10 would-be Oscar contenders that went nowhere

Posted by · 8:39 pm · August 8th, 2013

As we steel ourselves for the season ahead with early lists of contenders and a harsh spotlight on unassuming films hoping to find an audience, let alone awards traction, it’s worth remembering that the list of coulda-been players in a given Oscar season is long and considerable.

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Movieline takes on the Razzies with the Soily Awards

Posted by · 2:42 am · March 13th, 2012

With the Razzie Awards firing at the same predictable targets, Movieline has aimed a little higher with their rival Soily Awards for 2011’s worst achievements in film.

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Oscar Guide 2011: Best Makeup

Posted by · 8:10 am · February 13th, 2012

The nomination race for the Best Makeup category was a competitive one, leaving us with one fantasy franchise never before recognized in the category, and two prosthetic feats in service of Best Actress-nominated performance. We break down their chances.

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Breaking Oscar's biopic addiction

Posted by · 4:15 pm · January 31st, 2012

If the results of Sunday’s SAG Awards are repeated at the Oscars, it’ll be the first time since 1997 that all four acting awards go to actors playing fictitious characters. Are voters slowly getting more resistant to biopics?

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The Lists: Top 10 things we learned about the Academy today

Posted by · 9:13 am · January 24th, 2012

It’s been a busy morning. The nominees are out. About a thousand different variations of “it’s humbling and exciting” are coming through from the various contenders. And all eyes are fixing on February 26. But as we transition into phase two of the 2011-2012 film awards season, it’s worth it to pause and consider what we might have learned today.

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'Albert Nobbs,' 'Beginners' and 'Weekend' feature in Gay & Lesbian critics nominations

Posted by · 7:03 pm · January 10th, 2012

The Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association has announced its list of nominees this year, and out front with two mentions apiece were “Albert Nobbs,” “Beginners” and “Weekend.”

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'The Help' leads SAG nominations, Demián Bichir surprises in Best Actor

Posted by · 5:51 am · December 14th, 2011

The SAG Awards tend to hew closely to Oscar prognosticators’ lists, but they handed us a few wild cards this morning — not just in terms of who they nominated, but who they left out.

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'Bridesmaids,' 'The Help' among films cited for AFI's 2011 top 10 list

Posted by · 11:41 am · December 11th, 2011

The AFI has issued its top 10 list for 2011, and the usual raft of ineligibilities paved the way for dubious films to make the cut. As always.

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'Artist,' 'Tinker,' 'Shame' and 'Marilyn' among contenders not eligible for WGA

Posted by · 3:52 pm · December 2nd, 2011

As happens every year, a list of potential Oscar nominees is ineligible for WGA consideration due to a number of issues (signatory concerns, paperwork avoidance, etc.). This year, though, the list seems particularly long.

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Oscarweb Round-up: Predicting NYFCC

Posted by · 7:04 am · November 24th, 2011

In today’s round-up, Tom O’Neil surveys pundits for their NYFCC picks, Michael Phillips bravely calls “Raiders of the Lost Ark” overrated and Walter the Muppet talks his dream gig opposite hero Kermit the Frog.

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Oscarweb Round-up: Pitching Chaplins for 'The Artist'

Posted by · 7:21 am · November 22nd, 2011

In today’s round-up, Charlie Chaplin’s granddaughters are brought out to promote “The Artist,” new Muppet Walter had a movie star model and Jon Hamm writes a love letter to Kristen Wiig.

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Oscarweb Round-up: HFPA don't need no stinkin' stars

Posted by · 7:10 am · November 21st, 2011

In today’s round-up, the HFPA assures it isn’t full of star-f***ers, Jason Reitman presides over a live reading of “The Apartment” and Warner Bros. takes a stab at bringin “Contagion” into the Best Original Screenplay conversation.

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Meryl Streep is good-to-great in meh-to-good 'Iron Lady'

Posted by · 2:18 pm · November 17th, 2011

Phyllida Lloyd’s “The Iron Lady” shares a lot in common with Clint Eastwood’s “J. Edgar.” They portray conservative figures in political history with broad strokes despite attempting to flesh them out as nuanced characters. But mostly, they serve as hindrances to performances that could have won Oscars in a cake-walk.

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Tech Support: 'Hugo' and 'Harry Potter' set the scene for Best Art Direction

Posted by · 1:24 pm · November 17th, 2011

In this week’s installment of Tech Support, we transition over to Best Art Direction. Films in the thick of it include the period design of “Hugo,” “War Horse,” “J. Edgar” and “The Artist,” as well as the fantasy elements of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” “Thor” and “Captain America: The First Avenger.”

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Are J. Edgar’s contradictions a mirror for the country that created him?

Posted by · 6:32 am · November 14th, 2011

Clint Eastwood’s “J. Edgar” seems to be at odds with itself where establishing a cohesive portrait is concerned. But in so doing, does it in fact serve as a reflection of philosophical conflict within the US?

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Tell us what you thought of 'J. Edgar'

Posted by · 7:43 am · November 11th, 2011

The film hits theaters this weekend.

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Brian Grazer to the rescue

Posted by · 4:54 pm · November 9th, 2011

After the Ratner-Murphy fiasco, Oscar-winning producer Brian Grazer looks like a safe pair of hands for the Oscar show.

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The Lists: Top 10 performances in Clint Eastwood films

Posted by · 7:31 am · November 8th, 2011

With Leonardo DiCaprio’s work in “J. Edgar” on the way, we take a look at the greatest performances from Clint Eastwood cinema. Examples who made the cut include Kevin Costner in “A Perfect World,” Jessica Walter in “Play Misty for Me” and even Eastwood himself makes an appearance.

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