(Courtesy: Awards Campaign)
Category: Daily
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11/19 Oscarweb Round-up
• Michael Cieply writes up “Crazy Heart” from the angle that Paramount has “embarrassed” itself for passing on the film once upon a time, but apparently that early cut was “unwatchable,” so, you know, cut some slack. [New York Times]• Clint Eastwood — set to grace one of five GQ covers next month — says the country is in a morbid mood. [CNN]
• The Gurus o’ Gold weigh in on the directors and animated features. [Movie City News]
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Stunning video for Charlotte Gainsbourg’s ‘Heaven Can Wait’
Produced by and featuring Beck. Video directed by Keith Schofield. Reason #528 why I love Charlotte Gainsbourg. (Thanks to The Auteurs for the heads-up.)
Meanwhile, Gainsbourg claims that she brought emotional baggage from the “Antichrist” shoot to the recording of her third album “IRM.” Should be an interesting listen.
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Werner Herzog named president of 2010 Berlin jury
After premiering two films at September’s Venice fest, perhaps the most surprising thing about Werner Herzog heading the jury at February’s Berlin Film Festival is that he won’t be inflicting another film upon the competition.I kid, I kid. Herzog, the first German jury president since Roland Emmerich in 2005, is inarguably deserving of the position, and should bring a welcome streak of eccentricity to the jury’s deliberations. The press release declares him “one of the most significant personalities of New German Cinema,” which is risking understatement.
Interestingly, the 67 year-old auteur has only twice competed at the Berlinale himself, with his 1968 debut “Signs of Life” (for which he won a special award) and 1979’s “Nosferatu.”
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‘Bones’ panders to audience bloodlust
Okay, this story has been doing the round for a day or so, but I only got to it now. Let me say upfront that if you haven’t read Alice Sebold’s “The Lovely Bones,” and wish to remain innocent of any major plot developments in Peter Jackson’s upcoming film, stop reading now.I mean it.
MAJOR SPOILER ALERT.
Still with me? Good. Those familiar with the novel will know that it ends with the heroine’s rapist-murderer (to be played in the film by Stanley Tucci) falling to his death into a ravine, after being freakishly hit on the head by a falling icicle.
I always thought it a rather crass, unintentionally amusing resolution, but was at least grateful that Sebold refrained from something more lurid.
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AMPAS announces doc feature short list, ‘Anvil,’ ‘Capitalism’ snubbed
You can check out the full press release here. The list of 15 competing titles as follows:• “The Beaches of Agnes,” Agnès Varda, director (Cine-Tamaris)
• “Burma VJ,” Anders Østergaard, director (Magic Hour Films)
• “The Cove,” Louie Psihoyos, director (Oceanic Preservation Society)
• “Every Little Step,” James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo, directors (Endgame Entertainment)
• “Facing Ali,” Pete McCormack, director (Network Films Inc.)
• “Food, Inc.,” Robert Kenner, director (Robert Kenner Films)
• “Garbage Dreams,” Mai Iskander, director (Iskander Films, Inc.)
• “Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders,” Mark N. Hopkins, director (Red Floor Pictures LLC)
• “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers,” Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith, directors (Kovno Communications)
• “Mugabe and the White African,” Andrew Thompson and Lucy Bailey, directors (Arturi Films Limited)
• “Sergio,” Greg Barker, director (Passion Pictures and Silverbridge Productions)
• “Soundtrack for a Revolution,” Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman, directors (Freedom Song Productions)
• “Under Our Skin,” Andy Abrahams Wilson, director (Open Eye Pictures)
• “Valentino The Last Emperor,” Matt Tyrnauer, director (Acolyte Films)
• “Which Way Home,” Rebecca Cammisa, director (Mr. Mudd) -
Oscarcast puts a little English on it
When I heard that accomplished, slightly quirky and very British events director Hamish Hamilton had been tapped to direct next March’s Academy Awards ceremony, my first thought was that first-time producers Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic had made yet another spot-on decision.Apparently, however, not everyone in Hollywood agrees.
Hamilton, who will also mastermind February’s Super Bowl half-time extravaganza, is an experienced and imaginative concert man, having directed slick shows and specials for the likes of U2, Christina Aguilera, Jay-Z and Neil Diamond.
More relevant to the Oscars however, he’s had immense success helming various editions of the MTV Video Music Awards and some particularly enjoyable Brit Award (the British Grammy) ceremonies.
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‘Precious’ to be honored by PGA
The press release, in part:The Producers Guild of America (PGA), a national non-profit trade group committed to protecting the rights and credits of producers in film, television and new media, announced today that PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL ‘PUSH’ BY SAPPHIRE will be honored with the 2010 Stanley Kramer Award. The film’s producers will be honored with the award at the 21st Annual PGA Awards ceremony on Sunday, January 24, 2010 at the Hollywood Palladium.
The Stanley Kramer Award was established in 2002 to honor a motion picture, television program, studio, network, producer, executive or other individual entity whose work illuminates provocative social issues in an accessible and elevating fashion. Kramer, considered within the film industry to have served as “Hollywood’s Conscience” during his career as film director and producer, created some of the most respected and successful works in the annals of American motion pictures. He was the master behind such classics as “The Caine Mutiny,” “High Noon,” “The Defiant Ones,” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” Previous recipients of the Kramer award include “Milk,” “The Great Debaters,” “An Inconvenient Truth,” “Good Night, and Good Luck,” “Hotel Rwanda,” “Innocent Voices,” “In America,” “Antwone Fisher” and “I Am Sam.”
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‘Nine’ TV spot, Cruz on Letterman
Thanks to Bryan for sending it in:
Check out Penelope Cruz’s appearance on Letterman after the jump. And FYI, the entire cast will be on Oprah today.
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U2 enters the race for Best Original Song with ‘Winter’ from Jim Sheridan’s ‘Brothers’
Last week when canvassing the various FYC sites that are hitting the web as of late, I misspoke (er, mistyped) when I disregarded the eligibility of a certain original song contender in this year’s race. Allow me to explain.U2’s “Winter” did indeed show up on Anton Corbijn’s “Linear,” a short film that accompanied the album “No Line on the Horizon” (which the band is touring vigorously across the US right now). But I’m told the song was, in fact, written specifically for Jim Sheridan’s “Brothers” and that it will indeed be eligible for consideration in the Best Original Song category.
The film has been completed for quite some time, mind you. It took a while for it to secure distribution (though I have no idea why — it’s a fine film). MGM picked it up maybe a year ago, and over the summer, Lionsgate bought the film in a three-picture distribution deal. So just because “No Line on the Horizon” has been in stores for a number of months doesn’t mean “Winter” (which isn’t an official track inclusion on the album, by the way) wasn’t conceived far in advance of its release.
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Hal Holbrook’s awards season play, take two
Over the weekend, “That Evening Sun” star Hal Holbrook took the Excellence in Acting award at the Starz Denver Film Festival over the weekend. When the press release landed in my inbox, it reminded me that, while I’ve been a pretty strong proponent of Patterson Hood’s original song from the film, I haven’t written about Holbrook’s performance all that much.It’s a beautiful piece of work. Holbrook adds every ounce of texture, nuance, authenticity and depth that Clint Eastwood was woefully lacking in the similarly themed “Gran Torino” last year, but it’s unfair to start with a comparison, I guess. Holbrook nails ornery to a T, and he seems to be able to work the natural rhythms of southern conversation better than anyone other than maybe Robert Duvall.
Susan King recently talked to the actor, who said working on Sean Penn’s “Into the Wild” gave him confidence. And not to be SO 2007, but he offers some high praise for the actor/director in the piece.
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‘New Moon’ director says he might hang it up
Geez, are the “Twilight” films really so bad that poor Chris Weitz would call it quits?Of course I’m being facetious. The real reason Weitz is giving for “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” being his penultimate film, according to MovieMaker Magazine, is the heavy studio influence on “The Golden Compass,” a film the director says he wanted to be his masterpiece, during post-production.
(P.S.: I loved that movie, Chris.)
Anyway, MovieMaker has even sent out a “look what we have!” press release, turning idle conversation into cut-and-dry fact. At the end of the day, maybe Weitz will keep chugging along. Then again, it’s difficult to argue with what Weitz actually says about his next project, I guess.
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Someone who actually gets this year’s lead actress field
Leave it to a woman to understand the virtues of leading ladies on screen this year.Yesterday we linked to Steven Zeitchik’s join-the-misguided-masses piece on the “thin” Best Actress race. I just got into this debate Monday night with another proponent of the theory (who has been similarly rebuffed here in the past).
The point I keep coming to is that, yeah, if everything is seen through the prism of what makes an Oscar contender (which is, frankly, such a manipulative pursuit it shouldn’t be the gauge), then yeah, maybe a case can be made for a “weak” year for lead actresses. But that does not necessarily translate to a dearth of quality work that isn’t destined to be recognized during the awards season.
Of course I’ve made this point emphatically and in black and white before. But it’s oh so nice to read Women & Hollywood’s Melissa Silverstein catching the point as well.
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French ‘Avatar’ poster, footage leaks
“Avatar” news and notes really seem to be picking up lately. Before long the December 10 London premiere will be here (I don’t know if a press screening will be held the same day here in the states or beforehand or what). Today, thanks to Coming Soon, we get a look at the French poster for the film:
Meanwhile, courtesy of Market Saw (via Ain’t It Cool), a four minute sequence from the film has made its way online. It was apparently captured through XBOX 360 playback so the assumption is it may be available through XBOX Live overseas or something. So I don’t feel too conflicted about posting it.
It’s part of the same footage that was shown at Comic-Con and obviously isnt an ideal way to view it, but if you’re interested, check it out after the jump.
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11/18 Oscarweb Round-up
• The swashbuckling spirit behind “Pirate Radio.” [Los Angeles Times]• Anne Thompson wants to know where the screeners of “The Hurt Locker” are. Probably waiting on “New Moon” box office receipts. [Thompson on Hollywood]
• The gall: Why Roger Corman doesn’t deserve an Oscar. Apparently there’s a “pro” side on the way. [Cinematical]
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Jennifer Hudson boards Winnie Mandela biopic
The current vogue for South African-focused cinema continues apace. With Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman applying A-list Hollywood polish to the figure of former president Nelson Mandela, Jennifer Hudson is now set to do the same for his ex-wife.Rumors about this have been circling for some time, but yesterday Variety confirmed that Hudson has signed on for “Winnie,” a full-scale biopic of the controversial politician, most notorious for her alleged (ahem) involvement in the murder of a 14 year-old activist in 1989.
South African director Darrell James Roodt (an Oscar nominee for 2004’s “Yesterday”) is at the helm. He also co-wrote the screenplay, based on Anne Marie du Preez Bezdrob’s 2003 biography “Winnie Mandela: A Life.” (Emma Gilbey’s superb “The Lady” would be a better starting point, in my opinion.)
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Weinsteins promote Mélanie Laurent to lead
Some of you have already mentioned this in another thread, but The Weinstein Company, in their apparent wisdom, have decided to campaign “Inglourious Basterds” star Mélanie Laurent for Best Actress.Far be it from me to question the judgment of one of the greatest strategists in Oscar history, but … what?
Laurent was, admittedly, a very dark horse in the supporting category, but as far as I can see, promoting her to lead reduces her nomination chances to nil — unless voters take the category decision into their own hands, as they did with Kate Winslet this year.
Perhaps Weinstein is simply buying into the popular myth that Best Actress is a weakly contested category this year. But with only one slot seemingly up for grabs, and her compatriot (and fellow Weinstein Company property) Marion Cotillard muscling in on the race, the odds are firmly stacked against Laurent getting it.