In Contention

Tag: Adam Yauch

  • Douglas and Yauch are beating it

    Lost in all the general Oscar discussion as of late is some great news on two fronts.

    You might recall Oscilloscope higher-up and Beastie Boy rapper Adam “MCA” Yauch was diagnosed with cancer in his salivary gland a year and a half ago.  Recently it was falsely reported that he was cancer-free, but he has come out to clear the record but also assure everyone he’s hopeful in the wake of the lump’s removal.

    Meanwhile, Michael Douglas, who was hit with throat cancer some months back, says his tumor is gone and he’s on the road to recovery.

    Neither is out of the woods yet, obviously, but it’s great to hear that things are moving in a positive direction.  We certainly wish Yauch and Douglas a speedy recovery.

    [Photo: Getty Images]

  • Oscilloscope nabs ‘Meek’s Cutoff’ for 2011 release

    Since word spread out of Venice of Michelle Williams’s strong performance in Kelly Reichardt’s superb Oregon Trail western “Meek’s Cutoff,” some of our more excitable commenters have been projecting a kind of two-pronged awards attack for the actress, who has another excellent showcase in December release “Blue Valentine.”

    We warned you all along that “Meek’s Cutoff” wasn’t likely to hit theaters in 2010, and we were right. Boutique distributor Oscilloscope has just acquired the film at Toronto, and will release it next year — the right call, given that a quiet wonder like this one would likely get lost in the crush of awards season.

    Oscilloscope (that’s Beastie Boy Adam Yauch’s outfit, in case you’d forgotten) also handled Reichardt and Williams’s last collaboration, “Wendy and Lucy”; I was hoping that their latest might prove accessible enough to attract one of the bigger boys in the indie playground, but I’m sure the company will do right by them. Yauch himself seems rather taken with the film; his statement (via indieWIRE) after the cut.

    (more…)

  • OFF THE CARPET: Why it should be ‘The Messenger’

    (from left) Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster in The MessengerThe writing is on the wall. “Nine” is on the precipice, teetering, on the brink of falling from the Best Picture ranks, 10 nominees or not. Speculation flies as to which film will be the beneficiary (as most concede this is the only slot in flux, though there are certainly compelling arguments against a secure spot in the line-up for “Up” and “A Serious Man”). And I find myself going back and forth as to which film deserves the designation.

    A glance at my best of the year column reveals what should be the obvious answer for me: “Star Trek,” J.J. Abrams’a tight reboot of a franchise that now has a new, vibrant lease on life.  It was, after all, my #11 film of the year.  It will absolutely land a number of #1 and #2 votes because, as mentioned in Friday’s Oscar Talk, it simply remains one of the most enjoyable films of the year for a great many.

    Also, it’s pretty nice when you have someone in the race, like Quentin Tarantino, calling it his favorite film of the year.

    That said, voters may feel that their sci-fi/genre vote has been cast with “Avatar,” while “District 9,” from producer Peter Jackson and director Neill Blomkamp, is another genre entry that deserves a fair glance and could cock-block Abrams and company out of contention as well.

    (more…)

  • Wishing Adam Yauch a speedy recovery

    Beastie Boy Adam Yauch (aka MCA) has been diagnosed with cancer in his salivary gland.  We at In Contention wish him a fast and speedy recovery following his upcoming surgery.

    A lifelong Beasties fan I may be (I’ve seen them live twice here in LA), but Yauch is also a hero to the independent film community.  His cinema division Oscilloscope Pictures is a welcome haven amid studio dominance.  And in its maiden year, the distribution wing gave us two of 2008’s most intriguing films, “Dear Zachary” (which landed on my top 10 list) and “Wendy and Lucy” (which landed on Guy’s).  Here is a great NY Times profile on Yauch and Oscilloscope from September of last year.

    Yauch announced his ailment alongside fellow Beastie Adam Horowitz (aka Adrock) in a video message on the group’s official website. He did so with trademark levity. Again, get well soon: