Best Picture Power Rankings: Week Three

Admittedly, not much happened this week, and a LOT is happening next week. But in the sake of being devoted to constantly updating, here are some minor shifts in thought:

1. The Artist (NO CHANGE)
It hasn't slowed down.

2. War Horse (UP THREE)
More reviews suggest this is going to run wild at the major shows. If the Globes go ga-ga for it, it's sticking around.

3. The Descendants (DOWN ONE)
It'll be interesting to see how the BFCA, HFPA, and others nominate the movie. Somehow I suspect it could go lukewarm as a major player.

4. The Help (NO CHANGE)
A well-timed DVD release reminds everyone what a heartwarming movie it is, and why movies about white people helping marginalized people always score big.

5. Hugo (DOWN TWO)
The critics seem to really like it, but the box office is not big. Is there not as much traction as we'd like to believe? Will people simply vote for The Artist instead (since they're both movies-about-movies)?

6. Moneyball (NO CHANGE)
I'm dying to see how the Golden Globes receive it.

7. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (UP TWO)
I know no one's seen it yet, and I keep bumping it around, and it looks terrible to me -- but I just can't come up with a reason why it won't do well.

8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (DOWN ONE)
The only thing on this list with any kind of big box office status. That counts for something.

9. Midnight in Paris (UP ONE)
It's going to gain some steam in the next week. Just watch.

10. Beginners (UP ONE)
More top ten mentions = better chances.

11. The Tree of Life (DOWN THREE)
As much as I want to believe it will get in, I need more convincing.

Cahiers du Cinema Top 10

1. The Strange Case of Angelica (Manoel de Oliviera)
2. We Have a Pope (Nanni Moretti)
3. House of Tolerance (Bertrand Bonello)
4. Melancholia (Lars von Trier)
5. Super 8 (J.J. Abrams)
6. Essential Killing (Jerzy Skolimowski)
7. Outside Satan (Bruno Dumont)
8. A Burning Hot Summer (Philippe Garrel)
9. The Tree of Life (Terrence Malick)
10. Meek's Cutoff (Kelly Reichardt)

D.C. does 'The Artist'

Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association 2011 Winners

Best Picture: The Artist
Best Director: Martin Scorsese for Hugo
Best Actor: George Clooney in The Descendants
Best Actress: Michelle Williams in My Week With Marilyn
Best Supporting Actor: Albert Brooks in Drive
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer in The Help
Best Ensemble: Bridesmaids
Best Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne and Nate Faxon & Jim Rash for The Descendants
Best Original Screenplay: Will Reiser for 50/50
Best Animated Feature: Rango
Best Documentary: Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Best Foreign Language Film: The Skin I Live In
Best Art Direction Hugo (Dante Ferretti, Francesca Lo Sciavo)
Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, The Tree of Life
Best Score: Ludovic Bource, The Artist
 

'Melancholia' tops European Film Awards

 

Best Film: Melancholia
Best Director: Susanne Bier for In a Better World
Best Actress: Tilda Swinton in We Need to Talk About Kevin
Best Actor: Colin Firth in The King's Speech
Best Screenwriter: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne for The Kid With a Bike
Best Cinematographer: Manuel Alberto Claro for Melancholia
Best Editor: Tariq Anwar for The King's Speech
Best Production Designer: Jette Lehmann for Melancholia
Best Composer: Ludovic Bource for The Artist
Best Documentary: Pina
Best Animated Film: Chico & Rita