Well my Tuesday, which was going to be spent debating whether or not I should write something about the Academy Awards, just became infinitely better. Tumblr has alerted me that Floria Sigismondi directed the latest David Bowie music video. And that it features Tilda Swinton.
“The Stars (Are Out Tonight)” is the second single from Bowie’s forthcoming album The Next Day. In the video, Bowie and Swinton play a celebrity couple who live in a surreal version of suburbia. An androgynous celebrity couple moves next door and the result is campy perfection. It is exactly what a David Bowie music video directed by Floria Sigismondi featuring Tilda Swinton should be like. Enjoy.
By now you’ve read everything you possibly can about last night’s Golden Globes. The winners. The losers. How everyone is coming down on Ricky Gervais for being “too soft”. iI you’re anything like me, you’ve watched Tina Fey photo bombing Amy Poehler and George Clooney complimenting Michael Fassbender’s “golf game” several times.
But geeze, the Golden Globes were boring this year. I dozed off several times. Something was missing and it wasn’t just Mandy Patinkin’s beard. To be fair, it was a fitting ceremony given the serious lack of exciting film nominees… and the serious lack of exciting films in 2011. (I’m really not hyped about any movies this awards season.) Thank goodness for drunken celebrities. They are single reason to watch the Globes each year and some stars really brought their A-game.
Lars von Trier's Melancholia was named the best European film at the European Film Awards.
And so we move further along into awards season.
The European Film Awards and the British Independent Film Awards were held this past weekend while the Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) announced their nominees and picks for the best films of the year on December 5.
The Artist and Melancholia continue to be named the best films of the year as well as winning ample technical awards. (Sorry Hugo. Though Martin Scorsese did pick up his second best director award from WAFCA and he’ll probably get a few more.)
George Clooney (The Descendants) is still the frontrunner in the lead actor category and Albert Brooks picked up his second award for his supporting turn in Drive. Tilda Swinton (We Need To Talk About Kevin) could face some competition for best actress after WAFCA awarded Michelle Williams best actress for My Week in Marilyn. (These critics really do love movies about movies, don’t they?)
Based on the few critics groups that have announced their winners so far, some other trends are emerging. The ensembles for The Help and Bridesmaids as well as Will Reiser’s screenplay for 50/50 are all inching their ways towards an Oscar nod. Or at the very least, a Golden Globes nomination. (That’s not saying a lot because if Bridesmaids doesn’t receive a Globes nod, there is no hope for society.)
There were some surprises at the British Independent Film Awards. Paddy Considine’s directorial debut Tyrannosaur received three awards at the BIFAs: best picture, best first-time director and best actress (Olivia Colman, edging out Swinton). Michael Fassbender was named best actor for Shame.
Awards season can seem very American-centric at first, especially once all the critics groups start announcing their winners. (Think about last year when The Social Network was the early critical darling.) While this American-centrism is felt less this year because The Artist and Melancholia are two mostly European productions, the BIFAs are a refreshing change of pace from what trends we have seen so far and the trends that will emerge. It’s also worth noting that last year The King’s Speech received five awards at the British Independent Film Awards and it was the first major award the film received.
Remember The King's Speech? That was a great time last year. It also won some awards.
The round up of this week’s award shows and critics awards winners is below. Share any of your thoughts on the awards season so far in the comments.
@Cinefille 