In Contention

Tag: Tangled

  • INTERVIEW: ‘Tangled’ composer Alan Menken

    Sitting at the Four Seasons’ Culina Restaurant with a tomato juice in hand, politely asking to turn the heaters up on a fair weather day, composer Alan Menken recalls the afternoon before, when he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

    “That was a trip,” he says. “I didn’t know how much to make of it or not to make of it. It’s not a moment where someone says, ‘You’ve won this because you accomplished this.’ It’s a moment in time when someone says, ‘You know what? You should have a star.’”

    And it’s not the most out-of-line observation, given what Menken has meant to filmmaking, particularly animated filmmaking over the past two decades. It seems surprising that, however political an honor such as this may be, that he didn’t have one. But like he seems to take most praise, Menken was politely appreciative and didn’t quite know what else to make of it.

    “It was almost a little like going to a funeral. Because they have the thing covered up and you’re standing there and then they uncover it. And then I went back later in the day to visit my star and it’s a little strange, your star is still there and you’re walking away. On cold nights I can picture homeless guys peeing on it.”

    The star rests on the sidewalk outside of Disney’s El Capitan Theatre, a fitting place given Menken’s undeniable contribution to the studio’s legacy over the last 21 years.

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  • 11/26 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: The hairy task of ‘Tangled,’ Britain’s Oscar potential, Julianne Moore a best bet?

    • Steve Pond chats with “Casino Jack” star Kevin Spacey. [The Odds]

    • Rebecca Keegan writes up the hairy task of creating Rapunzel in “Tangled.” [24 Frames]

    • Marc Lee thinks it’s looking up for Britain at the Oscars this year. [Daily Telegraph]

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  • 11/25 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: Dubbing ‘Tangled,’ ‘King’s Speech’ discourse, Portman talks the trade

    • How did Rapunzel become “Tangled?”  Directors Nathan Greno and Byron Howard set the record straight. [Inside Movies]

    • Peter Sciretta posts alternate, unused poster artwork for “Inception.” [/Film]

    • Jenelle Riley talks “The Fighter” with the film’s prickly star, Christian Bale. [Backstage]

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  • From ‘Snow White’ to ‘Tangled’: Disney’s 50 toon features

  • Tell us what you thought of ‘Tangled’

    It seems forever ago that I offered my positive thoughts on Disney’s “Tangled,” which hits theaters today.  I’m happy to see the film being met with such critical approval, but I’d love to hear your thoughts, too.  So if you give it a look over the holiday, come on back here and give us your take.  And if I can get my butt into gear on it, I’ll try to have a lengthy interview with the film’s legendary composer, Alan Menken, some time soon, perhaps tomorrow for an added Thanksgiving treat.

  • 11/17 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: The death of Oscar bait, ‘How Do You Know’ nails a PG-13, Moore and Levi on ‘Tangled’

    • Guest blogging for Nathaniel Rogers, Michael C. writes up the apparent death of “Oscar bait” as it pertains to Best Picture winners. [The Film Experience]

    • Steve Pond chats with “The Kids Are All Right” writer/director Lisa Cholodenko. [The Odds]

    • James Cameron discusses his inspiration for “Avatar” (it won’t go away) in an extended collector’s edition clip. [MTV Movies Blog]

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  • Only 15 films qualify for Oscar’s animated feature race

    I honestly didn’t expect the list to hit so soon on the heels of my item earlier this afternoon, but hit it has.  And it actually appears that “The Dreams of Jinsha” was the other title submitted, not “Chico & Rita.”

    Alas, there are only 15 titles that qualified, meaning we will only see three nominees in the category this year.  “Yogi Bear,” predictably, did not qualify, while “Idiots and Angels,” it turns out, did.  I’d LOVE to see Bill Plympton in an Oscar race.

    The rest are the usual suspects, but it’s a real shame we can’t have a full slate this year.  Speaking solely for myself, I’m liking a lot of feature animation in 2010.  TheGolden Globes, however, could still see five nominees as long as 14 titles were submitted to the HFPA for consideration.  Check out Oscar’s field of animated feature contenders after the jump.

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  • 16 animated features submitted, but what will qualify?

    The Academy will be announcing the list of qualifying films for this year’s Best Animated Feature Film Oscar some time this week.  For now, we know of 16 titles that have submitted.  They are indicated on our dedicated page.

    There was some confusion recently over which film was the 16th submission, but I’m told it was “Chico & Rita,” which bowed at this year’s Telluride film festival (it was the first film I saw at the fest, in fact).  (CORRECTION: Turns out it was “The Dreams of Jinsha” instead, as noted here.)  If all 16 films qualify, then we’ll be looking at a slate of five nominees after all.  But if just one falls out, then it’s back to three.

    The most dubious contenders could be “Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore” and “Yogi Bear,” which may not meet eligibility requirements.  But the language is a bit loose, noting that “a significant number of the major characters must be animated, and animation must figure in no less than 75 percent of the picture’s running time.”

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  • 11/15 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: Oscar’s shortest perf, gauging 16 animated submissions, Menken and Moore on ‘Tangled’

    • John Lopez talks to “The Way Back” star and Best Supporting Actor hopeful Ed Harris. [Little Gold Men]

    • From last year, Stinkylulu writes up the shortest performance ever nominated for an Oscar: Herminone Baddeley’s 2 minutes and 26 seconds in 1959’s “Room at the Top.” [Stinkylulu]

    • Scott Feinberg smartly tracks down the HBO doc “High on Crack Street,” featuring prominently in “The Fighter.” [ScottFeinberg.com]

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  • WEEKLY WRAP: ‘Fighter’ bows, Jackman bows out, Best Picture questions

    • David O. Russell’s “The Fighter” unspooled at the AFI Fest. Kris was impressed and later reported from a Q&A with the film’s stars.

    • This week’s Off the Carpet column pondered the presence of money-spinners in this year’s Best Picture race.

    • The Long Shot, meanwhile, wondered if that very race is currently looking a little flimsy.

    • News of Hugh Jackman turning down the gig prompted the annual speculation over who should host the Oscar ceremony.

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  • Gwyneth Paltrow performs ‘Country Strong’ at CMAs, only one original song will be submitted from ‘Tangled’

    A little event dropped at last night’s Country Music Association Awards: Gwyneth Paltrow took to the stage to perform “Country Strong,” the title track from the upcoming Screen Gems release, with a little help from country star Vince Gill.

    I haven’t seen the film yet, but depending on how the original songs are used in the film, we could be looking at a nominee in, say, “Me and Tennessee” or “Coming Home.”  I’ve been going back and forth on something from that or something from “Burlesque,” both Screen Gems releases.  But I’ve felt compelled to list two tracks from “Tangled” all this time.  Turns out we can nix the idea of multiple songs making it from that Disney effort, though.

    One nugget I turned up during my interview with composer Alan Menken this afternoon is that only one song from the film — “I See the Light” — will be submitted for Oscar consideration.  It was a collective decision, and the reason, he freely admitted, was calculation.

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  • Alan Menken gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

    Monday we featured the original song “I See the Light” from Disney’s “Tangled” as part of our “listen to” series.  The original music for the track, and for the film, was composed by Alan Menken, who it’s safe to say, has been there, done that with Oscar.  (His eight statues are a record for living recipients.)

    I’ll be sitting down with Menken to talk “Tangled” and his illustrious career tomorrow afternoon, but it’s worth noting today that he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Fittingly, the ceremony took place out in front of The El Capitan Theatre, where a number of Disney classics screen throughout the year, many of them featuring Menken’s work.  (Not long ago there was a sing-along version of “The Little Mermaid.” I was so there.)

    So congratulations to him for getting this recognition (however political such things may be).  It’s a bit surprising that the guy who wrote tunes like “Kiss the Girl,” “Under the Sea,” “Be Our Guest,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “A Whole New World,” etc., etc. didn’t have his own slice of the Walk.  Well, now he does.

    [Photo: Broadway World]

  • Listen to Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi’s ‘I See the Light’ from ‘Tangled’

    Disney always does well in the Best Original Song category and this year should be no different.  We’ve already covered Randy Newman’s latest entry from the “Toy Story” franchise but today we showcase one of the many tracks from the upcoming film “Tangled.”

    When I wrote up the film last month I noted that the strongest play at a nomination would have to be “I See the Light,” and I still feel the same.  In classic Disney form, the film fits a certain parameter, coming toward the end of the second act just as our heroes (voiced by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, who also sing the song) begin to connect romantically.

    It’s a lovely tune, well-used.  But it’s obviously worth noting the presence of Alan Menken on this film.  The 18-time nominee (and eight-time winner) was last recognized in 2007 for three songs from “Enchanted” and he’ll get at least one nod, maybe a couple, for “Tangled.”

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  • WEEKLY WRAP: Hollywood mourns, foreign race, bait battle

    • A grim week for Hollywood talent, as we said goodbye to Gloria Stuart, Tony Curtis, Arthur Penn and, most prematurely, Sally Menke.

    • Mexico’s “Biutiful” became the starriest entry yet on the Best Foreign Language Film longlist, now up to a round 60 titles.

    • This week’s Long Shot column examined the widely predicted “Social Network”-versus-“King’s Speech” Best Picture battle, wondering what it says about the current state of “Oscar bait.”

    • Just to remind us that there are other films knocking around, the long-awaited trailer for the Coens’ “True Grit” set the web abuzz.

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  • Disney previews holiday titles: ‘Secretariat,’ ‘Tangled,’ ‘TRON’

    Last night on the Disney lot the studio held its annual holiday showcase, previewing material from major films set to hit theaters this fall.  Outside the theater there was a massive illuminated “Secretariat” display across from a live horse prancing around in circles, which itself was just steps away from a “TRON Legacy” light cycle.  If you’re gonna roll out the hype, spare no expense.

    First up there was a rather arbitrary teaser for the only completed film featured, “Secretariat” (which I’ve seen but can’t write about until Monday).  Done and done.

    Then came the “TRON Legacy” showcase, introduced by director Joseph Kosinski.  We were treated to 23 minutes of the film (including much of the segment shown at Comic-Con in July).  Most of the effects were in place though the sound had not yet been punched up by Skywalker.

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  • ‘Tangled’ trailer

    Disney’s latest throwback, “Tangled,” could make a real dent this fall, which could harness a nomination for Best Animated Feature Film by season’s end.  But it’ll have DreamWorks’s “Megamind” to contend with in the same frame.  Gerard doesn’t seem to think it’ll make the cut, and I’ll confess I’m not entirely impressed by the latest trailer, but I’m looking forward to the film regardless.  Check out the trailer via Apple by clicking the link below or watch an embed after the jump.

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  • 9/10 Oscarweb Round-up

    • Jeffrey Wells, meanwhile, re-posts his thoughts on James Solomon’s screenplay. [Hollywood Elsewhere]

    • Pete Hammond reports extensively from Wednesday’s “Tangled” event on the Disney lot. [Deadline]

    • Tim Gray on Venice’s unique role in film history. [Variety]

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  • Disney’s double rainbow parody for ‘Tangled’

    There is a giant “Tangled” event on the Disney lot today that I unfortunately couldn’t attend.  A screening of the film as a work-in-progress is going down right now with storyboards here and there.  It would have been nice to get a hold on what they’re cooking up but I’m happy to wait for a finished product.

    Meanwhile, there is a big program of presentations and interviews that I’m sure you’ll see covered at various online outlets in the next few weeks.  The film has a lot to live up to after last year’s glorious return to traditional animation, “The Princess and the Frog.”

    Today I came across a viral marketing stab for the film that parodies the double rainbow YouTube sensation (in case you’ve been under a rock, watch that here).  Adam Quigly at /Film shreds the attempt and says it “reeks of a marketing campaign that’s trying way too hard to be funny, hip and topical.”  I thought it was a bit more harmless than that, but judge for yourself after the jump.

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