Oscar 2010: Animated Feature Semi-Finalists

Up by Pete Docter (top); A Town Called Panic by Stéphane Aubier and Vincent Patar (middle); Fantastic Mr. Fox by Wes Anderson (bottom)

Twenty features have been submitted for consideration in the Animated Feature Film category for the 2010 Academy Awards. They are:

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
Astro Boy
Battle for Terra
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Coraline
Disney’s A Christmas Carol
The Dolphin – Story of a Dreamer
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Mary and Max
The Missing Lynx
Monsters vs. [...]

Oscar 2010: More Best Picture Contenders

Abbie Cornish, Ben Whishaw in Bright Star

Oscar 2010: Early Predictions for Best Picture Part I
Among the top runners-up in that category are: Jane Campion’s period romance Bright Star, which would have a much better chance had its box-office figures been more impressive; Quentin Tarantino’s dark World War II fantasy Inglourious Basterds; Marc Webb’s quirky 500 Days of Summer; Tom Hooper’s The Damned United, about Leeds United coach Brian Clough; Tom Ford’s A Single Man, based on a Christopher Isherwood novel; Michael Moore’s anti-Wall Street Capitalism: A Love Story; and Pete Docter’s animated hit Up.

And here are some more: Clint Eastwood’s Invictus (above, with Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon), adapted by Anthony Peckham from John Carlin’s [...]

TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN Tops Box Office

Though massacred by critics, Michael Bay’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen crushed the North American box office this week with an impressive $201.2 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Starring Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, and Josh Duhamel, the anticipated sequel to Transformers opened at 4,234 locations Wednesday and scored a daily gross of $60.6 million, the highest ever for a Wednesday. The film brought in another $28 million Thursday and $36.7 million on Friday.

At a distant No. 2, last week’s winner The Proposal collected $18.4 million, reaching a domestic gross of $69 million. Starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, the film follows an overbearing book editor who [...]

Sandra Bullock’s THE PROPOSAL Tops Box Office

Anne Fletcher’s romantic comedy The Proposal debuted in first place at the North American box office this weekend with $34.1 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, the film scored an average of $11,163 per theater at 3,056 locations. The plot follows an overbearing book editor who forces her assistant into marrying her when she faces deportation to Canada.

Still going strong at No. 2 was Todd Phillips’ hilarious hit comedy The Hangover, which took home another $26.8 million for an impressive domestic total of $152.9 million after three weeks in release.

At No. 3, Pete Docter’s Up brought in an additional $21.3 million, lifting its total haul to $224.1 million after a strong four-week [...]

THE HANGOVER Hangs on at the Top of the Box Office

Todd Phillips’ R-rated hit comedy The Hangover topped the North American box office for a second consecutive week with $33.4 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The Hangover successfully fought off this week’s new releases, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 and Imagine That, lifting its domestic total to a solid $105.3 million. Bradley Cooper, Ed Helm and Zach Galifianakis star as three guys who lose their best friend on a night out in Vegas.

Tony Scott’s latest thriller, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, only made it to No. 3, earning $25 million from sales at 3,074 locations. Denzel Washington plays a New [...]

UP and THE HANGOVER Top Box Office

Pixar’s Up topped the North American box office for the second consecutive weekend with $44.2 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Playing at 3,818 locations, the Pete Docter-directed animated adventure brought its domestic gross to $137.3 million after a strong two-week run. The plot follows a 78-year-old widower who takes his entire house on a trip to South America.

Debuting in second place with $43.2 million from 3,521 locations was Todd Phillips’ latest comedy, The Hangover. The R-rated film stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helm and Zach Galifianakis as three guys who lose their best friend on a night out in Vegas.

Following at a distant No. 3 was Brad Silberling’s [...]

UP Tops Box Office

Pixar’s Up safely landed at the No. 1 spot at the North American box office this weekend with $68.2 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Directed by Peter Docter, the animated adventure tale opened at 3,766 locations, scoring an average of $18,109 per theater. The story follows a 78-year-old widower who, wishing to fulfill his dream, takes his entire house on a trip to South America.

Last week’s champion, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, dropped to second place. The Ben Stiller vehicle earned another $25.5 million for a domestic total of $105.2 after a strong two-week run.

Debuting at No. 3 with $16.6 [...]

Cannes 2009: Out of Competition Films, Special Screenings

Cannes 2009: Out of Competition Films / Special Screenings
Below is a sample of out-of-competition films, special screenings, and midnight screenings at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.
Click on the photos to enlarge them.
 

Pete DOCTER, UP (Opening Night Film)

Anne AGHION, MY NEIGHBOR, MY KILLER

Alejandro AMENABAR, AGORA

Terry GILLIAM, THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS

Robert GUÉDIGUIAN, L’ARMÉE DU CRIME (The Army of crime)

Sam RAIMI, DRAG ME TO HELL

Marina de VAN, NE TE RETOURNE PAS (Don’t look back)

Jan KOUNEN, COCO CHANEL & IGOR STRAVINSKY (Closing Night Film)
 
Photos: Courtesy Festival de Cannes