As Oscar’s phase one drew to a close and the nominations were set to be unveiled, the film press corps was getting its first look at one movie that dodged all of that commotion last year: George Clooney’s “The Monuments Men.” It’s set for release next week and with its arrival, one can only ask: was Sony smart to move it out of the season?
George Clooney's 'Monuments Men' was smart to dodge the Oscar season
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:00 am · January 29th, 2014
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Former Academy president Tom Sherak passes away
Posted by Guy Lodge · 1:46 am · January 29th, 2014
A former distribution chief at Fox, and president of Academy during one of its most contentious periods, Tom Sherak lost his battle with cancer yesterday aged 68.
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Roundup: Oscars to pay tribute to 'Oz'
Posted by Guy Lodge · 1:44 am · January 29th, 2014
In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, this year’s Academy Awards ceremony will feature a 75th anniversary tribute to “The Wizard of Oz.” Meanwhile, the ACE names its lifetime achievement honorees.
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HitFix's downloadable Oscar ballot
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 2:07 pm · January 28th, 2014
The Oscars are on the way and with it, a slew of viewing parties and office pools in need of downloadable Oscar ballots. Well, look no further, because HitFix has you covered. Print a bunch of these out and pass them around at your Oscar night gathering, and get a leg up on your friends by studying the race with us here each and every day in the lead-up to the Academy Awards.
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Gayle King says Oprah Winfrey doesn't feel snubbed after Oscar nominations
Posted by Dave Lewis · 12:30 pm · January 28th, 2014
One of the big names missing when the Oscar nominations were revealed earlier this month was media mogul Oprah Winfrey, who won acclaim for her supporting turn in “Lee Daniels’ The Butler.” Her good pal Gayle King spoke to HitFix about the supposed snub in the video interview posted above.
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Oscar-nominated live action shorts aim for the gut, the heart and the funnybone
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:51 am · January 28th, 2014
This year’s live action short film nominees make for a stacked a race in keeping with the overall trend throughout the Oscars this year: thick competition.
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Jake Gyllenhaal and Daniel Radcliffe among Canadian Screen Award nominees
Posted by Guy Lodge · 8:51 am · January 28th, 2014
Denis Villeneuve’s “Enemy,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal, and Xavbier Dolan’s festival hit “Tom at the Farm” lead the way for the Canadian Screen Awards.
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Albert Brooks joins Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac in 'A Most Violent Year'
Posted by Guy Lodge · 6:45 am · January 28th, 2014
The ensemble for "All is Lost" director J.C. Chandor’s third feature is shaping up promisingly, with Albert Brooks the latest high-profile name to join the 1980s-set crime drama.
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Emma Thompson bows out of Santa Barbara film festival honor
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 5:30 am · January 28th, 2014
Santa Barbara Film Festival Modern Master Award recipient Emma Thompson has bowed out of receiving the honor this year on the heels of missing out on an Oscar nomination for her work in “Saving Mr. Banks.” “Nebraska” star Bruce Dern has been announced as the new honoree.
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Roundup: The rise of real romance at the movies
Posted by Guy Lodge · 3:00 am · January 28th, 2014
In today’s roundup of notable online news and views, does the prevalence of complex love stories at the movies last year augur as change in the rom-com formula? Also: Dinging ‘American Hustle,’ and hope springs eternal for ‘The Croods.’
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Off the Carpet: How the BAFTA Awards could actually matter this year
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 1:21 pm · January 27th, 2014
After the industry events of the last few weeks, “Gravity” has to be considered the de facto frontrunner in this year’s Best Picture race. With a PGA award (albeit half of one) and a DGA honor in tow, it tends to be a done deal this time of year. But this isn’t a typical year by any stretch, and the BAFTA Awards could actually matter for a change.
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Helen Mirren to receive BAFTA Fellowship
Posted by Guy Lodge · 8:44 am · January 27th, 2014
The four-time BAFTA winner has been selected as this year’s recipient of the British Academy’s highest honor, set to be presented at the awards ceremony on February 16.
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Stories of survival, forgiveness and artistry highlight Oscar's documentary short subject race
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:20 am · January 27th, 2014
This year’s documentary short subject Oscar race is a varied blend of profiles with a harrowing eye-witness account added for good measure. They tell stories of Holocaust survivors and earthworks artists, forgiveness, compassion and solidarity. It’s a pretty strong assortment for voters to choose from with no clear winner from afar.
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Jeremy Renner, 'Skyfall,' David Fincher: Hollywood's 2014 Grammys presence
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:59 pm · January 26th, 2014
Adele, Pharrell Williams and David Fincher were among the list of current and former Oscar nominees to win Grammys Sunday night.
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Alfonso Cuarón wins DGA prize for 'Gravity,' is Oscar next?
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:57 pm · January 25th, 2014
Surely coming as a surprise to precious few, “Gravity” director Alfonso Cuarón has just won the Directors Guild of America (DGA) prize for theatrical motion pictures. He beat out fellow Oscar nominees Steve McQueen (“12 Years a Slave”), Martin Scorsese (“The Wolf of Wall Street”) and David O. Russell (“American Hustle”), as well as “Captain Phillips” helmer Paul Greengrass to land his first such honor from the guild.
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Oscar Talk: Nominations postmortem (finally) and Sundance chatter
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 3:45 pm · January 24th, 2014
On this week’s podcast, Kris and Anne finally get around to assessing the 2014 Oscar nominations. There is also the 30th annual Sundance Film Festival to consider, players from which we might be discussing this time next year.
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Mickey Mouse and Disney square off with independents in animated shorts Oscar race
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:36 pm · January 24th, 2014
HitFix’s Kristopher Tapley analyzes this year’s crop of Best Animated Short Film nominees. From hand-drawn independent productions to high-gloss corporate-backed endeavors, there is a lot to consider, but the charm of one unassuming entry might make it the one to beat.
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'Grace of Monaco' to open the 67th Cannes Film Festival
Posted by Guy Lodge · 8:11 am · January 24th, 2014
After being booted from the 2013 release schedule, there’s light at the end of the tunnel for the Nicole Kidman-starring Grace Kelly biopic: it will premiere as the Cannes opening film on May 14.
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