In Contention

Tell us what you thought of 'John Carter'

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 2:04 pm · March 9th, 2012

The film opens today.

Wes Anderson's 'Moonrise Kingdom' to open Cannes

Posted by Guy Lodge · 1:19 am · March 9th, 2012

Cannes curtain-raisers are disappointments more often than not, but Wes Anderson’s latest ensemble piece will be hoping to follow the trajectory of “Midnight in Paris.”

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'Silent House' and 'Martha Marcy' star Elizabeth Olsen on the next phase of her career

Posted by Roth Cornet · 6:40 pm · March 8th, 2012

Elizabeth Olsen reflects on the course her career has taken, how she would like to shape in the coming years and on her experience on the set of the upcoming horror “Silent House.”

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The ‘Invisible Children’ documentarians launch a new campaign

Posted by Roth Cornet · 11:11 am · March 7th, 2012

The filmmakers behind “Invisible Children” have devised a plan to use facebook, social networking and the media to bring one of the world’s worst war criminals to justice.

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Peyman Moaadi's love letter to ‘A Separation’

Posted by Roth Cornet · 10:57 am · March 7th, 2012

Amidst the political game of chess that the various parties are playing with the film, “A Separation” star Peyman Moaadi has released a public letter to director Asghar Farhadi acknowledging the film’s global and national significance, denying the claim that certain organizations have made on it and celebrating the director’s achievement.

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Turner Classic Movies celebrates 70 years of 'Casablanca' with re-release

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 3:40 pm · March 5th, 2012

While “The Godfather” is busy celebrating its 40th anniversary this year (and got a re-release courtesy of Cinemark Theatres), another American celluloid treasure will be turning 70 and getting it’s own fresh look on screens later this month. “Casablanca.”

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France thanks Harvey Weinstein with the Légion d’Honneur

Posted by Guy Lodge · 3:27 am · March 3rd, 2012

Just in case Harvey Weinstein was feeling under-appreciated this week, the French have given him their highest national honor.

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Universal Pictures and Focus Features celebrate anniversaries in 2012

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:57 pm · March 1st, 2012

Uni floats celebratory Blu-rays while Focus offers up a look back at performances

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Trailers for 'The Avengers' and 'Frankenweenie' make for a nice antidote to awards season

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 1:12 pm · March 1st, 2012

Now that the Oscar dust has settled and the early-year dumping ground has come to a close, studios are beginning to float materials for their (hopeful) moneymakers out there. Two trailers have dropped this week, for “The Avengers” (opening May 4) and Tim Burton’s “Frankenweenie” (which doesn’t hit until October).

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AMPAS to break the soundtrack barrier

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:03 pm · March 1st, 2012

One of the things that always seems to be nebulous to new film enthusiasts and, in particular, new Oscar watchers is the difference between sound editing and sound mixing. We’ve certainly made it a point to explain it over the years via the two categories’ separate Tech Support entries each season, but for those in the LA area, here’s your opportunity for a thorough crash course, AMPAS-style.

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'Harry Potter' and 'Hugo' lead Saturn nominations with 10 each

Posted by Roth Cornet · 11:14 am · March 1st, 2012

The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films have announced the nominees for this year’s Saturn Awards and they are fairly across the map.

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'Mad Men' stars promote 'The Godfather' on AMC

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:48 pm · February 29th, 2012

Plus a remembrance of my first look at Coppola’s masterpiece

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Friedkin's 'Killer Joe' gets an NC-17

Posted by Guy Lodge · 6:27 pm · February 29th, 2012

As “Killer Joe,” William Friedkin’s nasty new black comedy, fights an NC-17 rating from the MPAA, the Weinsteins are experiencing their own ratings woes with their teen-oriented documentary “Bully.”

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Cannes celebrates its 65th birthday with Marilyn

Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:36 pm · February 29th, 2012

The Oscar race may only just be over, but the Cannes Film Festival is closer than you think — as the newly unveiled festival poster reminds us.

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Sony Classics picks up Peter Jackson and Amy Berg's 'West of Memphis'

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 3:03 pm · February 29th, 2012

Sony Pictures Classics has announced today that it has acquired US rights to Amy Berg’s “West of Memphis,” which could yet pop up in the film awards season and extend the much-need spotlight for this miscarriage of justice.

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As 'The Godfather' heads back to theaters, we look back at its strange dance with Oscar

Posted by Roth Cornet · 9:25 am · February 29th, 2012

It’s been 40 years since Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of Mario Puzo’s seminal crime novel “The Godfather” was released in theaters. To mark the anniversary, Paramount Pictures, in a partnership with Cinemark Theatres, is re-releasing the restored version of the film in 55 Cinemark XD auditoriums on Thursday, March 1.

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