - Julia Ivanova, Boris Ivanov
THE GUANTANAMO TRAP - Thomas Wallner, Amit Breuer, Patrick Crowe
LA NUIT, ELLES DANSENT / AT NIGHT, THEY DANCE - Isabelle Lavigne, Stéphane Thibault, Lucie Lambert
WIEBO'S WAR - David York, Nick Hector, C.C.E., Bryn Hughes, Bonnie Thompson

BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY / MEILLEUR COURT MÉTRAGE DOCUMENTAIRE - 1 nomination each
75 WATTS - John Cullen
DERAILMENTS - Chelsea McMullan
SIRMILIK - Zacharias Kunuk, Joel McConvey, Kristina McLaughlin, Kevin McMahon, Michael McMahon, Geoff Morrison, Ryan J. Noth

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT DRAMA / MEILLEUR COURT MÉTRAGE DRAMATIQUE - 1 nomination each
DOUBLES WITH SLIGHT PEPPER - Ian Harnarine
HOPE - Pedro Pires, Phoebe Greenberg, Penny Mancuso
ORA - René Chénier, Philippe Baylaucq
LA RONDE - Élaine Hébert, Sophie Goyette

BEST ANIMATED SHORT / MEILLEUR COURT MÉTRAGE D'ANIMATION - 1 nomination each
CHOKE - Michelle Latimer
LA CITÉ ENTRE LES MURS / INNER CITY - Alain Fournier
MUYBRIDGE'S STRINGS - Koji Yamamura, Michael Fukushima, Shuzo John Shiota, Keisuke Tsuchihashi
ROMANCE - Georges Schwizgebel, René Chénier, Marc Bertrand
WILD LIFE - Amanda Forbis, Wendy Tilby, Marcy Page, Bonnie Thompson

The 32nd Genie Awards will be broadcasted on Thursday March 8, 2012 at 8 p.m. (8:30 p.m. NT) on CBC Television.

32nd Genie Award Nominations - film list with nominations detailed

List organized by most nominations, then alphabetical. Documentaries and all shorts listed separately at the end as the categories lend themselves to only have 1 nomination per film.

See also: film list only or full nominations list

The 32nd Genie Awards will be broadcasted on Thursday March 8, 2012 at 8 p.m. (8:30 p.m. NT) on CBC Television.

Café de Flore (13)
BEST MOTION PICTURE / MEILLEUR FILM
ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION/PRODUCTION DESIGN / MEILLEURE DIRECTION ARTISTIQUE
ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY / MEILLEURES IMAGES
ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN / MEILLEURS COSTUMES
ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTION / MEILLEURE RÉALISATION
ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP / MEILLEURS MAQUILLAGES
ACHIEVEMENT IN OVERALL SOUND / MEILLEUR SON D'ENSEMBLE
ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING / MEILLEUR MONTAGE SONORE
ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS / MEILLEURS EFFETS VISUELS
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY / MEILLEUR SCÉNARIO
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE / INTERPRÉTATION MASCULINE DANS UN RÔLE DE SOUTIEN - MARIN GERRIER
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE / INTERPRÉTATION FÉMININE DANS UN PREMIER RÔLE - VANESSA PARADIS
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE / INTERPRÉTATION FÉMININE DANS UN RÔLE DE SOUTIEN - HÉLÈNE FLORENT

A Dangerous Method (11)
BEST MOTION PICTURE / MEILLEUR FILM
ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION/PRODUCTION DESIGN / MEILLEURE DIRECTION ARTISTIQUE
ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN / MEILLEURS COSTUMES
ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTION / MEILLEURE RÉALISATION
ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING / MEILLEUR MONTAGE
ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC - ORIGINAL SCORE / MEILLEURE MUSIQUE ORIGINALE
ACHIEVEMENT IN OVERALL SOUND / MEILLEUR SON D'ENSEMBLE
ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING / MEILLEUR MONTAGE SONORE
ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS / MEILLEURS EFFETS VISUELS
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE / INTERPRÉTATION MASCULINE DANS UN PREMIER RÔLE - MICHAEL FASSBENDER
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE / INTERPRÉTATION MASCULINE DANS UN RÔLE DE SOUTIEN - VIGGO MORTENSEN

Monsieur Lazhar (9)
ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC - ORIGINAL SCORE / MEILLEURE MUSIQUE ORIGINALE
ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY / MEILLEURES IMAGES
ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTION / MEILLEURE RÉALISATION
ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING / MEILLEUR MONTAGE
ACHIEVEMENT IN OVERALL SOUND / MEILLEUR SON D'ENSEMBLE
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY / MEILLEURE ADAPTATION
BEST MOTION PICTURE / MEILLEUR FILM
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE / INTERPRÉTATION MASCULINE DANS UN PREMIER RÔLE - FELLAG
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE / INTERPRÉTATION FÉMININE DANS UN RÔLE DE SOUTIEN - SOPHIE NÉLISSE

The Bang Bang Club (7)
ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION/PRODUCTION DESIGN / MEILLEURE DIRECTION ARTISTIQUE
ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY / MEILLEURES IMAGES
ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTION / MEILLEURE RÉALISATION
ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC - ORIGINAL SCORE / MEILLEURE MUSIQUE ORIGINALE
ACHIEVEMENT IN OVERALL SOUND / MEILLEUR SON D'ENSEMBLE
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY / MEILLEURE ADAPTATION
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE / INTERPRÉTATION MASCULINE DANS UN RÔLE DE SOUTIEN - TAYLOR KITSCH

Starbuck (6)
ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC - ORIGINAL SONG / MEILLEURE CHANSON ORIGINALE
BEST MOTION PICTURE / MEILLEUR FILM
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY / MEILLEUR SCÉNARIO
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE / INTERPRÉTATION MASCULINE DANS UN PREMIER RÔLE - PATRICK HUARD
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE / INTERPRÉTATION MASCULINE DANS UN RÔLE DE SOUTIEN - ANTOINE BERTRAND
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE / INTERPRÉTATION FÉMININE DANS UN RÔLE DE SOUTIEN - JULIE LEBRETON

The Whistleblower (6)
ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTION / MEILLEURE RÉALISATION
ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC - ORIGINAL SCORE / MEILLEURE MUSIQUE ORIGINALE
BEST MOTION PICTURE / MEILLEUR FILM
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY / MEILLEUR SCÉNARIO
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE / INTERPRÉTATION FÉMININE DANS UN PREMIER RÔLE - RACHEL WEISZ
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE / INTERPRÉTATION FÉMININE DANS UN RÔLE DE SOUTIEN - ROXANA CONDURACHE

Edwin Boyd: Citizen Gangster (5)
ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION/PRODUCTION DESIGN / MEILLEURE DIRECTION ARTISTIQUE
ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS / MEILLEURS EFFETS VISUELS
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE / INTERPRÉTATION MASCULINE DANS UN PREMIER RÔLE - SCOTT SPEEDMAN
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE / INTERPRÉTATION MASCULINE DANS UN RÔLE DE SOUTIEN - KEVIN DURAND
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE / INTERPRÉTATION FÉMININE DANS UN RÔLE DE SOUTIEN - CHARLOTTE SULLIVAN

Funkytown (3)
ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION/PRODUCTION DESIGN / MEILLEURE DIRECTION ARTISTIQUE
ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN / MEILLEURS COSTUMES
ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC - ORIGINAL SONG / MEILLEURE CHANSON ORIGINALE

In Darkness (3)
ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING / MEILLEUR MONTAGE
ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING / MEILLEUR MONTAGE SONORE
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY / MEILLEURE ADAPTATION

Snow and Ashes (3)
ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY / MEILLEURES IMAGES
ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP / MEILLEURS MAQUILLAGES
ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS / MEILLEURS EFFETS VISUELS

Bumrush (2)
ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS / MEILLEURS EFFETS VISUELS
ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP / MEILLEURS MAQUILLAGES

Jaloux (2)
ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING / MEILLEUR MONTAGE
ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC - ORIGINAL SCORE / MEILLEURE MUSIQUE ORIGINALE

Marécages / Wetlands (2)
ACHIEVEMENT IN OVERALL SOUND / MEILLEUR SON D'ENSEMBLE
ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING / MEILLEUR MONTAGE SONORE

Nuit #1 (2)
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY / MEILLEUR SCÉNARIO
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE / INTERPRÉTATION FÉMININE DANS UN PREMIER RÔLE - CATHERINE DE LÉAN

Oliver Sherman (2)
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY / MEILLEURE ADAPTATION
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE / INTERPRÉTATION MASCULINE DANS UN PREMIER RÔLE - GARRET DILLAHUNT

Take This Waltz (2)
ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP / MEILLEURS MAQUILLAGES
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE / INTERPRÉTATION FÉMININE DANS UN PREMIER RÔLE - MICHELLE WILLIAMS

Afghan Luke (1)
ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN / MEILLEURS COSTUMES

Amazon Falls (1)
ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP / MEILLEURS MAQUILLAGES

Cloudburst (1)
ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC - ORIGINAL SONG / MEILLEURE CHANSON ORIGINALE

Daydream Nation (1)
ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY / MEILLEURES IMAGES

French Immersion (1)
ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC - ORIGINAL SONG / MEILLEURE CHANSON ORIGINALE

Good Neighbours (1)
ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC - ORIGINAL SONG / MEILLEURE CHANSON ORIGINALE

Keyhole (1)
ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN / MEILLEURS COSTUMES

Son of the Sunshine (1)
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY / MEILLEUR SCÉNARIO

The Girl in the White Coat (1)
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE / INTERPRÉTATION FÉMININE DANS UN PREMIER RÔLE - PASCALE MONTPETIT

The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom (1)
ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING / MEILLEUR MONTAGE

You are Here (1)
ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING / MEILLEUR MONTAGE SONORE

BEST FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY / MEILLEUR LONG MÉTRAGE DOCUMENTAIRE - 1 nomination each
BEAUTY DAY - Jay Cheel, Kristina McLaughlin, Kevin McMahon, Roman Pizzacalla
FAMILY PORTRAIT IN BLACK AND WHITE - Julia Ivanova, Boris Ivanov
THE GUANTANAMO TRAP - Thomas Wallner, Amit Breuer, Patrick Crowe
LA NUIT, ELLES DANSENT / AT NIGHT, THEY DANCE - Isabelle Lavigne, Stéphane Thibault, Lucie Lambert
WIEBO'S WAR - David York, Nick Hector, C.C.E., Bryn Hughes, Bonnie Thompson

BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY / MEILLEUR COURT MÉTRAGE DOCUMENTAIRE - 1 nomination each
75 WATTS - John Cullen
DERAILMENTS - Chelsea McMullan
SIRMILIK - Zacharias Kunuk, Joel McConvey, Kristina McLaughlin, Kevin McMahon, Michael McMahon, Geoff Morrison, Ryan J. Noth

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT DRAMA / MEILLEUR COURT MÉTRAGE DRAMATIQUE - 1 nomination each
DOUBLES WITH SLIGHT PEPPER - Ian Harnarine
HOPE - Pedro Pires, Phoebe Greenberg, Penny Mancuso
ORA - René Chénier, Philippe Baylaucq
LA RONDE - Élaine Hébert, Sophie Goyette

BEST ANIMATED SHORT / MEILLEUR COURT MÉTRAGE D'ANIMATION - 1 nomination each
CHOKE - Michelle Latimer
LA CITÉ ENTRE LES MURS / INNER CITY - Alain Fournier
MUYBRIDGE'S STRINGS - Koji Yamamura, Michael Fukushima, Shuzo John Shiota, Keisuke Tsuchihashi
ROMANCE - Georges Schwizgebel, René Chénier, Marc Bertrand
WILD LIFE - Amanda Forbis, Wendy Tilby, Marcy Page, Bonnie Thompson

The 32nd Genie Awards will be broadcasted on Thursday March 8, 2012 at 8 p.m. (8:30 p.m. NT) on CBC Television.

Abduction (DVD Review)

DVD Review of action/thriller starring Taylor Lautner & Lily Cole



Image Courtesy of Alliance Films
Legal Line © MMXI Lions Gate Films Inc. All Rights Reserved. Distributed exclusively in Canada by Alliance Films. All Rights Reserved. © MMXI Lions Gate Films Inc. Tous droits réservés. Distribué exclusivement au Canada par Alliance Vivafilm. Tous droits réservés.

Dir: John Singleton (2 Fast 2 Furious, Shaft (2000), Poetic Justice).
Cast: Taylor Lautner, Lily Collins, Jason Isaacs, Maria Bello, Sigourney Weaver, Alfred Molina, Michael Nyqvist
USA, 2011

Reason to see: As a Twi-fan I'm curious to see Taylor Lautner shapes up outside the Twilight series

Abduction follows teen Nathan (Taylor Lautner of Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn: Part I) who appears to have the fun time life of a teen just partying and hanging out with friends, although he gets a sense that maybe he just doesn't fit with his family and his life. Although there are some oddities here and there, they all seem easily explained by a core of supportive adults around him including his parents Kevin (Jason Isaacs of the Harry Potter series) and Mara (Maria Bello of Beautiful Boy, Carjacked). It's odd because there is the air of mystery but also very clearly the being misplaced feeling which give the film a very Bourne feeling. In fact, I keep wanting to call Abduction the Baby Bourne film, even though it's totally out of character for me to review by comparison but in this case it really does fit: questions about identity, intense desire to find the truth, and of course action all around.

It feels like it's a recipe that should work but I felt like the film couldn't decide exactly who it's audience was. In a lot of ways Abduction is decidedly teen: cute young romance angst, insecurity, family focus and although the teens are part of the action it's very much reactionary. Nathan is pretty resourceful and smart, but I didn't really believe that he was going to outwit whoever the 'they' was who were after him. Although the threat felt pretty high stakes, I didn't actually feel that much tension in the film. But above all, the one thing I didn't understand was why there were all these little digs are women and girls, considering Taylor Lautner has first billing, the filmmakers must know that with that the audience is going to be very femme-heavy. Why have these little lines and moments that are off the cuff or overt dissing the female characters? To make it more macho? I think the fact that they made it extremely clear that he did his own stunts is enough for the macho factor. And, to be fair the stunts and action were rather impressive so I will definitely give it credit for the action as it's due.

I found Abduction ending up being somewhere between entertaining and amusing. Does Taylor have the action chops? Yep, he does. Were Jason Isaacs and Maria Bello? Yep, they was. Did I want a more complete and/or interesting story? Yep, I did. Did I want more Michael Nyqvist? Yep, for sure. For me, Abduction fell short in more spots than it shone, although if the film was purely and exercise to see if Taylor can do action - then, it succeeded at what it set out to do.

See also Abduction review on the Movie Moxie Podcast #58

DVD Extras:

• Abduction Chronicle: On Camera Production Journal with Taylor Lautner
• The Fight for the Truth: Making Abduction
• Initiation of an Action Hero: Taylor's Amazing Stunts
• Pulled Punches: Gag Reel

Abduction is available on DVD as of January 17, 2012. Check it out over at Amazon.ca & Amazon.com

Shannon's Overall View:
I didn't love it
I may watch it again
I'd recommend it as a teen action flick

Return to Film Reviews or see more DVD Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2012


Karen (Lily Collins) and Nathan (Taylor Lautner) in ABDUCTION. Photo credit: Bruce Talamon


Nathan (Taylor Lautner) and Karen (Lily Collins) in ABDUCTION. Photo credit: Bruce Talamon