Three Georgia Films Nominated for 2017 Academy Awards

While Georgia’s film industry continues to expand in all directions, it is only natural that we see an increase in the presence of Georgia productions on end-of-the-year lists and in award presentations.

With the nominations for the 89th Academy Awards announced this morning, it comes as no surprise that three films made in Georgia showed up. Theodore Melfi’s “Hidden Figures,” Morten Tyldum’s “Passengers” and Clint Eastwood’s “Sully” all received nominations. No two Georgia films were nominated in the same category.

#GAfilm Review: "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1" (***½)

Jennifer Lawrence stars in "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1"

With every fiber in my being, I believe in the power of a story. That’s why I made it my business to study them (UGA, English/Creative Writing); that’s why, since graduation, I’ve made it my business to work within them. That’s why I read and watch them. It’s all for the story. So when I first saw “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1,” I loved it. I loved it because I love Suzanne Collins’ source material. Well, not all of it, there were some parts that, honestly, I’d rather do without, I didn't particularly love the third book for example, but that’s not the point. Whether or not I like what happens isn’t the point. The story is the point. And, I think, Collins’ story remains true and honest and in this third act of this "Hunger Games" trilogy specifically, she paints a bold and unsubtle picture of modern day warfare. The film itself does a wonderful job reflecting those narratives. That being said, after allowing my love-at-first-sight impression of “Mockingjay – Part 1” to simmer and steam, I no longer love this film. I do, however, like it a whole lot.

Exclusive photos from "Dumb and Dumber To" Marietta set

Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels filming "Dumb and Dumber To" at
Glover Park in the Marietta Square

The Farrelly Brothers' "Dumb and Dumber To," along with "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1," is setting Atlanta ablaze with all the excitement it is generating as it films all over the metro area. Already shooting in Atlanta, Grantville and Monroe; yesterday, the film moved to Marietta Square and continued filming there through today. Hundreds of fans and curious passers-by gathered at street corners to get a glimpse of Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels as Lloyd and Harry.

While Laurie Holden and Kathleen Turner co-star and Jennifer Lawrence will make a cameo appearance, Carrey and Daniels were the film's only big stars I caught today. However, it seems that comedic icon Steve Martin was in town and made a set visit. I can't confirm that the man pictured below is actually Steve Martin (AJC Buzz reporter Jennifer Brett says it is, but an on-set PA said it wasn't).

As evidenced by the Texas flags and a large banner above Church Street that welcomes visitors to a conference in El Paso, filmmakers are using the area to double as the west Texas city.

Filming continues in Metro Atlanta for the next several weeks.

Signs and Sets: "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay," "Dumb and Dumber To," "Fast & Furious 7"

"THE ODDS ARE NEVER IN OUR FAVOR," a remnant from the set of
"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" in Southwest Atlanta

It is pretty easy to find pictures of all the celebrities that are spending time filming projects in Georgia, but sometimes you might stumble upon a nondescript film set and not know what and who you are looking at. In a new column called "Signs and Sets," we'll share pictures of the coded signs and miscellaneous set pictures that might not contain the glamorous faces of stars, but will give you an idea of what to look for when set-hunting. Currently, "Fast & Furious 7," "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1" and "Dumb and Dumber To" are all speeding through production in the Metro Atlanta area.

Star spotting 10/5: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Paul Walker, Jason Momoa

Jennifer Lawrence, Jason Momoa and Jim Carrey are all hard at work on Georgia sets.

Leading up to next month's release of "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," the mega-franchise is in full-swing filming mode yet again. "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1" is back in Atlanta, stars and all. Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Julianne Moore in particular have been spotted all over the city, with more of the sprawling cast expected in town over the next several weeks. So far, filming has taken place at Screen Gems Studios, Downtown at the Georgia World Congress Center, at Sweetwater Creek State Park in Lithia Springs, at Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville with the film currently set up at Pullman Yard in Atlanta's Kirkwood neighborhood.

When Lionsgate decided to split the final book in the series into two films, it was rumored that "Mockingjay - Part 2" would film together with "Part 1." While no official word on this has been issued, it would make sense if there is any truth to the rumors about certain top cast members looking for houses to rent during their stay. Francis Lawrence returns from "Catching Fire" to direct the final installments of the franchise. In addition to Lawrence, Hemsworth and Moore; the cast includes Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Natalie Dormer (who will be in attendance at the Savannah Film Festival to accept an award later this month), Patina Miller, Lily Rabe and Wes Chatham.

"Dumb and Dumber To" may not have been a highly anticipated sequel, thanks to two decades passing since the first film and a terrible prequel ("Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd," also shot in Atlanta) acting as a major buzzkill. But fans of the comedy classic have warmly welcomed the franchise back into the fold now that the Farrelly Brothers, Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels are all back in action. Filming started right around the same time as "Mockingjay - Part 1" in Atlanta's Cabbagetown and Grant Park neighborhoods. Production has so far moved around the state to Grantville and Monroe  and will film in Marietta next week. Kathleen Turner, Rob Riggle, Cam Neely and "The Walking Dead" star Laurie Holden co-star in the film. Jennifer Lawrence has also signed on for a cameo; the news breaking after she was spotted having dinner with Daniels and the Farrelly Brothers at Watershed a couple of weeks back.

"Fast & Furious 7" is another big Hollywood film that has been shooting most of its principal photography in Georgia. Filming has taken place throughout Downtown Atlanta and Grant Park, as well as in Norcross with more shooting scheduled in Forrest Park. Franchise staples Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster, Dwayne Johnson and Lucas Black will all appear, as well as new additions Jason Statham, Kurt Russell, Djimon Hounsou and Tony Jaa.

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" teaser trailer

After "Identity Thief" debuted to huge numbers, despite a critical mauling, "42" marks the next Georgia film release this year to strike gold at the box office. Georgia productions are on a roll, to say the least, and the biggest player in the game doesn't even come out until November. "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" is the most ambitious Georgia production to date, in terms of budget, spectacle and the expectations of an already massive built-in fan base.

The teaser trailer premiered at the MTV Movie Awards last night, showcasing the first real footage of the film so far. Much like the first film in the franchise, we aren't given any footage of the actual games– a frustrating, but effective suspense tactic. We can spot returning stars like Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland and Willow Shields, as well as newcomer to the cast– Philip Seymour Hoffman. Francis Lawrence's sequel hits cinema screens on November 22nd.

Check out the trailer after the jump!

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" teaser posters released

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" doesn't come out until November 22nd, but the Georgia-filmed blockbuster-in-waiting is kicking its promotional campaign into high gear. Three new teaser posters have been released for the Francis Lawrence film. Two posters focus on Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) on the Victory Tour as winners of the 74th Hunger Games. The most recently released poster (above) showcases Elizabeth Banks as Effie.

We expect the first trailer of the film to be attached to one of the big summer kick-off releases in May. Stay tuned for more "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" updates and check out more posters after the jump!

Photos from "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"

Sam Claflin and Jennifer Lawrence star in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"

Easily, the highest profile Georgia release of 2013 is "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire." While the first film of the franchise was filmed in North Carolina, the second film was produced in two separate halves; first in Metro Atlanta, then in Hawaii. Stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz, Donald Sutherland and Stanley Tucci all return for the second feature and are joined by Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jena Malone, Jeffrey Wright, Sam Claflin, Lynn Cohen and Amanda Plummer.

Regardless of how the film turns out, it is guaranteed to make an outrageous amount of money and feature Georgia on thousands of cinema screens. Director Francis Lawrence has taken the reigns from Gary Ross and is set to direct all remaining films in the franchise. "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay" will be split into two films but shot back to back. No word yet on if filming will take place in Georgia. "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" will be released on November 22, 2013.

Lionsgate has released the first images from the movie. Check out two more after the jump.

Win two tickets to see "Silver Linings Playbook" in Atlanta!

Who wants a pair of tickets to see David O. Russell's "Silver Linings Playbook" next Monday evening, November 19th at Landmark Midtown Cinema in Atlanta? The film, which stars Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver and Chris Tucker, comes highly recommended by yours truly.

How do you win the passes? Simple! Either retweet this tweet or share our post about the screening on Facebook to be entered to win. Do both and double your chances. We will contact the winner with the passes this weekend.

Savannah: "Silver Linings Playbook" (*****)

Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence star in "Silver Linings Playbook"

The 15th annual Savannah Film Festival kicked off October 27th with "Silver Linings Playbook." I was in town for the entire festival, a spectacular eight days, and will be sharing plenty of reviews, pictures and recaps in the coming weeks.

If you are looking to attract some awards attention, bringing together recent Oscar nominees like David O. Russell, Jennifer Lawrence and Jacki Weaver might do the trick. Throw a living legend, say, Robert De Niro, into the mix and then add two box office stars like Bradley Cooper and Chris Tucker. You're potentially looking at a very big hit, both commercially and critically. "Silver Linings Playbook" lives up to every bit of its potential. Each piece of the sprawling cast is exceptional, with Cooper and Lawrence running away with the show. Lawrence, in particular, demonstrates how she has earned every bit of her phenomenal ascent to the top.

Diane Lane, Matt Dillon, Michelle Monaghan among honorees at 2012 Savannah Film Festival

The 2012 Savannah Film Festival honorees clockwise from top left:
Diane Lane, Matt Dillon, Geoffrey Fletcher, Michelle Monaghan

No stranger to big Hollywood names, the Savannah Film Festival looks to keep business as usual this year. Oscar nominees Diane Lane and Matt Dillon will both receive Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Awards at this year's festival. You might recall that the two shared the big screen together several times in the 1980s, in "The Outsiders," "Rumble Fish" and "The Big Town."

Michelle Monaghan, who has starred in films such as "Source Code," "Gone Baby Gone," "Eagle Eye" and "Mission: Impossible III," will receive the Spotlight Award when her film "Tomorrow You're Gone" screens Friday, November 2nd. Willem Dafoe and Stephen Dorff also appear in the film.

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" officially begins production in Georgia

Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson and Jennifer Lawrence will all reprise
roles in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"

Production on "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" began today in Atlanta. Shooting will take place first at the Georgia World Congress Center. The working title for the film is "The Idiom," but I imagine that cover has been completely blown by now. Filming will take place all over Metro Atlanta before moving production to Hawaii. If you have any pictures or updates from the set, email them to us at reelga@gmail.com.

Recently announced cast-members include Jeffrey Wright as Beetee, Sam Claflin as Finnick Odair, Alan Ritchson as Gloss and Stephanie Leigh Schlund as Cashmere.

"Catching Fire" is just another addition to the list of projects currently filming across Georgia. Shawn Levy's "The Internship" is in Atlanta shooting with Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn. "Scary Movie 5" also just began filming in Atlanta with Ashley Tisdale, Lindsay Lohan, Heather Locklear, Charlie Sheen and Molly Shannon. "The Walking Dead" is currently shooting in Grantville. First time director Rudiger Von Spies just began filming "Enchanted Amore" in Savannah with stars Rusty Joiner and Nadine Vinzens.

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" casting call

Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson will star in
"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"

"Catching Fire," the sequel to mega-box office hit "The Hunger Games" will start filming in Atlanta this September. Stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Tobey Jones, Donald Sutherland and Lenny Kravitz are all slated to return. New cast members already announced include Philip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee, Jena Malone as Johanna Mason, Amanda Plummer as Wiress, Lynn Cohen as Mags and Meta Golding as Enobaria. No official announcement of beloved character Finnick Odair has been made.

Operating under the working title, "The Idiom," the film will split production between the metro Atlanta area and Hawaii. This will make sense to fans of the book, as about half of the film takes place in a tropical climate.

Check out the casting call from Catrett Locke Casting after the jump.

Review Bundle: "Like Crazy" (****), "Martha Marcy May Marlene" (****1/2), "J. Edgar" (***)

Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones star in "Like Crazy"

"Like Crazy" is one of those rare movies where the chemistry between the two leads seemingly forms a separate entity, overshadowing either character by themselves. Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones both give up fantastic performances in this Sundance winner. Considering several scenes were improvised, the chemistry is all the more impressive when you see how it carries them without any scripted lines. Jennifer Lawrence (my soulmate) is a breath of fresh air even when the air is still very fresh. "Like Crazy" is a lively, realistic portrayal of a difficult love. 4 out of 5 stars.

"Martha Marcy May Marlene" and "J. Edgar" after the jump. 

"The Hunger Games" trailer

While the chosen filming location of North Carolina fits the bill, I think "The Hunger Games" could have been just as easily filmed in Georgia (or perhaps more easily). Nonetheless, it's a good-looking trailer. The film looks to be sticking pretty close to the source material and the sprawling cast looks as strong as it should.