The Caped Crusader may be adept at saving those in peril, but Batman has quite a sordid past with the Oscars.

Granted, the movies themselves have run the gamut from terrible to good to brilliant.

Batman’s first Oscar came in 1989 when Tim Burton’s “Batman” won an Academy Award for Art Direction, its sole nomination that year. The film, starring Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson and Kim Basinger, was critically lauded for its visuals and panned for its story. It was the No. 1 movie at the box office that year. The next Batman film to do so would be “The Dark Knight” in 2008.

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The only acting Academy Award nomination — and win — given to a Batman movie was presented posthumously to Heath Ledger for his supporting performance as the Joker in “The Dark Knight.”

Critics and fans alike were shocked when the Christopher Nolan sequel did not receive a Best Picture nomination in 2009 for the 81st Academy Awards. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which puts on the Oscars, later expanded the category to include more than five nominees with the hope of including more popular films.

This expansion could prove lucrative for director Nolan and his final Batman movie in the trilogy, “The Dark Knight Rises,” out nationwide July 20. Nolan’s most recent film, “Inception,” received critical acclaim and eight nominations, including Best Picture, and four Oscar statuettes. Nolan, however, was shut out of the Best Director race. One of his go-to cinematographers, Wally Pfister, won the Oscar in his category.

Nominations are not announced until Jan. 15, 2013, and there is still a barrage of movies to be released in this calendar year. But if “The Dark Knight Rises” is critically acclaimed and well-received, Academy members may just give Batman his due.

Oscar nominations:

“Batman” 1989 (62nd Oscars):

Art Direction (winner)

“Batman Returns” 1992 (65th):

Makeup, Visual Effects, Cinematography, Sound, Sound Effects Editing

“Batman Begins” 2005 (78th)

Cinematography (Wally Pfister)

The Dark Knight” 2008 (81st)

Supporting Actor (Heath Ledger, winner), Art Direction, Cinematography (Wally Pfister), Film Editing, Makeup, Sound Editing (winner), Sound Mixing, Visual Effects

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On the web and on air: Look for Film Editor James A. Molnar’s full review of “The Dark Knight Rises” at 12:01 a.m. Friday on www.toledofreepress.com/movies. He will also discuss the film on “WNWO Today” around 5:50 a.m. Friday on NBC 24.

Tags: Academy Awards, Batman, Christopher Nolan, Heath Ledger, Inception, Jack Nicholson, James A. Molnar, Kim Basinger, Michael Keaton, Oscars, The Gold Knight, The Joker, Tim Burton, Wally Pfister

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 17th, 2012 at 12:06 pm and is filed under Arts and Life, Film, Star, The Gold Knight.
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How do you know when you are in love? Is it love at first sight or is it a gradual falling head over heels?

“How Do You Know,” out now in theaters nationwide, attempts to highlight the search for love.

The latest rom-com by James L. Brooks, the Academy Award-winning director of “Terms of Endearment,” perfectly portrays the serendipity of love and entropy of life.

The film opens by following athlete Lisa (Reese Witherspoon) from a childhood love of softball to a career made out of it. At 31, Lisa begins the next phase of her life. Here enters George (Paul Rudd), who finds himself in financial crisis and under investigation by the federal government. Both protagonists soon find themselves in a love triangle with Lisa’s current rich athlete beau Matty (Owen Wilson).

In the dénouement, Lisa must decide between sweet and quirky George and self-centered ladies man Matty. The end decision may be important for some audience members, but the journey to that moment is the best part.

There are quiet moments throughout the movie where Rudd and Witherspoon shine. Whether they’re looking into each other’s eyes or talking on the phone, the chemistry is nearly tangible. Rudd’s character quirks are also endearing.

Jack Nicholson’s role as George’s father is a well-written complex relationship between father and son. Tony Shalhoub’s quick cameo as a psychiatrist is well-played and enjoyable.

The film is beautifully shot and edited. “How Do You Know” is great for a date or a matinee.

***/5

“How Do You Know” is rated PG-13 for sexual content and some strong language.

Tags: Film, How Do You Know, Jack Nicholson, Owen Wilson, Paul Rudd, Reese Witherspoon, Romantic Comedy

This entry was posted on Friday, December 17th, 2010 at 12:58 pm and is filed under Arts and Life, Film.
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