M.I.A.

Winslet, Cruz, Herzog crack 2009 TIME 100

Posted by Guy Lodge · 3:02 am · May 1st, 2009

Given the debate currently active on these pages over what does and does not merit the term “influential” in the film world, there couldn’t be a better time to link to Time magazine’s list of (supposedly) the world’s 100 most influential people. Time slightly sidesteps the inherent comparative silliness of such a list by breaking […]

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Nominees luncheon under way

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 2:19 pm · February 2nd, 2009

Today is the big Academy luncheon for this year’s Oscar nominees. The AP’s Sandy Cohen and The Carpetbagger’s Michael Cieply are filing from the event. This is one of the most fascinating aspects of the season for me because of the varying personalities you find mingling together. Right now, M.I.A. is chowing down with Kate […]

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Hey, it ain’t ALL bad

Posted by Guy Lodge · 8:25 am · January 22nd, 2009

OK, looking at the bigger picture, I’m as mortified as everyone else by this morning’s Academy Award nominations. By playing it safe in numerous areas, AMPAS voters have once more failed their art form … but more surprisingly, they have failed their audience. Kris has already touched to some extent on the most glaring injustices […]

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12/7 Oscarweb Round-up

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:36 am · December 7th, 2008

• Pete Hammond reports on the week that was, including a lively “Seven Pounds” Q&A session. [Notes on a Season] • Jeff Wells responds with a second-hand swipe at the film. [Hollywood Elsewhere] • And Steven Zeitchik breaks embargo, writes up a positive assessment. [Risky Biz Blog] • Tom O’Neil points out how Oscar success […]

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Thanks for waiting

Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:03 am · November 30th, 2008

Sorry for ducking out yesterday — it was a Saturday of multiple distractions. Normal service to resume shortly. In the meantime, for your listening pleasure, here’s “O… Saya,” the sensational A.R. Rahman/M.I.A. cut from the “Slumdog Millionaire” soundtrack. It won’t get anywhere near Oscar night, of course — though I’m brazenly predicting that the film’s […]

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No one on the corner has swagger like us

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:45 am · November 26th, 2008

“A.R. was the most established, amazing producer…He works with 100-people orchestras, and his sound is huge. Then on the other end of the room was me, making music on GarageBand [software] and playing Danny these really gritty, badly recorded MP3s. We had all these meetings and stuff, and then I realized that’s what the movie […]

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A.R. Rahman: “Danny wanted it loud”

Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:53 am · November 14th, 2008

I have no idea what the Academy’s fussy music branch will make of it, but A.R. Rahman’s busy, boisterous score for “Slumdog Millionaire” is one of my favourite efforts in the field this year. Fusing contemporary Indian pop with more traditional Bollywood motifs and flashes of electronica, it’s an achievement as limber and witty as […]

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