Off the Carpet: Could David O. Russell finally strike Oscar gold with frizzy 'American Hustle?'

Posted by · 6:37 am · December 23rd, 2013

The precursor film awards circuit seems to have rallied around “12 Years a Slave” as the year’s consensus pick, but could it be “American Hustle” that becomes the most generally agreeable movie of the year for the Academy?

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Kristopher Tapley's top 10 films of 2013

Posted by · 10:30 am · December 16th, 2013

HitFix Editor-at-Large Kristopher Tapley runs down his top 10 films including “Out of the Furnace,” “Spring Breakers,” “The Place Beyond the Pines” and “Gravity.”

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The best ensembles of 2013

Posted by · 12:36 pm · December 11th, 2013

With the Screen Actors Guild having spoken on the year’s ensemble work, we’re reminded that 2013 was an exemplary year for great cast performances. HitFix’s Kristopher Tapley offers up his 11 best.

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Roundup: What Nebraskans make of 'Nebraska'

Posted by · 5:46 am · December 2nd, 2013

In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, small-town Nebraskans are as divided as critics as to whether “Nebraska” is affectionate or condescending. Meanwhile, are Oscar voters getting in-flight exposure to “The Place Beyond the Pines?”

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As Focus Features evolves, an appreciation

Posted by · 1:24 pm · October 2nd, 2013

Focus Features has announced a shift in ideology, folding in FilmDistrict and focusing on a broader cache of product. While the label isn’t dead, the identity will most certainly change. Here’s an appreciation of the best that identity produced over the last decade or more.

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Casting Society of America nominees range from 'Argo' to 'Mud' to 'Magic Mike'

Posted by · 9:55 am · August 19th, 2013

The Artios Awards for film, TV and theater will take place on November 18.

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Oscar Talk: 2013 so far, fall festival preview and a look to the season ahead

Posted by · 7:56 am · August 16th, 2013

In the first podcast of the 2013-2014 season, Kris Tapley and Anne Thompson discuss 2013 so far, the fall festival circuit ahead and the upcoming season in general.

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Performances on the lead-supporting bubble dance with category placement this season

Posted by · 11:19 am · August 14th, 2013

This week’s report about Meryl Streep potentially being campaigned in the supporting actress category for her performance in John Wells’ “August: Osage County” reminds of a slew of actors in a similar boat this year, dancing with category selection with arguments to be made on both sides.

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On the dismissive attitude toward indie Oscar hopefuls

Posted by · 12:21 pm · August 7th, 2013

I was thinking recently about something that really agitates me when it comes to the awards season, which is this notion that certain accomplishments are instinctively relegated to the “indie” bin of the Independent Spirit Awards or the Gotham Awards, like some ghetto of would-be Oscar contenders.

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Derek Cianfrance on the anxiety of legacy in 'The Place Beyond the Pines'

Posted by · 3:21 pm · August 2nd, 2013

Filmmaker Derek Cianfrance talks about the visual grammar of his triptych “The Place Beyond the Pines,” his vision in filling out a talented cast and why he wanted to make a film about legacy.

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Focus Features picks up Derek Cianfrance's 'The Place Beyond the Pines'

Posted by · 6:12 pm · September 9th, 2012

The film has found a nice home for not-so-easily-defined indie dramas.

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Off the Carpet: Telluride wraps, Toronto approaches

Posted by · 11:43 am · September 3rd, 2012

The season is here. “Argo” has sounded the starting gun in the mountains of Telluride while “The Master” has made a strong case on the Lido of Venice. Where will we go from here?

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Fall fests set to fire the Oscar starting gun

Posted by · 11:14 am · July 30th, 2012

Now that the first wave of festival announcements has hit, let’s take a look at things.

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