Off the Carpet: Clooney and Pitt lead Best Actor talk, but the real action is elsewhere

Posted by · 8:09 am · September 26th, 2011

This year’s Best Actor race is an odd bird indeed. There are so many wonderful performances out there, but so few seem to fit into the (unfortunate) Oscar paradigm. Hopefully that will mean studios will recognize some opportunity and/or Academy members will venture outside of their comfort zones.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Albert Brooks on Steven Soderbergh and 'retirement' as a dirty word

Posted by · 7:17 am · September 26th, 2011

“Drive” star Albert Brooks doesn’t buy the idea that Steven Soderbergh, who directed him in “Out of Sight,” can stay away from filmmaking very long.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention · Interviews

'Rampart' finds domestic distribution, so it's time to roll out the carpet for Woody Harrelson

Posted by · 6:02 am · September 26th, 2011

Woody Harrelson could catapult into the Best Actor race now that Oren Moverman’s “Rampart” has found a home. Millennium Films will distribute domestically with Mark Gill heading up consulting.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Oscarweb Round-up: Questioning the accuracy of 'Moneyball'

Posted by · 5:19 am · September 26th, 2011

In today’s round-up, Steve Pond writes up the inaccuracies of “Moneyball,” Tom O’Neil kicks off his annual straw pull (with our own Guy Lodge participating) and battle of the half-eaten posters

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Social networking reminder

Posted by · 12:31 pm · September 25th, 2011

Just a note to new readers (and old ones, in case you haven’t jumped on board), you can follow me at Twitter at @kristapley and Guy can be found at @guylodge. We try to keep the masses entertained there. Operative word: try.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Box Office: Disney's 'Lion King' roars (okay, squeaks) by Brad Pitt and 'Moneyball'

Posted by · 8:07 am · September 25th, 2011

“The Lion King 3D” was #1 at the box office for a second weekend in a row, besting debuting Oscar contender “Moneyball.”

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Cinejabber: 'Batman' back-to-back

Posted by · 1:56 pm · September 24th, 2011

Caught a movie that was released some time back and want to comment? Let us know here. Playing some awesome video game and you’re dying to share? Let us know — well, maybe don’t let us know. The last thing I need is an excuse to go buy something else to eat up my time! Basically, it’s an open thread and the floor is yours.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Charlize Theron, Gary Oldman and David Cronenberg set for Gotham Award tributes

Posted by · 2:37 pm · September 23rd, 2011

Now is the time of year when publicists jockey for their clients’ positions at tributes throughout the various awards season events. And these three will likely be in the thick of it this season.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Clooney's 'Ides of March' is boiled down essence as high drama

Posted by · 12:51 pm · September 23rd, 2011

“The Ides of March” isn’t acting as if its pulling back a veil. It’s handling, quite matter-of-factly, political corruption and scandal and the back-bitery of the Washington game as simple and plain harsh truth. I didn’t read any of this to be presented as epiphany in the slightest, and indeed, I find it to be one of the most refined films of the year.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Albert Brooks on being a part of the Pixar family and his sequel pitch for 'Finding Nemo 2'

Posted by · 10:06 am · September 23rd, 2011

Building up to our big interview with “Drive” star Albert Brooks runs in a few days, we’re dropping in a few extraneous notes on the actor’s career to date. Today, it’s all about Pixar’s “Finding Nemo,” in which Brooks was the star and forever a part of their legacy.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention · Interviews

Oscar Talk: Ep. 62 — 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy' is icy and smooth (and good!), but is it Oscar?

Posted by · 9:16 am · September 23rd, 2011

In this week’s podcast, we cover “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy,” “The Ides of March,” “Moneyball,” “Pearl Jam Twenty,” “Melancholia” and the Academy’s latest rule change.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Tell us what you thought of 'Moneyball'

Posted by · 5:00 am · September 23rd, 2011

Tell us what you thought of “Moneyball.”

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Oscarweb Round-up: Longing for indies of old

Posted by · 4:00 am · September 23rd, 2011

In today’s round-up, Ryan Gibey pines across the pond for the American indie cinema of 20 years past, Patrick Goldstein sees a story of outsider innovation in “Moneyball” and everyone’s talking about the Best Actor race in one way or another.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Meryl Streep won't compromise in this poster for 'The Iron Lady'

Posted by · 10:11 pm · September 22nd, 2011

The conservative spirit of “The Iron Lady” is embossed by the tagline for the film — “Never Compromise” — positioned at the top of the first (handsome) official poster for the film.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Pondering America's insistence on capital punishment as the debate rages in theaters

Posted by · 8:05 am · September 22nd, 2011

With the capital punishment debate particularly punctuated this year by the cases of the West Memphis Three and Troy Davis, it’s interesting to note the issue raging on film in movies like “Into the Abyss: A Tale of Death, a Tale of Life” and “Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory.” Christopher Hitchens considers why America is obsessed with sticking with the death penalty.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Conan O'Brien dons Ryan Gosling's scorpion jacket from 'Drive'

Posted by · 5:00 am · September 22nd, 2011

It seems Ryan Gosling stopped by “Conan” Tuesday night to talk up his latest film, “Drive,” and he came bearing gifts — namely, a signature scorpion jacket similar to the one he wears in the film.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Oscarweb Round-up: Taking artists at their work

Posted by · 4:00 am · September 22nd, 2011

In today’s round-up, Manohla Dargis argues in favor of considering the work, not the actions, of filmmakers like Lars Von Trier and Roman Polanski, Steve Martin humbly passes along some Oscar emcee suggestions to newly minted host Eddie Murphy and Russia’s foreign language submission stirs up some controversy.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Sony drops new, extended trailer for David Fincher's 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'

Posted by · 11:41 pm · September 21st, 2011

Sony Pictures has debuted a brand new, extended trailer for David Fincher’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” It comes on the heels of a six-minute trailer/sizzle reel that played for press last week.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention