Kristopher Tapley

Taking stock of the Best Visual Effects race during the summer blockbuster season

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:04 am · July 9th, 2013

We’re right in the middle of the blockbuster movie season so it seems now would be a nice opportunity to look at the race for Best Visual Effects.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Harvey Weinstein airs out dirty 'Butler' laundry on CBS

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:44 am · July 9th, 2013

Hand it to Harvey Weinstein. He’s using this whole controversy over the title of “The Butler” to drum up tons of publicity for the film, which hits theaters next month. But this circus is nevertheless ridiculous and I feel silly even writing about it.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Wait, Guillermo del Toro has a take on Kurt Vonnegut's 'Slaughterhouse-Five' with Charlie Kaufman??

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:58 am · July 8th, 2013

It’s tough to work Kurt Vonnegut out for the screen. It rarely comes together well. But I’ll be damned if I’m not excited to see Guillermo del Toro try with Charlie Kaufman writing. You kidding me??

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Screenwriter Travis Beacham on the innovative spirit of 'Pacific Rim'

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:30 pm · July 3rd, 2013

One foggy morning in 2007, screenwriter Travis Beacham was walking along the beach in Santa Monica and he looked out at the famed amusement park pier jutting out into the water. His imagination ever running rampant, he pictured behind those mist-covered, empty rides a towering machine, a robot — a mech, actually — waiting to do battle with some vicious monstrosity. The germ of “Pacific Rim” was born.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Weinstein Company forced to rename 'The Butler' (UPDATED)

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:46 pm · July 2nd, 2013

Warner Bros. has been awarded rights to the title “The Butler,” forcing The Weinstein Company to rename its upcoming film.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

New 'Inside Llewyn Davis' trailer tunes up awards season

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:12 am · July 1st, 2013

A new trailer for the Coens’ “Inside Llewyn Davis” has dropped with one of the songs from the upcoming insta-purchase soundtrack playing throughout and boy is it splendid.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Off the Carpet: Half-time

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:06 am · July 1st, 2013

The mid-way point of 2013 is here. How has the first half of the year shaped up for awards hopefuls? A month-by-month dissection answers that very question.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

How the comic book format allowed Travis Beacham to expand on the 'Pacific Rim' universe

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 4:21 pm · June 29th, 2013

When Guillermo del Toro’s “Pacific Rim” crashes into theaters on July 12, you’ll only be getting part of the story. The universe of the film was too big for one movie, you see. It inevitably spilled over the edges and left an excess of material without a home, but with so much to say.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

The top 10 movie presidents of all time

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:01 pm · June 28th, 2013

This weekend Roland Emmerich’s “White House Down” hits theaters. While it’s a minor romp that will either delight you or cause you to roll your eyes out of your head, it reminds of that old staple of the cinema: the movie president.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Pixar strikes a compromise between original concepts and sequels

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:08 pm · June 28th, 2013

The animation studio plans to aim for one original film every year.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Jason Bateman, Lena Dunham and Prince among 276 invited to join the Academy

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:27 am · June 28th, 2013

The Academy has announced its annual list of invitees to its esteemed membership, including 276 names from actors Jason Bateman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jennifer Lopez and Milla Jovovich to directors Steve McQueen, Todd Phillips and last year’s wunderkind Benh Zeitlin.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Tell us what you thought of 'White House Down'

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:36 am · June 28th, 2013

Roland Emmerich’s ‘Die Hard’ rip-off explodes onto screens this weekend.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Where will Bennett Miller's 'Foxcatcher' end up?

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 3:20 pm · June 27th, 2013

With a full slate of films to campaign and market this fall, Sony Pictures may be moving Bennett Miller’s “Foxcatcher” to art house shingle Sony Pictures Classics for distribution, or the film could be held for 2014 release.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Another prestige actor heading to the 'Hunger Games' cast?

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:57 am · June 27th, 2013

The Francis Lawrence-directed “Hunger Games” sequels are stacking the deck as of late, first Philip Seymour Hoffman and now, potentially, Julianne Moore.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Searchlight gives '12 Years a Slave' room to breathe

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:29 am · June 27th, 2013

Steve McQueen’s slavery drama will get an October 18 platform release.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

For Your Consideration: 15 deserving Oscar nominees from 2013 so far

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:48 am · June 27th, 2013

HitFix’s Gregory Ellwood, Guy Lodge and Kristopher Tapley spotlight 15 films, performances and accomplishments from the first half of 2013 that deserve recognition by year’s end.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'The Avengers,' 'Cabin in the Woods,' 'Life of Pi' and 'Skyfall' win at the 2013 Saturn Awards

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:30 pm · June 26th, 2013

The 39th annual Saturn Awards were presented by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films tonight in Burbank, Calif. Top prizes for film went to “The Avengers,” “Life of Pi,” “The Cabin in the Woods” and “Skyfall,” while “Revolution,” “Breaking Bad” and “The Walking Dead” triumphed in the television categories.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention