Kevin Spacey hangs with The Social Network boys at the NBR Party in New York.
…would live in the movie theater but for the poor internet reception. He blogs daily at the Film Experience. Follow him on Twitter @nathanielr.
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In January it's never about what's in the theater, unless maybe you've been eagerly awaiting that already infamous but probably totally mild gay "joke" in Ron Howard's THE DILEMMA or a chance to see Seth Rogen slimmed down for THE GREEN HORNET. Instead January is all about which movies are representing on the telly by way of awards shows. A few non-televised events have already happened. This week the New York Film Critics Circle met to honor The Kids Are All Right and The Social Network in multiple categories and the National Board of Review met to honor as many studios — er, films– as possible. They like to spread the awards wealth.
Up top this post you see Kevin Spacey laughing with Armie Hammer ("The Winklevi" in The Social Network). Do you think Spacey was asking Hammer about playing Leonardo DiCaprio's lover in the upcoming Clint Eastwood movie J. Edgar? The man to the far left is Dana Brunetti, the president of Spacey's production company Trigger Street. You'll be seeing the Social Network cast (but particularly Andrew Garfield and Jesse Eisenberg) at every event since they're nominated for everything. The praise is so hyperbolic that even director David Fincher seems annoyed, telling W Magazine.
I hate the awards part of the moviemaking process. And besides, on Social Network, I didn’t really agree with the critics’ praise. It interested me that Social Network was about friendships that dissolved through this thing that promised friendships, but I didn’t think we were ripping the lid off anything… Let’s hope we strove to get at something interesting, but Social Network is not earth-shattering.
I'm glad David Fincher doesn't really talk about his earth-shattering Madonna videos (Vogue, Express Yourself, Oh Father, Bad Girl) because it's better to pretend that he acknowledges them as masterpieces, don't you think?
BONUS SCENES
Is Andrew Garfield mentioned in every one of these movie article? Don't answer. I swear I'm not that obsessed. (A little bit, sure)
See the first full official photo of him in his Spider-Wear AFTER THE JUMP…
You like? The reboot of Spider-Man opens in a year and a half.
Oh…AWARDS SHOWS!
Tonight is the BFCA Critics Choice Awards broadcast on VH1 in which the BFCA tries to predict the Oscar winners. (Full disclosure: I'm a member but their obsession with Oscar prediction makes me crazy. Just vote on what you think is best.) You'll remember that last year they famously declared a tie between Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side) and Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia) so as to hedge their bets.
They'll be hard pressed to come up with anything as memorable as the Streep/Bullock comedy because not many nominees are entertaining without a script as Meryl & Sandra.
I'm rooting for The Social Network, Black Swan, The Fighter, Blue Valentine, The Kids Are All Right and the stunning I Am Love in various categories as they're on my top ten list.
Who are you rooting for?
Sunday night is THE GOLDEN GLOBES, the awesomely enduring Oscar warm-up. It's usually the most fun with the stars generally imbibing with abandon. Try this drinking game for your own viewing if you dare…
Mo'Nique and Nicole Kidman backstage this time last year.
Drink every time…
- Someone makes a Black Swan joke.
- Someone makes a Facebook joke.
- Cher licks her lips.
- Every time a presenter arrives that has absolutely no business being there other than as shameful attempt at attracting young viewers who won't be watching anyway. (Justin Beiber et. al)
- When "Miss Golden Globe" is introduced.
- Another swig if she's totally awkward about it. Having celebrity parents is SO mortifying!
- You spot a closeted gay. (Kevin Spacey et. al)
- You spot an out gay. (Jane Lynch et. al)
- Every time there's a group shot of the Glee table.
- Every time there's a closeup reaction shot of someone who clearly did not get Ricky Gervais's joke. (Even if they're laughing)
- You see two celebrities you'd otherwise never see together sharing a table. (The seating arrangements are so bent sometimes.)
- Two celebrities are nominated against each other who ought never to be mentioned in the same sentence (Judi Dench vs. Jennifer Love Hewitt for example. No really: They are nominated in the same category!)
- A winner is announced. Keeping chugging until they make it to the stage!
Good luck! You'll be drunk before the stars are. Happy Awards Weekend.