We have someone (actually two people, the Coen bros.) to preside over the famed Cannes Film Festival jury and now we have a poster.  Next?  The movies themselves.

The Festival du Cannes revealed the poster for the 68th edition of the famed international film festival today and this year's edition puts the spotlight on Ingrid Berman. The acclaimed Swedish actress presided over the Cannes Jury in 1973.

Hervé Chigioni and Gilles Frappier designed this year's poster which always sets the stage for the upcoming festival.

Besides the poster, the festival also released an animated video inspired by the new image featuring the music that plays before every Cannes screening, “The Carnival of the Animals” by Camille Saint-Saëns.  This version was arranged by two Swedish musicians, Patrik Andersson and Andreas Söderström. You can watch the new video below the embedded poster image in this post.

The 68th Festival du Cannes runs from May 13 to May 24 and HitFix will provide you the latest news and reviews from la Croisette.

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The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation announced a number of winners (but not all) for the 2015 GLAAD Media Awards at a ceremony in Beverly Hills, CA Saturday night.  

“The Imitation Game” won the Outstanding Film – Wide Release, “How to Get Away with Murder” won Outstanding Drama Series (defeating nine other nominees) and “Transparent” took home the Outstanding Comedy Series honor defeating a tough field including “Orange Is The New Black,” “Looking” and “Modern Family.”

During the ceremony, Channing Tatum presented Roland Emmerich with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award. This honor is awarded “to an openly LGBT member of the entertainment or media community for his or her work toward eliminating homophobia.”  Previous winners include Ian McKellen, Ellen DeGeneres and Laverne Cox.

Kerry Washington won the Vanguard Award which “is presented to a member of the entertainment community who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for LGBT people.”  Previous winners include Roseanne Barr, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Aniston, Janet Jackson, Drew Barrymore, Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lopez.

You can watch Washington's acceptance speech at the bottom of this post.

Additionally, the band Los Tigres del Norte and the video game “Dragon Age: Inquisition” each took home Special Recognition awards.

A majority of this year's winners will be announced at a second ceremony in New York City on May 9.

Here is a list of the LA winners and nominees.

Outstanding Film – Wide Release
“The Imitation Game” – WINNER
“Love is Strange”
“Pride”
“The Skeleton Twins”
“Tammy”

Outstanding Drama Series
“Degrassi”
“The Fosters”
“Game of Thrones”
“Grey's Anatomy”
“How to Get Away with Murder” – WINNER
“Last Tango in Halifax”
“Masters of Sex”
“Orphan Black”
“Pretty Little Liars”
“Shameless”

Outstanding Comedy Series
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”
“Faking It”
“Glee”
“Looking”
“Modern Family”
“Orange Is the New Black”
“Please Like Me”
“Sirens”
“Transparent” – WINNER
“Vicious”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruv8As-_CMg]

Jim Carrey and Keanu Reeves have both dipped their toes into the indie world throughout their careers, but it's been quite awhile since they were involved with a project that has as much advance buzz as “The Bad Batch” does.

The Annapurna Pictures and VICE project is acclaimed filmmaker Ana Lily Amirpour's follow up to “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night” and is described as a dystopian love story set in Texas.  According to Deadline, while Diego Luna and Suki Waterhouse (“Insurgent”) are on board as the film's leads, Carrey is set to play The Hermit, Reeves will portray The Dream and Jason Momoa will bring someone called Miami Man to life.  Extrapolate from those character names what you can.

Production on the project will begin next month in Texas with Annapurna taking bids for global rights at the Cannes Film Festival.  And, yes, that sort of timeline makes a Sundance or Cannes 2016 premiere seem likely.

Carrey starred in last year's hit comedy “Dumb and Dumber To” and his most recent indie endeavor was the acclaimed and still underrated dramedy “I Love You Phillip Morris” back in 2009.  Reeves enjoyed something of a mini-comeback with “John Wick” last fall and debuted Eli Roth's “Knock Knock” to very mixed response at Sundance this past January.  He recently wrapped “Daughter of God” and is expected to film Nicholas Winding Refn's “The Neon Demon” sometime this year. Momoa plays Aquaman in “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice” and returns in the Sundance Channel series “The Red Road” next month.

Megan Ellison's Annapurna has become a force for filmmakers with “independent spirit” backing movies such as “The Master,” “Zero Dark Thirty,” “Her” and “Foxcatcher.”  They currently have Richard Linklater's “That's What I'm Talking About,” David O. Russell's “Joy,” Todd Solonz's “Weiner-Dog” and the animated “Sausage Party” also in varies states of production.

For the first time in almost 30 years a Steven Spielberg film will not be scored by John Williams.  That was the sad news DreamWorks Studios tried to avoid making headlines with this morning with the announcement that Thomas Newman would compose the music for Spielberg's upcoming thriller “Bridge of Spies.”

According to a release from the studio through distributor Walt Disney Pictures, Williams work schedule “was interrupted and he was unavailable to score the film due to a minor health issue, now corrected.”  

The 83-year-old composer has enjoyed a remarkable career winning five Academy Awards including three Oscars for Spielberg films “E.T.,” “Schindler's List” and “Jaws.”  The duo most recently collaborated on 2013's “Lincoln” for which Williams also earned an Original Score nomination. Williams' last theatrical work was 2013's “The Book Thief” which was his 49th nomination. He has also won a remarkable 22 Grammy Awards.

Williams is still expected to score “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens” for director J.J. Abrams.

Newman is a 12-time Oscar nominee who has a long history with DreamWorks having composed the music for “American Beauty,” “Road to Perdition” and “The Help.”  He returned to score “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” in theaters now, and will reunite with Sam Mendes on “Spectre” later this year. He's also on board to compose Pixar's “Finding Dory” and Walt Disney Animation's “Untitled” 2018 release.

The release also provided slightly more details on “Bridge of Spies” itself including a new still which you can view at the top of this post.  The studio notes:

“A dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, “Bridge of Spies” tells the story of James Donovan (Hanks), a Brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the Cold War when the CIA sends him on the near-impossible task to negotiate the release of a captured American U-2 pilot. Screenwriters Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen have woven this remarkable experience in Donovan”s life into a story inspired by true events that captures the essence of a man who risked everything and vividly brings his personal journey to life.”

“Spies” stars Tom Hanks, three-time Tony Award winner Mark Rylance, Scott Shepherd (“Side Effects”), Amy Ryan, Sebastian Koch (“A Good Day to Die Hard”) and Alan Alda.

“Bridge of Spies” is currently set to open nationwide on Oct. 16.

http://players.brightcove.net/4838167533001/BkZprOmV_default/index.html?videoId=4910048915001

The Comic-Con for movie theater owners, CinemaCon, is just around the corner and the National Association of Theatre Owners is beginning to announce the winners of the annual CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards (or whatever they are going to call it this year). These, ahem, “awards,” are often “thank yous” to big stars for making commercially friendly movies and also reminders from the studios that such and such newcomer is someone who might make you a lot of money if you promote their movie in your theater!

(Really, that's what these awards are for.)

Last year, CinemaCon got lucky with a hilarious, R-rated acceptance speech from Adam Sandler and a moving appearance by Shailene Woodley (who might have been taking the award a bit too seriously). This year, attendees are pretty much guaranteed some laughs after Amy Schumer was announced for CinemaCon's 2015 Breakthrough Performer of the Year Award.  

Schumer has already earned rave reviews for her upcoming comedy “Trainwreck,” which will be hitting theaters in July, but this will be an important stop on her promo tour for the movie. An event like CinemaCon will be an opportunity for Universal Pictures to drive home the message of how funny the Judd Apatow-directed flick is and that it can be a mid-summer smash. The studio went all out for “Neighbors” last year and is, no doubt, hoping to duplicate that success. Schumer did a masterful job presenting Tilda Swinton with an honor at last year's Gotham Awards, but hasn't had the opportunity to take home any real hardware herself yet. Forgive us if we put high expectations on her acceptance speech.

Earlier this week, CinemaCon announced an event outside of the award show which serves a similar purpose. “The Legend of Cinema Luncheon: A Salute to Clint Eastwood” is exactly what it sounds like and will give theater owners a chance to give the iconic filmmaker a well deserved standing ovation for making them so much money with “American Sniper” and other films over his long and illustrious career. The luncheon will be held on Wednesday, April 22. Eastwood received a lot of love at least year's CinemaCon when he made a surprise appearance for “Jersey Boys” during the Warner Bros. panel. The idea that “Sniper” could even be released before the end of the year wasn't even a rumor at that point. Amazing what can happen in half a year.

CinemaCon will run from April 20-23. The CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards will be held on the closing night, April 23. Look for complete coverage from HitFix during the entire Con.

Focus Features officially has two films in the 2015-2016 awards season game.  The mini-major recently announced they would distribute Tom Hopper's adaptation of “The Danish Girl” with this year's Best Actor winner Eddie Redmayne. That contender will hit theaters on Nov. 27.  Their next player?  “Suffragette,” another period drama that just happens to star Ms. Meryl Streep.

Directed by BAFTA winner Sarah Gavron, “Suffragette” features a noteworthy ensemble including Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter, Ben Whishaw (also in “Danish Girl”), Brendan Gleeson and the aforementioned Streep.  The film”s original screenplay is by Abi Morgan who previously scripted “Shame,” “The Iron Lady” and the Emmy-winning “The Hour.” With Oscar winning composer Alexandre Desplat also on board this is one project that is bursting with pedigree players.

According to a release from the studio “Suffragette” is a “moving drama that will empower all who are striving for equal rights in our own day and age. The stirring story, inspired by the early-20th-century campaign by the suffragettes for the right of women to vote, centers on Maud (Mulligan), a working wife and mother who comes to realize that she must fight for her dignity both at home and in her workplace. Realizing that she is not alone, she becomes an activist alongside other brave women from all walks of life. The early efforts at resistance were passive but as the women faced increasingly aggressive police action, the suffragettes become galvanized – risking their very lives to ensure that women”s rights would be recognized and respected.”
 
Peter Schlessel, CEO of Focus Features, noted, “'Suffragette' is a story that will resonate with men and women across the generations; it is about parents and children, courage and dedication, and making hard choices. Sarah, Abi, Alison and Faye are women who represent an amazing convergence of filmmaking talent. We”re proud to partner with Pathé to bring this powerful drama to audiences worldwide.”

The film, which was financed by Pathé, is currently set for release in the UK on Sept. 11.  That early Fall debut is eerily similar to the Sept. 12 date Pathé released “Pride” last year.  That frame worked will in the UK, but forced CBS Films to open that crowd pleaser at exactly the wrong time and to substantially underperform in the U.S.  Will Focus be able to push “Suffragette” to a more friendly October or November release date?  Certainly something to look out for, but, at worst, it's a smart bet the movie will find its way to Telluride or Toronto for a North American debut (although “Pride” premiered at Cannes so you never know).  

Streep has just a supporting role in “Suffragette,” but it provides her with another opportunity to earn her 20th Academy Award nomination next January.  She already has Jonathan Demme's “Ricki and the Flash” set for August.

Carey Mulligan has Thomas Vinterberg's “Far from the Madding Crowd” arriving on May 1, but it's likely that Suffragette” has more awards potential for the one-time Best Actress nominee. Carter, on the other hand, is enjoying more box office success as the Fairy Godmother in “Cinderella” and has a leading role in the Steve McQueen HBO series “Codes of Conduct” expected later this year (one to keep an eye out for).

Does “Suffragette” seem like an awards season contender to you? Share your thoughts below.

It's somewhat amazing to realize that the release calendar for March 2017 is now complete with four different tent poles.  The next (and potentially final) “Wolverine” is slated for March 3,* Legendary Pictures will bring forth their version of the King of the Apes in “Kong: Skull Island” on March 10, “Divergent” will end its cinematic run with “The Divergent Series: Allegiant – Part 2” on March 24 and, surprise, Walt Disney Pictures' live action “Beauty and the Beast” will now open on March 17.  Can you guess which one will garner the most attention?  

*A Hugh Jackman movie opening less than two weeks after the Oscars? It didn't work for “Chappie,” but, boy that would be an incredibly convenient time for him to host again, wouldn't it?

On Monday, Walt Disney Studios confirmed “Beauty's” release date and the impressive cast which had leaked to the press over the past few months.  Emma Watson will play Belle, Dan Stevens will portray the Beast, Luke Evans is on board as Gaston (slightly older than we would have thought, but we'll go with it), Emma Thompson is Mrs. Potts and Kevin Kline will play Belle's father, Maurice.  Josh Gad had been rumored as Le Fou, but the studio did not include the “Frozen” star in their announcement.  Curiously, there is still no word on who will get to have the honor of singing “Be Our Guest” as Lumiere, but with production slated to start in May they have a few months to figure it out (Can Jean Dujardin sing? Could be perfect, non?).

Oscar winner Bill Condon, who appears back on track based on the early reviews of “Mr. Holmes,” will direct and if you aren't aware of how important his contributions to “Chicago” were or how freaking amazing “Dreamgirls” truly is than you don't read me enough or follow me on twitter (he also just earned critical acclaim for his re-staging of “Sideshow” on Broadway late last year).  Condon will follow an adapted screenplay from “The Perks of A Wallflower's” Stephen Chbosky and none other than Mr. Alan Menken will be on hand to score the film. The eight-time Oscar winner's songs from the original 1991 animated classic will be included as well as a few new showstoppers.  So, it might be slated for March 2017, but you can already put this one down as a player in the 2018 Oscar Best Original Song race (at a minimum).

With a May start date you may wonder: “Why isn't it coming out in March 2016?”  Well, Walt Disney Animated Studios already has “Zootopia” on deck that month and there's a little movie called “Batman V Superman: Dawn for Justice” likely to suck up a lot of attention as well.  It also goes without saying that the Disney machine needs some time getting ready for this one.  “Cinderella” opened to a fantastic $67.8 million over the weekend, but have you checked out all the movie-related merchandise in stores?  Has your daughter or niece asked you to replace her Anna or Elsa dress with a replica of Cinderella's ball gown yet?  You just can't whip that up with a magic wand and by the time the new “Beauty and the Beast” arrives Disney merchandising will be in full effect.

Beyond the business aspect, however, it will be intriguing to see how much Condon can imprint his own vision on a live action “Beauty.” Remove the slightly nauseating cutesy animals and Kenneth Brangah was able to tweak things enough to surprise many with his specific take on the “Cinderella” tale.  Living up to the more recent animated “Beast” film is a much tougher task, but something tells us Condon and his crew have some surprises of their own in store for moviegoers.

Anyone ready to begin the two-year countdown?

“Beauty and the Beast” opens nationwide and in 3D on March 17, 2017.

No one provided Sandy Powell with a set of rules when she took on the job of designing the costumes for Walt Disney Studios' live action version of “Cinderella.” No one told the three-time Oscar winner that Cinderella's dress had to be blue.  No one said the film's showstopper needed to resemble the iconic ball gown depicted in Disney's animated classic.  In fact, even after watching the 55-year-old film Powell specifically intended to make it another color.

“I knew I didn't want to do pink.  I just didn't want to do a big pink dress,” Powell says. “I then went through every other color and then I thought well it could be white, but, no it can't be that because we have a wedding scene to do later and that really should really be the light colored dress. After that I kind of got a bit stuck on thinking green would be wrong, yellow would be wrong, red would be wrong.  I came back to blue because it actually is the most attractive color and it just seemed appropriate.  Then of course it went back to the fact that the original one is blue.  And then once I've come to that conclusion I realized there's no way in the world I could have made it any color other than blue because it just is.  Cinderella's ball gown is blue.  And I think there would have been like millions of little girls around the world like horribly disappointed or telling me I've done it wrong.”

Powell needn't have worried.  While there is still some slight controversy over star Lily James incredibly tiny waist, the costumes from “Cinderella” are earning rave reviews.  For this ball gown in particular, Powell also wanted it to be big, but “really simple, not overcomplicated, not over-adorned or decorated.”  But the devil is in the details and one particular addition you can see in the original costume sketch is butterflies adorning the top of the dress. It turns out that element was one of Powell's very first ideas about the ball gown.

“I was thinking about how the transformation scene would happen, even though it's a visual effect,” Powell recalls. “What would make sense and if there was some decoration what would it be?  And I kind of thought of flowers, then I thought, 'I don't want to do flowers.' And then I thought about how Cinderella is one with nature, her friends are the creatures and it would be quite nice if the creatures helped make that dress as it were.  So, I just had this notion of the butterfly landing on her and then turning into the decoration.  And then afterwards they would fly away.  And that sort of ended up happening really.  The butterflies purely were for decoration, but I kind of wanted to show how it got to be there.”

There are other stylistic choices in Powell's work in the film that stand out.  The contrasting flower prints in the dresses worn by Cinderella's stepmother Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett) and her daughters Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drizella (Sophie McShera).  The intricate detail in the vests worn by Prince Charming (Richard Madden) and the Royal Army.  The beautiful glass slippers. While Cinderella's gown and the Fairy Godmother's look (more on that later) will be transformed into costumes for little girls to enjoy for years, it's the collaboration between Powell and Blanchett for Lady Tremaine which will blow away most fashion aficionados.

This was the second time Powell had worked with Blanchett after “The Aviator,” which won her a second Academy Award (they have since worked on Todd Haynes' upcoming period piece “Carol” together).  For many actors the costume can help inform the character and the style they chose for the “Wicked Stepmother” helped cement Blanchett's performance.

“I actually pulled up images of Marlene Dietrich and Joan Crawford, but from films made in the '40s set in the 19th century,” Powell says. “For some reason it was the first image I had in my head was 1940's hair and make up and big dramatic hats sort of a la 1940's but doing the 19-century look.  I started that off and then she started looking up pictures about that sort of film noir 1940's actresses.  And that was our starting point really.”

Powell stressed the importance of having worked with Blanchett previously and how it makes things “so much easier.”  It's one reason why she's collaborated with Leonardo DiCaprio five times.

“Number one, I usually can't even think about the costume until I know who the actor is and then I'll just say it's much better if you meet them in person,” Powell says.  “But if you know who the actor is and you know exactly what their body shape is or what suits them and what doesn't suit them you're halfway there.  It really helps considerably.  And it's very helpful if you have an actor who just looks good in anything you put them in anyway like Cate or who is a great collaborator.”

While many of the other costumes in Cinderella are clearly based on a 19th century look, Powell kept Lady Tremaine (and her daughters) in their own particular era.  She notes, “[Lady Tremaine] has patted structured shoulders.  She has a pointed bosom, which you wouldn't normally get in a corset from that period.  No, it's definitely a 1940s take on 19th century.  It's like the 1940s getting the 19th century wrong.  It's a bit like 1950s getting it wrong.”

As you might suspect based on Powell's exploration of Cinderella's ball gown, colors are incredibly important to her in helping define a character.

“I do actually tend to think characters in terms of color before I even know what they're wearing.  And Cate's colors, there is a lot of green. Her colors are all cool colors.  None of them are friendly colors,” Powell says.  “I wanted her to have black but not be predominantly black.  I didn't want to go like that with a villain. So, it was blacks with strong cool colors, strong jewel-like cool colors that were sort of expressive.”

Lady Tremaine's daughters have some of the most colorful dresses in the picture that often and intentionally upstage Cinderella herself. The pair are set up to be the film's comic relief at times, but Powell went a bit deeper into figuring out their slightly garish style.

“They”re kind of nouveau riche, really,” Powell says. “It's like people have come into money and spending all their money on clothes and money doesn't necessarily give you taste. It's like pile it on.  Get as much on as you can and all of it is a bit vulgar.”

Powell says that if the first question everyone wanted to know was what Cinderella's ball gown looked like than the second one was what would the Fairy Godmother look like.  She admits, “I kind of went all-out obvious for her really.  I mean she is a bit more 18th-century and I always like a shiny fairy.  A shiny fun fairy that lit up.”

Helena Bonham Carter (happily freed of a Tim Burton-esque interpretation of the character) had one demand and one demand only: she must have wings.  She even went to director Kenneth Branagh to plead her case.

“I kind of originally wasn't going to put wings on because it hadn't occurred to me that the Fairy Godmother would have wings,” Powell says. “I thought it just sort of a figure of speech – the 'fairy' Godmother.  And she actually said to me during one of the fittings, 'When was the last time you saw a fairy without wings?'  And I had to concede and give her wings, especially after she went to the director also and said I really want wings.  We gave her the wings and I think it was a good idea in the end.”

As for the gentlemen in the movie, Powell wanted to make sure their costumes weren't forgotten. One aspect of the attire worn by Prince Charming (Richard Madden) that has received significant attention are his white pants.  Branagh has joked about how it helped Madden get the role, but Powell has a simple explanation for why his pants are so tight that you might not notice while first watching the film.

“The white pants was just to go with the white jacket in the ball scene,” Powell says. “The light color pant is really not unusual for a 19th century man.  They would quite often wear sort of off white or a cream trouser — a normal thing to wear with a black jacket even.  So, there wasn't anything unusual about that, but obviously the stylization.  The fact that I did make the suit tight white trousers like riding pants because I gave him white boots the whole time because I liked the boots.  You have to have something that works with the boots.  And fortunately Richard had the vigor to get away with it.  He had a nice, tight white pant.”

He did indeed.

It should be noted that Disney made an unexpected contribution to Powell and Blanchett's work on “Carol,” which will be released domestically by The Weinstein Company.  Powell noted that there was only enough budget on the indie for one costume fitting as well as a very short turnaround time between each production.  If she hadn't been able to work with Blanchett on “Cinderella” getting the costumes done in time for the 1950's set “Carol” would not have been “possible.”  

Powell isn't sure what she's going to do next and admits she's “very, very itchy” to pick a new project, “but I just don't want to do something that doesn't feel right.”  That being said, the Brit says she may have to return to the states this Halloween to see just how far fans will go with their “Cinderella” costumes.

“Now that the film is actually with us and it's here and I'm beginning to see [the reaction] it's extraordinary,” Powell says. “It's very funny to see what that I designed that's everywhere.  Actually, it's not just the Cinderella ball gown that's going to be copied.  I'm imagining quite a few female impersonators dressing up as the stepmother and the stepsisters.  Nothing quite like that [as a compliment.]”

For more on Powell's work including original renderings of all the costumes discussed check out the embedded gallery at the bottom of this post.

“Cinderella” is now playing nationwide and in IMAX.

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“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” was a surprise hit three years ago and earned a legion of fans around the world. The ensemble drama about a group of British senior citizens taking up residence in an Indian hotel was missing one key moment, however.  Oscar winners Judi Dench and Maggie Smith barely had a scene together.  Ol Parker, who wrote both “Exotic” and the sequel “Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” takes complete responsibility.

“I [expletive] up the first time,” Parker says speaking to HitFix earlier this month.  “I mean they don”t talk.  They literally don”t talk for the first movie.”

That's not entirely true. Evelyn (Dench) and Muriel (Smith) do have a brief exchange towards the end of the film, but it sadly alludes to their lack of screen time.  Muriel notes, “We haven't talked much, you and I” and Evelyn replies, “My looks evidently.”

Parker recalls, “You”ve got these two titans, they were best friends as well.  I mean they”ve been best friends for 60 years and I hadn't given them [a true scene together]!”

No one expected a sequel, but when Parker was given the opportunity to conceive of a second story he knew the two icons needed more screen time.  Director John Madden, who also returned after helming the original, suggested the pair should argue about something (not surprising considering Smith's zingers on “Downton Abbey” helped turn that show into a phenomenon).  

“He”s like, 'I can”t find anything for them to argue about. They don”t care about the same things.  Maggie”s worried about the hotel and Judi”s worrying about, you know, her love life.  They don”t seem to care enough about either of the other thing to argue,'” Parker recalls. “I called him up a couple of days later, 'They argue about who”s going to die first.'  And he went, 'Oh, brilliant.'”  

Smartly, Parker asked for both Dench and Smith to sign off on their character's cinematic sit down which they graciously did.

“Judi had just had a knee operation and so when Maggie goes 'The old knee”s hanging in there' [they were ribbing each other],” Parker says.  “They loved saying, 'We”ll see what”s come loose' and 'You still have a slightly sagging face.' And Maggie is actually 19 days older. They had a tremendous time.”

The fragile health of Smith's character is another important aspect of “Second Best,” but Madden and Parker found an unexpected way to bring audiences to tears without her passing away (a fate that Tom Wilkinson's character suffered in the first film). It was something that Parker says he worked into the script from the beginning.

“You can”t write about people that age without dealing with mortality.  You can”t,” Parker says.  “There”s mortality in the first one but it”s very sudden and unexpected.  We kind of used it as plot device in a way.  But in this case, I mean if you spend any time with anybody, these guys are 80 and they”re staring it in the face.”

Parker continues, “[For Maggie] it”s at least 60 years away.  She”ll piss and vinegar [for] many years to come, but, I mean you just have to deal with it.  You just have to accept it and that”s part of hopefully what makes the movies work is the way they”re responding to the challenges of not having long and the intensity with which they”re living.  And so John referred to the first one as a melancholy comedy and I think it was just always there.  I knew that we couldn”t actually do the deed.  It was like killing off Old Yeller, do you know what I mean?”

Absolutely.

“The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” is now playing nationwide.

Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury and Audience Award winner “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” is heading to theaters slightly earlier than expected.  Fox Searchlight originally announced “Earl” would open in limited release on July 1.  Now, the studio has reconsidered and the acclaimed dramedy will debut in limited release on June 12.

The new date actually puts “Earl” on the same opening day as another Sundance hit, “Dope,” although Open Road Films is making an eye-popping move by opening that film wide against expected blockbuster “Jurassic World.” “Earl” will now avoid opening in the same frame as Woody Allen's “Irrational Man” and Judd Apatow's “Trainwrecked” which could siphon some of its audience in key metro markets. 

One thing is for sure, with a June release date Searchlight is going to need to get a trailer out sooner rather than later.  That means a sneak peek for anyone who has been wondering what all the hype is about.

In other news…

– The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced Wednesday that Barbra Streisand has been selected to present Robert Redford with the 42nd Annual Chaplin Award in a ceremony set for April 27.  The pair famously appeared in the classic romance “The Way We Were” and that film will be screened the week before the event along with other Redford favorites including “Quiz Show,” “The Candidate,” “Jeremiah Johnson” and “Ordinary People.”  Jane Fonda, John Turturro and J.C. Chandor will also present at the Lincoln Center event.

– “The Lincoln Lawyer” and “Runner Runner” director Bryan Furman is now in production of his latest endeavor, “The Infiltrator.” Based on the true story of an undercover agent who set up a sting of the international criminal underworld, the '80s period piece stars Diane Kruger, Bryan Cranston, John Leguizamo, Benjamin Bratt, Olympia Dukakis and Amy Ryan.  The indie financed thriller is currently shooting in London before segueing to Florida at the end of next month.  The film's production company, Good Films, released the first image of “Infiltrator” featuring Kruger and Cranston below.

Today is a sad day in the world of Independent Cinema.  Richard Glatzer, the co-director and screenwriter of  “Still Alice,” has passed away after a four-year battle with ALS.

Born on January 28, 1952 in Flushing Queens, Glatzer first came to prominence with his directorial debut “Grief.”  The 1993 drama premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was partly inspired by his experience with the loss of his partner, Donald Ray Berry, to AIDS.

In 1995, Glatzer met Wash Westmoreland and they became life partners.  Their professional collaborations included “The Fluffer” (2001), “Quinceañera” (2006), which won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award, “The Last of Robin Hood” (2013) and the aforementioned “Still Alice.”  The latter became the biggest success of Glatzer”s career and star Julianne Moore won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance at the Academy Awards last month.  Glatzer was unable to attend the “Alice”s” world premiere at the 2014 Toronto Film Festival, but was present for the Los Angeles premiere at AFI Film Fest in November.

During a Q&A afterward, Moore noted how “Still Alice” deals with a similar situation to what Glatzer and Westmoreland were going through.  Glatzer was a presence on set and co-directed by using his iPad to communicate.

“The interesting thing about communicating with Richard is that what he is going through kind of disappeared after awhile because you were still communicating with the person who is there,” Moore said. “Oddly it wasn't an issue. So, in a way, it made it very clear to me what was the defining issue of the film.”

Moore had hoped Glatzer and Westmoreland would be able to attend the Oscars, but Glatzer's health made it impossible.

Over the years Glatzer also worked on TV shows such as “Divorce Court,” “Road Rules,” “The Osbournes” and “America”s Next Top Model.”

He”s survived by his husband Westmoreland, his sister Joan Kodner, her husband David, his nieces and nephews, and his daughter Ruby Smith.

'Still Alice' Writer-Director Richard Glatzer Dies at 63 http://t.co/eB0MwWwOa8 i love you richard.

– Julianne Moore (@_juliannemoore) March 12, 2015

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Goodbye to Richard, one of the lovelier souls I worked with… http://t.co/1l37vNu2CU

– ABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) March 11, 2015

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So deeply saddened to hear of the passing of #RichardGlatzer. He wrote & directed my first movie #Grief and now that is what I am feeling…

– Jackie Beat (@JACKIEBEAT) March 11, 2015

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In Memory of Filmmaker Richard Glatzer (Still Alice, The Last of Robin Hood, Quinceañera) http://t.co/6QsD6ebB7h pic.twitter.com/7Xxi3792PW

– SundanceFilmFestival (@sundancefest) March 12, 2015

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Oh, deeply saddened to hear this news. Let's please celebrate Richard's light, his work and life force. We ?? you RG http://t.co/PkZGzEPXCV

– Kate Bosworth (@katebosworth) March 12, 2015

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Very sad to hear the news that we lost #StillAlice co-director Richard Glatzer today. My heart goes out to @Washmoreland. Sending love xoxo

– Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) March 12, 2015

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RIP Richard Glatzer. See Still Alice. See Quinceañera. http://t.co/oLNEkJUFmh

– Cameron Bailey (@cameron_tiff) March 11, 2015

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Many Americans are unaware of the story of Newton Knight, but that will likely change after the release of “The Free State of Jones” next year.

Directed by Gary Ross, “Free State” chronicles the life of Knight, a Confederate soldier who led a band of deserters (known as Knight Company) against the Confederacy at the height of the Civil War.  The group reportedly attempted to form the “free state of Jones” near Jones County, Mississippi.  Matthew McConaughey stars as Knight, a man who married a former slave (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and helped form a mixed race community in the era of Reconstruction. 

The film also stars Kerri Russell (“The Americans,” “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”) and Mahershala Ali (“House of Cards,” “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay”). 

Based on the talent involved and the subject matter “Free State” would seem like prime Oscar bait.  At the moment, however, distributor and financier STX Entertainment has slotted it for a March 11, 2016 release date outside of the awards season window.  The film recently began production and STX just released the first image of McConaughey as Knight which you can view at the top of this post. 

STX also has an “Untitled Joel Edgerton Thriller” set for July 31 and the English language remake of Oscar winning Foreign Language Film “The Secret in Their Eyes” set for Oct. 23.  If “Free State” finishes in time and turns into something special would STX consider moving it into awards season?  McConaughey also has Gus Van Sant's “The Sea of Trees” to potentially campaign for, but never say never.

If one Woody Allen movie is in post-production that means another is about to begin filming.  The four-time Oscar winner already has “Irrational Man” scheduled to open on July 24 and now some big names are reuniting for his 2016 release.

According to Deadline, Kristen Stewart, Jesse Eisenberg and Bruce Willis have been tapped as the leads for Allen's latest “Untitled Project.”  There are no details on the movie's storyline or locale, but it does mark the second project Stewart and Eisenberg have agree to star in over the past year.  The duo have already wrapped “American Ultra” which will hit theaters sometime in 2015.  Stewart and Eisenberg first appeared alongside one another in 2009's “Adventureland.”

Over the years Willis has been rumored to star in Allen's a number of films, but this appears to be the first time it will actually come to pass. After dipping his toes a bit into indie features, Willis has spent a good deal of his time on more forgettable commercial fare.  The most intriguing film on his upcoming slate is Barry Levinson's “Rock the Kasbah” where he'll reunite with his “Moonrise Kingdom” co-sar Bill Murray.

Eisenberg earned strong notices for his performance in “The End of the Tour” which debuted at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and will hit theaters this summer. He recently wrapped “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and is currently filming the sequel to “Now You See Me,” “Now You See Me: The Second Act.”

Stewart just became the first American woman to win a Cesar Award for “Clouds of Sils Maria” which finally his U.S. theaters on April 10.  Besides “Ultra” and the “Untitled Kelly Richardt Project,” she has Drake Doremus' “Equals” also in he can.

No word on whether Allen's new film will shoot in the U.S. or Europe.

[Note: An earlier version of this story mistakenly noted that Eisenberg would also star in the Richardt film.  That is not the case.]

Is Oscar's 3-year-nightmare finally over?  On Saturday night, producer Craig Zadan tweeted an intriguing request that suggested both he and his producing partner Neil Meron would not return to produce a fourth Academy Awards telecast.

Zadan's tweet noted, “Hoping that whoever produces the #Oscars next year will retain our innovations: #TeamOscar program & reading all 24 noms on Oscar nom morning.

Hoping that whoever produces the #Oscars next year will retain our innovations: #TeamOscar program & reading all 24 nom on Oscar nom morning

– Craig Zadan (@craigzadan) March 8, 2015

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsAt first, Zadan's reps told Deadline, “Nothing is decided. All it means is that Craig hopes the Oscars continue the innovations he and Neil started.”  On Sunday, however, Zadan re-tweeted every trade story that noted the duo were signaling their departure.  He also continued to tweet behind-the-scenes photos from the show.  Meron, for his part, hasn't tweeted anything on his personal account to suggest a return or departure.

The longtime producers got off to a very rocky start with Seth MacFarlane's controversial gig in 2013.  Last year, however, Ellen DeGeneres returned to host and the telecast had its highest ratings in 10 years.  2015's show was almost a complete turnabout as ratings dropped 16% and host Neil Patrick Harris received more criticism than he'd ever earned over four Tony Awards and two Emmy Awards shows combined (he also downplayed a return as host saying he wasn't sure his “family or his soul” could take it). 

Both Zadan and Meron have been criticized for creative choices that highlight works they are personally associated with including a “Chicago” anniversary performance in 2013 and selecting a little known song from their failed NBC drama “Smash” as part of this year's In Memoriam. 

While a decision likely won't be announced publicly, the Academy's Board of Governors are expected to review last month's show during their next scheduled meeting on March 24.

http://players.brightcove.net/4838167533001/BkZprOmV_default/index.html?videoId=4909862101001

If you're heading to the multiplex this weekend there's a good chance that you'll be catching a movie starring Dev Patel.  It's a rare occurrence for any actor, but the “Slumdog Millionaire” breakout has the fortune of having two different films open in the U.S. today.  

In Neill Blomkamp's “Chappie,” Patel plays a robotics designer and computer programmer who brings the title character to life in a dangerous and unstable environment.  His other new release is Fox Searchlight's “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” where he reprises his role as Sonny, a young entrepreneur who runs what is effectively a retirement home for British Expats in Jaipur, India.  The surviving members of this geriatric crew, including Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton and Celia Imrie, are all back for more life affirming adventures as Richard Gere checks in to stir things up.  Don't worry, the venerable Maggie Smith also returns and her cantankerous Evelyn still has a sweet spot for Sonny and his dreams of expanding the “Exotic Hotel” empire.

Speaking with Patel via phone from New York earlier this week, he described his 80-year-old co-star as “wonderful” and admitted what screenwriter Ol Parker had revealed in an earlier interview; the two of them formed a close bond while filming the sequel.  So much so that Smith nicknamed him “Petal” during the shoot.

“She would cringe if she knew I said this but she is one of the most gracious talented and incredible humans I”ve ever got to share the screen with,” Patel says.  “I mean I”m just astounded by her talent and her patience.  We”re in the scorching heat of India filming, our set is two hours away from where we”re staying and we're traveling through these big, bumpy roads. We get to set and it”s long days and lots of scenes.  And I”m kind of like a kid with Tourette”s.  Just to keep the energy [up] and the spontaneousness of this comedic character I”m playing and she”s just so patient and lovely with me.”

He added, “You know she”s got a great sense of humor and I was just astounded by her consistency take after take and just the stamina she has, y' know?  Put me to shame really.”

Released a little under three years ago, the first “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” was something of a surprise global blockbuster for Fox Searchlight earning $136.8 million on just a $10 million production budget.  The filmmakers never intended for their to be a sequel and mocked their luck by intentionally picking “Second Best” as the phrasing in the title as opposed to “Exotic Marigold Hotel 2” or adding a subtitle.  This time around Patel's character is even more central to film's storyline as he tries to balance potential U.S. investment, the arrival of a “friendly” business rival and a busy weekend of nuptial celebrations as he marries his beloved Sunaina (Tena Desae).  Considering his character was originally written as an overweight, middle-aged man he took his expanded role in the sequel as a “pat on the back” for his original performance.

“The main thing is the first film was so loved we didn”t want to come back and muddy the waters just for financial reasons,” Patel says. “The first one was about Westerners coming to India and dealing with this extremity. I feel in this one [we could] go even deeper than that because now they”re adapted to the place and it”s more about them dealing with their issues [such as] aging and the idea of taking risks.”

“Chappie,” on the other hand, came to Patel of the blue. The 24-year-old was in production of the final season of the HBO series “The Newsroom” when his manager called to tell him the “Elysium” director wanted him to be the lead in his next film.  Patel was sent the “top secret” script to read for just a short while before he made his decision. Patel recalls, “He had put some of the visual contents on the iPad of what he thought he the robots in the world would look like and I was blown away.  I loved 'District 9' so I jumped at it really.”

Patel character, Deon, is the brain behind a line of security robots manufactured by a private company, which has been contracted out by the Johannesburg, South Africa Police Dept.  The bots have helped the officers cut down on violent crime in the city, but Deon has much bigger dreams. He's secretly been spending his free time developing a computer program for the first true artificial intelligence.  His A.I. would not be full formed at first, but, instead, need to learn like a child. After his boss (Sigourney Weaver) forbids him to use a damaged bot to test out his breakthrough he goes behind her back and saves it from the junkyard by sneaking it out of the facility.  Just as he's about to bring Chappie to life, he's kidnapped by two criminals (played by South African hip-hop artists Ninja and Yo-Landi Visser) who horrifically attempt to take his creation down a very dark path.

Many might believe Deon's actions are reckless and naive, but Patel doesn't subscribe to that.  He sees his character as a “visionary” and almost a “young Steve Jobs” who”s low-esteem gets the better of him.

“He”s a young genius who creates these robots that are employed by the police force in Johannesburg and police deaths are at an all-time low, you know?  Civilians are not dying anymore, but his interests don”t lie in making war machines,” Petal says.  “He wants to make a robot that can think and feel and true artificial intelligence. And he”s ridiculed by everyone in the office but he”s cracked it so he”s going to stop at nothing to make this idea, this dream a reality.”

While co-star Hugh Jackman plays the primary villain and brings “Chappie” the star power that likely got it green lit, most moviegoers are going to be fixated on Deon's two kidnappers played by Ninja and Yo-Landi.  Reaction to the first-time actors' performances is already divisive and even the incredibly polite Petal says, “They”re the most interesting creatures I”ve come across to be honest.”  

He adds, “Y'know, we”re playing characters and they”re reacting as themselves.  That”s the great thing with Neill is it”s a real mash up this film.  It”s very ballsy storytelling.  They really bring a unique voice and there was never a dull moment with them at all.”

(Read into that what you will.)

What both “Chappie” and “Second Best” have allowed the British born Patel to do, however, is to shoot in different and unexpected parts of the world.

“I kind of grew up in a very quiet sheltered.  I didn”t have the opportunity to travel that much,” Patel says.  “So, this industry has really opened my eyes to the world and experiencing humanity in all different forms and cultures in a way.  It”s one of the most incredible parts of the job.”

“The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” and “Chappie” are both playing nationwide.

http://players.brightcove.net/4838167533001/BkZprOmV_default/index.html?videoId=4909847974001

Awards season has transformed into pretty much a 12 month a year event (outside of maybe a few weeks in June) which means there is news to report about some of the more anticipated prestige players of 2015.

Fox Searchlight announced today that John Crowley's acclaimed romantic drama “Brooklyn” will hit theaters in platform release on Nov. 6.  The tearjerker was one of the big surprises at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival where it screened out of competition (read my review here).  Stars Saoirse Ronan, Michael Zegen, Domhnall Gleeson and Julie Walters are all potential acting category contenders and Nick Hornby delivers another wonderful screenplay adaptation after last year's “Wild.”  Screenings at Telluride or Toronto seem likely, but a slot at the New York Film Festival just makes too much sense, doesn't it?

Tom Hooper's “The Danish Girl” also found a release date today as Focus Features announced it will open in New York and Los Angeles on Nov. 27.  Currently in production, the biopic finds Best Actor winner Eddie Redmayne playing Lili Elbe, one of the world's first publicly recognized transgender women. The adaptation of David Ebershoff's acclaimed novel centers on the relationship between Elbe and her wife, Gerda Wegener (Alicia Vikander).  Matthias Schoenaerts,  Ben Whishaw and Amber Heard round out the cast.

Steven Spielberg's “Untitled Cold War Thriller” now has a title.  “Bridge of Spies” will hit theaters on Oct. 16.  The third collaboration between Spielberg and Tom Hanks, this thriller is centered an a U.S. lawyer (Hanks) who finds himself recruited to assist the CIA on a rescue mission in the middle of the Cold War.  Alan Alda, Amy Ryan and Billy Magnussen (“Into the Woods”) round out the cast.

Bill Condon's “Mr. Holms” earned positive notices at the 2015 Berlin Film Festival and now you can get your first glimpse at his reunion with Ian McKellen in the trailer embedded at the top of this post.  Condon directed McKellen to a Best Actor nomination in 1999 for “Gods and Monsters,” a film for which he earned an Oscar for Adapted Screenplay.  The Miramax and Roadside Attractions release doesn't have a specific release date yet, but “Summer” probably means sometime before Aug. 1.  

Speaking of trailers, if you haven't seen the latest preview for “Ex Machina” you can find it embedded at the bottom of this post. Alex Garland's Sci-Fi thriller probably isn't a true awards season player, but judging by some of the rave reviews out of the UK it might make a lot of critics top 10 lists.  It also screens at SXSW later this month. Oh, and surprise, it also stars familiar faces Oscar Isaac, Vikander and Gleeson. 

Nominations are in for the 2015 MTV Movie Awards, and leading the way overall was “The Fault in Our Stars,” “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Neighbors” with seven mentions each. Little surprise, that, given the demographic, but at the same time, it's a relatively inspired (as far as it goes) mish-mash of consumer and prestige work across the board.

“American Sniper,” “Boyhood,” “Selma” and “Whiplash” doubled up on their Best Picture fortunes from the Academy by landing in the Movie of the Year category. There they are joined by “Fault,” “Gone Girl” and “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Other Oscar nominees who found room include Bradley Cooper, Rosamund Pike (three nominations), J.K. Simmons, Emma Stone, Meryl Streep and Reese Witherspoon.

“Whiplash,” in particular, had a heartening showing. Miles Teller landed in the Best Male Performance category, and also picked up Best WTF Moment and Best Musical Moment nods. And though it's no surprise on the surface of things (again, this is MTV), it was Channing Tatum rather than Steve Carell who got a best actor notice for “Foxcatcher.” Some might argue it was the finer performance of the two. (Though Carell was nominated for Best On-Screen Transformation.)

Speaking of which, one of my favorite nominations has to be Ellar Coltrane in that category for “Boyhood.” Yeah, I think growing up on screen for 12 years counts as an on-screen transformation. Oh, and Edward Norton and Michael Keaton have to win Best Fight. I mean, they won't, but we all know they deserve it. I'm thinking of throwing in that hand wave fake-out gesture next time I get into a scuffle.

The most nominations overall went to Seth Rogen, chalked up alongside a number of co-stars in “The Interview” and “Neighbors.”

Remember, you can vote on these. So feel free.

Check out the full list of nominees below. Winners will be announced on April 12. The Circuit is ticking down to a definitive close.

Movie of the Year
“American Sniper”
“Boyhood”
“The Fault in Our Stars”
“Gone Girl”
“Guardians of the Galaxy”
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1”
“Selma”
“Whiplash”

Best Male Performance
Bradley Cooper, “American Sniper”
Ansel Elgort, “The Fault in Our Stars”
Chris Pratt, “Guardians of the Galaxy”
Channing Tatum, “Foxcatcher”
Miles Teller, “Whiplash”

Best Female Performance
Scarlett Johansson, “Lucy”
Jennifer Lawrence, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1”
Emma Stone, “Birdman”
Reese Witherspoon, “Wild”
Shailene Woodley, “The Fault in Our Stars”

Best Scared-as-S*** Performance
Zach Gilford, “The Purge: Anarchy”
Jennifer Lopez, “The Boy Next Door”
Dylan O'Brien, “The Maze Runner”
Rosamund Pike, “Gone Girl”
Annabelle Wallis, “Annabell”

Breakthrough Performance
Ellar Coltrane, “Boyhood”
Ansel Elgort, “The Fault in Our Stars”
Dylan O'Brien, “The Maze Runner”
David Oyelowo, “Selma”
Rosamund Pike, “Gone Girl”

Best Shirtless Performance
Ansel Elgort, “The Fault in Our Stars”
Zac Efron, “Neighbors”
Chris Pratt, “Guardians of the Galaxy”
Channing Tatum, “Foxcatcher”
Kate Upton, “The Other Woman”

Best Kiss
Rose Byrne & Halston Sage, “Neighbors”
Ansel Elgort & Shailene Woodley, “The Fault in Our Stars”
James Franco & Seth Rogen, “The Interview”
Andrew Garfield & Emma Stone, “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”
Scarlett Johansson & Chris Evans, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”

Best WTF Moment
Rosario Dawson & Anders Holm, “Top Five”
Jonah Hill, “22 Jump Street”
Seth Rogen & Rose Byrne, “Neighbors”
Jason Sudeikis & Charlie Day, “Horrible Bosses 2”
Miles Teller, “Whiplash”

Best Villain
Jillian Bell, “22 Jump Street”
Peter Dinklage, “X-Men: Days of Future Past”
Rosamund Pike, “Gone Girl”
J.K. Simmons, “Whiplash”
Meryl Streep, “Into the Woods”

Best Comedic Performance
Rose Byrne, “Neighbors”
Kevin Hart, “The Wedding Ringer”
Chris Pratt, “Guardians of the Galaxy”
Chris Rock, “Top Five”
Channing Tatum, “22 Jump Street”

Best Duo
Bradley Cooper & Vin Diesel, “Guardians of the Galaxy”
Zac Efron & Dave Franco, “Neighbors”
James Franco & Seth Rogen, “The Interview”
Channing Tatum & Jonah Hill, “22 Jump Street”
Shailene Woodley & Ansel Elgort, “The Fault in Our Stars”

Best Fight
Chris Evans vs. Sebastian Stan, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”
Jonah Hill & Jillian Bell, “22 Jump Street”
Edward Norton vs. Michael Keaton, “Birdman”
Dylan O'Brien vs. Will Poulter, “The Maze Runner”
Seth Rogen vs. Zac Efron, “Neighbors”

Best Musical Moment
Bill Hader & Kristen Wiig, “The Skeleton Twins”
Jennifer Lawwrence, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1”
Chris Pratt, “Guardians of the Galaxy”
Seth Rogen & Zac Efron, “Neighbors”
Miles Teller, “Whiplash”

Best On-Screen Transformation
Elizabeth Banks, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1”
Steve Carell, “Foxcatcher”
Ellar Coltrane, “Boyhood”
Eddie Redmayne, “The Theory of Everything”
Zoe Saldana, “Guardians of the Galaxy”

The awards world was hit with a bombshell on Tuesday afternoon after news broke that a “significant faction” of the Academy wants the Best Picture field returned to just five nominees. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the old guard feels the current system has made the honor less prestigious and are using the low ratings of last month's telecast as proof that the expanded field doesn't work. The issue may be addressed as soon as the next Board of Governors meeting on March 24. Let me take a breath and prepare my reaction while you ponder this Hail Mary of a justification for a moment.

(O.K., I'm ready.)

Y'all crazy.

First, let's discuss the “prestige” argument, shall we?  

In 2009 the Best Picture field was increased to 10 nominees because of the horror (i.e. embarrassment) that the out-of-touch membership had snubbed popular and critically acclaimed blockbusters such as “WALL-E” and “The Dark Knight.” In 2010, after concerns from the membership over movies such as “The Blind Side” making the cut, a formula was put into place that allowed up to, but did not guarantee, 10 nominees. Since that rule modification there have been three years of nine nominees, until this past season when just eight nominees were announced. The voting formula (essentially 5% first place votes are now required) was created to justify the additional nominees by studying the voting patterns of the previous 10 Best Picture races. Moreover, there should have been no further proof that this change worked by the fact that just eight nominees were selected this year. Not nine, not 10, but eight. 

But, please, “significant faction,” tell us which of this year's eight films made the honor less prestigious. 

“Birdman?” We're gonna assume this one is safe since it was your Best Picture winner.

“Boyhood?” The most critically acclaimed film of the year earned nominations from all the major branches (Actors, Directors, Writers, Editors). That isn't a stain on the Best Picture legacy is it?

“American Sniper?” The hope that the Clint Eastwood's blockbuster could actually win was one of the only reasons many people watched the telecast. It also earned Acting, Writing and Editing nods.

“The Imitation Game?” Harvey's hit also found love in every major branch. You sure you want this one out of the mix?

“The Grand Budapest Hotel?” The critical and box office hit earned nominations for Directing, Editing and Screenplay and tied “Birdman” with nine nods overall. You wouldn't have wanted it to earn just eight, would you? That would look slightly silly, no? (Although, honestly, if it meant Wes Anderson would have won Original Screenplay, we'd live with this snub.)

“The Theory of Everything?” Well, it didn't land a Directing nod, but found love everywhere else. Members loved this one enough to select Eddie Redmayne for Best Actor over industry legend Michael Keaton. How could “Theory” joining the club diminish a Best Picture nomination?

“Whiplash?” Another movie the membership adored, which won Editing, earned Acting and Screenwriting nods and took three Oscars overall. This movie is so beloved that decades from now it might actually be held in higher regard than all the other nominees (we're not kidding).

“Selma?” Can you imagine being a member of The Academy and experiencing a January and February where “Selma” did not earn a Best Picture nomination? Seriously, you want to go there on this one?  

This argument is a fallacy. Reviewing the past four years there is only one film that a majority of critics and Academy members would not consider a “modern classic”: “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.” And guess what, Academy? As an organization you've actually picked worse nominees when you just had five choices, and in this century, too! Do we want to reflect back on “Crash,” “Finding Neverland,” “Seabiscuit” or “Chocolat?” Because if someone wants to seriously defend those picks I'm all ears.

Frankly, the expanded field has only increased the prestige of the award. Would “District 9,” “The Kids Are All Right,” “Winter's Bone,” “Moneyball,” “The Tree of Life,” “Amour” (!), “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” “Her” or “Dallas Buyers Club” have made the cut? Probably not, and that would be a shame. The attention their deserved Oscar nominations received helped those amazing films find larger audiences and inspire new filmmakers around the globe. It made many cinephiles who considered the Oscars a joke look at them in a completely different light. The idea that the current system has cast a pall over the integrity of the Academy Awards is ridiculous and backward thinking.

Oh, wait. There's more.

The other argument being thrown about is that because there were so many nominees (some of which were relatively unknown to the general public this particular season) it contributed to this year's ratings downturn. Again, this is grasping at straws. The eight nominees had nothing to do with the lower viewership numbers. You can absolutely blame ABC for not hyping “American Sniper” as a potential winner enough in their promo spots (truth). You can rightfully blame show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron for yet another old school telecast short on humor and for selecting a host that just wasn't a big enough draw (sorry Neil Patrick Harris). You can try to blame some of the world's biggest stars for not appearing in enough prestige pictures to be players in the acting races.* You cannot, however, blame the Best Picture nominees that were selected from one of the worst box office years in recent memory (Oh, right. Everyone forgot about that, didn't they?).

*2014's show had Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Lawerence and Sandra Bullock all with a shot to win. Oh, and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie hanging out in the audience. 2013's featured Hugh Jackman, Denzel Washington, Jessica Chastain, Robert DeNiro, Anne Hathaway and Jennifer Lawrence. Yeah, those were the days.

The truth is 2015's Oscar telecast had a great Best Picture race and fantastic acceptance speeches, but little star power. If Ellen DeGeneres had come back the ratings still would have been down, but the drop would not have been as significant and this argument would have even less merit than it already does.

Lastly, returning to five nominees will only exacerbate The Academy's already very public problem with diversity. This isn't conjecture. It is simply the truth. And if the naysayers can't see what a can of worms that would create then Oscar really is light years from where it should be.

If history teaches us anything, it's that those who want to go backward will jump on any opportunity to do so, even when it's unwarranted. And, sadly, that appears to be the case with a certain “faction” in the movie industry's most powerful club. Here's hoping cooler heads and smarter minds prevail.