The 85th Annual Academy Award Nominations for 2012

Best Motion Picture of the Year
Nominees:

Amour (2012): To Be Determined

Argo (2012): Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck, George Clooney

Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012): Dan Janvey, Josh Penn, Michael Gottwald

Django Unchained (2012): Stacey Sher, Reginald Hudlin, Pilar Savone

Les Misérables (2012): Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward, Cameron Mackintosh

Life of Pi (2012): Gil Netter, Ang Lee, David Womark

Lincoln (2012): Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy

Silver Linings Playbook (2012): Donna Gigliotti, Bruce Cohen, Jonathan Gordon

Zero Dark Thirty (2012): Mark Boal, Kathryn Bigelow, Megan Ellison


Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Nominees:

Bradley Cooper for Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln (2012)

Hugh Jackman for Les Misérables (2012)

Joaquin Phoenix for The Master (2012)

Denzel Washington for Flight (2012/I)


Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Nominees:

Jessica Chastain for Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Emmanuelle Riva for Amour (2012)

Quvenzhané Wallis for Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)

Naomi Watts for The Impossible (2012)


Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominees:

Alan Arkin for Argo (2012)

Robert De Niro for Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Philip Seymour Hoffman for The Master (2012)

Tommy Lee Jones for Lincoln (2012)

Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained (2012)


Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominees:

Amy Adams for The Master (2012)
Sally Field for Lincoln (2012)
Anne Hathaway for Les Misérables (2012)
Helen Hunt for The Sessions (2012)
Jacki Weaver for Silver Linings Playbook (2012)


Best Achievement in Directing
Nominees:

Michael Haneke for Amour (2012)
Ang Lee for Life of Pi (2012)
David O. Russell for Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Steven Spielberg for Lincoln (2012)
Benh Zeitlin for Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)


Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
Nominees:

Amour (2012): Michael Haneke
Django Unchained (2012): Quentin Tarantino
Flight (2012/I): John Gatins
Moonrise Kingdom (2012): Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola
Zero Dark Thirty (2012): Mark Boal


Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
Nominees:

Argo (2012): Chris Terrio
Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012): Lucy Alibar, Benh Zeitlin
Life of Pi (2012): David Magee
Lincoln (2012): Tony Kushner
Silver Linings Playbook (2012): David O. Russell


Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Nominees:

Brave (2012): Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman
Frankenweenie (2012): Tim Burton
ParaNorman (2012): Sam Fell, Chris Butler
The Pirates! Band of Misfits (2012): Peter Lord
Wreck-It Ralph (2012): Rich Moore


Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
Nominees:

Amour (2012)(Austria)
War Witch (2012)(Canada)
No (2012/I)(Chile)
A Royal Affair (2012)(Denmark)
Kon-Tiki (2012)(Norway)


Best Achievement in Cinematography
Nominees:

Anna Karenina (2012/I): Seamus McGarvey
Django Unchained (2012): Robert Richardson
Life of Pi (2012): Claudio Miranda
Lincoln (2012): Janusz Kaminski
Skyfall (2012): Roger Deakins


Best Achievement in Editing
Nominees:

Argo (2012): William Goldenberg
Life of Pi (2012): Tim Squyres
Lincoln (2012): Michael Kahn
Silver Linings Playbook (2012): Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers
Zero Dark Thirty (2012): William Goldenberg, Dylan Tichenor


Best Achievement in Production Design
Nominees:

Anna Karenina (2012/I): Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012): Dan Hennah, Ra Vincent, Simon Bright
Les Misérables (2012): Eve Stewart, Anna Lynch-Robinson
Life of Pi (2012): David Gropman, Anna Pinnock
Lincoln (2012): Rick Carter, Jim Erickson


Best Achievement in Costume Design
Nominees:

Anna Karenina (2012/I): Jacqueline Durran
Les Misérables (2012): Paco Delgado
Lincoln (2012): Joanna Johnston
Mirror Mirror (2012/I): Eiko Ishioka
Snow White and the Huntsman (2012): Colleen Atwood


Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling
Nominees:

Hitchcock (2012): Howard Berger, Peter Montagna, Martin Samuel
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012): Peter King, Rick Findlater, Tami Lane
Les Misérables (2012): Lisa Westcott, Julie Dartnell


Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
Nominees:

Anna Karenina (2012/I): Dario Marianelli
Argo (2012): Alexandre Desplat
Life of Pi (2012): Mychael Danna
Lincoln (2012): John Williams
Skyfall (2012): Thomas Newman


Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song
Nominees:

Chasing Ice (2012): J. Ralph("Before My Time")
Les Misérables (2012): Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg, Herbert Kretzmer("Suddenly")
Life of Pi (2012): Mychael Danna, Bombay Jayshree("Pi's Lullaby")
Skyfall (2012): Adele, Paul Epworth("Skyfall")
Ted (2012): Walter Murphy, Seth MacFarlane("Everybody Needs a Best Friend")


Best Achievement in Sound Mixing
Nominees:

Argo (2012): John T. Reitz, Gregg Rudloff, José Antonio García
Les Misérables (2012): Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson, Simon Hayes
Life of Pi (2012): Ron Bartlett, Doug Hemphill, Drew Kunin
Lincoln (2012): Andy Nelson, Gary Rydstrom, Ron Judkins
Skyfall (2012): Scott Millan, Greg P. Russell, Stuart Wilson


Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Nominees:

Argo (2012): Erik Aadahl, Ethan Van der Ryn
Django Unchained (2012): Wylie Stateman
Life of Pi (2012): Eugene Gearty, Philip Stockton
Skyfall (2012): Per Hallberg, Karen M. Baker
Zero Dark Thirty (2012): Paul N.J. Ottosson


Best Achievement in Visual Effects
Nominees:

The Avengers (2012): Janek Sirrs, Jeff White, Guy Williams, Daniel Sudick
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012): Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, R. Christopher White
Life of Pi (2012): Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik De Boer, Donald Elliott
Prometheus (2012/I): Richard Stammers, Trevor Wood, Charley Henley, Martin Hill
Snow White and the Huntsman (2012): Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, Phil Brennan, Neil Corbould, Michael Dawson


Best Documentary, Features
Nominees:

5 Broken Cameras (2011): Emad Burnat, Guy Davidi
The Gatekeepers (2012): To Be Determined
How to Survive a Plague (2012): To Be Determined
The Invisible War (2012): To Be Determined
Searching for Sugar Man (2012): To Be Determined


Best Documentary, Short Subjects
Nominees:

Inocente (2012): Sean Fine, Andrea Nix
Kings Point (2012): Sari Gilman, Jedd Wider
Mondays at Racine (2012): Cynthia Wade, Robin Honan
Open Heart (2013): Kief Davidson, Cori Shepherd Stern
Redemption (2012/V): Jon Alpert, Matthew O'Neill


Best Short Film, Animated
Nominees:

Adam and Dog (2011): Minkyu Lee
Fresh Guacamole (2012): PES
Head Over Heels (2012): Timothy Reckart, Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly
Paperman (2012): John Kahrs
The Simpsons: The Longest Daycare (2012): David Silverman


Best Short Film, Live Action
Nominees:

Asad (2012): Bryan Buckley, Mino Jarjoura
Buzkashi Boys (2012): Sam French, Ariel Nasr
Curfew (2012/I): Shawn Christensen
Death of a Shadow (2012): Tom Van Avermaet, Ellen De Waele
Henry (2011/III): Yan England

January Magazine Best Books of 2012: Crime Fiction

Yup.  I'm still making my way through 2012 crime fiction books. Hell, a few years before that too. And don't get me started on movies.  If you're like me (go ahead and admit it), then be sure to check out January Magazine Best Books of Twenty Twelve: Crime Fiction. You'll find plenty of titles that should be on your To Be Read List.  And check out my contribution ( hint: Dan Fesperman comes in from the cold).

Zero Dark Thirty vs. Washington DC

The CIA acting Director Michael Morrell stated on Friday that he takes exception with the movie Zero Dark Thirty, directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Mark Boal. Morrell disputes that the torture of al-Qaeda detainees produced any valuable information. He is following the lead of several senators on the intelligence committee -- the folks who would have to pass his nomination as permanent director.  This viewpoint is directly contradicted by Jose Rodriguez, a former head of the CIA clandestine service and the man who oversaw the detention program. Rodriguez states that waterboarding did indeed produce valuable information. In his memoir Hard Measures, Rodriguez writes that black sites did produce information that ultimately helped lead to the capture of UBL. So who is telling the truth? Clearly, Rodriguez seeks to clear his reputation.  But he is out of the game now, so is this really a personal agenda, or is the current administration perhaps too afraid to admit the accuracy of what Rodriguez and Zero Dark Thirty is claiming? The director and screenwriter state that they are boiling down ten years worth of hunting for UBL into a few hours. They shouldn't be taken to task for fictional license and they are right. But perhaps they shouldn't be criticized either for depicting black site interrogation as producing valuable testimony, because many of the foot soldiers in the CIA believe it did. And many still believe it shouldn't be abandoned as an effective means of learning the doings of this country's mortal enemy. Those who condemn enhanced interrogation techniques are seemingly okay with outright killing instead.  How much information is obtained by blowing terrorists to pieces with drones? Rodriguez claims that valuable information is being lost in this way. Clearly drone strikes are a necessary weapon against dangerous and ruthless terrorists. But the work done at black sites was vital too. Zero Dark Thirty boldly represents this. It is a shame when the government asks well-intentioned and patriotic CIA officers and their foreign agents (such as the doctor who helped determine UBL was in Abbottabad, Pakistan and who is still imprisoned) to do difficult work, and then hangs them out to dry.  There are some things we will never know in the hunt for terrorists bent on destroying this nation, and we shouldn't.  But somethings are already out there. Zero Dark Thiry admits it is a work of fiction. Washington DC is perhaps engaging in something of the very sort too.

Do You Want to Know a Secret?

There were several recent instances of military and government intelligence deliberately finding its way into the public domain.  It's a disturbing matter.  There are enemy forces in the world who will try to exploit whatever information they can acquire.  So what propels members of Seal Team Six to show a gaming company their specially fitted (and secret) weapons?  And what causes a CIA officer to reveal the identity of fellow officers to a reporter?  Reaching back a bit in time, but nonetheless also significant: What induces the White House to reveal far too much information in the raid to capture UBL?  On the face of it, state and military secrets have been leaked and traded for...well, a long long time.  Yet, these recent disclosures are not cases of espionage involving dead drops, axis vs. ally political fault lines, or even large sums of money changing hands -- matters that have to be vigilantly defeated.  These are instances of currying popularity points in an election year; of helping to make cool games more authentic; of payback.  Will the country survive these unfortunate and dangerous indescretions?  Of course.  Has damage been done?  Yes.  Guys like James Bond are going to have a tougher time in a climate where the white hats readily show their hand. 

2012 Edgar Allan Poe Awards

Mystery Writers of America is proud to announce the winners of the 2012 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, honoring the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction and television published or produced in 2011. The Edgar® Awards were presented to the winners at our 66th Gala Banquet, April 26, 2012 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, New York City.


BEST NOVEL

Gone by Mo Hayder (Grove/Atlantic – Atlantic Monthly Press)


BEST FIRST NOVEL BY AN AMERICAN AUTHOR


Bent Road by Lori Roy (Penguin Group USA - Dutton)


BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL


The Company Man by Robert Jackson Bennett (Hachette Book Group – Orbit Books)


BEST FACT CRIME


Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President

by Candice Millard (Random House - Doubleday)


BEST CRITICAL/BIOGRAPHICAL


On Conan Doyle: Or, the Whole Art of Storytelling by Michael Dirda (Princeton University Press)


BEST SHORT STORY


“The Man Who Took His Hat Off to the Driver of the Train” – Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine by Peter Turnbull (Dell Magazines)


BEST JUVENILE


Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby (Scholastic Press)


BEST YOUNG ADULT


The Silence of Murder by Dandi Daley Mackall (Random House Children’s Books – Knopf BFYR)


BEST PLAY


The Game’s Afoot by Ken Ludwig (Cleveland Playhouse, Cleveland, OH)


BEST TELEVISION EPISODE TELEPLAY


“Pilot” – Homeland, Teleplay by Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon & Gideon Raff (Showtime)


ROBERT L. FISH MEMORIAL AWARD


"A Good Man of Business" – Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

by David Ingram (Dell Magazines)


GRAND MASTER

Martha Grimes


RAVEN AWARDS

M is for Mystery Bookstore, San Mateo, CA

Molly Weston, Meritorious Mysteries


ELLERY QUEEN AWARD

Joe Meyers of the Connecticut Post/Hearst Media News Group


THE SIMON & SCHUSTER - MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD

(Presented at MWA’s Agents & Editors Party on Wednesday, April 25, 2012)


Learning to Swim by Sara J. Henry (Crown Publishing Group

Historic Mission

I had the pleasure to read and review SEAL Target Geronimo: The Inside Story of the Mission to Kill Osama Bin Laden.  The book gives a brief accounting of the history of the SEAL program, including the colorful personalities that led the program in the past (and present), and the rigorous training SEALS undergo in order to wear the Trident.  Author Chuck Pfarrer is a former SEAL.  With his insider mentality and experience, Pfarrer brings the reader as close as possible to what a SEAL mission is like.  He also brings the reader up to snuff on US military-political scrimaging, and US military intel on the power struggles inside Al Qaeda.  On May 1, 2011, there was misinformation disseminated about the raid.  Inaccuracies were later corrected by the White House, but Pfarrer takes you inside the Stealth Hawks and the Pakistani compound to experience the truth of what happened that night.  The Jedis of SEAL Team Six are national heros.  This book is one hell of a (sobbering) ride.  You can read my review in the Lincoln Journal Star here.

Here's to you, Jerry Robinson

You can read about this great man here and here and here.