PRISONERS : Awards Season Buzz

[jo]

The film has been mentioned in many reviews and feature articles as possibly having awards potential ( BP, acting honors, cinematography in most cases) -- but given the number of heavy hitters coming out of festivals and the slate for year end releases -- it could just be wishful thinking.

But there was a note on an earlier article saying that Warner Bros may be launching Cuaron's GRAVITY and PRISONERS as its likely OSCAR bets. So, it may depend on the kind of awards campaign that Warner Bros may mount for PRISONERS ( which is a totally different genre from the sci-fi GRAVITY).

Warner Bros is quite a veteran in the Oscars wars -- having recently won a BP Oscar for ARGO!

Some early signs --

**WB is releasing PRISONERS, an R-rated movie, with a large screen count of 3,150 ( est), hoping to give the movie more commercial exposure and enhancing its winnability factor ( because most post-screening reactions have been very positive - from critics and fans at Telluride and TIFF).

**The festival participation ( esp TIFF) was likely meant to surprise and even stun critics and audiences with the strengths of this film -- and it did, in Telluride and then Toronto. This could parlay into commercial benefits when it opens in the USA and also early awards buzz, as the other films-most-likely were also at the festivals.

**Re acting honors - I am guessing that WB was quite supportive of the two European festivals ( the popular San Sebastian festival in Spain and the rising festival in Zurich) which will not only honor Hugh Jackman ( not bad, as a start to an Oscar campaign ) but will also be venues for introducing the film, which has a theme that probably reverberates more with an American audience. Coincidentally and not probably tied in as part of any potential campaign, Hugh's Hollywood One-Night-Only concert for the benefit of the Motion Picture and Television Fund at the theatre which hosts the Oscars could present an excellent opportunity for the industry crowd to see how Hugh has become such a valuable member of the acting/performing community. Hope there is much attendance from the Hollywood crowd and hope Warner Bros will support the concert in a big way... LOL - this may be wishful thinking on my part - but why not

**The Hollywood premiere was reset to the AMPAS Theatre, where I am speculating AMPAS members may have been invited to attend -- I posted this earlier :

Riz Ahmed‏@rizmcnow
Just back from Academy screening of 'Prisoners' with Jake Gyllenhaal & Hugh Jackman. Edge of seat. Shot beautifully & great performances



I wonder - was the premiere reset to the theatre where they screen for AMPAS members, or was it just coincidence that the theatre was used?

Unless Warner Bros was confident enough about the chances of the movie and its acting honors chances that they decided to invite AMPAS members to the premiere instead?? Plus the party seems to indicate that it was toasted for important people?

According to Variety --

"After-party was held at Spago."

Hmmm...

Spago is the usual go-to place for some heavy Oscar campaigning



**And now comes this tweet from SAG/AFTRA -- the largest guild which is part of the nomination process for the Oscars and constitute the largest component of the acting branch for the AMPAS.

SAG-AFTRA‏@sagaftra45m
New England members RSVP for a Free Advanced Screening of "Prisoners" starring Hugh Jackman & Jake Gyllenhaal on 9/16 www.sagaftra.org/locals/new-england/events/free-advanced-screening-prisoners …

Are they now holding special screenings for guild members, too?


The plot thickens



Jo

[jo]

Having been voted as second runner-up for the People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival, it looks like the movie may really find itself in serious Oscar conversations!


Jo

[jo]

A screening for AMPAS members, including a Q&A with the stellar cast --

www.justjared.com/2013/09/20/jake-gyllenhaal-hugh-jackman-prisoners-ampas-screening/

Jake Gyllenhaal and Hugh Jackman suit up while attending a screening of their new film Prisoners at the Academy Theater at Lighthouse International on Thursday (September 19) in New York City.

The guys were joined at the screening by co-stars Viola Davis, Terrence Howard, Maria Bello, Melissa Leo, and Paul Dano for a Q&A session with members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences.

Earlier in the day, the cast attended a luncheon to celebrate the release of the film, which is in theaters now!

25+ pictures inside of Jake Gyllenhaal and Hugh Jackman at the screening…

Given the time gap to the time of AMPAS voting ( sometime in December?), are the members given screeners to they can refresh their recollections of the movie? Or would they invite AMPAS members who were not able to attend early screenings to a late one, closer to voting time?


Jo

[jo]

An award to Jake Gyllenhaal for BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR for PRISONERS --

www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jake-gyllenhaal-receive-acting-honor-634701

Jake Gyllenhaal to Receive Acting Honor at Hollywood Film Awards (Exclusive)



10:00 AM PDT 9/23/2013 by Scott Feinberg



The 32-year-old has earned accolades for his performance in Denis Villeneuve's "Prisoners," which topped the box office over the weekend.


Jake Gyllenhaal, one of the most highly regarded young stars in Hollywood, will receive the Hollywood Supporting Actor Award at the 17th annual Hollywood Film Awards on Oct. 21 at the Beverly Hilton, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. (The Hollywood Film Awards is owned by affiliates of THR parent company Guggenheim Partners.)



Previous recipients of the Hollywood Supporting Actor Award include Geoffrey Rush (2003), Matthew Broderick (2005), Ben Affleck (2007), John Travolta (2008), Christoph Waltz (2009), Sam Rockwell (2010), Christopher Plummer (2011) and Robert De Niro (2012).



Gyllenhaal, 32, has amassed a filmography that is striking in its depth and variety, starting with his big-screen debut at age 10 in City Slickers (1991). His most notable credits include Joe Johnston's October Sky (1999), Richard Kelly's Donnie Darko (2001), Nicole Holofcener's Lovely & Amazing (2001), Brad Silberling's Moonlight Mile (2002), Miguel Arteta's The Good Girl (2002), Roland Emmerich's The Day After Tomorrow (2004), Sam Mendes' Jarhead (2005), John Madden's Proof (2005), Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain (2005), David Fincher's Zodiac (2007), Gavin Hood's Rendition (2007), Jim Sheridan's Brothers (2009), Edward Zwick's Love & Other Drugs (2010), Duncan Jones' Source Code (2011) and David Ayer's End of Watch (2012).



This fall, Gyllenhaal has earned some of the best accolades of his career -- and best supporting actor Oscar buzz -- for his portrayal of a detective leading the investigation for a pair of kidnapped kids in Denis Villeneuve's Prisoners, which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and screened at the Toronto Film Festival before hitting theaters in the U.S. this past weekend. The Alcon Entertainment/Warner Bros. drama, which also stars Hugh Jackman, among many others, was the weekend's highest-grossing film at the box office.



The Hollywood Film Awards are determined by founder and executive director Carlos de Abreu and an advisory committee. Last month, the Hollywood Film Awards and Dick Clark Productions, which also produced the Golden Globe Awards, entered into a partnership that could lead to the ceremony being televised in future years. Over the past 10 years, Hollywood Film Awards honorees have gone on to garner a total of 96 Oscar nominations and 34 Oscars.

De Abreu tells THR, “We are thrilled to present the Hollywood Supporting Actor Award to Jake Gyllenhaal for his unforgettable performance in Prisoners. His is a truly compelling, subtly layered portrayal of a man tasked with the impossible and driven by the demons of his own past. Jake has given a myriad of outstanding performances throughout his career. But his work in this film achieves a new level of complexity, as reflected in the rave reviews the film has received."

I guess this settles the issue on acting category, that Jake will be campaigned for as BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR by Alcon/Warner Bros?


Jo

[birchie]

Several questions about the Hollywood Film Awards...Is this something that academy voters pay attention to?...Do they have a best actor category & if so who are they giving that to?...Why an award in October when all the rest are either the end or beginning of the year?...Does this mean that their year begins in Nov & ends in October if so does that mean that Les Miserables is in their current voting year? Confusing! <anyone>
Sue

[jo]

Gerard McCarthy‏@gerard_McCarthy4h
Inspiring to hear @realhughjackman & Jake Gyllenhaal talk after the @bafta screening of their new movie PRISONERS.pic.twitter.com/vE1VIJJMZP

So there was indeed a BAFTA screening!

ALCON/Warner Bros is orchestrating the road to the awards quite well


Jo

[jo]

Goldderby is backtracking and asks --

www.goldderby.com/news/4849/prisoners-hugh-jackman-jake-gyllenhaal-oscars-movies-news-13579086.html

Blog: News & Views

Will 'Prisoners' capture attention of Oscar voters?

Melissa Leo, Denis Villeneuve, Prisoners, Terrence Howard, Jake Gyllenhaal, Maria Bello, Paul Dano, Viola Davis, Hugh Jackman, Oscars 2013 Nominations - Best Picture, Oscars 2013 Nominations - Best Director, Oscars 2013 Nominations - Best Actor, Oscars 2013 Nominations - Best Supp. Actor, Oscars 2013 Nominations - Best Supp. Actress, Oscars 2013 Nominations - Best Original Screenplay

By Paul Sheehan
Sep 24 2013 06:22 am

The crime drama "Prisoners" did boffo business last weekend, grossing $22 million domestically. Add in rave reviews from the likes of A.O. Scott (New York Times) and Owen Gleiberman (Entertainment Weekly) and this Warner's release -- which came in third for the audience award at the recent Toronto filmfest behind "12 Years a Slave" and "Philomena" -- is looking like a stronger Oscar contender than originally expected.

The nailbiter stars Oscar nominees Hugh Jackman as Terrence Howard as fathers divided over the lengths they will go to find their missing daughters. Their wives -- played by Maria Bello and Oscar nominee Viola Davis respectively -- are torn as to what is required, especially after the police detective (Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal) is stonewalled by the prime suspect (Paul Dano) and his overly protective aunt (Oscar champ Melissa Leo).

On paper, this seemed like just a popcorn picture with Jackman's character turning violent vigilante but the reviews made clear that the film is much more than that. They lauded the deft helming by French Canadian director Denis Villeneuve who contended for Foreign-Language film in 2009 with "Incendies." And critics praised the twists and turns of Aaron Guzikowski's original script and the atmospheric lensing by 10-time Oscar nominee Roger Deakins.

Among the cast, which received plaudits across the board, Jackman and Gyllenhaal were singled out for their lead and supporting performances. Both of these matinee idols play against type. Jackman has a haunted look throughout as his character grows frantic in the search for his daughter while Gyllenhaal sports tatoos and an unflattering hairstyle.

Do you think Jackman will contend for Best Actor? Vote below using our easy drag-and-drop menu.

Jo

[jo]

Paul Edmonds‏@pauledmonds2176m
Paul Edmonds was @bafta screening of the #Prisoners with #Hughjackman and #Jakegyllenhaal fab #film, tense drama, Q&A with both was great

Hope ALCON/WARNER BROS can sustain interest in the movie till the end of the year when nominations are sent in. But first impressions usually work well.

Jo

[jo]

An unexpected shoutout from THE Harvey Weinstein for PRISONERS!!

www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/zurich-fest-harvey-weinstein-hints-638873

Zurich Fest: Harvey Weinstein Hints at Oscars Gameplan

2:48 PM PDT 9/29/2013 by Scott Roxborough

The exec explains why the studio held back "Grace of Monaco" and will be pushing "Fruitvale Station." He figured: "This is the most competitive season I've ever seen."


ZURICH – Harvey Weinstein gave Oscar handicappers a sneak peek at Weinstein Co.'s gameplan this award season when, speaking at a masterclass at the Zurich International Film Festival, he revealed details of the films TWC sees as its strongest contenders and its fiercest competition.


Weinstein said TWC decided to push back Grace of Monaco from its planned Fall bow to next year because the film "wasn't finished" and wouldn't have had any festival buzz going into the Oscar campaign. The film had been tipped, sight unseen, as a hot awards title, especially for Nicole Kidman in the title role as Grace Kelly. But Weinstein said Olivier Dahan's biopic "just wasn't finished, the sound, anything" in time and, given the Oscar competition this year, he decided not to rush it.

"This is the most competitive [Oscar] season I've ever seen," Weinstein said. "And if you aren't ready, don't get in it."

He insisted that Grace would get the full awards push for next year, comparing it to another TWC period biopic, My Week With Marilyn (2011), which earned two Oscar nominations and grossed nearly $15 million domestically. 
"I think it's going to be even bigger than My Weekend With Marilyn," he said.



One title TWC is putting the Oscar ring this year is Sundance winner Fruitvale Station from first-timer Ryan Coogler. Weinstein praised Coogler, who was in the audience in Zurich, for his debut, a real-life drama about the killing of Oscar Grant by the police in Oakland in 2008.

"[The film] did $16 million, which is very good for a film that size but there's going to be another round with this," Weinstein said, indicating that TWC would be pushing Fruitvale in multiple categories for its Oscar campaign and hinting even a re-release could be in the cards. "He's [Coogler] a boxing fan and he's going to get a round two," he said.

Alongside Fruitvale, TWC is spoiled for choice in this year's race. In addition to the near-certain Oscar bait of Lee Daniels's The Butler, TWC has a pack of prestige titles that could draw Academy attention, including biopic Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, John Wells' dysfunctional family dramedy August: Osage County and Stephen Frears' Philomena, starring Oscar (and Weinstein) favorite Judi Dench.

James Gray's 1920s period drama The Immigrant, which many had seen as a no-brainer best actress campaign for star Marion Cotillard, is off TWC's Oscar list for this season, however, as TWC's Radius label has pushed back the film's release to 2014.

On TWC's competition this year, Weinstein praised Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave (a Fox Searchlight title) and, perhaps surprisingly given TWC's public battle with Warner Bros. over the title to Daniels' The Butler, WB's crime thriller Prisoners.

Exempting TWCs own titles, Weinstein said Denis Villeneuve's dark drama starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal "is the best film I've seen all year. I don't know why I'm praising a Warner Bros. movie after what they did to us on The Butler ... but they are good people and they made a good movie," he added.

Weinstein, however, admitted that the rights battle over the name The Butler amounted to millions of dollars of free publicity for Daniels' film, which grossed more than $110 million in the U.S.

Weinstein estimated that some "40 percent of the audience that went to see The Butler did because Warner Bros. did that."

Hope the AMPAS members feel the same way? I wonder - is he hearing similar buzz and may just want to be the first one to say it aloud?

Jo

[jo]

In this account of Harvey Weinstein's talk, by Huffington Post, there are mentions of what he thinks may contend from the PRISONERS movie --

www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/30/harvey-weinstein-oscars_n_4016378.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003

Harvey Weinstein: This Year's Oscar Season Is 'Most Competitive' Ever


The Huffington Post | By Christopher Rosen Posted: 09/30/2013 10:03 am EDT | Updated: 09/30/2013 10:06 am EDT



Harvey Weinstein is never one to mince words, so it's no surprise that the Hollywood mogul went on record to say what everyone is probably already thinking: This year's awards season is crazy.

"This is the most competitive [Oscar] season I've ever seen," Weinstein said at the Zurich International Film Festival on Sunday. "And if you aren't ready, don't get in it."

Weinstein was speaking about "Grace of Monaco," the Nicole Kidman film that Weinstein pushed from its planned Nov. 27 bow to an undisclosed date in the spring of 2014. "It just wasn't ready," Weinstein said of the film, which stars Kidman as Princess Grace Kelly. "The score wasn't ready, a lot of things weren't ready. [...] Also we've played no festivals on that movie, so it's hard to get into an Oscar race without at least some festival exposure."

This year's crowded awards season has already lost "Grace of Monaco" and "Foxcatcher" -- Sony Pictures Classics announced that the Bennett Miller film would move to 2014, this just one month after the studio proclaimed "Foxcatcher" would be ready for 2013 -- and could see another major contender, Martin Scorsese's "The Wolf Of Wall Street," dip off the calendar as well. As of now, "Wolf Of Wall Street" is still set for release by Paramount on Nov. 15, the same day the studio is unveiling its other big awards contender, Alexander Payne's "Nebraska," but speculation has run rampant that the "Wolf" date could change.

As for the 2013 movies definitely in contention for Oscars, Weinstein has opinions on those as well. At the Zurich International Film Festival, he professed love for Steve McQueen's "12 Years A Slave," the current favorite for Best Picture among awards prognosticators, as well as the Warner Bros. release "Prisoners."

"[That's] the best film I've seen all year," Weinstein said, before acknowledging the recent riff between WB and TWC over the title of "Lee Daniels' The Butler." "I don't know why I'm praising a Warner Bros. movie after what they did to us on 'The Butler' [...] but they are good people and they made a good movie."

Despite that stamp of approval, "Prisoners" director Denis Villeneuve and stars Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal shouldn't make plans for Oscar night just yet. During awards season in 2011, Weinstein told Vulture that George Clooney's "The Ides of March," another Warner Bros. release, his favorite movie of the year.

"So Oscar prediction? That that gets nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor," Weinstein said. Unfortunately for all parties involved, "The Ides of March" failed to earn nominations in any of those categories. (It did received a nomination, however, for best screenplay; there's hope for you yet, ‎Aaron Guzikowski.)

[via ScreenDaily, THR]

Harvey predicts the movie to contend for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor!

Hope he further spreads the word around smiley-gen126


Jo

[jo]

Re the comparisons with IDES OF MARCH by the Huffington Post writer --

I never saw the movie? What was it about? Was it also a grim movie?

But was it praised so profusely not only by many critics and loved/liked a lot by audience members?


EDIT: On Rotten Tomatoes, it scored an 85% rating ( also Certified FRESH, like PRISONERS which now stands at 80%) but did not score too well with audiences ( only 73%, vs 89% for PRISONERS).

It must be the emotional quotient that favors PRISONERS over IDES OF MARCH ?? Will it work with the majority of AMPAS ( presumably "male, white, averaging 62 years of age", according to the fairly recent commissioned study)? Maybe because of the freshness of the perspective of the movie ( a deep character study packaged as a crime thriller), it may just click with the AMPAS majority. Of course it may face very stiff competition with current favorite 12 YEARS A SLAVE ( because of its historical perspective and relatability to the still contemporary issue of racism, although that has probably declined compared to half a century ago?).




I hope Warner Bros continues supporting the film publicity during its entire run, as its box office appeal could help PRISONERS's chances a lot more! And of course for WB to go all out during the heavy campaign season, even if it is expected to give heavy support for GRAVITY.

[foxie]

I am sure Sandra bullock will be up for oscar but I don't know whole film?

[jo]

I do not actively follow the MOVIE AWARDS board on IMDB anymore ( it is beginning to sound more like a fanboard for certain actors and directors) - there is this new thread speculating on Hugh's chances for an Oscar nomination.

www.imdb.com/board/bd0000005/nest/220724002

I added my thoughts and hopefully more people will keep the thread alive.


Jo

[jo]

variety.com/2013/film/awards/why-studios-are-afraid-to-put-two-stars-in-one-awards-category-1200667524/#

Why Studios Are Afraid to Put Two Stars in One Awards Category

November 5, 2013 | 09:25AM PT

Tim Gray
Awards Editor@timgray_variety

“Blurred Lines” is the song of the year — and it could also be the theme song for this year’s supporting races.

Julia Roberts, Barkhad Abdi, Josh Brolin, Daniel Bruhl, Steve Coogan, Will Forte and Jake Gyllenhaal are being proposed in the supporting category. Each could be considered a lead, due to their time onscreen, but there is a logic in calling them supporting: All portray characters who are reacting off of individuals who are at the center of the plot: Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Kate Winslet, Chris Hemsworth, Judi Dench, Bruce Dern and Hugh Jackman, respectively.

But the supporting definition is partly strategic: Roberts (“August: Osage County”), Abdi (“Captain Phillips”), Bruhl (“Rush”), Forte (“Nebraska”) and Gyllenhaal (“Prisoners”) are all in films where another performer is being touted in the lead category, and studios believe (wrongly) that two noms in one category will cancel each other out.

Abdi, Brolin, Bruehl, Coogan, Forte and Gyllenhaal: That’s six actors right there, more than enough to fill all the supporting slots. But they have tough competition, including George Clooney (a small but crucial role in “Gravity”), Michael Fassbender (“12 Years a Slave”), Chris Cooper (“Osage”), Colin Farrell (“Saving Mr. Banks”), Harrison Ford (“42″), James Gandolfini (“Enough Said”), John Goodman (“Inside Llewyn Davis”), Tom Hanks (“Saving Mr. Banks”), Jared Leto (“Dallas Buyers Club”), Matthew McConaughey (“Mud”), David Oyeloto (“The Butler”) and Geoffrey Rush (“The Book Thief”). At this point, all are considered viable contenders. And there are also dark horses, including James Franco (“Spring Breakers”) and Dermot Mulroney (“Osage”).

Aside from Roberts, supporting actress ranks include Jennifer Garner (“Dallas Buyers Club”), Naomie Harris (“Mandela”), Melissa Leo (“Prisoners”), Margo Martindale (also “Osage”), Carey Mulligan (“Inside Llewyn Davis”), Lupita Nyong’o (“12 Years”), Octavia Spencer (“Fruitvale Station”), June Squibb (“Nebraska”) and Alfre Woodard (“12 Years”; like Clooney, making maximum impact with minimal onscreen time).

Nearly all of these films are worth considering in the SAG Ensemble category. But in some cases, the ensemble work is so strong, it’s hard to single out a few; those films include “Blue Jasmine” (Sally Hawkins, Andrew Dice Clay); “Lone Survivor” (all are good, but maybe Ben Foster); “The Butler” (Oprah Winfrey) and “Kill Your Darlings” (Dane DeHaan, Michael C. Hall).

And when talking about supporting, there is one key question: Scarlett Johansson. In the past, actors branches have declined to nominate someone who’s heard but not seen. Shouldn’t actors know better? In many ways, it’s harder to create a full character without body language. Johansson is a key to the success of that film, and “Her” wouldn’t work without her.

There are also films that we haven’t seen yet: “American Hustle,” “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” “The Invisible Woman,” “Out of the Furnace” and “The Wolf of Wall Street.” (Buzz is building for Jonah Hill in “Wolf,” based on the trailer. In the kudos world, that’s how things sometimes work.)

Often Oscar strategists assume that two actors in the same category will cancel each other out. But recently Octavia Spencer in “The Help” and Melissa Leo in “The Fighter” won, even though another actress from the same film was also nommed. Still, old myths have a way of lingering.

And sometimes voters have their own definition of “supporting.” Kate Winslet in “The Reader” won a SAG Award for supporting, an Oscar for lead. Christoph Waltz in “Django Unchained” last year: Lead? Probably, but Oscar voters rewarded him for supporting.

Blurred lines indeed.

I hope there will be a real campaign for PRISONERS and for Hugh Jackman in particular!

Jo

[mamaleh]

I hope so, too, Jo. But I have a sinking feeling Hugh will be lost amidst a seemingly ever-expanding list of potential nominees. We just have to wait and see.

Ellen

[foxie]

Entertainment mag said today that Hugh is one of the top 4 contenders!i wish it had come out later in the year and not against Tom Hanks but good chancr

[foxie]

I also thought Jake g should have been considered at least of supporting he was terrific but not considered in Entertainment

[jo]

Entertainment mag said today that Hugh is one of the top 4 contenders!i wish it had come out later in the year and not against Tom Hanks but good chancr

Are you referring to Entertainment Weekly, Foxie? EW may not be the best arbiter of who deserves the most to get nods...but I am sure they have their ears pretty close to the ground ( meaning knowing the real buzz in the entertainment field, such as who will be supported by a heavy campaign, who is a special favorite with the AMPAS people, who has earned brownie points, who will be pushed heavily by Harvey Weinstein this year, etc) because the Oscars, sadly, is also very political! Sure, significant portrayals will be recognized somehow, but that has to be supported by a strong campaign!

Will the Oscars go for the old veterans ( Redford/Hanks/Dern, etc.) or will it go for those whose movies are critically acclaimed or has a sentimental historical theme ( the actor in 12 Years A Slave) or the middle-aging actors who have come out of their shells ( McConaughey, etc) or someone who has shown such a diversity of performances over the last year such as Jackman ( whose last performance was so powerful and fully against type). Only the average Oscar voter will know that - and they are on the average "62 years old, white, and male" ( according to that survey on the AMPAS two years ago.

Which is why there is some craziness in the "category fraud" issue - many are being campaigned for supporting because they should not compete with the lead for the acting honors as they will cancel each other out...or vice versa ( example was what some people say of Jennifer Lawrence who had a much better chance as lead than supporting in Silver Linings because of the competition in supporting last year).

I am not particularly against Jake being lauded for supporting -- but I do not honestly believe that the role of Loki was particularly interesting, despite the brooding school of acting that he favors and despite the blinking and the tattoes! I think he only came alive in the latter part of the movie ( when he confronted Bob Taylor and when he drove little Anna to the hospital). Take out the fiery and rage-filled character of Keller Dover and replace him with an ordinary father who meekly follows the authorities ... and what have you got -- an ordinary Criminal Minds type of story and ordinary characters (albeit some are a little quirky) that you see on crime procedurals.

As for Hugh's chances - it could go either way! Is the role considered very powerful and is his portrayal truly memorable? It depends on what the voters will favor on the kind of role up for honors, because most of the actors in contention have shown strong acting chops... But if it were all political, surprisingly he would actually have better chances for a nomination :

*they owe him for the missed win for Les Miserables
*they recognize his trifecta artistic and commercial successes in Les Miserables/The Wolverine/Prisoners in the past year
*brownie points for One Night Only -- that is a big favor for the industry...and not forgetting the 2009 Oscars hosting
*Warner Bros may decide that Prisoners is the insurance Oscar bet, after Gravity. Gravity for Best Picture, Jackman for Best Actor and Bullock for Best Actress. What a lineup!

But what do I know


Jo

[carouselkathy]

I think Hugh will be nominated, but Robert Redford will win. Reviews for his work in ALL IS LOST are terrific, and he's due for recognition after a career of fine work. Last year Hugh was competing with the greatest portrayal of Lincoln ever seen on film and this year the competition will be Redford. If the voters finally chose to honor Bob, I'm O.K. with that.

By the way, I saw PRISONERS for the 4th time today. It's an outstanding film, and Hugh's performance is absolutely brilliant.

[jo]

I realize that PRISONERS and Hugh's portrayal may not be on the " experts" minds about the chances for a nomination but I have a feeling that some campaigning is being done by Warner Bros --

Or else why bother with this, as the movie had been long released?

Gold Derby‏@goldderby5h
Join our live chat Thursday 9:30am PT at goldderby.com with #HughJackman #Prisoners_Movie . @realhughjackman @prisoners_Movie

In the Wall Street Journal article, Hugh's chances were categorically referred to as a chance to have a second successive nomination ( after Les Miserables) -- hmmm...


Jo

[jo]

Variety features what actors have to say on their colleagues's notable performances for the year --

variety.com/gallery/sag-preview-actors-on-actors-julia-roberts-benicio-del-toro-nicole-kidman-and-more-critique-this-years-contenders/#!35/amanda-seyfried-on-hugh-jackman-as-keller-dover-in-prisoners/

Amanda Seyfried on Hugh Jackman as Keller Dover in “Prisoners”





It's been said about Hugh Jackman that there is nothing he can't do, but until his wrenching performance in “Prisoners,” I don't think people knew just how true that statement was. I was privileged to have Hugh play my father in “Les Miserables” and I know he drew on his own experience as a loving and protective parent for that film.

So I cannot even imagine how difficult it must have been for him to portray a father faced with the worst thing imaginable: a missing child. The raw emotion and desperation that he brought to his performance are so visceral and real.

He shows us the soul of this character and, in doing so, makes us ask ourselves what we would do in his place. That connection to the audience makes his already compelling performance all the more powerful.

Her observation about how Hugh's performance connected with the audience almost in a personal manner is very true!

Jo

[jo]

It looks like WARNER BROS is intent on mounting a good AWARDS campaign for PRISONERS, its actors, and its creative team.

Reposted from the thread "Jackman Family" --

variety.com/2013/film/awards/exclusive-interview-hugh-jackman-speaks-out-about-skin-cancer-1200870558/#


Exclusive Interview: Hugh Jackman Speaks Out About Skin Cancer

November 22, 2013 | 03:51PM PT
Star regrets he had to cancel awards season events for 'Prisoners'


Ramin Setoodeh
Film Editor, New York@RaminSetoodeh



Hugh Jackman gave his first interview to Variety on Friday afternoon since announcing this week that doctors had removed skin cancer cells from his nose.

On Thursday, Jackman posted a snapshot on Instagram of his bandaged nose telling his followers to use sunscreen. The 45-year-old actor said he had been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a treatable condition when discovered early.

“Look, I’m glad it’s all done,” Jackman said in a phone interview. “I’m a good example of making sure you get checkups and listening to your wife,” who urged Jackman to see a doctor after noticing a red spot.

“I’m glad we caught it,” Jackman added. “I had great doctors. I’m a little sore, but very relieved.”

After undergoing a medical procedure, Jackman regretted that he had to cancel several appearances in support of the awards campaign for Warner Bros. “Prisoners,” including panels for the Screen Actors Guild and a lunch for broadcast critics that was attended by his co-stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Melissa Leo and the film’s director Denis Villeneuve and scribe Aaron Guzikowski on Friday.

Jackman’s performance in “Prisoners” received strong reviews when the film opened in September and has landed Oscar buzz in this year’s best actor race.

Earlier today, Gyllenhaal said in an interview with Variety that “Prisoners,” a challenging R-rated drama that has grossed $115 million worldwide, would not have been made without Jackman as its star.

When told this and other compliments from his cast, Jackman deadpanned: “I should not turn up to more of these roundtables. They are never that nice to me in person.”

Hope his absence in the Q&A's and social events for this particular time does not hurt his chances for a nomination.


Jo

[mamaleh]

All the news stories about his health at least keep his name in the public consciousness, which is half the battle. I hope he can do a rescheduled interview after his post-surgery checkups.

Ellen

[jo]

The panel interview opportunity for these instances is gone. Awards bodies, like SAG, are usually assembled for a screening and then an interview with the cast and the creative team follows ( just like what we saw with Les Miserables). He may be able to catch up if and when new opportunities for screenings and panel interviews come up again.

Jo

[jo]

The Museum of Modern Art ( MoMA) holds screenings of exceptional movies, including possible awards contenders.

Every year there are films that resonate far beyond a theatrical release—if they manage to find their way to a commercial screen at all—or film festival appearance. Their significance can be attributed to a variety of factors, from structure to subject matter to language, but these films are united in their lasting impact on the cinematic art form. For this recurring series, the Department of Film combs through major studio releases and the top film festivals in the world, selecting influential, innovative films made in the past 12 months that we believe will stand the test of time. Whether bound for awards glory or destined to become a cult classic, each of these films is a contender for lasting historical significance, and any true cinephile will want to catch them on the big screen

On November 25, one such screening was held for PRISONERS. Hugh was unable to attend this event as well.

Film Screenings & Events
Prisoners
2013. USA. 153 min.

Monday, November 25, 2013, 6:45 p.m., Theater 1, T1 (Post-screening discussion with Denis Villeneuve, Jake Gyllenhaal, Melissa Leo, and screenwriter Aaron Guzikowski)

Twitter posts by MoMA --

MoMA Film

@momafilm
The Department of Film at MoMA (@museummodernart). Tweets by Clay Farland (@asdfarland) and Sean Egan (@sfegan78)

New York, NY · moma.org/explore/films




Tweets


MoMA Film‏@momafilm2h
To find out more about #Contenders2013: bit.ly/1aIeOHJ


MoMA Film‏@momafilm2h
That’s it for our Q&A with #Prisoners’ Denis Villeneuve, Jake Gyllenhaal, Melissa Leo & screenwriter Aaron Guzikowski. #Contenders 2013


MoMA Film‏@momafilm2h
David Rooney with #Prisoners Jake Gyllenhaal, Melissa Leo, screenwriter Aaron Guzikowski & Denis…

http://instagram.com/p/hKT4MkjMLy

MoMA Film‏@momafilm2h
"That's what a movie star should be. A pure gentleman." - Jake Gyllenhaal on @realhughjackman



MoMA Film‏@momafilm2h
JG: "This movie would not have been made without @realhughjackman. Working with him even when we were fighting was wonderful." #Prisoners



MoMA Film‏@momafilm2h
DV: When I shoot I'm designing a shot that has never made before- truth, authenticity- meaning from life, nature. #Prisoners #Contenders2013



MoMA Film‏@momafilm2h
ML: "We were blessed to be working on that set with one another. We are a funny little family even after all this time." #prisoners




MoMA Film‏@momafilm2h
Q: A lot of darkness in the film, did that make it difficult? A: I wanted to create a space for actor to concentrate. - Denis Villeneuve



MoMA Film‏@momafilm2h
ML: "That weighed heavily on me. The premise of taking children from their family. Denis expressed responsibility." #Contenders2013