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THE GOLDEN MOON AWARDS NOMINATIONS

By Charlie Kiggs

So here are the Golden Moon Awards again… And here I am again to comment the nominations – not expecting my dear friend and colleague Bob Felton to agree with me.

Let’s go with the usual sections: the highlights, the returns, the ignored and, of course, the difficult task of making some predictions.

THE HIGHLIGHTS

‘Sherlock Holmes’ joins the selective club of movies with 7 nominations. Only ‘Pompeii’ and ‘Lyra’ were members of that club until now. The Tim Burton’s update of the classic character not only became a major blockbuster but has also seduced awards voters. But remember: being the most nominated movie not always means becoming the most awarded one. ‘Pompeii’ won 4 awards but ‘Lyra’ only won 2, not including Best Picture. So, Sherlock, watch out, cause anything can happen!

The addition of two new awards categories has changed a bit the scenery. Obviously, now there are more movies with a high number of nominations. Not only ‘Sherlock Holmes’ reaches 7, but other two movies reach 6 and another two get 5. That makes much more exciting the final fight for the awards.

Definitely, the Best Director and Best Picture categories have gone lately their own separate ways. As it happened past edition with ‘The Chinese Bride’, only one movie, ‘Sherlock Holmes’, repeats in both categories.

Voters have supported the new experiments of the Season. ‘Things I Forgot To Tell You’, with 6 nominations and ‘Tales Of The Unexpected’ with 5, have proven that audiences enjoy new concepts of moviemaking and appreciate innovation. A shame that the also brilliant ‘Bedtime Stories’ was not remembered at all by voters.

A veteran in CMP, screenwriter Steve Connors, gets his first nomination for Best Screenplay after 15 movies written for the Studio. His comedy ‘Mary’s Dark Side’ gets 5 nominations. His two rivals already know the taste of success. Ben Tyler won the Best Screenplay award with ‘Schroedinger’s Litterbox’ in Season 6. James Bradley reaches his 7th nomination in this category. He has won the Best Screenplay award three times: ‘Fools Game’ (Season 2), ‘The Toymaker’ (Season 3) and past edition with ‘The Funeral Drum’.

All in all, not big surprises, although I must confess that many of my personal choices do not appear in these nominations… As usual, everything is debatable when nominations and awards come. But I personally think that most of the voters’ choices were pretty right.

THE RETURNS

Once again, quite a bunch of talents return to the nominations list. Let’s take a look at the experienced nominees:

DAKOTA FANNING: Young but veteran. In Season 1, she was already nominated for Best Actress with ‘Alice In Wonderland’. But she finally won the award in Season 4 as Best Supporting Actress for ‘Carousel’. So this is her third time around, now in a new category, Best Starring Couple.

JOHNNY DEPP: A familiar name at the GMA. Previous nominations: Best Actor in Season 6 for ‘Drawing Dreams’. Previous wins: Best Villain in Season 2 for ‘Uncommon Valour: The Frigate Captain’ and Best Starring Couple with Jack Nicholson in Season 5 for ‘Cell Mates’. So Depp - nominated in two categories this time - has now the chance to bring his third or even fourth statue home, becoming the most awarded talent ever in CMP.

PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN: Past Edition, he was nominated as Best Villain for ‘Netchasers’. So, in a quick return, Hoffman has another chance in a row, now for Best Starring Couple.

ZACK BRAFF: Although (unfairly?) ignored as director for his work behind the cameras in the multi-nominated ‘Mary’s Dark Side’, Braff fights for Best Starring Couple after being nominated for Best Actor in Season 6 with ‘Schroedinger’s Litterbox’.

KATE HUDSON: Only two movies have been enough for Kate to reach 4 nominations. In Season 7, ‘Velcro’ meant her first nomination for Best Actress and she won with Frances McDormand the Best Starring Couple category. Now, only two Seasons later, she fights again in the very same both categories.

ANTHONY HOPKINS: Mr. Villain is back. He was already chosen as Best Villain in Season 1 with ‘Captain America’ and in Season 5 with ‘The Guardians’. He is not only the only talent that has won twice the same award but also might become the first one to win 3 awards, all of them in the same category.

JODIE FOSTER: One previous and successful nomination: she won Best Supporting Actress in Season 7 with ‘Lyra’. So here she is again looking for the same award.

THE IGNORED

Only 14 movies out of 30 have got at least one nomination. So, obviously, the ignored are much more than the ones I’m going to mention here. But here are my highlights in the ignored section:

SUPERHEROES MOVIES: ‘Silver Sable’, ‘The Flash’ and ‘Nick Fury’ were the three comic adaptations of the Season. And none of them have got a single nomination. It seems that people love to watch this kind of movies, as all of them had great box offices, but forget them when voting time comes. Too ignored in my opinion: those were three well made movies that should have deserved some recognition.

RECORD BREAKERS MOVIES: In only one Season, two releases have entered into the alltimes top 6 best box offices: ‘The Dark Tower: The Drawing Of The Three’ and ‘The Land Of Nod’. But – as it happened with the alltimes top 1, ‘The Ice Princess’ - voters have ignored these major blockbusters (only a minor nomination for The Dark Tower). Definitely unfair. In my very personal opinion, those were two of the best productions of the Season. Many of my votes went for them… and ended up in the wastepaper basket.

HORROR MOVIES: Comedies always have a hard time in awards voting. But horror movies have it even worse. ‘Bedtime Stories’ deserved some recognition as a daring project that offered three quality horror stories. And what about Jake Gyllenhaal for Best Villain thanks to ‘Silent Night, Deadly Night’?

GIRLS BEAT BOYS: Ok, the always spoiled Dakota and Abigail got their Best Starring Couple nominations. Predictable and fair. But why Josh Hutcherson and Freddie Highmore, from ‘The Land Of Nod’, didn’t get theirs? Didn’t they deserve it as much as the girls? Or are we having here a sexual discrimination case?

A SPECIAL MENTION: Not a single nomination for ‘The Experience’? Our beloved Hendrix, up there in Heaven, must feel pretty unfairly treated. And so may feel Chiwetel Ejiofor here on Earth.

ANOTHER SPECIAL MENTION: Sorry, Selma, but your impressive debut in CMP with ‘The Sonja Blue Chronicles’ was not enough to be nominated. I know, I know, I agree with you… what were those voters thinking of forgetting you?

…AND SCREENWRITERS: Joey Stark must still be wondering where has his nomination in Best Screenplay for ‘Ugly’ gone. Six nominations and both the writer and the director of the movie have been ignored. Funny. And Josh Collins and Matt Kubrick, after releasing 8 and 7 movies respectively in one Season, also may be wondering now how is it possible that they are not in the list neither. Life’s tough, guys.

THE PREDICTIONS

I hate this part. Yes, I am the man that said past Edition that Nicole Kidman would win for sure the Best Actress award for ‘Maleficarum’. And yes, I am also the guy that never expected ‘The Sixth Avenue Castaways’ would defeat ‘The Funeral Drum’ for Best Picture (I know you love these mistakes, you Felton). Once said so, as my admired Bob Felton would say (considering himself very funny for it) they pay me for this… The boss has even asked me to expand my predictions to more categories, so here I go…

(Remember these predictions were written right after nominations were announced but before the winners election time begun, so don’t look for trustable hints in them)

BEST STARRING COUPLE

Dakota Fanning & Abigail Breslin
In favour: The Cuteness Factor.
Against: Come on, let’s be serious…
All in all: They have a chance. All CMP’s fans seem to love them.

Johnny Depp & Philip Seymour Hoffman
In favour: They were just perfect as Holmes and Watson.
Against: The Cuteness Factor.
All in all: The vote for quality belongs to them.

Zack Braff & Kate Hudson
In favour: If this category is about chemistry, they are the ones.
Against: Comedy works do not win awards.
All in all: The nomination looks like the most they’ll get.

BEST VILLAIN

Anthony Hopkins
In favour: The long shadow of Hannibal Lecter stays alive. Audiences just love each and every villain he plays.
Against: There are other people out there that can also play a great villain, you know.
All in all: With Hopkins around, I would not put my money on the others.

Guy Pierce
In favour: One of the very few cases where the villain stars the movie. He made a superb work.
Against: Mr. Villain.
All in all: Deserved.

Ryan Gosling
In favour: He shined playing a contradictory and irritating character.
Against: Too strong rivals, man.
All in all: Better chance next time.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Franka Potente
In favour: Watching her playing Mrs. Hitler made me shiver.
Against: The presence of two big names like Jodie and Kate may overshadow her.
All in all: Her work, awarded or not, should mean the beginning of a long career in CMP.

Jodie Foster
In favour: Her name is synonymous of quality. Voting for her is a natural impulse.
Against: Those voters that hate to be predictable.
All in all: Betting for her is not a risky move.

Kate Winslet
In favour: She is a favourite in CMP (and out of it). Putting together GMAs, Golden Globes and Academy Awards, she will be the next Merryl Streep.
Against: The ‘Lets Not Be Predictable’ factor.
All in all: We love you, Kate, no matter what happens next Friday.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Dustin Hoffman
In favour: Voters owe him an award since his splendid work in ‘The Toymaker’ was ignored.
Against: Wasn’t his character ‘too supporting’?
All in all: Time passes. He’s not as popular and respected as he used to be.

Robin Williams
In favour: Hey, it’s Robin. People just loves him.
Against: Hasn’t he played that nice ordinary guy before?
All in all: Looks like the perfect chance for his second Golden Moon.

Tim Curry
In favour: He played brilliantly a most disturbing character.
Against: His screen presence cannot be compared to Dustin’s or Robin’s.
All in all: Why do I have the feeling that he will be one of the surprises of the night?

BEST ACTRESS

Kate Hudson
In favour: She has proven in CMP the great actress she can be both in drama and comedy.
Against: And now repeat with me: comedy works don’t win awards.
All in all: Kate, winner or not, you were so funny in the movie. Want a drink?

Laura Linney
In favour: Forget about the five women in ‘Things I forgot…’ She did play The Female Character of the Season.
Against: We always think of her as a supporting actress.
All in all: If justice exists, she should win.

Marisa Tomei
In favour: She proves again in ‘Ugly’ she is an underrated actress.
Against: Laura.
All in all: Don’t make us wait so long to see you again in CMP, Marisa.

BEST ACTOR

Brad Pitt
In favour: Handicapped, disfigured, sick or crazy characters are always awards favourites.
Against: He is too perfect. The Envy Factor.
All in all: After his two very different and very talented works in the same Season, an award would be a fair recognition.

Greg Kinnear
In favour: He played a loser with mastery.
Against: Heavy-weights in front of him
All in all: I have the feeling he has a chance.

Johnny Depp
In favour: He just plays so well everything he plays.
Against: Johnny again? *Yawn*
All in all: You are in trouble, Brad. Heeeere’s Joooohny…

BEST DIRECTOR

Steven Soderbergh
In favour: He bet for a risky experimental movie. And it worked.
Against: Is this a joke? He just switched on a video camera to shoot the monologue of five women. I simply can’t understand this nomination.
All in all: If he wins, the rest of directors should go on strike to protest. Specially the ignored Zack Braff and Ron Howard.

Tim Burton
In favour: He is behind the brilliant redefinition of Sherlock Holmes. Reason more than enough.
Against: Nothing.
All in all: I will take the risk here: he is going to win.

Quentin Tarantino
In favour: For once, he took his job seriously and directed brilliantly a very good movie.
Against: He should still be punished for directing ‘Ace Banner: Return To Fury’.
All in all: Big chances. People love to support him.

BEST PICTURE

Mary’s Dark Side
In favour: Probably, the funniest comedy ever released by CMP.
Against: All together now: Comedy works… etc etc.
All in all: I am happy it was at least nominated.

Sherlock Holmes
In favour: A solid movie any way you look at it. It seems like it will be its night.
Against: Isn’t it being a bit overvalued by voters?
All in all: Making it win is a safe decision cause it undisputedly IS a good movie.

Ugly
In favour: It is a classic award winning product.
Against: Is it really that good?
All in all: Making win a movie about an Iraq’s war victim will be so moving and political correct. Obama would vote for this one.


So I tune in the other night just in time to watch the announcements of the GMA nominees and frankly I was shocked at how many nominated films actually got nominated and how many of them got ignored. It wasn't all that disappointing however. Let's take a close look at many of these wonderful picks.

Best Production Design: These nominees prove that even though the poster artists work very hard to create the posters to go along with each CMP film, there's much more into the movie that we really don't see and are only able to create in our heads. We appreciate the hours put into the makeup, costumes, editing, cinematography and all the technical aspects that get summed up into one category. If the Oscars did that, they would have a much shorter ceremony. But you can lump all of those awards into one major category and have it still make sense. Production Design.

The two newest highly anticipated categories, Adaptation and Original Concept got off to a good start. Would you have expected Sonja Blue or Flashman to be nominated if the categories didn't exist? But all of these films all have the honor of not only be nominated, but will always be known as the first nominees for the newest additions.

We have another first ever child pairing as the starring couple nominees! This makes it Dakota's 3rd GMA and Abigail's first. Collins knew what he was doing when he put those girls together, he knew it was a pairing people wanted to see and the votes proved it. Johnny Depp and Kate Hudson are no strangers to the popular category.

The Supporting Actress category, it's Franka, a brilliant performance of a laboring mother whose had a few miscarriages with some rather disturbing ulterior motives. She is up against Supporting Actress Veterans Kate Winslet and Jodie Foster, both from the same film. One is a governor explaining the harsh realities of women in politics, the other is a prostitute whose been yearning for something more to life. All are in a tough race. Anyone can come out of this and still look like a legitimate winner. If Jodie wins, I wouldn't mind it so much. I liked this one better than her performance in Lyra in my opinion.

The supporting actors are also tough. Tim Curry escapes the villain award and gets put in this category as a crazy gambling man willing to make his victims bet with their limbs and cars. Robin Williams plays his role with a lot of heart, a former alcoholic but is now sober and takes Brad Pitt under his wing. Dustin Hoffman coming in as the underdog in this category(I enjoyed his work, but GMA worthy I'm still unsure of) he played a once intimidating abusive neglectful father now on his deathbed.

Now here's a category I'm really excited to see. The Best Actress race. Kate Hudson returns to the category for her second Best Actress nod. Oh wow, last time she was nominated, she was also nominated in the Starring Couple and won that one. Kate Hudson has the luck behind her. Award voters love the strong love interest in films. In Ugly, Marissa Tomei, a single mother with a rocky past and a hard to manage son. But if I wanted to put my money down on a winner, hands down Laura Linney should take home the win in my opinion. Everything about her performance as a mother searching for youth, beauty, love, and appreciation is just perfect. You may or may not agree with everything she was dealing with or saying, but just wow. That magical moment of her smiling after the death of her father, freedom.

The Best Actors in the category are all worthy enough to earn the nominations. With all of these awards, Golden Globes, Oscars, GMAs you just know there's going to be someone getting a nomination. Fishburne in Dream of a King, Hanks in Forest Gump, Ledger in Dark Knight, and this time it's Brad Pitt in Ugly. That's not to say his nomination wasn't deserving, we just knew it was already going to leave such an impression on us all that we were going to remember his work for a long time. Greg Kinnear comes out in this category as the underdog, but his performance in Dare to be Perfect is deserving enough as a loser of a father and a husband. Johnny Depp is no stranger to the Best Actor nomination and once again he gets a nod for doing what he does best, completely enveloping a preexisting character, this time, legendary Sherlock Holmes.

Now here's a very interesting rare GMA occurrence. The only best pic nominee that also has a best director nominee attached to it is Sherlock Holmes with Tim Burton. Sherlock is the most nominated film, a curse usually apparent in past GMA editions. I don't think anyone was expecting Sherlock and Mary's Dark Side to come in with nominations, but it shows that every once in a while awards can actually be unpredictable.

Well, I know I will be tuning in to this season's GMAs. We have some very tough exciting races going on.


By STEPHANIE STEVENS

I am extremely happy that the predominantly male screenwriting department of CMP have taken to account the many opportunities they have given females throughout ever since the inception of the studio. For something as big as CMP with well over 200 releases, it would only be bound to happen every once in a while that women can find their places within the films of the studios. Not just as eye candy or one dimensional love interests or even as damsels in distress. As a female myself, I don't feel like I should care that there's not a 'Diablo Cody' amidst the writing crew so much as long as I see that females are being treated with respectable roles in the films, and there are plenty of films in CMP that do just that. In Season 8, we saw the very first female director nominated for the coveted Best Director award. But Season 9 showed more than ever that women in CMP have grown to be just as important as any of their male co-stars.

One of the most GMA nominated films of the 9th season featured an amazing presence of estrogen and the only male perspective came from off screen, only talking when necessary, as what many men should learn to do. 'Things I Forgot to Tell You' featured an A-listing stellar cast for the most experimental, low budget film ever produced by the studio. That just tells me those women basically did the film for free, proving that there are still actors and actresses out there who love doing what they do, not how many zeroes they get on their paycheck.

Even in animated films of CMP, Ice Princess and Bird of the Feather, both show that a strong female role doesn't have to be live action. Impressively, two films from Season 9 which featured heroines were major hits for CMP. One was based on a preexisting comic book series, Silver Sable, giving the studio it's first official female superhero adaptation. I guess we're still just going to have to wait for Wonder Woman, but we all know she's coming eventually. The other exciting hit was 'The Sonja Blue Chronicles' which earned the 'Most Wanted Sequel' nod. It certainly has my vote.

How about the nominated actress performances for Season 9? I must admit I wasn't totally impressed with what the actress categories offered in Season 8. There were a few exceptions, don't get me wrong, but this time around, both of the actress categories have all brilliant female roles. Anyone who wins certainly would deserve it, and those who were nominated also deserve their spot. Unlike Season 8's nods, this time around, I am extremely excited to see who takes home that golden moon.

If you're watching a CMP film with a child having a major part, odds are you're watching a Josh Collins film, whose made a career in CMP giving the kids in his casts something more to do than to just be cute. With his strong female roles(let it be adult or kids) in most of his films, Josh never ceases to amaze me at the kind of characters he develops.

In Season 9, he stuck two of the most famous young actresses together and got them a best starring couple nod. Dakota Fanning has now been nominated in almost every GMA acting award for women(not best villain yet!) I'm glad Abigail at least got SOMETHING this time around. Too bad it wasn't for her incredible work in 'Dare to Be Perfect'. Better luck next time, kiddo! Even Matt Kubrick has been seen on multiple occasions with lead girl-child roles, in this season it was the hit anthology horror, 'Bedtime Stories'...and only this time I will try to overlook the blatant sexism that was 'Reform School Girls' it did have girls kicking butt, but to me it was eye candy for the boys.

To wrap it all up, Season 9 shows how far women have come in CMP. With the wonderful female performances in Mary's Dark Side, Things I Forgot to Tell You, Ugly, Dare to be Perfect, After the Storm, Sonja Blue, Fantastic Mansion, Bedtime Stories, Silver Sable, and Tales of the Unexpected and yes even Sisters, I don't see women decreasing in importance anytime soon in the life of CMP. It really has been Woman Season this season. This studio has made me doubly proud to be a girl!