Moneyball

CHICAGO – The Producers Guild of America announced their final nominees this morning for the Producers Guild Awards, celebrating the year of producing in film and television. While documentary film categories and multiple television categories had already been announced, the nominees for motion pictures, animated motion pictures, and long-form television were official this morning.

CHICAGO – As the days count down to the end of the year, it’s a perfect time for a countdown of the top ten films of 2011. Last week, Brian Tallerico of HollywoodChicago.com posted his 10 Best of 2011, and this week I pick my Top Ten Films of 2011, by Patrick McDonald.

CHICAGO – We could tell, very early on, that 2011 would be a stellar year for film. As the year opened, great genre product like “Source Code,” “Hanna,” and “The Adjustment Bureau” entertained viewers and critics alike, while art houses unspooled gems like “Certified Copy” and “Meek’s Cutoff.”

CHICAGO – Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life” led the way for film in the eyes of the Chicago Film Critics Association, as they have dubbed it the Best Picture of 2011. Malick also took Best Director for his long-delayed labor of love, while the CFCA also chose the cinematography and the work by Jessica Chastain as the Best Supporting Actress work of the year. “Drive” and “Martha Marcy May Marlene” came in second with two wins a piece.

CHICAGO – The Hollywood Foreign Press Association may have done nothing as soul crushing as the nominations for “Burlesque” and “The Tourist” last year but it’s not for lack of trying. Here are their ten biggest offenses, followed by the full list of nominees for this year’s Golden Globes.

CHICAGO – Nominations have just been released this morning for this year’s Critics’ Choice Awards, and some common trends in award ceremonies we have already seen continue in this set of nominees. With ten different Best Picture nominees and thirty different actors and actresses nominated, it is no surprise that there are some similarities.

CHICAGO – For the second week in a row, the animated DreamWorks feature “Puss in Boots” came in with the top spot at the weekend box office. The film, based on the feline character that originated in the “Shrek” series, totaled $33 million in its second week in theaters.

CHICAGO – Halloween weekend belonged to the cats this year as “Puss in Boots” beat out “Paranormal Activity 3” for the box office crown. The new animated feature starring a feline character that was first brought to us in the “Shrek” franchise proved that kids movies are still king of the box office of late.

CHICAGO – “Paranormal Activity 3” made record breaking audiences scream all weekend long and hauled in enough money to not only be named box office king for this weekend, but for all time from any September/October fall release.

CHICAGO- In the battle of boxing robots and dancing teens, the robots have won in a split decision. In its second weekend in theaters, “Real Steel” has won back-to-back box office bouts, winning this past weekend by a very close scorecard.