(Reuters) - 'The Hobbit' brought home a big box office treasure over the weekend, setting a December movie record with $84.77 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales as legions of fans turned out for the long-awaited big-screen return to Middle Earth.
'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' also rung up sales of $138.2 million in international markets. Global receipts for the prequel to the smash 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy stood at $222.97 million through Sunday, distributor Warner Bros. said.
The current projection for the total box office take in 2012 is $10.8 billion, according to an estimate from Hollywood.com, which would beat the $10.6 billion record in 2009.
The 3D 'Hobbit' directed by Oscar-winning 'Rings' filmmaker Peter Jackson is the first of three films based on a 1937 classic novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. Warner Bros. is aiming to build on the success of the 'Rings' series, one of Hollywood's biggest franchises with $2.9 billion in global ticket sales.
The 'Lord of the Rings' movies debuted in theaters from 2001 to 2003. After that, production on 'The Hobbit' ran into delays, leaving fans waiting a decade for another look at the fantasy story of dwarves, wizards and elves.
The opening weekend 'Hobbit' sales proved interest remained high. North American (U.S. and Canadian) receipts toppled the old record for December set by Will Smith sci-fi flick 'I Am Legend,' which pulled in $77.2 million when it debuted in 2007.
'The best we were hoping for was to reach or exceed the $77 million set by that movie and we did it by quite a lot. It was all good and we're very happy about it,' said Dan Fellman, president of theatrical distribution for Warner Bros.
'You have to assume that by the time this first week is over we are going to have around $110 million in the bank before the holiday even starts,' he added.
The new film follows the epic journey of hobbit Bilbo Baggins, played by Martin Freeman, as he travels through the treacherous Middle Earth with a band of dwarves to steal treasures from the dragon Smaug.
The movie also stars Richard Armitage and Benedict Cumberbatch, while Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett and Elijah Wood reprise their 'Rings' roles.
Opening-weekend audiences embraced 'The Hobbit,' awarding an 'A' grade in polling by survey firm CinemaScore. Critics had a mixed response to the nearly three-hour film. Sixty-five percent of reviews on the Rotten Tomatoes website recommended the movie, although some objected to Jackson's decision to shoot it using a 48-frames-per-second format rather than the usual 24.
SOME VIEWERS NAUSEOUS
The faster frame rate delivers clearer pictures, but some critics called the format cartoonish and jarring. Some fans at early screenings in New Zealand complained it made them feel nauseous and dizzy, according to The New Zealand Herald. Only a fraction of theaters showed the film in the new format.
The next two 'Hobbit' movies are schedules to reach theaters in December 2013 and July 2014. The films were financed by MGM and Warner Bros.' New Line Cinema unit for an estimated $500 million.
'The Hobbit' took a bumpy, years-long journey to the big screen that included two directors and a lawsuit. Jackson made the 'Rings' trilogy when producers could not get 'The Hobbit' rights that were held by MGM's United Artists unit.
Guillermo del Toro was first hired to direct 'The Hobbit' but he left the project when financial woes at MGM caused delays. The movie went into production only after Jackson settled a lawsuit against New Line in a dispute over profits from the 'Rings' films.
'The Hobbit' was the only new nationwide release over the weekend. The rest of the top five were films that have been playing for weeks.
In second place was the animated family film 'Rise of the Guardians' with $7.4 million, followed by historical drama 'Lincoln' starring Daniel Day-Lewis as the revered U.S. president, which grabbed $7.2 million from Friday through Sunday, according to studio estimates.
James Bond movie 'Skyfall' landed in fourth place with $7 million.
Next on the box office chart was 'Life of Pi,' which captured $5.4 million. Teen vampire tale 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2' earned $5.17 million.
Time Warner Inc's Warner Bros. released 'The Hobbit.' 'Lincoln' was produced by Steven Spielberg's Dreamworks Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Co. Sony Corp's movie studio released 'Skyfall.' Dreamworks Animation distributed 'Rise of the Guardians,' which was released by Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures. Summit Entertainment, a unit of Lions Gate Entertainment, released 'Breaking Dawn.'
(Editing by Mohammad Zargham)
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Sunday, December 16, 2012
Thursday, December 13, 2012
"Lincoln" leads Golden Globe movie nominations
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. Civil War-era drama 'Lincoln' led the Golden Globe nominations on Thursday with seven nods including best drama, best director for Steven Spielberg, and best actor for Daniel Day-Lewis.
Following the film among top nominees for the Hollywood awards were Iran hostage drama 'Argo' and Quentin Tarantino's slavery-era Western 'Django Unchained' with five nods each.
The best drama nominees were rounded out by thriller 'Zero Dark Thirty' about the hunt for Osama bin Laden with four mentions, and shipwreck tale 'Life of Pi,' with three.
'Les Miserables,' the movie version of the worldwide hit stage musical, earned four Golden Globe nominations in the comedy and musical category, along with 'Silver Linings Playbook' about an unlikely romance between a man suffering from bipolar disorder and a young widow.
The stars of both films - Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway for 'Les Miserables,' and Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper for 'Silver Linings Playbook,' - will be among those competing for acting awards.
Wes Anderson's 'Moonrise Kingdom,' British senior comedy 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,' and comedy romance 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,' rounded out the comedy and musical best picture race.
The Golden Globe Awards, which will be given out by about 80 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) on January 13, are among the most widely watched honors programs leading up to the Oscars in February.
Unlike the Academy Awards, the HFPA has separate categories for film dramas and comedies, opening the door to sometimes overlooked movies and performances in Hollywood's awards season.
Among movie dramas, Jessica Chastain's CIA agent in 'Zero Dark Thirty' will square off against Helen Mirren in 'Hitchcock,' British actress Rachel Weisz in period drama 'The Deep Blue Sea,' France's Marion Cotillard for 'Rust and Bone' and Naomi Watts in tsunami survival tale 'The Impossible.
Day-Lewis's towering performance as U.S. President Abraham Lincoln will compete against Denzel Washington's alcoholic airline pilot in 'Flight,' Richard Gere's role as a corrupt financial executive in 'Arbitrage,' John Hawkes as a severely disabled man in 'The Sessions' and Joaquin Phoenix's drifter in cult tale 'The Master.'
The Golden Globes also honor the year's best TV shows. 'Game Change,' the HBO film about Sarah Palin's 2008 bid to become U.S. vice-president, led the nominations with five, followed by the post-September 11 attacks psychological thriller 'Homeland' with four.
(Reporting By Jill Serjeant; Editing by Paul Simao)
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Following the film among top nominees for the Hollywood awards were Iran hostage drama 'Argo' and Quentin Tarantino's slavery-era Western 'Django Unchained' with five nods each.
The best drama nominees were rounded out by thriller 'Zero Dark Thirty' about the hunt for Osama bin Laden with four mentions, and shipwreck tale 'Life of Pi,' with three.
'Les Miserables,' the movie version of the worldwide hit stage musical, earned four Golden Globe nominations in the comedy and musical category, along with 'Silver Linings Playbook' about an unlikely romance between a man suffering from bipolar disorder and a young widow.
The stars of both films - Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway for 'Les Miserables,' and Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper for 'Silver Linings Playbook,' - will be among those competing for acting awards.
Wes Anderson's 'Moonrise Kingdom,' British senior comedy 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,' and comedy romance 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,' rounded out the comedy and musical best picture race.
The Golden Globe Awards, which will be given out by about 80 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) on January 13, are among the most widely watched honors programs leading up to the Oscars in February.
Unlike the Academy Awards, the HFPA has separate categories for film dramas and comedies, opening the door to sometimes overlooked movies and performances in Hollywood's awards season.
Among movie dramas, Jessica Chastain's CIA agent in 'Zero Dark Thirty' will square off against Helen Mirren in 'Hitchcock,' British actress Rachel Weisz in period drama 'The Deep Blue Sea,' France's Marion Cotillard for 'Rust and Bone' and Naomi Watts in tsunami survival tale 'The Impossible.
Day-Lewis's towering performance as U.S. President Abraham Lincoln will compete against Denzel Washington's alcoholic airline pilot in 'Flight,' Richard Gere's role as a corrupt financial executive in 'Arbitrage,' John Hawkes as a severely disabled man in 'The Sessions' and Joaquin Phoenix's drifter in cult tale 'The Master.'
The Golden Globes also honor the year's best TV shows. 'Game Change,' the HBO film about Sarah Palin's 2008 bid to become U.S. vice-president, led the nominations with five, followed by the post-September 11 attacks psychological thriller 'Homeland' with four.
(Reporting By Jill Serjeant; Editing by Paul Simao)
This news article is brought to you by SEXUAL HEALTH NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
"Lincoln" leads Golden Globe nominations
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. Civil War-era drama 'Lincoln' led the Golden Globe nominations on Thursday with seven nods overall including best drama and best actor for Daniel Day-Lewis.
Following the film among top nominees for the Hollywood awards were Iran hostage drama 'Argo' and Quentin Tarantino's 'Django Unchained' with five nods each.
The best drama nominees were rounded out by thriller 'Zero Dark Thirty' about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, and shipwreck tale 'Life of Pi.'
The Golden Globe Awards, which will be given out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association on January 13, are among the most widely-watched honors programs leading up to the Oscars in February.
(Reporting By Jill Serjeant; Editing by Xavier Briand)
This news article is brought to you by TECHNOLOGY NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Following the film among top nominees for the Hollywood awards were Iran hostage drama 'Argo' and Quentin Tarantino's 'Django Unchained' with five nods each.
The best drama nominees were rounded out by thriller 'Zero Dark Thirty' about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, and shipwreck tale 'Life of Pi.'
The Golden Globe Awards, which will be given out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association on January 13, are among the most widely-watched honors programs leading up to the Oscars in February.
(Reporting By Jill Serjeant; Editing by Xavier Briand)
This news article is brought to you by TECHNOLOGY NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
"Lincoln," "Les Miserables," "Playbook" lead acting nominations
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Hollywood's actors cast their net wide on Wednesday, nominating performers from big awards contenders 'Lincoln' and musical 'Les Miserables' for Screen Actors Guild honors while also singling out the likes of Denzel Washington and Javier Bardem.
'Lincoln,' 'Les Miserables' and comedy 'Silver Linings Playbook' led the nominations for the SAG awards with four apiece, including the top prize of best movie ensemble cast.
Joining them with two nominations each were the cast of Iranian hostage drama 'Argo' and, in a surprise choice, British comedy 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.'
The awards from the Screen Actors Guild are among the most-watched honors during Hollywood film awards season leading up to the Academy Awards because actors make up the largest voting group when the Oscars come around in February.
SAG voters focus on performances rather than directing and writing, meaning that action and effects-heavy films like 'The Hobbit' are usually sidelined.
Consequently, SAG largely shunned the expected Oscar contender 'Zero Dark Thirty' about the U.S. hunt for Osama bin Laden, giving it just one nomination for Jessica Chastain's performance as a CIA agent.
But the latest James Bond blockbuster 'Skyfall' made it onto SAG's list, with nominations for its stunt ensemble and Spanish actor Bardem's supporting turn as blond-haired villain Silva.
Other perceived Oscar-worthy movies, including slavery era Western 'Django Unchained,' went unmentioned, while cult drama 'The Master' had just one nomination - for actor Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Nicole Kidman made the best supporting actress list for her turn in the steamy but little-seen independent movie 'The Paperboy,' while Britain's Helen Mirren was recognized for her portrayal of Alfred Hitchcock's long-suffering wife in 'Hitchcock.'
The SAG awards will be given out in Los Angeles on January 27 in a live telecast on the TBS and TNT networks.
Golden Globe nominations are announced on Thursday and Oscar nominations will be revealed on January 10.
'LINCOLN' PICKS UP STEAM
'Lincoln,' director Steven Spielberg's well-reviewed film about U.S. President Abraham Lincoln's battle to outlaw slavery, has been picking up multiple accolades from U.S. critics in the busy Hollywood awards season.
On Wednesday, it brought SAG nominations for lead actor Daniel Day-Lewis and supporting actors Sally Field as his wife, and Tommy Lee Jones as powerful Congressman Thaddeus Stevens.
Hugh Jackman was nominated for best actor while Anne Hathaway is in the race for her supporting role in the movie adaptation of hit stage musical 'Les Miserables.'
Other actors nominated on Wednesday included the stars of quirky comedy 'Silver Linings Playbook' - Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert DeNiro. John Hawkes and Helen Hunt also have a stake, for playing a disabled man and his sex therapist in heart-warming independent movie 'The Sessions.'
'Being recognized by your peers is something I could only dream of happening and to be included in this group of actors is not only humbling but quite frankly, surreal,' Cooper, a first-time SAG nominees, said in a statement.
Washington, a two-time Oscar winner, was nominated for playing an alcoholic pilot in 'Flight,' a role that has been largely overlooked in early critics award.
Perhaps the biggest surprise on Wednesday was 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,' the story of a group of elderly Britons who retire to a ramshackle Indian hotel.
The film, which boasts a strong British cast including Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson and Bill Nighy, had two nominations - best ensemble and best supporting actress for Maggie Smith.
Smith also was nominated in SAG's television category for her role as a sarcastic countess in period drama 'Downton Abbey.'
The popular British show was among the picks for ensemble acting in the TV category.
Other TV drama nominations went to the casts of 'Boardwalk Empire,' 'Homeland,' 'Mad Men' and 'Breaking Bad.'
In TV comedy, old favorites '30 Rock,' 'Glee,' 'The Big Bang Theory,' 'Modern Family,' 'Nurse Jackie' and 'The Office' were nominated for their ensemble casts.
(Editing by Xavier Briand and Bill Trott)
This news article is brought to you by MOVIE CRITIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
'Lincoln,' 'Les Miserables' and comedy 'Silver Linings Playbook' led the nominations for the SAG awards with four apiece, including the top prize of best movie ensemble cast.
Joining them with two nominations each were the cast of Iranian hostage drama 'Argo' and, in a surprise choice, British comedy 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.'
The awards from the Screen Actors Guild are among the most-watched honors during Hollywood film awards season leading up to the Academy Awards because actors make up the largest voting group when the Oscars come around in February.
SAG voters focus on performances rather than directing and writing, meaning that action and effects-heavy films like 'The Hobbit' are usually sidelined.
Consequently, SAG largely shunned the expected Oscar contender 'Zero Dark Thirty' about the U.S. hunt for Osama bin Laden, giving it just one nomination for Jessica Chastain's performance as a CIA agent.
But the latest James Bond blockbuster 'Skyfall' made it onto SAG's list, with nominations for its stunt ensemble and Spanish actor Bardem's supporting turn as blond-haired villain Silva.
Other perceived Oscar-worthy movies, including slavery era Western 'Django Unchained,' went unmentioned, while cult drama 'The Master' had just one nomination - for actor Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Nicole Kidman made the best supporting actress list for her turn in the steamy but little-seen independent movie 'The Paperboy,' while Britain's Helen Mirren was recognized for her portrayal of Alfred Hitchcock's long-suffering wife in 'Hitchcock.'
The SAG awards will be given out in Los Angeles on January 27 in a live telecast on the TBS and TNT networks.
Golden Globe nominations are announced on Thursday and Oscar nominations will be revealed on January 10.
'LINCOLN' PICKS UP STEAM
'Lincoln,' director Steven Spielberg's well-reviewed film about U.S. President Abraham Lincoln's battle to outlaw slavery, has been picking up multiple accolades from U.S. critics in the busy Hollywood awards season.
On Wednesday, it brought SAG nominations for lead actor Daniel Day-Lewis and supporting actors Sally Field as his wife, and Tommy Lee Jones as powerful Congressman Thaddeus Stevens.
Hugh Jackman was nominated for best actor while Anne Hathaway is in the race for her supporting role in the movie adaptation of hit stage musical 'Les Miserables.'
Other actors nominated on Wednesday included the stars of quirky comedy 'Silver Linings Playbook' - Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert DeNiro. John Hawkes and Helen Hunt also have a stake, for playing a disabled man and his sex therapist in heart-warming independent movie 'The Sessions.'
'Being recognized by your peers is something I could only dream of happening and to be included in this group of actors is not only humbling but quite frankly, surreal,' Cooper, a first-time SAG nominees, said in a statement.
Washington, a two-time Oscar winner, was nominated for playing an alcoholic pilot in 'Flight,' a role that has been largely overlooked in early critics award.
Perhaps the biggest surprise on Wednesday was 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,' the story of a group of elderly Britons who retire to a ramshackle Indian hotel.
The film, which boasts a strong British cast including Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson and Bill Nighy, had two nominations - best ensemble and best supporting actress for Maggie Smith.
Smith also was nominated in SAG's television category for her role as a sarcastic countess in period drama 'Downton Abbey.'
The popular British show was among the picks for ensemble acting in the TV category.
Other TV drama nominations went to the casts of 'Boardwalk Empire,' 'Homeland,' 'Mad Men' and 'Breaking Bad.'
In TV comedy, old favorites '30 Rock,' 'Glee,' 'The Big Bang Theory,' 'Modern Family,' 'Nurse Jackie' and 'The Office' were nominated for their ensemble casts.
(Editing by Xavier Briand and Bill Trott)
This news article is brought to you by MOVIE CRITIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
"Lincoln," "Les Miserables" lead SAG film nominees
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The actors of drama 'Lincoln,' musical 'Les Miserables' and comedy 'Silver Linings Playbook' led nominations for the Screen Actors Guild film awards on Wednesday, winning four nominations apiece, including best ensemble cast.
Joining them among nominees for best movie cast - the organization's top prize - were the actors of Iranian hostage drama 'Argo' and British comedy 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.'
Thriller 'Zero Dark Thirty' about the U.S. hunt for Osama bin Laden was left out of the best ensemble cast picks but Jessica Chastain was nominated best actress for her performance as a CIA agent.
The awards from the Screen Actors Guild, or SAG, are among the most-watched honors during Hollywood film awards season leading up to the Academy Awards because actors make up one of the largest voting groups for the Oscars.
As a result, SAG nominees usually figure prominently on many ballots by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hands out the Oscars in February.
The SAG awards will be given out in Los Angeles on January 27 in a live telecast on the TBS and TNT networks.
'Lincoln,' director Steven Spielberg's movie about U.S. President Abraham Lincoln's battle to outlaw slavery, brought nominations on Wednesday for lead actor Daniel Day-Lewis and supporting actors Sally Field as his wife, and Tommy Lee Jones.
Hugh Jackman was nominated for best actor while Anne Hathaway was chosen for her supporting role in the movie adaptation of hit stage musical 'Les Miserables.'
Other actors nominated on Wednesday included the stars of quirky comedy 'Silver Linings Playbook' - Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert DeNiro - and John Hawkes and Helen Hunt for the independent movie 'The Sessions' about a disabled man and his sex therapist.
One of the biggest surprises was 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,' the story of a group of elderly Britons who retire to a ramshackle Indian hotel. The film, which stars Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson and Bill Nighy, had two nominations - best ensemble and best supporting actress for Maggie Smith.
Smith also was nominated in SAG's television category for her role as a sarcastic aristocrat in period drama 'Downton Abbey.' The show also was among the picks for ensemble acting in the TV category.
Other TV drama nominations went to the casts of 'Boardwalk Empire,' 'Homeland,' 'Mad Men' and 'Breaking Bad.'
In TV comedy, old favorites '30 Rock,' 'Glee,' 'The Big Bang Theory,' 'Modern Family,' 'Nurse Jackie' and 'The Office' were nominated.
(This story corrects spelling 'Downton' in 11th paragraph)
(Editing by Xavier Briand and Bill Trott)
This news article is brought to you by WOMEN'S BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Joining them among nominees for best movie cast - the organization's top prize - were the actors of Iranian hostage drama 'Argo' and British comedy 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.'
Thriller 'Zero Dark Thirty' about the U.S. hunt for Osama bin Laden was left out of the best ensemble cast picks but Jessica Chastain was nominated best actress for her performance as a CIA agent.
The awards from the Screen Actors Guild, or SAG, are among the most-watched honors during Hollywood film awards season leading up to the Academy Awards because actors make up one of the largest voting groups for the Oscars.
As a result, SAG nominees usually figure prominently on many ballots by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hands out the Oscars in February.
The SAG awards will be given out in Los Angeles on January 27 in a live telecast on the TBS and TNT networks.
'Lincoln,' director Steven Spielberg's movie about U.S. President Abraham Lincoln's battle to outlaw slavery, brought nominations on Wednesday for lead actor Daniel Day-Lewis and supporting actors Sally Field as his wife, and Tommy Lee Jones.
Hugh Jackman was nominated for best actor while Anne Hathaway was chosen for her supporting role in the movie adaptation of hit stage musical 'Les Miserables.'
Other actors nominated on Wednesday included the stars of quirky comedy 'Silver Linings Playbook' - Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert DeNiro - and John Hawkes and Helen Hunt for the independent movie 'The Sessions' about a disabled man and his sex therapist.
One of the biggest surprises was 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,' the story of a group of elderly Britons who retire to a ramshackle Indian hotel. The film, which stars Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson and Bill Nighy, had two nominations - best ensemble and best supporting actress for Maggie Smith.
Smith also was nominated in SAG's television category for her role as a sarcastic aristocrat in period drama 'Downton Abbey.' The show also was among the picks for ensemble acting in the TV category.
Other TV drama nominations went to the casts of 'Boardwalk Empire,' 'Homeland,' 'Mad Men' and 'Breaking Bad.'
In TV comedy, old favorites '30 Rock,' 'Glee,' 'The Big Bang Theory,' 'Modern Family,' 'Nurse Jackie' and 'The Office' were nominated.
(This story corrects spelling 'Downton' in 11th paragraph)
(Editing by Xavier Briand and Bill Trott)
This news article is brought to you by WOMEN'S BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
"Lincoln" gets record 13 Critics Choice nominations
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Steven Spielberg's 'Lincoln' landed a record-breaking 13 nominations for the Critics Choice Movie Awards on Tuesday, ahead of musical 'Les Miserables' and indie comedy 'Silver Linings Playbook'.
'Lincoln', starring Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln and Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln, was nominated for best picture and best director, while actors Day-Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field got individual nods as well as one for best acting ensemble.
It is the first time a film has landed 13 nominations for the Critics Choice Movie Awards. 'Black Swan', with 12 in 2011, held the previous record.
Kathryn Bigelow's Osama bin Laden thriller 'Zero Dark Thirty', which has been winning accolades in early awards circles, picked up only five nominations from the group.
The Critics Choice Movie Awards are handed out by the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), which represents more than 270 television, radio and online critics. Winners will be announced in the California beach city of Santa Monica on January 10.
The Critics Choice list come ahead of this week's Screen Actor's Guild and Golden Globe nominees, all of which are indicators for potential Oscar glory in February.
The BFCA gave 'Les Miserables', based on the hit stage musical, 11 nominations, including best actor for Hugh Jackman, best supporting actress for Anne Hathaway and best director for Tom Hooper.
David O. Russell's 'Silver Linings Playbook', a quirky romance between a young widow and a bipolar man, picked up 10, including acting mentions for leads Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, best supporting actor for Robert DeNiro and best director.
Lawrence was the most nominated actor, winning four mentions overall for her roles in 'Silver Linings' and in the action film 'The Hunger Games'. Cooper led male nominees with three nods.
Other nominees included Ang Lee's 'Life of Pi' with nine and Iran hostage thriller 'Argo', cult drama 'The Master' and James Bond movie 'Skyfall' with seven each.
This year, the BFCA added five new categories in comedy and action to recognize achievements in genres sometimes overlooked in favor of drama. They included best actor/actress in comedy and in action, and best sci-fi/horror movie, in which 'Looper', 'The Cabin in the Woods' and 'Prometheus' landed nods.
'This has been a truly spectacular year in filmmaking and our voters had an embarrassment of riches to choose from,' Joey Berlin, president of the BFCA, said in a statement.
Movie fans will also for the first time be given the opportunity to vote online for their favorite film franchise, including 'Harry Potter', 'Twilight', 'Batman', 'Lord of the Rings', 'James Bond' and 'Spider-Man'.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant and Maureen Bavdek)
This news article is brought to you by TECHNOLOGY NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
'Lincoln', starring Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln and Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln, was nominated for best picture and best director, while actors Day-Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field got individual nods as well as one for best acting ensemble.
It is the first time a film has landed 13 nominations for the Critics Choice Movie Awards. 'Black Swan', with 12 in 2011, held the previous record.
Kathryn Bigelow's Osama bin Laden thriller 'Zero Dark Thirty', which has been winning accolades in early awards circles, picked up only five nominations from the group.
The Critics Choice Movie Awards are handed out by the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), which represents more than 270 television, radio and online critics. Winners will be announced in the California beach city of Santa Monica on January 10.
The Critics Choice list come ahead of this week's Screen Actor's Guild and Golden Globe nominees, all of which are indicators for potential Oscar glory in February.
The BFCA gave 'Les Miserables', based on the hit stage musical, 11 nominations, including best actor for Hugh Jackman, best supporting actress for Anne Hathaway and best director for Tom Hooper.
David O. Russell's 'Silver Linings Playbook', a quirky romance between a young widow and a bipolar man, picked up 10, including acting mentions for leads Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, best supporting actor for Robert DeNiro and best director.
Lawrence was the most nominated actor, winning four mentions overall for her roles in 'Silver Linings' and in the action film 'The Hunger Games'. Cooper led male nominees with three nods.
Other nominees included Ang Lee's 'Life of Pi' with nine and Iran hostage thriller 'Argo', cult drama 'The Master' and James Bond movie 'Skyfall' with seven each.
This year, the BFCA added five new categories in comedy and action to recognize achievements in genres sometimes overlooked in favor of drama. They included best actor/actress in comedy and in action, and best sci-fi/horror movie, in which 'Looper', 'The Cabin in the Woods' and 'Prometheus' landed nods.
'This has been a truly spectacular year in filmmaking and our voters had an embarrassment of riches to choose from,' Joey Berlin, president of the BFCA, said in a statement.
Movie fans will also for the first time be given the opportunity to vote online for their favorite film franchise, including 'Harry Potter', 'Twilight', 'Batman', 'Lord of the Rings', 'James Bond' and 'Spider-Man'.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant and Maureen Bavdek)
This news article is brought to you by TECHNOLOGY NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
James Bond still can't get a date in China - at the Box Office
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - If 'Skyfall' is going to make it to a billion dollars at the worldwide box office, it will need to score big in China. But six weeks after it opened globally, Chinese officials still haven't told Sony when it can roll out its James Bond blockbuster in Beijing.
The most likely landing spot for 'Skyfall' is late January, which would enable it to play through the Golden Week holiday in China, exhibition insiders tell TheWrap. But the China Film Group, which oversees the country's movie industry, has yet to confirm a date.
The period around Golden Week, which marks the Chinese Lunar New Year and begins February 9 in 2013, is important because many workers and students take time off.
Also awaiting a date is Warner Bros.' 'The Hobbit.' Although no Chinese release of Peter Jackson's latest Middle-earth epic has been scheduled yet, that film doesn't even open in the U.S. until Friday.
A worst-case scenario would see the two forced to go head-to-head. More likely, though, is that 'The Hobbit' will open after Golden Week.
'Skyfall' also could wind up opening around the same time as 'Cloud Atlas,' another film awaiting a date confirmation. That film, which likely will play before the holiday, is distributed by the Chinese company Dreams of Dragon Picture and expected to play strongly throughout Asia.
There are no censorship issues for either 'The Hobbit' or 'Skyfall' - and both films eventually will open - but studio executives, who declined to comment to TheWrap, have to be a little wary.
Chinese officials are increasingly aware of their growing stature in the global box-office realm, and this year they've become more protective than ever of their domestic film industry. To reduce the impact of American movies, they've slotted U.S. films against each other, grouped releases and imposed brief moratoriums to boost the local entries in the market.
The Chinese market uncertainty won't be going away anytime soon, David McGregor, head of Ernst & Young's media and entertainment group for Asia and the Pacific, told TheWrap.
'For now, it's just part of the process that has to be managed,' he said from Australia, days after returning from a Shanghai conference designed to bring Chinese and American executives together.
'When it comes to film releasing, as it does to just about every aspect of doing business in China, it comes down to relationships. At this point, those relationships are developing, and it will be tricky until the trust factor is established on both sides.'
The payoff for U.S. studios is a big one.
Warner Bros.' 'Dark Knight Rises' and Sony's 'Amazing Spider-Man' both opened in China on August 27. That cut their grosses, but China still became the No. 1 foreign market for both films, with 'Dark Knight Rises' taking in $52 million and 'Spider-Man' taking in $48 million.
Fox released 'Life of Pi' there three weeks ago, and it's already taken in $68 million.
'Skyfall,' which stars Daniel Craig, has a good shot at becoming the first Bond movie to hit the billion-dollar mark at the box office. But it will need strong performances in China and Japan - where it has taken in more than $13 million since opening two weeks ago - to get there.
The film has made more at the box office than any of the 22 previous James Bond films, with $918 million globally since opening on October 26. The majority of that - $656 million - has come from overseas.
Under a new trade agreement reached in February, China is allowing U.S. companies to release an additional 14 films a year if they are 3D or in big-screen formats like Imax. That brings the total number of U.S. films released in the country annually to 34. The pact also raised the U.S. studios' share of the box office from 13 percent to 25 percent.
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The most likely landing spot for 'Skyfall' is late January, which would enable it to play through the Golden Week holiday in China, exhibition insiders tell TheWrap. But the China Film Group, which oversees the country's movie industry, has yet to confirm a date.
The period around Golden Week, which marks the Chinese Lunar New Year and begins February 9 in 2013, is important because many workers and students take time off.
Also awaiting a date is Warner Bros.' 'The Hobbit.' Although no Chinese release of Peter Jackson's latest Middle-earth epic has been scheduled yet, that film doesn't even open in the U.S. until Friday.
A worst-case scenario would see the two forced to go head-to-head. More likely, though, is that 'The Hobbit' will open after Golden Week.
'Skyfall' also could wind up opening around the same time as 'Cloud Atlas,' another film awaiting a date confirmation. That film, which likely will play before the holiday, is distributed by the Chinese company Dreams of Dragon Picture and expected to play strongly throughout Asia.
There are no censorship issues for either 'The Hobbit' or 'Skyfall' - and both films eventually will open - but studio executives, who declined to comment to TheWrap, have to be a little wary.
Chinese officials are increasingly aware of their growing stature in the global box-office realm, and this year they've become more protective than ever of their domestic film industry. To reduce the impact of American movies, they've slotted U.S. films against each other, grouped releases and imposed brief moratoriums to boost the local entries in the market.
The Chinese market uncertainty won't be going away anytime soon, David McGregor, head of Ernst & Young's media and entertainment group for Asia and the Pacific, told TheWrap.
'For now, it's just part of the process that has to be managed,' he said from Australia, days after returning from a Shanghai conference designed to bring Chinese and American executives together.
'When it comes to film releasing, as it does to just about every aspect of doing business in China, it comes down to relationships. At this point, those relationships are developing, and it will be tricky until the trust factor is established on both sides.'
The payoff for U.S. studios is a big one.
Warner Bros.' 'Dark Knight Rises' and Sony's 'Amazing Spider-Man' both opened in China on August 27. That cut their grosses, but China still became the No. 1 foreign market for both films, with 'Dark Knight Rises' taking in $52 million and 'Spider-Man' taking in $48 million.
Fox released 'Life of Pi' there three weeks ago, and it's already taken in $68 million.
'Skyfall,' which stars Daniel Craig, has a good shot at becoming the first Bond movie to hit the billion-dollar mark at the box office. But it will need strong performances in China and Japan - where it has taken in more than $13 million since opening two weeks ago - to get there.
The film has made more at the box office than any of the 22 previous James Bond films, with $918 million globally since opening on October 26. The majority of that - $656 million - has come from overseas.
Under a new trade agreement reached in February, China is allowing U.S. companies to release an additional 14 films a year if they are 3D or in big-screen formats like Imax. That brings the total number of U.S. films released in the country annually to 34. The pact also raised the U.S. studios' share of the box office from 13 percent to 25 percent.
This news article is brought to you by TAXES BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
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