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The word of the day Friday will most certainly be “Inception,” as casually interested movie-goers and anxious fanboys alike line up to take in Christopher Nolan’s latest effort. Now, I have suggested in this space that the film’s ensemble is an organic one, alive and driven. And that the performances are separately less than their [...]
THE LISTS: Top 10 performances in Christopher Nolan films
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:25 am · July 13th, 2010
Filed in: The Lists
The Great Performances: 2002
Posted by John Foote · 9:45 am · November 27th, 2009
2002 was probably one of the greatest years for performance excellence in film history, from leading actor right through all the supporting players. They could have easily nominated 10 actors in each of the four acting categories, and still missed some. Though Adrien Brody won the Oscar for “The Pianist,” which was a huge shock, [...]
Filed in: Daily
11/23 Oscarweb Round-up
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:23 am · November 23rd, 2009
• Dave Karger cusses with “Fantastic Mr. Fox” star Bill Murray. [Oscar Watch] • Owen Gleiberman whines about the snubbing of inferior documentaries, fails to recognize the solid slate of short-listed films we ended up with. [Entertainment Weekly] • Nicolas Rapold talks to the principals of “The Last Station.” [New York Times]
Filed in: Daily
The Great Performances: 1999
Posted by John Foote · 9:18 pm · November 7th, 2009
1999 was a strange year. And it’s hard to believe a full decade has slipped past since. There were some great award-winning performances, to be sure, but there seemed to be just as many not nominated that certainly should have been. Ten years later, I remain stunned that Reese Witherspoon was not nominated for her [...]
Filed in: Daily
The Great Performances: 1998
Posted by John Foote · 2:03 pm · October 30th, 2009
For all my bitching about Roberto Benigni winning Best Actor in 1998 for his incessant mugging in “Life is Beautiful,” I was also thrilled the Academy watched enough films and paid enough attention to realize that Edward Norton was deserving for his magnetic turn as a neo-Nazi who sees the light in “American History X.” [...]
Filed in: Daily
TORONTO: Michael Caine, ‘Harry Brown’ and Oscar
Posted by John Foote · 1:03 pm · September 16th, 2009
Michael Caine has won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor twice, the first time for his performance in Woody Allen’s “Hannah and Her Sisters,”and the second for Lasse Hallström’s “The Cider House Rules.” Among others, he ousted Tom Cruises’s brilliant performance in “Magnolia” with the latter. Beloved within the business, Caine is considered an [...]
Filed in: Daily
Cool as Caine
Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:50 pm · May 1st, 2009
As we were reminded via Kris’s lovely piece a few days ago, Michael Caine gives great interview. Coupled with his trademark Cockney candour is the kind of unguarded conversational ease that comes from decades in the business — he clearly knows how to politely direct the conversation into the area he deems most productive. Such [...]
Filed in: Daily
INTERVIEW: Michael Caine
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:30 pm · April 28th, 2009
So far 2008 hasn’t offered much for an Oscar shortlist beyond a few festival offerings that have yet to see a domestic release. Certainly nothing in the way of powerhouse awards-caliber performances has come down the pike, leaving some to talk up smaller, menial turns amid the lull. But one actor has certainly put forth [...]
Filed in: Interviews
Caine confirmed in small role in ‘Inception,’ Gordon-Levitt also joins the cast
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:09 am · April 24th, 2009
I just got off the phone with Michael Caine for a piece I’ll have up momentarily concerning his rather striking performance in John Crowley’s “Is Anybody There?,” but while I had him cornered I thought I should ask him point blank about his potentially staring in Christopher Nolan’s “Inception,” a rumor that’s been bouncing around [...]
Filed in: Daily
THE LISTS: Top 10 ‘right actor, wrong film’ Oscars
Posted by Guy Lodge · 12:35 pm · December 9th, 2008
As we head into the thick of awards season, one of the biggest “will-they-won’t-they” questions about this year’s Academy Awards concerns one of their most favored sons, Clint Eastwood. Specifically: despite wildly polarized responses to the film, and a widespread perception that he has already been amply rewarded in other categories, can Eastwood ride the [...]
Filed in: Featured · The Lists
My stance: ‘The Dark Knight’ will be nominated for Best Picture
Posted by John Foote · 11:28 am · November 15th, 2008
So much speculation has surrounded the possible inclusion of this tremendous film in the year’s final five. And though there are those who believe it has no chance of happening, the majority has gradually seen otherwise. Where is written that entertaining films cannot be art? Where does it say that a box office smash cannot [...]
Uhh…did Michael Caine just confirm Depp and Hoffman for the ‘Dark Knight’ sequel?
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:37 pm · September 8th, 2008
I was with [a Warner Bros.] executive and I said, ‘Are we going to make [a sequel to The Dark Knight]?’ They said yeah. I said, ‘How the hell are we going to top Heath? And he says ‘I’ll tell you how you top Heath — Johnny Depp as The Riddler and Philip Seymour Hoffman [...]
Filed in: Daily
Musings on a third ‘Dark Knight’ viewing…masterpiece?
Posted by John Foote · 9:22 am · August 25th, 2008
So once with the press, a second on my own, and a third time last week with my 16-year-old daughter, and still the film enthralled me from beginning to end. In fact, I probably liked it more this time than I did the previous two, realizing as the film’s mighty power rolled over me that [...]
Filed in: Daily
REVIEW: “The Dark Knight” (***1/2)
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:21 am · July 18th, 2008
Perhaps the summer’s most anticipated film lands in theaters today to the record-breaking advance ticket sales of dedicated fans and those newly curious alike. But what awaits in Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” isn’t merely a study in the psychology of a nearly 70-year-old character tailored to the familiar; instead audiences will be met with [...]
Filed in: Reviews
Alfred and Lucius on The View
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 2:16 pm · July 16th, 2008
“The Dark Knight” old-timers Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman stopped by “The View” yesterday morning to chat with the gals. Of all the scheduled TV appearances this week and last, I’d say this duo on the couch at once is the most interesting get. Here’s part one: httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=PT_crYfF9Ik And part two: httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=rwfXLR-WCb4 They also dropped [...]
Filed in: Daily
Respect
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:21 am · July 10th, 2008
His vast experience gives him an air of good-humored calm that you could almost mistake for complacency until the camera rolls, and you see his focus and efficiency nail each scene on the first take. He once told me that he’s never asked for a second take — he’s happy to do one if you [...]
Filed in: Daily
Caine: “Heath might win an Oscar”
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:29 am · June 22nd, 2008
From People magazine, an excerpt from an interview with Michael Caine concerning “The Dark Knight”: Caine, contemplating his co-star’s loss, goes so far as to predict Ledger might win an Oscar from beyond the grave for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight. “He was just so scary. Everyone was worried beforehand, because [...]
Filed in: Daily
About The Joker, or Heath Ledger, remembered
Posted by Blake Rutherford · 7:02 pm · May 5th, 2008
In a post earlier today, Kris linked to the new trailer for “The Dark Knight” starring Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Michael Caine . . .I could continue. It’s an exceptional cast complete with some of the finest actors from different demographics, Maggie Gyllenhaal, especially, as a needed upgrade from Katie Holmes. This trailer gives us [...]
Filed in: Daily
