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There has been a lot of talk this week about Andy Serkis’ stirring performance-capture portrayal of ape rebellion leader Caesar in “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.” In many quarters, writers are calling for consideration in the Best Supporting Actor category. It’s a song and dance Serkis and those of us who follow the [...]
Forget Best Supporting Actor — it’s time to honor Andy Serkis’ “Special Achievement”
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:14 am · August 4th, 2011
Filed in: Daily
‘Dark Knight Rises’ trailer attached to final ‘Harry Potter’
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 2:14 pm · July 8th, 2011
Nothing much going on today, so why not toss up a good ole’ fashioned SEO-baiting post? Those of you planning to take in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2″ next weekend (which I imagine is most of you), you’ll be delighted to know that, according to Superhero Hype, Warner Bros. will attach the [...]
Filed in: Daily
THE LONG SHOT: It was always you
Posted by Guy Lodge · 5:52 pm · February 3rd, 2011
“Let me get this straight. The one’s about a precocious computer geek who’s also a bit of an asshole.” “Yeah.” “And the other’s about King George VI.” “Yeah.” “And King George VI has a disability.” “Well, he has a stutter. I mean, it’s not crippling or anything — ” “But it’s an obstacle that needs [...]
Filed in: The Long Shot
1/19 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: Affleck’s favorite heist films, Weinstein loves the Jets, Cameron going deep
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:02 am · January 19th, 2011
• Ben Affleck’s writes up his 11 favorite heist movies. [Daily Beast] • The Jets game was the Weinstein priority on Sunday night, not the Globes. [Page Six] • Dave Karger gets frisky and sticks with Hailee Steinfeld in lead for his final predictions. [Inside Movies]
Filed in: Daily
12/22 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: The reclusive Charles Portis, ‘Avatar’ most-pirated, Harvey’s holiday ‘King’s Speech’ hustle
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:51 am · December 22nd, 2010
• On the language, cult following and press-shyness of reclusive “True Grit” author Charles Portis. [Speakeasy] • Mike Leigh discusses “Another Year” and why he’ll never make a superhero movie. [Movieline] • “Avatar” tops list of 2010′s most pirated movies. [New York Post]
Filed in: Daily
WEEKLY WRAP: Holiday cheer and seasonal grousing
Posted by In Contention Staff · 11:24 pm · November 26th, 2010
• Calmed by the holiday spirit, this week’s Off the Carpet column took stock of the season, and gave thanks where appropriate. • The Long Shot looked at the number of one-time rebel auteurs in this year’s Oscar race, and wondered if awards glory comes at the expense of creative edge. • Life Without Oscar [...]
Filed in: Daily
Extended ‘Avatar’ is the home video event of the year
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:22 am · November 22nd, 2010
The most exciting Blu-ray/DVD release of the year (perhaps more so than the Criterion release of Terrence Malick’s “The Thin Red Line”) might be the three-disc Extended Collector’s Edition of James Cameron’s “Avatar.” I watched the nearly three-hour film this weekend and found it, without a doubt, a better, more fully realized experience than the [...]
Filed in: Daily
CINEJABBER: Way out in the water, see it swimming
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:38 am · November 20th, 2010
Catch up with the idea behind these weekend posts here. The photo to the right represents the early haul on screeners this year. Usually this time of year I find myself delighting in second and sometimes third viewings of this or that, but oddly enough, I still have some catch-up to do. I’m glad the [...]
Filed in: Cinejabber
11/17 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: The death of Oscar bait, ‘How Do You Know’ nails a PG-13, Moore and Levi on ‘Tangled’
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:46 am · November 17th, 2010
• Guest blogging for Nathaniel Rogers, Michael C. writes up the apparent death of “Oscar bait” as it pertains to Best Picture winners. [The Film Experience] • Steve Pond chats with “The Kids Are All Right” writer/director Lisa Cholodenko. [The Odds] • James Cameron discusses his inspiration for “Avatar” (it won’t go away) in an [...]
Filed in: Daily
OFF THE CARPET: Dolla billz, y’all!
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:15 am · November 8th, 2010
A reader comment got me thinking on box office and Oscar as the usual blockbuster and genre fare led the way in ticket sales this weekend. It dawned on me that pickins might be extra slim when it comes to representing populist filmmaking in 2010′s Best Picture crop. Box office and finding room for ratings-friendly [...]
Filed in: Off the Carpet
11/4 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: Sit-down with Swinton, ‘Megamind’ using social gaming, Elise on ‘For Colored Girls’
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:16 am · November 4th, 2010
• Pete Hammond talks “I Am Love” with dark horse Best Actress contender Tilda Swinton. [Deadline] • How DreamWorks Animation is using social gaming to boost “Megamind.” [Hollywood Reporter] • Meet the characters of “Morning Glory.” [MakingOf]
Filed in: Daily
10/28 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: Youngest Best Actresses, seeking Oscar journos, Cameron readies ‘Avatar’ sequels
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:37 am · October 28th, 2010
• AMPAS and mtvU launch the third annual “Oscars Correspondent Contest” for college journalists. [Oscars.org] • Across the pond, Stuart Heritage counts down the ways “Rabbit Hole” could be an Oscar bet for Nicole Kidman. [The Guardian] • The Durst family predictably threatens to sue over “All Good Things.” [Deadline]
Filed in: Daily
10/20 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: ‘Complete Metropolis’ coming to TCM, buzz for Leo, Cameron on the usual talking points
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:09 am · October 20th, 2010
• Jeffrey Wells reminds of the forthcoming TCM airing of the restored “Metropolis” and one hour documentary “Metropolis Refound.” I’ll…be…there. [Hollywood Elsewhere] • Steve Pond conveys positive word on Christian Bale and (as reported for months here) Melissa Leo’s performances in “The Fighter” from ShoEast. [The Odds] • Naomi Watts on “Fair Game,” Valerie Plame [...]
Filed in: Daily
SUNDAY CENTS: Photo finish!
Posted by Chad Hartigan · 1:31 pm · August 29th, 2010
*All historical figures cited are adjusted to today’s dollars. One last bit of excitement before the summer ends and Tapley starts posting random Redskins photos on Sundays. We have a dead heat race for the top spot at the box office, but estimates are handing the crown to
Filed in: Box Office · Sunday Cents
FRIDAY FORECAST: End of the Road
Posted by Chad Hartigan · 4:58 pm · August 27th, 2010
*All historical figures cited are adjusted to today’s dollars. It’s the last full weekend of the summer, the last weekend of me being 27, and the last weekend for Friday Forecast on InContention. A time of introspection. A time of reflection. A time of paying another $20 to see those blue things in 3D again. [...]
Filed in: Box Office · Friday Forecast
‘Avatar: Special Edition’ trailer
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 1:32 pm · August 13th, 2010
You didn’t think you were out of the 2009 awards season woods yet, did you? No way. James Cameron and 20th Century Fox are gonna squeeze the “Avatar” cash cow until the milk stops flowing, surely. And with a big junket for “Avatar: Special Edition” in Los Angeles yesterday, and a new just-released trailer, it [...]
Filed in: Daily
COMIC-CON: Wrapping it up…are we getting through?
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:44 pm · July 25th, 2010
My Comic-Con experience ended a bit sooner than I expected this morning when I woke up and decided whatever was on the Sunday docket wasn’t as fetching as a three-hour ride in traffic back to LA. That’s how exhausting the convention was this year. Here’s the thing. We all know Comic-Con and its 125,000-plus attendees [...]
Filed in: Daily
Ebert versus the third dimension
Posted by Guy Lodge · 8:26 am · May 4th, 2010
By now, you may have read Roger Ebert’s lengthy nine-point diatribe against 3D in Newsweek — it has certainly generated a substantial amount of online conversation in the last few days. On the face of it, as a declared 3D agnostic myself, I should be pleased with the article: when a “Clash of the Titans” [...]
Filed in: Daily
