In Contention

Blog

  • Russell, Hooper make DGA slate

    And it is as it should have been expected.  The question now is, will it match Oscar’s five 100%?

    It’s worth noting that “True Grit” is a late bloomer and the DGA have had ballots since late November.  If they went in early, and seeing as you can’t send screeners to the membership, it’s possible a number of voters didn’t see it before submitting.  But these are a strong five and I don’t know who would drop out.

    The instinct for some is Tom Hooper, but there’s no reason to think that would happen, honestly.  It’s doing just fine.  David O. Russell is the one a lot of people didn’t expect to see here, so that might be a decent call.  But his nomination today should be enough to dispel the notion that a shaky industry rep would keep him out of the game this season.  Or is it?

    (more…)

  • Updates to The Circuit

    Just a note, a few goings-on at The Circuit.  First up, the Alliance of Women Film Journalists have gone with “The Social Network” as the year’s best.  The North Texas Film Critics Association (Dallas-Fort Worth wasn’t good enough?) opted for “Inception.” Speaking of which, Christopher Nolan’s film predictably dominated the Visual Effects Society’s list of nominees.

  • Bridges abides

    Greg Ellwood has done a pretty solid job of summing up Saturday night’s event at The Paley Center in Beverly Hills.  The evening featured the debut of “Jeff Bridges: The Dude Abides,” a new installment in PBS’s “American Masters” documentary series, directed by Gail Levin.

    The film is incredibly in-depth.  By the time the credits roll, even if you think you know most everything there is to know about the actor (seeing as his “Crazy Heart” push last year turned over just about every stone), you walk away feeling like part of the family.

    The 90-minute film includes interviews from Bridges’s brother and sister, Beau and Lucinda, filmmakers Peter Bogdanovich and Terry Gilliam, actors John Goodman and Cybil Shepherd and many more.  It digs in on his peripheral art (painting, pottery, music, etc.) and basically just keys you in to what makes the guy tick.

    (more…)

  • OFF THE CARPET: Written in ink

    I found it interesting over the weekend (and if you’re keyed into the ads on the site here and elsewhere, you noticed, too) that “The King’s Speech” finally decided to tap into the narrative that will serve it best in this year’s awards season.

    The “Find Your Voice” campaign notes, “Some movies you see.  Others you feel.”  The “head vs. heart” debate has been going on all season, dismissed largely by advocates up in arms at anyone having the gall to bet on a film other than “The Social Network” for this year’s Best Picture Oscar.  Yet there are, by my count, 44 days left before final ballots are due to the Academy (because let’s face it, most of us are already living in phase two of this season).

    But I wrote that column last week.  Rather than re-state my position over and over again, I’ll just offer up the mantra: It’s a process.

    Fincher’s film took down the National Society of Film Critics award Saturday (which is really, for the most part, just a replay of the NYFCC and LAFCA awards, given the overlap in membership).  It just about ran the critics’ board.  A few Best Picture bones were thrown to “The King’s Speech,” “Black Swan” and “Inception” throughout the circuit, but that’s about it.  Bravo indeed.

    (more…)

  • 1/10 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: Bridges didn’t give a bleep, Reznor on ‘Tattoo,’ Is Portman overexposed?

    • Joel Coen says Jeff Bridges didn’t give a BLEEP about living up to John Wayne’s legacy in “True Grit.” [The Race]

    • Trent Reznor discusses his next scoring gig: David Fincher’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” [The Playlist]

    • Gregg Kilday writes up the Best Picture race as he sees it. [Hollywood Reporter]

    (more…)

  • BAFTA names Rising Star nominees

    As you know, BAFTA likes to trickle out a few awards announcements ahead of their nominations, which will be revealed next Tuesday. Last week, we had the Best Foreign Language Film nominees and general category longlists — today, we have the five finalists for their Rising Star Award.

    Perhaps the most unique category in a ceremony that otherwise follows the Oscar template with increasing devotion, this self-explanatory honor  is the only award BAFTA hands over to the voting public, though the shortlist is compiled by a panel of journos and industry insiders. (Before you cry foul at some relatively established names on the list, the award is not necessarily for newcomers, but for actors whose profile grew significantly in the past year.)

    The public vote inevitably favors the star with the greatest youth appeal — last year saw Kristen Stewart beating Best Actress winner Carey Mulligan, while the year before, non-British viewers were left scratching their heads when Noel Clarke saw off Michaels Cera and Fassbender.

    (more…)

  • Jim Carrey sends up ‘Black Swan’ on SNL

    I liked last night’s episode well enough but it couldn’t touch his 1996 stab. I blame the cast and writers more than anything, but as usual, Carrey put his heart into each bit, especially this one (which was kind of weak but mostly saved by his effort):

  • BOX OFFICE: Holy ‘Grit’

    So, “True Grit” wins the box office this weekend.  It’s lucky to be up against such flimsy competition, but this thing could get close to $150 million when it’s all said and done.  I’d say the film has turned into one of the most profound box office stories of the year.

    (Courtesy: Exhibitor Relations)

  • ‘Social Network’ wins NSFC

    Sheep. Full list of winners at The Circuit.

    More admirable is this:

    “NSFC also issued a statement calling for a re-examination of the MPAA rating system and another condemning Iran’s recent sentencing of Iranian directors Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof.”

  • CINEJABBER: Where’s the exit?

    Catch up with the idea behind these weekend posts here.

    A busy week that one was.  And an even busier one on the way.  DGA and VES Monday, ASC Tuesday, Critics’ Choice Movie Awards and ACE Friday, Golden Globes Sunday — whew!  And today we’ll have the National Society of Film Critics put a bow on the critics awards circuit (well, save for the Iowa Film Critics, but…)

    It’s almost like I’m ready for a vacation again already, though maybe that’s because the holiday “break” wasn’t much of a break for me at all this year.  It’ll all be over in T-minus 50 days.  (50!)

    The Rudin/Steinfeld thread was a hit thanks to a lot of smart discussion from you guys yesterday.  Props to you for that.  And speaking of “True Grit,” Paramount has thrown together a preview screening of the PBS “American Masters” featuring Jeff bridges with a Q&A and reception to follow this evening.  Yep, the circuit is officially creeping into my weekends.

    (more…)

  • WEEKLY WRAP: Guild onslaught, Postlethwaite passes, more best of 2010

    • The Producers’ Guild of America surprised no one with their list of nominees.

    • The Writers’ Guild, however, threw a few curveballs (aided by assorted ineligibilities), while the USC Scripter Awards surprised some with one of their selections.

    • In sadder news, we said goodbye to esteemed British character actor Pete Postlethwaite.

    • After a few weeks of deliberation, Guy picked his best and worst films of 2010.

    • Continuing this week’s guild run, both the Cinema Audio Society and the Art Directors’ Guild weighed in with their nominees.

    (more…)

  • Fox to supply SAG with online screeners via iTunes

    Brave new world.  Though we all know it’s heading in this direction.  The trick will be getting the old stuck-in-their-ways types to learn how to work things, as always.  The press release, in part:

    Fox Filmed Entertainment (FFE) and iTunes are offering nearly 100,000 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) members Fox Searchlight Pictures’ 127 HOURS, BLACK SWAN and CONVICTION in HD from iTunes for viewing on their iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Mac or PC, or with Apple TV on their HD TV. The films will be available to members from January 7-28 during the SAG awards consideration window…Fox is discussing a similar arrangement in the future with AMPAS, BAFTA and other organizations to implement this new way to present their films for consideration…

    “…while we would always prefer voters see films in theaters, we realize that is not always possible, so we wanted to make sure as many voters as possible have the opportunity to screen them…,” said Jim Gianopulos, Chairman and CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment.

    [Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures]

  • Jim Carrey on the rise?

    I’ve been pulling for Jim Carrey the whole way, I tell you.  I was a massive fan in the 90s, starting with “the white guy on ‘In Living Color’” days, through the silly comedies critics loathed and the eventual Oscar-baiting (some of it actually worthy).

    The last decade has seen ups and downs for the actor.  Things started nicely with box office smashes like “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Bruce Almighty,” but things really wore thin on “Fun with Dick and Jane” and “Yes Man,” to say nothing of the abysmal “The Number 23.”

    There was the peculiar pre-break-up breakdown earlier this year to cause concern, but then there are the career-topping performances in “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and this 2010’s “I Love You Phillip Morris” to consider as well.  The latter, I think, might be his best work to date.

    (more…)

  • AMC’s annual Oscar Showcase details

    Every year AMC Theatres smartly puts on a showcase presentation of the Best Picture nominees in select cities across the country.  It used to be easier when there were five nominees, as the showcase would be a marathon day of screening.  Now, with 10, it takes place over two Saturdays in most locations, with select cities sporting a 24-hour marathon of all nominees.

    It’s a great way to catch up for those looking to do so (or to revisit before the big day).  John Campea of AMC’s Script to Screen blog has announced the details for this year’s showcase.  The dates will be Saturday February 19th and Saturday February 26th, with the Oscars landing on Sunday February 27th.

    Keep an eye at AMC’s official Oscar Showcase page in the coming weeks for information on locations and times.  And those of you willing to brave the 24-hour marathon, drink plenty of coffee.

    [Photo: AMC Theatres]

  • Rudin’s reasoning for Steinfeld in supporting

    During last night’s DVD release party for “The Social Network” I ended up in a spirited debate with producer Scott Rudin about the category placement of Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit.” Thankfully it went beyond ideas of the Hollywood star system and strategy and into the philosophy of the narrative itself.

    Since it’s been such a point of discussion as of late (most recently in a heated debate between yours truly and Anne Thompson in this week’s Oscar Talk), I thought I’d pass along his reasoning for thinking the performance a supporting one.  I’m sure he wouldn’t mind, so here goes…

    In a nutshell, Rudin’s argument (and it’s the smartest one I’ve heard in favor of supporting placement yet), is the idea that the Mattie Ross character is really the impetus for change in Rooster Cogburn’s character.  And, most importantly, she doesn’t have an arc, Rudin says, while Cogburn does.  He changes, she doesn’t.  So Mattie is the instigator.  It’s an interesting point, but I’m still not buying it.

    (more…)

  • Predict the DGA nominees

    Monday the guild circuit continues — at the start of what will be a very busy week — as the Directors Guild of America (DGA) unveils its list of nominees.

    The age-old rule of thumb has been that this is perhaps the most consistently foreshadowing precursor, as the five DGA nominees tend to have a good shot at Best Director recognition, and the Best Director nominees tend to line-up with the Best Picture nominees, give or take (though with the 10, I think it might be safe to say that the idea of a “lone director” has been lost to the realities of probability).

    Last year the five DGA nominees represented the perceived top five films of the Oscar race: Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron, Lee Daniels, Jason Reitman and Quentin Tarantino. The year before that, we all thought it did the same, but alas, Christopher Nolan and his film ultimately missed the mark with Oscar.

    (more…)

  • Central Ohio has its own brain

    I didn’t get around to mentioning this yesterday, but the Central Ohio Film Critics Association is the latest to stray (slightly) from the Fincher herd, opting for “Inception” as its Best Picture pick.  Check out the full list of winners at The Circuit.

  • OSCAR TALK: Ep. 47 — The guilds so far, Steinfeld as lead vs. supporting, Scripter finalists, goings-on on the circuit, looking ahead to 2011

    Oscar TalkWelcome to Oscar Talk.

    In case you’re new to the site and/or the podcast, Oscar Talk is a weekly kudocast, your one-stop awards chat shop between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood. The podcast is weekly, every Friday throughout the season, charting the ups and downs of contenders along the way. Plenty of things change en route to Oscar’s stage and we’re here to address it all as it unfolds.

    2010 is finally in the rear view mirror. But the season isn’t over yet — not by a long shot. As we enter the new year, and the busiest frame of the circuit (awards-wise), we have tons to chew on today. Let’s see what’s on the docket…

    (more…)