Showbiz 411’s Roger Friedman — who some would call a noted Harvey Weinstein shill — bloviated about “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” under the cover of “Oscar observation” a few weeks ago but apparently no one else could. The embargo is up today so let’s get into it. The question on this one is, will it be an awards player or just fade out before the season even gets here? A few thoughts…
Will 'Lee Daniels' The Butler' be an awards season preface or just a puffy prelude?
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:00 pm · August 8th, 2013
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Monuments Men' trailer finds George Clooney and Matt Damon on the hunt for stolen art
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:36 am · August 8th, 2013
How is George Clooney’s “The Monuments Men” going to shape up this season? Frankly, this “movie” movie is starting to looking like another “Argo,” potentially, a middle-ground choice that entertains with a slice of history but has a populist edge to it that will draw in audiences, not just the industry.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
On the dismissive attitude toward indie Oscar hopefuls
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:21 pm · August 7th, 2013
I was thinking recently about something that really agitates me when it comes to the awards season, which is this notion that certain accomplishments are instinctively relegated to the “indie” bin of the Independent Spirit Awards or the Gotham Awards, like some ghetto of would-be Oscar contenders.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Joaquin Phoenix falls for a cyber Scarlett Johansson in the trailer for Spike Jonze's 'Her'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:01 am · August 7th, 2013
Spike Jonze has been firing on all cylinders since his 1999 debut “Being John Malkovich.” Every new film is cause for excitement, whether awards are in the picture or not. His is a vital voice and his latest, “Her,” promises to deliver another fresh stroke in the filmmaker’s feature career.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
James Gandolfini courts Julia Louis-Dreyfus in the trailer for Nicole Holofcener's 'Enough Said'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:59 am · August 6th, 2013
It’s been a while since I giggled through a trailer like this.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Exclusive: Jeff Nichols and Reese Witherspoon talk 'Mud' in this behind-the-scenes clip
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:05 am · August 5th, 2013
The film arrives on DVD/Blu-ray tomorrow.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Off the Carpet: Gearing up for the 2013-2014 season
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:33 am · August 5th, 2013
A few updates and thoughts before the fall festival circuit sends us into the fray.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Derek Cianfrance on the anxiety of legacy in 'The Place Beyond the Pines'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 3:21 pm · August 2nd, 2013
Filmmaker Derek Cianfrance talks about the visual grammar of his triptych “The Place Beyond the Pines,” his vision in filling out a talented cast and why he wanted to make a film about legacy.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
15 potential awards players still looking for a home
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 4:00 pm · August 1st, 2013
As we move closer to the 2013 film awards season, a number of films are still looking for a distributor. If picked up, any of these 15 could figure into the race in a number of ways.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
James Cameron taps 'Terminator,' 'Jurassic Park IV' and 'Aliens vs. Predator' writers for three 'Avatar' sequels
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:55 am · August 1st, 2013
Fox has announced three sequels for James Cameron’s 2009 blockbuster “Avatar.” The director has already hired a number of writers to flesh out the rest of the franchise.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
The trailer for 'All is Lost' strands Robert Redford at sea
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:20 am · August 1st, 2013
With an October release on the way and a potential stop at the Telluride Film Festival a month away, the trailer for J.C. Chandor’s “All is Lost” hits the net.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Ben Stiller's 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' to premiere at New York fest
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:14 am · August 1st, 2013
The 51st annual New York Film Festival already lined up a splashy opening night premiere in the form of Paul Greengrass’ Tom Hanks-starrer “Captain Phillips.” Today it’s been announced that Ben Stiller’s “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” will be the festival’s centerpiece gala.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Mark Wahlberg and friends go to Afghanistan in the trailer for Peter Berg's 'Lone Survivor'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 1:14 pm · July 31st, 2013
Back in June it was announced that Universal would be slating Peter Berg’s Afghanistan drama “Lone Survivor” for an Oscar qualifying run. With only Ron Howard’s “Rush” to work with otherwise (a film I hear is a knock-out), the studio needed the extra firepower. Today a trailer for the film arrived.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
AMPAS approves new branch for casting directors
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:07 am · July 31st, 2013
The Academy’s Board of Governors has announced the creation of a new branch for casting directors, who began to be invited to Academy membership more than 30 years ago, many of them admitted as Members-at-Large.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
IFP sets 2013 Gotham Awards date and adds a few more categories
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:52 am · July 31st, 2013
The Independent Filmmaker Project has announced that the first true film awards show of the season, the Gotham Awards, will be held this year on Dec. 2. Not only that but a couple of new categories have been added to the mix.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
David O. Russell brings the trailer for 'American Hustle' to Good Morning America
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:32 am · July 31st, 2013
Well, you don’t see this too often. Eschewing the usual Apple/Yahoo!/MSN launching pads, Sony premiered the trailer for David O. Russell’s “American Hustle” on ABC’s Good Morning America earlier today, with Russell on hand to talk about the movie.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Lionsgate picks up Anton Corbijn's 'A Most Wanted Man' with Philip Seymour Hoffman
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 3:20 pm · July 30th, 2013
Strike one from the list of potential awards season hopefuls still looking for a home. Lionsgate has picked up Anton Corbijn’s follow-up to “The American,” “A Most Wanted Man.” No release date has been set yet.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Tell us what you thought of 'Blue Jasmine'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:11 am · July 26th, 2013
Woody Allen’s latest makes its way to theaters this weekend.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
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