Thompson on Hollywood

The White Ribbon Wins Three European Film Awards

The European Film Awards gave The White Ribbon best picture, and best director and script to Michael Haneke. Une Prophete won awards for best actor, Tahar Rahim, and sound design. Best Actress went to Kate Winslet for The Reader. Anthony Dod Mantle won cinematography for both Antichrist and Slumdog Millionaire.

By Anne Thompson
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December 13, 2009 8:55 AM
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LA Film Critics Anoint Mo'Nique, Waltz, Up in the Air Screenplay in First Round of Voting

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association has awarded Mo'Nique the best supporting actress prize for Precious, and Chistoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) best supporting actor in their first round of voting. Jason Reitman won best screenplay for Up in the Air. Winners so far are on the jump.

By Anne Thompson
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December 13, 2009 8:33 AM
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Boston Critics Go for The Hurt Locker, Renner, Streep

Sunday is a big day for critics voting. We expect the Los Angeles Film Critics, AFI, and New York Film Critics Online, which is awarding most of their prizes so far to Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, to announce their winners today.

By Anne Thompson
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December 13, 2009 8:18 AM
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Oscar Watch: Fifteen Films Up for VFX Oscar

James Cameron's Avatar will win the best VFX Oscar. But that doesn't mean that 14 other semi-finalists won't try to get nominated for three slots. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the 15 films (on the jump).

By Anne Thompson
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December 11, 2009 9:29 AM
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Up in the Air: Opening Sequence

One of my favorite opening sequences from a movie is Jason Reitman's for Up in the Air, which sets the tone perfectly for the movie. It's a swinging cover of "This Land is Your Land" and was designed by Shadowplay. It was devilishly hard to shoot. I asked Reitman about this; his full answer is on the jump (and the full interview is here).

By Anne Thompson
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December 11, 2009 9:06 AM
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Oscar Talk Episode Fourteen: James Cameron's Avatar

Yes, Kris Tapley and I saw James Cameron's Avatar Thursday night at the Mann Chinese 6 with a house full of eager critics, from David Ansen and Scott Foundas to Karina Longworth and Andy Klein. Kris and I were both wowed by it (here's my review) and devoted the entire podcast to Avatar and its Oscar chances. It will land noms for best picture and director (not acting or screenwriting), and a slew of technicals. And the other VFX hopefuls can pack up and go home, basically. Weta and Joe Letteri will be on the stage on Oscar night.

By Anne Thompson
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December 11, 2009 8:41 AM
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Avatar: Cameron Delivers Joyous Cinema

James Cameron's Avatar takes you to an exotic world, Pandora, seen through the sad eyes of paraplegic marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) as he falls in love with tribal princess Neyteri (Zoe Saldana) and her people, the Na'vi.

By Anne Thompson
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December 11, 2009 3:22 AM
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Avatar Early Reviews: Geni is Out of the Bottle

While Fox tried to cap the reviews on Avatar with an embargo, London's Guardian reviewed from the premiere (where MTV's Josh Horowitz tweeted the red carpet) and The Hollywood Reporter posted an early review, then Variety. (The rest will follow: the Avatar embargo has been lifted by Fox.) Tweets have been ongoing since the screenings began on the East Coast. On my Twitterfeed at least, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Holding the embargo on this one was a fantasy.

By Anne Thompson
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December 11, 2009 12:03 AM
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Year End Wraps: Ten Best of 2009 and Decade

Without having seen Avatar, I've posted my ten best of the year and the decade.

By Anne Thompson
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December 10, 2009 11:40 AM
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Oscar Duel: Yes, It's Good, but is Precious An Oscar Movie?

In this dueling blog, Moviefone's resident Oscarologist Jack Mathews and I discuss the Oscar merits of festival and indie box office hit Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire. We both agree that the inner-city drama about a sexually and emotionally abused teenage girl and the dedicated teacher who raises her self-esteem is a profoundly moving human story. But does it have the right stuff to make the Best Picture ballot for the 2009 Academy Awards? Mathews first.