12 YEARS A SLAVE

There have been reports of modest Academy screening attendance for “12 Years a Slave” and the “tough medicine” of the film. But is it really so bad? Director Steve McQueen responds.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Roundup: Michael Fassbender too busy for an Oscar campaign

Posted by Guy Lodge · 3:38 am · October 15th, 2013

Also: ‘Fifty Shades’ gains an Oscar winner, and is 2013 a classic movie year?

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Off the Carpet: How do this year's Oscar hopefuls reflect the zeitgeist?

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:55 am · October 14th, 2013

We’ve weighed the contenders and early declarations have been made. The whisper campaigns and casual takedowns have begun with no real (comfortable) frontrunner to emerge for a while yet. But as we look out over this year’s Oscar contending crop, what does it have to say about where and who we are?

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Roundup: 'Her' arrives in the Oscar race

Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:49 am · October 14th, 2013

Also: The Weinsteins’ ‘Fruitvale Station’ error, and LAFCA honors Richard Lester.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Tech Support: Can anything beat 'Gravity' for Best Cinematography?

Posted by gerardkennedy · 10:33 am · October 10th, 2013

Gerard Kennedy surveys the category of Best Cinematography in this week’s installment of Tech Support. Will films like “Captain Phillips” and “12 Years a Slave” be able to match “Gravity?”

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Exclusive: Sarah Paulson questions Chiwetel Ejiofor in '12 Years a Slave' clip

Posted by Gregory Ellwood · 5:15 pm · October 9th, 2013

Sarah Paulson questions Chiwetel Ejiofor in an exclusive clip from Steve McQueen’s acclaimed best picture contender “12 Years A Slave.”

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

The Long Shot: Two shades of Britain

Posted by Guy Lodge · 8:47 am · October 9th, 2013

Two of this year’s Oscar hopefuls show the UK industry at a crossroads.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Roundup: Let the whisper campaigns begin

Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:16 am · October 9th, 2013

Also: Bullock rules Hollywood, and ‘Croods’ wins the animated screener race.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Roundup: On the mastery of Emmanuel Lubezki

Posted by Guy Lodge · 5:30 am · October 8th, 2013

Also: Why Timberlake needs to give acting a rest, and Oscar doc overload.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Tech Support: Kicking off crafts coverage of the 2013-2014 Oscar season

Posted by gerardkennedy · 6:27 am · October 3rd, 2013

Welcome back. It’s hard for me to truly appreciate that this is the eighth season of Tech Support here at In Contention (third in our association with HitFix). I’m pleased to say that this column has come a long way during this time, as has media coverage of below-the-line Oscar races as a whole.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Contender Countdown: Turmoil in the Best Picture race?

Posted by Gregory Ellwood · 12:52 am · October 3rd, 2013

The latest contender countdown looks at a dramatic week in Hollywood that saw films pushed, layoffs, a scary changeover for a legendary label and more.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

The Long Shot: Out but not down

Posted by Guy Lodge · 7:00 pm · October 2nd, 2013

Plus: my first predictions of the season.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Roundup: Weinstein on 'the most competitive season I've ever seen'

Posted by Guy Lodge · 5:22 am · September 30th, 2013

Also: The state of animation, and the movies behind ‘Breaking Bad.’

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Off the Carpet: Whither 'Wall Street?'

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:12 am · September 23rd, 2013

As the media focuses on calling the Best Picture race over in September, there are other topics worthy of discussion. Like Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street,” which could move off its Nov. 15 date, or “Mud,” which is the first screener in Academy voters’ hands this year.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention