As we steel ourselves for the season ahead with early lists of contenders and a harsh spotlight on unassuming films hoping to find an audience, let alone awards traction, it’s worth remembering that the list of coulda-been players in a given Oscar season is long and considerable.
10 would-be Oscar contenders that went nowhere
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:39 pm · August 8th, 2013
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Movieline takes on the Razzies with the Soily Awards
Posted by Guy Lodge · 2:42 am · March 13th, 2012
With the Razzie Awards firing at the same predictable targets, Movieline has aimed a little higher with their rival Soily Awards for 2011’s worst achievements in film.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Oscar Guide 2011: Best Makeup
Posted by Guy Lodge · 8:10 am · February 13th, 2012
The nomination race for the Best Makeup category was a competitive one, leaving us with one fantasy franchise never before recognized in the category, and two prosthetic feats in service of Best Actress-nominated performance. We break down their chances.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Breaking Oscar's biopic addiction
Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:15 pm · January 31st, 2012
If the results of Sunday’s SAG Awards are repeated at the Oscars, it’ll be the first time since 1997 that all four acting awards go to actors playing fictitious characters. Are voters slowly getting more resistant to biopics?
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
The Lists: Top 10 things we learned about the Academy today
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:13 am · January 24th, 2012
It’s been a busy morning. The nominees are out. About a thousand different variations of “it’s humbling and exciting” are coming through from the various contenders. And all eyes are fixing on February 26. But as we transition into phase two of the 2011-2012 film awards season, it’s worth it to pause and consider what we might have learned today.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Albert Nobbs,' 'Beginners' and 'Weekend' feature in Gay & Lesbian critics nominations
Posted by Roth Cornet · 7:03 pm · January 10th, 2012
The Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association has announced its list of nominees this year, and out front with two mentions apiece were “Albert Nobbs,” “Beginners” and “Weekend.”
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'The Help' leads SAG nominations, Demián Bichir surprises in Best Actor
Posted by Guy Lodge · 5:51 am · December 14th, 2011
The SAG Awards tend to hew closely to Oscar prognosticators’ lists, but they handed us a few wild cards this morning — not just in terms of who they nominated, but who they left out.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Bridesmaids,' 'The Help' among films cited for AFI's 2011 top 10 list
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:41 am · December 11th, 2011
The AFI has issued its top 10 list for 2011, and the usual raft of ineligibilities paved the way for dubious films to make the cut. As always.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Artist,' 'Tinker,' 'Shame' and 'Marilyn' among contenders not eligible for WGA
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 3:52 pm · December 2nd, 2011
As happens every year, a list of potential Oscar nominees is ineligible for WGA consideration due to a number of issues (signatory concerns, paperwork avoidance, etc.). This year, though, the list seems particularly long.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Oscarweb Round-up: Predicting NYFCC
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:04 am · November 24th, 2011
In today’s round-up, Tom O’Neil surveys pundits for their NYFCC picks, Michael Phillips bravely calls “Raiders of the Lost Ark” overrated and Walter the Muppet talks his dream gig opposite hero Kermit the Frog.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Oscarweb Round-up: Pitching Chaplins for 'The Artist'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:21 am · November 22nd, 2011
In today’s round-up, Charlie Chaplin’s granddaughters are brought out to promote “The Artist,” new Muppet Walter had a movie star model and Jon Hamm writes a love letter to Kristen Wiig.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Oscarweb Round-up: HFPA don't need no stinkin' stars
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:10 am · November 21st, 2011
In today’s round-up, the HFPA assures it isn’t full of star-f***ers, Jason Reitman presides over a live reading of “The Apartment” and Warner Bros. takes a stab at bringin “Contagion” into the Best Original Screenplay conversation.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Meryl Streep is good-to-great in meh-to-good 'Iron Lady'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 2:18 pm · November 17th, 2011
Phyllida Lloyd’s “The Iron Lady” shares a lot in common with Clint Eastwood’s “J. Edgar.” They portray conservative figures in political history with broad strokes despite attempting to flesh them out as nuanced characters. But mostly, they serve as hindrances to performances that could have won Oscars in a cake-walk.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Tech Support: 'Hugo' and 'Harry Potter' set the scene for Best Art Direction
Posted by gerardkennedy · 1:24 pm · November 17th, 2011
In this week’s installment of Tech Support, we transition over to Best Art Direction. Films in the thick of it include the period design of “Hugo,” “War Horse,” “J. Edgar” and “The Artist,” as well as the fantasy elements of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” “Thor” and “Captain America: The First Avenger.”
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Are J. Edgar’s contradictions a mirror for the country that created him?
Posted by Roth Cornet · 6:32 am · November 14th, 2011
Clint Eastwood’s “J. Edgar” seems to be at odds with itself where establishing a cohesive portrait is concerned. But in so doing, does it in fact serve as a reflection of philosophical conflict within the US?
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Tell us what you thought of 'J. Edgar'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:43 am · November 11th, 2011
The film hits theaters this weekend.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Brian Grazer to the rescue
Posted by Guy Lodge · 4:54 pm · November 9th, 2011
After the Ratner-Murphy fiasco, Oscar-winning producer Brian Grazer looks like a safe pair of hands for the Oscar show.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
The Lists: Top 10 performances in Clint Eastwood films
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:31 am · November 8th, 2011
With Leonardo DiCaprio’s work in “J. Edgar” on the way, we take a look at the greatest performances from Clint Eastwood cinema. Examples who made the cut include Kevin Costner in “A Perfect World,” Jessica Walter in “Play Misty for Me” and even Eastwood himself makes an appearance.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
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