The Artist and Michelle Williams have the Independent Spirit

Oscar front-runner The Artist continued to dominate this awards season as it picked up four awards at today’s Independent Spirit Awards honoring the best in independent cinema. The films all had to be made and financed in the U.S. with a budget under $20 million to be eligible (hence, Hugo, War Horse and The Help, etc were not in contention… nor was British funded The Iron Lady). Along with Best Feature, The Artist took home Best Director, Cinematography and Best Actor for Jean Dujardin (who I think will nab tomorrow’s Oscar). In the other acting fields, Michelle Williams followed up her Golden Globe win for My Week with Marilyn in the Lead Actress category while Christopher Plummer won Supporting Actor for Beginners as he has done pretty much everywhere this season. Oscar snubbed Shailene Woodley won Supporting Actress for The Descendants which also took home the screenplay prize. For more on all the winners, head to the Indie Spirit site here and check out all the winners below.

2012 Independent Spirit Award Winners:

Best Feature Film: The Artist
Best Director: Michael Hazanavicius (The Artist)
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin (The Artist)
Best Actress: Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer (Beginners)
Best Supporting Actress: Shailene Woodley (The Descendants)
Best Screenplay: The Descendants
Best Cinematography: The Artist
Best International Film: A Separation
Best Documentary: The Interrupters
Best First Feature: Margin Call
Best First Screenplay: 50/50
John Cassavetes Award for Best Feature (under $500,000 budget): Pariah
Robert Altman Award (given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast): Margin Call

The Artist, Tinker Tailor, Hugo and Marilyn lead the BAFTA Nominations

To no one’s surprise, the little silent French movie that could, The Artist, led this morning’s BAFTA nominations (i.e.: the British Oscars) nabbing 12 bids. However, it’s a little bit of a surprise that Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was right behind with 11 noms. That film certainly benefits from being a British production and is the only movie contending for Best Picture and Best British Picture. My Week with Marilyn is up for the latter and grabbed 6 nods including acting bids for Michelle WIlliams, Kenneth Branagh and Judi Dench. The other big contender was Hugo with 9 nominations., but it missed Best Picture… Other snubs this morning included Leonardo DiCaprio, Shailene Woodley, Albert Brooks, Rooney Mara, Charlize Theron, Ryan Gosling, Elizabeth Olsen and the ladies of Albert Nobbs (However, Glenn Close and Janet McTeer and the Nobbs film were ineligible because the film has yet to open in Britain)…. One other interesting note has The Artist’s Berenice Bejo competing in the Lead Actress race instead of Supporting. Could this be a harbinger of things to come at the Oscars? We will see, but for now take a look at all the nominees below.

2012 BAFTA Nominations:
Best Film
The Artist
The Descendants
Drive
The Help
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Film Not in the English Language
Incendies
Pina
Potiche
A Separation
The Skin I Live In

Outstanding British Film
My Week with Marilyn
Senna
Shame
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
We Need to Talk About Kevin
Director
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Tomas Alfredson, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Lynne Ramsay, We Need to Talk About Kevin

Leading Actor
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
George Clooney, The Descendants
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Michael Fassbender, Shame

Leading Actress
Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin
Viola Davis, The Help

Supporting Actor
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Jim Broadbent, The Iron Lady
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Kenneth Branagh, My Week with Marilyn
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Ides of March

Supporting Actress
Carey Mulligan, Drive
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Judi Dench, My Week with Marilyn
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Original Screenplay
The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Guard
The Iron Lady
Midnight in Paris
Adapted Screenplay
The Descendants
The Help
The Ides of March
Moneyball
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Cinematography
The Artist
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
War Horse

Editing
The Artist
Drive
Hugo
Senna
Tinker Tailor Solider Spy

Production Design
The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Hugo
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
War Horse

Make Up & Hair
The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Hugo
The Iron Lady
My Week with Marilyn

Costume Design
The Artist
Hugo
Jane Eyre
My Week with Marilyn
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Special Visual Effects
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
War Horse

Documentary
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
Project Nim
Senna

Sound
The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Hugo
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
War Horse

Original Music
The Artist
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
War Horse

Animated Film
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn
Arthur Christmas
Rango
Outstanding British Debut by a Director or Producer
Joe Cornish, Attack the Block
Will Sharpe, Tom Kingsley, Sarah Brocklehurst, Black Pond
Ralph Fiennes, Coriolanus
Richard Ayouade, Submarine
Paddy Considine & Diarmid Scrimshaw, Tyrannosaur

The Artist, The Descendants, Meryl and Madonna win Big at the Golden Globes

Well, Madonna sure did piss off Elton John at tonight’s Golden Globe Awards… No, not because of anything she said, but because she won the award for Best Original song for her gorgeous track from W.E.,”Masterpiece”. It beat Elton’s track from Gnomeo and Juliet and boy, did he have a disgruntled face if I’ve ever seen one. That was just one fun highlight from a night that saw few surprises, but was rather entertaining as a whole. Ricky Gervais returned as host and was quite funny but not as controversial as last year and was only bleeped once I think. Heck, Meryl Streep was bleeped too! Speaking of Streep, she won her 8th Globe for Lead Actress in a Drama for The Iron Lady while Michelle Williams won for Lead Actress in a Musical or Comedy. These wins, along with Viola Davis’s win at the Critics Choice Awards on Thursday, are making it a real horse race for the Best Actress race… Best Actor could be tight between tonight’s two winners as well, George Clooney for Drama and Jean Dujardin for Musical or Comedy. Both of their films won as well with The Descendants taking Drama and The Artist nabbing the trophy for Musical or Comedy. The latter film won the most awards with a third for Best Score…. Christopher Plummer and Octavia Spencer continued their winning runs in the supporting category while Martin Scorsese pulled out a surprise win for Director for Hugo.

On the TV front, Modern Family and Homeland won the series awards while Downton Abbey won TV Movie/Miniseries. There were several acting surprises though, both good (Matt LeBlanc) and bad (Kelsey Grammar~ no offense to his work, but how on Earth did he beat Bryan Cranston and Damian Lewis, argh!!!) Also, Laura Dern pulled out a little bit of a shocker for Lead actress in a Comedy over front runners Zooey Deschanel, Amy Poehler and last year’s winner Laura Linney. For more on the show, head to the Globes site here and take a look at all the winners below.

 

2012 Golden Globe Winners:
Best Picture (Drama): The Descendants
Best Actor in a Movie (Drama): George Clooney, The Descendants
Best Picture (Comedy or Musical): The Artist
Best Actress in a Movie (Drama): Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Best Actor in a Movie (Comedy or Musical): Jean Dujardin, The Artist
 Best TV Series (Comedy or Musical): Modern Family
Best Director: Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Best Supporting Actress in a Movie: Octavia Spencer, The Help
Best Actor in a TV Series (Comedy or Musical): Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
Best Actress in a TV Series (Drama): Claire Danes, Homeland
Best Foreign Language Movie: A Separation (Iran)
Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series, Miniseries, or TV Movie: Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Best Screenplay: Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen
Best Animated Movie: The Adventures of Tintin
Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series, Miniseries, or TV Movie: Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Best Actress in a Movie (Comedy or Musical): Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie: Idris Elba, Luther
Best Original Song: “Masterpiece,” W.E.
Best Original Score: Ludovic Bource, The Artist
Best TV Series (Drama): Homeland
Best Actor in a TV Series (Drama): Kelsey Grammer, Boss
Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie: Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce
Best Miniseries or TV Movie: Downton Abbey
Best Actress in a TV Series (Comedy or Musical): Laura Dern, Enlightened
Best Supporting Actor in a Movie: Christopher Plummer, Beginners

And here’s the song that made Elton so mad. (Mary J. Blige didn’t look too happy either when she lost the category as well by the way)… Madonna’s “Masterpiece” from W.E.

My Big Bold 2012 Golden Globe Winner Predictions

Last night, the awards season really got underway with the Critics Choice Awards where The Artist ruled supreme. That film should grab a few more trophies this Sunday with arguably the most fun of all the awards shows, The Golden Globe Awards. Featuring stars from both film and television and always a big supporter of new shows (New Girl, Enlightened, Revenge, Boss) and big stars (Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling, Jodie Foster, Madonna), the Globes will have some serious eye candy. They will also have an awesome, irreverent and sometimes controversial host in Ricky Gervais who is back again this year after ruffling some feathers in 2011. So, I know you will tune in and so will I! Of course, before that happens, I have to give you my latest big bold predictions of the winners. Check it out below and watch the show Sunday night on NBC.

My Big Bold 2012 Golden Globe Award Winner Predictions:

Best Picture Drama:
The Descendants, The Help ,Hugo,The Ides of March, Moneyball, War Horse
Will win: The Descendants
Should win: The Help

Best Picture Musical/Comedy:
50/50, The Artist, Bridesmaids, Midnight in Paris, My Week with Marilyn
Will & Should win: The Artist
spoiler: Midnight in Paris

Best Actor Drama:
George Clooney (The Descendants), Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar), Michael Fassbender (Shame), Ryan Gosling (The Ides of March), Brad Pitt (Moneyball)
Will win: George Clooney
Should win: Brad Pitt
spoiler: Brad Pitt

Best Actress Drama:
Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs), Viola Davis (The Help), Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady), Tilda Swinton (We Need to Talk about Kevin)
Will & Should win: Meryl Streep
spoiler: Viola Davis

Best Actor Musical or Comedy:
Jean Dujardin (The Artist), Brendan Gleeson (The Guard), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (50/50), Ryan Gosling (Crazy Stupid Love), Owen Wilson (Midnight in Paris)
Will win: Jean Dujardin
Should win: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
spoiler: Ryan Gosling

Best Actress Musical or Comedy:
Jodie Foster (Carnage), Charlize Theron (Young Adult), Michelle Williams (My Week With Marilyn), Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids), Kate Winslet (Carnage)
Will & Should win: Michelle Williams
spoiler: Charlize Theron

Best Supporting Actor:
Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn), Albert Brooks (Drive), Jonah Hill (Moneyball), Viggo Mortenson (A Dangerous Method), Christopher Plummer (Beginners)
Will & Should win: Christopher Plummer
spoiler: Kenneth Branagh

Best Supporting Actress:
Berenice Bejo (The Artist), Jessica Chastain (The Help), Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs), Octavia Spencer (The Help), Shailene Woodley (The Descendants)
Will & Should win: Octavia Spencer
spoiler: Berenice Bejo

Best Director:
Woody Allen (Midnight inParis), George Clooney (The Ides of March), Mcihael Hazanavicius (The Artist), Alexander Payne (The Descendants), Martin Scorcesse (Hugo)
Will & Should win: Michael Hazanvicius
spoiler: Woody Allen

Screenplay:
The Artist, The Descendants, The Ides of March, Midnight in Paris, Moneyball
Will win: Midnight in Paris
Should win: Moneyball
spoiler: The Descendants

Animated Film:
The Adventures of Tin Tin, Arthur Christmas, Cars 2, Kung Fu Panda 2, Rango
Will win: The Adventures of Tin Tin
should win: Rango
spoiler: Rango

Score
The Artist, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Hugo, W.E., War Horse
Will win: The Artist
Should win: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Song:
“Hello Hello”- EltonJohn (Gnomeo & Juiliet), “The Keeper”- Chris Cornell (Machine Gun Preacher), “Lay Your Head Down”- Sinead o’Conner performer (Albert Nobbs), “The Living Proof”- Mary J. Blige (The Help), “Masterpiece”- Madonna (W.E.)
Will & Should win: “The Living Proof”
spoiler: “Masterpiece”

TV CATEGORIES:

Drama Series:
American Horror Story, Boardwalk Empire, Boss, Game of Thrones, Homeland
Will & Should win: Homeland
spoiler: Game of Thrones

Musical/Comedy Series:
Enlightened, Episodes, Glee, Modern Family, New Girl
Will & Should win: Modern Family
spoiler: Glee

Actress Drama Series:
Clare Danes (Homeland), Mirielles Enos (The Killing), Juliana Marguiles (The Good Wife), Madeline Stowe (Revenge), Callie Thorne (Necessary Roughness)
Will & Should win: Clare Danes
spoiler: Juliana Marguiles

Actor Drama Series:
Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Kelsey Grammer (Boss), Jeremy Irons (The Borgias), Damian Lewis (Homeland)
Will win: Damian Lewis
Should win: Bryan Cranston
spoiler: Jeremy Irons

Actress Musical/Comedy Series:
Laura Dern (Enlightened), Zooey Deschanel (New Girl), Tina Fey (30 Rock), Laura Linney (The Big C), Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)
Will win: Zooey Deschanel
Should win: Amy Poehler
spoiler: Laura Dern

Actor Musical/Comedy Series:
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), David Duchovny (Californication), Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory), Thomas Jane (Hung), Matt LeBlanc (Episodes)
Will & Should win: Alec Baldwin
spoiler: Matt LeBlanc

TV Movie/Miniseries:
Cinema Verite, Downton Abbey, The Hour, Mildred Pierce, Too Big To Fail
Will & Should win: Downton Abbey
spoiler: Mildred Pierce

Lead Actress TV Movie/Miniseries:
Romala Garai (The Hour), Elizabeth McGovern (Downton Abbey), Diane Lane (Cinema Verite), Kate Winslet (Mildred Pierce), Emily Watson (Appropriate Adult)
Will win: Kate Winslet
Should win: Diane Lane

Lead Actor TV Movie/Miniseries:
Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), Idris Elba (Luther), William Hurt (Too Big to Fail), Bill Nighy (Page Eight), Dominic West (The Hour)
Will win: Hugh Bonneville
should win: Too Big To Fail
spoiler: Idris Elba

Supporting Actress TV Series, Movie, Miniseries:
Jessica Lange (American Horror Story), Kelly MacDonald (Boardwalk Empire), Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey), Sofia Vergara (Modern Family), Evan Rachel Wood (Mildred Pierce)
Will win: Maggie Smith
Should win: Sofia Vergara
spoiler: Jessica Lange

Supporting Actor TV Series, Movie, Miniseries:
Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), Paul Giamatti (Too Big To Fail), Guy Pearce (Mildred Pierce), Tim Robbins (Cinema Verite), Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)
Will & Should win: Peter Dinklage
spoiler: Guy Pearce

George Clooney, The Artist and The Descendants lead the Golden Globe Nominations

It was a good morning for George Clooney as the Oscar and Golden Globe winner heard his name four times when today’s Golden Globe Nominations were announced. Clooney is up for Best Actor (The Descendants) and writing, producing and directing The Ides of March. Conventional wisdom is that he’ll at least take one of those home. Along with The Descendants, also leading the way with a boatload of nominations was The Artist with six bids followed by The Help with five. Take a look at all of the nominees and check back here later today for more analysis.

2012 Golden Globe Nominations:

MOVIES~

Best Drama
The Descendants
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball
War Horse

Best Comedy/Musical
50/50
The Artist
Bridesmaids
Carnage
Midnight in Paris
My Week with Marilyn

Best Animated Film
Arthur Christmas
Cars 2
Rango
Puss in Boots
The Adventures of Tintin

Best Foreign Language Film
The Flowers of War
In the Land of Blood and Honey
The Kid With a Bike
A Separation
The Skin I Live In

Best Actor in a Drama
George Clooney, The Descendants
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
Ryan Gosling, The Ides of March
Michael Fassbender, Shame
Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar

Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Brendan Gleeson, The Guard
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 50/50
Ryan Gosling, Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Owen Wilson, Midnight in Paris

Best Supporting Actor
 in a Motion Picture
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Albert Brooks, Drive
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method

Best Actress in a Drama
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin

Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy
Jodie Foster, Carnage
Charlize Theron, Young Adult
Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids
Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn
Kate Winslet, Carnage

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Shailene Woodley, The Descendants
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help

Best Director

Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
George Clooney, The Ides of March
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo

Best Screenplay for a Motion Picture
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, Kaui Hart Hemmings, The Descendants
Steve Zallian, Aaron Sorkin, Stan Chervin, Michael Lewis, Moneyball
George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon, The Ides of March

Best Original Score in a Motion Picture
Ludovic Bource, The Artist
Abel Korzeniowski, W.E.
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Howard Shore, Hugo
John Williams, War Horse

Best Original Song in a Motion Picture
“Hello Hello,” Gnomeo & Juliet
“The Keeper,” Machine Gun Preacher
“Lay Your Head Down,” Albert Nobbs
“The Living Proof,” The Help
“Masterpiece,” W.E.

TV~

Best TV Drama
American Horror Story
Boardwalk Empire
Boss
Game of Thrones
Homeland

Best TV Comedy or Musical
Enlightened
Episodes
Glee
Modern Family
New Girl

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture
Cinema Verite
Downton Abbey
The Hour
Mildred Pierce
Too Big To Fail

Best Actor in a TV Drama
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Damian Lewis, Homeland
Jeremy Irons, The Borgias
Kelsey Grammer, Boss

Best Actor in a TV Musical or Comedy
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
David Duchovny, Californication
Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory
Thomas Jane, Hung
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Made-for-TV Movie
Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey
Idris Elba, Luther
William Hurt, Too Big To Fail
Bill Nighy, Page Eight
Dominic West, The Hour

Best Supporting Actor in TV Series, Mini-Series, or Made-for-TV Movie
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Paul Giamatti, Too Big To Fail
Guy Pearce, Mildred Pierce
Tim Robbins, Cinema Verite
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

Best Actress in a TV Drama
Claire Danes, Homeland
Mireille Enos, The Killing
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Madeleine Stowe, Revenge
Callie Thorne, Necessary Roughness

Best Actress in a TV Musical or Comedy
Laura Dern, Enlightened
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Laura Linney, The Big C
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

Best Actress in a Mini-Series or Made-for-TV Movie
Romola Garai, The Hour
Diane Lane, Cinema Verite
Elizabeth McGovern, Downton Abbey
Emily Watson, Appropriate Adult
Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce

Best Supporting Actress in TV Series, Mini-Series, or Made-for-TV Movie

Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Evan Rachel Wood, Mildred Pierce

Twilight holds off The Muppets during a lazy Weekend at the Box Office

In the second lowest grossing weekend of the year at the box office (following Labor Day), Twilight Breaking Dawn Part. 1 held on to the top spot for the third week in a row. The film which is likely to be a Razzie Award front-runner for worst picture of the year took in another $16.9 million for a big total of $247.3 million. Holding on to second was The Muppets which nabbed another $ 11.2 million for $56 million to date. With no new big releases, the specialty market made news as films in limited release like The Artist, The Descendants and My Week with Marilyn took in good numbers. Opening with very strong per theatre grosses were Oscar hopefuls Shame, starring Michael Fassbender, and David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method also with Fassbender plus Keira Knightly and Viggo Mortenson. For more on all the numbers, head to Box Office Mojo here and check out the new top ten below.

TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week #
1 1 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 Sum. $16,900,000 -59.5% 4,046 -20 $4,177 $247,300,000 $110 3
2 2 The Muppets BV $11,200,000 -61.7% 3,440 – $3,256 $56,137,000 $45 2
3 5 Hugo Par. $7,625,000 -32.9% 1,840 +563 $4,144 $25,188,000 – 2
4 4 Arthur Christmas Sony $7,350,000 -39.1% 3,376 – $2,177 $25,292,000 – 2
5 3 Happy Feet Two WB $6,000,000 -55.2% 3,536 -75 $1,697 $51,785,000 – 3
6 6 Jack and Jill Sony $5,500,000 -45.0% 3,049 +20 $1,804 $64,308,000 $79 4
7 9 The Descendants FoxS $5,200,000 -29.2% 574 +184 $9,059 $18,087,000 – 3
8 7 Immortals Rela. $4,394,000 -50.5% 2,627 -50 $1,673 $75,588,000 $75 4
9 10 Tower Heist Uni. $4,100,000 -42.9% 2,404 -70 $1,705 $70,800,000 $75 5
10 8 Puss in Boots P/DW $3,050,000 -59.4% 2,750 -255 $1,109 $139,522,000 $130 6

Vampires, Penguins and Muppets Oh My~ it’s the Thanksgiving Box Office

Hello readers. I hope you had a great holiday weekend and stuffed your face repeatedly like I did. Perhaps ya’ll caught a movie or two. If you did, you likely saw one of two movies as the vampires and werewolves of Twilight and The Muppets dominated the box office. Despite another downturn weekend at the turnstiles, both films did quite well with Breaking Dawn Pt. 1 taking in $62 million over five days for a big total of $221 million to date. Disney’s reboot of The Muppets (which is awesome and hilarious by the way, Grade: A) opened to a strong $42 million far out-distancing the other newcomers. Grabbing middling grosses were two new family films with Arthur Christmas landing $17 million and the visually astounding Hugo taking in just $15 million. Both were beat by the second weekend of the disappointing Happy Feet Two which nabbed $18 million for a total of $ $43 million (that film will not come close to its predecessors total and will struggle to reach the century mark). The good news for all three of those films, and The Muppets, is that the holiday season sees strong legs for these family titles. So they should hold up well in the long run… Opening well in limited release was the charming My Week With Marilyn, featuring an Oscar worthy turn by Michelle Williams, which took in $2 million on just 244 screens. Also doing very well in limited release were The Descendants, The Artist and A Dangerous Method. For more on all these numbers, head to Box Office Mojo here and check out the new top ten below.

TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week #
1 1 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 Sum. $62,321,838 -54.9% 4,066 +5 $15,328 $221,300,000 $110 2
2 – The Muppets BV $42,000,000 – 3,440 – $12,209 $42,000,000 $45 1
3 2 Happy Feet Two WB $18,369,613 -13.5% 3,606 – $5,094 $43,773,000 – 2
4 – Arthur Christmas Sony $17,000,000 – 3,376 – $5,036 $17,000,000 – 1
5 – Hugo Par. $15,380,000 – 1,277 – $12,044 $15,380,000 – 1
6 4 Jack and Jill Sony $14,109,832 +20.2% 3,029 -409 $4,658 $57,417,000 $79 3
7 3 Immortals Rela. $12,529,900 +1.4% 2,677 -443 $4,681 $68,632,000 $75 3
8 5 Puss in Boots P/DW $10,377,647 -3.9% 3,005 -410 $3,453 $135,361,000 $130 5
9 6 Tower Heist Uni. $10,193,295 +43.5% 2,474 -468 $4,120 $65,380,000 $75 4
10 10 The Descendants FoxS $9,235,106 +676.0% 433 +404 $21,328 $10,741,000 – 2

My Still Very Early November Oscar Predictions…

It’s almost Thanksgiving and the Oscar race is in full swing. Several big contenders are currently in theatres (Moneyball, The Descendants, The Help) and a couple open this week (The Artist, My Week with Marilyn). In fact all but three of the biggies (War Horse, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) have screened at festivals or for critics and media and those final ponies have such strong pedigrees that have to be considered front-runners nonetheless. With that said, check out my new predictions, my Oct predix and let me know what you think will grab the gold early next year. Also note, I have ranked them in order of likelihood of getting a nomination and watch for big changes as the critics awards and SAG and Golden Globe nominations start to come in. (Heck, J. Edgar is pretty much out of all the races now after a poor opening and rough critical reception. At least Leo still stands a chance)…

Best Picture:
1. The Artist
2. The Descendants
3. War Horse
4. The Help
5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
6. Moneyball
7. Midnight in Paris
8. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
~spoilers: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2, My Week with Marilyn, The Adventures of Tin Tin, The Ides of March
*Note : this year the rules have changed again and the Best Picture nominees will vary from 5-10 films depending on the amount of support they get. (There’s a whole lot of weird math mumbojumbo involved). I feel like it will end up with 7 or 8.

Best Actor:
1. George Clooney (The Descendants)
2. Jean Dujardin (The Artist)~ new to the list
3. Brad Pitt (Moneyball)
4. Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar)
5. Woody Harrelson (Rampart)
~spoilers: Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Michael Fassbender (Shame), Ryan Gosling (Drive)

Best Actress:
1. Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)
2. Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)
3. Viola Davis (The Help)
4. Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs)
5. Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene)
~spoilers: Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Charlize Theron (Young Adult), Tilda Swinton (We Need to Talk About Kevin), Keira Knightley (A Dangerous Method)

Best Supporting Actor:
1. Christopher Plummer (Beginners)
2. Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn)
3. Max VonSydow (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close)
4. John Hawkes (Martha Marcy May Marlene)
5. Albert Brooks (Drive) ~ new
~spoilers: Jim Broadbent (The Iron Lady), George Clooney (The Ides of March), Alan Rickman (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2), Patton Oswalt (Young Adult), Armie Hammer (J. Edgar), Nick Nolte (Warrior), Jonah Hill (Moneyball)
* this category remains very crowded and unclear with only Plummer a serious lock right now

Best Supporting Actress:
1. Octavia Spencer (The Help)
2. Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs) ~ new
3. Vanessa Redgrave (Corolianus)~ new
4. Jessica Chastain (The Help)
5. Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids) ~new
~spoilers:  Berncie Bejo (The Artist), Shailene Woodley (The Descendants), Jessica Chastain (The Tree of Life), Robin Wright (Rampart), Sandra Bullock (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close), Angelica Huston (50/50), Judy Greer (The Descendants)

* This is the next category that is most up in the air with so many worthy contenders

Best Director:
1. Steven Speilberg (War Horse)
2. Michael Havinicius (The Artist) ~ new
3. Alexander Payne (The Descendants)
4. David Fincher (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
5. Tate Taylor (The Help)~ new
~spoilers: Stephen Daldry (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close), Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris), Bennett Miller (Moneyball)

Best Original Screenplay:
1. The Artist
2. Midnight in Paris
3. Beginners
4. Young Adult ~ new
5. Bridesmaids (oh yes I said it!) ~ new
~spoilers: J. Edgar, Rampart, Rango, Martha Marcy May Marlene

Best Adapted Screenplay:
1. The Descendants
2. The Help
3. War Horse
4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
5. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
~spoilers: My Week with Marilyn, Albert Nobbs, The Ides of March, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Is Michelle Williams the Front-Runner for Best Actress Now?

Two-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams is getting tons of awards buzz for her fantastic turn in My Week with Marilyn where she plays the iconic legend Marilyn Monroe. All signs are pointing to a nomination (as I mentioned in a previous blog here), but now it seems like she may be the front-runner. With Meryl Streep’s The Iron Lady not opening until 12/30, Williams will have months of advanced buzz to make her case and currently she is on top of everyone’s predictions lists alongside Viola Davis from The Help. So, can Williams pull off a win against these two venerable contenders? … Well, here’s some proof that it might just happen. Check out this new clip of Williams dancing and singing as Marilyn. Hello triple threat! And see for yourself if she has what it takes to win when the film opens on November 23rd.

Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe singing “Heatwave” in My Week with Marilyn

Look out Meryl, Michelle Williams is comin’ for your Oscar!

The most talented actress of our time, Meryl Streep hasn’t won an Oscar since Sophie’s Choice in 1982. Sure she’s got two of them and a record-breaking 16 nominations. However, it’s been almost thirty years since she grabbed a Golden boy, and for my money, she should’ve won a few other times~ most recently for Julie & Julia. But I digress… Meryl looks to be the front-runner this year for her upcoming performance as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. That said, she has some strong competition from Glenn Close as a woman masquerading as a man in Albert Knobbs, Elizabeth Olsen as a cult survivor in Martha Marcy May Marlene, Rooney Mara in the American version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Tilda Swinton as the mother of a mass murderer in We Need to Talk about Kevin and the other front-runner Viola Davis in The Help. And now, we can add one more big obstacle to Meryl’s victory: Michelle Williams.

The former Dawson’s Creek star turned two-time Oscar nominee (Brokeback Mountain, Blue Valentine) enters the race in a big way with her new film My Week with Marilyn where she plays the iconic legend, Marilyn Monroe. Looking at the first trailer which just hit the web, it seems like Williams knocks it out of the park and should grab that third nom and a possible first win. The movie takes place during one week of filming The Prince and the Showgirl in England and her fractious relationship with Sir Laurence Olivier (Oscar nominee Kenneth Branagh) and her flirtation with his employee Chris Clark (Tony nominee Eddie Redmayne). Also starring in Marilyn are Oscar winner Judi Dench, Emmy winner Julia Ormond, Dominic Cooper, and Harry Potter’s Emma Watson. For more on the film, head here and check out the new trailer below…. Do you think Williams has what it takes to snatch Meryl’s Oscar away this year?

My Week with Marilyn (opening in select theatres 11/4/11)