Features
A Baz Luhrmann travel commercial for Australia called “Come Walkabout” starring Brandon Walters. The spots aired last year but I never saw one until I did on a plane this afternoon. My first reaction (when I realized it was a commercial), was that it was a shame to see the single best part of Luhrmann’s […]
Did I miss this?
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 4:49 pm · October 31st, 2009
Filed in: Daily
Cheap thrills
Posted by Guy Lodge · 12:14 pm · July 6th, 2009
I was tickled by — and completely related to — this piece by Cinematical’s Elisabeth Rappe in which she expounds the joys of embarrassing bargain-bin DVDs. You know, the movies you know you shouldn’t own (and in some cases, don’t even like that much) but can’t resist picking up when you’re in the store and […]
Filed in: Daily
Who almost starred in the season’s Oscar nominated films?
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:37 am · February 17th, 2009
The folks at notstarring.com have put together a list of the year’s Oscar contenders and the stars who turned down opportunities to star in them. There is, of course, Nicolas Cage in “The Wrestler” and Russell Crowe in “Australia.” Heath Ledger is also mentioned for the latter (somehow I didn’t know that). “The Curious Case […]
Filed in: Daily
TECH SUPPORT: Final preview special, part one
Posted by gerardkennedy · 10:53 am · January 21st, 2009
Five months of Tech Support reach their climax on Thursday morning. This Canuck is, like the rest of the world, celebrating a new American President today. The fact remains, however, that a new set of Oscar nominees will greet us tomorrow and I can’t help but share my final thoughts on the categories. This is […]
Filed in: Tech Support
My dream ballot: part one
Posted by Guy Lodge · 3:34 pm · January 20th, 2009
Back in December, Kris offered his take on how he would fill out his nominee ballot if he were an Academy member (affording himself the luxury, obviously, of voting in all categories). Of course, playing voter is a popular sport in the blog world, with Nathaniel Rogers’ annual Film Bitch Awards as thorough and intelligent […]
Filed in: Daily
Cinema Audio Society nominees
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:31 pm · January 7th, 2009
The five contenders for the 2009 Cinema Audio Society (CAS) Awards are: “The Dark Knight” “Iron Man” “Quantum of Solace” “Slumdog Millionaire” “WALL-E” So this is the second “Defiance” snub that has surprised me so far, following Eduardo Serra coming up short with the lensers earlier today. “The Dark Knight,” “Iron Man” and especially “WALL-E” […]
Filed in: Daily
AMPAS narrows the visual effects field to seven
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:11 am · January 6th, 2009
Last month, the Academy whittled the contenders for Best Visual Effects down to 15 hopefuls. Today, the branch has chipped away at it further. And then there were seven: “Australia” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” “The Dark Knight” “Hellboy II: The Golden Army” “Iron Man” “Journey to the Center of the Earth” “The Mummy: […]
Filed in: Daily
Small pleasures: Guy’s best (and worst) of 2008
Posted by Guy Lodge · 1:14 pm · January 2nd, 2009
It’s a lovely thing when you realize, at least part of the way through adulthood, that we still possess the ability to surprise ourselves. When left to graze at leisure, the mind can stumble upon some unexpected notions, frequently overriding the conclusions we thought we had reached after twelve months of watching, writing and (occasionally […]
Filed in: Daily
12/29 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:43 am · December 29th, 2008
• Anita Singh looks at the upcoming year of the dog for British movie-goers, including “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” “Bolt,” “Marley and Me” and “Wendy and Lucy.” [Daily Telegraph] • “A Christmas Tale” tops Andrew O’Hehir’s list of the 10 best indie films of 2008. [Beyond the Multiplex] • Jonathan Miles talks to newly minted Oscar […]
Filed in: Daily
12/22 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:02 am · December 22nd, 2008
• The “Seven Pounds” dogpile continues. [/Film] • Ditto Baz Luhrmann and “Australia.” [Hollywood Elsewhere] • Regarding Luhrmann, Peter Bart warns the director away from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gasby.” [Peter Bart] • David Gritten talks to Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy about critics’ favorite “Slumdog Millionaire.” [Daily Telegraph] • Donna Freydkin spends some […]
Filed in: Daily
12/10 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:10 am · December 10th, 2008
• The Gurus settle on a predicted five that seems to be becoming “the knowledge.” [Movie City News] • David Poland, meanwhile, takes the opportunity to spotlight 10 under-the-radar contenders. [Movie City News] • Always eager for a “look, we said something about it first” story, Steve Weintraub calls an exclusive (seriously, we need to […]
Filed in: Daily
OFF THE CARPET: Finding a happy place
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:52 pm · December 8th, 2008
I’m reaching that sweet spot of the Oscar season. That moment right on the cusp of major precursor announcements when critics and audiences begin to join a conversation that’s been talked in circles by us pundits for a few months. The vacuum is slipping away and the clarity of perspective shines through. Yeah, I can […]
Filed in: Featured · Off the Carpet
12/8 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:50 am · December 8th, 2008
• Lou Lumenick runs down his 10-best list… [Lumenick on Film] • …and calls “Mamma Mia!” the guilty pleasure of the year. [Lumenick on Film] • Peter Sciretta gets a juicy tid-bit on the “Forrest Gump” sequel “Gump & Co.” from screenwriter Eric Roth: 9/11 killed the idea and all the principles decided it wasn’t […]
Filed in: Daily
12/6 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:51 am · December 6th, 2008
• John Patterson on the legacy of Harvey Milk. [The Guardian] • Robert Abele talks to “Frost/Nixon” star Michael Sheen. [Los Angeles Times] • Rebeca Hall, meanwhile, discusses her involvement in the film with Jenni Miller. [Premiere] • Peter Knegt chats with visionary “Hunger” director Steve McQueen. [indieWIRE] • John Anderson profiles animation legend Bill […]
Filed in: Daily
11/29 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Guy Lodge · 6:00 am · November 29th, 2008
Slim pickings today, but then what did you expect? Think of this as your leftover turkey sandwich. • The estimable Michael Wilmington goes to bat for “Australia” in a big way. [Movie City News] • Meryl Streep discusses her “career renaissance.” Uh, when did her career ever fade? [Los Angeles Times] • Simon Hattenstone talks […]
Filed in: Daily
Karger narrows it to eight
Posted by Guy Lodge · 7:00 pm · November 28th, 2008
For this week’s edition of Entertainment Weekly, Dave Karger has boiled down the Best Picture race to a mere eight horses. The no-surprises list reads as follows: 1. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” 2. “Slumdog Millionaire” 3. “Frost/Nixon” 4. “Revolutionary Road” 5. “Doubt” 6. “Milk” 7. “The Dark Knight” 8. “Australia” Nothing much to […]
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11/28 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Guy Lodge · 6:49 am · November 28th, 2008
• David Poland is still in two minds about “Benjamin Button,” but agrees with Kris that “Slumdog” is the one to beat. [The Hot Blog] • Kim Voynar, meanwhile, surveys the Best Picture contenders, and is as confused as the rest of us. Interesting point about the potential impact of current events on “Slumdog,” though. […]
Filed in: Daily
11/26 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:34 am · November 26th, 2008
• Jeff Wells is beside himself because Oscar prognosticators understand “Che” has a snowball’s chance in hell at a best Picture nomination. [Hollywood Elsewhere] • Noah Forrest podcasts “Changeling” screenwriter J. Michael Straczynski. [Movie City News] • Anne Thompson gets the “Australia” goods from Hugh Jackman. [Thompson on Hollywood] • Tom O’Neil, meanwhile, wonders if […]
Filed in: Daily
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