Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

San Diego Film Critics Society Announces 2011 Nominations

This year's "think lists" -- each member of the San Diego Film Critics Society submits a slate of suggested nominees in all the major categories -- were cause for alarm. Was I going to have to spell out for the group why Amy Adams' performance in The Muppet Movie was not award-worthy, or how Bridesmaids doesn't qualify as original let alone a Best Original Screenplay?

Thankfully, most of the objectionable choices didn't make the cut, and while the thought of judging art by committee is hateful, the group managed to whittle away several extremely dull and incredibly offensive titles.

My choices are in bold. The winners will be posted this Wednesday afternoon after the ballots have been counted.

BEST FILM

DRIVE, HUGO, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, THE ARTIST, and THE TREE OF LIFE.

BEST DIRECTOR

Martin Scorsese (HUGO), Michel Hazanavicius (THE ARTIST), Nicolas Winding Refn (DRIVE), Terrence Malick (THE TREE OF LIFE), and Woody Allen (MIDNIGHT IN PARIS).

BEST ACTRESS

Brit Marling (ANOTHER EARTH), Elizabeth Olsen (MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE), Michelle Williams (MY WEEK WITH MARILYN), Tilda Swinton (WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN), and Viola Davis (THE HELP).

BEST ACTOR

Brad Pitt (MONEYBALL), Brendan Gleeson (THE GUARD), George Clooney, (THE DESCENDANTS), Jean Dejardin (THE ARTIST), and Michael Shannon (TAKE SHELTER).

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Bérénice Bejo (THE ARTIST), Carey Mulligan (SHAME), Jessica Chastain (THE HELP), Mélanie Laurent (BEGINNERS), and Shailene Woodley (THE DESCENDANTS).

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Albert Brooks (DRIVE), Andy Serkis (RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES), Christopher Plummer (BEGINNERS), Max von Sydow (EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE), and Nick Nolte (WARRIOR).

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Michel Hazanavicius (THE ARTIST), Mike Mills (BEGINNERS), Thomas McCarthy (WIN WIN), Will Reiser (50/50), and Woody Allen (MIDNIGHT IN PARIS).

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, (THE DESCENDANTS), Hossein Amini (DRIVE), John Logan (HUGO), Steve Kloves (HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2), and Steve Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin (MONEYBALL).

Le Quattro Volte.

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

A SOMEWHAT GENTLE MAN, HAPPY HAPPY, LE QUATTRO VOLTE, OF GODS AND MEN, and THE DOUBLE HOUR.

BEST DOCUMENTARY

BUCK, CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS, INTO THE ABYSS, PAGE ONE: INSIDE THE NEW YORK TIMES, and PROJECT NIM.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Adam Stone (TAKE SHELTER), Emmanuel Lubezki (THE TREE OF LIFE), Guillaume Schiffman (THE ARTIST), Newton Thomas Sigel (DRIVE) and Robert Richardson HUGO.

BEST ANIMATED FILM

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS, HAPPY FEET TWO, KUNG FU PANDA 2, RANGO, and WINNIE THE POOH.

BEST EDITING

Anne-Sophie Bion & Michel Hazanavicius (THE ARTIST), Hank Corwin, Jay Rabinowitz, Daniel Rezende, Billy Weber, & Mark Yoshikawa (THE TREE OF LIFE), Mat Newman (DRIVE), Oliver Bugge Coutté (BEGINNERS), Thelma Schoonmaker (HUGO).

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Anne Seibel (MIDNIGHT IN PARIS), Dante Ferretti (HUGO), Jack Fisk (THE TREE OF LIFE), Laurence Bennett (THE ARTIST), and Stuart Craig (HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2)

BEST SCORE

Alexandre Desplat (EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE), Alexandre Desplat (HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2), Alexandre Desplat (THE TREE OF LIFE), Howard Shore (HUGO), and Ludovic Bource (raping the bones of Bernard Herrmann in THE ARTIST).

BEST ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE

CARNAGE, HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2, MARGIN CALL, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, and THE HELP.

BODY OF WORK FOR 2011

TBD during the final vote

KYLE COUNTS AWARD

TBD during the final vote

The San Diego Film Critics Society are Danny Baldwin (BucketReviews.com), Dan Bennett (North County Times), Josh Board (KOGO, Fox 5 San Diego), Kevin Finnerty (KOGO, ShowbizJunkies.com), Ian Forbes (SoberingConclusion.com, ShowbizJunkies.com), Alison Gang (Union Tribune), Jim Colt Harrison (San Diego City News, LGBT Weekly, Classic Movie Guide, BlogTalkRadio, ReviewExpress.com), Glenn Heath Jr. (Slant Magazine, The House Next Door, SanDiego.com, NOT Coming to a Theater Near You), Jeri Jacquin (East County California, Imperial Beach Sun, Fleet Reserve Press, Military Press, Chula Vista Star News, Chulavista.com, MovieMaven, The Star News.com, Upcoming-Movies.com), Jean Lowerison (Saenger Syndicate, San Diego Gay & Lesbian News), Lois Alter Mark (Nick Jr.com, StyleSubstanceSoul.com, HuffingtonPost.com, ThirdAge.com), Rebecca Murray (About.com, ShowbizJunkies.com), Robert Patrick (CinemaSpartan.com), Diana Saenger (East County Gazette, San Diego Suburban Newspapers, Saenger Syndicate and ReviewExpress.com, ReelTalkReviews.com, and ClassicMovieGuide.com), Betty Jo Tucker (ReelTalkreviews.com, Senior Beacon, Blog Talk Radio), Anders Wright (San Diego CityBeat, Go2.com, Upcoming-Movies.com), and yours truly.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all

Previous article

Flowering pear trees in Kensington not that nice

Empty dirt plots in front of Ken Cinema
Next Article

San Diego Reader 2024 Music & Arts Issue

Favorite fakers: Baby Bushka, Fleetwood Max, Electric Waste Band, Oceans, Geezer – plus upcoming tribute schedule

This year's "think lists" -- each member of the San Diego Film Critics Society submits a slate of suggested nominees in all the major categories -- were cause for alarm. Was I going to have to spell out for the group why Amy Adams' performance in The Muppet Movie was not award-worthy, or how Bridesmaids doesn't qualify as original let alone a Best Original Screenplay?

Thankfully, most of the objectionable choices didn't make the cut, and while the thought of judging art by committee is hateful, the group managed to whittle away several extremely dull and incredibly offensive titles.

My choices are in bold. The winners will be posted this Wednesday afternoon after the ballots have been counted.

BEST FILM

DRIVE, HUGO, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, THE ARTIST, and THE TREE OF LIFE.

BEST DIRECTOR

Martin Scorsese (HUGO), Michel Hazanavicius (THE ARTIST), Nicolas Winding Refn (DRIVE), Terrence Malick (THE TREE OF LIFE), and Woody Allen (MIDNIGHT IN PARIS).

BEST ACTRESS

Brit Marling (ANOTHER EARTH), Elizabeth Olsen (MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE), Michelle Williams (MY WEEK WITH MARILYN), Tilda Swinton (WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN), and Viola Davis (THE HELP).

BEST ACTOR

Brad Pitt (MONEYBALL), Brendan Gleeson (THE GUARD), George Clooney, (THE DESCENDANTS), Jean Dejardin (THE ARTIST), and Michael Shannon (TAKE SHELTER).

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Bérénice Bejo (THE ARTIST), Carey Mulligan (SHAME), Jessica Chastain (THE HELP), Mélanie Laurent (BEGINNERS), and Shailene Woodley (THE DESCENDANTS).

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Albert Brooks (DRIVE), Andy Serkis (RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES), Christopher Plummer (BEGINNERS), Max von Sydow (EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE), and Nick Nolte (WARRIOR).

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Michel Hazanavicius (THE ARTIST), Mike Mills (BEGINNERS), Thomas McCarthy (WIN WIN), Will Reiser (50/50), and Woody Allen (MIDNIGHT IN PARIS).

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, (THE DESCENDANTS), Hossein Amini (DRIVE), John Logan (HUGO), Steve Kloves (HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2), and Steve Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin (MONEYBALL).

Le Quattro Volte.

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

A SOMEWHAT GENTLE MAN, HAPPY HAPPY, LE QUATTRO VOLTE, OF GODS AND MEN, and THE DOUBLE HOUR.

BEST DOCUMENTARY

BUCK, CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS, INTO THE ABYSS, PAGE ONE: INSIDE THE NEW YORK TIMES, and PROJECT NIM.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Adam Stone (TAKE SHELTER), Emmanuel Lubezki (THE TREE OF LIFE), Guillaume Schiffman (THE ARTIST), Newton Thomas Sigel (DRIVE) and Robert Richardson HUGO.

BEST ANIMATED FILM

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS, HAPPY FEET TWO, KUNG FU PANDA 2, RANGO, and WINNIE THE POOH.

BEST EDITING

Anne-Sophie Bion & Michel Hazanavicius (THE ARTIST), Hank Corwin, Jay Rabinowitz, Daniel Rezende, Billy Weber, & Mark Yoshikawa (THE TREE OF LIFE), Mat Newman (DRIVE), Oliver Bugge Coutté (BEGINNERS), Thelma Schoonmaker (HUGO).

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Anne Seibel (MIDNIGHT IN PARIS), Dante Ferretti (HUGO), Jack Fisk (THE TREE OF LIFE), Laurence Bennett (THE ARTIST), and Stuart Craig (HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2)

BEST SCORE

Alexandre Desplat (EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE), Alexandre Desplat (HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2), Alexandre Desplat (THE TREE OF LIFE), Howard Shore (HUGO), and Ludovic Bource (raping the bones of Bernard Herrmann in THE ARTIST).

BEST ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE

CARNAGE, HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2, MARGIN CALL, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, and THE HELP.

BODY OF WORK FOR 2011

TBD during the final vote

KYLE COUNTS AWARD

TBD during the final vote

The San Diego Film Critics Society are Danny Baldwin (BucketReviews.com), Dan Bennett (North County Times), Josh Board (KOGO, Fox 5 San Diego), Kevin Finnerty (KOGO, ShowbizJunkies.com), Ian Forbes (SoberingConclusion.com, ShowbizJunkies.com), Alison Gang (Union Tribune), Jim Colt Harrison (San Diego City News, LGBT Weekly, Classic Movie Guide, BlogTalkRadio, ReviewExpress.com), Glenn Heath Jr. (Slant Magazine, The House Next Door, SanDiego.com, NOT Coming to a Theater Near You), Jeri Jacquin (East County California, Imperial Beach Sun, Fleet Reserve Press, Military Press, Chula Vista Star News, Chulavista.com, MovieMaven, The Star News.com, Upcoming-Movies.com), Jean Lowerison (Saenger Syndicate, San Diego Gay & Lesbian News), Lois Alter Mark (Nick Jr.com, StyleSubstanceSoul.com, HuffingtonPost.com, ThirdAge.com), Rebecca Murray (About.com, ShowbizJunkies.com), Robert Patrick (CinemaSpartan.com), Diana Saenger (East County Gazette, San Diego Suburban Newspapers, Saenger Syndicate and ReviewExpress.com, ReelTalkReviews.com, and ClassicMovieGuide.com), Betty Jo Tucker (ReelTalkreviews.com, Senior Beacon, Blog Talk Radio), Anders Wright (San Diego CityBeat, Go2.com, Upcoming-Movies.com), and yours truly.

Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Movie Reviews: In Darkness, Chico & Rita, Rampart

Next Article

David Elliott's Final Column

Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.