Me... Nab

Montreux & Cannes Speak Their Names: Spring Time Has Arrived !

NaB — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:30:30 +0000

Ok, now. I’m officially over-excited and I can fast-forward to sunny times with MUSIC and MOVIES! I just got two mind orgasms two days in a row, as the Montreux Jazz Festival and the Cannes Film Festival have announced their selectees – both Festivals were first supposed to make their announcement on the same day, which would have suited my theory about the similarities between them… but the MJF was forced to speak a day earlier, due to the leaking of a part of its program.

The MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL has put up one of their most solid lineups in recent years. There’s stuff to get excited about EACH day! Which hadn’t been the case in a long time… A great balance of genres, with the « usual » people (Quincy,

Herbie & others) making some space for freshness and exclusivity. Some other artists were expected to be on that list, but, I mean, Mr. Bob Dylan! Alanis Morissette! Rufus Wainwright! Bobby McFerrin! Great, unexpected names too, like Pitbull (haha never thought that would ever happen), Anastacia (what the WHAT?!), or even newcomers like Ed Sheeran and Emeli Sandé. Satisfying list, feels good to know the show is still going on. I can’t wait, and the Montreux Jazz Café lineup hasn’t even been announced yet! June 29th – July 14th. My 6th fancy Montreux summer. The full lineup is HERE.

The same statement can be made of the CANNES FILM FESTIVAL… Possibly one of its best lineups in recent memory, a sense of variety and universality (there were a record number of 1779 submitted movies hoping to get selected), and amazing times awaiting us (or… them). The simple idea of two weeks of sun, cinema (in the pompous sense of the word, yes), high and low artistic intelligence, glamour, sunglasses – the whole industry in one place. It’s just big… soooo big. There again, the usual big names like Ken Loach, David Cronenberg, Alain Resnais, Michael Haneke, Jacques Audiard, the expected ones (Lee Daniels, Wes Anderson), and other pleasant surprises (Andrew Dominik, Bernardo Bertolucci). A Palme d’Or selectee hopeful, 23-year-old gifted Xavier Dolan will have to « settle » for a second Un Certain Regard selection, whose program, by the way, looks of exceptional quality too (this category will be presided this year by Tim Roth).
As per usual, expect the whole world to go on vacation to Cannes in a month, including power couples Brad & Angelina (they seem to be used to it now – this year he’s starring in Andrew Dominik‘s Killing Them Softly), Will & Jada Pinket-Smith (for the out-of-competition Madagascar 3), and ~~the disgusting~~ Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart (both in competition with a movie, Cosmopolis and the long-awaited On The Road, respectively), Zac Efron (I still can’t believe it… in competition… ), his Paperboy co-star Nicole Kidman (a comeback also supported by the out-of-competition screening of her new HBO movie Hemingway & Gellhorn, whose director Philip Kaufman will serve as host of this year’s Leçon de Cinéma), Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Harvey Keitel and Frances McDormand (all forming the A-list cast of Wes Anderson‘s Moonrise Kingdom, which will open the Festival), the perfect Marion Cotillard (who will try to add another award to her collection, with Audiard‘s De Rouille Et D’Os), Isabelle Huppert & Jean-Louis Trintignant (for Hanneke‘s Amour – Huppert is twice in competition, also starring in Hong Sang-Soo‘s Dans Un Autre Monde), Tom Hardy, Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, Shia Labeouf, Mia Wasikowska, Guy Pearce & Gary Oldman (another powerful cast, for John Hillcoat‘s Lawless), Chris Rock (Madagascar 3), Juliette Binoche, Samantha Morton, Paul Giamatti & Mathieu Amalric (for Cosmopolis – Amalric is also twice in competition this year, starring alongside Sabine Azéma and Anne Consigny in 90-year-old Alain Resnais‘ Vous N’avez Encore Rien Vu), Michael Shannon, Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Paulson and Matthew McConaughey (for Jeff Nichols‘ Mud), Kylie Minogue (!), Eva Mendes and Denis Lavant (for Leos Carax‘s Holy Motors)… JUST TO NAME A FEW.

Yeah I know, this name-dropping sounds like it came from a lame star-struck teenager. But what you didn’t notice is that, with clever subtlety, I have just presented you a good part of the nominated movies… Ha! And now there’s glitter in your eyes. This year’s « president », Nanni Moretti, will announce his jury early next week. I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE FESTIVITIES! May 16th-29th. The full list is HERE.

Who else is dreaming of a Montreux Cannes Music & Film Festival? The combination of both, in either of the two paradisal locations… I’m sure it would be perfect.

Ok. Now, off to LONDON.

The 84th Academy Awards: After-Thoughts

NaB — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:25:49 +0000

5.48AM: I was already preparing this post, 95% through the ceremony, but then… SHE DID IT!!!! SHE FUCKING DID IT!!!! THAT FEELS SO GOOD, I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE IT!! In a blissful shocking twist, MERYL STREEP WAS CROWNED BEST ACTRESS OF THE YEAR!!! THE BEST ACTRESS OF ALL TIME WON THAT OSCAR!!!! This is so good, SO GOOD! So right in every sense of the way, it makes me happy as hell and I still can’t keep myself from jumping in the air. With one of the most beautiful, heartfelt speeches I have ever seen, the beautiful goddess Meryl Streep showed the whole world that 30 years after, she still is queen. I couldn’t be more happy that the Academy decided to truly honor the best performance of the year, and it wasn’t Viola Davis, that’s right. Oh my!! SHE DID IT!! I won’t be able to sleep. The world falls back into place. Yes, I’m over exaggerating, leave me alone.

And I have to go back to what I was going to say… Well, they did it too. I don’t want to say I told you so… but I did tell you so. Not as well as expected though (what’s up with that bullshit undeserved Hugo sweep?), but The Artist won big. A few « usual » shockers during the night, the biggest being Emmanuel Lubezki loosing another very deserved Oscar for Cinematography. Which increased my fury against Hugo. Though they were unnecessarily rushing through categories at times, it was a great show, with a fantastic and genuine Billy Crystal; went by very smoothly, some great laughs that were smartly handled. Really a nice job!
BTW, I nailed it. Got a 3/3 for the least easily predictable categories of the Oscars (the Animated/Live Action/Documentary Shorts). And an overall 19/24 categories, just like last year – not too shabby…
After a long night of solo twitting, this kind of narcissism will probably help me sleep better. I need it.

BECAUSE SHE DID IT !! MERYL STREEP FOR THE WIN! Oh Lord…

Good night, folks, that’s it! On to a brand new year! : )

The 84th Academy Awards: The Final Ballot

NaB — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 17:38:14 +0000

There is no turning back. It’s Saturday, Oscars are on Sunday. We have pounded our head against the wall for hours, days, even weeks about it. But as one of the most interesting awards seasons in decades (at least for the part that led up to the nominations) is coming to an end, there are choices to be made… Academy members have sealed their envelopes, and here is my ballot to go along with it.
In these situations, you have to be ready to be wrong, and to cope with it: the Academy ALWAYS plays with you. Besides, as it has been said before, there are MANY categories that aren’t locked at all this year – nothing can be set in stone yet, except for The Artist emerging victorious in most of the major categories, and Hugo settling for technical wins.

It’s been a great year… fun to watch and analyze. Surprising in many ways, very risky yet satisfying quality-wise; I do not think, though, that it has given us some of the best films of the decade – but that is my point of view. I was fascinated by the international love for The Artist, though always thought it was overrated. I never understood how everybody so deeply enjoyed Hugo. I was furious over the praise for the fraudulent The Help. I would even go as far as to say that Woody Allen, one of my all-time favorites, did not deliver one of his career-best with Midnight In Paris…
But still, these past few months, the « road to the Oscars » has been thrilling as hell. And next to these names, there have been plenty of great reasons (projects, performances) to praise the class of 2011: Meryl Streep showing the world how an amazing performance can make us forget about a poor movie, girls shitting in a bathroom sink turning into the best screenplay of the year (and best laughs in MANY years), a scene about creation (probably) earning a cinematographer a very long-overdue Oscar for a beautiful intro to a movie with nature as its only subject, and « smaller » movies like Martha Marcy May Marlene, Drive, Like Crazy or Shame still holding strong for indie movies with critics and audience acclaim. Truly a great year!

Now that that’s been said… I present to you my annual WHO WILL WIN/WHO SHOULD WIN ACADEMY AWARDS BALLOT ! H-24. Let the excitement culminate.

The Year of Adele: introduction, transition, and open conclusion.

NaB — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:05:58 +0000

There is this feeling, every time I read about another broken record or professed love through a big award for Adele. I catch myself feeling almost maternal and proud. Crazy! So you can easily imagine the bliss, when Goddess Adele so deservedly received the 6 Grammy Awards she was nominated for, including the 3 most prestigious prizes in the music industry: Best Song, Best Record, and Best Album of the Year…!

Coincidentally, it’s been a little bit more than a year since I started my loving tirade here, with a neverending set of ~~boring~~ overwhelming posts that were meant to warn you of the perfection coming right at your ears… and God did it come. What a year! And what a rise to success, in so many incredible ways, that was set in stone this Sunday, celebrating the triumph one of the best albums of the decade: 21.

I think it profoundly touched me all through the year because I had started enjoying this little gem from the very beginning, enchanted first by the album 19 and hoping for her to continue producing brilliant work later on. She is beautiful! It’s refreshing to have someone genuinely humble and normal and simple, with no need of choreography, über-sexiness, colored lights or special effects – she just IS there, not caring about anything but singing. And that this can still be recognized nowadays! Wow, there’s still hope.

And she is 23. Damn 23, people, meaning that there is SO MUCH MORE perfection coming!

Here are a few videos to enjoy, as a sort of mini Adele Report (you will have noticed that I tried to keep it short and not to write an essay!). Delight yourself with that visible confidence, constant cheekiness, and newly-found happiness of her! : )

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

Gallery Update: Fall/Holiday Edition

NaB — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:49:17 +0000

• Months have passed since the last gallery update… And lots of things have happened! It’s time to catch up with some pictures. There’s about 200 of them, divided in 5 albums revolving around the holidays and/or a celebratory time: a set of random shots taken during the Fall, a Secret Santa Party, 3 days of French-Swiss New Year celebration, Charlotte’s Sweet 23rd, and just a few photos from Jeanne’s housewarming party weekend in Paris. Now, please, let’s get to Spring weather… : )

• Bien des mois ont passé depuis la dernière mise à jour des galeries… Et beaucoup de choses de sont passées! Il est temps de rattraper tout ça en photos. Il y en a environ 200 (j’ai fait un effort pour ne pas surplomber!), réparties dans 5 albums qui traitent presque tous d’événements liés aux fêtes de fin d’année ou d’autres célébrations: un ensemble de photos diverses prises en automne, une fête de Noël style ‘Secret Santa‘, 3 jours de Saint-Sylvestre franco-suisse, le Sweet 23rd de Charlotte, et quelques photos du weekend de crémaillère de Jeanne. Bon, et maintenant, c’est quand le printemps? : )

Reminder: in order to get the best quality and size for a photo, don’t ‘drag & drop’, hit the ‘download’ button…

N’oubliez pas: pour une photo de taille et qualité optimales, ne faites pas de ‘glisser-deposer’, cliquez plutôt sur le bouton ‘télécharger la photo’!

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

Oscars 2012 Nominations: the Final Predictions

NaB — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:58:57 +0000

UPDATE: well, the surprises were exactly where there were expected to be! To sum up what will be talked about: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close eventually making the cut for BP, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo not getting the expected last minute love, audience darlings Shame and Drive shut out (huge snub for Fassbender), a few out of the blue nominations (Max von Sydow? Margin Call? Really?), no Spielberg (War Horse was on the downfall anyways + no love for Tintin!), only 2 Best Song nominees, and Rooney Mara and Gary Oldman benefitting from their Dark Horse status. Here is the complete and official nominee list. See you in a month!

It’s that time of the year again… On Tuesday morning, 5.30 a.m. P.T., the Road to the Oscars will continue for a few as the nominations will represent a victory in itself, instantly conferring a different status. In one of the most interesting races ever, there’s still a lot of uncertainty at this point, even concerning the nominations. It’ll be very revealing to see who makes the cut in the Best Picture category (5 to 10 movies). The Best Director field, for example, is the hardest to predict and will be surprising in any case. And anyway, it’s the Academy Awards! There WILL be big shocks come nominations morning, twists & turns that had never happened in the race before, and that can be very interestingly analyzed. At least two names in each category are not locked at all… Only time will tell! And the tendencies will finally be clearer.

So… behold my annual Academy Awards Nominations Predictions List ! Listed are the « main » categories and their predicted nominees, as well as names that can be considered as dark horses and/or deserve to be considered for a nomination too, in my opinion. Bold indicates locks, MDH is for « Main Dark Horse ».

Monday’s Silly Archives: « Meuh ! »

NaB — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:00:27 +0000

En ces premiers jours de l’an, j’ai décidé de relancer une série qui n’a plus trouvé sa place ici depuis des mois… Les ARCHIVES DU LUNDI ! Sauf que cette vidéo n’est pas une ‘archive’ au sens propre du terme… c’est juste qu’elle est drôle, et inédite! Une boîte a meuh, une main experte, et le tour est joué. Voilà! : )

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

Scissor Sisters Will Rap Your House Down

NaB — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:54:17 +0000

I couldn’t resist to share some excitement with you, as a HAPPY NEW YEAR (!!!) gift. Without anyone apparently knowing it was coming, the Scissor Sisters have just released a new song, the first single off their upcoming fourth album (February/March 2012?) … and it’s pure SHAKE UP BLISS! The crazy thing is that it doesn’t sound like anything they’ve ever done before, there’s hip-hop vibes to it, it features/is co-written by Harlem rapper Azealia Banks (aka Krystal Pepsy), and frontman Jake Shears is even rapping! And yet, it’s totally Scissor Sisters.
They’re on a non-stop run… After the brilliant disco kitsch Ta-Dah in 2006, the perfect electro vintage dance Night Work in 2010, and a never-ending worldwide tour, the band managed to make of their new material one of the most anticipated albums of the year! It’s called Shady Love, but there’s nothing shady to it.

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

In the Heat of the Race

NaB — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:57:23 +0000

I am so PUMPED right now, in the very heart of this cinematic season! The road to the Oscars is absolutely fascinating this year, with the ups and downs of every buzz – roller coaster style. Almost nauseating. Pleasantly nauseating.
This week only, it got extremely busy, as nominations and/or winners were announced for a long list of « precursors »: the Annie Awards, the Producers Guild of America (Television), the Houston Film Critics, the Boston Society of Film Critics, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Online, the American Film Institute, the European Film Awards, the British Independent Film Awards, the National Board of Review, and the Washington Film Critics Association.

There’s so many movies and big things coming up. And so many things to discuss. The super overrated (and frontrunner) The Artist, the disgustingly well-received The Help (unpleasantly nauseating), my the love and excitement for the one and only Meryl Streep + the great competition in the Best Actress category, Brad Pitt‘s and George Clooney‘s chances, DiCaprio & Eastwood‘s surprisingly-not-so-well-received J. Edgar, Jessica Chastain‘s & Michael Fassenbender‘s amazing year, Scorsese‘s family movie Hugo currently blooming, The Descendants and War Horse still having to prove strong, … and SO much more. Stay tuned.

And no, MeNab.com is not dead. But NathanaelBez.com is alive, so that explains it.

The Iron Lady gets a trailer!

NaB — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:16:18 +0000

I know I haven’t posted in a while, and there will be a « proper » post soon… but this just made me pee in my pants. Behold the brand new, full UK trailer for the long-awaited The Iron Lady, with soon-to-be-Oscar-nominated-for-the-17th-time Meryl Streep, aka The Queen Of Them All… :

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

Tarantino vs. Coen Brothers

NaB — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:16:05 +0000

Have a look at this great mashup video by Leandro Copperfield, mixing Quentin Tarantino‘s and the Coen Brothers‘ work into something that (surprisingly?) fits together… ~~Two~~ three of the greatest directors on this planet! Add some conservative Clint Eastwood, and you’ve got my directing triumvirate. Oh yeah!

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

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R.I.P. Steve Jobs

NaB — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:47:50 +0000

As they say better I do, « one of the greatest visionaries and creative geniuses of our time » has passed away today, he was 56. Whether you know/like it or not, he has changed the world in such extraordinary and various ways, that his name symbolizes a whole generation. Yes, this might sound overemphatic to you, but welcome to the post-Jobs Era.

He wore that same quiet, clever smile up until the end, even in the way he left us – by always knowing what was best and coming next, organizing his succession, and saying goodbye the day after the world had seen how his legacy could live on « without him ». Such a classy, smart move. Thank you, Mr. Visionary Jobs.

Please have a look at this great panorama of Mr. Apple & Pixar’s incredible career.

Gallery Update: Summer Edition

NaB — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:45:38 +0000

• October has just arrived… leaves are falling off the trees… and stuff are added to the galleries. It’s time for a summer update! To remember the good sunny days, you can browse through pictures taken during a « pétanque » evening with friends (the game was improvised… ), a selection of shots taken on various occasions over the summer, and an album dedicated to a new edition of our Strasberg Reunion: this time in Paris, Strasbourg and Munich! Enjoy the change in contexts between the parisian streets and the Oktoberfest traditions… : )

• Le mois d’octobre vient à peine de commencer… les feuilles tombent des arbres… et des choses se rajoutent aux galeries. C’est l’heure pour une mise à jour estivale! Pour pouvoir se remémorer les beaux jours ensoleillés, vous aurez le choix entre une soirée pétanque entre amis (oui enfin… pétanque improvisée), une sélection de photos prises à diverses occasions durant l’été, et un album dédié à la seconde édition de notre Strasberg Reunion: cette fois-ci à Paris, Strasbourg et Munich! Vous pourrez apprécier le changement de contexte entre les rues parisiennes et les traditions de l’Oktoberfest… : )

Reminder: in order to get the best quality and size for a photo, don’t ‘drag & drop’, hit the ‘download’ button…

N’oubliez pas: pour une photo de taille et qualité optimales, ne faites pas de ‘glisser-deposer’, cliquez plutôt sur le bouton ‘télécharger la photo’!

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

A Cinematic Prolepsis: 2011-2012 Season

NaB — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:15:14 +0000

We’ve finally come to it: my ANNUAL POST for the OPENING SEASON! I’m talking about movies, of course. Here are listed (in no particular order) all the motion pictures that will play a role until the closing moment of the season, which will occur at the Oscars, on February 26th, 2012. There will be ups & downs, surprises, and more and more detailed buzz, but for now they’re all here, without exception. Included is also the current status of each movie’s buzz, as well as the categories it will potentially be in competition for…

Many things are to be noted this year; for example, it definitely is the return of big names, such as George Clooney (for directing, but also acting – in two different movies), Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep, Woody Allen, Brad Pitt, or even the awaited Leonardo DiCaprio in the role that could finally earn him his first Oscar. But I find it also interesting how several actors are part of several movies that will all end up being Oscar-nominated: it is the case for George Clooney (The Ides Of March + The Descendants), Ryan Gosling (Drive + The Ides Of March), Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Ides Of March + Moneyball), Brad Pitt (The Tree Of Life + Moneyball), Judi Dench (J. Edgar + My Week With Marylin), Jessica Chastain (The Tree Of Life + The Help + Coriolanus), Viola Davis (The Help + Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close), John C. Reilly (Carnage + We Need To Talk About Kevin), Michael Fassbender (Shame + A Dangerous Method), Tom Hardy (Warrior + Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy), Carey Mulligan (Drive + Shame).

It will sure be an interesting year… and I can’t wait to follow this very closely!

————————————————

THE IDES OF MARCH - dir. George Clooney, with George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood.
Why? George Clooney, simple as that. Awards hopes? Movie, Actors (George Clooney, Ryan Gosling - split with their other movies), Supporting Actors (Philip Seymour Hoffman & Paul Giamatti), Director, and Original Screenplay. TRAILER
J. EDGAR - dir. Clint Eastwood, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Judi Dench, Naomi Watts, Ed Westwick.
Why? American history piece + Clint Eastwood + Leonardo DiCaprio. Awards hopes? Movie, Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio - could this be finally his?), Director, Supporting Actor (Armie Hammer), Supporting Actress (Judi Dench), Original Screenplay. TRAILER

THE ARTIST - dir. Michel Hazanavicius, with Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo.
Why? Huge buzz + Cannes + French touch + silent movie + Hollywood 20′s Era. Awards hopes? Movie, Actor (Jean Dujardin - top 4 contender!), Director, Original Screenplay, Supporting Actress (Berenice Bejo). TRAILER

WAR HORSE - dir. Steven Spielberg, with Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Neils Arestrup.
Why? The most famous director on Earth + adaptation of a Tony Award-winning play. Awards hopes? Movie (the one to beat), Director (the one to beat), Adapted Screenplay, possibly Actor (Jeremy Irvine), and Supporting Actor (Neils Arestrup). TRAILER

MONEYBALL - dir. Bennet Miller, with Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Why? Great early reviews from the beloved director of Capote + great work from Brad Pitt. Awards hopes? Movie, Director, Adapted Screenplay, possibly Actor (Brad Pitt), and Supporting Actor (Jonah Hill). TRAILER

A DANGEROUS METHOD - dir. David Cronenberg, with Viggo Mortensen, Keira Knightley, Michael Fassbender, Vincent Cassel.
Why? Carl Jung & Sigmund Freud story. Awards hopes? Actress (Keira Knightley), Supporting Actor (Viggo Mortensen). TRAILER

THE TREE OF LIFE - dir. Terrence Malick, with Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain.
Why? Long-awaited movie + Cannes Film Festival. Awards hopes? Movie, Director, Supporting Actor (Brad Pitt), Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain). TRAILER

THE DESCENDANTS - dir. Alexander Payne, with George Clooney, Robert Foster, Shaileen Woodley.
Why? Might be Payne’s best work + George Clooney. Awards hopes? Movie, Actor (George Clooney - top 3), Director, Adapted Screenplay, possibly Supporting Actor (Robert Forster) and Supporting Actress (Shaileen Woodley). TRAILER

MY WEEK WITH MARYLIN - dir. Simon Curtis, with Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Emma Watson, Dominic Cooper, Judi Dench.
Why? Michelle Williams as Marylin Monroe. Awards hopes? Director, Actress (Michelle Williams), Supporting Actor (Kenneth Branagh), possibly Movie. TRAILER

THE HELP - dir. Tate Taylor, with Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain, Bryce Dallas Howard.
Why? Adaptation of a successful book + huge box office numbers with good reviews = The Blind Side syndrome. Awards hopes? Movie, Actress (Viola Davis - top 3), Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer - top 2), possibly Director, and Adapted Screenplay. TRAILER

EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE - dir. Stephen Daldry, with Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Viola Davis, James Gandolfini, Thomas Horn.
Why? Post 9/11 movie on the anniversary year + star-studded cast & nominated director. Awards hopes? Movie, Director, Supporting Actress (Sandra Bullock), Adapted Screenplay, possibly Actor (Thomas Horn).

MELANCHOLIA - dir. Lars Von Trier, with Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, John Hurt.
Why? Lars Von Trier + Cannes – scandal. Awards hopes? Possibly Actress (Kirsten Dunst), but the scandal killed its chances. TRAILER

CARNAGE - dir. Roman Polanski, with Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Christoph Waltz.
Why? Star-studded cast + adaptation of the acclaimed play by Yasmina Reza. Awards hopes? Movie, Actress (Jodie Foster, possibly Kate Winslet), possibly Actor (Christoph Waltz), Supporting Actor (John C. Reilly), Adapted Screenplay, and Director. TRAILER

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN - dir. Lynne Ramsey, with Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller.
Why? A psychotic Tilda Swinton + Cannes + huge buzz. Awards hopes? Actress (Tilda Swinton), possibly Supporting Actor (John C. Reilly), and Director. TRAILER

MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE - dir. Sean Durkin, with Elizabeth Olsen, John Hawkes.
Why? Newcomer of the year Elizabeth Olsen = the unknown Olsen sister. Awards hopes? Actress (Elizabeth Olsen), Supporting Actor (John Hawkes), possibly Best Movie. TRAILER

CORIOLANUS - dir. Ralph Fiennes, with Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Brian Cox, Jessica Chastain, Vanessa Redgrave.
Why? From the screenwriter of Gladiator + adaptation of a Shakespeare play. Awards hopes? Supporting Actress (Vanessa Redgrave - the one to beat at the moment), possibly Actor (Ralph Fiennes), Supporting Actor (Gerard Butler), and Best Movie. TRAILER

LIKE CRAZY - dir. Drake Doremus, with Felicity Jones, Anton Yelchin, Jennifer Lawrence.
Why? Best Picture & Actress at Sundance + indie movie of the year. Awards hopes? Actress (Felicity Jones), Original Screenplay, possibly Supporting Actor (Anton Yelchin). TRAILER

TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY - dir. Tomas Alfredson, with Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt.
Why? Long overdue recognition for Gary Oldman. Awards hopes? Movie, Actor (Gary Oldman - top 2 contenders), Director, Adapted Screenplay, possibly Supporting Actor (Tom Hardy). TRAILER

SHAME - dir. Steve McQueen, with Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan.
Why? Good Venice buzz, especially for the acting – might be too dark for awards. Awards hopes? Actor (Michael Fassbender), Supporting Actress (Carey Mulligan), possibly Director.

THE IRON LADY - dir. Phyllila Lloyd, with Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent.
Why? Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher. Simple as that. Awards hopes? Actress (Meryl Streep - please let her have it!), Supporting Actor (Jim Broadbent), possibly Movie, and Original Screenplay. TRAILER

WE BOUGHT A ZOO - dir. Cameron Crowe, with Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson.
Why? Family movie with A-List stars + good buzz. Awards hopes? Probably none… but possibly Movie, Actor (Matt Damon), Director, Adapted Screenplay, Supporting Actress (Scarlett Johansson). TRAILER

HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART II - dir. David Yates, with Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint.
Why? End of an Era, à la Lord Of The Rings. Awards hopes? Possibly Movie. TRAILER

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS - dir. Woody Allen, with Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen, Kathy Bates, Marion Cotillard.
Why? Woody Allen‘s most commercially successful movie + great reviews. Awards hopes? Movie, Original Screenplay, possibly Director, and Supporting Actress (Marion Cotillard). TRAILER

WARRIOR - dir. Gavin O’Connor, with Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Joel Edgerton.
Why? Great reviews for boxing/martial arts movie (Oscars love that). Awards hopes? Actor (Tom Hardy), possibly Supporting Actor (Nick Nolte). TRAILER

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN - dir. Steven Spielberg, with Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Andy Serkis, Gad Elmaleh.
Why? Huge Hollywood production for a famous character + Steven Spielberg (again). Awards hopes? Special Effects and Technicals. TRAILER

DRIVE - dir. Nicolas Winding Refn, with Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks, Bryan Cranston.
Why? Long-lasting early buzz + Cannes. Awards hopes? Movie, Actor (Ryan Gosling), Director, Supporting Actor (Albert Brooks), possibly Supporting Actress (Carey Mulligan) and Adapted Screenplay. TRAILER

ALBERT NOBBS - dir. Rodrigo Garcia, with Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Brendan Gleeson.
Why? 19th C. drama + adaptation of a play + Glenn Close pretending to be a man = the role of her career. Awards hopes? Actress (the one to beat), possibly Supporting Actress (Mia Wasikowska).

BEGINNERS - dir. Mike Mills, with Ewan McGregor, Melanie Laurent, Christopher Plummer.
Why? Very early release, but Plummer still has it. Awards hopes? Supporting Actor (Christopher Plummer - the one to beat). TRAILER

BRIDESMAIDS - dir. Paul Feig, with Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy.
Why? Huge audience & critic success for the comedy of the year. Awards hopes? Original Screenplay, possibly Supporting Actress (Melissa McCarthy). TRAILER

RAMPART - dir. Oren Moverman, with Woody Harrelson, Steve Buscemi, Robin Wright, Ben Foster, Sigourney Weaver, Cynthia Nixon, Anne Heche, Ice Cube.
Why? For now, huge buzz for Woody Harrelson, with no trailer or footage. Awards hopes? Actor (Woody Harrelson).

WIN WIN - dir. Thomas McCarthy, with Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Margo Martindale.
Why? Awards darling Paul Giamatti, well-written « indie » type comedy. Awards hopes? Original Screenplay, possibly Actor (Paul Giamatti). TRAILER

50/50 - dir. Jonathan Levine, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anjelica Huston.
Why? Comedy/drama inspired by a true story, with heavy topic. Awards hopes? Possibly Actor (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). TRAILER

The Artist : The « Marion Cotillard Effect »

NaB — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:57:48 +0000

J’ai failli en faire un article en mai dernier… et celui-ci aurait été sérieusement d’actualité aujourd’hui. Après son succès au Festival de Cannes cette année et la victoire presque surprenante de Jean Dujardin, il avait été décidé qu’une campagne de promotion serait lancée (surtout avec son achat par la Weinstein Company pour la distribution US), avec comme but un peu fou: les Oscars. Et pari déjà gagné! Techniquement, nous ne sommes qu’aux aubes de la saison des Oscars, mais The Artist dispose certainement déjà du buzz le plus dingue dans de nombreuses catégories, notamment Meilleur Film et Meilleur Acteur! On irait même jusqu’à un doublé de nominés français Jean Dujardin-Bérenice Béjo… et ce sont des nominations déjà acquises d’avance, selon beaucoup de critiques. LA FOLIE! Préparez-vous à beaucoup d’images de Jean Dujardin en anglais, et à Alexandra Lamy sur un tapis rouge à Hollywood. L’ « Effet Marion Cotillard » !

I had hesitated to make a quick post out of this back in May… and it would have fit today’s situation very well. After its success at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year and Jean Dujardin‘s pretty surprising win (Best Actor), it was decided that this French silent film (acquired by the Weinstein Company in the US) would get a bigger campaign, with a crazy objective: The Oscars. Mission already accomplished! This is only the dawn of the Oscar season, but the buzz for The Artist is already huge in several categories, including Best Picture and Leading Actor! We might even get a double French acting nomination, Jean Dujardin-Bérénice Béjo… and these are locked nominations, according to many critics. CRAZINESS! Prepare yourself for a lot of French talking in the next couple of months. The « Marion Cotillard Effect » !

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.