Spike Jonze’s “Her,” Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity” and especially Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” turned up great showings in the nominations stage for the Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association this year. All three films were nominated for Best Film along with David O. Russell’s “American Hustle” and the Coen brothers’ “Inside Llewyn Davis.”
'12 Years a Slave' and 'Her' lead the way with Washington D.C. critics nominations
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:42 pm · December 7th, 2013
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Man of Steel' grounded by Best Visual Effects Oscar bake-off list
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 1:32 pm · December 5th, 2013
Sorry, it’s a little ridiculous that “Man of Steel” — I don’t care WHAT you think of the film otherwise — was left off the Academy’s list of seven bake-off finalists for Best Visual Effects. But these things are often about politics, and I imagine there was plenty of that at play here.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Golden Globes 2014 Contenders: Who is a lock for a nod and who's not?
Posted by Gregory Ellwood · 4:57 pm · December 4th, 2013
Watch out, everyone’s favorite Foreign Press Association is back and they have opinions! What are the minds behind the 2014 Golden Globes thinking about this year’s nominations? They love “American Hustle,” “Philomena,” “Inside Llewyn Davis” and…?
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Off the Carpet: With the table set, the critics are ready to have their say
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 2:23 pm · December 2nd, 2013
“American Hustle” has screened. “The Wolf of Wall Street” has screened. All the cats are out of the bag, and just in time, too. Because the critics are about to have their say.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
IPA does not see 'Wolf of Wall Street,' nominates it for five Satellite Awards anyway
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:39 am · December 2nd, 2013
The annual (questionable if harmless) Satellite Award nominations stuck out today when “The Wolf of Wall Street” was mentioned throughout. The film landed five nominations. But has the IPA seen it? After all, it’s only screened for guilds and HFPA so far. Turns out, at least according to the studio, no, they haven’t.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Emmanuel Lubezki talks artistic similarities between Alfonso Cuarón and Terrence Malick
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:21 am · December 2nd, 2013
“Gravity” cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki discusses the artistic similarities between two auteurs with whom he frequently collaborates: Alfonso Cuarón and Terrence Malick.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'The Act of Killing' and 'Gravity' top Sight & Sound's 2013 critics' poll
Posted by Guy Lodge · 10:06 am · November 30th, 2013
The annual Sight & Sound poll is one of the more comprehensive year-end critics’ surveys, and this year’s winner was a bit of a curveball: Joshua Oppenheimer’s unusual documentary “The Act of Killing.” “Gravity” was close behind, but “12 Years a Slave” missed the Top 10.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Contender Countdown: A December to remember for Oscar's Best Picture race?
Posted by Gregory Ellwood · 8:38 pm · November 29th, 2013
With critics honors just around the corner, one last look at the current best picture field for the 86th Academy Awards.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Tech Support: Space, music and the high seas clash in the race for Best Sound Mixing
Posted by gerardkennedy · 7:36 pm · November 28th, 2013
HitFix’s Gerard Kennedy surveys the field of Best Sound Mixing, from “Gravity” to “Pacific Rim” to maybe even Disney’s animated musical “Frozen.”
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Sandra Bullock (who else?) is EW's Entertainer of the Year
Posted by Guy Lodge · 12:55 pm · November 25th, 2013
Off the back of her contrasting performances in hit films “The Heat” and “Gravity,” Sandra Bullock has been named Entertainment Weekly’s Entertainer of the Year — making her the first two-time recipient of the honor. Is a second Oscar also in the offing?
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Watch 'Aningaaq,' the 'Gravity' short film companion piece
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 1:10 pm · November 20th, 2013
Last month we broke the news that Warner Bros. will be submitting the short film “Aningaaq,” a companion piece to Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity” directed by Jonás Cuarón, for Oscar consideration in the Best Live Action Short race. We also talked to the father and son about what the thought process was behind the piece. Today, well ahead of the film’s DVD/Blu-ray release, it looks like you can have a look at the short yourself.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Roundup: Bullock joins McConaughey on Palm Springs honor roll
Posted by Guy Lodge · 3:55 am · November 18th, 2013
In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, Sandra Bullock receives a Desert Palm Achievement Award — usually presented to likely Oscar nominees — from the Palm Springs Film Festival. Also, what are 2013’s best undistributed films?
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Contender Countdown: Oscar likes to party all the time
Posted by Gregory Ellwood · 2:43 pm · November 14th, 2013
It was a busy Wednesday night in Oscar-land with major events for “Inside Llewyn Davis,” “Her,” “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” and “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” all scheduled concurrently.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Tech Support: Could Alfonso Cuarón join James Cameron on an exclusive list of editors?
Posted by gerardkennedy · 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?
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Roundup: Why Ben Affleck loves 'Enough Said,' and more peer appreciation
Posted by Guy Lodge · 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?
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
The Long Shot: Acting important and playing nice
Posted by Guy Lodge · 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.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Roundup: Oscar and all tomorrow's parties
Posted by Guy Lodge · 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.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Roundup: Berlinale gets a date with 'Monuments Men'
Posted by Guy Lodge · 3:31 am · November 8th, 2013
In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, George Clooney’s “The Monuments Men” will have its international premiere at the Berlin Film Festival. Meanwhile, Judi Dench writes about her admiration for the real-life “Philomena,” and Sandra Bullock is put to the “single-actor” test.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Archives