Just a note to new readers (and old ones, in case you haven’t jumped on board), you can follow me at Twitter at @kristapley and Guy can be found at @guylodge. We try to keep the masses entertained there. Operative word: try.
Social networking reminder
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:31 pm · September 25th, 2011
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Box Office: Disney's 'Lion King' roars (okay, squeaks) by Brad Pitt and 'Moneyball'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:07 am · September 25th, 2011
“The Lion King 3D” was #1 at the box office for a second weekend in a row, besting debuting Oscar contender “Moneyball.”
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Cinejabber: 'Batman' back-to-back
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 1:56 pm · September 24th, 2011
Caught a movie that was released some time back and want to comment? Let us know here. Playing some awesome video game and you’re dying to share? Let us know — well, maybe don’t let us know. The last thing I need is an excuse to go buy something else to eat up my time! Basically, it’s an open thread and the floor is yours.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
China and South Africa bring a little English to the foreign Oscar conversation
Posted by Guy Lodge · 3:00 pm · September 23rd, 2011
We talk about name appeal being a factor in the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar race, but no country this year can boast it to quite the same extent as China: not only is their submission, just announced today, directed by three-time Oscar nominee Zhang Yimou, but it stars reigning Best Supporting Actor champ Christian Bale.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Charlize Theron, Gary Oldman and David Cronenberg set for Gotham Award tributes
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 2:37 pm · September 23rd, 2011
Now is the time of year when publicists jockey for their clients’ positions at tributes throughout the various awards season events. And these three will likely be in the thick of it this season.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Clooney's 'Ides of March' is boiled down essence as high drama
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:51 pm · September 23rd, 2011
“The Ides of March” isn’t acting as if its pulling back a veil. It’s handling, quite matter-of-factly, political corruption and scandal and the back-bitery of the Washington game as simple and plain harsh truth. I didn’t read any of this to be presented as epiphany in the slightest, and indeed, I find it to be one of the most refined films of the year.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Albert Brooks on being a part of the Pixar family and his sequel pitch for 'Finding Nemo 2'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:06 am · September 23rd, 2011
Building up to our big interview with “Drive” star Albert Brooks runs in a few days, we’re dropping in a few extraneous notes on the actor’s career to date. Today, it’s all about Pixar’s “Finding Nemo,” in which Brooks was the star and forever a part of their legacy.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention · Interviews
Oscar Talk: Ep. 62 — 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy' is icy and smooth (and good!), but is it Oscar?
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:16 am · September 23rd, 2011
In this week’s podcast, we cover “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy,” “The Ides of March,” “Moneyball,” “Pearl Jam Twenty,” “Melancholia” and the Academy’s latest rule change.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Tell us what you thought of 'Moneyball'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:00 am · September 23rd, 2011
Tell us what you thought of “Moneyball.”
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Oscarweb Round-up: Longing for indies of old
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 4:00 am · September 23rd, 2011
In today’s round-up, Ryan Gibey pines across the pond for the American indie cinema of 20 years past, Patrick Goldstein sees a story of outsider innovation in “Moneyball” and everyone’s talking about the Best Actor race in one way or another.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Mexico's terrific 'Miss Bala' leads latest crop of foreign Oscar entries
Posted by Guy Lodge · 1:19 am · September 23rd, 2011
Following an acclaimed festival run that began at Cannes, Fox’s razor-sharp drug-trade thriller “Miss Bala” is named Mexico’s Oscar entry. Israel opts for another Cannes title, the award-winning “Footnote,” while “The Forgiveness of Blood,” American director Joshua Marston’s follow-up to “Maria Full of Grace,” competes for Albania.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Meryl Streep won't compromise in this poster for 'The Iron Lady'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:11 pm · September 22nd, 2011
The conservative spirit of “The Iron Lady” is embossed by the tagline for the film — “Never Compromise” — positioned at the top of the first (handsome) official poster for the film.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
More countries enter foreign-language Oscar race as deadline looms
Posted by Guy Lodge · 5:08 pm · September 22nd, 2011
With the deadline for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar submissions on October 1, a number of countries have officially entered the fray in the past week. Among them are France, with a terminal-disease drama that could be a sleeper, and Russia, which has caused an outcry with the selection of an expensive Nikita Mikhalkov bomb.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Tech Support: A new year of crafts coverage
Posted by gerardkennedy · 11:37 am · September 22nd, 2011
Welcome back. Today marks the beginning of the sixth year of Tech Support here at In Contention. I am delighted about the new collaboration with HitFix, which will doubtless result in even more comprehensive awards coverage. Over the next 10 weeks, we will analyze each of the “technical” category races in this space: Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing, Makeup, Original Score, Original Song, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Visual Effects.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Pondering America's insistence on capital punishment as the debate rages in theaters
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:05 am · September 22nd, 2011
With the capital punishment debate particularly punctuated this year by the cases of the West Memphis Three and Troy Davis, it’s interesting to note the issue raging on film in movies like “Into the Abyss: A Tale of Death, a Tale of Life” and “Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory.” Christopher Hitchens considers why America is obsessed with sticking with the death penalty.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Conan O'Brien dons Ryan Gosling's scorpion jacket from 'Drive'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:00 am · September 22nd, 2011
It seems Ryan Gosling stopped by “Conan” Tuesday night to talk up his latest film, “Drive,” and he came bearing gifts — namely, a signature scorpion jacket similar to the one he wears in the film.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Oscarweb Round-up: Taking artists at their work
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 4:00 am · September 22nd, 2011
In today’s round-up, Manohla Dargis argues in favor of considering the work, not the actions, of filmmakers like Lars Von Trier and Roman Polanski, Steve Martin humbly passes along some Oscar emcee suggestions to newly minted host Eddie Murphy and Russia’s foreign language submission stirs up some controversy.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Sony drops new, extended trailer for David Fincher's 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:41 pm · September 21st, 2011
Sony Pictures has debuted a brand new, extended trailer for David Fincher’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” It comes on the heels of a six-minute trailer/sizzle reel that played for press last week.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
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