The 24th annual USC Libraries Scripter Awards were held this evening just south of downtown at the Doheny Library on the USC campus. For the first time in a while, I had to miss the show (which is always a classy affair and, as a former USC grad student, always a bit odd, ordering a vodka tonic at the counter where I used to check out books for thesis and term paper purposes).
'Descendants' wins the USC Scripter Award
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:53 pm · February 18th, 2012
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Descendants,' 'Artist' and 'Rango' have an ACE up their sleeve
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:31 pm · February 18th, 2012
The 62nd annual ACE Eddie Awards, recognizing achievement in film editing, were held this evening, and the big surprise came in the drama category. Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants” beat out fellow Best Picture nominees “Hugo,” “Moneyball” and “Hugo,” as well as the slickly cut (by last year’s Oscar winners) “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” for the award.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Italy's 'Caesar Must Die' takes top honors at Berlinale
Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:20 pm · February 18th, 2012
The Berlin Film Festival jury, headed by Mike Leigh, surprised critics by handing their top prize to “Caesar Must Die” — a semi-documentary about a prison production of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” — from veteran Italian auteurs Paolo and Vittorio Taviani.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey perform at the Oscars in 1999
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:13 am · February 18th, 2012
Whitney Houston is being laid to rest today in her hometown of Newark, New Jersey. I’ve been watching people like Alicia Keyes and Kevin Costner (who delivered a knock-out remembrance) pay tribute to the late singer, who was discovered dead last weekend at the Beverly Hilton Hotel today, and I have to say, the more I’ve considered this situation all week, as of course the media has kept turning it over so it’s always there to be considered, the sadder I’ve become.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Why it should be 'Moneyball'
Posted by Roth Cornet · 8:02 pm · February 17th, 2012
“Moneyball,” a film that questions the way we measure value may, ironically, be dismissed in favor of films who offer more in the way of spectacle and showmanship.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Digging into the cinematography field
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:34 pm · February 17th, 2012
This has been bugging me. I’d say the two hardest categories to predict this year are, of all things, Best Costume Design and Best Documentary Feature. Guy worked through the former today, while I worked through the latter yesterday. But Best Cinematography is also something I keep circling back around to.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'The Help' wins three at NAACP Image Awards
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:03 pm · February 17th, 2012
The 43rd annual NAACP Image Awards were held this evening, and “The Help” was the big winner, taking down three prizes for Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. “Jumping the Broom” also brought in two performances awards.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Oscar Guide 2011: Best Costume Design
Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:10 pm · February 17th, 2012
This year’s Best Costume Design category features the two nomination-leading Best Picture nominees, and three films nominated in no other category — including two well-dressed critical bombs. We consider what will win, and what should.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
84th Oscarcast beginning to take shape
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:31 am · February 17th, 2012
With the Oscar telecast just over a week away, details are slowly starting to emerge about what we could expect. And some of the signs point to a celebration dovetailing with one of the year’s unofficial themes at the multiplex: an homage to classic movies and moviemaking.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Oscar Talk: Ep. 82 — BAFTA winners, live action and documentary shorts
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:57 am · February 17th, 2012
In this week’s podcast, Kris and Anne reflect on last weekend’s BAFTA Awards and analyze the live action and documentary short nominees, among others.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Round-up: Streep saluted at the Berlinale
Posted by Guy Lodge · 6:30 am · February 17th, 2012
Also: Missing 2D ‘Titanic,’ and why isn’t Williams the Best Actress frontrunner?
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Berlinale Diary: 'Jayne Mansfield's Car,' 'Francine'
Posted by Guy Lodge · 12:15 pm · February 16th, 2012
Guy Lodge’s latest dispatch from the Berlinale festival reviews Billy Bob Thornton’s first directorial effort in 11 years, and a remarkable acting showcase for recent Oscar winner Melissa Leo.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Tech Support Interview: Emmanuel Lubezki on capturing the moment in 'The Tree of Life'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:41 am · February 16th, 2012
The experience of working on a Terrence Malick film is drastically different than the goings-on of a typical film set. And a photographer’s work, much like an actor’s, is collaborative at the start, but ultimately an element to be manipulated to the director’s will. But while some on a crew or cast might chafe at having their ego squashed like that, cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki finds it liberating and educational.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention · Interviews
Oscar Guide 2011: Best Documentary Feature
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:08 am · February 16th, 2012
I have no idea what’s going to win the Best Documentary Feature category. Zero. Zilch. Nada. I might as well get that out of the way right at the top. And I’ve even seen each film twice. It’s a rare year that sees such solid arguments in favor of each and every nominee of the bunch. That’s not to say that, personally speaking, each nominee is award-worthy, but I could just see the Academy’s doc voters falling for any of them.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Undefeated' demands a recount on the shots
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:39 am · February 16th, 2012
Every year when I wrap up the annual shots column, there are inevitably a few images that linger into my mind and make me wish I had considered them a little more, or make me wish they hadn’t hidden from my memory until it was too late. But never has such a shot hit me so hard that I could legitimately say it might have been my top choice.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Round-up: Time to erase the animation Oscar?
Posted by Guy Lodge · 6:25 am · February 16th, 2012
Also: Brett Ratner’s act of apology, and Streep’s 2013 Oscar bid
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Taking questions for 2/17 Oscar Talk
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:49 am · February 15th, 2012
Offer up your burning queries.
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Oscar Guide 2011: Best Visual Effects
Posted by gerardkennedy · 9:34 am · February 15th, 2012
After gradually reducing finalists from fifteen to ten to five, the visual effects branch made room for four blockbusters this year – three of them from franchises – as well as the nominations leader. This is hardly the sort of lineup that could be considered shocking. Still, another Best Picture contender was left off, while the fourth entries in three other franchises came up short, as did one additional summer blockbuster.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
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