In Contention

Tag: Bill Condon

  • Solid proof Condon/Mark is the right call

    “Dreagirls” was on HBO last night and even though I’m long on the record for not being a fan, I still give it a look from time to time.  I caught the last act or so and the closing credits sequence, and I had forgotten how dazzling that sequence is.  You probably remember it: every single aspect of the production, form the costume design to the film editing, the coreography and sound to the art direction, each element was treated to its own bit of razzle dazzle over the credits.

    Multiple angles for the editor, sketches for production and costume design, appropriate visuals throughout.  It’s a really special sequence, I think, and one that exhibits Condon’s clear affinity for the medium.  I’m sure he’ll bring every ounce of that passion into the Oscar cast in just under two weeks’ time, and no matter how boring the eventual outcome (for those bored by things like, I don’t know, the best film of the year winning Best Picture), I think we’ll all be in for a treat.

    I tried to find a YouTube clip of that “Dreamgirls” credits sequence, by the way, but no luck.  Go check it out again if you have a chance, though.  Lots of heart in that bit.

  • 2/6 Oscarweb Round-up

    Richard Jenkins• David Poland is probably wrong on two counts at the top of his recent Oscar column (certainly plkenty of us had our sites set on Davis and Shannon going into this awards season), but we’ll give him some slack. [Movie City News]

    • David Carr, via video, talks about Bill Condon and Larry Mark futzing with the traditional Oscar show format. [The Carpetbagger]

    • Dammit.  I thought something was fishy when I had to shell out money hand over fist for some Boss tickets Monday. [The Big Picture]

    • Getting to know Oscar nominee Courtney Hunt. [The Guardian]

    • Dave Karger bangs the drum for Oscar underdog Richard Jenkins. [Entertainment Weekly]

    • The annual “how the Oscar statuette is made” feature. [Daily Telegraph]

    • Was “Waterworld” an “eco-parable” ahead of its time? [Slate]

    • Claufia Puig reviews the Oscar shorts.  High marks for “Toyland,” “The Pig” and “Manon on the Asphalt.” [USA Today]

    • Andrew O’Hehir also digs in. [Beyond the Multiplex]

  • No “embarrassing interruptions of impassioned speeches”

    Bill CondonThat’s the line that grabbed me in this Susan Wloszczyna feature on Oscar producers Bill Condon and Laurence Mark.  If there’s anything that drives me up the wall, it’s the musical interjection of a speech, no matter how rambling.  This is a person’s moment and ignorant, cue-happy conductors (and presumably the producers chattering into their ears) have to crank up the orchestra to send them on their way.  Meanwhile, the Academy offers up the most rank stretch of montages (however pointless) and any other number of dubious production choices.

    We’re all pretty well assured that kind of hogwash isn’t going to fly this year, but it’s nice to see Condon and Mark taking a stand for the speech thing.  Then again, he pulls his punch later in the story, so who knows?

    Here’s a bit from the piece:

    When it comes to entertaining the masses, it doesn’t really matter what is on the ballot, Mark insists. His and Condon’s primary objective is “to celebrate all the movies of 2008.” Blockbusters, sleepers, art-house fare, you name it. Attention will be paid to movie history, too, “but no clips of Gone With the Wind.”

    In other words, these fellows aren’t losing sleep over how the voters went for the low-profile Holocaust-themed drama The Reader over superhero sensation The Dark Knight in the top contest.

    “We have enough great material to attract a crowd,” Condon says. “It’s the academy’s job to honor the best movies, not what will provide the highest ratings. We both feel they show great integrity in what they do.”

    Even though I choked on Condon’s — let’s say — diplomatic quote at the end there.

    The rest is the same old, same old you’ve read on the dup elsewhere, though I remain excited by nuggets like this:

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  • 1/5 Oscarweb Round-up

    (from left) Bill Condon and Laurence Mark• “Che” tops David Poland’s top 10 list, which also includes…”Mamma Mia!”  That’s originality for ya. [The Hot Blog]

    • David Carr does some number crunching on a few Best Picture contenders. [The Carpetbagger]

    • Michael Cieply spends some time with the producers of this year’s Oscar telecast. [New York Times]

    • Lewis Beale on the Jewish image in Hollywood. [Los Angeles Times]

    • Brad Brevet draws a connection between Walt Kowalski and Ethan Edwards. [Rope of Silicon]

    • Christopher Rosen spotlights performances from “Ghost Town,” “Che” and “The Visitor” as the year’s most overlooked. [New York Observer]

    • Karina Longworth responds to negativity over her dubious review of “Dear Zachary.” [Spout Blog]

    • A week old, but yours truly walks through the acting critics awards landscape at year’s end with a few organization members. [Variety]

  • “You’re so money and you don’t even know it.”

    Hugh Jackman in AustraliaTim Gray has put together a typical response piece to the Hugh Jackman emcee news over at Variety, but the real interesting bits are as follows:

    “[W]e are trying to turn a corner and to give the evening more of a nightclub-party feel — which it once had,” said the show’s producer Laurence Mark.

    And…

    “Hugh will entertain the audience throughout the show,” [Oscarcast executive producer Bill] Condon said. Jackman’s goal, as theirs, is “to keep the show hot throughout, to make it communal and great fun.”

    I always knew guys like Spacey, Clooney and Jackman made sense as an Oscar host, but I never could really put into words why.  But it’s starting to click.  Jackman and the rest, they are perfect “master of ceremonies” types, yes, but they’re also the kind of guys you can totally see as a soiree host with the most, bouncing around an intimate gathering and asking, “How’s the tuna tar-tar?”  Things like that.  Mark’s “nightclub” quote nails it and I have to say, it’s nice to see him and Condon taking this so seriously and with the height of class.

    Better and better…

    Meanwhile, Mary McNamara has a wandering Envelope piece up that reads like a “who should host” story that had to be rethought after the Jackman news hit.  Whether that’s true or not, I can’t be sure, but it’s a tally of stars to fill the hours on the show…I think.

  • Hugh Jackman named Oscar host

    The news is out — the Australian thesp and “Sexiest Man Alive” will host February’s 81st Academy Awards.

    And why not? He’s charismatic, well-liked by all, a bona fide movie star and a genuine showman who has proved his mettle at this short of thing before by hosting the Tony Awards (and winning an Emmy for his pains).

    I’ve always said the Oscar host doesn’t necessarily need to be a comedian — it needs to be someone urbane, witty and relatable, who can deliver good material and keep things running at a fair clip. I have no doubt that Jackman can pull that off, and the fact that he’s an able song-and-dance man will no doubt come in handy.

    Meanwhile, add the fact that more young viewers actually know who he is, and that more female viewers (hell, more male viewers too) will probably tune in for the eye candy, and this fits neatly with the strategy to boost telecast ratings. But it’s no dumbing-down move either: Jackman is an old-fashioned Hollywood star who should keep the traditionalists happy.

    I’ve always thought George Clooney would be the ideal choice, while Kris imaginatively plumped for Kevin Spacey a while back, but the choice of Jackman is a clear move in a similar direction. Good call, Bill Condon.

  • Who should host the Oscars?

    Kevin SpaceyThis morning I linked to our friend John Campea at The Movie Blog who offered up a list of 15 possibilities for host of this year’s Oscar festivities.  Producers Bill Condon and Larry Mark are hard at work putting the show’s particulars together (when Condon has a few moments away from that Richard Pryor biopic he’s been writing), and sooner or later, an announcement will be made.

    I agree with a few of Campea’s suggestions.  George Clooney, for instance, is an inspired pick, the charmer of Hollywood without an enmy in the world — well, except for McCain supporters, I guess.  I also like the choice of Robert Downey Jr., though in 2008, it’s almost TOO on the nose.  Rounding out the big names that make sense, I’d be on board for Tom Hanks as well, always adept at working a crowd.  But Steve Carrell seems to lack the right prestigious “umph,” while Denzel Washington would prove to be too cardboard-stiff, I’d wager.

    We’ve been there and done that with Steve Martin, Ellen Degeneres and Jon Stewart — new blood would be preferable.  And Steven Colbert would be a false echo of Stewart’s attempts.  Will Ferrell and Ben Stiller — too silly.  Tina Fey — too one-note.  Jerry Seinfeld — too snooty.  And Ricky Gervais was a manifested pipe-dream from the start.  But I’d absolutely be on board if Condon and Mark want to hand over emcee duties to Uwe Boll.  Who wouldn’t??  But you might as well toss in Kelsey Grammer in full-blown Beast make-up as a co-host at that point.

    So the question remains: Who should be the host?  Who has the right amount of showmanship to off-set his dramatic faculties and keep the even keel a show like this needs?  Who has the right comedic reserve to tap into when necessary and who would absolutely light up the stage with his consistent determination to perform?

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  • 9/25 Oscarweb Round-up

    The Godfather• Jeffrey Wells talks with legendary Oscar-winning lenser Gordon Willis about “The Godfather Restoration.” [Hollywood Elsewhere]

    • Talia Shire discusses same with Alex Simon and Terry Keefe. [The Hollywood Interview]

    • Nikki Finke shits herself with weird fury over the Condon/Mark Oscar news from yesterday, finally admits she has testicles. [Deadline Hollywood Daily]

    • Patrick Goldstein responds to it all, giving that nut-bird credence as a result. [The Big Picture]

    • Tom O’Neil thinks Will Smith would be a fantastic Oscar host.  Naaahh. [Gold Derby]

    • Lynette Rice gets the rumors started with Ricky Gervais as a possibility. [Entertainment Weekly]

    • Roger Moore could care less about his Bond legacy. [The Independent]

    • Michael Moore’s election year freebie. [New York Times]

    • Three films that broke through the “chick flick” barrier. [Test Pattern]

    • Spike Lee and “Miracle at St. Anna” own the local paper this week, starting with a big overview/interview from Tom Roston… [Los Angeles Times]

    • …then a spotlight on hottie starlet Valentina Cervi… [Los Angeles Times]

    • …and finally, John Horn takes the opportunity to wonder whether audiences will care about WWII films this season, with four films yet to come. [Los Angeles Times]

    • Scott Bowles gets a first look at Ridley Scott’s “Body of Lies.” [USA Today]

    • 10 literary classics to turn into blockbusters. [Spout Blog]

  • Cates out Condon/Mark in as Oscar telecast producers

    Bill CondonWow. This is a left-field choice to say the least, but it seems “Dreamgirls” director and producer Bill Condon and Laurence Mark have been tapped to produce this year’s Oscar telecast. Mark will be the producer, Condon the executive producer. The Hollywood Reporter has the scoop.

    Despite the negative B.S. that was flying around my opinion of “Dreamgirls” two years ago (things get perpetuated too far in a business governed by publicity), I genuinely like Condon and have a friendly chat every time I see him. He’s a true Oscar geek like the rest of us, a bright and creative guy who will probably do wonders for some of the telecast’s typically boring sequences (music performances are at the top of that list). And Laurence Mark is no slouch when it comes to putting stuff like this together.

    Good things. Here’s an excerpt from Gregg Kilday’s story (which briefly mentions Condon’s upcoming Richard Pryor movie):

    The “Dreamgirls” team of producer Laurence Mark and writer-director Bill Condon have been tapped to produce the 81st Annual Academy Awards telecast. Mark will serve as producer with Condon on board as exec producer; it’s the first time either has produced the Oscar show.

    Announcing their selection Wednesday, Academy president Sid Ganis said, “Larry and Bill are fresh thinkers who will bring a unique perspective to the Oscar show. That fact, joined with their enormous collective talent and enthusiasm, will serve the 81st awards proceedings perfectly.”…

    “What a thrill to produce the Oscar show,” Mark said. “I’m excited about this opportunity and look forward to the challenge of a live television show that celebrates the very best in film.”

    “The Oscars are the ultimate recognition of excellent work in movies, and I’m so pleased to be part of putting the show together,” Condon said.

    It’ll be interesting to see if the duo will be able to turn things around for a show that is consistently losing viewers. I’m sure they see it as a challenge, but a welcome one regardless. Good luck, guys.