In Contention

Tag: Oscar Talk

  • OSCAR TALK: Ep. 43 — NBR, Gothams and Spirits, ‘True Grit’ and Franco and Hathaway as Oscar hosts with special guest Peter Knegt

    Oscar TalkWelcome to Oscar Talk.

    In case you’re new to the site and/or the podcast, Oscar Talk is a weekly kudocast, your one-stop awards chat shop between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood. The podcast is weekly, every Friday throughout the season, charting the ups and downs of contenders along the way. Plenty of things change en route to Oscar’s stage and we’re here to address it all as it unfolds.

    Given the indie film announcements of the week, it seemed a good time to bring indieWIRE‘s Peter Knegt back on to discuss those events and add perspective to the usual topics, of which there are plenty. Let’s dive in and see what’s on the docket today…

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  • OSCAR TALK: Ep. 42 — ‘The Way Back’ woes, Sturgess and Renner make the rounds, Best Actress race (kind of) taking shape and ‘The King’s Speech’ opens

    Oscar TalkWelcome to Oscar Talk.

    In case you’re new to the site and/or the podcast, Oscar Talk is a weekly kudocast, your one-stop awards chat shop between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood. The podcast is weekly, every Friday throughout the season, charting the ups and downs of contenders along the way. Plenty of things change en route to Oscar’s stage and we’re here to address it all as it unfolds.

    Anne and I are in a bit of a food coma today, so the podcast was a bit all over the place. We free associate from topic to topic bringing in your questions where applicable, but there’s a lot to digest. Let’s see what’s on the docket today…

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  • OSCAR TALK: Ep. 41 — Governors Awards, animated and doc feature shortlists, circuit festivities and remembering Ronni Chasen

    Oscar TalkWelcome to Oscar Talk.

    In case you’re new to the site and/or the podcast, Oscar Talk is a weekly kudocast, your one-stop awards chat shop between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood. The podcast is weekly, every Friday throughout the season, charting the ups and downs of contenders along the way. Plenty of things change en route to Oscar’s stage and we’re here to address it all as it unfolds.

    There have been toasts in honor of talent and in the way of remembrance during this busy, and heartbreaking, week on the Oscar circuit. So as always, there’s plenty to cover. Let’s dive in and see what’s on the docket today…

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  • OSCAR TALK: Ep. 39 — ‘Megamind,’ ‘The Way Back,’ Oscar’s actress contenders and more

    Oscar TalkWelcome to Oscar Talk.

    In case you’re new to the site and/or the podcast, Oscar Talk is a weekly kudocast, your one-stop awards chat shop between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood. The podcast is weekly, every Friday throughout the season, charting the ups and downs of contenders along the way. Plenty of things change en route to Oscar’s stage and we’re here to address it all as it unfolds.

    As we move into November, AFI Fest is heating up, campaigns are in full swing (talent being pitched left and right) and pretty soon I’ll be eating turkey and watching “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” Crazy. We had a slightly shorter window this week, but let’s see what’s on the docket today…

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  • OSCAR TALK: Ep. 38 — ‘Love & Other Drugs,’ lead and supporting actor races, the circuit revs up, favorite horror films

    Oscar TalkWelcome to Oscar Talk.

    In case you’re new to the site and/or the podcast, Oscar Talk is a weekly kudocast, your one-stop awards chat shop between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood. The podcast is weekly, every Friday throughout the season, charting the ups and downs of contenders along the way. Plenty of things change en route to Oscar’s stage and we’re here to address it all as it unfolds.

    You can feel the season rumbling to life with Halloween just around the corner.  It’s been a lively enough week as contenders began to hit the circuit and more films were unveiled for eager press.  Let’s see what’s on the docket today…

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  • OSCAR TALK: Ep. 37 — The early year forgotten, Michael Douglas’s dueling Oscar campaigns, the animated feature race and more

    Oscar TalkWelcome to Oscar Talk.

    In case you’re new to the site and/or the podcast, Oscar Talk is a weekly kudocast, your one-stop awards chat shop between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood. The podcast is weekly, every Friday throughout the season, charting the ups and downs of contenders along the way. Plenty of things change en route to Oscar’s stage and we’re here to address it all as it unfolds.

    After a week with four on the mic, it’s back to just Anne and myself as we mull over something of a slow news week. But there’s always some grist for the mill here and there, catch-up screenings, parties, etc., so let’s see what’s on the docket today…

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  • OSCAR TALK: Ep. 36 — London fest, ‘Carlos,’ foreign film race, NC-17 for ‘Blue Valentine,’ ‘All Good Things’ and more with special guests Guy Lodge and Peter Knegt

    Oscar TalkWelcome to Oscar Talk.

    In case you’re new to the site and/or the podcast, Oscar Talk is a weekly kudocast, your one-stop awards chat shop between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood. The podcast is weekly, every Friday throughout the season, charting the ups and downs of contenders along the way. Plenty of things change en route to Oscar’s stage and we’re here to address it all as it unfolds.

    This week we’re happy to be joined by In Contention’s own Guy Lodge and indieWIRE‘s Peter Knegt, both calling from London where the London Film Festival has just kicked off. Plenty to chew on with four voices on the mic so let’s see what’s on the docket…

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  • OSCAR TALK: Ep. 35 — ‘Secretariat’ hopes, ‘The Way Back’ enters the race, ‘Nowhere Boy,’ ‘Hereafter’ and listener questions

    Oscar TalkWelcome to Oscar Talk.

    In case you’re new to the site and/or the podcast, Oscar Talk is a weekly kudocast, your one-stop awards chat shop between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood. The podcast is weekly, every Friday throughout the season, charting the ups and downs of contenders along the way. Plenty of things change en route to Oscar’s stage and we’re here to address it all as it unfolds.

    Can you believe it’s already October? Next month every film will have screened and before long we’ll be reporting National Board of Review winners. Contenders are beginning to hit theaters as we move into the fall, so let’s see what’s on the docket today…

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  • Taking questions for Oscar Talk

    Someone suggested this a few weeks back and I forgot to implement it in the last podcast, but we’d like to open it up for questions.  Maybe have a Q&A segment at the end of the show Friday, so if you have a query or something to throw out there for Anne and I to chew on, have at it here and we’ll try to address as many as we can.  It should be a great way to keep you guys involved rather than just listening to us talk out into the great open void of the Oscarweb.  I’ll try to have a post up each Wednesday for this.

  • OSCAR TALK: Ep. 34 — Screeners arrive, ‘Social Network’ and ‘Let Me In’ open, ‘Secretariat’ thoughts, remembering Sally Menke

    Oscar TalkWelcome to Oscar Talk.

    In case you’re new to the site and/or the podcast, Oscar Talk is a weekly kudocast, a one-stop awards chat shop between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood. The podcast is weekly, every Friday throughout the season, charting the ups and downs of contenders along the way. Plenty of things change en route to Oscar’s stage and we’re here to address it all as it unfolds.

    Two incredibly well-reviewed films are hitting theaters today and Academy voters already have screeners sitting on their doorsteps, not to mention a somber week for the Hollywood community, so there’s plenty to dive into. Let’s see what’s on the docket…

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  • OSCAR TALK: Ep. 32 — What’s hot out of Toronto, ‘Social Network’ steals the thunder, ‘The Town’ comes out strong, ‘I’m Still Here’ has no clothes

    Oscar TalkWelcome to Oscar Talk.

    In case you’re new to the site and/or the podcast, Oscar Talk is a weekly kudocast, a one-stop awards chat shop between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood. The podcast is weekly, every Friday (except today) throughout the season, charting the ups and downs of contenders along the way. Plenty of things change on route to Oscar’s stage and we’re here to address it all as it unfolds.

    Apologies for the tardiness this time around. Anne has been in transit from Toronto and we kept missing our windows, but she’s back home now and we offer a little more for you to chew on this weekend. Let’s see what’s on the docket…

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  • OSCAR TALK: Ep. 31 – Searchlight’s busy season, ‘The Way Back’ and a not so brave new world for similar filmmaking, Toronto anticipations

    Oscar TalkWelcome to Oscar Talk.

    In case you’re new to the site and/or the podcast, Oscar Talk is a weekly kudocast, a one-stop awards chat shop between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood. The podcast is weekly, every Friday throughout the season, charting the ups and downs of contenders along the way. Plenty of things change on route to Oscar’s stage and we’re here to address it all as it unfolds.

    Today Anne is calling from Toronto after a long journey from the Venice film festival, while I’m back home in LA following a great Telluride fest last weekend. We’re both able to talk from a more informed perspective on a number of the season’s hotly anticipated films, so let’s see what’s on the docket today…

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  • OSCAR TALK: Ep. 29 — Summer’s best bets, fall festival preview, stiff documentary competition

    Oscar TalkWelcome to Oscar Talk.

    In case you’re new to the site and/or the podcast, Oscar Talk is a weekly kudocast, a one-stop awards chat shop between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood. The podcast is weekly, every Friday throughout the season, charting the ups and downs of contenders along the way. Plenty of things change on route to Oscar’s stage and we’re here to address it all as it unfolds.

    There’s a lot on the plate today as we dive headlong into the madness one more time.  Summer is giving way to fall (though a check of the weather wouldn’t make you guess as much), and with it, the first major stage of the long haul: festival season.  Let’s see what’s on the docket today…

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  • OSCAR TALK: Ep. 28 — Special Edition! — ‘Inception’ (Yes it is! No it’s not!), Comic-Con preview, contenders so far

    Oscar TalkWelcome to Oscar Talk, your one-stop kudocast between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood.

    In the final of three off-season discussions, Anne and I address the following today:

    • Today is “Inception” day as Christopher Nolan’s latest hits theaters nationwide, so naturally, Anne and I dig into our thoughts on the film. See spoiler note below.  (Don’t forget to tell us what you think of the film.)

    • Unfortunately, thoughts on the film aren’t the only thoughts being bandied about, as criticisms of criticisms ran rampant throughout the week. Anne and I discuss the idea of responding to other reviews in the context of one’s own review.

    • Comic-Con is around the corner as Hollywood descends on San Diego to sell any and everything it collectively can to a geek audience foaming at the mouth. We briefly preview what interests us from the schedule.

    • A few potential awards movies have hit this summer already, which we’ve kind of addressed before, but we dig back in to see what could stay afloat come year’s end, as well as offer one last look ahead before we get to the season.

    Have a listen to the latest podcast below. As always, remember to subscribe to Oscar Talk via iTunes here. We’ll be back again, and weekly, at the start of this year’s awards season Friday, August 27.

    (PLEASE NOTE: There are “Inception” spoilers from roughly 13:00 – 18:00.)

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  • OSCAR TALK: Ep. 27 — Special Edition! — Quick Cannes review, bleak summer season so far, counter-programming

    Oscar TalkWelcome to Oscar Talk, your one-stop kudocast between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood.

    In the second of three off-season discussions, Anne and I address the following today:

    • Since we haven’t talked since Cannes, Anne talks about the stronger titles from the Croisette as well as various news and notes that came out of the fest.

    • We’re in the middle of the summer, and as far as we can tell, it’s bleak out there. We discuss the lackluster box office so far and the potential hope of what’s still to come.

    • One of those hopes is Pixar’s “Toy Story 3,” which Anne enjoyed. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen it yet.

    • Another hope would be counter-programming, like titles such as “Winter’s Bone” and “The Kids Are All Right.” Anne and I discuss our feelings on each.

    • Finally, we address the fact that all eyes seem to be on Christopher Nolan’s “Inception,” which will certainly dominate our next off-season podcast on July 16 (coincidentally the day of the film’s release).

    Have a listen to the latest podcast below. As always, remember to subscribe to Oscar Talk via iTunes here.

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  • OSCAR TALK: Ep. 26 — Special Edition! — Catching up, Cannes on the way, ‘Iron Man’ kicks off the summer season

    Oscar TalkWelcome to Oscar Talk, your one-stop kudocast between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood.

    It’s been a while, so there was plenty to cover in this, the first of three off-season podcasts we’ll offer up through the summer. On the docket today…

    • With Cannes around the corner, we briefly size things up. Guy will be covering for us this year and indieWIRE will be heavy on coverage as well, so we talk about what to expect, the rigors of festival coverage, etc.

    • Speaking of indieWIRE, Todd McCarthy joined the site a few weeks back and Anne welcomes him aboard on the podcast, excited to be working with her former colleague again.

    • Since it’s been a few months since we last did one of these, we look back at the year to date and what stands out so far. We both agree on the year’s best American film.

    • Today is the start of the summer movie season with the release of “Iron Man 2.” We talk about our disappointments with the film.

    • Finally, we kind of wander around a forecast of the summer to come, looking at a few of the key titles on the way.

    Have a listen to the latest podcast below. We go on a bit long, but it’s been a while, so forgive us. The next installment of the summer edition will drop, we think, June 11. Until then, remember to subscribe to Oscar Talk via iTunes here.

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  • OSCAR TALK: Ep. 25 — Postmortem

    Oscar TalkWelcome to Oscar Talk, a weekly kudocast between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood.

    This is the final installment of the 2009-2010 Oscar season, with nothing left to discuss but Hollywood’s biggest night. On the docket today:

    • Anne was on the red carpet and in the press area at the show last night, so she offers some first hand perspective on the festivities.

    • We dig into the actual telecast, which Anne caught in fits and starts, but I was camped out on a couch watching intently the whole time and had, well…issues.

    • Anne turned up a tally of 16 correct guesses. I nailed down 19. We commiserate on our bad calls and discuss the various winners, some of which were quite surprising.

    • Finally, we remember our personal high points from the season and let you know when we’ll be back (after a short hiatus).

    Have a listen to this week’s podcast below, with a history-making moment leading the way.  Oh, and by the way, for our committed listeners, I thought I’d offer up this soundbite from one of our broadcasts of Anne wrestling with her microphone. It cracks me up every…single…time.

    As always, you can subscribe to Oscar Talk via iTunes here.  We’ll see you back here in roughly two months.

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  • OSCAR TALK: Ep. 24 — It’s all done but the cryin’.

    Oscar TalkWelcome to Oscar Talk, a weekly kudocast between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood.

    This is it. The final installment of Oscar Talk before the 82nd annual Academy Awards go down Sunday evening. Anne and I have our final say this week on the following:

    • We dig through the 24 categories one more time offering our perspectives and respective predictions. The toughest calls are in the cinematography, sound and original screenplay fields, though Best Actress, Best Art Direction and Best Film Editing stir some healthy debate.

    • With 600 ballots having been turned in Tuesday, one can only wonder about the effect of EmailGate (Anne spoke with Nicolas Chartier earlier in the week) and the pending lawsuit against Mark Boal.

    • Speaking of Boal, we debate the idea of whether his script is an adaptation or not, bringing the situation with Jane Campion and “Bright Star” make for comparison.

    • And finally, because I can’t help myself, I bring it back around to Best Original Screenplay one more time, because it’s so damn difficult to decide.

    Have a listen to this week’s podcast below. And as always, you can subscribe to Oscar Talk via iTunes here.

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