DJANGO UNCHAINED

From “Little Green Bag” to “100 Black Coffins,” HitFix music maven Katie Hasty and Editor-at-Large Kristopher Tapley pick the “Greatest Hits” from Quentin Tarantino’s films.

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Roundup: Anne Hathaway to be honored by Costume Designers' Guild

Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:30 am · December 21st, 2012

Also: Foreign-language shortlist looms, and potential whisper-campaign victims

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Black Film Critics Circle springs for 'Zero Dark Thirty,' 'The Intouchables,' 'Rise of the Guardians'

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 2:18 pm · December 20th, 2012

The Black Film Critics Circle has jumped on the “Zero Dark Thirty” bandwagon, handing the film Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress honors. “Django Unchained” and “Lincoln” each won a pair of awards, Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor (Christoph Waltz) for the former, Best Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis) and Best Ensemble for the former.

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Tech Support: International lineup of Best Original Song contenders presents a great opportunity

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:55 am · December 20th, 2012

With the recent reveal of the Academy’s list of Best Original Song qualifiers — all 75 of them — the music branch has a wide swath of popular artists to choose from. Of course, the branch tends to focus on the work itself, not necessarily the talent involved, but it’s worth mentioning that Fiona Apple, Florence + the Machine, Karen O, Christina Aguilera, Adele, Keith Urban, Mumford and Sons, The Bootleggers & Emmylou Harris, Arcade Fire, Dolly Parton, Katy Perry, Paul Williams, Jordin Sparks and Norah Jones are all in the mix. That’s quite the role call.

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Roundup: Witherspoon stumps for Watts

Posted by Guy Lodge · 2:19 am · December 19th, 2012

Also: Hooper, Danna honored by Palm Springs, ‘Holy Motors’ tops IndieWire poll

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'Zero Dark Thirty' wins Best Picture from Austin film critics…and nothing else

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:27 am · December 18th, 2012

“Zero Dark Thirty” remains on top of the critics awards haul today with another Best Picture nod, this time from the Austin Film Critics Association. Oddly, though, the film won nothing else. “The Master” seemed to be more of a favorite, taking Best Director, Best Actor and Best Cinematography.

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Roundup: The adaptations that filmed the 'unfilmable'

Posted by Guy Lodge · 2:20 am · December 18th, 2012

Also: A.O. Scott declares ‘Amour,’ and Jeunet’s ‘Life of Pi’

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Indiana Film Journalists Association goes its own way, crowns 'Safety Not Guaranteed'

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:27 am · December 17th, 2012

Well if you were looking for someone, anyone, to just go the least bit against the grain, the Iindiana Film Journalists Association is here to save the day. After announcing nominees last week, the group has handed Best Picture honors to Colin Trevorrow’s “Safety Not Guaranteed,” making it just one more film to win such honors in a year that is spreading the love quite a bit.

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From 'A(mour)' to 'Z(ero Dark Thirty)': the best films of 2012

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:56 am · December 17th, 2012

It’s been said here and in the podcast a number of times, but I might as well offer it up once more for good measure: 2012 was a pretty good year for movies.

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Off the Carpet: Ballots are out

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:00 am · December 17th, 2012

Normally this column would begin with something like, “Ballots have been mailed to Oscar voters today,” but that begs reminding that for the first time ever, the Academy has adopted an electronic voting system in addition to paper ballots (for those who request them). How will that change the course of the season? Is chatter about glitches and lack of understanding just a facile talking point blown out of proportion? Maybe. But what is tangible in all of this is the landscape as a result of the first major nominations announcements of the season.

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Exclusive: 'Les Mis,' 'Django,' 'Beasts,' 'Amour' among 2012 scripts not eligible for WGA

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:05 pm · December 15th, 2012

Every year it’s worth noting that a number of the original and adapted screenplays in the hunt for Oscar consideration won’t get the extra bump of a nomination from the Writers Guild of America (WGA). Reasons for failing to qualify include the writer of the script not being a guild member or not retroactively handling the requisite process, among other things.

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