Ringing out the old with hope for the new
So long, 2011
Fireworks erupt over the Kremlin (alive and well despite what you saw in "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol"), signaling the start of a new year.
'Twas a year of change to say the least at In Contention. A little more than three months into our new arrangement with HitFix and we're going strong as ever. A new voice in Roth's unique perspective has added another dimension, as Guy and Gerard continue firing on all cylinders in their roles.
So as 2012 slowly creeps westward across the globe, greeting any number of international readers before finally making its way to Los Angeles, allow me to wish everyone a happy and healthy new year. Thanks for reading, for sticking with us through the growing pains, for engaging and being respectful amid lively debate and for making In Contention unique and rich with the spirit of community.
See you next year.
2012-2013 OSCAR PREDICTIONS
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Original Screenplay
Best Cinematography
Best Costume Design
Best Film Editing
Best Makeup And Hairstyling
Best Original Score
Best Original Song
Best Production Design
Best Sound Editing
Best Sound Mixing
Best Visual Effects
Best Animated Feature Film
Best Documentary Feature
Best Foreign Language Film
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Zal Batmanglij's latest hits theaters May 31Tuesday, May 21, 2013
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Michael Douglas and Matt Damon excel in Soderbergh's witty Liberace biopicTuesday, May 21, 2013
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The actor-director gets all the best close-ups in his Faulkner adaptationMonday, May 20, 2013
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'Traumatized critics exhale.'Monday, May 20, 2013
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Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupMatthew Starr
December 31, 2011 at 6:37PM EST Reply to CommentJust came back from seeing Margaret on the only screen it's playing on in the world. Could not have ended the year any better.
Matthew Starr Actually I mean in the U.S, I think it may be playing in the UK now.
December 31, 2011 at 6:38PM ESTKristopher Tapley #teammargaret!
December 31, 2011 at 6:39PM ESTMatthew Starr Pretty unique feeling exiting the theater into NYC on New Year's Eve after watching that film. Anna Paquin is now in the two best films centered on a post 9/11 New York City.
December 31, 2011 at 6:58PM ESTDalurae I am so jealous.
December 31, 2011 at 11:58PM ESTJones It's playing in Vancouver this week, too! I'm seeing it!
January 1, 2012 at 10:47PM ESTm1
December 31, 2011 at 6:39PM EST Reply to Comment2011 was such a memorable year. The Kardashians got divorced, Moammar Gadhafi killed many people, and Hilary Swank attended the celebration of a murderer. Such wonderful people.
Mykill
December 31, 2011 at 6:55PM EST Reply to CommentThanks to Kris, Guy, Roth, and Gerard for being the best at what you do! Can't wait for all the awards and festival coverage to be had in the new year. :^D
Happy New Year everyone!
madskl
December 31, 2011 at 7:24PM EST Reply to CommentHappy new year, guys! The addition of Roth has been most welcome! Her articles may not stir a lot of reactions from commenters, but I suspect that's because they are so thorough, expertly written and exemplarily executed. No need to debate with sound assessments...
Roth Cornet Thank you very much and Happy New Year!!!
January 1, 2012 at 8:10PM ESTRashad
December 31, 2011 at 7:29PM EST Reply to CommentThe only thing this site needs to do is find a way to get a "recent comments" box. That's why I was drawn into the old site the most, because a conversation was never really ended. Particularly the "What do you think" threads
Kristopher Tapley That has been presented as something worth adding. The HitFix team has a lot of other things going on and a full development slate as it is, but I'll keep mentioning it.
December 31, 2011 at 7:33PM ESTBrock Landers
December 31, 2011 at 7:53PM EST Reply to CommentLooking forward to the return of Andrew Dominik and hoping for an end to the current box-office slump.
Kristopher Tapley You mean the non-existent box office slump that the media is obsessing on?
December 31, 2011 at 8:19PM ESTBrock Landers Non-existent? Please.
December 31, 2011 at 9:03PM ESTJust because something is being exaggerated by the media doesn't mean that the slump doesn't exist. Attendence is the lowest it has been since 1995 and revenues are 4% lower than 2010 (which was also a pretty slow year).
Matthew Starr Gotta agree with Brock here. It is a fact there 2011 had the fewest tickets sold since 1995. Unless you don't consider a 16 year low a slump.
December 31, 2011 at 10:00PM ESTKristopher Tapley Every bit of it is exaggerated, "sky is falling" talk.
December 31, 2011 at 11:56PM ESTMatthew Starr I have not been reading the articles and the talk on it really. I pretty much just checked BOM since it's the year end and saw that tickets sold were way down.
January 1, 2012 at 2:22AM ESTDylanS Yes, but considering how needlessly crowded the Box Office is right now, it'a kind of pathetic that things aren't better. And in regards to the slender returns so far on GWTDT that many have commented on in relation to this trend, the film is going to have legs. It is developing a strong fan base as a film and is getting plenty of repeat viewings as a result. It won't be a juggernaut per say, but it will hold up from week to week as things like War Horse, Tintin and We Bought A Zoo fade away.
January 1, 2012 at 3:05PM ESTAlso, I read an article that TTSS is doing excellent business in limited release, even number one at certain theaters where it's beating it blockbuster competition.
Hans Landa "Every bit of it is exaggerated, "sky is falling" talk"
January 1, 2012 at 4:05PM ESTThe fact still remains that attendance is the lowest it has been since 1995. To call the slump "non-existent" is to misunderstand box-office in general. Stick to Oscar blogging, Kris.
Kristopher Tapley You got it. (It's still exaggerated, "sky is falling" talk.)
January 1, 2012 at 7:10PM ESTLaura Stewart
December 31, 2011 at 8:00PM EST Reply to CommentI predict 2012 will be the biggest and best year for films... maybe ever. So many (potentially) good films, master filmmakers, and actors in one year... bring it on. I'm so ready for 2012. Happy New Year to you all!
Mykill I think so too, Laura. In particular, I've never been this excited about so many "blockbuster films" than for next year's slate. It should be an exciting year though, that is for sure.
December 31, 2011 at 8:10PM ESTMatthew Starr It will be a big year for the big movies but best year for films? If it even comes close to 2007 I will be stunned.
December 31, 2011 at 10:01PM ESTLaura Stewart Well there are lots of big movies, true, but there are also lots of "smaller" films/filmmakers that I'm looking forward to.
January 1, 2012 at 12:00AM ESTIf the blockbusters ALL deliver, then I think it will be a friggin-amazing-dance-with-your-pants-off kind of year.
Matthew Starr I doubt they will. I'm feeling very iffy about Avengers, MIB, Spider Man, John Carter and even TDKR. The best films will probably be stuff like Bourne and Looper.
January 1, 2012 at 2:26AM ESTKnative I agree that this year looks good. There are movies coming out in the next month that look like they might be awesome even. The hot chick from American Gladiators beating up Michale Fassbender, Antonia Banderas, Ewan Mgregor, Cam Gidget and Michael Douglas? Or how about Liam Neeson versus a pack of wolves? Both of those premises sound awesome. Even Joyful Noise might be fun. DOLLY PARTON VERSUS QUEEN LATIFAH? Yes please.
January 1, 2012 at 5:02AM ESTDylanS Knative: Obviously you missed the cringe inducing trailer for Joyful Noise.
January 1, 2012 at 3:07PM ESTI high hopes for 2012 in both the blockbuster and independent circles.
Laura Stewart @Matthew Starr- I'm iffy about Spiderman and Avengers as well. I have zero desire to see John Carter or MIB so I guess whether those fail or succeed won't matter to me. The only thing I'm worried about with the TDKR is Bane's inaudible dialogue... I really hope they figure that out. I read on THR that Nolan is only planning on making minor changes to Bane's dialogue. Freaking me out!
January 1, 2012 at 4:44PM ESTAndrej
December 31, 2011 at 11:27PM EST Reply to Comment¡Feliz año nuevo a todos en In Contention! :)
Filmicas.com Feliz año de parte de Fílmicas!!!
January 1, 2012 at 2:29AM ESThttp://filmicas.com :)
Dalurae
December 31, 2011 at 11:56PM EST Reply to CommentHappy new year, Kris, Guy and anyone who sees this. It's been only a year since my first visit to in-contention and though I don't personally know any of you guys it's been a lot x1000 of fun sharing thoughts on movies and awards etc. In this past year in-contention has become my daily obsession. Now.... my final wishes for the year that I hope come true next year are 1. Margaret getting released in Toronto. 2. Gary Oldman (or Michael Shannon) getting an Oscar nomination. 3. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy snagging an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.
pitypie I second Margaret being released in Toronto. Well, actually, it needs to be rereleased - it was on one screen in October, but I didn't get around to it.
January 1, 2012 at 1:05PM ESTDalurae Argh.. I didn't know what. Fingers crossed for its re-release.
January 1, 2012 at 3:47PM ESTDalurae what --> that
January 1, 2012 at 3:47PM ESTGlennAU
January 1, 2012 at 12:21AM EST Reply to CommentAnd well done on yet another year of excellence.
Chris138
January 1, 2012 at 12:36AM EST Reply to CommentI'm ready for 2012, especially in terms of movies. Happy New Year everyone!
JLPatt
January 1, 2012 at 2:41AM EST Reply to CommentHappy 2012! Here's to another great year of movie watching.
loyal_mehnert
January 1, 2012 at 10:21AM EST Reply to CommentHappy New Year Kris and team. I was a bit skeptical on the whole Hitfix deal but thankfully Incontention hasn't really changed much. Great conversation, smart commenters, little to no insanity or internet drama. It's about the movies and enjoyment of the Oscars here, as it should be.
I hope Hitfix has seen an uptick in traffic and readership thanks to the acquisition and hopefully you've seen your wallet grow so you can have the wedding and honeymoon of your fiancée's dreams. Best Wishes for 2012.
Cordy
January 1, 2012 at 3:41PM EST Reply to CommentThanks Kris, Guy, Gerard, and Roth for all you do. I don't comment much but have been reading for years and the coverage just keeps getting better and better. It's an rare site that has lots of opinions flowing but manages to stay respectful, on-topic, and not annoying.
Cordy
January 1, 2012 at 3:42PM EST Reply to CommentOh yeah...and Happy New Year!
Laura Stewart
January 1, 2012 at 4:41PM EST Reply to CommentKris, the Central Ohio Film Critics nominations have been announced!! And they're great :)
Kristopher Tapley That's nice. I'm on vacation. I'll deal with all that crap tomorrow. :)
January 1, 2012 at 7:12PM ESTRoth Cornet
January 1, 2012 at 8:15PM EST Reply to CommentI want to wish everyone a very happy year ahead and say thank you to Kris, Guy, Gerard, and of course, the readers/commenters. I love the intelligent dialog that the site inspires. It's wonderful to be a part of the In Contention community.
CaptainCanada
January 1, 2012 at 11:52PM EST Reply to Comment2011 feels like a less interesting year in film than 2010, though I'll admit to not having seen a number of major films yet (including putative Best Picture frontrunner "The Artist").
JLPatt It was a much better year, I think.
January 2, 2012 at 12:28AM ESTcarlo_chong
January 3, 2012 at 2:48PM EST Reply to CommentBeen a fan ever since Ryan! Keep up the great work and happy new year!
-Carlo, from Manila (and now moving to Vancouver!)
January 3, 2012 at 2:55PM ESTcarlo_chong
January 3, 2012 at 2:52PM EST Reply to CommentBeen a fan ever since Kris! Keep up the great work and happy new year!
-Carlo, from Manila (and now moving to Vancouver!)