'Harry Potter' and 'Jurassic Park' cinematographers honored by ASC

Posted by · 9:13 am · November 15th, 2013

The American Society of Cinematographers has named the three cameramen who will receive honorary awards at February’s ASC ceremony. They include blockbuster DP Dean Cundey, a former Steven Spielberg collaborator, and two-time Oscar nominee Eduardo Serra.

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Roundup: The screenplay Oscar conundrum

Posted by · 4:47 am · November 15th, 2013

In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, Mark Harris considers the confusing categorizations in the Oscars’ screenplay races, and wonders if a third category is necessary. Also: Alfonso Cuaron regrets making “Great Expectations,” and a look at the value of a Cinemascore F.

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Three for three: Directors who have dominated the Best Picture race

Posted by · 5:34 pm · November 14th, 2013

If “American Hustle,” “Inside Llewyn Davis” and “Nebraska” end up with Oscar nominations for Best Picture in January, then that means David O. Russell, the Coen brothers and Alexander Payne will enter the exclusive company of 11 other filmmakers who have directed three Best Picture nominees in a row.

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Brit favorite 'The Selfish Giant,' foreign Oscar hopefuls take gold at AFI Fest

Posted by · 5:09 pm · November 14th, 2013

It may be the big, Oscar-bait premieres that dominate the headlines at AFI Fest, but its international and art house selections shine when it comes to the festival awards. UK critics’ favorite “The Selfish Giant” took two win, while there was good news for Australia’s and Georgia’s foreign Oscar submissions.

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Tech Support: Could Alfonso Cuarón join James Cameron on an exclusive list of editors?

Posted by · 1:47 pm · November 14th, 2013

HitFix’s Gerard Kennedy plugs away on another installment of Tech Support, this week surveying the category of Best Film Editing. Is Alfonso Cuarón set to join some exclusive company?

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Roundup: Why Ben Affleck loves 'Enough Said,' and more peer appreciation

Posted by · 4:01 am · November 14th, 2013

In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, Variety gets a number of notable filmmakers to discuss work from their peers that they loved this year, including Ben Affleck on Nicole Holofcener’s “Enough Said.” Meanwhile, the NYFCC sets its voting date, and is Alexander Payne the king of the male weepie?

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The Long Shot: Acting important and playing nice

Posted by · 10:37 am · November 13th, 2013

In this week’s Oscar-focused column, Guy Lodge looks at the tricky balance Oscar contenders usually have to strike between being likeable and being laudable — will “12 Years a Slave,” “Gravity” or “Saving Mr. Banks” manage it? Also: this week’s updated Oscar predictions.

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Composer Henry Jackman on 'musical constraint' and minimalism in 'Captain Phillips'

Posted by · 9:46 am · November 13th, 2013

Henry Jackman talks to HitFix about what went into his affecting, but not affected, score for Paul Greengrass’ Oscar contender “Captain Phillips.”

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Roundup: Oscar and all tomorrow's parties

Posted by · 5:47 am · November 13th, 2013

In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, a journalist wonders if the Oscar campaign circuit calendar is already too full, while Peter Berg’s “Lone Survivor” makes a splash at the AFI Fest — and, potentially, in the Oscar race.

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Best Animated Feature 2014: Is this the weakest year for the category to date?

Posted by · 11:07 pm · November 12th, 2013

HitFix’s Guy Lodge and Kristopher Tapley survey the field of Best Animated Feature Film contenders. Is this the year Walt Disney Animation finally wins that elusive first Oscar?

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Quentin Tarantino and AFI Fest pay tribute to 'Nebraska' star Bruce Dern

Posted by · 11:31 am · November 12th, 2013

“Nebraska” enjoyed a Tribute Gala premiere last night in Hollywood as Quentin Tarantino and Leonard Maltin toasted the actor’s career.

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Oprah Winfrey to receive Santa Barbara fest's Montecito Award

Posted by · 6:10 am · November 12th, 2013

It almost seems too perfect for the Santa Barbara Film Festival to recognize “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” star Oprah Winfrey with the annual Montecito Award this year. Winfrey lives in Montecito and doesn’t offer up too many chances for film awards lately, so festival director Roger Durling and company have struck while the iron is hot.

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Roundup: January 31 is the new 'Labor Day'

Posted by · 2:32 am · November 12th, 2013

In today’s roundup of online news and views, Jason Reitman’s “Labor Day” has moved to a late-January release date — though it’ll still qualify for the 2013 Oscar race. Meanwhile, “12 Years a Slave” is compared to its earlier TV-movie incarnation.

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'Blue is the Warmest Color' competes for foreign Globe… as does Keanu Reeves

Posted by · 2:16 pm · November 11th, 2013

France’s “Blue is the Warmest Color,” Japan’s “Like Father, Like Son” and India’s “The Lunchbox” are among the films that were controversially ineligible for this year’s Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. But at least they’ll get to compete for the Golden Globe — along with Keanu Reeves’ “Man of Tai Chi” — as the HFPA’s longlist of 48 films is revealed.

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Peter Jackson honored by Producers' Guild for visual effects work

Posted by · 12:58 pm · November 11th, 2013

Peter Jackson and his fellow director at Weta Digital, pioneering visual effects artist Joe Letteri, are being honored by the Producers’ Guild of America for their technological achievements. They will receive the anguard Award, previous presented to the likes of George Lucas and James Cameron.

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Roundup: Britannia awards celebrate Cumberbatch and Clooney, among others

Posted by · 5:20 am · November 11th, 2013

In today’s roundup on notable online news and views, BAFTA-LA’s Britannia Awards celebrate a host of talent, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Idris Elba and George Clooney. Meanwhile, David O. Russell revealed a bit of “American Hustle” at AFI Fest, and Greta Gerwig talks about a life watching movies.

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Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hardy nab BIFA nominations, as 'Starred Up' leads the field

Posted by · 4:30 am · November 11th, 2013

The nominations for the British Independent Film Awards — the UK’s answer to the Spirit Awards — served up a mix of fresh and familiar faces, with gritty indies “Starred Up” and “The Selfish Giant” leading the way, and gentler fare like “Philomena” also finding room on the ballot.

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Alex Gibney on 'The Armstrong Lie' and the Assange connection

Posted by · 4:00 pm · November 10th, 2013

We talk to the Oscar-winning documentary director about how he had to change his entire approach on his long-gestating project about disgraced athlete Lance Armstrong. He also discusses the unexpected connection that emerged between the film and his other 2013 release, “We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks.”

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