'Rango' to be honored at the Hollywood Film Awards

 
The 15th annual Hollywood Film Festival and Hollywood Film Awards announced Tuesday that Gore Verbinski's animated hit "Rango," with Johnny Depp giving voice to a chameleon who becomes a western hero, will receive this year's Hollywood Animation Award at the gala ceremony on Oct. 24 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

The film, which opened in March, was critically well received and earned $242.6 million internationally.

"It's a great pleasure to recognize 'Rango' as the recipient of our animation award," said Carlos de Abreu, founder and executive director of the Hollywood Film Festival in the announcement. "This piece of cinematic treasure borders on surrealism and 'Rango' will be a classic for generations to come."

Previous winners of the animation award include  Disney/Pixar's "Cars," "Ratatouille" and "Toy Story 3."

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-- Susan King

Photo: The title character of "Rango," center, given voice by Johnny Depp. Credit: Industrial Light & Magic/Paramount Pictures

Oscars tragedy: Voters will have to snub Johnny Depp in 'Rango'

Poor Johnny Depp. It's bad enough that one of Hollywood's hottest superstars is still Oscarless after three past defeats: "Sweeney Todd" (2007), "Finding Neverland" (2004) and "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" (2003). Now it looks like "Rango" is such a financial and critical success that it may be an Oscar contender for best animated feature next year, but Depp himself can't be nominated.

That's because the Oscars don't have what the Emmys do: a separate category for voice-over performances. Isn't it time the Academy Awards created one? (Let's hear everybody's voices pipe in here, please: Yes!)

The TV academy has been recognizing the contributions of vocal talents since 1992. Until 2008, the winner of lead voice-over performance was chosen by a jury, which meant there wasn’t a list of nominees. Two years ago, the Emmys revamped the category to include a list of six contenders.

Dan Castellaneta ("The Simpsons") was the first winner under these new rules in 2009. At last year's ceremony, Anne Hathaway won her first Emmy for a guest stint on "The Simpsons," which has claimed 14 of these awards over the years. (It's unlikely that Hathaway will get any kind of award recognition for her recent work on the Oscarcast -- she and James Franco "won" our online poll as the worst hosts of the Academy Awards in the last two decades.)

Had the Oscars followed suit in 1992 and created a voice-over category, the likes of Tom Hanks ("Toy Story"), Mike Myers ("Shrek"), Paul Newman ("Cars"), Anika Noni Rose ("The Princess and the Frog") and Ed Asner ("Up") all could have been rewarded for their remarkable work.

Animation is one of the most successful genres of filmmaking. Pixar has never had a film take in less than $150 million domestically, and last year's "Toy Story 3" was the top-grossing movie of 2010, animated or otherwise, with a domestic haul of $415 million.

A common complaint from casual Oscars viewers is that there are too many technical awards and not enough performance ones. Of the two dozen competitive categories, only four Oscars go to actors and actresses. One more category featuring familiar faces could both downplay this rap and goose up ratings, which were down about 10% this year over last.

Golden Globes: Ricky Gervais -- 'I hope everyone took it well'

With his jacket off and still a bit sweaty from working the show, Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais enjoyed backslaps at the HBO party where he sat with "Broadway Empire" winner Steve Buscemi.

Gervais said he didn't think twice about any of the gags in the show that had some people feeling he was being too harsh. But, he said, he would go out of his way to soften some of them with follow-up chats with some of his celebrity targets.

"I hope everyone took it well. This is the time where I go around to them and say, 'You do know I love you, right?' I hope they can all take a bit of roasting from a nobody like me. I did feel bad about Johnny. It's true, though I didn't see the movie. Johnny is a genius and I hope he could take a few digs. Did I think twice about any of [the jokes]? No I didn't. I'd say any of that to their faces, I'd walk up to them and say it. That's the test for me. And it's in good fun."

Just then, two boozy guests walked by and shook Gervais' hand with vigor. "Thanks for making an unbearably boring show watchable," one said. Gervais beamed and pointed at his interviewer. "Perfect timing, see? I'm brilliant!" Then he turned back to the couple. "Don't tell him I paid you."

So, how's his friends list looking after tonight?

"The HFPA doesn't want me, NBC doesn't want me. Scientologists are out to get me. Johnny Depp is going to beat me up in the parking lot -- and America won't want me anymore after my atheist comment."

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-- Geoff Boucher and Nicole Sperling

Photo: Ricky Gervais and Jane Fallon arrive on the red carpet. Credit: Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times

Golden Globe predictions: 'King's Speech' or 'Social Network' to reign?

Predicting the Golden Globes is hard because the awards are bestowed by such a quirky group of foreign journalists with unusual tastes. But let's try it anyway. First the film categories.

-- Tom O'Neil

X = predicted winner

PICTURE (DRAMA)
"Black Swan"
"The Fighter"
"Inception"
"The King's Speech"
X - "The Social Network"

PREDICTION: This is a close contest between "King's Speech" and "Social Network." Members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. often like foreign-set films, especially when they involve the British aristocracy, as evidenced by past victories here by "Atonement," "The English Patient" and "Sense and Sensibility." But sometimes the foreigners strive to do the opposite – to prove how in tune they  are with hip Yankee fare such as "Avatar" last year – and "Social Network" this year? I think so, yes.


PICTURE (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
"Alice in Wonderland"
"Burlesque"
X - "The Kids Are All Right"
"Red"
"The Tourist"

PREDICTION: "Kids" is the only movie on this list that has any hope of an Oscar nomination for best picture, so it'll probably prevail. But is it really a comedy?


DIRECTOR
Darren Aronofsky, "Black Swan"
X - David Fincher, "Social Network"
Tom Hooper, "The King's Speech"
Christopher Nolan, "Inception"
David O. Russell, "The Fighter"

PREDICTION: Unlike Oscar voters, Globe voters often spread the wealth and reward helmers of films that don't win best picture. But I don't think that's going to happen this year.


ACTOR (DRAMA)
Jesse Eisenberg, "The Social Network"
X - Colin Firth, "The King's Speech"
James Franco, "127 Hours"
Ryan Gosling, "Blue Valentine"
Mark Wahlberg, "The Fighter"

PREDICTION: Firth hasn't lost a single award yet this season – and he's not going to lose this one, or any other, en route to the Oscar crown.

 

Will that rascal Johnny Depp behave at the Golden Globes?

Rumor has it that Johnny Depp will attend the Golden Globes on Sunday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, which is surprising since he can be quite reclusive. He has a spotty record of attendance with his eight past nominations, but now he's making a special point to attend because he's got two bids in one year and in one category. He is competing against himself for best comedy/musical actor: "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Tourist."

The vast majority of award pundits polled by Gold Derby believe that Depp will win for his wondrously wacky role as the Mad Hatter in "Alice," but he faces tough competition from Paul Giamatti ("Barney's Version") and Kevin Spacey ("Casino Jack"). He really has no chance to win at all for "The Tourist," which bombed at the box office and was trashed by film critics.

But the big cliffhanger is: What will Depp do if he loses for both? He doesn't take defeat well.

Back in 2004 at the Globes ceremony honoring films made in 2003, Depp caused quite a ruckus when he lost for "Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl." The movie was such a massive hit that he seemed like a shoo-in to win, but when the champ turned out to be Bill Murray ("Lost in Translation"), the fourth Globe defeat of Depp's career was more than he could take. He stormed out of the ceremony in a huff.

Afterward, Depp's PR rep claimed that report wasn't true – that Depp merely got up from his table after he lost and left briefly to smoke a cigarette, but I was sitting just a short distance away and witnessed the whole thing. There's a smokers' balcony immediately off the International Ballroom that's well known to everyone. Depp didn't head toward that door. He rushed toward the main door, exited and did not return.

Ah, well, what makes his departure all the more tragic is that Depp went on to lose three more times. When he finally triumphed for "Sweeney Todd" in 2008 (for the 2007 film year), he couldn't be present to accept his Golden Globe because the ceremony was canceled due to a writers' strike.

-- Tom O'Neil

Photo: Johnny Depp in "Alice in Wonderland"

Credit: Disney

 

'Black Swan,' 'The King's Speech' lead BAFTA's Longlist nominees [Updated]

 

 
"Black Swan" and "The King's Speech" dominated the British Academy of Film and Television Arts' Longlist for the Orange British Academy Film Awards on Friday morning with 15 mentions each.

The Longlist is a result of the first round of voting by BAFTA members. The second round of voting, which begins Friday and concludes Thursday, will narrow the choices down to five nominations in each category. The final nominations will be announced Jan. 18 and the awards will be handed out Feb. 13.

Making the best film Longlist are "127 Hours," "Another Year," "Black Swan," "The Fighter," "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," "Inception," "The Kids Are All Right," "Made in Dagenham," "Shutter Island," "The Social Network," "The Town," "Toy Story 3," "True Grit" and "Winter's Bone."

Directors on the list are Danny Boyle for "127 Hours," Tim Burton for "Alice in Wonderland," Mike Leigh for "Another Year," Darren Aronofsky for "Black Swan," David O. Russell for "The Fighter," Niels Arden Oplev for "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," Christopher Nolan for "Inception," Lisa Cholodenko for "The Kids Are All Right," Tom Hooper for "The King's Speech," Nigel Cole for "Made in Dagenham," Martin Scorsese for "Shutter Island," David Fincher for "The Social Network," Ben Affleck for "The Town" and Lee Unkrich for "Toy Story 3."

Leading actor contenders on the Longlist  are Aaron Eckhart for "Rabbit Hole," Ben Affleck for "The Town," Colin Firth for "The King's Speech," James Franco for "127 Hours," Javier Bardem for "Biutiful," Jeff Bridges for "True Grit," Jesse Eisenberg for "The Social Network," Jim Broadbent for "Another Year," Johnny Depp for "Alice in Wonderland," Leonardo DiCaprio for "Inception" and "Shutter Island," Mark Wahlberg for "The Fighter," Paul Giamatti for "Barney's Version," Robert Duvall for "Get Low" and Ryan Gosling for "Blue Valentine." [For the Record: An earlier version of this report spelled Mark Wahlberg's name incorrectly.]

Making the list in the lead actress category are Andrea Riseborough for "Brighton Rock," Annette Bening for "The Kids Are All Right," Carey Mulligan for "Never Let Me Go," Gemma Arterton for "The Disappearance of Alice Creed" and "Tamara Drewe," Hailee Steinfeld for "True Grit," Jennifer Lawrence for "Winter's Bone," Julianne Moore for "The Kids Are All Right," Michelle Williams for "Blue Valentine," Natalie Portman for "Black Swan," Nicole Kidman for "Rabbit Hole," Noomi Rapace for "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," Rosamund Pike for "Barney's Version," Sally Hawkins for "Made in Dagenham" and Tilda Swinton for "I Am Love."

For more information on the BAFTA  Longlist, go to Bafta.org

 -- Susan King

Photo: Geoffrey Rush in "The King's Speech." Photo: Laurie Sparham / Weinstein Co.

Poll: Who'll win the Golden Globe as best comedy actor?

There's been so much outrage expressed over the Golden Globe nominations for "The Tourist" that it has no chance to win anything. So forget Johnny Depp's bid for that. However, he's also nominated for "Alice in Wonderland," a truly wondrous performance full of impish charm as the Mad Hatter. He won this category three years ago for "Sweeney Todd," so that proves Globers love him.

Depp's toughest competition is probably Paul Giamatti ("Barney's Version") or Kevin Spacey ("Casino Jack"). Often voters scorn big, funny, cartoonish roles in favor of ones with more artsy pretensions. But not always. Heck, Sacha Baron Cohen won four years ago for "Borat."

-- Tom O'Neil

Left photo: Johnny Depp in "Alice in Wonderland. " Credit: Disney

Center photo: Kevin Spacey in "Casino Jack."  Credit: ATO Pictures

Right photo: Paul Giamatti in "Barney's Version." Credit: Sony Pictures Classics