Thompson on Hollywood

Oscar Talk: What Can Topple The Artist? New Ballots Change Race; Top Five Actresses; Lagging Christmas Contenders

Awards

In this week's Oscar Talk, after a holiday hiatus Kris Tapley and I come back to assess the Oscar race just as Academy voters get their ballots in the mail. This time, there will be five slots for an undetermined number of Best Picture candidates.

By Anne Thompson
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December 31, 2011 12:04 PM
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Farhadi Talks Oscar Front-Runner A Separation; Divorce Drama Questions Iran's Future

Awards

Iranian Oscar submission "A Separation" was the final film shown at Sneak Previews this year; we went out on a high note. The film has been winning prizes since it was first shown in Berlin and won the Golden Bear. It has landed on many ten best lists and is a likely foreign film Oscar nominee.

By Anne Thompson
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December 30, 2011 7:42 PM
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Weekly Wrap: Holiday Box Office, Oscar Watch, First Looks, The Year in TV in 3 Minutes

Features

Five Reasons "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" Isn't Kicking Ass at the Box Office; Now and Then: Two Docs Test the Limits of What We Know about Who We Love; Holiday Box Office Caps Disappointing Year: Only "Mission Impossible" Scores.

By TOH!
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December 30, 2011 6:25 PM
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What Happened to Contagion?

Awards

It’s completely disappeared from any awards conversation, including, incredibly, best screenplay and direction. When I saw it, I thought it was the second great movie of the decade. At least "The Social Network" was a real contender up to the wire. I was certain that "Contagion" would be the same.

By Terry Curtis Fox
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December 30, 2011 3:07 PM
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Now and Then: Why The Descendants Should Win Best Picture

Reviews

"The Descendants" starts slow, muddied by voiceover and unclear intentions. But it soon sneaks up on you, deepening — ripening, really — until it achieves something approaching wisdom.

By Matt Brennan
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December 30, 2011 2:55 PM
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Empire Polls Actors' 2011 Faves with Surprising Results

Reviews

I love the choices made by a gaggle of actors polled by Empire Magazine for their fave films of 2011. "Jane Eyre" and "Take Shelter" were on my ten best list, and 'Attack the Block" made my top 20. Here's a sample of some must-see, often offbeat films. I will have to check out "The Adopted."

By Anne Thompson
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December 30, 2011 11:12 AM
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Will The Iron Lady's Nasty Reviews Hurt Meryl Streep at the Oscars?

Reviews

Well, these are not the reviews Harvey Weinstein had in mind when he backed "The Iron Lady." So far the movie is scoring 64% on Rotten Tomatoes. Stateside critics are praising Meryl Streep's impeccable portrait of a much-revered and reviled British leader, while many question Phyllida Lloyd's direction as one-sided and overly revisionist.

By Anne Thompson and Maggie Lange
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December 29, 2011 2:47 PM
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Five Reasons Why The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Didn't Kick Ass at the Holiday Box Office

Box Office

No question, Sony isn't happy with the early holiday returns on David Fincher's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." Why did the studio put this violent R-rated counterprogrammer into the holiday window opposite "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol"? It got creamed, grossing only $19 million over the four days and $24 over six days in release.

By Anne Thompson
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December 29, 2011 12:40 PM
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SAG Nominee Demian Bichir Landed A Better Life By Playing Castro for Soderbergh: But Will Tom Hanks Watch It?

Awards

Demian Bichir, scion to a theater family in Mexico City, was at the height of his fame 20 years ago when he decided to come to the States, first to New York and then L.A., to find his way in Hollywood.

By Anne Thompson
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December 29, 2011 6:57 AM
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FIRST LOOK: Playful Images from Pixar's Brave and Tim Burton's Frankenweenie

News

Disney is doling out tantalizing new tidbits (images, trailers, and posters) with practiced restraint to build anticipation for both Pixar's "Brave" (June 22, 2012) and Tim Burton's "Frankenweenie"(October 5, 2012).