Thompson on Hollywood

Academy Voters Try to File Ballots Online, Bedeviled by Passwords and Safari UPDATE

Awards

On Friday, Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences member Don Murphy posted on Facebook that he had sent in his Oscar ballot, "signed sealed and delivered." Why not use the brand-new electronic voting system? "Too much work," was his reply.

By Anne Thompson
|
December 31, 2012 1:16 PM
|
5 Comments

More:

Gorgeous 'Life of Pi' Filming Locations in Pondicherry, India

News

Check out Guardian's photo gallery of locations in Pondicherry, India used in Ang Lee's "Life of Pi." Among the settings used for the film are the Botanical Gardens, which were transformed into Pi's family's zoo...

By Beth Hanna
|
December 31, 2012 1:09 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

Weekend Recap: Director Interviews with Stone and Coppola, January Releases, and More Best of 2012

News

By Maggie Lange
|
December 31, 2012 1:08 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

Trailers from Hell: Dan Ireland on 'Bus Stop,' Starring Marilyn Monroe

Video

New Year's Potpourri week begins at Trailers from Hell with director Dan Ireland introducing "Bus Stop," featuring Marilyn Monroe in her first screen performance after studying with Lee Strasberg, and directed by Joshua Logan ("Picnic").

By Trailers From Hell
|
December 31, 2012 11:02 AM
|
0 Comments

More:

Critics Weigh in on Worst Movies of 2012

News

Critics let the fur fly when they unleash their scorn on the year's worst movies, the dregs at the bottom of the barrel, the flicks that really waste their time. For your reading pleasure we present an assortment of "Worst Movies of the Year" lists. Our own is right here.

By Maggie Lange
|
December 31, 2012 7:00 AM
|
33 Comments

More:

TOH! Worst Movies of 2012

News

Anne Thompson and TOH! writers Maggie Lange, Beth Hanna, Matt Brennan, and Jacob Combs share their picks for Worst Movies of 2012.

By TOH!
|
December 31, 2012 6:12 AM
|
65 Comments

More:

Arthouse Audit: 'Zero Dark Thirty,' 'Amour' Lead Limited Releases

Box Office

With the Top Ten continuing to skew to adult-oriented, critically acclaimed films, specialized theaters playing more limited releases continue to scuffle, often at levels below previous holiday seasons. "Zero Dark Thirty" and "Amour" stood out again in their two-city platforms, although both declined in their second weeks, while multi-city openings of "Promised Land" were modest at best. The increase for "The Impossible" in its second stanza would be more promising if it weren't quickly headed for wide release.

By Tom Brueggemann
|
December 30, 2012 4:20 PM
|
2 Comments

More:

Post-Holiday Weekend Box Office: Three Top Films Battle for Placement

Box Office

Three juggernauts grossing $28 million or more dominated a strong post-Christmas weekend, all jockeying for position since last Tuesday. The shakeout led to the top film on December 25 ("Les Miserables") falling to third by the weekend, beat out by top dog "The Hobbit" followed by "Django Unchained." But all three films contributed to a weekend total more than 20% above last year's results.

By Tom Brueggemann
|
December 30, 2012 1:34 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

Boffo Four-Day Holiday Box Office, Led by 'The Hobbit,' 'Django Unchained' & 'Les Miserables,' Rings Out Record Year

Box Office

It's an embarrassment of riches. The days following Christmas have been a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs in grosses. On Friday, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" repeated the #1 spot it regained on Thursday, but "Django Unchained" climbed ahead of "Les Miserables" for #2, with the latter falling to #3 narrowly after leading all films on Tuesday and Wednesday.

By Tom Brueggemann
|
December 29, 2012 4:10 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

Veteran Ann Dowd Makes Her Own Awards Bid for Controversial 'Compliance' Role

Interviews

Ann Dowd has been acting for over 30 years. She landed the juiciest movie role of her life this year, in Craig Zobel's Sundance hit "Compliance," and she's running with the ball. She has little extra cash, but a pal in New York, Stephen Holt, connected her with a publicist willing to help her out. And she landed a supporting actress win from the National Board of Review and nominations from the Critics Choice and Independent Spirit Awards. That put her on the awards radar, at least.