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[John.]

Amazing news. Kirsten is the first American to receive a nomination for this award in it's 24 year history. It's lucky that Kirsten took out that German citizenship earlier this year. 

[John.]

A little snippet from a new interview with John Hurt with a lovely comment about Kirsten.

You’ve narrated two Lars von Trier films, and it’s nice that you finally got onscreen with Melancholia.
That’s what I said to Lars! “You keep having me narrate. You never put me in them, you old fuck!” And he called my bluff. [Laughs.]

What did you think of the news that Lars was exonerated in France?
I should imagine so! I never heard something so silly. You know, I was sitting near him when he said those comments, I know all the intentions of what he was trying to say, and he unfortunately touched on a subject — whether you’re being funny or instructive — that you just should never do in public. It’s the last taboo. He did not say he was a Nazi sympathizer — that’s the last thing in the world he would say — but he did say he felt he understood Hitler a certain amount. That’s fair enough to say. And talk about storming a teacup! It was so completely ludicrous. But that’s certainly good news. And Melancholia just got the European Film Award. I suppose it could be nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Oscars, but I’m not sure. Kirsten Dunst just did a wonderful job. I adore that girl. I’m very partial to my “daughter.”

[gkfi]

Thanks for the Interview, John! It is indeed very sweet.

[John.]

Finally some decent recognition in the U.S for Kirsten & Melancholia.

The National Society of Film Critics (NSFC) yesterday named “Melancholia” as Best Picture of the Year 2011. Kirsten Dunst was named best actress for her performance in Lars von Trier’s film, & Brad Pitt was named best actor for his work in “Moneyball” & “The Tree of Life.” Albert Brooks won best supporting actor for his appearance in “Drive,” & Jessica Chastain was named best supporting actress for her work in three films: “The Tree of Life,” “Take Shelter” & “The Help.”

The Society, which is made up of 58 of the country’s most prominent movie critics, held its 46th annual awards voting meeting at Sardi’s Restaurant in New York City, using a weighted ballot system. Scrolls will be sent to the winners.

Here are the Results (which include the number of votes received).

BEST ACTOR
*1. Brad Pitt – 35 (Moneyball, The Tree of Life)
2. Gary Oldman – 22 (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)
3. Jean Dujardin – 19 (The Artist)

BEST ACTRESS
*1. Kirsten Dunst – 39 (Melancholia)
2. Yun Jung-hee – 25 (Poetry)
3. Meryl Streep – 20 (The Iron Lady)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
*1. Albert Brooks – 38 (Drive)
2. Christopher Plummer – 24 (Beginners)
3. Patton Oswalt – 19 (Young Adult)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
*1. Jessica Chastain – 30 (The Tree of Life, Take Shelter, The Help)
2. Jeannie Berlin – 19 (Margaret)
3. Shailene Woodley – 17 (The Descendants)

BEST PICTURE
*1. Melancholia – 29 (Lars von Trier)
2. The Tree of Life – 28 (Terrence Malick)
3. A Separation – 20 (Asghar Farhadi)

BEST DIRECTOR
*1. Terrence Malick – 31 (The Tree of Life)
2. Martin Scorsese – 29 (Hugo)
3. Lars von Trier – 23 (Melancholia)

BEST NONFICTION
*1. Cave of Forgotten Dreams – 35 (Werner Herzog)
2. The Interrupters – 26 (Steve James)
3. Into the Abyss – 18 (Werner Herzog)

BEST SCREENPLAY
*1. A Separation – 39 (Asghar Farhadi)
2. Moneyball – 22 (Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin)
3. Midnight in Paris – 16 (Woody Allen)

BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
*1. A Separation – 67 (Asghar Farhadi)
2. Mysteries of Lisbon – 28 (Raoul Ruiz)
3. Le Havre – 22 (Aki Kaurismäki)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
*1. The Tree of Life – 76 (Emanuel Lubezki)
2. Melancholia – 41 (Manuel Alberto Claro)
3. Hugo – 33 (Robert Richardson)

EXPERIMENTAL
Ken Jacobs, for “Seeking the Monkey King.”

FILM HERITAGE
1. BAMcinématek for its complete Vincente Minnelli retrospective with all titles shown on 16 mm. or 35 mm. film.
2. Lobster Films, Groupama Gan Foundation for Cinema & the Technicolor Foundation for Cinema for the restoration of the color version of George Méliès’s “A Trip to the Moon.”
3. New York’s Museum of Modern Art for its extensive retrospective of Weimar Cinema.
4. Flicker Alley for their box set “Landmarks of Early Soviet Film.”
5. Criterion Collecton for its 2-disc DVD package “The Complete Jean Vigo.”