Amour

Rating: 4.5/5.0

CHICAGO – One of the most shocking developments at yesterday’s Oscar nominations was the widespread inclusion of one of international cinema’s most controversial directors, Michael Haneke (“Caché,” “The White Ribbon”). His newest film, “Amour,” opening in Chicago theaters today, was nominated for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Picture of the Year.

CHICAGO – It’s that weird time of year where movie fans around the world try to capture different projects from different parts of the world with entirely different motives and compare them as if they were the same. What does a sci-fi instant classic like “Looper” have in common with a personal piece like “Beasts of the Southern Wild”?

CHICAGO – Kathryn Bigelow’s “Zero Dark Thirty,” opening locally on January 4th but screened early for critics, was the big winner for the Chicago Film Critics Association in 2012, winning Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing.

CHICAGO – Paul Thomas Anderson’s divisive “The Master” led the 2012 Chicago Film Critics Association nominees on Friday morning with a stunning ten.

CHICAGO – After receiving eight previous prizes at the Cannes Film Festival, German filmmaker Michael Haneke became the first person in history to win the Palme d’Or twice within a mere three-year period. Haneke snagged the top prize at Cannes for “Amour,” a widely praised drama about an elderly couple whose love is challenged by the physical frailties of age.