What does 'True Grit's' box-office run mean for its Oscar chances?

 
In the last two weeks, "True Grit" has defied all box-office expectations. The Coen brothers' PG-13 western has grossed an astounding $86.7 million since it opened on Christmas weekend. It outranked the other new wide release, "Gulliver's Travels," its opening weekend by $18 million and in its sophomore session it lost only 1% of its value after Paramount added 36 theaters to its run.

Costing less than $40 million, the film is on track to outpace "Little Fockers" and "Tron: Legacy" in profitability and may wind up being the most successful holiday release of the season. In its very short run time, the film has already outgrossed the Coens' "No Country for Old Men," becoming the brothers' most commercially successful film of their 20-year-plus career. It's also the pair's highest-rated critical hit of their career.

What does all this mean for the film's Oscar chances? Despite the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. ignoring the movie completely (Paramount submitted it as a comedy and the foreign journalists apparently didn't get the film's humor) most year-end lists have included the Jeff Bridges-and-Matt Damon film. And now with its box-office performance being one of the few bright spots in this dreary holiday moviegoing season, "True Grit" may just get a more serious look from academy voters, beyond the best picture nod it's destined to receive.

Bridges and newcomer Hailee Steinfeld have already been recognized by the Screen Actors Guild  for their performances. But perhaps more guild love beginning Tuesday with the writers guild and producers guild noms will tilt the scale in favor of the brothers' first foray into the western.

-- Nicole Sperling

Photo: Hailee Steinfeld and Jeff Bridges in "True Grit." Credit: Lorey Sebastian/Paramount Pictures

 

WGA finds 'The King's Speech' and 'Winter's Bone' ineligible for WGA awards

 

It happens every year, so it really should come as no surprise, but the Writers Guild of America has once again eliminated some of the year's best films for consideration for its awards because the films are not signatories to the guild's Minimum Basic Guarantee. Among this year's omissions are "The King's Speech," "Winter's Bone" and "Toy Story 3."

The guild's rules always get the companies behind the omitted films all riled up; they typically declare that the WGA isn't judging the best films of the year but the best films made by WGA members under WGA guidelines. (Steve Pond at The Wrap first reported the news.) But these are guild awards, and just as SAG gives its awards only to SAG members, it's not completely surprising that the WGA would omit films made by people who aren't guild members.

What is unfortunate is that the WGA's stance immediately diminishes its importance as a predictor for the Oscars. (Last year, such contenders as "Inglourious Basterds" and "An Education" were omitted from consideration.) This year the situation may not be as extreme, because so many of the top Oscar contenders are still eligible for award consideration, including "The Social Network," "The Kids Are All Right," "Black Swan," "127 Hours," "Inception," "The Town" and "The Fighter."

Ineligible are the two most prominent animated flicks -- "Toy Story 3" and "How to Train Your Dragon" -- as well as some smaller films, predominantly the ones belonging to the Weinstein Co. ("Blue Valentine"  in addition to "The King's Speech").  Also ineligible are foreign films "Another Year," "Biutiful" and "Made in Dagenham."

The WGA is not commenting on its list or confirming whether are not the films listed above are officially being omitted. The guild will release its list of eligible films on Tuesday, when it presents its nominations.

-- Nicole Sperling

Photo: Colin Firth in "The King's Speech."  Credit:  The Weinstein Co.

'30 Rock,' 'Modern Family,' 'Breaking Bad' lead WGA nominations [Updated]

As Liz Lemon might say, awse! On Wednesday, the Writers Guild of America announced that "30 Rock" had received three nominations for the 2011 Writers Guild Awards, leading the nominations, along with "Breaking Bad" and "Modern Family."

The WGA will present the winners on Feb. 5 during dual ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York.

Both "30 Rock" and "Modern Family" were recognized for comedy series and recieved two nods each for comedy episode (“Anna Howard Shaw Day” and “When It Rains, It Pours” were nominated for "30 Rock"; “Earthquake” and “Starry Night” for "Modern Family").  "Breaking Bad" was nominated for drama series and twice for drama episode (for “I.F.T.” and "I See You").

"Glee" "Nurse Jackie" and "The Office" also were nominated for comedy series, and "Boardwalk Empire," Dexter," "Friday Night Lights" and "Mad Men" were nominated for drama series.

"Boardwalk Empire," "Justified," "Men of a Certain Age," "Treme" and "The Walking Dead" received nods for new series.

A complete list of nominations can be found after the jump: