ASHLEY ELAINE YORK @ SUNDANCE 2011
Yesterday was a big day for the film industry, as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the 83rd Annual Academy Award Nominations List. I had a conversation about those nomination with the hosts of the Colombian National Public Radio (Radio Nacional de Colombia) Morning Show. Scroll down to see an article (in Spanish) about that interview, or link to the article and an mp3 of the bilingual interview in English and Spanish here, by first linking to the site, and then selecting the left-hand audio link labled, "La crítico de cine y televisión, Ashley Elaine York" to hear the broadcast:
http://www.radionacionaldecolombia.gov.co/index.php?option=com_topcontent&view=article&id=13652:qthe-kings-speechq-reina-en-las-nominaciones-a-los-oscar-con-12-candidaturas-&catid=40:cine
(or simply link here for just the audio broadcast
http://www.radionacionaldecolombia.gov.co/images/stories/audios/2011/ene%2025%20-%20ashley%20york.mp3 ).
Many films that premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival (and all which came to the Festival without distribution) garnered Oscar nominations this year, including four of the five Best Documentary Feature Nominees:
EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP (U.S. Documentary Competition)
Released by: Producers Distribution Agency
GASLAND (U.S. Documentary Competition, Special Jury Prize)
Released by: HBO Documentary Films/International WOW Company
RESTREPO (Documentary Competition, U.S Documentary Award)
Released by: National Geographic Films
WASTE LAND (U.S. Documentary Competition, Special Jury Prize)
Released by: Arthouse Films
In addition, MADAGASCAR, CARNET DE VOYAGE (MADAGASCAR, A JOURNEY DIARY)” (short film competition) was nominated for Best Animated Short. And four Sundance 2010 Dramatic premieres also made the 83rd Oscar's shortlist:
WINTER'S BONE (U.S. Dramatic Competition, Sundance Grand Jury Prize and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award)
Released by: Roadside Attractions
John Hawkes, Best Supporting Actor
Jennifer Lawrence, Best Actress
Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini, Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Picture
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT (Premieres)
Released by: Focus Features
Mark Ruffalo, Best Supporting Actor
Annette Bening, Best Actress
Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg, Best Original Screenplay
Best Picture
BLUE VALENTINE (U.S. Dramatic Competition)
Released by: The Weinstein Company
Michelle Williams, Best Actress
ANIMAL KINGDOM (World Dramatic Competition, World Cinema Jury Prize: Drama)
Released by: Sony Pictures Classics
Jackie Weaver, Best Actress
As mentioned in the interview, this year, the Oscars seemed to dote on films driven by story, rather than visual effects. Although the Best Picture nomination list includes TOY STORY 3, which illustrates that Hollywood is still taken with films that drive up the box office by targeting all "four quadrants" of the audience--adult men, adult women, girls, and boys, in today's world climate, spectators (including Academy voters) more and more care about stories like BLACK SWAN, THE FIGHTER, 127 HOURS, THE SOCIAL NETWORK, TRUE GRIT, THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, and WINTER'S BONE that convey personal triumphs, losses, power, and destruction, small stories produced on a grand scale that resonate with humans during turbulent times.
Ashley Elaine York
Int’l Film/TV Correspondent and Corus Entertainment PhD Fellow in Television Studies at the University of Alberta, Ashley Elaine York. Contact her at: TalkFilmandTVwithAshleyYork@gmail.com. All photophraphs and words are the creation of Miss York. ALL RIGHTS ARE RESERVED c. 2010.
