“The Trial of the Chicago 7” got a big boost in its bid for Best Editing at the Oscars with a win at the Ace Golden Eddie Awards on April 17. It prevailed in the drama race at these awards bestowed by American Cinema Editors over two of its Oscar rivals — “Nomadland” and “Sound of Metal” — as well as “Mank” and “Minari.”
Another of the Oscar nominees, “Promising Young Woman,” lost the comedy/musical category to “Palm Springs.” The other contenders in that race were “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot” and “On the Rocks.”
Oscar watchers were sure to be watching Saturday’s virtual ceremony. These kudos have previewed of the 18 out of the last 30 Best Picture winners and a whopping 22 of the last 30 Film Editing Oscar champs. Not surprisingly, the Golden Eddies are also prescient when it comes to predicting the five Film Editing Oscar slots. Four of...
Another of the Oscar nominees, “Promising Young Woman,” lost the comedy/musical category to “Palm Springs.” The other contenders in that race were “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot” and “On the Rocks.”
Oscar watchers were sure to be watching Saturday’s virtual ceremony. These kudos have previewed of the 18 out of the last 30 Best Picture winners and a whopping 22 of the last 30 Film Editing Oscar champs. Not surprisingly, the Golden Eddies are also prescient when it comes to predicting the five Film Editing Oscar slots. Four of...
- 4/17/2021
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The American Cinema Editors guild, which hands out its awards on April 17, has a good track record as a preview of the Oscar winner for Best Picture (18 out of the last 30) and a great one for forecasting who will win the Film Editing Oscar (22 of the last 30). Not surprisingly, it is also fairly prescient when it comes to predicting the five Film Editing Oscar slots. Four of this year’s Academy Awards nominees contend for this cutting prize; “The Father” was snubbed by the American Cinema Editors.
The Ace Eddie Awards divide their prizes for editing between dramas and comedies/musicals. Oscar nominees “Nomadland,” “Sound of Metal and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” contend here in the drama race, which is rounded out by “Mank” and “Minari.” Facing off on the comedy side against Oscar nominee “Promising Young Woman” are “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot,” “On the Rocks” and “Palm Springs.
The Ace Eddie Awards divide their prizes for editing between dramas and comedies/musicals. Oscar nominees “Nomadland,” “Sound of Metal and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” contend here in the drama race, which is rounded out by “Mank” and “Minari.” Facing off on the comedy side against Oscar nominee “Promising Young Woman” are “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot,” “On the Rocks” and “Palm Springs.
- 4/16/2021
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The nominations for the 2021 Ace Eddie Awards announced on Thursday (March 11) include our Oscar frontrunner for Best Film Editing, “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” along with three of the other four films we’re predicting to reap bids in that race: “Mank,” “Nomadland” and “Sound of Metal.” While “The Father” was snubbed by the American Cinema Editors we expect it to be the fifth Academy Awards contender.
The Ace Eddie Awards divide their prizes for editing between dramas and comedies/musicals. “Mank,” “Nomadland,” “Sound of Metal and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” contend here in the drama race, which is rounded out by “Minari.” Facing off on the comedy side are “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot,” “On the Rocks,” “Palm Springs” and “Promising Young Woman.”
In 1992, the Eddies went from three to five nominees (matching that of the Oscars) and in 2000 it split the award in two,...
The Ace Eddie Awards divide their prizes for editing between dramas and comedies/musicals. “Mank,” “Nomadland,” “Sound of Metal and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” contend here in the drama race, which is rounded out by “Minari.” Facing off on the comedy side are “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot,” “On the Rocks,” “Palm Springs” and “Promising Young Woman.”
In 1992, the Eddies went from three to five nominees (matching that of the Oscars) and in 2000 it split the award in two,...
- 3/11/2021
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
“Mank,” “Minari,” “Nomadland,” “Sound of Metal” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” have been nominated in the dramatic-film category at the American Cinema Editors’ 71st annual Ace Eddie Awards, which honors the best in film and television editing.
In the comedy film category, the nominees are “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot,” “On the Rocks,” “Palm Springs” and “Promising Young Woman.”
The films that were bypassed in the Ace nominations include “Tenet,” “News of the World,” “The Father,” “Da 5 Bloods” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
Over the past decade, 90% of the Oscar nominees for Best Film Editing have first been nominated by the American Cinema Editors. The Oscar nominees are heavily weighted toward the Ace dramatic category, with 34 nominees coming from that category since 2010, as opposed to 11 nominees from the comedy category.
The Ace Eddies’ animated feature nominations went to “The Croods: A New Age,” “Onward,” “Over the Moon,...
In the comedy film category, the nominees are “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot,” “On the Rocks,” “Palm Springs” and “Promising Young Woman.”
The films that were bypassed in the Ace nominations include “Tenet,” “News of the World,” “The Father,” “Da 5 Bloods” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
Over the past decade, 90% of the Oscar nominees for Best Film Editing have first been nominated by the American Cinema Editors. The Oscar nominees are heavily weighted toward the Ace dramatic category, with 34 nominees coming from that category since 2010, as opposed to 11 nominees from the comedy category.
The Ace Eddies’ animated feature nominations went to “The Croods: A New Age,” “Onward,” “Over the Moon,...
- 3/11/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
This year’s American Cinema Editors (Ace) nominations include “Nomadland,” “Mank,” “Minari,” “Sound of Metal” and “The Trial of Chicago 7.”
The guild, which will hand out its awards in a virtual ceremony on April 17, has a good track record forecasting the Oscar best picture winner — it has predicted 18 out of the last 29 winners. Last year, best edited feature film – dramatic went to “Parasite’s” Yang Jin-mo, and the film went on to win best picture at the Oscars. It also has a good record for predicting who wins the best editing Oscar — 23 out of the last 29 winners.
Nominees in comedy feature include “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot,” “On The Rocks” “Palm Springs” and “Promising Young Woman.”
As previously announced, Spike Lee will receive the Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award, recognizing a filmmaker who exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film. Editors Lynzee Klingman...
The guild, which will hand out its awards in a virtual ceremony on April 17, has a good track record forecasting the Oscar best picture winner — it has predicted 18 out of the last 29 winners. Last year, best edited feature film – dramatic went to “Parasite’s” Yang Jin-mo, and the film went on to win best picture at the Oscars. It also has a good record for predicting who wins the best editing Oscar — 23 out of the last 29 winners.
Nominees in comedy feature include “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “I Care a Lot,” “On The Rocks” “Palm Springs” and “Promising Young Woman.”
As previously announced, Spike Lee will receive the Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award, recognizing a filmmaker who exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film. Editors Lynzee Klingman...
- 3/11/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Editors on films ranging from Amazon’s Borat Subsequent Moviefilm to Netflix’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 have been nominated for the 71st annual Ace Eddie Awards, presented by the American Cinema Editors to recognize the year’s best in picture editing in 14 film, TV and documentary categories.
Winners will be announced during a virtual awards ceremony April 17, where Spike Lee will receive the Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award and Lynzee Klingman and Sidney Wolinsky will receive the group’s Career Achievement Awards.
As for today’s nominees, the marquee film categories are split into Dramatic and Comedy. The former features Chicago 7 along with Netflix’s Mank, A24’s Minari, Searchlight’s Nomadland (edited by writer-director Chloé Zhao) and Amazon’s Sound of Metal. The comedy nominees include Borat, Netflix’s I Care a Lot, Apple’s On the Rocks, Neon/Hulu’s Palm Springs...
Winners will be announced during a virtual awards ceremony April 17, where Spike Lee will receive the Ace Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award and Lynzee Klingman and Sidney Wolinsky will receive the group’s Career Achievement Awards.
As for today’s nominees, the marquee film categories are split into Dramatic and Comedy. The former features Chicago 7 along with Netflix’s Mank, A24’s Minari, Searchlight’s Nomadland (edited by writer-director Chloé Zhao) and Amazon’s Sound of Metal. The comedy nominees include Borat, Netflix’s I Care a Lot, Apple’s On the Rocks, Neon/Hulu’s Palm Springs...
- 3/11/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Nominees for the 71st annual Ace Eddie Awards include such Best Picture contenders as Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland,” David Fincher’s monochromatic “Mank,” Aaron Sorkin’s “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” Lee Isaac Chung’s “Minari,” Emerald Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman” (as a comedy), and Darius Marder’s “Sound of Metal.”
The awards show will be held live on April 17 at 11:00 a.m. Pt.
Overlooked, though, were “News of the World” (edited by “Argo” Oscar-winner William Goldenberg) and “Tenet,” as well as three Black-led dramas, “Da 5 Bloods,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” and “One Night in Miami.” However, there’s still the possibility of one or two of these making the final Oscar nominations, along with the buzzy “Minari” and “Promising Young Woman.”
In terms of using the Editing win as an Oscar bellwether for predicting Best Picture, the last time the winners coincided was “Argo” in...
The awards show will be held live on April 17 at 11:00 a.m. Pt.
Overlooked, though, were “News of the World” (edited by “Argo” Oscar-winner William Goldenberg) and “Tenet,” as well as three Black-led dramas, “Da 5 Bloods,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” and “One Night in Miami.” However, there’s still the possibility of one or two of these making the final Oscar nominations, along with the buzzy “Minari” and “Promising Young Woman.”
In terms of using the Editing win as an Oscar bellwether for predicting Best Picture, the last time the winners coincided was “Argo” in...
- 3/11/2021
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Stars: Cathy Ang, John Cho, Ruthie Ann Mills, Edie Ichioka, Sandra Oh, Robert G. Chiu, Margaret Cho | Written by Audrey Wells, Jennifer Yee McDevitt | Directed by Glen Keane
Over the Moon is the latest animated film to premiere on Netflix and might be one of their strongest animated films yet. The computer-animated film is strange and unique, as it combines a musical, science-fiction, comedy, and drama in an Alice in Wonderland-influenced outer space setting.
Fei Fei is a young girl growing up in a small town in China with her mother and father, who run a local bakery that specializes in mooncakes. The family is living a happy life until the annual Moon Festival, her mother falls ill and eventually the happiness fades as her mother’s illness becomes worse. As a parting gift, her mother gives Fei Fei a bunny named Bungee, to watch over her daughter after she passes.
Over the Moon is the latest animated film to premiere on Netflix and might be one of their strongest animated films yet. The computer-animated film is strange and unique, as it combines a musical, science-fiction, comedy, and drama in an Alice in Wonderland-influenced outer space setting.
Fei Fei is a young girl growing up in a small town in China with her mother and father, who run a local bakery that specializes in mooncakes. The family is living a happy life until the annual Moon Festival, her mother falls ill and eventually the happiness fades as her mother’s illness becomes worse. As a parting gift, her mother gives Fei Fei a bunny named Bungee, to watch over her daughter after she passes.
- 11/10/2020
- by Jason Brigger
- Nerdly
The American Cinema Editors released the nominees of their Ace Eddie Awards and it's shaping up like the usual suspects. "American Sniper," "Boyhood," "Gone Girl," "The Imitation Game," "Nightcrawler," and "Whiplash" will duke it out for the Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic) category.
Meanwhile, in the Comedy or Musical Feature Film category, "Birdman," "Guardians of the Galaxy," "Into the Woods," "Inherent Vice," and "The Grand Budapest Hotel" are competing.
We'll find out the winners of the 65th Annual Ace Eddie Awards on January 30th for their annual awards at the Beverly Hilton.
Here's your complete list of nominees:
Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic): Tie!
American Sniper
Joel Cox, Ace & Gary Roach, Ace
Boyhood
Sandra Adair, Ace
Gone Girl
Kirk Baxter, Ace
The Imitation Game
William Goldenberg, Ace
Nightcrawler
John Gilroy, Ace
Whiplash
Tom Cross
Best Edited Feature Film (Comedy Or Musical):
Birdman
Douglas Crise & Stephen Mirrione, Ace
Guardians of the Galaxy
Fred Raskin,...
Meanwhile, in the Comedy or Musical Feature Film category, "Birdman," "Guardians of the Galaxy," "Into the Woods," "Inherent Vice," and "The Grand Budapest Hotel" are competing.
We'll find out the winners of the 65th Annual Ace Eddie Awards on January 30th for their annual awards at the Beverly Hilton.
Here's your complete list of nominees:
Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic): Tie!
American Sniper
Joel Cox, Ace & Gary Roach, Ace
Boyhood
Sandra Adair, Ace
Gone Girl
Kirk Baxter, Ace
The Imitation Game
William Goldenberg, Ace
Nightcrawler
John Gilroy, Ace
Whiplash
Tom Cross
Best Edited Feature Film (Comedy Or Musical):
Birdman
Douglas Crise & Stephen Mirrione, Ace
Guardians of the Galaxy
Fred Raskin,...
- 1/5/2015
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
American Cinema Editors (Ace) today announced nominations for the 65th Annual Ace Eddie Awards recognizing outstanding editing in ten categories of film, television and documentaries. Winners will be revealed during Ace’s annual black-tie awards ceremony on Friday, January 30, 2015 in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Next week Ace will announce the Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year honoree and two Career Achievement honorees.
For only the second time in the organization’s history, a tie resulted in an additional nominee in the Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic) category creating six nominees, instead of five, indicating a tie in the number of votes for the fifth placing films. In 2013, a tie in the Best Edited Animated Feature Film resulted in four nominees, instead of the normal three nominees, in that category.
The Ace Eddie Awards is considered an integral precursor to the Oscars. No film has won Best...
For only the second time in the organization’s history, a tie resulted in an additional nominee in the Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic) category creating six nominees, instead of five, indicating a tie in the number of votes for the fifth placing films. In 2013, a tie in the Best Edited Animated Feature Film resulted in four nominees, instead of the normal three nominees, in that category.
The Ace Eddie Awards is considered an integral precursor to the Oscars. No film has won Best...
- 1/2/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
For the second time in the history of the American Cinema Editors (Ace) a tie has resulted in an additional nominee in a category, resulting in six nominations for dramatic feature in the 65th Annual Ace Eddie Awards.
The last tie led to four animated feature nominees in 2013.
They Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic) nominees are: Joel Cox and Gary Roach for American Sniper; Sandra Adair for Boyhood (pictured); Kirk Baxter for Gone Girl; William Goldenberg for The Imitation Game; John Gilroy for Nightcrawler; and Tom Cross for Whiplash.
In the Best Edited Feature Film (Comedy Or Musical) category, the contenders are: Douglas Crise and Stephen Mirrione for Birdman; Fred Raskin, Hughes Winborne and Craig Wood for Guardians Of The Galaxy; Wyatt Smith for Into The Woods; Leslie Jones for Inherent Vice; and Barney Pilling for The Grand Budapest Hotel.
The Best Edited Animated Feature Film nominees are: Tim Mertens for Big Hero 6; Edie Ichioka for The Boxtrolls...
The last tie led to four animated feature nominees in 2013.
They Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic) nominees are: Joel Cox and Gary Roach for American Sniper; Sandra Adair for Boyhood (pictured); Kirk Baxter for Gone Girl; William Goldenberg for The Imitation Game; John Gilroy for Nightcrawler; and Tom Cross for Whiplash.
In the Best Edited Feature Film (Comedy Or Musical) category, the contenders are: Douglas Crise and Stephen Mirrione for Birdman; Fred Raskin, Hughes Winborne and Craig Wood for Guardians Of The Galaxy; Wyatt Smith for Into The Woods; Leslie Jones for Inherent Vice; and Barney Pilling for The Grand Budapest Hotel.
The Best Edited Animated Feature Film nominees are: Tim Mertens for Big Hero 6; Edie Ichioka for The Boxtrolls...
- 1/2/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
American Cinema Editors (Ace) today announced nominations for the 65th Annual Ace Eddie Awards recognizing outstanding editing in ten categories of film, television and documentaries. Winners will be revealed during Ace?s annual black-tie awards ceremony on Friday, January 30, 2015 in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Next week Ace will announce the Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year honoree and two Career Achievement honorees. For only the second time in the organization?s history, a tie resulted in an additional nominee in the Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic) category creating six nominees, instead of five, indicating a tie in the number of votes for the fifth placing films. In 2013, a tie in the Best Edited Animated Feature Film resulted in four nominees, instead of the normal three nominees, in that category. The Ace Eddie Award nominees are listed below. Nominees For 65th Annual Ace Eddie Awards Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic): Tie!
- 1/2/2015
- by HollywoodNews.com
- Hollywoodnews.com
The American Cinema Editors have taken the time when most of us are still enjoying a little bit of downtime before truly getting back into the swing of things this new year to announce the film and television nominees for the 65th Annual Ace Eddie Awards. Among the nominees are a couple of personal favorites in Whiplash (Tom Cross) and The Imitation Game (William Goldbenbrrg). I also think something must be said for Boyhood, though editing a film over the course of 12 years doesn't really leave much wiggle room. You're essentially editing 12 short films because once you're a year removed... you're a year removed. There are six nominees in the Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic) category as a result of a tie providing for one additional nominee for the second time ever. Among the comedy/musical nominees I would like to believe The Grand Budapest Hotel (Barney Pilling) would be the front-runner,...
- 1/2/2015
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The movie that stitched 12 years of footage into a single narrative, “Boyhood,” has been nominated by the American Cinema Editors as the best-edited dramatic feature of 2014, Ace announced on Friday.
Other nominees for the top dramatic film honor at the awards known as the Ace/Eddies are “American Sniper,” “Gone Girl,” “The Imitation Game,” “Nightcrawler” and “Whiplash.” The category had six nominees instead of five because of a tie.
See photos: From a ‘Guardian’ to a ‘Gone Girl': The 17 Breakout Stars of 2014 (Photos)
Nominees in the comedy or musical category were “Birdman,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Into the Woods,...
Other nominees for the top dramatic film honor at the awards known as the Ace/Eddies are “American Sniper,” “Gone Girl,” “The Imitation Game,” “Nightcrawler” and “Whiplash.” The category had six nominees instead of five because of a tie.
See photos: From a ‘Guardian’ to a ‘Gone Girl': The 17 Breakout Stars of 2014 (Photos)
Nominees in the comedy or musical category were “Birdman,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Into the Woods,...
- 1/2/2015
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
If you were looking for things to be shaken up a little bit in this year's Oscar race, the American Cinema Editors (Ace) offered a slight jolt Friday with the organization's 65th annual list of nominees for film editing. And if you were wondering if "Nightcrawler" might make a serious play on the circuit, well… I will say I was wondering that. So much so that I had a piece prepped focusing on its potential before today's announcement, which included the film in a dramatic feature category that featured a tie for the first time ever. (The animated field saw a tie yielding four nominees in 2012, while "Babel" and "The Departed" actually tied for the dramatic win in 2006, but there hasn't been a tie leading to an extra nominee in the dramatic or comedy/musical categories before.) Powerhouse Oscar players "Boyhood" and "The Imitation Game" unsurprisingly joined the party, and ditto Sundance hit "Whiplash.
- 1/2/2015
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
"Toy Story 2" is a triumph at every level. In its third feature film -- following the totally delightful "Toy Story" and "A Bug's Life" -- Pixar Animation Studios has raised the bar considerably in terms of wit, character development, storytelling and computer technology. Pixar and its partner Walt Disney Studios can look forward to a tremendous worldwide success with this very funny, clever and original film.
"Toy Story 2" does what few sequels ever do: Instead of essentially remaking an earlier film and deeming it a sequel, the creative team, led by director John Lasseter, delves deeper into their characters while retaining the fun spirit of the original film.
The film begins in a familiar setting: young Andy's upstairs bedroom, where his toys come alive only when their owner is absent. Woody, the cowboy doll (voiced by Tom Hanks), is now best buddies with his rival from the first film, the high-tech space ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). The story springs to life when Woody gets "kidnapped" by Al McWhiggin (Wayne Knight), a toy store owner who recognizes Woody's value as a collectible.
This launches the toys into adventures in many new environments: bustling downtown streets, Al's cavernous toy store, his 23-story high-rise art deco apartment building including its forbidding elevator shaft and, in perhaps the wildest set, an airport baggage-handling area whose myriad conveyer belts act like a gigantic amusement park ride.
Woody's kidnapping opens up a whole new world to him: He discovers he was a toy that derived from a 1950s black-and-white TV show called "Woody's Roundup". And he has a previously unknown family in Jessie the cowgirl (Joan Cusack), his horse Bullseye and Stinky Pete the prospector (Kelsey Grammer).
So while Buzz and the other toys -- Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), Slinky Dog (Jim Varney), Rex (Wallace Shawn) and Hamm (John Ratzenberger) -- plunge into various escapades to rescue their purloined pal, Woody must decide whether he wants to return to Andy's room (with the full knowledge that Andy will one day grow up and get rid of his toys) or remain forever with his new family as collectibles in a Japanese museum.
So, as with the original film, "Toy Story 2" is a meditation on the value of friendship and fears of abandonment -- things that concern children and adults alike.
The design of the characters and their interactions with their world is infinitely more sophisticated than it was a mere four years ago. The camera is more fluid, with less cutting to express movement. And the rendering of human characters -- in particular Al and the Cleaner (Jonathan Harris), who restores old dolls -- represents a quantum leap in computer technology.
Humans have always been the most difficult to portray with computer animation. Pixar's animators, who began experimenting with humans in their 1997 Oscar-winning short "Geri's Game", have now succeeded in creating human figures with realistic facial and muscle movements.
The screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao and Doug Chamberlin & Chris Webb never lets up in its action or humor. (Most appealingly, one tends to feed the other.) In the toy store sequence, for instance, Andy's gang joy rides in a toy car, Buzz Lightyear has a startling encounter with a vast wall of Buzz Lightyear dolls, some very hip Barbie dolls swing into action, and Buzz's nemesis, the evil Emperor Zurg (Andrew Stanton), gets activated.
The action only slows once, for a ballad by Jessie (penned by Randy Newman and performed by Grammy winner Sarah McLachlan) that may cause young children to grow a tad restless.
Pixar's animators have once again drawn characters that fit their voice artist to perfection. (Is Hanks starting to look like Woody, or is it the other way around?) Given the wealth of toy characters and a 93-minute running time, it's amazing how swiftly the audience becomes familiar with all these personalities and their idiosyncrasies.
Add to this the army of artists needed to produce such a film, and you can't help being impressed at how seamless the unity of purpose is behind this film.
At the close of the century, it's certainly fair to say that in terms of feature animation, "Toy Story 2" is as good as it gets.
TOY STORY 2
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures presents
a Pixar Animation Studios film
Producers: Helene Plotkin, Karen Robert Jackson
Director: John Lasseter
Co-directors: Lee Unkrich, Ash Brannon
Writers: Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao, Doug Chamberlin & Chris Webb
Story: John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Ash Brannon, Andrew Stanton
Screenplay: Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao, Doug Chamberlain & Chris Webb
Executive producer: Sarah McArthur
Director of photography: Sharon Calahan
Production designers: William Cone, Jim Pearson
Music: Randy Newman
Editors: Edie Bleiman, David Ian Salter, Lee Unkrich
Supervising technical director: Galyn Susman
Color/stereo
Cast:
Woody: Tom Hanks
Buzz Lightyear: Tim Allen
Jessie: Joan Cusack
Prospector: Kelsey Grammer
Mr. Potato Head: Don Rickles
Slinky Dog: Jim Varney
Rex: Wallace Shawn
Hamm: John Ratzenberger
Bo Peep: Annie Potts
Al McWhiggin: Wayne Knight
Running time -- 93 minutes
MPAA rating: G...
"Toy Story 2" does what few sequels ever do: Instead of essentially remaking an earlier film and deeming it a sequel, the creative team, led by director John Lasseter, delves deeper into their characters while retaining the fun spirit of the original film.
The film begins in a familiar setting: young Andy's upstairs bedroom, where his toys come alive only when their owner is absent. Woody, the cowboy doll (voiced by Tom Hanks), is now best buddies with his rival from the first film, the high-tech space ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). The story springs to life when Woody gets "kidnapped" by Al McWhiggin (Wayne Knight), a toy store owner who recognizes Woody's value as a collectible.
This launches the toys into adventures in many new environments: bustling downtown streets, Al's cavernous toy store, his 23-story high-rise art deco apartment building including its forbidding elevator shaft and, in perhaps the wildest set, an airport baggage-handling area whose myriad conveyer belts act like a gigantic amusement park ride.
Woody's kidnapping opens up a whole new world to him: He discovers he was a toy that derived from a 1950s black-and-white TV show called "Woody's Roundup". And he has a previously unknown family in Jessie the cowgirl (Joan Cusack), his horse Bullseye and Stinky Pete the prospector (Kelsey Grammer).
So while Buzz and the other toys -- Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), Slinky Dog (Jim Varney), Rex (Wallace Shawn) and Hamm (John Ratzenberger) -- plunge into various escapades to rescue their purloined pal, Woody must decide whether he wants to return to Andy's room (with the full knowledge that Andy will one day grow up and get rid of his toys) or remain forever with his new family as collectibles in a Japanese museum.
So, as with the original film, "Toy Story 2" is a meditation on the value of friendship and fears of abandonment -- things that concern children and adults alike.
The design of the characters and their interactions with their world is infinitely more sophisticated than it was a mere four years ago. The camera is more fluid, with less cutting to express movement. And the rendering of human characters -- in particular Al and the Cleaner (Jonathan Harris), who restores old dolls -- represents a quantum leap in computer technology.
Humans have always been the most difficult to portray with computer animation. Pixar's animators, who began experimenting with humans in their 1997 Oscar-winning short "Geri's Game", have now succeeded in creating human figures with realistic facial and muscle movements.
The screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao and Doug Chamberlin & Chris Webb never lets up in its action or humor. (Most appealingly, one tends to feed the other.) In the toy store sequence, for instance, Andy's gang joy rides in a toy car, Buzz Lightyear has a startling encounter with a vast wall of Buzz Lightyear dolls, some very hip Barbie dolls swing into action, and Buzz's nemesis, the evil Emperor Zurg (Andrew Stanton), gets activated.
The action only slows once, for a ballad by Jessie (penned by Randy Newman and performed by Grammy winner Sarah McLachlan) that may cause young children to grow a tad restless.
Pixar's animators have once again drawn characters that fit their voice artist to perfection. (Is Hanks starting to look like Woody, or is it the other way around?) Given the wealth of toy characters and a 93-minute running time, it's amazing how swiftly the audience becomes familiar with all these personalities and their idiosyncrasies.
Add to this the army of artists needed to produce such a film, and you can't help being impressed at how seamless the unity of purpose is behind this film.
At the close of the century, it's certainly fair to say that in terms of feature animation, "Toy Story 2" is as good as it gets.
TOY STORY 2
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures presents
a Pixar Animation Studios film
Producers: Helene Plotkin, Karen Robert Jackson
Director: John Lasseter
Co-directors: Lee Unkrich, Ash Brannon
Writers: Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao, Doug Chamberlin & Chris Webb
Story: John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Ash Brannon, Andrew Stanton
Screenplay: Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao, Doug Chamberlain & Chris Webb
Executive producer: Sarah McArthur
Director of photography: Sharon Calahan
Production designers: William Cone, Jim Pearson
Music: Randy Newman
Editors: Edie Bleiman, David Ian Salter, Lee Unkrich
Supervising technical director: Galyn Susman
Color/stereo
Cast:
Woody: Tom Hanks
Buzz Lightyear: Tim Allen
Jessie: Joan Cusack
Prospector: Kelsey Grammer
Mr. Potato Head: Don Rickles
Slinky Dog: Jim Varney
Rex: Wallace Shawn
Hamm: John Ratzenberger
Bo Peep: Annie Potts
Al McWhiggin: Wayne Knight
Running time -- 93 minutes
MPAA rating: G...
- 11/18/1999
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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