Also: Farewell to Hoberman, and Hollywood’s fear of gay sex
Round-up: Davis and Clooney are EW's Oscar cover stars
Posted by Guy Lodge · 7:53 am · January 5th, 2012
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Black Film Critics Circle taps 'The Help' best of the year
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 6:13 pm · December 20th, 2011
The Black Film Critics Circle has chosen “The Help” as the best film of the year. The film won four other awards, including Best Actress for Viola Davis. “Pariah” director Dee Rees won Best Director, one of three awards for the film. And Albert Brooks added yet another honor to his mantle.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Women critics like 'The Help,' 'The Iron Lady' and 'The Whistleblower'
Posted by Roth Cornet · 5:31 pm · December 20th, 2011
The Women Film Critic Circle has come out in strong favor of “The Help,” “The Iron Lady” and “The Whistleblower.” The association has made selections that feel generally in line with the films and performances one would imagine ought to be be highlighted in this year’s landscape. Though I will confess their choices are seasoned with one or two surprises.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Off the Carpet: Setting the field with the precursors so far
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:41 am · December 19th, 2011
In just three weeks we’ve gone from zero to a hundred on the circuit as the film awards landscape has been sculpted into a bit of a consensus in these waning moments of 2011. Let’s see what that consensus appears to be.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'Descendants,' 'Drive' win big at Satellite Awards
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:52 am · December 19th, 2011
After nominating any and everything under the sun, the International Press Academy (Satellite Awards) has tapped “The Descendants” as this year’s Best Picture of the year. The group, however, gave “Drive” a field-leading four wins, and overall, it’s a unique set of superlatives.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
'The Tree of Life,' Woody Harrelson honored by African American Film Critics Association
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 11:41 am · December 12th, 2011
The African American Film Critics Association has joined the massive role-call of year-end superlative-dishing. They went their own way in a number of areas and tapped “The Tree of Life” as the year’s best film.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Indiana critics like 'The Artist,' Paul Giamatti, Elizabeth Olsen
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 8:07 am · December 12th, 2011
The Indiana Film Journalists Association has, like many before it, given its the Best Picture prize to “The Artist.” But there were a few notable singular choices throughout their list, particularly in the acting races.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Octavia Spencer to receive Breakthrough Award at Palm Springs
Posted by Guy Lodge · 9:09 am · December 8th, 2011
It’s never too late to be recognized as a “breakthrough performer”: 15 years after making her screen debut, “The Help” supporting star Octavia Spencer has been honored with the Breakthrough Performance Award at the Palm Springs festival.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
The Long Shot: Vehicle trouble
Posted by Guy Lodge · 5:11 pm · December 7th, 2011
Many Oscar-watchers are describing this year’s Best Actress race as “weak,” a pejorative that has less to do with the fine performances in play than the iffy films many of them happen to find themselves in. But does it have to be that way?
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Santa Barbara fest to honor Viola Davis as 'Outstanding Performer of the Year'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 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.”
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Oscarweb Round-up: Sneaking 'Zoo'
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 7:03 am · November 28th, 2011
In today’s round-up, Cameron Crowe’s “We Bought a Zoo” screened for the public, Ralph Fiennes talks his directorial debut, “Coriolanus” and THR rounds up this year’s actress hopefuls.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Oscarweb Round-up: 'The Help' is no laughing matter, says HFPA
Posted by Guy Lodge · 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 […]
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
The Long Shot: Big enough for the both of us
Posted by Guy Lodge · 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.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention
Off the Carpet: Streep and Davis head up a tight but lacking pack of Best Actress contenders
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 12:09 pm · October 10th, 2011
Moving on to the lead actress contenders today, we dig in on who’s looking good, who’s lacking and who could spoil.
Filed in: HitFix · In Contention