Oscar Talk: AFI Fest, 'Out of the Furnace,' 'Lone Survivor' and preparing for the critics awards

Posted by · 8:00 am · November 22nd, 2013

In the latest installment of the Oscar Talk podcast, Kris Tapley and Anne Thompson discuss AFI Fest, the bows of “Saving Mr. Banks,” “Out of the Furnace” and “Lone Survivor” and ponder what the critics awards could mean this season.

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Brit favorite 'The Selfish Giant,' foreign Oscar hopefuls take gold at AFI Fest

Posted by · 5:09 pm · November 14th, 2013

It may be the big, Oscar-bait premieres that dominate the headlines at AFI Fest, but its international and art house selections shine when it comes to the festival awards. UK critics’ favorite “The Selfish Giant” took two win, while there was good news for Australia’s and Georgia’s foreign Oscar submissions.

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Steve Martin, Punch Brothers and more celebrate 'Llewyn Davis' at Santa Monica jam session

Posted by · 10:57 am · November 14th, 2013

It was time to bring the “Inside Llewyn Davis” party to Los Angeles Wednesday night as CBS Films, producer Scott Rudin and music maestro T Bone Burnett turned out quite the crowd at The Buffalo Club in Santa Monica for another whirlwind musical experience.

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Roundup: Oscar and all tomorrow's parties

Posted by · 5:47 am · November 13th, 2013

In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, a journalist wonders if the Oscar campaign circuit calendar is already too full, while Peter Berg’s “Lone Survivor” makes a splash at the AFI Fest — and, potentially, in the Oscar race.

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Quentin Tarantino and AFI Fest pay tribute to 'Nebraska' star Bruce Dern

Posted by · 11:31 am · November 12th, 2013

“Nebraska” enjoyed a Tribute Gala premiere last night in Hollywood as Quentin Tarantino and Leonard Maltin toasted the actor’s career.

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Roundup: Britannia awards celebrate Cumberbatch and Clooney, among others

Posted by · 5:20 am · November 11th, 2013

In today’s roundup on notable online news and views, BAFTA-LA’s Britannia Awards celebrate a host of talent, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Idris Elba and George Clooney. Meanwhile, David O. Russell revealed a bit of “American Hustle” at AFI Fest, and Greta Gerwig talks about a life watching movies.

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Roundup: Berlinale gets a date with 'Monuments Men'

Posted by · 3:31 am · November 8th, 2013

In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, George Clooney’s “The Monuments Men” will have its international premiere at the Berlin Film Festival. Meanwhile, Judi Dench writes about her admiration for the real-life “Philomena,” and Sandra Bullock is put to the “single-actor” test.

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Paramount plays up 'Nebraska's' old-fashioned charms with 'Paper Moon' double bill

Posted by · 11:05 am · November 4th, 2013

Every once in a while a studio capitalizes on parallels between one of its awards hopefuls and a classic of the medium that also did pretty well on the circuit by booking a double bill. Fox Searchlight did it with “The Wrestler” and “On the Waterfront,” for instance. This year, Paramount is going that route with Alexander Payne’s “Nebraska” and Peter Bogdanovich’s “Paper Moon.”

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Roundup: Woody Allen's valentine to casting directors

Posted by · 4:06 am · November 1st, 2013

In today’s roundup of notable news and views from the web, Woody Allen pens on open letter to celebrate the work of under-recognized casting directors. Elsewhere, David O. Russell will receive a career tribute at AFI Fest, while a critic wonders if his peers aren’t hard enough on documentaries.

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Roundup: Why the Oscars matter, even if they don't

Posted by · 4:07 am · October 23rd, 2013

Also: Breaking down ’12 Years a Slave,’ and how Jared Leto got cool.

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Peter Berg's 'Lone Survivor' to premiere at AFI Fest

Posted by · 9:47 am · October 17th, 2013

AFI Fest has rounded out its 2013 slate with a list of special screenings, centerpiece gala additions and another world premiere.

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'Nebraska,' 'Furnace' and 'Walter Mitty' set to screen as AFI Fest centerpieces

Posted by · 11:31 am · September 30th, 2013

Scott Cooper’s “Out of the Furnace” has mostly dodged the 2013 fall festival circuit, but with first a Rome fest announcement and now placement as an AFI Fest centerpiece, it’s looking to make some noise just before it opens theatrically. Meanwhile, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” and “Nebraska” will also play the fest as centerpiece screenings.

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'Saving Mr. Banks,' 'Foxcatcher' and 'Inside Llewyn Davis' set for 2013 AFI Fest

Posted by · 8:25 am · September 4th, 2013

AFI Fest has come out swinging with a pair of big premieres for the 2013 edition of the Los Angeles-based festival and a closing night selection reflective of an American indie skipping across the festival circuit like a stone this year.

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Roundup: Oscar hopeful 'A Royal Affair' wins big at AFI Fest

Posted by · 6:21 am · November 9th, 2012

Also: THR’s actors’ roundtable, and Virginia loves ‘Lincoln’

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Roundup: The Weinsteins nab another Oscar prospect in 'Kon-Tiki'

Posted by · 4:38 am · November 8th, 2012

Also: The sound of ‘Flight,’ and the movies that made ‘Argo’

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Oscar Talk: Ep. 94 — Disney buys Lucasfilm as 'Hitchcock' opens AFI Fest

Posted by · 2:29 pm · November 2nd, 2012

In this week’s podcast Kris and Anne discuss the implications of Disney’s big purchase of Lucasfilm, Sacha Gervasi’s “Hitchcock,” which opened AFI Fest yesterday and Sam Mendes’ Bond stab “Skyfall.”

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Roundup: Which awards player is for you?

Posted by · 5:00 am · November 2nd, 2012

Also: ‘Promised Land’ as a Capra ode and on the makeup of ‘Cloud Atlas’

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Will 'Hitchcock' remind the Academy of its own Hitch neglect?

Posted by · 7:40 am · November 1st, 2012

The biopic is set to premiere at the AFI Fest tonight.

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