Thompson on Hollywood

Now and Then: The Soul of Netflix's New Series? The BBC's 'House of Cards'

Reviews

"Lilyhammer," Netflix's first foray into original programming, failed to generate sustained attention when it premiered last year. One suspects this won't be true of its star-studded second attempt, "House of Cards," debuting Friday. Except Netflix's latest isn't so novel after all: its animating force is the BBC's mostly excellent original.

By Matt Brennan
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January 29, 2013 12:03 PM
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Academy and MoMA Present Annual 'Oscar's Docs' Series, Features 50 Years of Oscar-Winning Feature and Short Documentaries

Awards

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is again teaming with MoMA to present "Oscar's Docs, 1955-2002: American Stories" from February 2-14 in New York City. This annual collaboration highlights the Oscar-winning feature and short documentaries that explore culture and politics of the U.S.

By Beth Hanna
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January 29, 2013 11:59 AM
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'Jobs' Sundance Review Round-Up: Ashton Kutcher Nearly Pulls Off Steve Jobs Impersonation (VIDEO)

Reviews

"jOBs", directed by Joshua Michael Stern, is a straight-forward biopic, following the visionary's journey from hippie college dropout to ruthless technology czar. The movie, which closed the Sundance Festival on Friday, features Ashton Kutcher as the Apple genius - a role he acknowledged was a big risk for him. At the premiere, Kutcher said: “I knew I was throwing myself into a gauntlet of criticism, and this became the most terrifying thing I have done in my life.” Many critics think that he deserves lampooning, but others praise the natural physicality he brings to the role.

By Maggie Lange
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January 28, 2013 5:30 PM
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'Lincoln' Screenwriter Tony Kushner Honored with Writers Guild's Paul Selvin Award

Awards

"Lincoln" screenwriter Tony Kushner will receive the Writers Guild's 2013 Paul Selvin Award, in recognition of his script that "best embodies the spirit of the constitutional and civil rights and liberties, which are indispensable to the survival of free writers everywhere."

By Sophia Savage
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January 28, 2013 4:20 PM
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'Oz the Great and Powerful' Super Bowl Teaser

Video

Disney ran a TV spot on Sunday night's SAG awards for Sam Raimi's big-budget revisit of L. Frank Baum's wonderful world of Oz (March 8), entitled "Oz The Great and Powerful." Produced by Hollywood vet Joe Roth, the movie stars Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams as a trio of witches, wicked and otherwise, and James Franco as a hapless Kansas circus magician who somehow becomes a wizard. I have no problem with reentering this wonderful world--brought to the screen in the classic "Wizard of Oz" musical starring Judy Garland, Ray Bolger et al. The wizard in that film, caught behind the curtain, was played by Frank Morgan.

By Anne Thompson
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January 28, 2013 3:35 PM
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Sony Movie Channel Honors Black History Month with Tuesday Night Double-Features Showcasing Poitier, Freeman, Washington and Pryor

News

In recognition of Black History Month, the Sony Movie Channel is dedicating its Tuesday night "Take Two" programming to films featuring African-American stars. The films in each double feature block are linked by actor -- Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, Sidney Poitier and Richard Pryor all get their own themed evenings.

By Beth Hanna
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January 28, 2013 3:25 PM
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Watch: New Trailer for Fincher-Spacey Collaboration 'House of Cards,' Netflix Shows Strong Hand

Video

Netflix is baring its original-content teeth with this new trailer for "House of Cards," (its taut first trailer is also below). The series is directed (in part) and executive produced by David Fincher, and stars Kevin Spacey as a ruthless congressman out for blood in the Washington D.C. shark tank.

By Anne Thompson and Beth Hanna
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January 28, 2013 2:58 PM
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Immersed in Movies: Composer Alexandre Desplat Talks 'Argo'

Features

With "Argo" seizing momentum in the Best Picture Oscar race after its impressive SAG and PGA victories over the weekend, there's also potential spillover in other categories, including Original score. Alexandre Desplat is a five-time nominee, at the top of his game in "Argo" and long overdue for Oscar gold.

By Bill Desowitz
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January 28, 2013 2:45 PM
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Weekend Recap: 'Inside Llewyn Davis' Update, New Trailers, Original 'X-Men' Returns, Ebert Oscar & Sundance Guides

News

- As we've already predicted, the Coens' "Inside Llewyn Davis" will likely premiere at Cannes, according to this NYTimes update. As we reported when we leaked the trailer, the movie will screen at the Sony lot for assorted music industry folks as well as potential buyers right before the Grammys. (No, we can't get in.) The film, about a West Village troubadour based on Dave Van Ronk, features Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, and Justin Timberlake - who will all sing.

By Maggie Lange
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January 28, 2013 2:22 PM
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Watch: Top Ten Charlie Rose Director Interviews, Kubrick on '2001: A Space Odyssey' (VIDEO)

Interviews

The Cinephile Archive has posted a round-up of the top ten Charlie Rose interviews on film directors - beginning with George Lucas, then Alfred Hitchcock, James Cameron, Steve Jobs and John Lasseter, Quentin Tarantino, Stanley Kubrick, Roman Polanski, Oliver Stone, Tim Burton, and Werner Herzog.