Thompson on Hollywood

Avatar's VFX Master: Weta Digital's Joe Letteri

People in Hollywood tend to put film directors up on pedestals, and as far as Avatar is concerned, Jim Cameron deserves to be up there. I'm calling nine Oscar nominations for Avatar. But its one sure-shot win will be Peter Jackson and Joe Letteri's Weta Digital team for Avatar's visual effects. What they accomplished in the The Lords of the Rings trilogy and King Kong changed the way movies are made. And so does Avatar, which will have a huge impact on movie FX to come, from Tintin to Gemini Man. Nothing, it seems, will be impossible to put on film anymore.

By Anne Thompson
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December 23, 2009 11:16 AM
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Trailer Watch: Sex and the City Meets Road to Morocco

In Sex and the City 2, set for May 28 release, Michael Patrick King takes the girls on the road to Morocco. Here's the trailer.

By Anne Thompson
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December 23, 2009 5:56 AM
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Fassbender Talks Fish Tank, Inglourious Basterds, Jane Eyre, Centurion, Jonah Hex

The second I saw Michael Fassbender's performance in Steve McQueen's Hunger, in which he starred as an IRA fighter on hunger strike, I knew the Irish actor would be a star.

By Anne Thompson
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December 23, 2009 12:26 AM
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DreamWorks vs. Paramount Lives On

DreamWorks has moved on.

By Anne Thompson
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December 23, 2009 12:19 AM
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3 Comments

Sundance Adds iPhone App

This was the year film fests discovered iPhone apps; Seattle had one (pictured) and now Sundance has one too. It's featured at Apple’s iTunes site and App Store. The app delivers real-time info to attendees:Users are able to search films and events, watch videos and trailers, interact with Twitter and Facebook, upload photos, find venues using location-based services and maps and much more. Sundance Institute will update the schedule, add content and add new events in real-time. Fans will access the Sundance Film Festival film guide and schedule, read about special panels and events, access top stories, meet the participating artists, search films, and watch videos. It is available online now for $4.99.

By Anne Thompson
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December 22, 2009 10:05 AM
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Trailer Watch: District 13: Ultimatum Goes Parkour

In this sequel to District 13, police officer Damien Tomasso (Cyril Raffaell) reteams with ex-vigilante Leito (parkour master David Belle) to protect D13 from a group of corrupt officials looking to raze and redevelop the deteriorating area. Check out the hi-def trailer.

By Anne Thompson
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December 22, 2009 8:49 AM
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Bob Dylan Sings Christmas in the Heart

I like Bob Dylan's straight-ahead approach to holiday classics on his new album, Christmas in the Heart. Here's a Yahoo review, complete with recommendation for another Dylan approach to Christmas music:

By Anne Thompson
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December 22, 2009 8:21 AM
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The Long Road to Invictus

Morgan Freeman was born to play Nelson Mandela.

By Anne Thompson
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December 22, 2009 1:45 AM
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Cameron Alter Ego Feeds Twitter

Just who is @JFCameron, as in "James Fucking Cameron," on Twitter? The tweeter started channeling the mighty director on August 22 with the following: