George Clooney's 'Monuments Men' was smart to dodge the Oscar season

Posted by · 8:00 am · January 29th, 2014

As Oscar’s phase one drew to a close and the nominations were set to be unveiled, the film press corps was getting its first look at one movie that dodged all of that commotion last year: George Clooney’s “The Monuments Men.” It’s set for release next week and with its arrival, one can only ask: was Sony smart to move it out of the season?

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Peggy Siegal on Oscar's build: Hathaway's Valentino snub, Clooney's Dujardin revenge

Posted by · 9:35 am · April 1st, 2013

I read Peggy Siegel’s Oscar weekend diary at The Huffington Post with the expected mixture of fascination and disgust. You find yourself smiling at the gluttony of Hollywood during awards season until you don’t, as the cup of excess runneth over. And Siegel’s diary is a perfect record of all that superficiality.

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Roundup: The show's not over 'til Seth MacFarlane sings

Posted by · 5:04 am · February 21st, 2013

Also: The women on the sidelines, and Jean Dujardin’s Oscar signal

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George Clooney's 'Monuments Men' fills out with Daniel Craig, Cate Blanchett and Jean Dujardin

Posted by · 9:15 am · October 29th, 2012

The World War II drama announces a major cast

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Bryan Cranston, Stephen King, Kristen Wiig among Academy invitees this year

Posted by · 2:12 pm · June 29th, 2012

The Academy has announced its annual list of new members, always a fun thing to browse through and say, “Damn, it’s about time,” or, “Jesus, really?”

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Best Picture winner 'The Artist' finally makes its way to DVD/Blu-ray

Posted by · 1:47 pm · June 19th, 2012

Last year’s Best Picture winner “The Artist” is set for release Tuesday, June 26, a full seven months since it opened in limited release in November of last year and obviously over a year since it world-premiered at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.

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Oscar Talk: Ep. 84 — Special Edition! — 2011 Oscars postmortem, Meryl Streep's upset, Billy Crystal, 'The Artist''s big night

Posted by · 3:37 pm · February 27th, 2012

In this week’s podcast, Kris and Anne are joined by Guy Lodge as they discuss last night’s big cherry on the top of the 2011-2012 film awards season: The Oscars.

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'The Artist' wins five Oscars, including Best Picture, Director and Actor (with live blog)

Posted by · 1:30 pm · February 26th, 2012

Thoughts on the Oscar sights and sounds as they happen.

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Why it should be 'The Artist'

Posted by · 12:59 pm · February 25th, 2012

Detractors have claimed that it’s insubstantial, anachronistic and even regressive, but “The Artist” is still set to run the table at tomorrow’s Academy Awards. Guy Lodge argues why it truly is the best of this year’s nominees.

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Punching out: Final Oscar predictions

Posted by · 11:22 am · February 24th, 2012

While Best Picture and Director wins may be a done deal for “The Artist,” this year’s Oscars become less predictable the further down the list of categories one goes. Guy Lodge offers his final picks in all 24 races.

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Oscar Guide 2011: Best Actor

Posted by · 8:28 am · February 24th, 2012

On Sunday, five of our leading men will don their tuxes and walk down the red carpet at the top of their profession. Earlier this awards season, it seemed as though this would be a battle between two A-list movie stars. Since then, however, a silent Frenchman has proven himself very adept at charming everyone in sight, and will be difficult to beat.

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The Long Shot: Don't go to bed angry

Posted by · 7:35 pm · February 22nd, 2012

It seems every critic or blogger has an issue with this year’s Oscar race — so why do I feel oddly content ahead of Sunday’s proceedings?

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Cannes regains its Oscar foresight

Posted by · 4:43 pm · February 20th, 2012

With “The Tree of Life” the first Cannes Palme d’Or winner in nine years to receive a Best Picture nomination, and “The Artist” set to join the short list of top Oscar champs that debuted on the Croisette, was the French festival last year’s most important Oscar hunting ground?

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Jean Dujardin and Kristen Wiig cut a rug on 'Saturday Night Live'

Posted by · 12:33 pm · February 12th, 2012

Fresh off “The Artist”‘s BAFTA dominance earlier today, we might as well post last night’s “Saturday Night Live” riff on Michel Hazanavicius’s film. Hey, when you hit SNL, you’ve really made it.

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'The Artist' cleans up at the BAFTAs

Posted by · 10:36 am · February 12th, 2012

“The Artist” dominated tonight’s British Academy Awards, winning seven trophies, including Best Film, Director, Actor and Original Screenplay, while its nearest competitor, “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” had to be content with wins for Best British Film and Adapted Screenplay.

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Predicting Sunday's BAFTA Awards

Posted by · 1:38 pm · February 10th, 2012

The BAFTA Awards take place on Sunday, and offer the Brits the choice between rubber-stamping the Oscar favorite, “The Artist,” and siding with their own pet, “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.” We consider what will win this year — and what should.

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Jean Dujardin auditions for every available Hollywood villain role at Funny or Die

Posted by · 12:17 pm · February 9th, 2012

Funny or Die sends up the cynical logic that has Jean Dujardin stuck in European villain roles after this Oscar season.

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Round-up: The Oscar nominees do lunch

Posted by · 5:50 am · February 7th, 2012

Also: ‘Hugo’ producer woes, and Dujardin slays ’em on Leno

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