Kevin Clash, the voice and puppeteer behind Elmo on Sesame Street, has resigned. "I am resigning from Sesame Workshop with a very heavy heart. I have loved every day of my 28 years working for this exceptional organization," 52-year-old Clash said in a statement Tuesday. "Personal matters have diverted attention away from the important work Sesame Street is doing and I cannot allow it to go on any longer. I am deeply sorry to be leaving and am looking forward to resolving these personal matters privately." On the heels of a second set of sex abuse accusations,...
- 11/20/2012
- by Maggie Coughlan
- PEOPLE.com
Classic dolls Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy will star in a movie, taking the path carved out by The Muppets. The dolls will be puppets (like Elmo and Kermit the Frog) in a live-action musical comedy filled with celebrity cameos. It's similar to the film The Muppets, which created the format back in the 1970s.
The film is based on the story "Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Camel with the Wrinkled Knees," which features the two lost in a modern-day city and trying to save a friend from a bad guy. Puppeteer Kevin Clash (Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey) is making the film along with The Gotham Group (Abduction). The puppets will be brought to life with the aid of CG technology.
Raggedy Ann was created in 1915, a rag doll with red yarn for hair.
Source: Variety...
The film is based on the story "Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Camel with the Wrinkled Knees," which features the two lost in a modern-day city and trying to save a friend from a bad guy. Puppeteer Kevin Clash (Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey) is making the film along with The Gotham Group (Abduction). The puppets will be brought to life with the aid of CG technology.
Raggedy Ann was created in 1915, a rag doll with red yarn for hair.
Source: Variety...
- 7/25/2012
- by tara@kidspickflicks.com (Tara the Mom)
- kidspickflicks
First of all, if you haven't taken the time to learn more about puppeteer Kevin Clash, the man who brings life to the red monster Elmo on "Sesame Street," then I wholly recommend checking out Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey on Netflix Instant right now. Now Clash is looking to bring some other familiar faces to life as Variety reports the puppeteer is teaming up with The Gotham Group to bring Raggedy Ann and Andy to the big screen in the form of a film that blends puppetry and computer animation. And just like the long run of Muppet movies, there will be plenty of celebrity cameos to liven things up a bit. More below! The story for the film will come from the book Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Camel With Wrinkled Knees, which takes the rag dolls to a modern day city where they get lost and...
- 7/24/2012
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
It should no longer be a surprise to you all that the puppeteer behind the popular puppet Elmo is a black man name Kevin Clash. He was the focus of a documentary we talked about quite a bit on this site last year, titled Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey. But it may be a surprise to most that Mr Clash is also a director and producer, with a number of TV movie credits on his resume - mostly within the Sesame Street universe he works in primarily. And Kevin will be making his big screen debut as a producer on a feature film adaptation of the classic Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. That's right, the dolls are heading to the bigscreen to star in their own musical comedy...
- 7/24/2012
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey
The Muppets are clearly real. Look at footage of them interacting with anyone from infants to world leaders and you'll see the human eyes lock on to those ping-pong ball peepers the Muppets have, and the little bundle of cloth and plastic is treated like a proper person.
Mostly this is down to the operator, the Muppeteer. They do their job so well they become invisible. Constance Marks's excellent, touching documentary focuses on one such puppeteer, Kevin Clash, who controls the phenomenally popular Elmo. Clash's story is one of unwavering belief, from an early age, that he'd end up doing what he loved as a job. It's a story that he must share with many others in his field; puppeteering isn't something one wanders into late in life.
Clash's basic but stable upbringing in Baltimore was far enough away from Jim Henson's New...
The Muppets are clearly real. Look at footage of them interacting with anyone from infants to world leaders and you'll see the human eyes lock on to those ping-pong ball peepers the Muppets have, and the little bundle of cloth and plastic is treated like a proper person.
Mostly this is down to the operator, the Muppeteer. They do their job so well they become invisible. Constance Marks's excellent, touching documentary focuses on one such puppeteer, Kevin Clash, who controls the phenomenally popular Elmo. Clash's story is one of unwavering belief, from an early age, that he'd end up doing what he loved as a job. It's a story that he must share with many others in his field; puppeteering isn't something one wanders into late in life.
Clash's basic but stable upbringing in Baltimore was far enough away from Jim Henson's New...
- 7/13/2012
- by Phelim O'Neill
- The Guardian - Film News
In this week's episode, Ben and Tyler are joined by Allison Loring (from Film School Rejects) to discuss Mel Brooks' 1968 film, The Producers.
Introduction
Character Name Game Intro - 3:15
Media Consumed
Tyler
The Cabin in the Woods - 4:15
Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey - 11:25
Fire and Ice - 14:35
Allison
The Five-Year Engagement - 19:05
Sound of My Voice - 23:20
"New Girl" - 25:25
Ben
Harlan County, USA - 30:00
Bare Knuckles - 32:35
Detour - 37:25
Review
The Producers (1968) - 39:20
Wrap-Up
Next Time: Mystery Movie - 58:15
Listener E-mail/Voicemail/Twitter - 59:25
Character Name Game - 1:05:05
Cinematic Soundscapes - 1:07:00
Where You Can Find Us - 1:18:10...
- 4/29/2012
- by benp
- GeekTyrant
★★★☆☆ You'd be hard-pushed to find a more heart-warming documentary this year than Constance Marks' Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey (2011), which charts the rise of devoted Elmo handler Kevin Clash from his humble beginnings in Baltimore to his tragically short working relationship and friendship with the late, great Jim Henson. What shines through is Clash's dedication to the worthy cause of puppetry, despite its detrimental effect on the relationship between himself and his maturing daughter.
Read more »...
Read more »...
- 4/25/2012
- by CineVue
- CineVue
Reviewer: Jeffrey M Anderson
Ratings (out of five): *** 1/2
Constance Marks' documentary Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey tells the story of a shy black kid, growing up poor in Baltimore. Kevin Clash has a dream, but it has nothing to do with sports or hip-hop music. Rather, he wants to be a puppeteer on "Sesame Street."
This is a great twist for a movie, but Being Elmo does not dwell on it. In fact, it hardly brings up Clash's skin color at all, and it only brings up his former poverty in terms of the obstacles he overcame. For example, in order to meet puppet designer Kermit Love, he had to wait for a school trip to New York; his family couldn't afford train fare otherwise. (What the movie does not explain is why there was a camera present and footage of this first meeting.)...
Ratings (out of five): *** 1/2
Constance Marks' documentary Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey tells the story of a shy black kid, growing up poor in Baltimore. Kevin Clash has a dream, but it has nothing to do with sports or hip-hop music. Rather, he wants to be a puppeteer on "Sesame Street."
This is a great twist for a movie, but Being Elmo does not dwell on it. In fact, it hardly brings up Clash's skin color at all, and it only brings up his former poverty in terms of the obstacles he overcame. For example, in order to meet puppet designer Kermit Love, he had to wait for a school trip to New York; his family couldn't afford train fare otherwise. (What the movie does not explain is why there was a camera present and footage of this first meeting.)...
- 4/5/2012
- by weezy
- GreenCine
The Video Score is your guide to everything you need to know about what's out this week, all in one place. What's available? Which formats? Is it streaming? How much will it set you back? We'll break down the week's biggest new releases and some smaller ones that deserve your attention. Check back each Tuesday to find out what's hot that week and where you can catch it all!
Pick of the Week
"Chinatown" (1974)
Director: Roman Polanski
Cast: Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston
Story:
J.J. Gittes is a private investigator who gets roped in a conspiracy in 1930s Los Angeles that involves the wife of an engineer, her tycoon father and the resource the town needs most of all, water. "Chinatown" played a key role in a golden age of filmmaking and remains a classic to this day.
On the Disc:
The audio commentary by writer Robert Towne...
Pick of the Week
"Chinatown" (1974)
Director: Roman Polanski
Cast: Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston
Story:
J.J. Gittes is a private investigator who gets roped in a conspiracy in 1930s Los Angeles that involves the wife of an engineer, her tycoon father and the resource the town needs most of all, water. "Chinatown" played a key role in a golden age of filmmaking and remains a classic to this day.
On the Disc:
The audio commentary by writer Robert Towne...
- 4/3/2012
- by Kevin P. Sullivan
- MTV Movies Blog
It's definitely slim pickings on DVD and Blu-ray this week with even fewer new releases than usual, but at least there's a power trio of family films that includes Steven Spielberg's War Horse, Cameron Crowe's We Bought a Zoo and the acclaimed documentary Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey. Beyond that we've also got Paddy Considine's bleak directorial debut Tyrannosaur and the first season of Chris Elliott's Adult Swim series Eagleheart, which I have heard good things about. As for Blu-ray, it's all about Roman Polanski's Chinatown and Madonna: Truth or Dare, a movie that remains to this day one of the highest grossing documentaries of all time. What will you be buying or renting this week? Check out the full list of releases after the jump. Amazon.com Widgets
For More Daily Movie Goodness, Visit Filmjunk.Com!
For More Daily Movie Goodness, Visit Filmjunk.Com!
- 4/3/2012
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
Chinatown (Blu-ray) I already wrote about the new Blu-ray for Chinatown, urging you to pick it up so I don't know what else there is to say. Of the films hitting the shelves today it is, without a doubt, the top pick for purchase. Nothing comes close.
Tyrannosaur While nothing comes close to Chinatown in terms of purchasing power, I will certainly recommend you give Paddy Considine's excellent feature directorial debut, Tyrannosaur, a watch. It is, however, quite dark and a bit disturbing so it's a hard one to recommend as a buy. You can read my glowing review of it from last year right here.
Sunrise - A Song of Two Humans (Limited Edition) Ironically enough, just this last weekend I recorded F.W. Murnau's Sunrise off Turner Classic Movies and haven't yet watched it. I've only seen it once before and am anxious to return to it...
Tyrannosaur While nothing comes close to Chinatown in terms of purchasing power, I will certainly recommend you give Paddy Considine's excellent feature directorial debut, Tyrannosaur, a watch. It is, however, quite dark and a bit disturbing so it's a hard one to recommend as a buy. You can read my glowing review of it from last year right here.
Sunrise - A Song of Two Humans (Limited Edition) Ironically enough, just this last weekend I recorded F.W. Murnau's Sunrise off Turner Classic Movies and haven't yet watched it. I've only seen it once before and am anxious to return to it...
- 4/3/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
This week: Steven Spielberg is known for marrying sentimentality with epic drama, and that tradition continues with "War Horse," a movie set during World War I about the special relationship between a man and his loyal horse, and their struggle to reunite against all odds.
Also new are Matt Damon in "We Bought a Zoo," the documentary "Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey" and the Blu-ray debuts of "Madonna: Truth or Dare" and "Chinatown."
'War Horse'
Box Office: $80 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 77% Fresh
Storyline: Steven Spielberg's epic film adaptation of the 1982 children's novel stars Jeremy Irvine as a young man who enlists during World War I after his beloved horse is sold to the cavalry. The movie was nominated for six Academy Awards (it didn't win any) and costars Emily Watson, Peter Mullan, Benedict Cumberbatch and David Thewlis.
Extras! Both the DVD and the Blu-ray contain "A Filmmaking Journey,...
Also new are Matt Damon in "We Bought a Zoo," the documentary "Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey" and the Blu-ray debuts of "Madonna: Truth or Dare" and "Chinatown."
'War Horse'
Box Office: $80 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 77% Fresh
Storyline: Steven Spielberg's epic film adaptation of the 1982 children's novel stars Jeremy Irvine as a young man who enlists during World War I after his beloved horse is sold to the cavalry. The movie was nominated for six Academy Awards (it didn't win any) and costars Emily Watson, Peter Mullan, Benedict Cumberbatch and David Thewlis.
Extras! Both the DVD and the Blu-ray contain "A Filmmaking Journey,...
- 4/2/2012
- by Robert DeSalvo
- NextMovie
The Guardian presents Le Havre/Mark Pagel, London
What has a Finnish-made film about illegal immigrants in France got to do with a renowned evolutionary theorist? Or the Guardian? The film in question is Le Havre, by Aki Kaurismäki, a gentle yet robustly political parable set in the French coastal town of the title, with a similar tone to a previous film, The Man Without A Past. Pagel, meanwhile, is an evolutionary theorist who operates on every scale, from genetic codes to language, culture and the history of human co-operation. That gives you a clue to his take on the movie, but the post-screening discussion could lead anywhere, especially since you can watch the film on the Guardian website, submit questions, read the live blog and watch the film any time in the next two months.
Curzon Soho, W1, Fri
Young People's Film Festival, Leeds
This is the type of...
What has a Finnish-made film about illegal immigrants in France got to do with a renowned evolutionary theorist? Or the Guardian? The film in question is Le Havre, by Aki Kaurismäki, a gentle yet robustly political parable set in the French coastal town of the title, with a similar tone to a previous film, The Man Without A Past. Pagel, meanwhile, is an evolutionary theorist who operates on every scale, from genetic codes to language, culture and the history of human co-operation. That gives you a clue to his take on the movie, but the post-screening discussion could lead anywhere, especially since you can watch the film on the Guardian website, submit questions, read the live blog and watch the film any time in the next two months.
Curzon Soho, W1, Fri
Young People's Film Festival, Leeds
This is the type of...
- 3/30/2012
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
Moviefone's Pick of the Week "The Muppets" What's It About? Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fonzie and the entire gang (even Gonzo) are reunited by their number one superfan, Walter, in an effort to save the beloved "Muppet Show" Theater. See It Because: It's really enjoyable. It's really easy to be cautious about a new Muppet movie that doesn't involve Jim Henson, but Jason Segel and the creative team approached the project with a lot of reverence for the classic Muppet bits. It pays loving tribute while also setting them up for new adventures Also Available on Redbox DVD & Blu-ray | Amazon Instant Video New on DVD & Blu-ray "Carnage" Roman Polanski adapts the hit cross-continental play about two sets of parents that get together to discuss their children's schoolyard fight; with a cast featuring Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly and Christoph Waltz, it's a superbly-acted production, but "Carnage's" broad, theatrical...
- 3/20/2012
- by Eric Larnick
- Moviefone
"The Help" continued its hot streak during awards season by being the big winner at the 2012 NAACP Image Awards. The DreamWorks movie took home acting trophies for Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, plus Outstanding Motion Picture.
The complete list of winners:
Motion Picture Categories
Outstanding Motion Picture
"Jumping the Broom" (TriStar Pictures)
"Pariah" (Focus Features)
"The First Grader" (National Geographic Entertainment)
"The Help" (DreamWorks Pictures)
"Tower Heist" (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Eddie Murphy - "Tower Heist" (Universal Pictures)
Laurence Fishburne - "Contagion" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Laz Alonso - "Jumping the Broom" (TriStar Pictures)
Oliver Litondo - "The First Grader" (National Geographic Entertainment)
Vin Diesel - "Fast Five" (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Adepero Oduye - "Pariah" (Focus Features)
Emma Stone - "The Help" (DreamWorks Pictures)
Paula Patton - "Jumping the Broom" (TriStar Pictures)
Viola Davis - "The Help" (DreamWorks Pictures)
Zoë Saldana -...
The complete list of winners:
Motion Picture Categories
Outstanding Motion Picture
"Jumping the Broom" (TriStar Pictures)
"Pariah" (Focus Features)
"The First Grader" (National Geographic Entertainment)
"The Help" (DreamWorks Pictures)
"Tower Heist" (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Eddie Murphy - "Tower Heist" (Universal Pictures)
Laurence Fishburne - "Contagion" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Laz Alonso - "Jumping the Broom" (TriStar Pictures)
Oliver Litondo - "The First Grader" (National Geographic Entertainment)
Vin Diesel - "Fast Five" (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Adepero Oduye - "Pariah" (Focus Features)
Emma Stone - "The Help" (DreamWorks Pictures)
Paula Patton - "Jumping the Broom" (TriStar Pictures)
Viola Davis - "The Help" (DreamWorks Pictures)
Zoë Saldana -...
- 2/18/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Okay, so the 2012 nominations from the Motion Picture Sound Editors (Mpse) weren't as helpful as I thought they would be as they have several categories and several nominees in each. So when predicting Best Sound Editing it is essentially a crap shoot though I was happy to see most of the contenders I had in my database before this did earn nominations. In an effort to keep this short and simple, my #1 pick goes to Ben Burtt's work on Super 8 followed in order by Hugo, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, War Horse and The Adventures of Tintin. Yeah, that sounds good enough to me and you can browse my seven other contenders in the category at my official Oscar predictions page right here. Otherwise, the Mpse will announce their winners on February 19, five days before the Oscars and just in time to help us predict the winner.
- 1/20/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Jeremy Irvine in Steven Spielberg's World War I movie War Horse Best Picture War Horse directed by Steven Spielberg Best Foreign Language Film A Separation directed by Asghar Farhadi Best Director Martin Scorsese for Hugo Best Actor George Clooney for Alexander Payne's The Descendants Best Actress Viola Davis for Tate Taylor's The Help Best Supporting Actor Christopher Plummer for Mike Mills' Beginners Best Supporting Actress Octavia Spencer for The Help Best Cinematography Janusz Kaminski for War Horse Best Animated Feature The Adventures of Tin Tin directed by Steven Spielberg Best Documentary Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey directed by Constance Marks, Philip Shane...
- 1/13/2012
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
Every year, it seems the documentary branch of the Academy goes out of their way to embarass themselves, and this year is no exception. When the shortlist for the Oscar nominees landed back in November, it was arguably more notable for what was left off the list than what was included. A number of high profile, well reviewed films -- Errol Morris' "Tabloid," "Being Elmo: A Pupeteer's Journey," Werner Hezog's "Into the Abyss: A Tale of Death, a Tale of Life," "Page One: Inside the New York Times," "Senna" -- didn't make the cut, but luckily the DGA have righted some of those wrongs. The guild have revealed their nominess in the documentary category today, and finally, Steve James' excellent, moving, must-see "The Interrupters" got some deserved love from the industry. The film is a powerful portrait of various members of CeaseFire in Chicago, a group commited to...
- 1/12/2012
- The Playlist
The Black Film Critics Circle has announced their awards for 2011 and "The Help" was the big winner, dominating with five wins, including Best Picture, Best Ensemble, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress for stars Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer.
Based on the bestselling novel by Kathryn Stockett, "The Help" has come under criticism from a number of African-American organizations for having the story of a group of African-American domestic servants at the beginning of the Civil Rights movement be told from the perspective of a young white writer (played in the film by Emma Stone).
The ensuing controversy over the movie may have actually helped the film by raising its profile and helping mobilize it's supporters within the Black Film Critics Circle.
Also making a major splash was "Pariah," which won three awards including Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Dee Rees as well as Best Independent Film.
Based on the bestselling novel by Kathryn Stockett, "The Help" has come under criticism from a number of African-American organizations for having the story of a group of African-American domestic servants at the beginning of the Civil Rights movement be told from the perspective of a young white writer (played in the film by Emma Stone).
The ensuing controversy over the movie may have actually helped the film by raising its profile and helping mobilize it's supporters within the Black Film Critics Circle.
Also making a major splash was "Pariah," which won three awards including Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Dee Rees as well as Best Independent Film.
- 12/21/2011
- by Scott Harris
- NextMovie
Masachika Ichimura, Koji Yakusho, 13 Assassins The St. Louis Film Critics' choices have mostly matched those of other Us-based critics' groups, including Michel Hazanavicius' French-made (but Hollywood-set) The Artist for Best Film, along with Hazanavicius for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay; Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash's The Descendants for Best Adapted Screenplay; and that film's George Clooney for Best Actor. Also: critics' fave Albert Brooks as Best Supporting Actor for Nicolas Winding Refn's thriller Drive. [Full list of St. Louis Film Critics winners.] More unusual was the choice of Rooney Mara as Best Actress for her portrayal of Swedish hacker/crime fighter Lisbeth Salander in David Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo remake. Or Constance Marks and Philip Shane's Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey for Best Documentary. Or even Bérénice Bejo as Best Supporting Actress for The Artist, as the likes of Jessica Chastain (The Help/The Tree of Life...
- 12/20/2011
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
Rooney Mara in David Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Rooney Mara, Bérénice Bejo, Being Elmo: St. Louis Film Critics Surprise Winners Best Film * The Artist The Descendants Drive My Week with Marilyn The Tree of Life Best Foreign Language Film * 13 Assassins Point Blank I Saw The Devil Trollhunter Winter in Wartime Best Documentary * Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey The Interrupters Tabloid Conan O'Brien Can't Stop Buck Best Animated Film Rango Kung Fu Panda 2 * The Adventures of Tin Tin: The Secret of the Unicorn Puss in Boots Rio Best Director * Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist Terrence Malick for The Tree of Life Alexander Payne for The Descendants David Fincher for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Nicolas Winding Refn for Drive Best Actor Ryan Gosling for Drive * George Clooney for The Descendants Jean Dujardin for The Artist Gary Oldman for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Michael Fassbender for...
- 12/20/2011
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
John Goodman, The Artist Best Film * The Artist The Descendants Drive Hugo Win Win Best Foreign Language Film 13 Assassins Certified Copy I Saw the Devil Pina * The Skin I Live In Best Director Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris) Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist) Alexander Payne (The Descendants) Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive) * Martin Scorsese (Hugo) Best Actor * George Clooney (The Descendants) Jean Dujardin (The Artist) Michael Fassbender (Shame) Brad Pitt (Moneyball) Michael Shannon (Take Shelter) Best Actress Viola Davis (The Help) Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene) Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady) Tilda Swinton (We Need to Talk About Kevin) * Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn) Best Supporting Actor Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn) * Albert Brooks (Drive) John Hawkes (Martha Marcy May Marlene) Christopher Plummer (Beginners) Andy Serkis (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) Best Supporting Actress Bérénice Bejo (The Artist) Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids) Carey Mulligan (Shame) * Octavia Spencer (The Help...
- 12/5/2011
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
The Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association (Wafca) has announced their 2011 winners. The Best Film award went to the black-and-white, silent film "The Artist" from director Michel Hazanavicius. But Martin Scorsese received the Best Directing award for "Hugo."
In the acting categories, George Clooney won the Best Actor award for "The Descendants" and Michelle Williams took home the Best Actress award for "My Week with Marilyn." Albert Brooks won Best Supporting Actor for his memorable performance in "Drive," while Octavia Spencer received the Best Supporting Actress award for "The Help."
Here's the complete list of the 2011 Wafca (Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association) Winners:
Best Film:
The Artist
Best Director:
Martin Scorsese (Hugo)
Best Actor:
George Clooney (The Descendants)
Best Actress:
Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)
Best Supporting Actor:
Albert Brooks (Drive)
Best Supporting Actress:
Octavia Spencer (The Help)
Best Acting Ensemble:
Bridesmaids
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Alexander Payne and...
In the acting categories, George Clooney won the Best Actor award for "The Descendants" and Michelle Williams took home the Best Actress award for "My Week with Marilyn." Albert Brooks won Best Supporting Actor for his memorable performance in "Drive," while Octavia Spencer received the Best Supporting Actress award for "The Help."
Here's the complete list of the 2011 Wafca (Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association) Winners:
Best Film:
The Artist
Best Director:
Martin Scorsese (Hugo)
Best Actor:
George Clooney (The Descendants)
Best Actress:
Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)
Best Supporting Actor:
Albert Brooks (Drive)
Best Supporting Actress:
Octavia Spencer (The Help)
Best Acting Ensemble:
Bridesmaids
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Alexander Payne and...
- 12/5/2011
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
It's never too early to start your Christmas shopping -- or to start the Hollywood awards season!
The 21st Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards were held tonight in New York City at the Cipriani Wall Street. Oliver Platt and Edie Falco hosted the ceremony that celebrates independent film and marks the beginning of the movie awards season that will continue going strong through the Oscars at the end of February.
In a surprise tie, "Beginners," which stars Ewan McGregor as a young man thrown for a loop when his terminally ill father (Christopher Plummer) reveals he's gay, and Terrence Malick's experimental fantasia, "The Tree of Life," both took home the Best Feature award. "Beginners" also won Best Ensemble for the work of a cast that also includes Melanie Laurent, Goran Visnjic, Kai Lennox and Mary Page Keller.
Dee Rees took home the Breakthrough Director award for her work on "Pariah,...
The 21st Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards were held tonight in New York City at the Cipriani Wall Street. Oliver Platt and Edie Falco hosted the ceremony that celebrates independent film and marks the beginning of the movie awards season that will continue going strong through the Oscars at the end of February.
In a surprise tie, "Beginners," which stars Ewan McGregor as a young man thrown for a loop when his terminally ill father (Christopher Plummer) reveals he's gay, and Terrence Malick's experimental fantasia, "The Tree of Life," both took home the Best Feature award. "Beginners" also won Best Ensemble for the work of a cast that also includes Melanie Laurent, Goran Visnjic, Kai Lennox and Mary Page Keller.
Dee Rees took home the Breakthrough Director award for her work on "Pariah,...
- 11/29/2011
- by Bryan Enk
- NextMovie
Hre are the new MPAA ratings from Bulletin No: 2199.
2012 Zombie Apocalypse Rated R For strong zombie violence and gore. Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey Rated PG For some mild language including a brief drug reference. Beneath The Darkness Rated R For some violence and language. Branded Rated R For language and some sexual content. Detention Rated R For bloody violence, crude and sexual content, nudity, language, some teen drinking and drug use. The Dish and the Spoon Rated R For language including some sexual references. Donner Pass Rated R For bloody horror violence, language, a sexual assault, nudity and teen drinking. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Rated R For brutal violent content including rape and torture, strong sexuality, graphic nudity, and language. Release Date: December 21, 2011 King of Triads Rated R For violence. A Measure of Faith Rated PG-13 For some violence, a sexual reference and smoking throughout. Monsieur Lazhar...
2012 Zombie Apocalypse Rated R For strong zombie violence and gore. Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey Rated PG For some mild language including a brief drug reference. Beneath The Darkness Rated R For some violence and language. Branded Rated R For language and some sexual content. Detention Rated R For bloody violence, crude and sexual content, nudity, language, some teen drinking and drug use. The Dish and the Spoon Rated R For language including some sexual references. Donner Pass Rated R For bloody horror violence, language, a sexual assault, nudity and teen drinking. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Rated R For brutal violent content including rape and torture, strong sexuality, graphic nudity, and language. Release Date: December 21, 2011 King of Triads Rated R For violence. A Measure of Faith Rated PG-13 For some violence, a sexual reference and smoking throughout. Monsieur Lazhar...
- 11/22/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Every single year come awards season, it's always upsetting to see the blatant misfires on the Academy's short list of films eligible for the Best Documentary Oscar. Just last year [1], the big story wasn't so much that Exit Through the Gift Shop or Restrepo were up for the award, it was that films like Catfish, Best Worst Movie and Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work were snubbed. This year it's more of the same. Much more. Fifteen films have been chosen that will be narrowed down to five to tangle for the Oscar itself and on that list are several exceptional documentaries: Bill Cunningham New York, Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory and Project Nim (above) just to name a few. Not on the list, however are Constance Mark's Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey, Steve James’s The Interrupters, Werner Herzog‘s Into the Abyss, Errol Morris' Tabloid, Ian Palmer's Knuckle,...
- 11/19/2011
- by Germain Lussier
- Slash Film
Kevin Clash. You know him. You love him. Or at least you love Elmo, the enduringly, endearingly winsome Muppet whom Clash brings to furry red life for a living -- an association profiled in the award-winning new documentary Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey. But it's just a matter of getting to know Clash, which will be easier than ever for New Yorkers who drop by the Apple Store this weekend. (And that's not even counting our special guest. Ahem!)...
- 11/18/2011
- Movieline
The Muppets are legendary TV and film characters, but there's something about Sesame Street's giggliest resident, Elmo, that makes small children perk up. Constance Marks, the director of the new documentary Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey, put Elmo's appeal this way: "Kids sit up, pay attention, and turn on. There's that bright red fur and adorable bulgy eyes, but it's the soul of the puppeteer that people are responding to. It's an amazing gift."...
- 11/15/2011
- Movieline
Gotham Awards find hosts in Edie Falco, Oliver Platt The actors who co-star in Gods Behaving Badly, are tapped to host, reports Variety. Also, Audience Award winners have been announced and include Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey directed by Philip Shan, Buck directed by Cindy Meehl, Greg Gricus and Alex Dawson's Wild Horse, Wild Ride, The First Grader from Justin Chadwick and Justin Lerner's Girlfriend. These were pulled from 29 films which won audience awards around the U.S. Falco of The Sopranos, is currently in the critically-acclaimed series Nurse Jackie. Film-wise, she played in Eric Mendelsohn's drama 3 Backyards with Embeth Davidtz and Alias Koteas.
- 11/9/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Gotham Awards find hosts in Edie Falco, Oliver Platt The actors who co-star in Gods Behaving Badly, are tapped to host, reports Variety. Also, Audience Award winners have been announced and include Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey directed by Philip Shan, Buck directed by Cindy Meehl, Greg Gricus and Alex Dawson's Wild Horse, Wild Ride, The First Grader from Justin Chadwick and Justin Lerner's Girlfriend. These were pulled from 29 films which won audience awards around the U.S. Falco of The Sopranos, is currently in the critically-acclaimed series Nurse Jackie. Film-wise, she played in Eric Mendelsohn's drama 3 Backyards with Embeth Davidtz and Alias Koteas.
- 11/9/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Gotham Awards find hosts in Edie Falco, Oliver Platt The actors who co-star in Gods Behaving Badly, are tapped to host, reports Variety. Also, Audience Award winners have been announced and include Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey directed by Philip Shan, Buck directed by Cindy Meehl, Greg Gricus and Alex Dawson's Wild Horse, Wild Ride, The First Grader from Justin Chadwick and Justin Lerner's Girlfriend. These were pulled from 29 films which won audience awards around the U.S. Falco of The Sopranos, is currently in the critically-acclaimed series Nurse Jackie. Film-wise, she played in Eric Mendelsohn's drama 3 Backyards with Embeth Davidtz and Alias Koteas.
- 11/9/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
The Amazing Spider-Man costars - and rumored real-life couple - Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield sure seemed cozy during an early evening movie and coffee outing in L.A. The duo stopped by L.A.'s Laemmle Sunset 5 Theater, where they caught the documentary Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey. The two were also spotted at a Starbucks, just downstairs from the theater. Stone ordered a regular coffee, and the two cuddled a bit while they waited in line, an onlooker tells us, noting that Garfield had his hands partially around Stone's waist. Says the onlooker: "They were really cute." - Marisa Laudadio and Jessica Wedemeyer...
- 11/9/2011
- icelebz.com
Oliver Litondo, The First Grader The five nominees for the Gothams' Festival Genius Audience Award have been announced. They are: Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey, Buck, Girlfriend, The First Grader, and Wild Horse, Wild Ride. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, Constance Marks' documentary Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey traces the life and career of Kevin Clash, the puppeteer behind Sesame Street's Elmo. Cindy Meehl's Buck is a documentary about Buck Brannaman, the man who inspired the book The Horse Whisperer and the ensuing Robert Redford-directed movie. Justin Lerner's Girlfriend revolves around a young man with Down's Syndrome who financially assists his object of desire, a woman stuck in an abusive relationship. Set in Kenya, Justin Chadwick's The First Grader tells the story of an eighty-something ethnic Mau Mau (Oliver Litondo) eager to learn to read and write. Alex Dawson and Greg Gricus' documentary Wild Horse,...
- 11/8/2011
- by Anna Robinson
- Alt Film Guide
The Amazing Spider-Man costars - and rumored real-life couple - Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield sure seemed cozy during an early evening movie and coffee outing in L.A. The duo stopped by L.A.'s Laemmle Sunset 5 Theater, where they caught the documentary Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey. The two were also spotted at a Starbucks, just downstairs from the theater. Stone ordered a regular coffee, and the two cuddled a bit while they waited in line, an onlooker tells us, noting that Garfield had his hands partially around Stone's waist. Says the onlooker: "They were really cute." -...
- 11/7/2011
- PEOPLE.com
Even as I carry on updating the entry on Doc NYC, there's quite a lot besides going on in the field of nonfiction filmmaking. Last week, both the International Documentary Association and Cinema Eye Honors announced the nominations for their respective awards, and yesterday, Cinema Eye unveiled "a new, periodic award called the Hell Yeah Prize, to be given to filmmakers who have created works of incredible craft and artistry that also have significant, real-world impact. The inaugural Hell Yeah Prize will be presented to Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky for their HBO Documentary Films trilogy Paradise Lost, which played a critical role in securing the release from prison of the wrongly prosecuted and convicted West Memphis Three."
And the other day, when I pointed to Dennis Lim's review of Travis Wilkerson's An Injury to One (2002), "one of American independent cinema's great achievements of the past decade, just issued on DVD by Icarus Films,...
And the other day, when I pointed to Dennis Lim's review of Travis Wilkerson's An Injury to One (2002), "one of American independent cinema's great achievements of the past decade, just issued on DVD by Icarus Films,...
- 11/4/2011
- MUBI
Los Angeles (The Associated Press) -- The documentary "Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey" opens this week, about every toddler's favorite red monster and the man who brings him to life, Kevin Clash.
One of the joys of watching Clash in action -- besides marveling at how effortless he makes it all look -- is seeing how seamlessly he relates to both children and adults. And the segments he does with celebrities, as Elmo learns a lesson or explains a new word, are among his best. So here's a look at five of the greatest celebrity appearances over the four-plus decades "Sesame Street" has been on air. As the mother of a 2-year-old son, compiling this week's list was one of the most enjoyable yet.
One of the joys of watching Clash in action -- besides marveling at how effortless he makes it all look -- is seeing how seamlessly he relates to both children and adults. And the segments he does with celebrities, as Elmo learns a lesson or explains a new word, are among his best. So here's a look at five of the greatest celebrity appearances over the four-plus decades "Sesame Street" has been on air. As the mother of a 2-year-old son, compiling this week's list was one of the most enjoyable yet.
- 10/21/2011
- by AP
- Huffington Post
With Halloween quickly approaching, we finally have another horror movie in wide release to challenge Real Steel for the box office belt. Paranormal Activity 3 is poised to build on the popularity of the previous two films and rake in some serious cash -- especially considering that its biggest competition in terms of new releases is Paul W.S. Anderson's The Three Musketeers and Johnny English Reborn. Yes, that's right, someone actually made a Johnny English sequel. Also in wide release we have sports drama The Mighty Macs starring Carla Gugino, and in most major cities we also have financial thriller Margin Call starring Kevin Spacey and the recently outed Star Trek star Zachary Quinto. In select theatres, look for the acclaimed cult-themed drama Martha Marcy May Marlene and a handful of documentaries including Being Elmo, Revenge of the Electric Car and Elevate. What will you be checking out this weekend?...
- 10/21/2011
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
Since the Weekend Warrior is on permanent hiatus, it's a little harder to get the word out on one of our favorite film genres, the documentary. This weekend offers a number of really strong docs, some of the best of the year, and we wanted to point out a couple that are worth checking out this weekend (if you live in New York City) or to look out for down the road. Both Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey and The Swell Season look at fame from different angles, the former from the perspective of someone who has enjoyed it for many years, the latter from a couple who had it thrust upon them and how it affects their relationship. The former is Constance Marks' spotlight on Kevin Clash, the man behind the red monster puppet that's won hearts of kids and parents for over 25 years on...
- 10/21/2011
- Comingsoon.net
Love or loathe, but almost everyone knows Elmo. And after the release of "Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey," audiences will know--and likely love--the man behind the Muppet, Kevin Clash. Constance Marks' acclaimed documentary tracks how Clash went from being a Muppet-obsessed teenager to being noticed by Muppet designer Kermit Love and landing on "Sesame Street," where he's played Elmo since 1985. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, Marks' portrait includes interviews with ...
- 10/19/2011
- Indiewire
Love or loathe, but almost everyone knows Elmo. And after the release of "Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey," audiences will know--and likely love--the man behind the Muppet, Kevin Clash. Constance Marks' acclaimed documentary tracks how Clash went from being a Muppet-obsessed teenager to being noticed by Muppet designer Kermit Love and landing on "Sesame Street," where he's played Elmo since 1985. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, Marks' portrait includes interviews with ...
- 10/19/2011
- indieWIRE - People
As the simplest member of the "Sesame Street" legacy, Elmo also has the greatest lasting appeal. His childlike naivete and untroubled worldview catapulted the furry red muppet to instant fame in the 1980s, when upstart puppeteer Kevin Clash gave the character his defining traits. The subject of "Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey," Clash grew up in Baltimore's lower class African American community during the 1970s, where he rapidly advanced his ...
- 10/17/2011
- Indiewire
Trailers are an under-appreciated art form insofar that many times they’re seen as vehicles for showing footage, explaining films away, or showing their hand about what moviegoers can expect. Foreign, domestic, independent, big budget: I celebrate all levels of trailers and hopefully this column will satisfactorily give you a baseline of what beta wave I’m operating on, because what better way to hone your skills as a thoughtful moviegoer than by deconstructing these little pieces of advertising? Some of the best authors will tell you that writing a short story is a lot harder than writing a long one, that you have to weigh every sentence. What better medium to see how this theory plays itself out beyond that than with movie trailers? The Pirates! Band Of Misfits Trailer Any animated film that wants to incorporate nudists and leprosy in its promotional materials has my backing. Director Peter Lord,...
- 10/1/2011
- by Christopher Stipp
- Slash Film
D'awwwww. This movie looks adorable. It's so nice to see a documentary that might be heartwarming for once instead of super depressing. This is Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey and if you couldn't guess from the title, it's about the journey of Elmo and the man behind, or rather In, Elmo, the puppeteer Kevin Clash.
Ricky Gervais and Elmo make each other laugh.
More movie trailers here and here.
The whole thing looks terribly cute and informative, a heartwarming tale of triumph and love. This is exactly the way I want to end my previously depressing Monday. I think you'll agree when I say that no matter how old you are, you will always have a spot in your heart for Elmo. I mean, How Could You Not?!
Also, this, this forever:
You will never be that happy in your entire life.
--
Follow me on twitter @emilyfcheever
Want to...
Ricky Gervais and Elmo make each other laugh.
More movie trailers here and here.
The whole thing looks terribly cute and informative, a heartwarming tale of triumph and love. This is exactly the way I want to end my previously depressing Monday. I think you'll agree when I say that no matter how old you are, you will always have a spot in your heart for Elmo. I mean, How Could You Not?!
Also, this, this forever:
You will never be that happy in your entire life.
--
Follow me on twitter @emilyfcheever
Want to...
- 9/26/2011
- by Emily Cheever
- Filmology
Get out a tissue, and head over to watch the video for Paws Up Forever Project, inspired by Lady Gaga's Make a Law for Jamey campaign. These kids are something else. I don't know what I was doing at their age, but it wasn't this.
Speaking of Lady Gaga, she's set to premiere another short film at Paris Fashion Week with the Mugler Women's Wear Collection Show.
In France, if you want to know if your son is gay, there's an app for that. Well, if you've got Android, there's an app for that. Just answer a series of questions about stereotypes, and it will tell you if you need to pack your son off to reparative therapy.
Ugly Betty's Ana Ortiz has given birth to a healthy baby boy. Sadly, she didn't name him Justin, which would have been perfect.
Archbishop Timothy Dolan says that gay marriage...
Speaking of Lady Gaga, she's set to premiere another short film at Paris Fashion Week with the Mugler Women's Wear Collection Show.
In France, if you want to know if your son is gay, there's an app for that. Well, if you've got Android, there's an app for that. Just answer a series of questions about stereotypes, and it will tell you if you need to pack your son off to reparative therapy.
Ugly Betty's Ana Ortiz has given birth to a healthy baby boy. Sadly, she didn't name him Justin, which would have been perfect.
Archbishop Timothy Dolan says that gay marriage...
- 9/25/2011
- by Ed Kennedy
- The Backlot
With this wonderful doc finally slated for a rolling theatrical release starting in October and moving through December, we finally have the trailer for Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey, a charming documentary which brought warmth to many hearts in the winter cold of the Sundance Film Festival back in January. The chronicle of Kevin Clash, the puppeteer behind beloved "Sesame Street" character Elmo, went on to win a Special Jury Prize at Sundance, and both myself and our friends at The Film Stage (quoted in the trailer) absolutely loved every minute of this heart-warming story. It's a must watch! Watch the trailer below. Here's the trailer for Constance Marks' Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey via IndieWire: Directed by Constance Marks, narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, the documentary chronicles the life and career of Kevin Clash, a young child with dreams of becoming a puppeteer who would go on to bring...
- 9/23/2011
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
Unless you are dead inside, or have lived your life without ever seeing "Sesame Street" (in which case, we feel sorry for you), then you already know that Elmo is one of the most beloved felt covered characters to emerge from the program. It's pretty much impossible to resist his buoyant energy and pure joy and especially for little kids, his googly eyes alone are enough to thrill and delight. Now get ready for story behind the man who brought him to life. "Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey" was one of the most talked about documentaries coming out of Sundance…...
- 9/23/2011
- The Playlist
Coming out of this year's Sundance Film Festival, one of the stories people seemed most eager to tell was how they cried their little hearts out [1] after seeing Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey. The documentary, directed by Constance Marks, is about Kevin Clash, the man behind the famous Sesame Street character Elmo. It simultaneously tells the tale of how he was [2] able to turn his unique dream - to be a puppeteer - into reality while also chronicling the rise of Jim Henson and the Muppets. It was Peter's favorite film [3] at Sundance this year and now it's finally being released. Being Elmo will open in New York on October 21 and then begin expanding on November 4. After the jump, see what date it's coming to your city and watch a video blog reaction to the film. Here's a video blog that Peter and David recorded after seeing Being Elmo at...
- 8/9/2011
- by Germain Lussier
- Slash Film
It was a homecoming of sorts for Baltimore native Kevin Clash (Elmo), who attended the screening of Constance Marks' "Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey" at Silverdocs earlier this week with members of his family. "Being Elmo" follows the career of Clash, spending much time with him in Baltimore as he recounts his childhood and early love for puppets. A celebration of Clash's unparalleled artistry, "Being Elmo" will be released theatrically later this year.
- 6/24/2011
- Indiewire
The narrative feature "Gandu" and the documentary "Hot Coffee" won the top jury prizes at the Seattle International Film Festival, which celebrated the winning films on Sunday at the Golden Space Needle awards ceremony and brunch at Seattle's Space Needle. Audience awards went to the narrative feature "Paper Birds," from Spain, and the documentary "To Be Heard." The Lena Sharpe Award for Persistence of Vision, which was presented by Women in Film/Seattle to the film that received the largest number of awards in public voting, went to "Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey." The...
- 6/12/2011
- The Wrap
Toronto's 2011 Hot Docs Film Festival is now officially underway, having kicked off the proceedings last night with a screening of Morgan Spurlock's The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. Over the next week we will be catching some of the many great documentaries playing this year, so you can expect some reviews to turn up on Film Junk and The Documentary Blog in the near future. However, if you're interested in attending some screenings yourself, I thought it might be worthwhile to offer up a quick preview of what's playing so you can try and order some tickets [1] before it's too late. Check out our top picks of the fest, complete with trailers or video clips where possible, listed after the jump! Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey Directed by: Constance Marks Synopsis: The film traces Kevin Clash's rise from his modest beginnings in Baltimore to his current success as the...
- 4/29/2011
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
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