One Of These 20 People Will Probably Win Best Director At The 2015 Oscars

November 24, 2014, 10:59 am

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Welcome to For Your Consideration, HuffPost Entertainment's breakdown of all things Oscar. Between now and Feb. 22, 2015, entertainment managing editor Christopher Rosen and entertainment editor Matthew Jacobs will pore over awards season and discuss which films will make the most noise at the 87th annual Academy Awards.

One of the year's most well-regarded directors took 12 years to make his movie. Another spent $165 million constructing new planets and advanced dimensions. Yet another took mere weeks to make a feverish film about jazz for just over $3 million. Now they may find themselves newly minted Oscar nominees. This year's Best Director crop could make history: Ava DuVernay may become the first black female nominee, and if Angelina Jolie joins her, it will be the first time in history that two women are recognized in the same year. But unlike Best Actor and Best Actress, this category's odds are more of a gamble. Regardless, when the Oscar nominations are announced Jan. 15, 2015, here are the 20 people most likely to garner recognition as Best Director:

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Welp, A Lego Strip Club Is A Thing That Exists

November 24, 2014, 11:32 am

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This unofficial Lego strip club features the popular G-rated toys wearing G-strings.

The set, produced by Citizen Brick, includes four minifigures and a club with zebra-print couches and a pole. And like a night at an exotic dance joint, these Legos aren't cheap: The whole thing costs $275.



Citizen Brick owner Joe Trupia told The Huffington Post he's sold a few hundred so far. The company has been customizing Legos since 2010. It produced a popular "Breaking Bad"-like set last year.

"We're fanatically doing things that Lego wouldn't do," Trupia told HuffPost.



The latest, called "The Citizen Brick Center for the Performing Arts," is a "place where dreamers can dream, and dancers can dance," the site's copy reads.



Lego keeps close tabs on Citizen Bricks's doings, Trupia said. The company even supplied the disclaimer on Citizen Brick's site to emphasize that the products are not endorsed by Lego. He confessed he's not sure what Lego's reaction will be to his latest venture.



The Huffington Post reached out to Lego for comment but didn't immediately hear back.

H/T Design Taxi

Lauren Bacall's $26 Million Upper West Side Apartment Is For Sale

November 24, 2014, 12:06 pm

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The New York City apartment of legendary screen actress Lauren Bacall was placed on the market for $26 million earlier this month by listing agent Rebecca Edwardson of Warburg Realty. The apartment is located in The Dakota, the iconic New York building considered one of the city's most exclusive and luxurious residential properties.

Bacall, who purchased the residence soon after Humphrey Bogart's death, lived in Apartment 43 until her death earlier this year. Now, the sprawling apartment overlooking Central Park is being listed by Warburg Realty.


An image of the actress at her home, 1 West 72nd Street

Most of the three bedroom, three-and-a-half bath apartment is outfitted in mahogany and beautiful hardwood floors. The pre-war apartment has nine rooms total, five of which overlook the park. The residence also boasts 13-foot ceilings, multiple fireplaces, a Juliet balcony, library, gallery, "Great Room" and formal dining room.

The Dakota opened in 1884 and was designed by Henry J. Hardenbergh, the same architect responsible for The Plaza Hotel. Since its opening, The Dakota has been home to multiple celebrities and members of the arts, including John Lennon, who was shot outside the building in 1980.

Edwardson told HuffPost Home via email that “No furniture is being offered, though some of it will be available for purchase through the upcoming Bonhams auction."

Take a look at some photos of Bacall's former apartment below.

The Undeniable Cuteness That Is Puppies Wearing Disney Costumes In Slow Motion

November 24, 2014, 1:21 pm

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Need a paw-filled pick-me-up? Well, prepare yourself for puppies -- in Disney costumes.

Yes, these little pups recreate classics from "Frozen" to "The Little Mermaid" through clothing and cuteness. And if you're worried about all the fun happening too quickly, don't fret: it's in glorious slow motion.

We don't know about you, but we think this one's a ringer for Ariel.



H/T Tastefully Offensive

This Is What Thanksgiving Looked Like 100 Years Ago

November 25, 2014, 6:09 am

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Today, when we dream of Thanksgiving feasts, we envision impossibly overstuffed turkeys, Macy's Day parade crowds and daunting lines queuing up on retail blocks across the country. It's a far cry from the masked balls, costume processions and penny scrambles that dominated fall festivities 100 years ago.

Behold, the Thanksgiving maskers of the early 1900s:


Thanksgiving Maskers via Bain News Service/Library of Congress

We came across the above image courtesy of Greg Young, a writer for The Bowery Boys: New York City History, who recently paid homage to the forgotten custom of masking in a blog post for The Huffington Post. As Young pointed out, before Macy's launched its annual parade in 1924, Americans celebrated by dressing up and staging crawls in places like New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago. They would "scramble for pennies" and move from home to home "begging" for treats -- a practice eerily similar to Halloween.


Thanksgiving Maskers via Bain News Service/Library of Congress

NPR elaborated on the images, noting a New York Times article from 1911 that described the maskers as "fantastically garbed youngsters and their elders" who could be found on every street corner. Those same folks would toss confetti and flour, buy papier-mache masks and, in NYC in particular, dress like ragamuffins, hence the holiday's nickname, Ragamuffin Day.


Thanksgiving Maskers via Bain News Service/Library of Congress

Portraits of maskers have been preserved in the Library of Congress' online archives -- part of the George Grantham Bain collection. Captured by one of America's earliest news picture agencies, the series of 20th century photos documents everything from natural disasters to women's suffrage campaigns to New York City sporting events. Of the 39,744 negatives and 1,600 photographic prints made available from Bain News Service, a handful of photographs memorializes Thanksgiving celebrations from 1910 to 1915.


Thanksgiving Maskers via Bain News Service/Library of Congress

In the grander scheme of Thanksgiving history, these photos illuminate a time after Yale and Princeton popularized Thanksgiving Day football games in 1876. But it would be a few years until Gimbel's deemed Thanksgiving the perfect time for Santa's first appearance of the year. Of course, Thanksgiving revelers of the early 1900s were just as enthusiastic about food as we are today. Below, you can catch a glimpse of what turkey shopping looked like a century ago.


Thanksgiving Maskers via Bain News Service/Library of Congress


Thanksgiving Maskers via Bain News Service/Library of Congress


Thanksgiving Maskers via Bain News Service/Library of Congress


Thanksgiving Maskers via Bain News Service/Library of Congress


Thanksgiving Maskers via Bain News Service/Library of Congress


Thanksgiving Maskers via Bain News Service/Library of Congress


Thanksgiving turkey shopping via Bain News Service/Library of Congress


Thanksgiving turkey shopping via Bain News Service/Library of Congress

Dutch Artist Tests The Limits Of Human Skin In The Perfect Anti-Photoshop Series

November 25, 2014, 6:18 am

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In contemporary culture, we're all too used to seeing human skin smoothed out, cleared up, airbrushed and Photoshopped, until what was once fuzzy flesh with all its singular bumps and marks is made to resemble a flawless spread of plastic.

If you've just about had it with the ways skin is often depicted, allow Dutch artist Juuke Schoorl to give you a taste of something completely different. Her photography series "Rek," which translates to stretch, extends the aesthetic possibilities of skin, quite literally.



"I was inspired by the materiality of the human skin and how it reacts to external stimuli," the artist explained to The Huffington Post. "The adaptability of this curious stretchable material amazed me and I realized it is much more malleable than we usually notice or realize."

Instead of minimizing the more peculiar aspects of human skin, Schoorl brings any oddities or idiosyncrasies to surreal new heights. Using low budget supplies like nylon fishing rope and cellotape, she makes a canvas out of the human body, warping its slippery surface into surprising shapes and textures. Schoorl explained her intent to capture "not only [skin's] inherent flexibility and adaptability but also accentuate it’s function as our own biological upholstery. And possibly allow speculation about new aesthetic applications."

Schoorl's DIY special effects capture the alien nature of the biological structure that encases our insides. "By showing it in a photographic or aesthetic context instead of a medical or scientific one I hope people get a new appreciation for this familiar organ." Take a look at Schoorl's anti-Photoshopped images below and let us know your thoughts.

Jennifer Aniston And Lisa Kudrow Curse At Each Other On 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'

November 25, 2014, 7:11 am

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Two of the "Friends" cast reunited Monday night for some very unfriendly behavior. Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow faced each other in a "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" segment called "Celebrity Curse Off." In the game, each participant gets five seconds to craft an original phrase directed at their opponent. As would be expected from the funny "Friends" ladies, the creations get pretty out there.

If the video proves anything, it's that even in the midst of throwing jabs, these two have totally infectious chemistry.

Ferguson Now Has the Most Powerful Street Art in America

November 25, 2014, 8:09 am

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By now, you've heard what happened in Ferguson. The nation watched with shock Aug. 9 as the police shooting of an unarmed 18-year-old morphed into a law enforcement crackdown, tear gas canisters sailing through the air and rubber bullets hammering the bodies of protesting residents.

For more than a week, the city of 21,000 became occupied territory. Now it waits anxiously as a grand jury decides whether to indict Officer Darren Wilson in Michael Brown's death.

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This Is How You Change When You Go From High School To College

November 25, 2014, 8:26 am

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If the high school you and the college you met, would they recognize each other? Probably not.

BuzzFeed is here to provide a few examples of the personality transformations that higher education can bring.

Being on time for class? No longer a priority.

Talking to crushes? Way easier -- with a little bit of liquid courage.

Moms? No longer so annoying.

We can definitely relate.

11 Realizations That Will Change The Way You Think About Your Favorite Movies

November 25, 2014, 8:29 am

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How did we all miss these things the first time? There are certain gaping plot holes in movies that make you question larger aspects of the premise. Couldn't Rose have fit Jack onto that floating door? How did the Karate Kid win with a kick to the face when that was strictly forbidden?

These are not those plot holes. Instead, we give you some peculiar realizations about certain blockbuster movies that probably won't ruin them for you forever, but might make you think twice the next time you watch:



1. The promoter in "School of Rock," who convinced all those adults to show up to a local Battle of the Bands on a weekday morning, deserves a raise.



The climactic scene would have been way less fun to watch if the band of kids had been playing to a more realistic crowd of their parents, miscellaneous event staff and maybe a handful of others. Instead they played to thousands of people who not only showed up, but didn't just wait outside for their friend's band to play. Those kids will probably never see such a big crowd again.

Reddit: Andy Vale



2. The supercouple name for Katniss and Peeta from "The Hunger Games" would either be Katpee or Peeniss.



"KATPEE: READY TO SPLIT?"
"PEENISS: FROM TEARS TO TRIUMPH!!"
Both would be hilarious on the cover of tabloids.

Reddit: beinagrind_i_skapnum



3. Willy Wonka got really lucky that all those Golden Ticket winners spoke English.



Although the Wonka chocolate bars were sold all over the world, the winners were German, English and American -- not including the Paraguayan millionaire who tried to forge his way to victory. Since Willy Wonka is attempting to give the company over to the winner, this lack of language barrier worked out very conveniently.

Reddit: surfkaboom



4. The other elves totally could have made Buddy his own furniture, since they were such good craftspeople.



They couldn't have taken, like, one afternoon off from building tchotchkes to make a proper bathroom for poor Buddy?

Image: New Line Cinema



5. The lobsters in the Titanic's kitchen really lucked out when the ship sank.



Maybe the crippling rubber bands on their claws still would have led to their demise, but it's a nice thought that some creatures may have benefitted from the downfall of the ship. It's also questionable whether live or frozen lobsters were served on the menu, but for a fictional account of what it was like to be a lobster on the ship, you can read the "erotic masterpiece" novel, "Lobster."

Reddit: ElBretto



6. For a movie about street racing, there isn't a single pothole in "The Fast and the Furious."



These cars are going fast both through city streets and highways, often with no pre-planned route mapped out as they're in pursuit or evading a chase. Surely our infrastructure isn't so pristine that they can keep driving so furiously smooth.



7. If "Carrie" were rated G, it'd basically be "Matilda."



One of these movies stars a young girl with an unsatisfying home life who uses her newfound special powers to trick school administrators and parents. The other is the same thing with a lot more pig blood.

Reddit: Astrokiwi
Image: WikiCommons, WikiCommons.



8. The Monsters, Inc. employees probably walked in on a lot of kids "growing up."



Let's not think about this too much, but sneaking unannounced into the rooms of children probably led to quite a few awkward moments where everyone involved was scared.



9. If Luke Skywalker was supposed to be hiding from Darth Vader as a kid, he probably shouldn't have kept his father's last name.



Luke and his sister, Leia, were supposed to have died with their mother, but were secretly hidden away in the galaxy so Anakin Skywalker, aka Darth Vader, didn't know about their existence. Choosing to hide Luke as a Skywalker on Vader's home planet probably shouldn't have worked.

Flickr: xadrian



10. "Catfish" is like a more honest remake of "You've Got Mail."



Now that we've all got to experience the internet for a couple more decades, the believability that both Shopgirl and NY152 were people as delightful as Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks seems pretty improbably. "The F-O-X and the Catfish" would probably be a much more fitting movie title.



11. How easy would it have been for Voldemort to do an Accio spell on Harry Potter's glasses?

Or alternately...



Those glasses were muggle-made, so didn't come with any pre-existing charms to prevent looting. That said, as the image above suggests, Harry Potter could have also just brought a gun to the wand fight.



BONUS: Iron Man's suit isn't actually made out of iron.



On the Marvel website, it's explained that the suit is not made of iron "because iron is very dense and heavy, it rusts and isn't nearly as hard as some of its own alloys such as steel." The site suggests the suit is probably made of an alloy called nitinol. "Here comes Nitinol Man" just doesn't have the same ring to it though.


All images Getty unless otherwise stated.

One Artist Explains How Ferguson Revealed The Truth About Police In America

November 25, 2014, 8:45 am

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It's been more than three months since Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson shot an unarmed black teenager named Michael Brown. The young man's death sparked protests around the country, and a national debate on race and the role of law enforcement in the United States unfolded in the news and on social media.

Ahead of the grand jury's decision this week not to indict Wilson for killing 18-year-old Brown, artist Molly Crabapple released a stunning time-lapse video that documents -- in a series of handmade illustrations -- the unrest that has unfolded since August 9. The four-minute clip, titled "How Ferguson Showed Us The Truth About Police," reveals the power of art activism today.



Crabapple is known for combining the visual potency of illustration with on-the-ground reporting to create unique coverage of global events. From images of refugee camps in Syria to Guantanamo Bay to labor camps in Abu Dhabi, her paintings and sketches stand as moving portraits of the injustices occurring around the world.

"On August 9th, Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson shot a black teenager named Mike Brown," Crabapple narrates in the video above. "Since then, the city has been protesting. The police did not react well."

H/T Fusion

'Birdman' Screenwriters Discuss The Film's Ambiguous Ending

November 25, 2014, 8:50 am

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This post contains spoilers about the end of "Birdman"

If you're still trying to figure out exactly what to make of the last shot in "Birdman," you've made its screenwriters very happy.

The film ends on an ambiguous note after protagonist Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) lands in the hospital. His daughter, Sam (Emma Stone), returns to find the room empty, and the rest is up to the viewer. HuffPost Live's Ricky Camilleri discussed the thought-provoking climax on Monday with Alexander Dinelaris Jr. and Nicolas Giacobone, two of the film's four writers.

Dinelaris said "a few different approaches" were considered, including finishes that felt satirical or dramatic, before the writers settled on what made the final script.

"We're not going to sit around and explain the ending. I guess my thing is, if you can silence the voice of mediocrity, then what is possible? [That] is good enough for me," Dinelaris said. "But we thought if we answered that question at the end, it would seem very, very small. Is he famous because he shot himself? That's small. Is he still miserable? That's small. Everything seemed small."

Ultimately the writers decided to go with an ending that felt in keeping with the film's central questions and lined up with the elements of magical realism established by director Alejandro González Iñárritu.

"It goes back to Alejandro because he starts the movie on ... this character Riggan Thomson floating in his underwear three feet above the ground. That's inexplicable. At that moment, it's inexplicable. The last moment is inexplicable. They have to be, because in a way that's Alejandro just trying to express that sense of confusion about what he is in his own life," Dinelaris said.

And if you need more proof that there's no single answer about what it means, look no further than Giacobone. "I'm still trying to figure it out," he said.

Click here for the full HuffPost Live conversation with the writers of "Birdman."

Sign up here for Live Today, HuffPost Live’s morning email that will let you know the newsmakers, celebrities and politicians joining us that day and give you the best clips from the day before!

The 'Jurassic World' Trailer Has Been Cooked Up In That Lab

November 25, 2014, 9:17 am

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The first full "Jurassic World" trailer is here ahead of its expected Thanksgiving Day premiere. Not only do we get a look at the new park, which is now a legit theme park with echoes of SeaWorld, but allusions to new kind of creature.

Forget the T-Rex, now there's a new hybrid dinosaur that has been created by the humans of "Jurassic World." It's highly intelligent animal that a very serious Chris Pratt says will "kill anything that moves." If you thought the kitchen scene from "Jurassic Park" was intense, it looks like "World" is only going to make things scarier. Run.

Watch the trailer below. "Jurassic World" opens on June 12, 2015.

First 'Pan' Trailer Introduces Us To Neverland

November 25, 2014, 9:27 am

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Warner Bros. released the first trailer for the Peter Pan origin film, "Pan." Hugh Jackman stars as the villainous pirate, Blackbeard, whose cronies capture young orphans, like our favorite fairytale tween, played by Levi Miller. In the new footage, we see Peter's kidnapping, meet Rooney Mara's Tiger Lily, Garrett Hedlund's James Hook -- a young Captain Hook -- and are introduced to Pan's mother, Mary (Amanda Seyfried). Oh, and Cara Delevigne is a mermaid. Directed by Joe Wright, "Pan" is due out July 2015.

Johnny Depp Cares Enough To 'Not Give A F--k' Anymore

November 25, 2014, 10:05 am

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Much has been said about Johnny Depp's movie choices over the past few years. "Why Are All of Johnny Depp’s Movies Bombing at the Box Office?" asked the Daily Beast in April. "The Johnny Depp Backlash Is Justified: He’s Lost His ’90s Cool," Flavorwire wrote, echoing sentiments from The Huffington Post when "The Lone Ranger" opened in July 2013.

Now, in a new Details cover story, Depp addresses his own so-called career slump, during which his résumé has been loaded with movies like "The Tourist," "Transcendence" and a fourth "Pirates of the Caribbean" installment. As it turns out, his mantra is something along the lines of "Who cares!"

"What is really satisfying is, like Marlon [Brando], getting to that place where he just didn't give a fuck," Depp said. "First, I reached a point where I cared so much and was so diligent in terms of approaching the work. Then you get to where you care so fucking much that it gets goddamn beleaguering, you know? But then a great thing happens. Suddenly you care enough to not give a fuck, because not giving a fuck, that's the total liberation. Being game to try anything."

Trying anything, in terms of Depp's immediate future, means playing the Big Bad Wolf in December's big-screen adaptation of "Into the Woods," a Nazi-era art dealer in the January comedy "Mortdecai" and, of course, more "Alice in Wonderland" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies. Perhaps his role as organized-crime big shot Whitey Bulger, in next year's "Black Mass," will recall Depp's better days.

And even if it doesn't, he'll be fine: "For everybody, the clock's ticking," he said. "The main thing is whether you sit there and stare at the clock in fear of your ultimate demise -- which is pointless -- or you just live."

To read the full profile of Johnny Depp, head over to Details.

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'Birdman,' 'Boyhood' Among Top 2015 Independent Spirit Award Nominees

November 25, 2014, 10:40 am

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"Birdman" "Boyhood," "Selma" and "Nightcrawler" lead this year's Independent Spirit Award nominations, announced Tuesday afternoon. Rosario Dawson and Diego Luna revealed the list for the 30th annual awards in Hollywood.

Those four movies, along with "Whiplash" and "Love is Strange," held onto expectations that they'd make sizable showings in the 2015 Indie Spirit crop. "The Imitation Game," "Wild," "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby" and "St. Vincent" were shut out entirely, while "Foxcatcher" netted the Special Distinction Award but was ineligible in other categories.

Often seen as sending awards season into hyperdrive, the Indie Spirit Awards are the first major nominations announced each year. They champion American films made for less than $20 million, which allow certain movies too low-key or off-kilter for the Oscars' radar to earn awards glory.

This year's nominees include Jenny Slate ("Obvious Child"), Jake Gyllenhaal ("Nightcrawler") and John Lithgow ("Love is Strange"), all of whom have notched spots on Oscar wish lists but are unlikely to prevail when the Academy Award nods arrive on Jan. 15. Indie Spirit trends have shifted in recent years, however, with the nominees more closely reflecting the Oscars. Last year, all four acting awards echoed the Oscar recipients (Matthew McConaughey, Cate Blanchett, Jared Leto, Lupita Nyong'o) for the first time in the awards' history. Julianne Moore ("Still Alice"), Michael Keaton ("Birdman") and Patricia Arquette ("Boyhood") are among this year's nominees widely expected to garner Oscar attention as well.

Read on for the full list of Independent Spirit nominees. The awards will be handed out on Feb. 21, the night before the Oscars.

BEST FEATURE
"Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)"
"Boyhood"
"Love is Strange"
"Selma"
"Whiplash"

BEST DIRECTOR
Damien Chazelle, "Whiplash"
Ava DuVernay, "Selma"
Alejandro G. Iñárritu, "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)"
Richard Linklater, "Boyhood"
David Zellner, "Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter"

BEST SCREENPLAY
Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski, "Big Eyes"
J.C. Chandor, "A Most Violent Year"
Dan Gilroy, "Nightcrawler"
Jim Jarmusch, "Only Lovers Left Alive"
Ira Sachs & Mauricio Zacharias, "Love is Strange"

BEST FIRST FEATURE
"A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night" (Director: Ana Lily Amirpour; Producers: Justin Begnaud, Sina Sayyah)
"Dear White People" (Director/Producer: Justin Simien; Producers: Effie T. Brown, Ann Le, Julia Lebedev, Angel Lopez, Lena Waithe)
"Nightcrawler" (Director: Dan Gilroy; Producers: Jennifer Fox, Tony Gilroy, Jake Gyllenhaal, David Lancaster, Michel Litvak)
"Obvious Child" (Director: Gillian Robespierre; Producer: Elisabeth Holm)
"She's Lost Control" (Director/Producer: Anja Marquardt; Producers: Mollye Asher, Kiara C. Jones)

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Desiree Akhavan, "Appropriate Behavior"
Sara Colangelo, "Little Accidents"
Justin Lader, "The One I Love"
Anja Marquardt, "She's Lost Control"
Justin Simien, "Dear White People"

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000)
"Blue Ruin"
"It Felt Like Love"
"Land Ho!""
"Man From Reno
"Test"

BEST FEMALE LEAD
Marion Cotillard, "The Immigrant"
Rinko Kikuchi, "Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter"
Julianne Moore, "Still Alice"
Jenny Slate, "Obvious Child"
Tilda Swinton, "Only Lovers Left Alive"

BEST MALE LEAD
André Benjamin, "Jimi: All Is By My Side"
Jake Gyllenhaal, "Nightcrawler"
Michael Keaton, "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)"
John Lithgow, "Love is Strange"
David Oyelowo, "Selma"

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood"
Jessica Chastain, "A Most Violent Year"
Carmen Ejogo, "Selma"
Andrea Suarez Paz, "Stand Clear of the Closing Doors"
Emma Stone, "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)"

BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Riz Ahmed, "Nightcrawler"
Ethan Hawke, "Boyhood"
Alfred Molina, "Love is Strange"
Edward Norton, "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)"
J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Darius Khondji, "The Immigrant"
Emmanuel Lubezki, "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)"
Sean Porter, "It Felt Like Love"
Lyle Vincent, "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night"
Bradford Young, "Selma"

BEST EDITING
Sandra Adair, "Boyhood"
Tom Cross, "Whiplash"
John Gilroy, "Nightcrawler"
Ron Patane, "A Most Violent Year"
Adam Wingard, "The Guest"

BEST DOCUMENTARY
"20,000 Days on Earth"
"CITIZENFOUR"
"Stray Dog"
"The Salt of the Earth"
"Virunga"

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
"Force Majeure" (Sweden)
"Ida" (Poland)
"Leviathan" (Russia)
"Mommy" (Canada)
"Norte, the End of History" (Philippines)
"Under the Skin" (United Kingdom)

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD (Given to one film's director, casting director and ensemble cast)
"Inherent Vice"
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Casting Director: Cassandra Kulukundis
Ensemble Cast: Josh Brolin, Martin Donovan, Jena Malone, Joanna Newsom, Joaquin Phoenix, Eric Roberts, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short Serena Scott Thomas, Benicio Del Toro, Katherine Waterston, Michael Kenneth Williams, Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon

SPECIAL DISTINCTION AWARD
"Foxcatcher"
Director/Producer: Bennett Miller
Producers: Anthony Bregman, Megan Ellison, Jon Kilik
Writers: E. Max Frye, Dan Futterman
Actors: Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum

18th ANNUAL PIAGET PRODUCERS AWARD (Honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality, independent films)
Chad Burris
Elisabeth Holm
Chris Ohlson

21st ANNUAL KIEHL'S SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD
Ana Lily Amirpour, "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night"
Rania Attieh & Daniel Garcia, "H."
Chris Eska, "The Retrieval"

20th ANNUAL LENSCRAFTERS TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD (Presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition)
Amanda Rose Wilder, "Approaching the Elephant"
Darius Clark Monroe, "Evolution of a Criminal"
Dan Krauss, "The Kill Team"

Beacon's 'L1' EP Gravitates Toward The Dance Floor As The Duo Redirects Their Orbit

November 25, 2014, 12:41 pm

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Brooklyn-based duo Beacon -- Thomas Mullarney III and Jacob Gossett -- are preparing to release their fourth studio product and third EP, "L1," next week, and The Huffington Post is pleased to premiere the exclusive stream of the record.



After several months of touring, Beacon decided to design their new EP with the live reinterpretation in mind, Gossett explained. Seeking out a more dance floor-friendly vibe, they started experimenting with new gear and considered expanding their live members -- contemplating a drummer first -- and reconstructed their sound from there. The result is a medley of minimal, hard-hitting beats and vaporous R&B that is as balancing as it is frantic.

The EP opens with some metallic clankering, gradually building up layer after layer of synth and skittering percussion until it swirls into a wall of noise at its end. The title track keeps things smooth with a more straightforward stream of shakes and snare snaps, while "Minor Structures" kicks things up a notch by offering the project's most quick-paced drumbeat. "Better Love" slows things down before heading into the final track, "Only Us," which carefully climaxes into the most uplifting moment on the EP.

Mullarney explained that he and Gossett felt a strong kinetic energy surrounding their new sonic space and how it helped lead to the thematic concept of "L1." “L1 is a point in space that is part of the Lagrange points, which are these different points of space around two gravitational bodies that transfix and pull anything that’s caught in-between them in weird ways," he said. "These Lagrange points have a history in science-fiction and sort of run the gamut in philosophical and scientific meaning.”

Mullarney continued: “Lyrically, I kind of always want this music to sit in a place where people can reveal their mysteries to others on their own terms. That’s why something like L1 is this perfect sort of place. It’s just enough where people can read into it and find their own meaning."

"L1" will be available on Dec. 2 via Ghostly Internationl, and you can pre-order the EP.



Before The Beat Drops is an artist introduction series dedicated to bringing you the rising acts before they make their break. Our unlimited access to music of all kinds is both amazing and overwhelming. Keeping your playlists fresh, we'll be doing the leg work to help you discover your next favorite artist.

The Best Thanksgiving TV Marathons To Be Thankful For

November 25, 2014, 2:36 pm

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Thanksgiving is on the way, which means a whole lot of chit-chat with the relatives. In case you're in need of a family activity that lets everyone take a break from small talk, check out one of our favorite TV marathons airing this Thursday, neatly categorized for all your holiday needs:

All In The Family
Shows you probably won't feel weird watching with your parents.



"The Middle" (ABC Family, 7a.m.-9:30 a.m.)
"Friends" (TBS, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.)
"Modern Family" (USA, 10 a.m.-midnight)
"Friday Night Lights" (Pivot, 10 a.m. -9 p.m.)
"The Andy Griffith Show" (TV Land, 12 p.m.-3 p.m.)
"The Simpsons" (FXX, 4p.m. – 10p.m., followed by "The Simpsons Movie")
"The Brady Bunch" (TV Land, 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m.)

Eyes Glued To The Screen
When the sitcoms get too corny, switch to to these suspenseful options.



"Jurassic Park" (AMC, 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday)
"Transporter: The Series" (TNT, 11 a.m.-11:03 p.m.)

Keeping It Real
Fans of reality TV and docu-series have a lot to be thankful for this year.



"Swamp People" (History, 7 a.m.-4 p.m.)
"North America" (10 a.m.-2 p.m., Animal Planet)
"Food Paradise" (Travel Channel, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.)
"Alaska: The Last Frontier (Discovery Channel, 12 p.m.-3 a.m. Friday)
"Nature's Weirdest" (BBC America, 12p.m.-midnight)
"River Monsters: Unhooked" (Animal Planet, 2 p.m.-8 p.m)
"The Millionaire Matchmaker" (Bravo, 3 p.m.-10:30 p.m.)

Quirky LOLs
Programming for families who sport of lot of thick-rimmed glasses.



"Adventure Time" (Cartoon Network, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.)
"Portlandia" (IFC, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.)

BONUS: Weekend Highlights
Our favorite picks from Friday, Saturday and Sunday.



"Buffy The Vampire Slayer" (Pivot, Friday, 9 a.m-10 p.m.)
"Gilligan's Island" (TV Land, Friday, 3 p.m.-9 p.m.)
"The Matrix" (AMC, Saturday 11 a.m.-5 a.m. Sunday)
"Veronica Mars" (Pivot, Saturday 12 p.m.-5 p.m.)
"Homeland" (Showtime, Saturday 3 p.m.-midnight)
"Sleepless In Seattle," (WeTV, Saturday 3:00pm-1 a.m. Sunday
"Walking Dead" (AMC, Sunday 2 p.m.-10 p.m.)
"Real Housewives of Atlanta" (Bravo, Sunday 3 p.m-11:30pm)

All listings Eastern Time.

See Jennifer Aniston Buzzed-About Transformation In 'Cake'

November 25, 2014, 2:59 pm

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Jennifer Aniston's role in "Cake" has been hyped for months and early Oscar conversations already put her in the running for a Best Actress nod. Thanks to a new trailer, Aniston's awards push has effectively begun in earnest.

Aniston plays Claire Simmons in the film, a pill-addled woman who becomes obsessed with a member of her support group who committed suicide (Anna Kendrick). Sam Worthington, Felicity Huffman, Chris Messina, William H. Macy, Mamie Gummer and Adriana Barraza also star. "Cake" has a limited Oscar-qualifying run in December; it opens in wider release in 2015.


More ABC US news | ABC World News

Ridley Scott Addresses 'Exodus' Casting Controversy

November 26, 2014, 6:20 am

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Following months of backlash, Ridley Scott has finally addressed the casting controversies surrounding "Exodus." In an interview with Variety, Scott said the reason he cast white actors to play Egyptians in his Biblical film was because of monetary considerations.

"I can't mount a film of this budget, where I have to rely on tax rebates in Spain, and say that my lead actor is Mohammad so-and-so from such-and-such," Scott told Variety. "I'm just not going to get it financed. So the question doesn't even come up."

Scott's film cost near $200 million before European tax credits pushed the eventual reported budget down to $140 million. Christian Bale plays Moses in the film, with white actors such as Joel Edgerton (as Ramses), Sigourney Weaver (as Tuya), John Turturro (as Seti I) and Aaron Paul (as Joshua) filling out other major roles. Non-white actors with significant parts in "Exodus: Gods and Kings" include Ben Kingsley, María Valverde and Hiam Abbass. (Black actors were seemingly cast as slaves and servants.)

"Ridley Scott is one of those guys who’s apparently hellbent on historical accuracy but doesn’t care enough to cast a person of color as Moses or a goddamn African queen while simultaneously filling out the rest of the movie with Black servants and thieves," David Dennis Jr. wrote in a post on Medium. "But to make the main characters white and everyone else African is cinematic colonialism. It’s creating a piece of historical 'art' that carries on oppressive imagery that’s helped shackle entire countries and corners of the world."

Scott had previously commented on his cast, but not the controversy, in an interview with Yahoo! Australia:

Egypt was –- as it is now -– a confluence of cultures, as a result of being a crossroads geographically between Africa, the Middle East and Europe. We cast major actors from different ethnicities to reflect this diversity of culture, from Iranians to Spaniards to Arabs. There are many different theories about the ethnicity of the Egyptian people, and we had a lot of discussions about how to best represent the culture.

For more from Scott, head to Variety. "Exodus: Gods and Kings" is out on Dec. 12.