Posts Tagged ‘AFI’

A still from "Coraline"

The American Film Institute has released their choices for the top 10 films of 2009. The list comprises the following films (in alphabetical order):

Coraline, The Hangover, The Hurt Locker, The Messenger, Precious, A Serious Man, A Single Man, Sugar, Up, and Up in the Air.

Being that Up in the Air hasn’t yet been released into theaters nationwide, its inclusion on this list might act as great promotion and cause the film to have a bigger opening weekend than it would have. The Hangover might also enjoy boosted DVD sales.

Select groups representing these respective films will receive AFI’s awards at a ceremony in Los Angeles on January 5th.

Source: Variety

Quick Opinion: What the hell is The Hangover doing on this list? Certainly there were more deserving films that could have taken its spot in AFI’s top 10 of the year, such as Star Trek or Ingloureous Basterds, to name a few. But to play Devil’s advocate for a moment, many people have been lobbying for years for comedies to get more credit from organizations like AFI because while a successful comedy may not be “artistically superior” (as not every comedy can be Annie Hall) it nevertheless may be impressively effective in garnering the reactions its genre seeks to induce. To The Hangover‘s credit its reception was surprisingly positive from critics, and since its release it has penetrated pop culture thoroughly. Is this grounds for being mentioned with films like Precious, The Messenger, and Coraline? Tell us what you think.

Mike Nichols

Chair of the American Film Institute (AFI) Sir Howard Stringer made an announcement today that Mike Nichols will be honored with AFI’s 38th Life Achievement Award, which will be given out next summer in Los Angeles.

Nichols is one of few artists who have won an Oscar, an Emmy, a Grammy, and a Tony. He won the Best Director Oscar (1967) for The Graduate, two Emmys for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries (2001; 2004) for Wit and Angels in America, the Grammy for the 1960 Broadway show An Evening with Nichols and May, and Tonys for Best Directing for Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple, Plaza Suite, The Prisoner of Second Avenue, and Spamalot.

“Genius is a word oft overused in our world, but surely not in the case of Mike Nichols,” Howard Stringer, chair of the AFI board of trustees, said in announcing the honor. “His artistry has spanned the mediums of modern storytelling — movies, television and the stage — and his gifts across five decades continue to inspire artists and audiences alike.” Nichols said in response, “I’m surprised and pleased. The AFI award is truly an honor. I feel very blessed.” - Hollywood Reporter

The Life Achievement Award is the highest honor that AFI bestows.

Sources: Variety, Hollywood Reporter