Algerian director Rachid Bouchareb can’t get back on track in his latest American-set feature, which premiered yesterday at the Berlin Film Festival.
Review: Forest Whitaker hits a dead end in dry desert thriller 'Two Men in Town'
Posted by Guy Lodge · 8:15 pm · February 8th, 2014
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Oprah reflects on 'The Color Purple,' America's disinterest in news and '12 Years a Slave'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:12 am · February 6th, 2014
“Lee Daniels’ The Butler” star Oprah Winfrey was feted at the 29th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival Wednesday night with the Montecito Award. She spoke at length about her minimal but accomplished work on the big screen, beginning with the moment that changed her life: Steven Spielberg’s “The Color Purple.”
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Forest Whitaker and 'Before Midnight' team to receive honors at Critics' Choice Movie Awards
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:43 am · January 14th, 2014
The Broadcast Film Critics Association has announced recipients of honorary awards for the upcoming Critics’ Choice Movie Awards being held on Thursday, Jan. 16.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Off the Carpet: Will Harvey have his first Oscar off-year since 2007?
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:08 pm · January 6th, 2014
Harvey Weinstein has had a heck of a Best Picture run since getting the Weinstein Company’s engine revved in 2008 with “The Reader.” But does all of that look to come to an end with 2013’s slate?
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Forest Whitaker reflects on an amazing year at Santa Barbara Kirk Douglas Award fete
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:44 pm · January 5th, 2014
As Forest Whitaker transitioned into 2014 last week, there was certainly plenty for the actor to reflect upon. He stretched himself considerably in 2013 and was a perfect choice for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s 8th annual Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence, which was presented at a fundraising dinner in advance of the fest Sunday night.
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On the curious nobility of Peter O'Toole's unlucky Oscar history
Posted by Guy Lodge · 2:27 pm · December 15th, 2013
With eight Best Actor nods, the late Peter O’Toole holds the record among actors for most Oscar nominations without winning. Looking over his nominated performances, from “Lawrence of Arabia” to “Venus,” we reflect on the dignity of that unlucky statistic.
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'12 Years a Slave' and 'The Butler' impress African-American Film Critics Association
Posted by Guy Lodge · 3:20 pm · December 13th, 2013
“12 Years a Slave” and “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” were the clear favorites as the African American Film Critics’ Association named their winners, while Sandra Bullock and Oprah Winfrey took their first acting wins of the season.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Fruitvale Station' to receive PGA's Stanley Kramer Award
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:29 am · December 13th, 2013
The Producers Guild of America (PGA) has announced that Ryan Coogler’s Sundance sensation “Fruitvale Station” will be the recipients of this year’s Stanley Kramer Award.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Redford snubbed and 'Dallas' gets a boost in otherwise unsurprising SAG announcement
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:04 am · December 11th, 2013
This morning’s Screen Actors Guild (SAG) nominations announcement wasn’t going to have a lot of surprises. At this stage, most of the players are known. It’s a dense race, however, so the only question was, who was going to get squeezed out?
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Inside Llewyn Davis' wins Best Feature at the 2013 Gotham Independent Awards
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:19 pm · December 2nd, 2013
The 23rd annual Gotham Independent Awards were handed out tonight at Cipriani Wall Street in New York, and it was the Coen brothers’ “Inside Llewyn Davis.” However, “Fruitvale Station” walked out with a pair of awards in the breakthrough categories.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Forest Whitaker and Nick Offerman lend their voices to Oscar hopeful 'Ernest and Celestine'
Posted by Guy Lodge · 11:23 am · November 8th, 2013
Adorable French animation “Ernest and Celestine” has been charming critics since Cannes last year, and is a dark horse in the Best Animated Feature race. Only now, however, is it getting asn English-language voice cast, with Forest Whitaker, Nick Offerman and Lauren Bacall among the big names.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Roundup: Bond producers honored by PGA
Posted by Guy Lodge · 3:21 am · October 31st, 2013
In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, James Bond franchise producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson receive an honorary Producers’ Guild Award. Meanwhile, Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto take their seats at the Hollywood Reporter’s actors’ roundtable, and ‘The Wire’ writer David Simon reflects on ’12 Years a Slave.’
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Forest Whitaker scores an early Oscar season honor
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 4:30 am · October 25th, 2013
Forest Whitaker, star of “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” and a ubiquitous figure in this year’s movie awards season, has been tapped by the Santa Barbara Film Festival for the annual Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film. Previous recipients include Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Harrison Ford, Quentin Tarantino, Ed Harris, John Travolta
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Roundup: Forest Whitaker to be honored at Gotham Awards
Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:45 am · October 4th, 2013
Also: The significance of Iran backing ‘The Past,’ and the brevity of ‘Gravity.’
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Nebraska,' 'Furnace' and 'Walter Mitty' set to screen as AFI Fest centerpieces
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:31 am · September 30th, 2013
Scott Cooper’s “Out of the Furnace” has mostly dodged the 2013 fall festival circuit, but with first a Rome fest announcement and now placement as an AFI Fest centerpiece, it’s looking to make some noise just before it opens theatrically. Meanwhile, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” and “Nebraska” will also play the fest as centerpiece screenings.
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
Tell us what you thought of 'Lee Daniels' The Butler'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:04 am · August 16th, 2013
Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey stir the early Oscar talk this weekend.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Will 'Lee Daniels' The Butler' be an awards season preface or just a puffy prelude?
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:00 pm · August 8th, 2013
Showbiz 411’s Roger Friedman — who some would call a noted Harvey Weinstein shill — bloviated about “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” under the cover of “Oscar observation” a few weeks ago but apparently no one else could. The embargo is up today so let’s get into it. The question on this one is, will it be an awards player or just fade out before the season even gets here? A few thoughts…
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
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