12 YEARS A SLAVE

Oscar Talk: Venice/Telluride/Toronto wrap

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:12 am · September 20th, 2013

In this week’s podcast, Kris and Anne discuss the just-wrapped early fall fest circuit. What landed at Venice, Telluride and Toronto and shows promise in the season? Also, this year’s Honorary Oscar recipients have been revealed.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Roundup: DiCaprio goes the presidential biopic route

Posted by Guy Lodge · 5:07 am · September 17th, 2013

Also: Wrapping Toronto, and AFI sets an awards date.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Roundup: Putting the brakes on '12 Years a Slave'

Posted by Guy Lodge · 3:13 am · September 16th, 2013

Also: Is the film made to engender white guilt?

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'12 Years a Slave' wins the 2013 Toronto Film Festival People's Choice Award

Posted by Gregory Ellwood · 9:12 am · September 15th, 2013

Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” took another step on the long road to Oscar by winning the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival People’s Choice Award. “Philomena” and “Prisoners” were first and second runners up respectively.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Best and Worst of the 2013 Toronto Film Festival

Posted by Gregory Ellwood · 10:26 pm · September 13th, 2013

The 2013 Toronto International Film Festival delivered a strong slate of films this year as “Gravity,” “12 Years A Slave,” “Bad Words,” “Can A Song Save Your Life?” and “Afflicted” were among the best selected by HitFix’s editors. What were the worst? Let’s just say Matthew Weiner, James Franco and Atom Egoyan were three filmmakers who didn’t have a pleasant stay in Toronto.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Contender Countdown: It's already hard out there for a best picture player

Posted by Gregory Ellwood · 5:25 pm · September 12th, 2013

The sniping and backstabbing has already begun, but has it affected the best picture race at all? Plus: A brand new feature. Rank the top 10 contenders as you see them.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Matthew McConaughey bursts into crowded Best Actor field with career-best 'Dallas Buyers Club' portrayal

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:42 am · September 10th, 2013

Matthew McConaughey gives his best performance to date in “Dallas Buyers Club,” but he enters a Best Actor conversation that is already in full swing and stuffed with strong contenders. Where’s the wiggle room?

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Off the Carpet: Reindeer games

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:53 pm · September 8th, 2013

Something I’ve been fending off as just inside baseball bitching suddenly stuck in my craw this week. So let’s get this business out of the way at the top so we can enjoy the season.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Jaw-dropping Venice awards make a defiant anti-mainstream statement

Posted by Guy Lodge · 12:00 am · September 8th, 2013

Bertolucci’s jury clearly set out to provoke, but ‘Sacro GRA’ is a respectable winner.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

BAFTA LA names Benedict Cumberbatch British Artist of the Year

Posted by Guy Lodge · 5:19 pm · September 5th, 2013

George Clooney, Kathryn Bigelow and Ben KIngsley also receiving honors.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Contender Countdown: 'Gravity' and '12 Years A Slave' storm out of the gate

Posted by Gregory Ellwood · 9:55 pm · September 4th, 2013

Awards season is on and “Gravity” and “12 Years A Slave” lead the Best Picture race – right now – in this week’s contender countdown.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'Tracks,' 'Under the Skin' among nominees for top award at London Film Festival

Posted by Guy Lodge · 3:40 pm · September 4th, 2013

The UK’s biggest film festival revealed its lineup of 234 features today.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

'12 Years a Slave' featurette details the true story setting of Steve McQueen's film

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:55 am · September 4th, 2013

A new featurette for McQueen’s film does a great job of setting the true story scene of the film. Interviews with McQueen, star Chiwetel Ejiofor and producers Dede Gardner and Bill Pohlad are sprinkled throughout.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Telluride: Wrapping up the 40th annual fest

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:06 am · September 3rd, 2013

The 40th annual Telluride Film Festival has come to a close, unofficially launching the Oscar season and wrapping up another wonderfully curated program that continues to be one of my most anticipated journeys each year.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Off the Carpet: Telluride launches the season from 'Gravity' to '12 Years a Slave'

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:27 am · September 2nd, 2013

The Telluride Film Festival wraps up today and with that, the upcoming awards season has finally taken a little shape. We have a long way to go, of course, and no one should be calling the race from this far out, but we certainly know a few things.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Telluride: On the beauty and barbarity of sure-fire Oscar contender '12 Years a Slave'

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 3:11 pm · August 31st, 2013

TELLURIDE, Colo. – Fox Searchlight was smart to get into business with filmmaker Steve McQueen two years ago when, not long after screening his last film, “Shame,” here at the Telluride Film Festival, they acquired it for distribution. Further dividends will be paid in the sterling accomplishment of “12 Years a Slave,” to be sure.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Review: Powerful '12 Years A Slave' won't turn away from the brutality of slavery

Posted by Gregory Ellwood · 11:02 pm · August 30th, 2013

Chiwetel Ejiofor is exceptional in Steve McQueen’s powerful “12 Years A Slave,” the true story of Solomon Northrup, a free man kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1841.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention