In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, National Association of Theater Owners president John Fithian calls for studios to distribute tentpoles and prestige movies alike more evenly through the year. Meanwhile, a critic reminds us of why the January wasteland isn’t always that bad.
Roundup: Why studios need to get creative with the calendar
Posted by Guy Lodge · 3:44 am · January 6th, 2014
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Dear Academy members: Don't forget these contenders
Posted by Gregory Ellwood · 12:00 am · January 6th, 2014
Scarlett Johansson, Spike Jonze, Sally Hawkins, Oscar Isaac, James Franco and Amy Adams are just a few of the potential nominees that Academy members should give serious consideration to before submitting their nomination ballots this Wednesday.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Gravity' wins four from North Texas film critics
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 1:06 pm · January 5th, 2014
The North Texas Film Critics Association has declared Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity” the year’s best film. The space drama also received prizes for Best Director, Best Actress and Best Cinematography. Chiwetel Ejiofor (“12 Years a Slave”), Jared Leto (“Dallas Buyers Club”) and Jennifer Lawrence (“American Hustle” rounded out the acting victories.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Hanks, McConaughey and more take stock of a great year for movies at Palm Springs awards gala
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:54 pm · January 4th, 2014
The 25th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala was held Saturday night and a wide array of stars came out to fete and be feted. Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Jane Fonda, Matthew McConaughey, Gary Oldman, U2’s Bono, Amy Adams, Sandra Bullock and Meryl Streep were just a few on hand as the Oscar season dived headlong into the new year.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Gravity' wins Best Picture from Central Ohio critics
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:48 pm · January 2nd, 2014
“Gravity” picked up another Best Picture prize on the critics circuit today as the Central Ohio Film Critics Association handed it the year’s top honor. Alfonso Cuarón won Best Director for the film and Emmanuel Lubezki won Best Cinematography. Top acting honors went to Chiwetel Ejiofor and Adèle Exarchopoulos and James Franco was recognized for his work in “Spring Breakers.”
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
What today's PGA announcement means for Oscar
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:11 pm · January 2nd, 2014
HitFix’s awards editor Kristopher Tapley examines this morning’s PGA nominations announcement and assesses how it could be a slightly different story when the Oscar nominations are announced on Jan. 16.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'American Hustle,' 'Gravity' and '12 Years a Slave' earn PGA nods
Posted by Gregory Ellwood · 9:03 am · January 2nd, 2014
The Producers Guild of America announced the 10 nominees for theatrical picture and animated picture today for the upcoming 25th PGA Awards and familiar names such as “American Hustle,” “Gravity,” “12 Years A Slave,” “The Croods” and “Frozen” made the cut.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Roundup: Is it time for two cinematography Oscars?
Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:10 am · December 31st, 2013
In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, a filmmakers believes it’s time to create a separate cinematography Oscar for CGI-heavy films. Meanwhile, U2 win Palm Springs award, and what’s disappearing from Netflix?
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
The best performances of 2013
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:15 pm · December 27th, 2013
HitFix’s Kristopher Tapley takes a deep dive into the year’s best performances, from Oscar Isaac to Cate Blanchett, Brie Larson to Leonardo DiCaprio.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Roundup: Why Hollywood's still playing catch-up on equality
Posted by Guy Lodge · 6:12 am · December 26th, 2013
In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, this may be a standout awards season for black-themed film, but are the Oscars ahead of Hollywood? Meanwhile, Melissa McCarthy is 2013’s most-rented star.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Guy Lodge's top 10 films of 2013
Posted by Guy Lodge · 6:12 am · December 25th, 2013
In Contention critic Guy Lodge reveals the second and final part of his Best of 2013 countdown, with films including “Blue is the Warmest Color” and “Frances Ha.”
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
New 'Gravity' featurette focuses on story and screenplay
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 2:21 pm · December 23rd, 2013
One of the weaker areas for Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity” in the eyes of some is its story and screenplay. They cavalierly dismiss it as a ride without thematic substance, though of course they’re dead wrong. It’s a movie about — as Cuarón has breathlessly said since the beginning — adversity, yes, but also grief and, as cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki noted to me, how small we are despite our great personal drama (to steal an idea from Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life”).
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'12 Years' leads Vancouver critics nods, 'The Dirties' tops in Canadian film sidebar
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 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.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
From 'Inside Llewyn Davis' to 'Frances Ha,' the consensus favorites of year-end polls
Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:56 pm · December 22nd, 2013
“Inside Llewyn Davis” has topped both the Film Comment and Village Voice critics’ polls, while factoring in other polls reveals different consensus favorites. The critical conversation is not clear-cut in 2013, and that’s a good thing.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Dublin critics are over the moon for 'Gravity'
Posted by Guy Lodge · 11:27 am · December 20th, 2013
“Gravity ” was the top choice of the Dublin Film Critics’ Circle, for whom “12 Years a Slave” was ineligible. An unusual range of runners-up, meanwhile, ranges from “What Maisie Knew” to Brady Corbet.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Nevada critics award '12 Years,' McConaughey, Streep
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 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.”
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Utah critics flip the script, award 'Gravity,' Nighy, 'World's End'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:19 pm · December 19th, 2013
The Utah Film Critics Association has come along and done for Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity” what no other critics group has: handed it its own, tie-free win for Best Picture of 2013. It also received Best Director and Best Cinematography from the group, while recent circuit hog “12 Years a Slave” walked away for just one prize: Best Actor.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'12 Years a Slave' named best film of the year by Alliance of Women Film Journalists
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 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.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
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