The top 10 shots of 2013: part one

Posted by · 10:45 am · February 11th, 2014

If you look here and there on the web these days, you might notice that more than a few outlets are now cooking up their own “top 10 shots of the year” pieces. Here we are in our seventh year of producing such a collective, and it’s nice to see others catch on to the idea: singular images and the thematic impact they make are as subjective as anything else we end up praising at the end of a given year.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Roundup: Women fight back on the red carpet

Posted by · 4:45 am · February 5th, 2014

In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, why female stars are beginning to rebel against red-carpet sexism. Also: Jared Leto’s heart-to-heart with heckler, and John Hurt takes on Harvey.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Roundup: Is Kristin Scott Thomas quitting movies?

Posted by · 4:52 am · February 4th, 2014

In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, Kristin Scott Thomas claims that she “cannot cope with another film,” and is thus ending her big-screen career. Also: Mark Harris and Cameron Crowe remember Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Gravity' sound team could make noise at the Oscars

Posted by · 11:58 am · January 31st, 2014

Oscar nominees Skip Lievsay (Best Sound Mixing), Glenn Freemantle (Best Sound Editing) and Steven Price (Best Original Score) talk to HitFix about sculpting a realistic soundtrack for Alfonso CuarĂ³n’s “Gravity.”

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Oscar-nominated 'Llewyn Davis' cinematographer was scared to fill the shoes of a legend

Posted by · 3:11 pm · January 30th, 2014

Oscar- and ASC-nominated “Inside Lewyn Davis” cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel talks to HitFix about his philosophy of carrying a single idea through a film with his work, personal inspirations in the world of modern art and his fear of stepping into the shoes of Coen brothers regular Roger Deakins.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Tech Support: Analyzing the 2014 craft category Oscar nominations

Posted by · 10:46 am · January 17th, 2014

A day after the Academy dropped its array of surprises throughout its 24 categories, and notably the 10 crafts fields, it’s time to reflect on what the months of build-up have left us with. A few trends come to mind…

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

The Academy's shame: 'Inside Llewyn Davis'

Posted by · 11:04 am · January 16th, 2014

It’s their party. That’s what I always say. Though “and I’ll cry if I want to” often follows, and today, I have to say, I’m crying over “Inside Llewyn Davis.”

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Tom Hanks and Oprah Winfrey lead the list of shocking Oscar snubs

Posted by · 5:55 am · January 16th, 2014

This year’s Oscar nominations announcement brought more surprising omissions than usual, from Tom Hanks to Sarah Polley to Emma Thompson to Lana del Rey. We run through some of the most shock shut-outs.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

86th Academy Awards nominations – complete list

Posted by · 4:40 am · January 16th, 2014

A complete rundown of the nominees for the 86th Academy Awards including best picture nominees “12 Years A Slave,” “Gravity,” “Captain Phillips,” “American Hustle,” “Nebraska,” “Her”

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Four films stand atop the industry precursor awards circuit

Posted by · 3:40 pm · January 15th, 2014

With the announcement of the Motion Picture Sound Editors’ Golden Reel Awards nominees this afternoon, all of the various industry guilds and societies have had their say on the season. And it’s just under the wire, too, as we’re all preparing for the Oscar nominations announcement tomorrow morning. So how did the various contenders fare?

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Gravity' and '12 Years a Slave' lead MPSE Golden Reel Awards nominations

Posted by · 11:29 am · January 15th, 2014

Nominations have been announced for the Motion Picture Sound Editors’ (MPSE) 61st annual Golden Reel Awards, and it was “Gravity” and “12 Years a Slave” that led the way with three nominations each.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Captain Phillips,' 'Iron Man 3' and 'Lone Survivor' pick up Cinema Audio Society nominations

Posted by · 4:30 am · January 14th, 2014

Nominees have been announced for the 50th annual Cinema Audio Society (CAS) Awards and they include four Oscar season players and one summer blockbuster.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'12 Years a Slave' dominates North Carolina critics' awards

Posted by · 5:30 am · January 13th, 2014

’12 Years a Slave’ took six awards from the North Carolina critics’ group, including Best Picture, Director and three acting wins.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Roundup: Chris Hemsworth to deliver the Oscar news on Thursday

Posted by · 5:00 am · January 13th, 2014

In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, Chris Hemsworth will announce the Oscar nominations on Thursday with Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs. Also: Oscar contenders triumph in Palm Springs.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Tech Support: Final predictions for Best Costume Design, Film Editing, Production Design and Sound

Posted by · 3:54 pm · January 10th, 2014

We’re within a week of the big moment. Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday next week and we’ll find out which films are the dominant forces throughout the Academy’s various craft categories. Yesterday HitFix’s Gerard Kennedy began final Tech Support analysis of the field with the categories of Best Cinematography, Makeup and Hairstyling, Original Score, Original Song and Visual Effects. Today we round out the field with the rest.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Oscar Talk: Final thoughts before the 2014 Academy Award nominations

Posted by · 8:00 am · January 10th, 2014

On the latest podcast, Kris and Anne offer up some final nuggets in advance of the 86th annual Academy Awards nominations announcement.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Captain Phillips,' 'American Hustle' and 'Breaking Bad' nominated for 2014 ACE Eddie Awards

Posted by · 5:00 am · January 10th, 2014

The American Cinema Editors (ACE) organization has announced nominees for the 64th annual ACE Eddie Awards, and “American Hustle” has predictably kept its strong guild showing going with a notice in the comedy or musical category.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Tech Support: Final predictions for Best Cinematography, Makeup, Score, Song and Visual Effects

Posted by · 12:16 pm · January 9th, 2014

Here we go again. A week from today, the nominees for the 86th annual Academy Awards will be announced. Here at Tech Support, we’ve analyzed each of the 10 crafts categories, and interviewed several of the contenders. It’s now a waiting game with final calls to be made. Today, we take a final look at the fields of cinematography, music, makeup and hairstyling and visual effects.

Continue reading »

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention