Thompson on Hollywood

Jessica Chastain on CIA Agents & Actresses, Sex Symbol Status & Redheads in British GQ

Interviews

British GQ got Jessica Chastain to strip down for a bedroom-set photo shoot--often the standard for young actresses breaking into the mainstream with sex-symbol status, whether they want to do it or not (in the THR Actresses roundtable the women share stories). But Chastain seems genuinely happy to be playing the part.

By Sophia Savage
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November 29, 2012 1:20 PM
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Foreign Oscar Watch: Nicolaj Arcel Talks Denmark's 'A Royal Affair'

Interviews

One of the front runners in the current foreign film Oscar race is Nicolaj Arcel's "A Royal Affair," starring Danish star Mads Mikkelsen and newcomer Alicia Vikander in a true romantic royal triangle. The film won screenwriting and actor prizes (for rookie Mikkel Boe Følsgaard as King Christian VII) at Berlin and is in current stateside release from Magnolia.

By Anne Thompson
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November 26, 2012 6:47 AM
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Immersed in Movies: A CG Tiger to Die for in 'Life of Pi' (VIDEO)

Awards

Don't be surprised if Ang Lee's "Life of Pi" is right up there competing for the VFX Oscar with "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" and all the other prestigious front runners. It's that good. In fact, Richard Parker, the integral tiger, is arguably the best photorealistic CG animal ever created. What a performance: the way he interacts with Suraj Sharma's Pi in such close proximity on a lifeboat. The tiger exhibits such believable expression and nuance; he uses the space underneath the tarp first as shelter and then to observe and control his turf. It's truly an amazing character arc, bolstered by the most spiritual and dimensional use of 3-D yet, which only enhances its Oscar chances.

By Bill Desowitz
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November 23, 2012 1:58 PM
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George Clooney on Fame, Failure & Success, Cuaron's 'Gravity' and 'Monuments Men'

Interviews

George Clooney shares many words of wisdom -- on fame, success, failure, etc -- In his interview for Omega's Lifetime magazine (he's a spokesman). He also talks about his upcoming "Gravity" directed by Alfonso Cuaron (he gushes over the "Children of Men" filmmaker and says co-star Sandra Bullock is "off-the-charts great"). Clooney's next directing project, the caper heist film "The Monuments Men," has a tone similar to "The Great Escape" and "Bridge Too Far."

By Sophia Savage
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November 23, 2012 1:23 PM
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Ang Lee Deconstructs Cross-Cultural Cinematic Feat 'Life of Pi': "don't let them tell you, it's your film language"

Interviews

"Life of Pi" marks a high degree of difficulty flight off the diving board for Ang Lee, who took a decade to get it made. And given the technology required to achieve the visual effects--including a Bengal Tiger--the film couldn't have gotten made any sooner than it did. I grabbed Lee for a mere 22 minutes. (We last talked about "Brokeback Mountain.") Here's our conversation.

By Anne Thompson
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November 21, 2012 2:22 PM
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Hopkins Talks Playing 'Hitchcock,' Insecurities and the Dark and Feminine Sides of the Legendary Director

Interviews

During his transcontinental satellite press conference, Anthony Hopkins revealed details on playing the titular role in Sasha Gervasi's "Hitchcock." Hopkins, who once met Alfred Hitchcock, talks about his insecurities playing the role, his excitement to work with a first time narrative feature director, human nature and Hitch's dark and feminine sides. Check out some highlights courtesy of Hollywood & Mine. Read our review of "Hitchcock" here.

By Sophia Savage
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November 20, 2012 4:58 PM
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Guillermo del Toro Talks 'Rise of the Guardians,' 'Pacific Rim' and Designing Monsters

News

Guillermo del Toro has an insatiable appetite for new projects, it seems. He set fanboy sites sizzling recently with the news that he's in talks to direct DC’s “Dark Universe” for Warner Bros. That would give him the chance to bring to life Deadman, Zatanna, Sargon, Etrigan the Demon and Phantom Stranger...For the moment, he's still focused on another set of characters in new animated feature “Rise of the Guardians."

By Jordan Riefe
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November 20, 2012 4:29 PM
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NEW FACE: Alicia Vikander Talks 'A Royal Affair' and 'Anna Karenina' (EXCLUSIVE VIDEO)

Interviews

Not since Ingrid Bergman's 1939 debut in "Intermezzo" has a young Swedish actress made such a splashy transition from her native cinema. In this case, Alicia Vikander, age 24, stars in not one but two award season pictures. Vikander, a trained ballerina who opted to act instead of dance, stars in Joe Wright's "Anna Karenina," in the pivotal role of Kitty, who breaks her lover Levin's heart, as well as Danish Oscar entry "A Royal Affair," in which she plays a lonely English noblewoman who marries the King of Denmark.

By Anne Thompson
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November 20, 2012 3:00 PM
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Actresses Cotillard, Watts, Hathaway, Weisz, Field, Hunt & Adams Talk Fear, Fame, Nudity & Gender at THR Roundtable

Interviews

This year's THR Actress Roundtable features a smattering of lead and supporting actress contenders: Marion Cotillard ("Rust and Bone"), Naomi Watts ("The Impossible"), Helen Hunt ("The Sessions"), Anne Hathaway ("Les Miserables"), Sally Field ("Lincoln"), Rachel Weisz ("The Deep Blue Sea") and Amy Adams ("The Master"). The women discussed career challenges, the roles they've had to turn down, fight for, and the ones they're hungry to play, and gender imbalance in the industry. Check out some highlights below as well as our interviews with Cotillard, Watts and Weisz.

By Sophia Savage
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November 20, 2012 2:40 PM
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Oscar Dark Horse: Suraj Sharma Talks 'Life of Pi' (EXCLUSIVE VIDEO)

Interviews

Nineteen-year old Suraj Sharma gives an astonishing performance as Pi Patel in Ang Lee's "Life of Pi" (November 21). And it will likely be his last. He has no intention of acting again. (See video below.)