Roundup: What foreign Oscar contenders gain, even when they lose

Posted by · 5:00 am · December 30th, 2013

In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, a look into the ins and out of campaigning for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. Also: The best movie costumes of 2013, and ranking Scorsese’s filmography from best to worst.

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'12 Years,' 'Her' lead Central Ohio critics nominations

Posted by · 10:40 am · December 29th, 2013

As the year ticks to a close, the Central Ohio Film Critics Association has collectively spoken up with its list of nominees, and “12 Years a Slave” led the way with nine mentions. “Her” was a few steps behind with seven. Actors recognized for superlative bodies of work in 2013 include Amy Adams, Benedict Cumberbatch and Jennifer Lawrence.

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Amy Adams on surrendering to David O. Russell's process in 'American Hustle'

Posted by · 7:28 am · December 24th, 2013

“American Hustle” star Amy Adams talks to HitFix about building her character with hair and makeup, steering clear of perfection with a willfully dodgy English accent and going with the flow of a David O. Russell production.

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'12 Years' leads Vancouver critics nods, 'The Dirties' tops in Canadian film sidebar

Posted by · 9:07 am · December 23rd, 2013

It was business as usual in the Vancouver Film Critics Circle’s announcement of nominees this morning, as Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” led the way with six notices. Bradley Cooper got a bid for his supporting “American Hustle” performance and Greta Gerwig showed up in Best Actress for her work in “Frances Ha.” Matt Johnson’s “The Dirties” led the field of Canadian film nominees.

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Off the Carpet: Could David O. Russell finally strike Oscar gold with frizzy 'American Hustle?'

Posted by · 6:37 am · December 23rd, 2013

The precursor film awards circuit seems to have rallied around “12 Years a Slave” as the year’s consensus pick, but could it be “American Hustle” that becomes the most generally agreeable movie of the year for the Academy?

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Tell us what you thought of 'American Hustle'

Posted by · 12:28 am · December 23rd, 2013

David O. Russell’s awards season stab went out into wider release this weekend.

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Nevada critics award '12 Years,' McConaughey, Streep

Posted by · 10:21 am · December 20th, 2013

The Nevada Film Critics Society has hopped on the “12 Years a Slave” bandwagon, awarding the film Best Film honors (though nothing else). Meanwhile, Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity” picked up three prizes, including Best Director, while Meryl Streep landed her first prize of the year for her performance in “August: Osage County.”

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Black Film Critics Circle awards '12 Years a Slave,' Brie Larson

Posted by · 1:43 pm · December 19th, 2013

The Black Film Critics Circle has named “12 Years a Slave” the best film of the year. Steve McQueen’s drama won five prizes, but the group eschewed the usual bandwagon in the Best Actress field by finding room to recognize “Short Term 12” star Brie Larson.

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'12 Years a Slave' named best film of the year by Alliance of Women Film Journalists

Posted by · 1:32 pm · December 19th, 2013

The Alliance of Women Film Journalists has crowned “12 Years a Slave” the years Best Film and given Ridley Scott’s “The Counselor” a shellacking. The latter film “won” three awards: the AWFJ Hall Of Shame Award, the Actress Most in Need Of A New Agent award (Cameron Diaz) and the Movie You Wanted To Love But Just Couldn’t Award.

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Roundup: Is there a holiday movie overload?

Posted by · 2:55 am · December 18th, 2013

In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, The Wall Street Journal looks at the unusually high number of wide releases set for the holiday season, and wonders if the box office is overloaded. Meanwhile, Film Comment names “Inside Llewyn Davis” the year’s best.

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Roundup: Indies miss out as Academy reveals 289 Oscar-eligible titles

Posted by · 2:51 am · December 17th, 2013

In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, 289 films are eligible for general-category consideration at the Oscars, but the submissions process means many of the year’s best indies are missing. Meanwhile, McDowell remembers Peter O’Toole.

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Toronto critics go their own way, name 'Inside Llewyn Davis' the year's Best Picture

Posted by · 9:24 pm · December 16th, 2013

“Inside Llewyn Davis” won Best Picture and Best Actor from the Toronto Film Critics Association, splitting from the herd and handing the Coen Bros. musical its first top critics award in the process.

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Indiana film critics board the '12 Years' bandwagon

Posted by · 8:33 am · December 16th, 2013

The Indiana Film Journalists Association has hopped onto the runaway “12 Years a Slave” train, ticking the film off for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Musical Score awards today. But they provided a little more intrigue in other acting categories, giving prizes to Adèle Exarchopoulos and Barkhad Abdi, and a runner-up tip of the cap to “American Hustle” star Jeremy Renner (his first mention of the season).

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'12 Years a Slave' leads Southeastern film critics winners

Posted by · 8:13 am · December 16th, 2013

The Southeastern Film Critics Association went for “12 Years a Slave” in a big way, handing it prizes for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay in addition to Best Picture.

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'American Hustle' and '12 Years a Slave' lead Critics' Choice Movie Awards nominations

Posted by · 7:47 am · December 16th, 2013

“American Hustle” and “12 Years a Slave” led the way with this year’s Critics’ Choice Movie Awards nominations with 13 apiece. David O. Russell’s Abscam comedy had the added benefit of padding in the comedy categories, however, a luxury “12 Years a Slave” couldn’t boast.

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Roundup: Why an Oscar for James Franco is no laughing matter

Posted by · 3:45 am · December 16th, 2013

In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, James Franco speaks in defence of his and A24’s playful awards campaign for “Spring Breakers,” which is bearing fruit with the critics. Meanwhile, who has the best ‘do in “American Hustle?”

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'12 Years a Slave' tops with San Francisco critics, but 'Gravity' wins four

Posted by · 3:12 pm · December 15th, 2013

Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity” was a big favorite with the San Francisco Film Critics Circle this year, picking up four awards from the group including Best Director. But it was “12 Years a Slave” that the group named Best Picture of the year. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Cate Blanchet took top acting honors, while James Franco nabbed his second prize of the critics circuit. “American Hustle” won two awards, for Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Lawrence) and Best Original Screenplay.

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'American Hustle,' 'Bad Grandpa' and 'The Lone Ranger' among Oscar makeup and hairstyling finalists

Posted by · 2:08 pm · December 14th, 2013

The Academy has announced this year’s bake-off finalists for the Best Makeup and Hairstyling Oscar, and the big omissions appear to be Ron Howard’s “Rush” and Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.” But the Jackass boys have cause for celebration!

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