Features
• Pete Hammond on campaigns entering the final stretch, voters with ballots in hand. [Deadline] • Anne Thompson discusses Oscar voting procedures and more with AMPAS president Tom Sherak. [Thompson on Hollywood] • Jen Yamato talks being the underdog with “Winter’s Bone” star (and Oscar nominee) John Hawkes. [Movieline]
2/4 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: Entering the final stretch, Hawkes on being the underdog, last ‘Network’ hurrah?
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:51 am · February 4th, 2011
Filed in: Daily
LIFE WITHOUT OSCAR: 1969 and 1970
Posted by Chad Hartigan · 6:29 pm · August 25th, 2010
Catch up with the idea behind this series here. As the 60’s came to a close, Oscar decided to embrace its dirty side and give X-rated “Oliver!” makes it quite a juxtaposition and the film remains one of the most interesting picks by the Academy, particularly as it triumphed in the “Year of the Western.” […]
Filed in: Life Without Oscar
THE LISTS: The top 10 Best Picture winners of all time
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:30 am · September 22nd, 2009
With the Oscar season officially here it seemed only logical to dedicate an installment of The Lists to the little golden guy. And as we push forward past the fests and into the thick of it, I figured the best idea would be a broad assessment of the Academy’s chosen best through the years, a […]
Filed in: The Lists
LAFF announces line-up, ‘Public Enemies’ to play as centerpiece film
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 2:38 pm · May 5th, 2009
What a sweet move on the part of Universal Pictures to unleash Michael Mann’s “Public Enemies” a week or so early at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June. The Johnny Depp starrer will play as the fest’s centerpiece film. This will be a great way to drum up more and more recognition for the […]
Filed in: Daily
Mood swings
Posted by Guy Lodge · 5:54 pm · January 20th, 2009
I’m having a hard time deciphering Peter Bart’s point in his cryptic new blog post, in which he reflects on the Academy’s malleable taste, and how quickly it can shift. As his primary case study, he cites the bizarre contrast between two back-to-back Best Picture winners, wholesome musical “Oliver!” and X-rated, gay-tinged drama “Midnight Cowboy” […]
Filed in: Daily
Why does the Academy fear controversy?
Posted by John Foote · 10:52 am · November 12th, 2008
In 1969, the Academy saw fit to give “Midnight Cowboy” the award for Best Picture — a first ever for an X-rated film. Some saw the moment as a bellwether signaling a new dawn for the group, that they were developing a growing acceptance for the films that would start coming at them around this […]
And often, the Academy gets it right…
Posted by John Foote · 10:53 am · July 30th, 2008
As much as I rant about some of the bizarre choices made by the Academy, let’s be fair…there are times when they are right on the money. The AMPAS allowed for an embracing of the New American cinema with their awards for Best Picture and Best Director for “Midnight Cowboy” in 1969, and only they […]
Filed in: Daily
Archives
