Finding Nemo Wins First OscarPrecurser-NationalBoardofReview

[Prince Eric]

The National Board of Review- the first critics group to release their year-end winners- has just named Finding Nemo as Best Animated Feature. Like all critics groups, there is no nominees, just the announcement of a winner in each category. There's still about 13 critics groups who have an Animated Feature Category, so anyone is still in the lead.

In other news, it was just announced that Triplets of Belleville has been nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film.

Both Finding Nemo and Triplets of Belleville made the list of MCN's list of best of 2003. Finding Nemo ranked 4th and Triplets of Belleville is tied for 15 th.

This thread will be used for announcing critics winners as the came.

FYI: Last year, Spirited Away swept 11 of the 14 critics awards. Lilo & Stitch won 2, and Ice Age won the remaining award.

[Prince Eric]

Finding Nemo lands at Number 4 on Newsweek's Top 10 of the Year!

[Luke]

It would be so totally awesome if it got a Best Picture nomination. I suppose we'll see in a few weeks how the end-of-the-year blitz holds up with Oscar buzz, but I at this point, I actually feel like there is a remote possibility it could happen.

[Prince Eric]

Yes, you summed it up great Luke, as a "remote possibility." It was a major contender throughout the summer, but will the Oscar-bait films being released in November-December, Finding Nemo has been relegated to "long-shot" status on many Oscar sites. However, it's expected to land at least 5 nomination elsewhere: Best Animated Feature, Best Original Score, Best Original Screenplay, Best Sound Editing, Best Editing.

[Squirrel]

I think, because of the Animated Feature category, it will miss out on a BP nod. (And I would be glad, admittedly. I want Beauty and the Beast to be the only one! lol.) But I do love the AF category, and I'm so glad they added it.

I think Nemo will wind up with...

Animated Feature, Original Screenplay, Score (Thomas Newman), Sound Editing (or maybe Sound, or maybe both). 4 or 5 nominations, I think.

It'll undoubtedly do better (for Picture) at the Globes, where it has the whole comedy/musical category. It could win Picture there. (But I'm hoping for Lost in Translation, which is also in comedy/musical, which is good...because, though it has dramatic elements, it wouldn't survive in the pool with ROTK, Cold Mountain, Mystic River, and the like.)

I predict Finding Nemo wins for Feature and Score. Actually, the score was my favorite part about the film, so I do hope it's recognized.

But what would make me even happier is Brother Bear simply being nominated for Animated Feature. I would be pleased with that. Just to know it's there, in the fray (even if it won't be going anywhere).

[Prince Eric]

More critics awards have arrived!

The American Film Institute has named Finding Nemo as one of the top 10 of the year!

The New York Film Critics' Circle named The Triplets of Belleville as Best Animated Feautre Film.

The Boston Film Critics named The Triplets of Belleville as Best Foreign Language Film. (The do not give out animated prizes, except as an achievemnet prize, which they did not do this year.

The New York Film Critics Onlice have named Finding Nemo as Best Animated Feature!

[Luke]

AFI Top 10 for Nemo? Great!

Also glad to see that Murray is being awarded from Boston and NY Critics. He's the greatest.

Newsweek put Finding Nemo as the 4th best picture of the year. Here's their top 10:

1. ‘AMERICAN SPLENDOR’
This oddball indie movie about cranky Cleveland cartoonist Harvey Pekar was the most original movie of the year: a sweet-and-sour American wonder.

2. ‘THE RETURN OF THE KING’
The final chapter of the ’Lord of the Rings’ trilogy doesn't disappoint. It's the jewel in the crown. A triumph of epic storytelling.

3. ‘LOST IN TRANSLATION’
Sofia Coppola's exquisitely observed brief encounter was subtle, funny and heartbreaking. Bill Murray's never been better.

4. ‘FINDING NEMO’
Pixar triumphs again. Its luminous, witty undersea adventure had wit and heart to burn.

5. ‘SCHOOL OF ROCK’
No movie gave me such simple pleasure as this hilarious Richard Linklater comedy. Can Jack Black ever top this dynamo performance?

6. ‘MYSTIC RIVER’
Director Clint Eastwood and a superb ensemble turn a Boston thriller into an authentic American tragedy. Bruisingly powerful.

7. ‘MAN ON THE TRAIN’
The unlikely friendship between a teacher and a bank robber becomes a meditation on mortality and regret in this lovely French gem.

8. ‘IN AMERICA’
Jim Sheridan's lyrical, deeply personal story of an Irish family in Manhattan is one from the heart.

9. ‘DIRTY PRETTY THINGS’
>From Stephen Frears, a thriller about exploited immigrants in London as chilling as it is cheeky.

10. ‘THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS’
Old friends and family reassess their lives in Denys Arcand’s smart, funny, moving elegy to a dying man with a lust for life.

[disneyfella]

what is triplets of belleville
?

[Prince Eric]

The Triplets of Belleville is a French film that was released in theatres a couple of weeks ago. It's one of the contenders for Best Animated Feature Film. It's been speculated that it's a lock for a nomination, but based on critics awards, it's giving Finding Nemo a hard time. I guess it won't be like last year where only one movie dominated the race.

[2099net]

And it was co-funded by the BBC, which is why it's being shown complete on the BBC in the UK this christmas! Yay!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/progin ... ilms.shtml

Feature films on BBC TWO, Christmas 2003

[Key: P denotes premiere on UK free TV]

Belleville Rendez-Vous [P]

When Champion is kidnapped during the Tour de France his grandmother, Madame Souza, and her faithful dog Bruno go on a search for him.

Champion was adopted by his grandmother as a young boy and spent his childhood cycling and cycling.

Madame Souza's search for Champion takes her to Belleville where the infamous Triplets of Belleville - three crazy music hall stars- decide to join in her hunt.

Belleville Rendez-Vous is a celebrated French animation featuring comic and gentle moments.

It was directed by Sylvain Chomet, released in 2003 and it has been shortlisted for BBC FOUR's World Cinema Awards. The winner will be announced on 24 January 2004.

It's on at 7:00pm Christmas Day, BBC2

[Squirrel]

Has this been mentioned? The Triplets of Belleville was chosen as best animated feature by the New York Film Critics Circle yesterday, I believe, and the nominations for the Broadcast Film Critics Awards for Animated Feature are: Finding Nemo, The Triplets of Belleville, and Brother Bear.

[Prince Eric]

Yes, in addition to that, Finding Nemo is one of the Broadcast Film Critics Awards 10 nominees for Best Picture!

Also, the Golden Satellite Nomination have been announced! The nomination for Best Animated Feature or Mixed Media are:

Brother Bear
Finding Nemo
Millenium Actress
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas
The Triplettes of Belleville

Note: Note, no matter how many precursers Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas garners, it will not factor in the Oscar race because of its ineligibility.

[Prince Eric]

More critics awards!

The Golden Globes nominated Finding Nemo for Best Picture - Comedy or Musical.

One of Entertainment Weekly's critics names Finding Nemo in their Top 10 of the year!

The San Diego Film Critcs name The Triplets of Belleville Best Animated Feature Film.

The Washington D.C. Area Film Critics name Finding Nemo Best Animated Feature Film.

[Prince Eric]

The Seattle Film Critics name The Triplets of Belleville Best Animated Feature! with Finding Nemo as their Runner-Up!

Current Standing:

The Triplets of Belleville: 3 Wins + 1 Win for Foreign Film
2 Nominations +1 Nomination for Foreign Film

Finding Nemo: 3 Wins
3 Nominations

Brother Bear: 2 Nominations + 1 Nomination for Best Original Song

Millenium Actress, Looney Tunes: Back in Action, and Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas: 1 Nomination each

Note: The producers of Tokyo Godfathers have been tackling an aggresive campaing to get their film out their. They have set up special screenings in L.A. and New York to various critics groups and nominations. They have yet to reap any benefits, but with the Academy who knows?

[Prince Eric]

This morning, the Onlive Film Critics Awards were announced! Hold your breaths guys! The nominees for Best Animated FEature are:

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
Finding Nemo
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
Millenium Actress
The Triplets of Belleville

Brother Bear was snubbed! I can't belive it! What is up with these peple?! This is already the second time I've seen Brother Bear passed up for Millenium Actress. Another thing, why did they waste a nomination on a film that wasn't even eligible? (Hint: Cowboy Bebop) I think Brother Bear is starting to look more and more vulnerable everday. Also, its chances at Best Original Song have completely diminished - at least to precurser standards. The Golden Globe snub in that category was the worst blow I was expecting. Does anyone have any ideas for Disney to campaign Brother Bear for one of the Oscars?

[Prince Phillip]

Brother Bear was snubbed! I can't belive it! What is up with these peple?! This is already the second time I've seen Brother Bear passed up for Millenium Actress. Another thing, why did they waste a nomination on a film that wasn't even eligible? (Hint: Cowboy Bebop)

Well, that sucks!!! Brother Bear is a very decent film, and well deserving of a Best Animated Feauture Nomination!

Why is Cowboy Bebop uneligible, and what is the film about? Is it foreign? Also, Why would Sinbad be uneligible?

[Jake Lipson]

Brother Bear deserves Animated Feature and Original Screenplay. It should get a nom for Song, but "Into the West" from Return of the King deserves that. I also think that Brother Bear should get a nod for Score, and has a chance to win (ROTK's score is inelligible under new Academy rules because it's a sequel and uses themes from the other movies.) Realistically though I think it only has a chance to win Score -- the songs they're puting forth for Best Song are the wrong ones, otherwise it would be nominated there -- and even though it deserves Animated Feature, Nemo is a lock for that.

[Uncle Remus]

Best Animated Feature will go to Finding Nemo but Return of the King will win Best Picture since it was one of the greatest movies this year. if it doesnt win, then Peter Jackson might have another chance to win with the Hobbit.

[Maerj]

Brother Bear was snubbed! I can't belive it! What is up with these peple?! This is already the second time I've seen Brother Bear passed up for Millenium Actress. Another thing, why did they waste a nomination on a film that wasn't even eligible? (Hint: Cowboy Bebop)

Well, that sucks!!! Brother Bear is a very decent film, and well deserving of a Best Animated Feauture Nomination!

Why is Cowboy Bebop uneligible, and what is the film about? Is it foreign? Also, Why would Sinbad be uneligible?

Yeah, Brother Bear def deserved at least a nod, but it doesn't surprise me coming from an 'online film awards' thing. I've noticed for years that people online have been eagerly awaiting the fall of Disney animation , which is stupid, and those people really need to grow up.

Cowboy Bebop is a Japanese anime film based on a series of the same name. It is about a group of space bounty hunters and airs late at night on Cartoon Network. I wasn't really into it at first, but it grows on you after a while. Check it out sometime.

[Loomis]

It would be very nice to see Nemo nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.

However, having seen ROTK for the first time last night, if that does not take Best Picture this year, I think I might have to go and personally slap every member of the Academy.

Though, now that the 'Best Animated' category has become more popular, it is becoming less likely that an animated film will be chosen for the top slot. Like the Best Foreign Film category, it is easier to segregate the 'niche' films (even if said niche films are now in the Top 10 grossing films of all time).

Anyhoo, I would like to see ROTK and Nemo both take home big awards. They both deserve to see their hard word paid off...