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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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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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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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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Academy Unveils Dull New Oscar Poster

Awards

The Academy has unveiled a rather unimaginative poster for the 84th Academy Awards with the tagline: "Celebrate the movies in all of us."

By Anne Thompson
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December 28, 2011 9:20 AM
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Immersed in Movies: 'War Horse' Production Designer Rick Carter Talks Spielberg, War, 'Gone with the Wind'

Awards

Long-time Steven Spielberg collaborator, production designer Rick Carter, is obsessed with "the nature of conscience and the Goya-esque disasters of war."

By Bill Desowitz
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December 28, 2011 8:15 AM
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'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo': Zaillian Streamlines, Improves on Detective Duo in Larsson's Neo-Noir

Awards

Hollywood studio execs consider Steve Zaillian to be their number one literary adapter. He won the Oscar for "Schindler's List," after all, and could wind up with an Oscar nomination for "Moneyball" as well this year, which he serially co-wrote with another alpha Oscar-winner, Aaron Sorkin (the two have agreed only to talk about the film together).

By Anne Thompson
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December 27, 2011 3:49 PM
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The Challenger to The Artist is The Descendants

Awards

As Academy members get their ballots this week, if one movie can challenge "The Artist" in the race for the Best Picture Oscar, it's "The Descendants." For one thing, with $33 million in the till after the Christmas holidays, where it landed in the top ten, it's a box office hit in a way that "The Artist" is not.

By Anne Thompson
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December 27, 2011 12:05 PM
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Kenneth Branagh Asks: Would Marilyn Tweet? Talks Movies of Wallander and Shakespeare

Awards

It makes sense that Kenneth Branagh idolizes Sir Laurence Olivier. After all, both actors have directed themselves in Shakespeare's plays on stage and screen, including "Henry V."