“Hugo” star Ben Kingsley first got his taste of collaboration with filmmaker Martin Scorsese in 2010 on the thriller “Shutter Island.” It was a long time coming, but for Kingsley, who says he always appreciated Scorsese’s work as a filmmaker, it was a unique characteristic of the director’s process that really spoke to the actor…
Interview: Sir Ben Kingsley on male vulnerability and the limitless vision of Georges Méliès
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:12 pm · December 21st, 2011
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention · Interviews
Tell us what you thought of 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:19 am · December 21st, 2011
The film hits theaters today.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Utah critics award 'Drive,' '50/50'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:02 am · December 21st, 2011
The Utah Film Critics Association has chosen “Drive” as the Best Picture of the year. The film also won Best Supporting Actor for Albert Brooks and Best Cinematography. The group handed two awards to Jonathan Levine’s “50/50,” Best Actor for Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Best Original Screenplay.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
First trailer for 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' brings back memories of Oscars past
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:24 pm · December 20th, 2011
The new trailer for Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” has landed, and it brings with it a wave of nostalgia for the great clean sweep of “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” eight years ago. Will the new series find similar awards season luck?
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Black Film Critics Circle taps 'The Help' best of the year
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:13 pm · December 20th, 2011
The Black Film Critics Circle has chosen “The Help” as the best film of the year. The film won four other awards, including Best Actress for Viola Davis. “Pariah” director Dee Rees won Best Director, one of three awards for the film. And Albert Brooks added yet another honor to his mantle.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
My top 10 perennial must-watch Christmas movies
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:20 am · December 20th, 2011
As a break from the normal list-making shenanigans, I offer up a list of my top 10 must-watch Christmas movies. Some that mad the cut include “A Christmas Story,” “Die Hard” and “Gremlins.”
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
39 tunes announced as eligible for Best Original Song Oscar
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 1:14 pm · December 19th, 2011
The Academy has announced via press release the 39 eligible songs eligible for this year’s Best Original Song Oscar. As I look over the list, I only noticed two songs on our on-going list of 24 at the Contenders section that didn’t make the cut.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Off the Carpet: Setting the field with the precursors so far
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:41 am · December 19th, 2011
In just three weeks we’ve gone from zero to a hundred on the circuit as the film awards landscape has been sculpted into a bit of a consensus in these waning moments of 2011. Let’s see what that consensus appears to be.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
The new 'Dark Knight Rises' trailer is the best of the franchise
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:33 am · December 19th, 2011
If you made it out to “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” at IMAX venues this weekend, you likely saw the opening prologue for “The Dark Knight Rises.” The new trailer for the film was also attached to prints of Brad Bird’s actioner, as well as prints of WB’s own “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.” Now it’s head the web (officially).
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Florida critics spring for 'Descendants,' Scorsese
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:11 am · December 19th, 2011
The Florida Film Critics Circle has tossed its hat into the over-stuffed precursor ring this year by picking “The Descendants” as the year’s best film. Martin Scorsese picked up the Best Director prize for “Hugo” while Michelle Williams continued a dominating streak by nabbing Best Actress.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'The Artist' wins five from St. Louis critics
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:04 am · December 19th, 2011
After submitting nominees last week, the St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association has picked “The Artist” as this year’s Best Picture winner. Michel Hazanavicius won Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for the film, while Rooney Mara was singled out for her performance in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.”
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Southeastern film critics go for 'Descendants,' Scorsese, Clooney, Streep
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:47 am · December 19th, 2011
The Southeastern Film Critics Association has crowned “The Descendants” the year’s best film, but with no awards for “The Artist,” one wonders if the high on that film is subsiding.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Tree of Life' wins four awards from Chicago critics, including Best Picture
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:03 am · December 19th, 2011
After Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life” led with seven nominations from the Chicago Film Critics Association, it seemed obvious the film was likely to win the group’s Best Picture award. But the film ended up walking away with four big wins in total.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Descendants,' 'Drive' win big at Satellite Awards
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:52 am · December 19th, 2011
After nominating any and everything under the sun, the International Press Academy (Satellite Awards) has tapped “The Descendants” as this year’s Best Picture of the year. The group, however, gave “Drive” a field-leading four wins, and overall, it’s a unique set of superlatives.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Tell us what you thought of 'Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:15 am · December 17th, 2011
The film hits theaters this weekend.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Novel giveaway contest winner!
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:39 am · December 16th, 2011
Cody S, come on down…
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
2011: the year in superlatives
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:11 am · December 16th, 2011
Who am I to complain about the amount of year-end kudos announcements when I had this post coming all along? I know. I’m so hypocritical.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Tree of Life' leads Chicago film critics nods
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:56 am · December 16th, 2011
The Chicago Film Critics Association has announced its list of nominees this year, and it’s full of the usual. But most interesting is that “The Tree of Life” star Hunter McCracken has finally received some attention.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

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