Oscar Talk: Ep. 72 — Gothams, Indie Spirits, NYFCC, NBR and 'We Bought a Zoo'

Posted by · 7:39 am · December 2nd, 2011

In this week’s podcast, Kris and Anne discuss a busy week for the awards circuit, from the Gotham Awards to the Indie Spirit award nominees to the New York film critics vote to the National Board of Review announcement. And somehow they find time to talk Cameron Crowe’s “We Bought a Zoo,” too.

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'Hugo' leaps into the Best Picture race with National Board of Review win

Posted by · 11:17 am · December 1st, 2011

Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo” has been tapped as the best film of the year by the National Board of Review. George Clooney took Best Actor honors for “The Descendants” and Tilda Swinton walked away with Best Actress for “We Need to Talk About Kevin.”

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Santa Barbara fest to honor Viola Davis as 'Outstanding Performer of the Year'

Posted by · 11:29 am · November 30th, 2011

Viola Davis gets a nice feather in her cap on her march to an Oscar nomination for her work in “The Help.”

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'The Artist' wins Best Picture, Best Director from NYFCC

Posted by · 9:14 am · November 29th, 2011

The New York Film Critics Circle has completed voting on this year’s list of film superlatives, and given the profiles of films like “Moneyball” and “The Tree of Life” a boost in the process. But it was “The Artist” that walked away with the goods.

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Tech Support: John Williams charges back to lead the field of Best Original Score hopefuls

Posted by · 8:07 am · November 24th, 2011

In this week’s installment of Tech Support, we turn our gaze toward Best Original Score. Those in the hunt include John Williams, Alexandre Desplat, Howard Shore and Alberto Iglesias.

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Tech Support: 'Hugo' and 'Harry Potter' set the scene for Best Art Direction

Posted by · 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.”

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Oscarweb Round-up: 'The Help' is no laughing matter, says HFPA

Posted by · 5:31 am · November 17th, 2011

Hey, has there been a more hilarious performance all year than Viola Davis’s wackily oppressed, zanily bereaved maid in “The Help?” There has, you say? Whatever. Anyway, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is with you, as they’ve barred DreamWorks’s planned strategy to campaign the film in the Musical/Comedy races at the Golden Globes. The Globes […]

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Oscarweb Round-up: The year of the dog

Posted by · 6:28 am · November 14th, 2011

“The Artist” is looking an increasingly safe bet in any number of Oscar categories, but Best Supporting Actor isn’t one of them, and it’s all because Academy rules bar canine actors from competing. That’s a tough break for the film’s remarkable Jack Russell prodigy Uggy, who’s no less deserving than some past human nominees in […]

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The Long Shot: Big enough for the both of us

Posted by · 3:48 pm · November 9th, 2011

“The Help” star Jessica Chastain is just one of 2011’s strong Oscar hopefuls needing to wrestle attention away from a more heavily hyped co-star: an annual dilemma in the awards race.

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Off the Carpet: Building the perfect strategy

Posted by · 11:06 am · October 31st, 2011

It takes all kinds. Finding the right strategy to navigate an awards season is a tricky thing and it varies, naturally, from film to film. Whether it’s “Young Adult” of “The Artist” or “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” there is no mold, no skeleton key, no single solution.

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Oscarweb Round-up: Protesting 'Anonymous'

Posted by · 8:45 am · October 25th, 2011

In today’s round-up, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is protesting “Anonymous” in a curious fashion, Steve Jobs is on a list of potential writers of a Steve Jobs biopic and “The Artist” takes yet another audience award.

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'Harry Potter,' George Clooney, Michelle Williams honored with Hollywood Film Awards

Posted by · 4:02 pm · October 24th, 2011

The Hollywood Film awards were held tonight, marking the first awards ceremony of the season. All honorees were previously announced. George Clooney and Michelle Williams won top acting honors while the public-voted Hollywood Movie Award went to “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.”

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Tech Support: Period pieces from 'Hugo' to 'W.E.' stand out for Best Costume Design

Posted by · 8:03 am · October 20th, 2011

In Tech Support this week we tackle the category of Best Costume Design. Strong contenders include Madonna’s “W.E.,” Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo” and Steven Spielberg’s “The Help,” among others.

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Redgrave and the ladies of 'The Help' lead the conversation on Best Supporting Actress

Posted by · 9:51 am · October 17th, 2011

Rounding out four weeks of performance analysis this week, we turn to Best Adapted Screenplay. Contenders include Vanessa Redgrave, Octavia Spencer, the ubiquitous Jessica Chastain and Shailene Woodley, among others.

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Oscarweb Round-up: 'Christmas' poised to strike?

Posted by · 7:31 am · October 7th, 2011

In today’s round-up, Sony trots out “Arthur Christmas” director Sarah Smith for some London press, Ryan Gosling reveals the man who broke his heart and we have an exclusive clip of Lars Von Trier’s “Melancholia.”

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Interview: Michael Shannon on 'Take Shelter,' director Jeff Nichols and 'it' girl Jessica Chastain

Posted by · 1:54 pm · September 27th, 2011

We sit down with “Take Shelter” star Michael Shannon, who delivers one of the year’s powerhouse performances in the film. He discusses his developing creative bond with director Jeff Nichols and how impressed he was with co-star Jessica Chastain.

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Oscarweb Round-up: An early FYC for Mélanie Laurent in 'Beginners'

Posted by · 5:17 am · September 27th, 2011

In today’s round-up, Sasha Stone’s personal FYC notices prompt the same from me, Bryce Dallas Howard discusses her various roles this year and Steven Zeitchik wonders if “The Lion King 3D” is initiating a change in how theatrical is utilized.

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Plummer, Gordon-Levitt, Chastain and Jones tapped for Hollywood Fest honors

Posted by · 11:13 am · September 26th, 2011

The Hollywood Film Awards has announced four new honorees for this year’s gala. Christopher Plummer will win a supporting actor prize for “Beginners,” Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Jessica Chastain will receive breakthrough actor awards, while Felicity Jones’s work in “Like Crazy” earns her the New Hollywood Award.

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