THIS IS 40

With the recent reveal of the Academy’s list of Best Original Song qualifiers — all 75 of them — the music branch has a wide swath of popular artists to choose from. Of course, the branch tends to focus on the work itself, not necessarily the talent involved, but it’s worth mentioning that Fiona Apple, Florence + the Machine, Karen O, Christina Aguilera, Adele, Keith Urban, Mumford and Sons, The Bootleggers & Emmylou Harris, Arcade Fire, Dolly Parton, Katy Perry, Paul Williams, Jordin Sparks and Norah Jones are all in the mix. That’s quite the role call.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

10 outside-the-box considerations as the Academy votes

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 1:12 pm · December 18th, 2012

With ballots in Academy members hands as of yesterday, the great settling is off and running. Various critics groups and top 10 lists have narrowed the pile enough that voters have a pretty good idea of the landscape in each category. More than that, “frontrunners” have staked their claim on the race, leaving precious little space for dark horses to maneuver.

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention

Exclusive: Judd Apatow asks Mike Nichols for advice

Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:58 pm · December 13th, 2012

Last month, “This is 40” director Judd Apatow and legendary filmmaker Mike Nichols (“The Graduate,” “Primary Colors”) sat down for a discussion at the Museum of Modern Art here in New York cheekily titled “Judd Apatow asks Mike Nichols for Advice.”

Filed in: HitFix · In Contention