This is one of those fleeting AP reports that causes a double take, since I wasn’t aware of any illness or anything. Apparently it’s a sudden death, natural causes kind of thing, when the universe just decides your time is up. I had a nice email exchange with Parker, who is most famous for his […]
R.I.P. Robert B. Parker
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:57 am · January 19th, 2010
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SANTA BARBARA: Writers talk writing, Cruz walks the red carpet
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:38 am · January 25th, 2009
Yesterday was another busy event day for the Santa Barbara fest. It was a shame the Director’s Panel was canceled, but participant Andrew Stanton switched gears to join Robert Knott (“Appaloosa”), Tom McCarthy (“The Visitor”) and Dustin Lance Black (“Milk”) for an Anne Thompson-moderated discussion on their work at the keyboard this year. It was […]
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12/28 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:37 am · December 28th, 2008
• Joe Morgenstern wraps up the year. [Wall Street Journal] • Michael Lerman on the most misunderstood films of 2008. [Spout Blog] • Jeffrey Wells tries to draw some parallels between the year’s Best Picture hopefuls and the presidential contenders of 2008. [Hollywood Elsewhere] • James Rocchi podcasts it up with yours truly on year-end […]
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‘The Road’ potentially bumped to 2009
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 4:12 pm · October 15th, 2008
I had heard earlier this week that John Hillcoat’s “The Road” might be pushed to 2009, but was sworn to secrecy. Well, Dave Karger is talking about it now, so I guess it’s fair game. The film isn’t finished (not that that has stopped The Weinstein Company from releasing a film in 2008), but Karger […]
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WEEKLY WRAP: Rudin bails, Brolin buzz, original scores
Posted by Guy Lodge · 8:00 pm · October 10th, 2008
And this, as they say, is the week that was: • In the biggest news of the week, Scott Rudin has washed his hands of the whole “The Reader” fiasco by taking his name off the film. What now? • Lots happening on the music front this week, with Universal offering a taste of the […]
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INTERVIEW: ‘Appaloosa’ composer Jeff Beal
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:59 am · October 10th, 2008
Like a number of film music composers, Jeff Beal makes his home north of Los Angeles in the rocky, canyoned city of Agoura Hills. One feels a sense of the old west before even seeing the ranch-style houses in his neighborhood and the tail-flipping horses tied out back. Questions about his work on “Appaloosa,” Ed […]
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10/9 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:41 am · October 9th, 2008
• Dave Karger not only thinks Ralph Fiennes is in the supporting actor race for “The Duchess,” he thinks he is Heath Ledger’s main competition. [Oscar Watch] • Eight documentary shorts have been short-listed by AMPAS. [Oscars.org] • Jeffrey Wells reports that Lionsgate Films is pissing off Portland area critics by not screening “W.” for […]
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Bad…ass…
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:55 am · October 3rd, 2008
From yesterday’s feature with Viggo Mortensen and Ed Harris at USA Today. I think Ed is literally staring through my soul. Oh, and an FYI, keep an eye out later today for our interview with Jeff Beal, composer of “Appaloosa.” Lots to chew on there from a nice 45-minute discussion last week.
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10/3 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:28 am · October 3rd, 2008
• A clip from “Changeling.” [Oscar Watch] • And another. [The Envelope] • Or, if you prefer, the first five minutes of “Blindness.” [Yahoo! Movies] • David Poland breaks the news that “Che” will get its U.S. debut at AFI Fest here in Los Angeles — at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. [The Hot Blog] • […]
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9/27 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:24 am · September 27th, 2008
• Anne Thompson reports that Paramount Vantage will officially debut the “Revolutionary Road” trailer on Sunday’s episode of “Mad Men.” Very smart. [Thompson on Hollywood] • The toughest journalist gigs in cinema. [Time Out] • In the introductory post of his long in the works awards blog (welcome to the fray), Pete Hammond bangs the […]
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Busy day
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:03 pm · September 19th, 2008
Heading out to Agoura Hills this afternoon to interview Jeff Beal, composer of Ed Harris’s “Appaloosa.” Then a “Synecdoche, New York” screening later in the day. Nothing more out of me until this evening, though the crew might have some odds and ends. Happy Friday.
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9/19 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:13 am · September 19th, 2008
• Peter Sciretta wraps up the Toronto Fest, live from Fantastic Fest. It’s that time of the year… [/Film] • Oscar winner Diablo Cody responds to the haters: “I like my fake name. It’s engraved on an Oscar. Yours isn’t.” [MySpace] • Mark Olsen apparently reported over a week ago that Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt […]
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9/18 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:27 am · September 18th, 2008
• Nathaniel Rogers just can’t seem to get excited about “Appaloosa.” [The Film Experience] • Dave Karger, meanwhile, sits down with Ed Harris to talk about the film. GREAT interview. [Entertainment Weekly] • With westerns on the mind, Kyle Rupprecht recounts the best modern entries in the genre. [Moviemaker Magazine] • Sasha Stone cherry-picks some […]
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OFF THE CARPET: Indies on the march
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:39 am · September 8th, 2008
Maybe mid-way through the Toronto Film Festival, two things are strikingly clear: Darren Aronofsky has the goods with “The Wrestler” and Danny Boyle’s streak of successful versatility at the helm continues with “Slumdog Millionaire.” Both films, which enjoy pre-Toronto success at Venice and Telluride respectfully, are also evidence that surprises will happen this time of […]
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Strike two for Viggo?
Posted by Guy Lodge · 5:24 am · September 8th, 2008
A few weeks ago, Viggo Mortensen was riding high going into awards season, with no fewer than three baity-looking prospects on his slate: Ed Harris’ western “Appaloosa,” Holocaust drama “Good” and the eagerly-awaited “The Road.” At Toronto, however, the picture has cleared, and the options have narrowed. First off the bat, “Appaloosa” was greeted with […]
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TORONTO: Ed Harris on ‘Appaloosa,’ acting and film crticism
Posted by John Foote · 12:09 pm · September 7th, 2008
Walking into to interview with any actor/director can be a tad intimidating, even after 20 years of doing it. They have a tendency to be…difficult. But 30 minutes into my interview with Ed Harris, he pays me a compliment that could keep wind in my sails for the duration of the fest: “Thank you for […]
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9/7 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:00 am · September 7th, 2008
• Peter Sciretta thinks “The Dark Knight” will eventually beat the $600 million “Titanic” domestic take with re-releases in future years. Fair enough, but the worldwide gross is insurmountable and always will be. [/Film] • Tom O’Neil wonders whether Peter O’Toole has an Oscar win in store for his work in “Dean Spanley.” [Gold Derby] […]
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TORONTO: ‘Burn After Reading,’ ‘Appaloosa,’ ‘Miracle at St. Anna’
Posted by John Foote · 11:55 am · September 6th, 2008
Rough day on the legs yesterday, a lot of walking. Five films. One of them I will watch on DVD in the luxury of my room tonight, so four that I am running to, but hey, these are films I want to see, which always helps, right? I scanned the local papers for reaction to […]
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