In Contention

Bradley Cooper has been moving right along with his post-“Silver Linings” playbook. He’s currently shooting David O. Russell’s “American Hustle” and smartly backed away from the on-going circus that is “Jane Got a Gun” this week. Earlier today it was announced that Steven Spielberg will be tackling “American Sniper” with Cooper in the lead role as the most lethal sniper in US military history, while he attached himself to the Steven Knight-scripted “Chef” not too long ago.

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AMPAS names finalists for Student Academy Awards

Posted by Guy Lodge · 12:16 pm · May 2nd, 2013

43 short films will compete across six categories.

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Robert Downey Jr.'s 10 greatest performances to whet your 'Iron Man 3' appetite

Posted by Guy Lodge · 11:11 am · May 2nd, 2013

Tomorrow Robert Downey Jr. suits up once again as Marvel’s keystone in Shane Black’s “Iron Man 3.” It’s expected to be the end of a trilogy, though we’ll surely see Tony Stark again (as the film’s closing credits promise). It’s also a bit of a door closed on the actor’s rebirth which began, in no uncertain terms, with his return to insurability in the 2008 original. What better time, then, than to look back on his finest work over the last three decades?

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Justin Timberlake and 'Dreamgirls' producer team for music biopic 'Spinning Gold'

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:03 am · May 2nd, 2013

Justin Timberlake has worked with filmmakers like David Fincher, Clint Eastwood and the Coens as of late, but now he’s poised to take on a big leading role in a biopic of 1970s record icon Neil Bogart.

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William Friedkin to receive Golden Lion for lifetime achievement at Venice Film Festival

Posted by Guy Lodge · 10:20 am · May 2nd, 2013

Fest will also present a restoration of the Oscar-winning director’s ‘Sorcerer.’

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Cannes Check 2013: Asghar Farhadi's 'The Past'

Posted by Guy Lodge · 3:00 am · May 2nd, 2013

Continuing our cheat sheet for the Cannes Competition.

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LA film fest announces 2013 line-up: 'Fruitvale Station,' 'Only God Forgives,' 'Way, Way Back'

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:13 am · May 1st, 2013

Film Independent has revealed the line-up for this year’s Los Angeles Film Festival, cherry-picking this and that from Sundance and Cannes with a few other things thrown in here and there.

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Soderbergh on the state of the industry, and why 'cinema is shrinking'

Posted by Guy Lodge · 8:30 am · May 1st, 2013

The Oscar-winning director gave a keynote address at the San Francisco Film Festival.

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'Vertigo,' 'The Last Emperor' (in 3D) and Emmanuelle Riva get a fresh look at Cannes

Posted by Guy Lodge · 6:50 pm · April 30th, 2013

Festival section, now in its tenth year, focuses on film heritage and restoration.

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Cannes Check 2013: Amat Escalante's 'Heli'

Posted by Guy Lodge · 1:35 pm · April 30th, 2013

Continuing our cheat sheet for the Cannes Competition.

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Tom Hanks lands a Tony nomination for his Broadway debut in 'Lucky Guy'

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:58 am · April 30th, 2013

I kind of feel like I can’t let a year lived in New York go without some commentary on the Tony Awards, which we rarely really get into around here. Alas, looking across the nominees, I see I’ve missed a great many of the top players so far. But I’ll get to them. At least I have a bit of a cheat sheet now.

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Woody Allen heads back to France with Colin Firth and Emma Stone

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:17 am · April 30th, 2013

The last time Woody Allen went to France, the result wasn’t too bad. 2011’s “Midnight in Paris” scored a number of Oscar nominations, for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and even a surprise bid for Best Production Design (formerly Best Art Direction). Allen himself won his third writing Oscar to date, and his fourth overall, for penning the script, beating out stiff competition from Best Picture winner “The Artist.” Well it seems he’s heading back for his next film, which will go into production this year.

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