Posters for A Dangerous Method, The Artist, and My Week with Marilyn

Three of my most eagerly-anticipated awards seasons releases have new posters.  One I adore, another I enjoy, and the final leaves something to be desired.  Either way, I'm sure we're looking at the mug of at least 5 future Oscar nominees.

Below, David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method, staring Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen, and Michael Fassbender.

Below, Michel Hazanavicius' ode to silent films, The Artist, staring John Goodman and Jean Dujardin.

Below, Simon Curtis' much-talked-about film about Marilyn Monroe, aptly titled My Week with Marilyn.  Staring Michelle Williams as the title character, Kenneth Branagh as Sir Laurence Olivier, and Judi Dench as Dame Sybil Thorndike.

"I Think We're Back in Business"

(right around 2:03)

After much ado in my personal life the last month and a half (a wedding, a 2 week honeymoon, working constantly, and studying for the LSAT) I've finally found some time in my schedule to return to my blog.  My postings may be sporadic in the near future (at least until October 1), but they'll exist nevertheless.

Oh, and I'm painfully behind on a lot of new releases, but that's what cheapy second-run movie theatres and Redbox are for.  Regardless, I'm glad to be back.

Hiatus

Tomorrow, I will be marrying the love of my life and for the next two weeks soaking up some well-deserved sun on my honeymoon. So, needless to say, no posts until our return.

Reviews of The Tree of Life and Harry Potter in the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, and Emmy nominee reactions, along with some fun film conversations.

Adios!

'The Dark Knight Rises' teaser poster

As per usual, Christopher Nolan begins the promotions for his films a full year ahead of time.  His follow-up to The Dark Knight, aptly titled The Dark Knight Rises is set for a July 2012 release, and rumor has it that the teaser trailer is set to premier in front of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 this weekend.  I like the poster; it's not the blurry "Why So Serious?" genius of The Dark Knight's teaser, but it's visually stunning and has the sense of a whole city collapsing.

What do you think?

Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe

The newest picture of Dawson's Creek alum and two-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams as the famous blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe from her upcoming Oscar-hopeful My Week With Marilyn.  Myself, and many other Oscar pundits are predicting Williams to nab a nomination for her work in this picture.

My Week with Marilyn also stars Tony-winner Eddie Redmayne, Emma Watson, Kenneth Branagh as Sir Laurence Olivier, Julia Ormond as Vivien Leigh, and Judi Dench as Dame Sybil Thorndike.

[Photo courtesy of Napier News and The Weinstein Company. ]

Spielberg's full-length trailer to 'Tintin' hits

The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn has been Steven Spielberg's much-anticipated companion piece to his more dramatic War Horse, both coming out this this year.  Much as been said regarding Spielberg's penchant for a "one for the critics, one more the masses" years, being it 1993 with Jurassic Park and Schindler's List, or 2005's War of the Worlds and Munich.  The new international trailer, below.

However, this particular film, produced by Spielberg, Peter Jackson, and long-time Spielberg backer Kathleen Kennedy, is a combination of motion capture and rendering animation.  Though there has been no official word as to whether this film will be ruled as eligible for Best Animated Feature or not, this film will surely be a contender should the animation branch deem it eligible.  The question is whether this film is strictly motion capture, or if it's motion capture with extensive animated rendering.  One makes it eligible, and the other doesn't. Should it be eligible, Spielberg could be looking at one impressive year.

[Thanks to Napier's News and @nathandonarum for the links]

July Oscar Predictions

Okay, so I'm new at this official Oscar prediction thing. Before this, I would just haphazardly post my predictions in a forum post and call it a day. But now I'm going to do it monthly like most of my colleagues and sooner to Oscar season, weekly. If not daily.

Check out other notable predictors from my fellow bloggers: Nathaniel R. at The Film Experience, Kris Tapley at InContention, and Julian Stark at Movies and Other Things.

Individual categories clickable in the above tabs.  All listed in alphabetical order.

BEST PICTURE

The Artist

The Descendants

A Dangerous Method

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

The Ides of March

The Iron Lady

J. Edgar

Midnight in Paris

My Week with Marilyn

Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy

BEST DIRECTOR

David Cronenberg, A Dangerous Method

Stephen Daldry, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Clint Eastwood, J. Edgar

Michel Haznavicius, The Artist

Steven Spielberg, War Horse

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

George Clooney, The Descendants

Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar

Jean DuJardin, The Artist

Michael Fassbender, A Dangerous Method

Gary Oldman, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs

Felicity Jones, Like Crazy

Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene

Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady

Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Kenneth Branagh, My Week with Marilyn

Albert Brooks, Drive

Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Ides of March

Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method

Christopher Plummer, Beginners

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Zoe Caldwell, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Keira Knightley, A Dangerous Method

Vanessa Redgrave, Coriolanus

Marisa Tomei, The Ides of March

Shailene Woodley, The Descendants

Techs and screenplay races coming soon.

The Dwarves of 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' Emerge

A few images from Peter Jackson's upcoming The Hobbit films were released a few weeks ago, and I covered their new title revamping and release dates.  But now, we get a glimpse not of Bilbo or Gandalf, but rather of, according to the films' Facebook page, the dwarves Dori, Nori, and Ori.  More from the picture, after the picture.

JED BROPHY as Nori, ADAM BROWN as Ori and MARK HADLOW as Dori in New Line Cinema’s and MGM's fantasy adventure THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo by James Fisher.

DORI, NORI & ORI
These three brothers, all sons of the same mother, could not be more different from each other. Dori, the oldest, spends much of his time watching out for Ori, the youngest; making sure he’s not caught a chill or got himself killed by Wargs or Goblins. Nobody quite knows what Nori gets up to most of the time, except that it’s guaranteed to be dodgy and quite probably, illegal. Dori, Nori and Ori are intensely loyal to each other – and whilst they are perfectly happy fighting amongst themselves, woe-betide anyone who means harm to one of these brothers.

[Via The Hobbit's Facebook page]

Teaser trailer for Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady

Much Oscar buzz has been floating around Meryl Streep and her upcoming performance as Margret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.  Many think the Oscar phenom is on her way to breaking her own nomination record with her 17th nomination.  Could this finally be her long-awaited third trophy?


Co-staring Jim Broadbent as Thatcher's doting husband, The Iron Lady hits theaters December 16th.  Picture of Meryl and Broadbent below.

[Thanks to Awards Daily for breaking the news]