In 2011, New Zealand-based visual effects company Weta Digital was at it again with another banner year in the CG filmmaking landscape, perhaps the company’s biggest year to date. At the forefront were visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri, director of Weta Digital, and actor Andy Serkis, steward of the performance capture form and the face for a technology that could potentially, at some point, become a standardized tool in the filmmaker’s arsenal.
Joe Letteri and Andy Serkis on the progression of performance capture in 'Apes' and 'Tintin'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 3:27 pm · December 22nd, 2011
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention · Interviews
Superb Cannes winner 'Elena' gets a new trailer and poster
Posted by Guy Lodge · 1:02 pm · December 22nd, 2011
Russian auteur Andrey Zvyagintsev’s “Elena” was an award-winning critical favorite at Cannes this year, and will play at the Sundance Film Festival next month. Check out the new trailer and poster here.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Interview: Olivia Colman on seeking joy in 'Tyrannosaur' and meeting Meryl
Posted by Guy Lodge · 7:20 am · December 22nd, 2011
Previously best known for “Hot Fuzz” and her work in British TV comedy, Olivia Colman’s award-winning dramatic turn in “Tyrannosaur,” coupled with a role as Meryl Streep’s daughter in “The Iron Lady,” has made her one of 2011’s most unexpected breakthrough actors.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention · Interviews
Round-up: Oscilloscope wants us talking about 'Kevin' sooner
Posted by Guy Lodge · 7:12 am · December 22nd, 2011
Also: Steve Pond predicts 8 Best Pic nominees, and Richard Curtis on Spielberg
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Dublin critics like 'Drive'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:59 pm · December 21st, 2011
The Dublin Film Critics Circle is the latest critics group to name year-end superlatives, and “Drive” was clearly a favorite, taking Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor. Jessica Chastain won Best Actress for her performance in “The Tree of Life.”
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Tell us what you thought of 'The Adventures of Tintin'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:41 pm · December 21st, 2011
The film hits theaters today.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Interview: Sir Ben Kingsley on male vulnerability and the limitless vision of Georges Méliès
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:12 pm · December 21st, 2011
“Hugo” star Ben Kingsley first got his taste of collaboration with filmmaker Martin Scorsese in 2010 on the thriller “Shutter Island.” It was a long time coming, but for Kingsley, who says he always appreciated Scorsese’s work as a filmmaker, it was a unique characteristic of the director’s process that really spoke to the actor…
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention · Interviews
With 'The Hobbit' looming, we revisit the record-tying Oscar haul for 'Return of the King'
Posted by Guy Lodge · 10:42 am · December 21st, 2011
As the trailer for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” has pundits wondering if the film could be a 2012 awards juggernaut, it’s a good time to look back on the unprecedented 11-for-11 sweep achieved by “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” in 2003. How many of those awards did it deserve?
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Tell us what you thought of 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:19 am · December 21st, 2011
The film hits theaters today.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Utah critics award 'Drive,' '50/50'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:02 am · December 21st, 2011
The Utah Film Critics Association has chosen “Drive” as the Best Picture of the year. The film also won Best Supporting Actor for Albert Brooks and Best Cinematography. The group handed two awards to Jonathan Levine’s “50/50,” Best Actor for Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Best Original Screenplay.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Round-up: indieWIRE survey plants 'Tree of Life' at the top
Posted by Guy Lodge · 6:00 am · December 21st, 2011
Also: Brad Bird’s winter playlist and Kim Jong-il on film
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
First trailer for 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' brings back memories of Oscars past
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:24 pm · December 20th, 2011
The new trailer for Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” has landed, and it brings with it a wave of nostalgia for the great clean sweep of “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” eight years ago. Will the new series find similar awards season luck?
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Black Film Critics Circle taps 'The Help' best of the year
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:13 pm · December 20th, 2011
The Black Film Critics Circle has chosen “The Help” as the best film of the year. The film won four other awards, including Best Actress for Viola Davis. “Pariah” director Dee Rees won Best Director, one of three awards for the film. And Albert Brooks added yet another honor to his mantle.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Women critics like 'The Help,' 'The Iron Lady' and 'The Whistleblower'
Posted by Roth Cornet · 5:31 pm · December 20th, 2011
The Women Film Critic Circle has come out in strong favor of “The Help,” “The Iron Lady” and “The Whistleblower.” The association has made selections that feel generally in line with the films and performances one would imagine ought to be be highlighted in this year’s landscape. Though I will confess their choices are seasoned with one or two surprises.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
My top 10 perennial must-watch Christmas movies
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:20 am · December 20th, 2011
As a break from the normal list-making shenanigans, I offer up a list of my top 10 must-watch Christmas movies. Some that mad the cut include “A Christmas Story,” “Die Hard” and “Gremlins.”
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Round-up: So 'Incredibly Close,' and yet so far?
Posted by Guy Lodge · 6:39 am · December 20th, 2011
Also: Multiple identities in ‘Dragon Tattoo’ and a Best Picture nom for ‘Bridesmaids?’
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'Drive' and 'Tinker, Tailor' top London Film Critics' Circle noms
Posted by Guy Lodge · 3:14 am · December 20th, 2011
The London Film Critics’ Circle mixed things up a little in their nominations, promoting “A Separation” to the top races and handing Best Actress mentions to Kirsten Dunst and Anna Paquin. Meanwhile, it was “Drive” and local favorite “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” that came out on top, with six nods apiece.
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Interview: Kenneth Branagh on his 'dangerously obvious' casting in 'My Week with Marilyn'
Posted by Roth Cornet · 10:43 pm · December 19th, 2011
Kenneth Branagh embraced what he describes as potentially “dangerously obvious” casting with his portrayal of Sir Laurence Olivier in “My Week with Marilyn.” Now with Golden Globe, SAG and BFCA nominations under his belt it would be somehow poetic if the actor/director were to take home the Best Supporting Actor statue for his depiction of the man who paved the road for much of the trajectory of his own career.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
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