‘Up in the Air' director, actress among dual honorees

Staff and wire reports

BEVERLY HILLS — “Up in the Air” landed at just the right time, emerging as a potential Academy Awards favorite with themes of job loss and economic calamity that offer a heartbreaking yet hilarious reflection of these hard times.

The film grabbed a leading six Golden Globe nominations Tuesday, including best drama, plus directing and screenplay nods for Jason Reitman, who will be honored as Best Director at the Palm Springs International Film Festival awards gala on Jan. 5 at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

“I can't put into words how exciting it is to feel and to know that I'll be going to the Golden Globes with everyone I worked with on this film,” Reitman told the Australian Web site news.com.au. “This was one of those ensembles that we really enjoyed working together. We're a tight-knit family. The idea that we're going together is just wonderful.”

George Clooney was also nominated for his turn as a frequent-flier junkie traveling the country in first-class seats and premium car rentals as he fires the rank-and-file at downsizing companies.

“We just got a little lucky. Jason's been writing this movie for like six or seven years now and it only really came about right at this moment, and he kind of adapted the screenplay to fit the times,” said Anna Kendrick, who earned a supporting actress nomination Tuesday and will receive a Rising Star Award at the Palm Springs awards gala.

Kendrick spoke to The Desert Sun about how she heard about the nominations: “I was in the green room of a morning show, being dragged on to the set as I heard my name being called. I did my interview and was feeling very antsy. As soon as the interview was done, I raced back to a monitor just in time to see best screenplay, best director and best picture,” she said. “It was great.”

Kendrick's competition includes “Up in the Air” co-star Vera Farmiga, who also earned a supporting-actress nod as Clooney's frequent-flier dream woman.

Other drama picks were the space fantasy “Avatar”; the Iraq war tale “The Hurt Locker,” featuring Palms Springs Rising Star honoree Jeremy Renner; the World War II saga “Inglourious Basterds”; and the Harlem teen story “Precious,” featuring another Palm Springs film festival nominee, Mariah Carey.

The musical “Nine” ran second with five nominations, including best musical or comedy and acting slots for Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz and Marion Cotillard.

Also competing for musical or comedy are the romance “500 Days of Summer”; the bachelor-party bash “The Hangover”; and two Meryl Streep films, “It's Complicated” and “Julie & Julia.”

Joining Clooney in the best dramatic actor field are a pair of Palm Springs film festival nominees in Morgan Freeman for “Invictus” and Jeff Bridges for “Crazy Heart.”

The Globes are a key ceremony that sorts out the prospects leading up to the Oscar nominations Feb. 2. The 67th annual Globes will be handed out Jan. 17, six days before voting closes for the Oscar nominations.

Additional Facts
 
Palm Springs International Film Festival honorees nominated for Golden Globes
Jason Reitman (PSIFF Best Director), Golden Globe nominations for best drama, directing and screenplay for “Up In the Air”

Anna Kendrick (PSIFF Rising Star), Golden Globe nomination for supporting actress for “Up In the Air”

Jeff Bridges (PSIFF Desert Palm Achievement), Golden Globe nomination for best dramatic actor for “Crazy Heart”

Morgan Freeman (PSIFF Career Achievement), Golden Globe nomination for best dramatic actor for “Invictus”



Film festival information

What: The 21st annual Palm Springs International Film Festival, featuring 400 screenings of more than 200 films from about 60 countries

When: Jan. 5-18, starting with the black tie awards gala honoring Jeff Bridges, Helen Mirren, Mariah Carey, Morgan Freeman, Anna Kendrick and other major stars to be named.

Where: The awards gala will be at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Films will be seen on 15 screens throughout Palm Springs.

Tickets: Passes, awards gala, opening and closing night tickets and six-pack packages are available now. Individual ticket sales begin Dec. 24 for Palm Springs International Film Society Members, Dec. 26 for the general public. Gala tickets start at $350. Benefactor tickets for most film events: $2,500

Information: (760) 322-2930 or psfilmfest.org


Festival honors

Palm Springs International Film Festival honorees nominated for Golden Globes

Jason Reitman (PSIFF Best Director), Golden Globe nominations for best drama, directing and screenplay for “Up In the Air”

Anna Kendrick (PSIFF Rising Star), Golden Globe nomination for supporting actress for “Up In the Air”

Jeff Bridges (PSIFF Desert Palm Achievement), Golden Globe nomination for best dramatic actor for “Crazy Heart”

Morgan Freeman (PSIFF Career Achievement), Golden Globe nomination for best dramatic actor for “Invictus”


Miss anything?

Read past stories about the Palm Springs film fest nominees at mydesert.com/filmfest