Today the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films announced its nominees for the 2013 Saturn Awards, one of the few awards programs in which a lot of us will recognize nearly every production. The awards have been expanded over recent years, so if you are unclear about just what type of productions are honored by the Academy, an explanation is included in the press release below, although it can really be summarized as “we know it when we see it.”
A few head-scratchers, however, just beg to be called out:
- Anna Karenina? Les Miserables? Leverage? Elementary? Really? That is some broad definition.
- No subgenre categories for television.
- The Academy proofreader should know by now that it’s “Syfy” and not “SyFy” (don’t worry, I fixed it, and sorry, it’s a pet peeve).
- Adding in historical fiction somewhere somehow without actually mentioning it.
- The entire category “Best Youth-Oriented Series on Television” nominating shows like Arrow and The Vampire Diaries and entirely ignoring animated series that are actually, legitimately and intelligently geared toward youth, like Green Lantern: The Animated Series and Ultimate Spider-Man.
On the other hand, bonus points and a giant white tulip to the Academy for referring to Fringe as “beloved.”
Apologies for the nitpicking, because it is absolutely wonderful to see so many terrific yet overlooked productions, and the people involved in them, get the attention they so richly deserve. Thank you, thank you to the Academy.
The 39th Annual Saturn Awards is slated to take place in June. Here is this year’s announcement of the nominations:
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey leads the nominations for
the 39th Annual Saturn Awards(Los Angeles) The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the leading film with nominations for the prestigious Saturn Awards presented by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. Peter Jackson’s return to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth received 9 nominations. Other films receiving major nominations include Ang Lee’s Life of Pi (8 nominations), and the 23nd entry in the James Bond franchise, Skyfall (7 nominations).
Comic book icons-turned-cinematic spectacles, Marvel’s The Avengers and Christopher Nolan’s triumphant conclusion to his Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, followed closely behind with 6 nominations each, along with the epic musical based on Victor Hugo’s classic Les Miserables. Warner Bros. received a leading total of 23 nominations, while Sony Pictures and Universal Pictures each received 14 nominations for their ambitious slate of films released last year.
Television Entertainment also received nominations from the 41 year old Academy. Leading this prestigious list was the beloved series, Fringe, which received 6 nominations and ended a five year run on the Fox Network. Other notable series receiving multiple nominations include Showtime’s Dexter (5 nominations), and with 4 nominations each, Breaking Bad (AMC), Falling Skies (TNT), Leverage (TNT), Revolution (NBC), and The Walking Dead (AMC).
The non-profit organization was founded in 1972 by noted film historian, Dr. Donald A. Reed. His goal was to find an outlet to honor and recognize genre entertainment often overlooked by mainstream awards organizations. The Saturn Awards is considered the premier award for the entertainment we dub “exaggerated and/or enhanced reality”. The scope of the genres we honor has been broadened in recent years running the gamut from dark and edgy entertainment to
colorful and life-affirming fable-esque slices of life.This year, the Academy is thrilled to inaugurate a new film category honoring independent film releases alongside the high-budgeted films which help drive the box-office. Organization President Robert Holguin states “I’ve long admired and respected independent filmmakers and their focused vision. I’m thrilled to see the organization create a category which expressively allows our membership to champion personal film projects which helps expand ideas and creativity in the genre field.”
THE 39TH ANNUAL SATURN AWARD NOMINATIONS
Best Science Fiction Film:
The Avengers (Marvel / Walt Disney Pictures)
Chronicle (20th Century Fox)
Cloud Atlas (Warner Bros.)
The Hunger Games (Summit / Lionsgate)
Looper (Sony Pictures)
Prometheus (20th Century Fox)Best Fantasy Film:
The Amazing Spider-Man (Sony Pictures)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Warner Bros.)
Life of Pi (20th Century Fox)
Ruby Sparks (Fox Searchlight)
Snow White and the Huntsman (Universal)
Ted (Universal)Best Horror / Thriller Film:
Argo (Warner Bros.)
The Cabin in the Woods (Lionsgate)
The Impossible (Summit / Lionsgate)
Seven Psychopaths (CBS Films)
The Woman in Black (CBS Films)
Zero Dark Thirty (Sony Pictures)Best Action / Adventure Film:
The Bourne Legacy (Universal)
The Dark Knight Rises (Warner Bros.)
Django Unchained (The Weinstein Co.)
Les Miserables (Universal)
Skyfall (Sony Pictures)
Taken 2 (20th Century Fox)Best Independent Film Release:
Compliance (Magnolia)
Hitchcock (Fox Searchlight)
Killer Joe (LD Entertainment)
The Paperboy (Millennium)
Robot and Frank (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
Safety Not Guaranteed (FilmDistrict)
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (Focus Features)Best Actor:
Christian Bale The Dark Knight Rises (Warner Bros.)
Daniel Craig Skyfall (Sony Pictures)
Martin Freeman The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Warner Bros.)
Hugh Jackman Les Miserables (Universal)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt Looper (Sony Pictures)
Matthew McConaughey Killer Joe (LD Entertainment)Best Actress:
Jessica Chastain Zero Dark Thirty (Sony Pictures)
Ann Dowd Compliance (Magnolia)
Zoe Kazan Ruby Sparks (Fox Searchlight)
Jennifer Lawrence The Hunger Games (Summit / Lionsgate)
Helen Mirren Hitchcock (Fox Searchlight)
Naomi Watts The Impossible (Summit / Lionsgate)Best Supporting Actor:
Javier Bardem Skyfall (Sony Pictures)
Michael Fassbender Prometheus (20th Century Fox)
Clark Gregg The Avengers (Marvel/Walt Disney)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt The Dark Knight Rises (Warner Bros.)
Ian McKellen The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Warner Bros.)
Christoph Waltz Django Unchained (The Weinstein Co.)Best Supporting Actress:
Judi Dench Skyfall (Sony Pictures)
Gina Gershon Killer Joe (LD Entertainment)
Anne Hathaway The Dark Knight Rises (Warner Bros.)
Anne Hathaway Les Miserables (Universal)
Nicole Kidman The Paperboy (Millennium)
Charlize Theron Snow White and the Hunstman (Universal)Best Performance by a Younger Actor:
CJ Adams The Odd Life of Timothy Green (Walt Disney Studios)
Tom Holland The Impossible (Summit / Lionsgate)
Daniel Huttlestone Les Miserables (Universal)
Chloe Grace Moretz Dark Shadows (Warner Bros.)
Suraj Sharma Life of Pi (20th Century Fox)
Quvenzhane Wallis Beasts of the Southern Wild (Fox Searchlight)Best Direction:
William Friedkin Killer Joe (LD Entertainment)
Peter Jackson The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Warner Bros.)
Rian Johnson Looper (Sony Pictures)
Ang Lee Life of Pi (20th Century Fox)
Christopher Nolan The Dark Knight Rises (Warner Bros.)
Joss Whedon The Avengers (Marvel/Walt Disney)Best Writing:
Tracy Letts Killer Joe (LD Entertainment)
David Magee Life of Pi (20th Century Fox)
Martin McDonagh Seven Psychopaths (CBS Films)
Quentin Tarantino Django Unchained (The Weinstein Co.)
Joss Whedon The Avengers (Marvel/Walt Disney)
Joss Whedon, Drew Goddard Cabin in the Woods (Lionsgate)Best Production Design:
Hugh Bateup, Uli Hanisch Cloud Atlas (Warner Bros.)
Sarah Greenwood Anna Karenina (Focus Features)
David Gropman Life of Pi (20th Century Fox)
Rick Heinrichs Dark Shadows (Warner Bros.)
Dan Hennah The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Warner Bros.)
Eve Stewart Les Miserables (Universal)Best Editing:
Stuart Baird, Kate Baird Skyfall (Sony Pictures)
Alexander Berner Cloud Atlas (Warner Bros.)
Bob Ducsay Looper (Sony Pictures)
Jeffrey Ford, Lisa Lassek The Avengers (Marvel/Walt Disney)
John Gilroy The Bourne Legacy (Universal)
Tim Squyres Life of Pi (20th Century Fox)Best Music:
Mychael Danna Life of Pi (20th Century Fox)
Danny Elfman Frankenweenie (Walt Disney Studios)
Dario Marianelli Anna Karenina (Focus Features)
Thomas Newman Skyfall (Sony Pictures)
Howard Shore The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Warner Bros.)
Hans Zimmer The Dark Knight Rises (Warner Bros.)Best Costume:
Jacqueline Durran Anna Karenina (Focus Features)
Kym Barrett, Pierre-Yves Gayraud Cloud Atlas (Warner Bros.)
Sharen Davis Django Unchained (The Weinstein Co.)
Bob Buck, Ann Maskrey, Richard Taylor The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Warner Bros.)
Paco Delgado Les Miserables (Universal)
Colleen Atwood Snow White and the Huntsman (Universal)Best Make-Up:
Heike Merker, Daniel Parker, Jeremy Woodhead Cloud Atlas (Warner Bros.)
Gregory Nicotero, Howard Berger, Peter Montagna, Julie Hewett Hitchcock (Fox Searchlight)
Peter Swords King, Rick Findlater, Tami Lane The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Warner Bros.)
David Marti, Montse Ribe, Vasit Suchitta The Impossible (Summit / Lionsgate)
Naomi Donne, Donald Mowat, Love Larson Skyfall (Sony Pictures)
Jean Ann Black, Fay Von Schroeder Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 (Lionsgate)Best Special Effects:
Janek Sirrs, Jeff White, Guy Williams, Dan Sudick The Avengers (Marvel/Walt Disney)
Grady Cofer, Pablo Helman, Jeanie King, Burt Dalton Battleship (Universal)
Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, R. Christopher White The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Warner Bros.)
Chris Corbould, Peter Chiang, Scott R. Fisher, Sue Rowe John Carter (Walt Disney Studios)
Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan de Boer, Donald R. Elliott Life of Pi (20th Century Fox)
Cedric Nicholas-Troyan, Philip Brennan, Neil Corbould, Michael Dawson Snow White and the Huntsman (Universal)Best International Film:
Anna Karenina (Focus Features)
Chicken With Plums (Sony Pictures Classics)
The Fairy (Kino Lorber)
Headhunters (Magnolia)
My Way Well (Go USA)
Pusher (Radius)Best Animated Film:
Brave (Walt Disney Studios / Pixar)
Frankenweenie (Walt Disney Studios)
ParaNorman (Focus Features)
Wreck-It Ralph (Walt Disney Studios)TELEVISION:
Best Network Television Series
Elementary (CBS)
The Following (Fox)
Fringe (Fox)
Once Upon a Time (ABC)
Revolution (NBC)
Supernatural (CW)Best Syndicated Cable Television Series
American Horror Story: Asylum (FX)
Dexter (Showtime)
Leverage (TNT)
The Killing (AMC)
True Blood (HBO)
The Walking Dead (AMC)Best Television Presentation
Breaking Bad (AMC)
Continuum (Syfy)
Falling Skies (TNT)
Game of Thrones (HBO)
Ken Follett’s World Without End (Reelz)
Mockingbird Lane (NBC)
Spartacus: War of the Damned (Starz)Best Youth-Oriented Series on Television
Arrow (CW)
Beauty and the Beast (CW)
Doctor Who (BBC America)
Merlin (Syfy)
Teen Wolf (MTV)
The Vampire Diaries (CW)Best Actor
Kevin Bacon The Following (Fox)
Billy Burke Revolution (NBC)
Bryan Cranston Breaking Bad (AMC)
Michael C. Hall Dexter (Showtime)
Joshua Jackson Fringe (Fox)
Timothy Hutton Leverage (TNT)
Andrew Lincoln The Walking Dead (AMC)Best Actress
Moon Bloodgood Falling Skies (TNT)
Mireille Enos The Killing (AMC)
Sarah Paulson American Horror Story: Asylum (FX)
Charlotte Riley Ken Follett’s World Without End (Reelz)
Tracy Spiridakos Revolution (NBC)
Anna Torv Fringe (Fox)Best Supporting Actor
Jonathan Banks Breaking Bad (AMC)
Giancarlo Esposito Revolution (NBC)
Todd Lasance Spartacus: War of the Damned (Starz)
Colm Meaney Hell On Wheels (AMC)
David Morrissey The Walking Dead (AMC)
John Noble Fringe (Fox)Best Supporting Actress
Jennifer Carpenter Dexter (Showtime)
Sarah Carter Falling Skies (TNT)
Anna Gunn Breaking Bad (AMC)
Laurie Holden The Walking Dead (AMC)
Jessica Lange American Horror Story: Asylum (FX)
Beth Riesgraf Leverage (TNT)Best Guest Starring Role in a Series
Blair Brown Fringe (Fox)
Terry O’Quinn Falling Skies (TNT)
Lance Reddick Fringe (Fox)
Mark Sheppard Leverage (TNT)
Ray Stevenson Dexter (Showtime)
Yvonne Strahovski Dexter (Showtime)DVD/BLU RAY:
Best DVD/BD Release
Atlas Shrugged II: The Strike (Atlas Distribution/Fox)
Chained (Anchor Bay)
Cosmopolis (Entertainment One)
The Possession (Lionsgate)
A Thousand Cuts (Lorber Films)
Touchback (Anchor Bay / Starz)Best DVD/BD Special Edition Release
Jaws (100th Anniversary Edition) (Universal)
Lawrence of Arabia (50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition) (Sony)
Les Vampires Classics Edition (Kino International)
Little Shop of Horrors: The Director’s Cut (Warner)
Stanley Kubrick’s Fear and Desire (Kino International)Best DVD/BD Collection
Alfred Hitchcock (The Masterpiece Collection) (Universal)
Battle Royale (The Complete Collection) (Anchor Bay)
Bond 50 (The Complete 22 Film Collection) (MGM)
Dark Shadows: The Complete Original Series (MPI)
The Ultimate Buster Keaton Blu-Ray Collection (Kino Lorber)
Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection (Universal)Best DVD/BD TV Series
In Search Of: The Complete Series (Visual Entertainment)
Logan’s Run: The Complete Series (Warner)
The River: The Complete First Season (ABC Studios)
Shazam! The Complete Live-Action Series (Warner Archive)
Spartacus: Vengeance (The Complete Second Season) (Starz / Anchor Bay)
Star Trek: The Next Generation (Season 1 & 2) (Paramount)
Congratulations to all the nominees!
