Nearly half a century ago Marilyn Monroe confided in a young Bruce Dern an opinion of the actor passed to her by Actors Studio founder Elia Kazan, or “Gadge” as they all knew him. “He’s not going to be a leading man,” the famed director said, “because he’ll be into his 60s before anyone knows what he’s capable of.”
Telluride: Bruce Dern shines as, yes, a leading man in Alexander Payne's 'Nebraska'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:37 am · August 29th, 2013
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Jason Reitman on the tradition of taking his movies to Telluride and Toronto
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:41 am · August 28th, 2013
It’s fair to say filmmaker Jason Reitman has a bit of a history with the Telluride and Toronto film festivals. In 2005 his feature debut, “Thank You for Smoking,” sold at Toronto. Since then, three of his last four films, including this year’s “Labor Day,” have debuted at Telluride (2007’s “Juno” and 2009’s “Up in the Air” in the form of “sneak previews” secret screenings) before heading north to Toronto. It’s become a notable tradition, so we asked Reitman about his thoughts on the two environments and whether he’s superstitious enough to consider them a good luck charm at the start of the fall.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
From Coppola to the Coens: 40 years of Telluride tributes
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:23 am · August 28th, 2013
The lineup for the 40th annual Telluride Film Festival has been unveiled, and with it, the announcement of this year’s tributees: T Bone Burnett and the Coen brothers, Mohammad Rasoulof, Robert Redford and Alejandro Ramirez. Here’s a look back at the history of the honor.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Alfonso Cuarón, Jason Reitman, the Coens and more set for 40th annual Telluride Film Festival
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:00 am · August 28th, 2013
The Coen brothers, T Bone Burnett and Robert Redford are among those to be feted at the 40th annual Telluride Film Festival, which will feature the world premieres of Jason Reitman’s “Labor Day” and Ralph Fiennes’ “The Invisible Woman.” Prestige titles from the 2013 festival circuit so far have been curated for the weekend as well, including Alexander Payne’s “Nebraska,” J.C. Chandor’s “All is Lost” and the Coens’ “Inside Llewyn Davis.”
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Matthew McConaughey dares to live in the trailer for 'Dallas Buyers Club'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:32 am · August 27th, 2013
We’ve had our eyes on this one for over a year now. With Matthew McConaughey in full swing of a career revival — the McConaissance, as he calls it — the actor seemed poised to leap to the front of the Best Actor race with Jean-Marc Vallée’s “Dallas Buyers Club” on paper. The new trailer for the film only adds fuel to the assumption.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Monuments Men' poster lines up a motley crew with Matt Damon out front
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:25 am · August 27th, 2013
How will this one figure into the awards landscape on the other side of the festivals?
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Ben Affleck goes from Best Picture-winning 'Argo' to… Batman?
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:16 pm · August 22nd, 2013
Holy Argo, Batman — Ben Affleck has been cast as the new Dark Knight in Zack Snyder’s still untitled “Man of Steel” sequel (tentatively being called “Batman vs. Superman”).
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
What if Dougray Scott had played Wolverine in "X-Men" and not Hugh Jackman?
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:17 pm · August 21st, 2013
At the turn of the millennium things were looking up for actor Dougray Scott. He had been hand selected by Tom Cruise to be the villain in the anxiously awaited sequel to the megastar’s 1996 blockbuster “Mission: Impossible” and he was all set to follow that up with what might have been a breakout role as Wolverine in Bryan Singer’s big screen adaptation of the X-Men comic book series. But when the production schedule of “Mission: Impossible II” went long, Singer had to make a snap decision and settled on an unknown by the name of Hugh Jackman. What if Dougray Scott had played Wolverine in “X-Men” and not Hugh Jackman?
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
2013 New York Film Festival line-up unveiled: 'Inside Llewyn Davis,' 'The Invisible Woman,' 'The Wind Rises'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:08 am · August 19th, 2013
The Film Society of Lincoln Center has announced the main slate of selections for the 51st annual New York Film Festival, and it’s another choice cross-section of top festival offerings from the year so far.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Saying goodbye to the good city and the good people
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:25 am · August 17th, 2013
On a bit of a personal note this weekend, it’s been more or less 12 months since my wife and I said, “Hey, let’s try New York for a year.” The sheer luck of being able to make such a decision isn’t lost on us and the experience, one I’ve dreamed of for some time, was a fruitful and rewarding one. And in less than a week, it’ll all come to a close.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Destin Cretton on the Academy's Nicholl Fellowship and 'Short Term 12' as a potential TV series
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 1:35 pm · August 16th, 2013
“Short Term 12” writer/director Destin Cretton talks about the process, from Nicholl Fellow to successful filmmaker.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention · Interviews
Tell us what you thought of 'Lee Daniels' The Butler'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:04 am · August 16th, 2013
Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey stir the early Oscar talk this weekend.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Oscar Talk: 2013 so far, fall festival preview and a look to the season ahead
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:56 am · August 16th, 2013
In the first podcast of the 2013-2014 season, Kris Tapley and Anne Thompson discuss 2013 so far, the fall festival circuit ahead and the upcoming season in general.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Performances on the lead-supporting bubble dance with category placement this season
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:19 am · August 14th, 2013
This week’s report about Meryl Streep potentially being campaigned in the supporting actress category for her performance in John Wells’ “August: Osage County” reminds of a slew of actors in a similar boat this year, dancing with category selection with arguments to be made on both sides.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Will Meryl Streep be campaigned for Best Supporting Actress in 'August: Osage County?'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 2:25 pm · August 12th, 2013
A performance that won a leading Tony Award is reportedly sniffing out secondary turf.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Fox quietly positions 'The Book Thief' from 'Downton Abbey' director in the middle of awards season
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:07 am · August 10th, 2013
The Holocaust drama starring Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson and 12-year-old lead actress has been quietly positioned in the midst of the Oscar fray and could be another player for the studio.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Tell us what you thought of 'Elysium'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:38 am · August 9th, 2013
Neill Blomkamp’s ‘District 9’ follow-up hits theaters today.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
10 would-be Oscar contenders that went nowhere
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:39 pm · August 8th, 2013
As we steel ourselves for the season ahead with early lists of contenders and a harsh spotlight on unassuming films hoping to find an audience, let alone awards traction, it’s worth remembering that the list of coulda-been players in a given Oscar season is long and considerable.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
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