They call it the Sundance alchemy…..the strange and rather unknowable process by which films with advanced buzz fall flat and titles that come out of nowhere become the next big indie flings. Such was the case at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, where several of the higher profile films did not get the love from audiences, critics or distributors, and where a few unheralded films walked away with the lion’s share of prizes and, most importantly, distribution contacts that will insure that they will get seen by a wider public in the months ahead.
The Artist and Hugo lead the pack for the Oscar
Martin Scorsese's "Hugo" and The Artist led the nominations for the 84th Academy Awards, which were announced in Los Angeles this morning. Hugo took 11 nominations and was followed closely by Michel Hazanavicius's "The Artist," with 10 nominations (in the the top 5 categories). Other contenders for best picture category include "The Descendants," "The Help," "Midnight in Paris," "Moneyball," "The Tree of Life," "War Horse" and one of the surprises "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close."
The Artist's producer Thomas Langmann received the PGA award
The Artist's producer Thomas Langmann adds his name to the list of recipients of the David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures which read like a roster of the industry’s biggest names, including icons such as Steven Spielberg, Jerry Bruckheimer, Brian Grazer, Steven Bochco, Clint Eastwood, Sherry Lansing, Robert Evans, Roger Corman and Lorne Michaels, extending back to such legends as Alfred Hitchcock, Walt Disney, Billy Wilder and Louis B. Mayer.
More wins for the Artist at London Critics' Circle Film Awards winners
32nd London Critics' Circle Film Awards winners in full: FILM OF THE YEAR The Artist (Entertainment) CRITICS' CIRCLE TOP 10 FILMS of 2011 1. The Artist 2. A Separation 3. Drive 4. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 5. The Tree of Life 6. We Need to Talk About Kevin 7. Melancholia 8. Shame 9. Margaret 10. The Descendants
