Julian Assange writes Benedict Cumberbatch, ironically helps publicize 'The Fifth Estate'

Posted by · 3:07 am · October 10th, 2013

Or perhaps that’s what he meant to do?

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Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Introducing HitFix Oscar Picks!

Posted by · 10:10 am · October 9th, 2013

We’ve been teasing a new feature here at In Contention for a few months now and I’m happy that we can finally lift the veil on HitFix Oscar Picks!

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The Long Shot: Two shades of Britain

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

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

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Roundup: Let the whisper campaigns begin

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

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

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Best Actress 2014: Oscar contenders include Amy Adams, Sandra Bullock and Meryl Streep

Posted by · 5:00 pm · October 8th, 2013

HitFix’s awards editors survey the lead actress field fro Amy Adams to Shailene Woodley.

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Robin Weigert on leaving TV (and her inhibitions) behind in 'Concussion'

Posted by · 4:24 pm · October 8th, 2013

The Emmy-nominated actress is a revelation in the sexually charged indie.

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Second trailer for 'Walter Mitty' has a little more Ben Stiller flavor

Posted by · 1:24 pm · October 8th, 2013

The fantastical romance received mixed reviews at NYFF.

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Roundup: On the mastery of Emmanuel Lubezki

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

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

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Firsts and disqualifications as a record 76 countries enter foreign Oscar race

Posted by · 11:45 am · October 7th, 2013

Chad enters, but Agnieszka Holland won’t compete for the Czech Republic.

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Off the Carpet: Fox enters the Oscar season with 'The Book Thief' and 'Walter Mitty'

Posted by · 11:25 am · October 7th, 2013

This weekend, 20th Century Fox arrived to the 2013 film awards season with a pair of hopefuls that couldn’t be more different from the outside. Nevertheless, Brian Percival’s “The Book Thief” and Ben Stiller’s “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” both of which will be viewed as cloying in some circles, are made with an honesty that could stave off some of the cynicism and register. At the end of the day, though, neither is the slam dunk contender the studio may have hoped for a year after “Life of Pi.”

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How Steven Soderbergh helped edit Spike Jonze's 'Her'

Posted by · 9:50 am · October 7th, 2013

…and how Chris Cooper got the chop.

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Adrien Brody and Tim Robbins prop up China’s Oscar hopes in ‘Back to 1942’

Posted by · 8:40 am · October 7th, 2013

Will the Hollywood connection pay off this time?

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Roundup: A moderate start for 'Mitty'

Posted by · 5:05 am · October 7th, 2013

Also: Mark Harris meets Spike Jonze, and Tarantino’s best of 2013.

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Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Jane Fonda to receive AFI Life Achievement Award

Posted by · 8:50 am · October 4th, 2013

The two-time Oscar winner will receive the award in June 2014.

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Roundup: Forest Whitaker to be honored at Gotham Awards

Posted by · 4:45 am · October 4th, 2013

Also: The significance of Iran backing ‘The Past,’ and the brevity of ‘Gravity.’

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NYFF pays tribute to Cate Blanchett… and so do we

Posted by · 2:30 pm · October 3rd, 2013

The star’s sixth Oscar nod is on the way, but her career goes deeper than that.

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'Gravity' producer David Heyman: 'I would make the phone book with Alfonso Cuarón'

Posted by · 12:53 pm · October 3rd, 2013

Producer David Heyman talks to HitFix about collaborating with Alfonso Cuarón on “Gravity” five years after the two suited up for “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.”

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Filed in: HitFix · In Contention · Interviews

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

Posted by · 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.

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