"Hugo" was nominated for 11 Oscars, including best director for Martin Scorsese and best picture.

Oscar nominations were announced today and, as usual, there were few surprises. That said, I didn’t expect to see Demián Bichir make his way into the best actor race for “A Better Life.” Certainly, people like his performance, but his chances seemed slim going into today’s nominations. So, you never know what’s going to happen. I was also pleased to see the strong support for Terrence Malick and “The Tree of Life.” This is a great film that got too little attention from Critics’ organizations.

Following is a complete list of nominees …

Best Picture

“The Artist”
“The Descendants”
“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
“The Help”
“Hugo”
“Midnight in Paris”
“Moneyball”
“The Tree of Life”
“War Horse”

Actor in a Leading Role

Demián Bichir in “A Better Life”
George Clooney in “The Descendants”
Jean Dujardin in “The Artist”
Gary Oldman in “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”
Brad Pitt in “Moneyball”

Actor in a Supporting Role

Kenneth Branagh in “My Week with Marilyn”
Jonah Hill in “Moneyball”
Nick Nolte in “Warrior”
Christopher Plummer in “Beginners”
Max von Sydow in “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”

Actress in a Leading Role

Glenn Close in “Albert Nobbs”
Viola Davis in “The Help”
Rooney Mara in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
Meryl Streep in “The Iron Lady”
Michelle Williams in “My Week with Marilyn”

Actress in a Supporting Role

Bérénice Bejo in “The Artist”
Jessica Chastain in “The Help”
Melissa McCarthy in “Bridesmaids”
Janet McTeer in “Albert Nobbs”
Octavia Spencer in “The Help”

Directing

“The Artist” Michel Hazanavicius
“The Descendants” Alexander Payne
“Hugo” Martin Scorsese
“Midnight in Paris” Woody Allen
“The Tree of Life” Terrence Malick

Animated Feature Film

“A Cat in Paris”
“Chico & Rita”
“Kung Fu Panda 2″
“Puss in Boots”
“Rango”

Art Direction

“The Artist”
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″
“Hugo”
“Midnight in Paris”
“War Horse”

Cinematography

“The Artist”
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
“Hugo”
“The Tree of Life”
“War Horse”

Costume Design

“Anonymous”
“The Artist”
“Hugo”
“Jane Eyre”
“W.E.”

Documentary (Feature)

“Hell and Back Again”
“If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front”
“Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory”
“Pina”
“Undefeated”

Documentary (Short Subject)

“The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement”
“God Is the Bigger Elvis”
“Incident in New Baghdad”
“Saving Face”
“The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom”

Film Editing

“The Artist”
“The Descendants”
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
“Hugo”
“Moneyball”

Foreign Language Film

“Bullhead” Belgium
“Footnote” Israel
“In Darkness” Poland
“Monsieur Lazhar” Canada
“A Separation” Iran

Makeup

“Albert Nobbs”
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″
“The Iron Lady”

Music (Original Score)

“The Adventures of Tintin” John Williams
“The Artist” Ludovic Bource
“Hugo” Howard Shore
“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Alberto Iglesias
“War Horse” John Williams

Music (Original Song)

“Man or Muppet” from “The Muppets” Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie
“Real in Rio” from “Rio” Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown Lyric by Siedah Garrett

Short Film (Animated)

“Dimanche/Sunday”
“The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore”
“La Luna”
“A Morning Stroll”
“Wild Life”

Short Film (Live Action)

“Pentecost”
“Raju”
“The Shore”
“Time Freak”
“Tuba Atlantic”

Sound Editing

“Drive”
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
“Hugo”
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”
“War Horse”

Sound Mixing

“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
“Hugo”
“Moneyball”
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”
“War Horse”

Visual Effects

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″
“Hugo”
“Real Steel”
“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

“The Descendants” Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
“Hugo” Screenplay by John Logan
“The Ides of March” Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
“Moneyball” Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin Story by Stan Chervin
“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Screenplay by Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan

Writing (Original Screenplay)

“The Artist” Written by Michel Hazanavicius
“Bridesmaids” Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
“Margin Call” Written by J.C. Chandor
“Midnight in Paris” Written by Woody Allen
“A Separation” Written by Asghar Farhadi

Jean Dujardin, left, and Berenice Bejo in a scene from "The Artist." The movie won Best Picture in the Las Vegas Film Critics Society's annual Sierra Awards.

It’s a big day for movie awards. Not only did the Broadcast Film Critics Association announce the nominees for its annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards today, the Las Vegas Film Critics Society announced the winners of its Sierra Awards. I vote in both groups, so I always like to publicize the winners.

“The Artist” was the big Sierra Awards winner, nabbing five honors, including Best Picture. The male star of the film, Jean Dujardin, picked up Best Actor, and the movie also nabbed Best Score, Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction.

“Hugo” also performed well, winning awards for Best Family Film and Best Film Editing and helping its young star, Asa Butterfield, take the Youth In Film honor.

Following is a complete list of winners, plus the Las Vegas Film Critics Society list of the top 10 films of 2011.

LVFCS 2011 Sierra Award Winners

Best Picture
“The Artist”

Best Actor
Jean Dujardin, “The Artist”

Best Actress
Michelle Williams, “My Week with Marilyn”

Best Supporting Actor
Albert Brooks, “Drive”

Best Supporting Actress
Melissa McCarthy, “Bridesmaids”

Best Director
Nicholas Winding Refn, “Drive”

Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted)
Steven Zaillian & Aaron Sorkin, “Moneyball”

Best Cinematography
Emmanuel Lubezki, “Tree of Life”

Best Film Editing
Thelma Schoonmaker, “Hugo”

Best Score
Ludovic Bource, “The Artist”

Best Song
“Man or Muppet” – Written by Bret McKenzie

Best Family Film
“Hugo”

Best Documentary
“Project NIM”

Best Animated Film
“Rango”

Best Foreign Film
“13 Assassins”

Best Costume Design
Mark Bridges, “The Artist”

Best Art Direction
Gregory S. Hooper, “The Artist”

Best Visual Effects
“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”

Youth in Film
Asa Butterfield, “Hugo”

Best DVD (Packaging, Design and Content)
Jurassic Park Ultimate Trilogy (Blu-ray)

William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award
Albert Brooks

LVFCS 2011 Top 10 List

The Artist
Hugo
Moneyball
The Descendents
Drive
The Help
50/50
Midnight in Paris
Shame
Warrior

Martin Scorsese, front, and Ben Kingsley work on the film "Hugo," which received 11 nominations for the Critics' Choice Movie Awards

Longtime readers know that I’m a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association thanks to my affiliation with Alice Radio (96.5 FM in Reno, NV) and Idaho Country (KQFC-FM in Boise, ID). Today our organization released its nominee list for the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, which will be telecast live at 8 p.m. Jan. 12 on VH1. Often, Critics’ Choice award winners go on to nab Oscars, so the nominee list gives you a nice look at the movies that are likely to be players in the coming months.

Martin Scorsese’s charming family film “Hugo” and the beautiful silent-movie “The Artist” led all contenders this year with 11 nominations each. Also toward the top of the pack were “The Help” and “Drive,” each scoring eight nominations.

Following is a complete list of nominees. Winners will be revealed live during the Jan. 12 VH1 broadcast.

NOMINATIONS FOR THE 17th ANNUAL CRITICS’ CHOICE MOVIE AWARDS

BEST PICTURE
The Artist
The Descendants
Drive
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse

BEST ACTOR
George Clooney – “The Descendants”
Leonardo DiCaprio – “J. Edgar”
Jean Dujardin – “The Artist”
Michael Fassbender – “Shame”
Ryan Gosling – “Drive”
Brad Pitt – “Moneyball”

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”
Charlize Theron – “Young Adult”
Michelle Williams – “My Week With Marilyn”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Kenneth Branagh – “My Week With Marilyn”
Albert Brooks – “Drive”
Nick Nolte – “Warrior”
Patton Oswalt – “Young Adult”
Christopher Plummer – “Beginners”
Andrew Serkis – “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Berenice Bejo – “The Artist”
Jessica Chastain – “The Help”
Melissa McCarthy – “Bridesmaids”
Carey Mulligan – “Shame”
Octavia Spencer – “The Help”
Shailene Woodley – “The Descendants”

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS
Asa Butterfield – “Hugo”
Elle Fanning – “Super 8”
Thomas Horn – “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
Ezra Miller – “We Need to Talk About Kevin”
Saoirse Ronan – “Hanna”
Shailene Woodley – “The Descendants”

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
The Help
The Ides of March

BEST DIRECTOR
Stephen Daldry – “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
Michel Hazanavicius – “The Artist”
Alexander Payne – “The Descendants”
Nicolas Winding Refn – “Drive”
Martin Scorsese – “Hugo”
Steven Spielberg – “War Horse”

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“The Artist” – Michel Hazanavicius
“50/50” – Will Reiser
“Midnight in Paris” – Woody Allen
“Win Win” – Screenplay by Tom McCarthy, Story by Tom McCarthy & Joe Tiboni
“Young Adult” – Diablo Cody

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
“The Descendants” – Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” – Eric Roth
“The Help” – Tate Taylor
“Hugo” – John Logan
“Moneyball” – Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, Story by Stan Chervin

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
“The Artist” – Guillaume Schiffman
“Drive” – Newton Thomas Sigel
“Hugo” – Robert Richardson
“The Tree of Life” – Emmanuel Lubezki
“War Horse” – Janusz Kaminski

BEST ART DIRECTION
“The Artist” – Production Designer: Laurence Bennett, Art Director: Gregory S. Hooper
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” – Production Designer: Stuart Craig, Set Decorator: Stephenie McMillan
“Hugo” – Production Designer: Dante Ferretti, Set Decorator: Francesca Lo Schiavo
“The Tree of Life” – Production Designer: Jack Fisk, Art Director: David Crank
“War Horse” – Production Designer: Rick Carter, Set Decorator: Lee Sandales

BEST EDITING
“The Artist” – Michel Hazanavicius and Anne-Sophie Bion
“Drive” – Matthew Newman
“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” – Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
“Hugo” – Thelma Schoonmaker
“War Horse” – Michael Kahn

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
“The Artist” – Mark Bridges
“The Help” – Sharen Davis
“Hugo” – Sandy Powell
“Jane Eyre” – Michael O’Connor
“My Week With Marilyn” – Jill Taylor

BEST MAKEUP
Albert Nobbs
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
The Iron Lady
J. Edgar
My Week With Marilyn

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Hugo
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Super 8
The Tree of Life

BEST SOUND
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Hugo
Super 8
The Tree of Life
War Horse

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
The Adventures of Tintin
Arthur Christmas
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

BEST ACTION MOVIE
Drive
Fast Five
Hanna
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Super 8

BEST COMEDY
Bridesmaids
Crazy, Stupid, Love
Horrible Bosses
Midnight in Paris
The Muppets

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
In Darkness
Le Havre
A Separation
The Skin I Live In
Where Do We Go Now

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Buck
Cave of Forgotten Dreams
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
Page One: Inside the New York Times
Project Nim
Undefeated

BEST SONG
“Hello Hello” – performed by Elton John and Lady Gaga/written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin – Gnomeo & Juliet
“Life’s a Happy Song” – performed by Jason Segel, Amy Adams and Walter/written by Bret McKenzie – The Muppets
“The Living Proof” – performed by Mary J. Blige/written by Mary J. Blige, Thomas Newman and Harvey Mason, Jr. – The Help
“Man or Muppet” – performed by Jason Segel and Walter/written by Bret McKenzie – The Muppets
“Pictures in My Head” – performed by Kermit and the Muppets/written by Jeannie Lurie, Aris Archontis and Chen Neeman – The Muppets

BEST SCORE
“The Artist” – Ludovic Bource
“Drive” – Cliff Martinez
“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
“Hugo” – Howard Shore
“War Horse” – John Williams

20th Century Fox's 40-Year-Evolution "Planet of the Apes" box set was selected as a top Blu-ray release by the Broadcast Film Critics Association.

Regular readers know that I’m a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), which doles out the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards every year. Recently, the membership completed voting on the inaugural Critics’ Choice Best of Blu-ray competition, and the winners were announced this week. For the competition, several major studios submitted their favorite Blu-rays released between 2006 and 2011, and BFCA members voted on those titles, choosing “bests” for each year.

It’s important to note that not every studio competed in this competition and the nominees were self-selected by the movie studios.  The BFCA membership then chose its favorites from among the studio-selected nominees. Because the field of competitors was limited, it’s hard to call this an exhaustive best-of-the best list, but I do feel that all winners are worthwhile and serve as excellent examples of Blu-ray at its finest.

Following is a press release from the BFCA Web site with all winners announced …

FROM THE BFCA

Winners for the Broadcast Film Critics Association’s inaugural Critics’ Choice Best of Blu-ray were announced today (9/15). With the 5th anniversary of Blu-ray Disc™ in mind, the BFCA coordinated with the Blu-ray Disc Association to develop a Critics’ Choice list of the Top 5 titles from the first five years of Blu-ray Disc. The winners include:

2006/2007: 30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”

2008: 40-Year Evolution of “Planet of the Apes”

2009: 70th Anniversary “Wizard of Oz”

2010: TIE Francis Ford Coppola Presents “Apocalypse Now” AND James Cameron’s “Avatar”

2011: “The Lord of the Rings” The Motion Picture Trilogy

Since its introduction in mid-2006, more than 100 million Blu-ray players and more than 300 million discs have been sold worldwide. The format has brought films ranging from Hollywood classics to the latest blockbusters to living rooms across the globe in high definition. Members of the BFCA were given 32 Blu-ray Disc titles to consider. The titles selected as Critics’ Choice were chosen based not on box office or retail success, but rather, on the treatment and presentation of the film on Blu-ray Disc.

“The BFCA is proud to participate in this milestone anniversary in the history of the Blu-ray disc format,” noted BFCA president Joey Berlin. “This voting process enabling our members to use their critical prowess to alert the viewing public to a wide spectrum of motion picture achievement enhanced through the prism of this exciting technology.”

Criteria for evaluating and selecting the top five titles included:

* High definition picture quality

* Audio quality

* Use of Blu-ray’s capacity and technical capabilities to create compelling bonus features, whether interactive, internet connected or otherwise

* Overall artistic/aesthetic merit of the film

* Special treatment of the title (restoration of the original film, special edition packaging, etc.) believed to make the presentation and experience of the film on Blu-ray Disc extraordinary

“The Blu-ray Disc Association is pleased that the prestigious BFCA created the Critics’ Choice Best of Blu-ray list,” said Andy Parsons, U.S. Chairman, Blu-ray Disc Association Promotions Committee. “Their undeniable authority in this arena adds more reinforcement that consumers, critics and experts alike view Blu-ray Disc as the premier home entertainment technology.”

10. Secretariat

9. The Town

8. The Fighter

7. Kick-Ass

6. I’m Still Here

5. Black Swan

4. Toy Story 3

3. The King’s Speech

2. Inception

1. The Social Network

Kristoffer Polaha in "Life Unexpected."

When “Life Unexpected” premieres tonight on The CW, nobody will be more anxious to see the response than former Reno resident Kristoffer Polaha.

The 32-year-old actor stars in the series, along with Shiri Appleby (“Roswell”), Brittany Robertson (“Dan in Real Life”) and Kerr Smith (“Dawson’s Creek”), and he has high hopes for its future.

“So far, this has been a really cool experience, and we’re going to see what happens with the show next week,” he said. “It’s got a really great heart. Every script is better than the last one.”

Click here for full story: http://www.rgj.com/article/20100117/ENT/1170311/1056/Reno-native-Kristoffer-Polaha-has-high-hopes-for-latest-TV-outing

On video

“Orphan”: You’ll have to wait until Tuesday to catch this one, as that’s when it’s being released on Blu-ray and DVD. Don’t hesitate to put it on hold though. It’s the best horror film I’ve seen this year. Click here for the full story: http://www.rgj.com/article/20091025/ENT01/910250302/1056/ENT/Can-t-miss-horror-shows-for-big-and-small-screens