The Past

'Blue is the Warmest Color,' 'The Past,' 'Stranger by the Lake' land César nods

Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:00 am · January 31st, 2014

International festival sensations feature in the top categories, but the field was led by French comedy hit “Me, Myself and Mum,” with 10 nominations.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Michael Barker on 'bittersweet' nominations and watching Richard Linklater's career bloom

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:04 am · January 16th, 2014

It was a bittersweet morning for Sony Pictures Classics co-president Michael Barker. One one hand his company’s films “Before Midnight,” “Blue Jasmine” and “The Invisible Woman” combined for a total of five nominations, including a somewhat surprising bid for “Blue” supporting actress Sally Hawkins. On the other, it was a rare occasion where the indie distributor had no nominees in either the Best Documentary Feature or Best Foreign Language Film categories, and neither “Blue” nor “Midnight” was able to push into the Best Picture field.

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Asghar Farhadi on why 'The Past' is a brother to 'A Separation'

Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:55 pm · December 19th, 2013

Asghar Farhadi’s Golden Globe nominee “The Past” is Iran’s submission for the foreign-language Oscar, though it’s the director’s first European production. He tells us about the experience of working outside home, and why the film is the “male” counterpart to “A Separation.”

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Exclusive: '12 Years,' 'Rush' and 'Mandela' among 2013 films not eligible for WGA Awards

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:19 am · December 3rd, 2013

John Ridley’s adaptation of the trials and tribulations of former slave Solomon Northup, Peter Morgan’s account of James Hunt and Niki Lauda’s Formula One racing rivalry and Ryan Coogler’s testament to the tragically short life of Bay Area father Oscar Grant are just a handful of screenplays that won’t be eligible for nominations from the Writers Guild of America (WGA) this year, HitFix has learned.

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'Spring Breakers,' 'Short Term 12' and 'Mud' lead 2014 Spirit Awards snubs and surprises

Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:30 pm · November 26th, 2013

HitFix’s Gregory Ellwood and Guy Lodge run down the snubs and surprises after Film Independent announced the 2014 Independent Spirit Awards this morning.

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Roundup: Britannia awards celebrate Cumberbatch and Clooney, among others

Posted by Guy Lodge · 5:20 am · November 11th, 2013

In today’s roundup on notable online news and views, BAFTA-LA’s Britannia Awards celebrate a host of talent, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Idris Elba and George Clooney. Meanwhile, David O. Russell revealed a bit of “American Hustle” at AFI Fest, and Greta Gerwig talks about a life watching movies.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

The Long Shot: No country for gold men

Posted by Guy Lodge · 7:27 pm · October 30th, 2013

How long can Oscar pretend the foreign-language race is a cinematic Olympics?

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France's Oscar entry snubbed by Louis Delluc jury, as Cannes hits make the grade

Posted by Guy Lodge · 3:38 pm · October 30th, 2013

‘Blue is the Warmest Color’ the frontrunner for France’s most prestigious award.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Peter Berg's 'Lone Survivor' to premiere at AFI Fest

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:47 am · October 17th, 2013

AFI Fest has rounded out its 2013 slate with a list of special screenings, centerpiece gala additions and another world premiere.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Roundup: Are the cinematography and visual effects Oscars getting too close?

Posted by Guy Lodge · 5:41 am · October 10th, 2013

Also: Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch, and the complex effects of ‘Noah.’

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Firsts and disqualifications as a record 76 countries enter foreign Oscar race

Posted by Guy Lodge · 11:45 am · October 7th, 2013

Chad enters, but Agnieszka Holland won’t compete for the Czech Republic.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Roundup: Forest Whitaker to be honored at Gotham Awards

Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:45 am · October 4th, 2013

Also: The significance of Iran backing ‘The Past,’ and the brevity of ‘Gravity.’

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Iran surprises by picking 'The Past' as foreign language submission

Posted by Guy Lodge · 8:50 am · September 30th, 2013

Which take on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict will come out on top?

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France surprises by selecting 'Renoir' for foreign Oscar race

Posted by Guy Lodge · 7:40 am · September 16th, 2013

Meanwhile, Portugal and Pakistan enter the fray.

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Telluride: Wrapping up the 40th annual fest

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:06 am · September 3rd, 2013

The 40th annual Telluride Film Festival has come to a close, unofficially launching the Oscar season and wrapping up another wonderfully curated program that continues to be one of my most anticipated journeys each year.

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Off the Carpet: Telluride launches the season from 'Gravity' to '12 Years a Slave'

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:27 am · September 2nd, 2013

The Telluride Film Festival wraps up today and with that, the upcoming awards season has finally taken a little shape. We have a long way to go, of course, and no one should be calling the race from this far out, but we certainly know a few things.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Alfonso Cuarón, Jason Reitman, the Coens and more set for 40th annual Telluride Film Festival

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:00 am · August 28th, 2013

The Coen brothers, T Bone Burnett and Robert Redford are among those to be feted at the 40th annual Telluride Film Festival, which will feature the world premieres of Jason Reitman’s “Labor Day” and Ralph Fiennes’ “The Invisible Woman.” Prestige titles from the 2013 festival circuit so far have been curated for the weekend as well, including Alexander Payne’s “Nebraska,” J.C. Chandor’s “All is Lost” and the Coens’ “Inside Llewyn Davis.”

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