Popdose: 2012 Oscar nominations

Extremely loud and incredibly close analysis featuring, who else, The Artist.

Live Design: Leo

A little, topsy-turvy show that I thoroughly enjoyed. And my first show of the year.

Popdose: The Iron Lady

Meryl Streep rules Britannia.

Popdose: Thoughts. Impressions. Observations.

One year ends, another begins. Working toward a Top Ten list, which Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy will surely be on.

Henry Hewes winners announced

Here's the release. Pictured is the outstanding design for The Normal Heart.

"Six theater artists will be honored by the Henry Hewes Design Awards Committee during the presentation of its 47th Annual Awards in a luncheon ceremony this winter. Eighty-six theater artists were nominated for outstanding work in 61 productions presented during the 2010-2011 New York season.

These annual awards honor designers for work in venues on Broadway, Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway, recognizing not only the traditional categories of Scenic Design, Costume Design and Lighting Design, but also "Notable Effects," which encompass sound, music, video, puppetry and other creative elements. All nominated designs must have originated in United States productions. The Hewes Awards Committee considered more than 200 productions when making its nominations.

John Lee Beatty extends his record of honors with his seventh Hewes Award; William Ivey Long receives his fourth; Jeff Croiter, David Rockwell and Batwin+Robin each receive their first such honor. Beatty, Long, Rockwell, Ben Stanton, David Zinn and Catherine Zuber led all nominees with three nominations each. Eight other designers received two nominations for their work during the 2010-2011 season.

Theatre for a New Audience's production of Notes From Underground and Rattlestick Playwrights Theater's production of The Hallway Trilogy each received four distinct nominations to lead all other contenders. Broadway productions of Anything Goes, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo and Good People received three nominations each, as did the Signature Theatre Company's Angels in America, New York Theatre Workshop's Peter and the Starcatcher and Three Pianos, the Public Theater's The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism With a Key to the Scriptures and Manhattan Theatre Club's The Whipping Man. Another 10 productions on, Off and Off Off Broadway each received two nominations.

The HHDA Committee named honorees in four categories: Scenic Design, Costume Design, Lighting Design and Notable Effects. As of the 2011 awards, the Committee has bestowed 277 honors on 174 artists representing 191 productions.

Originally known as the Maharam Awards at their inception in 1965, the Hewes Awards were later known as the American Theatre Wing Design Awards in honor of the Wing’s generous sponsorship. They were renamed in 1999 for noted critic Henry Hewes, who created the awards and served as a board member of the American Theatre Wing until his death in 2006 at age 89.

2011 HENRY HEWES DESIGN AWARDS HONOREES
Scenic Design
John Lee Beatty
The Whipping Man (Manhattan Theatre Club)

Costume Design
William Ivey Long
The School for Lies (Classic Stage Company)

Lighting Design
Jeff Croiter
Peter and the Starcatcher (NY Theatre Workshop)

Notable Effects
(Scenery and Projections)
David Rockwell
The Normal Heart (Broadway)
Batwin+Robin
The Normal Heart (Broadway)"

OFCS winners announced

1/2 UPDATE: Well, everything was coming up "Tree." So be it. Glad "A Separation" won anyway. The official release:

The Tree of Life, which led the Online Film Critics Society nominations with seven, was the big winner at the 15th Annual Online Film Critics Society Awards. The film took home the prize for Best Picture as well as trophies for Best Director (Terrence Malick), Best Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain), Best Editing and Best Cinematography. No other film won more than one award.

The other three acting winners were Michael Fassbender winning Best Actor for his performance in Shame; Tilda Swinton's work in We Need to Talk About Kevin won the award for Best Actress; and Christopher Plummer received the Best Supporting Actor prize for his work in Beginners.

Best Picture:
The Tree of Life
Best Animated Feature:
Rango
Best Director:
Terrence Malick - The Tree of Life
Best Lead Actor:
Michael Fassbender - Shame
Best Lead Actress:
Tilda Swinton - We Need to Talk About Kevin
Best Supporting Actor:
Christopher Plummer - Beginners
Best Supporting Actress:
Jessica Chastain - The Tree of Life
Best Original Screenplay:
Midnight in Paris
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Tinker Tailor Solider Spy
Best Editing:
The Tree of Life
Best Cinematography:
The Tree of Life
Best Film Not in the English Language:
A Separation
Best Documentary:
Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Special Awards (previously announced):
To Jessica Chastain, the breakout performer of the year
To Martin Scorsese in honor of his work and dedication to the pursuit of film preservation

"A Separation" and "Hugo," two of my favorites, get something extra under the tree this year, if not as much as "The Tree of Life" (pictured). But plenty of room under the branches in what I must say is a strong slate from my group.

Here's the official release:

"The Tree of Life", Terrence Malick's exploration of suburban family life in the 1950's, received seven nominations for the 15th Annual Online Film Critics Society awards. The film was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director (Malick), Best Supporting Actor (Brad Pitt), Best Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain), Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing and Best Cinematography.

Joining "The Tree of Life" in Best Picture are Michel Hazanavicius' "The Artist", Alexander Payne's "The Descendants", Nicolas Winding Refn's "Drive" and Martin Scorsese's "Hugo". Malick, Hazanavicius, Refn and Scorsese were joined in the Best Director race by "Melancholia" director Lars von Trier.

"Drive" was the second most nominated film picking up six mentions including the aforementioned Picture and Director as well as Best Supporting Actor (Albert Brooks), Best Adapted Screenplay, Editing and Cinematography. Brooks was nominated alongside John Hawkes in "Martha Marcy May Marlene", Nick Nolte in "Warrior", Pitt and Christopher Plummer in "Beginners". In Best Supporting Actress, the nominees were Chastain, Melissa McCarthy for "Bridesmaids", Janet McTeer for "Albert Nobbs", Carey Mulligan for "Shame" and Shailene Woodley for "The Descendants".

Woodley and Mulligan's co-stars shared nominations in the Best Actor slate, George Clooney and Michael Fassbender respectively, who were nominated alongside Jean Dujardin in "The Artist", Gary Oldman in "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and Michael Shannon in "Take Shelter". The Best Actress category features Kirsten Dunst in "Melancholia", Elizabeth Olsen in "Martha Marcy May Marlene", Meryl Streep in "The Iron Lady", Tilda Swinton in "We Need to Talk About Kevin" and Michelle Williams for "My Week with Marilyn".

Each year, the OFCS also submits nominations for Special Achievement Awards, granted only by a majority vote of the membership. This year, the Online Film Critics have selected two individuals, Jessica Chastain and Martin Scorsese, to receive special citations.

Chastain's tremendous and quality-filled output this year has brought her instant acclaim and recognition marking one of the most stellar debuts in recent memory.

Scorsese has long been a champion of film preservation and with his love letter to the cinema this year, "Hugo", he continues to show his admiration for film history and the many pursuits to keeping those records alive."

New York Theater News: Last of the year

The first half of the 2011-2012 Broadway season has ended, and it's been blah. Adding a little zing: the family melodrama Stick Fly and the intriguing revisal of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, with Jessie Mueller and Harry Connick, Jr.

Popdose: Stocking stuffers

Buy yourself a merry little Christmas and stock up on some current Blu-ray and DVD releases, ranging from a set of Sabu to some choice Seijun Suzuki weirdness via Criterion. And curl up with Jennifer Connelly at her most delectable, too.