Elizabeth Olsen stars in the haunting trailer for Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)

This film looks absolutely riveting.  Kudos to the editor(s) who crafted the trailer, as it features creepy music and slowly building yet palpable tension.  Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize (GJP) at and winning the Directing Award at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) looks like another gem of an independent film thriller in the vein of last year’s GJP and screenwriting winner at Sundance Winter’s Bone (2010).  Similar to “making” Jennifer Lawrence, this indie flick allows Elizabeth Olsen, younger sister of the famous Mary Kate and Ashley, to prove her acting chops as her performance has been regarded as one of the year’s best and will likely garner an Oscar nomination.  The other obvious comparison, other than the settings, is supporting actor John Hawkes who appears as a country creeper once again and also should garner awards recognition.  In all, Martha Marcy May Marlene is pretty high on my list of Most Anticipated Films.

83rd Annual Academy Awards Nominations, Predictions, Polls, and Pre-Ceremony Analysis (UPDATED WITH RESULTS)

The 83^rd annual Academy Awards ceremony will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 27, 2011 at 8 PM EST; James Franco and Anne Hathaway will host the presentation. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), largely comprised of filmmaking professionals and executives who vote on the Oscars, announced this year’s nominations on January 25, 2011. To view previous years’ nominees, winners, and analysis, click here.

Included below is the list of Oscar nominees. I ranked the nominees in order of how likely they are to win in their respective categories, NOT in order of my preferences. Nonetheless, I have written some thoughts, notes, and perspectives (under some categories) regarding the nominees’ chances, histories, and which are my favorites.

Also, DON’T FORGET TO VOTE! – Please vote as if you were an AMPAS member and casting your own ballot, regardless of my predictions and what you think will win. Vote for what/who you think is the best in each category.

* I shall update this post after the presentation on February 27, 2011 to highlight the winners (in red). *

Film Review: Winter’s Bone

Despite its critical acclaim, Winter’s Bone has been a largely unknown film for mass audiences. This indie, with a budget of only about two million dollars, grossed approximately seven million dollars in its theatrical run; it is far from a Hollywood blockbuster. Nonetheless, the film, adapted from Daniel Woodrell’s 2006 novel of the same name, is destined for numerous award nominations. It has already won several accolades, including the 2010 Sundance Film Festival’s “Grand Jury Prize” (Best Dramatic Film) and “Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award” (Best Screenplay), and lead actress Jennifer Lawrence has been nominated for the Golden Globe’s Best Actress. I missed the chance to see the film in theaters during the summer but finally watched it recently. Winter’s Bone is an absorbing, atmospheric drama-thriller led by an excellent, breakthrough performance by Lawrence.