In Contention

Category: Daily

  • Summit toasts ‘Ghost Writer,’ ‘Fair Game,’ ‘Red,’ ‘Twilight’

    Holiday parties sure are getting earlier, as the team at Summit Entertainment held theirs last night at BOA Steakhouse on Sunset.  The event was held to toast the efforts of cast and crew on the studio’s 2010 films — “Fair Game,” “The Ghost Writer,” “Red” and “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.”

    I ended up chatting with Olivia Williams early in the evening about her experience on Roman Polanski’s film, which she clearly coveted.  She noted with candor how positive reinforcement isn’t exactly part of the process, not in any bad way, but just that hearing a “hey, nice job” isn’t the norm on a Polanski set, something she wasn’t expecting.  But she relished the experience and her handlers certainly think seeing her vibrant sense of humor on the circuit could make people realize how wonderful she is as a cold character in the film.

    Meanwhile, Jerry Zucker was there with his family as producer of “Fair Game.” While there was plenty to talk about regarding that political thriller, how do you engage in conversation with the guy who made “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun” without going there?  We talked potential torch-bearers of the form today, and he made it a point of mentioning how right “The Hangover” got it, that it was a comedy constantly surprising you, and that is key.  He’s currently working on a send-up of Broadway musicals tentatively titled “You Are Here,” which should be a hoot.

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  • Nolan to be honored by Visual Effects Society

    Christopher Nolan keeps racking up the kudos along the circuit.  Here’s the latest, from the press release, in part:

    The Visual Effects Society will honor Academy Award® nominated filmmaker Christopher Nolan with the inaugural VES Visionary Award at the 9th Annual VES Awards on Friday, January 28, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles , CA . The award is designed to honor an individual who has uniquely and consistently employed the art and science of visual effects to foster imagination and ignite future discoveries by way of artistry, invention and groundbreaking work.

    “Christopher Nolan has been at the forefront in using vfx to help tell complex and astonishing stories that change the way we think about the world around us,” said Jeffrey A. Okun, Chair of the Visual Effects Awards Committee. “His body of work inspires and he continues to push the envelope both technically and in storytelling. Given the amazing work he’s already created in such a short span of time, he is absolutely the best person to receive our inaugural Visionary Award.”

    [Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures]

  • If other directors made ‘The Social Network’

    This video, courtesy of College Humor, was making the rounds yesterday.  In case you missed it:

  • 11/17 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: The death of Oscar bait, ‘How Do You Know’ nails a PG-13, Moore and Levi on ‘Tangled’

    • Guest blogging for Nathaniel Rogers, Michael C. writes up the apparent death of “Oscar bait” as it pertains to Best Picture winners. [The Film Experience]

    • Steve Pond chats with “The Kids Are All Right” writer/director Lisa Cholodenko. [The Odds]

    • James Cameron discusses his inspiration for “Avatar” (it won’t go away) in an extended collector’s edition clip. [MTV Movies Blog]

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  • First look at Jennifer Hudson in ‘Winnie’

    Thanks to reader Nicolas Mancuso for tipping me off to this extended promo trailer for “Winnie,” Darrell James Roodt’s Winnie Mandela biopic with Jennifer Hudson in her first dramatic headlining role. I was sceptical of this project when it was announced a year ago, and I’m afraid the trailer has only exacerbated my fears. A big-name screen treatment was always likely to smooth over some of the uglier wrinkles in Ms. Mandela’s personal and political life, but this looks to be a shameless whitewash job: seeing this troubled, charismatic criminal (and arguable murderess) given the fawning violin treatment, complete with laudatory intertitles like “Her Courage” and “Her Strength,” leaves a very sour taste indeed. (More, and the embedded trailer, after the cut.)

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  • Palm Springs fest to honor Portman and Firth

    The Palm Springs International Film Festival may claim independent thought in the rationing of their performance awards, but rather like Santa Barbara, any West Coast fest that takes place in prime awards-season territory can’t claim to be free of the Oscar campaign circuit.

    After all, when their press release states that the two actors being honored with their Desert Palm Achievement Awards (essentially Best Actor and Actress) “deliver Oscar-quality performances,” they’re effectively admitting to being another cog in the machine.

    So it is that for the last three years running, their male Desert Palm Achievement Award winner was gone on to scoop the Best Actor Oscar. These folks know what they’re doing. Try and conceal your astonishment, then, that this year’s honoree is Colin Firth, the unanimously agreed-upon frontrunner (and to my mind, lone contender) for the Oscar. “Colin Firth brings a regal versatility to each of his roles, but his portrayal of King George VI in his latest film, ‘The King’s Speech,’ is extraordinary,” says PSIFF director Harold Matzner.

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  • Sussing out the HFPA’s comedy/musical field

    In the latest Gurus o’ Gold survey, David Poland asked us all to contribute the usual rankings for Best Picture, added in the supporting actor and supporting actress categories, then popped the question regarding the Golden Globes comedy/musical category.  It’s interesting to get perspective on the latter this (relatively) early in the season.

    A couple of things: First of all, three Gurus included “Toy Story 3” in their ranking, which with Gregory Ellwood’s #1 placement was enough for it to be chalked up at #5 on the collective.  Ever since the HFPA instituted an animated feature category, animated features have been ineligible in the Best Picture categories.  So that’s gone.

    The #6 spot went to “Get Low,” but I’ve confirmed that film as a drama consideration for HFPA, so it won’t be in the mix.  Meanwhile, only Steve Pond and myself included “Nowhere Boy,” which is a film that went over really well with the association and will be competing as a musical.

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  • New ‘Black Swan’ poster

    It’s clearly Poster Revision Day or something, as this new concept for Darren Aronofsky’s “Black Swan” (you may have heard of it by now) builds and improves on the simple head shot unveiled in August — while maintaining its pristine, counter-intuitive snow-white sheen. Obviously, nothing’s going to top those Art Deco-inspired teaser designs released last month, though it seems this one has at least incorporated a key visual metaphor from one of them. See if you can spot it.

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  • US ‘Made in Dagenham’ poster ups the drama

    Well, this is interesting. The newly unveiled US poster for cheery true-life Britpic “Made in Dagenham” points to a tactical turnabout as politically suggestive as its red-to-blue color shift — one that suggests Sony Pictures Classics still harbor serious awards hopes for this 1960s-set underdog story. An initial one-sheet was based directly on the jolly UK design, which foregrounded the fun factor with a grinning Sally Hawkins and that cheeky “We Want Sex” sight gag.

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  • 11/16 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: Cooper to remake ‘Carancho,’ Liman talks ‘Fair Game,’ dogpiling on Harrison Ford

    • Scott Cooper set to remake “Carancho.” [Deadline]

    • Erik Childress looks forward to the self-aware “legitimate opinions” of critics groups. [Cinematical]

    • John Lopez writes up Oscar’s longshots. [Little Gold Men]

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  • ‘Frankie & Alice’ poster

    The Halle Berry starrer “Frankie & Alice” screens tonight and throughout the week in Los Angeles.  And Berry may or may not be a contender in this year’s competitive Best Actress race.  (Dave Karger seems to think she is.)  Regardless, I can’t make the screening tonight, but I’ll catch up with it later in the week.  For now, we have a look at the one-sheet for you.  Check out the full image after the jump.

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  • Only 15 films qualify for Oscar’s animated feature race

    I honestly didn’t expect the list to hit so soon on the heels of my item earlier this afternoon, but hit it has.  And it actually appears that “The Dreams of Jinsha” was the other title submitted, not “Chico & Rita.”

    Alas, there are only 15 titles that qualified, meaning we will only see three nominees in the category this year.  “Yogi Bear,” predictably, did not qualify, while “Idiots and Angels,” it turns out, did.  I’d LOVE to see Bill Plympton in an Oscar race.

    The rest are the usual suspects, but it’s a real shame we can’t have a full slate this year.  Speaking solely for myself, I’m liking a lot of feature animation in 2010.  TheGolden Globes, however, could still see five nominees as long as 14 titles were submitted to the HFPA for consideration.  Check out Oscar’s field of animated feature contenders after the jump.

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  • 16 animated features submitted, but what will qualify?

    The Academy will be announcing the list of qualifying films for this year’s Best Animated Feature Film Oscar some time this week.  For now, we know of 16 titles that have submitted.  They are indicated on our dedicated page.

    There was some confusion recently over which film was the 16th submission, but I’m told it was “Chico & Rita,” which bowed at this year’s Telluride film festival (it was the first film I saw at the fest, in fact).  (CORRECTION: Turns out it was “The Dreams of Jinsha” instead, as noted here.)  If all 16 films qualify, then we’ll be looking at a slate of five nominees after all.  But if just one falls out, then it’s back to three.

    The most dubious contenders could be “Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore” and “Yogi Bear,” which may not meet eligibility requirements.  But the language is a bit loose, noting that “a significant number of the major characters must be animated, and animation must figure in no less than 75 percent of the picture’s running time.”

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  • ‘Cowboys & Aliens’ teaser poster

    I have to say, the highlight of Comic-Con this year, for me, was Universal’s “Cowboys & Aliens” panel featuring a 10 minute reel of surprise footage that was enough to have me waiting with bated breath for Jon Favreau’s comic adaptation.  Today, Yahoo! Movies has debuted the teaser poster from the film.  There’s also a countdown clock indicating that the trailer will hit in two days.  I’m totally on board.  Check out the full image after the jump.

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  • No column today

    Off the Carpet will stay in the garage another seven days.  But I have gone through the Contenders section and done some tweaking, as well as updated the predictions sidebar.  Everything is beginning to feel more insular than ever with awards coverage.  Who cares what us blowhard analysts have to offer?  It’s time for industry feedback, already.  Once screeners hit just before Thanksgiving and voters begin catching up on titles, we’ll start to get a much better idea of the season’s path.  Feel free to use this space for your own predictions or other thoughts.

  • Rudin tapped for PGA’s Selznick Award

    It looks to be a pretty good year for producer Scott Rudin.  “The Social Network” has already opened and done quite well for a fall drama (not to mention the awards buzz that keeps piling on).  “The Way Back,” which he executively produced, is another great collaboration with Peter Weir, and the Coens’ “True Grit” is still to come.

    At the end of the day, it could be an even better showing that he had in 2007, when Paul Thomas Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood” and the Coen brothers’ “No Country for Old Men” were duking it out for the Best Picture win.  The latter, of course, took the gold.

    If you’ve been picking up The Hollywood Reporter’s big glossy issues, you probably saw in the latest a big spread with Stephen Galloway interviewing the producer.  Today comes word that the PGA will honor Rudin at this year’s festivities.  Check out the full press release after the jump.

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  • AMPAS honors quartet at Governors Awards

    This weekend the Academy toasted the careers of film historian Kevin Brownlow, French auteur Jean-Luc Godard and character actor Eli Wallach with a trio of Honorary Oscar statuettes and bestowed the Irving Thalberg Award on legendary helmer Francis Ford Coppola.

    I didn’t attend the ceremony, but there’s lots of coverage out there.  Rather than pack it all into this morning’s round-up, I figured it best to dedicate another post.

    Variety had a big spread leading up to the evening.  David Cohen writes up Coppola’s life and work with quotes from longtime collaborator and editor Walter Murch, Tatiana Siegel pays tribute to Godard’s independent ways, Bob Verini dives into Eli Wallach’s wide range of roles and Caroline Frick Page makes sure Kevin Brownlow doesn’t get left out with a salute to his borderline obsessive sleuthing and restoration efforts.

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  • 11/15 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: Oscar’s shortest perf, gauging 16 animated submissions, Menken and Moore on ‘Tangled’

    • John Lopez talks to “The Way Back” star and Best Supporting Actor hopeful Ed Harris. [Little Gold Men]

    • From last year, Stinkylulu writes up the shortest performance ever nominated for an Oscar: Herminone Baddeley’s 2 minutes and 26 seconds in 1959’s “Room at the Top.” [Stinkylulu]

    • Scott Feinberg smartly tracks down the HBO doc “High on Crack Street,” featuring prominently in “The Fighter.” [ScottFeinberg.com]

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