Thompson on Hollywood

Weinstein Co. Begins Production on 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' Sequel in May

News

The Weinstein Company will reportedly start production in May on a sequel to Ang Lee's Oscar-winning "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." Lee is not returning to helm the film; directing reins will instead go to veteran Chinese director Ronny Yu.

By Beth Hanna
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January 25, 2013 12:54 PM
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Leonard Maltin to Host 3-D Creative Arts Awards, Ang Lee Honored with Creative Achievement Award for 'Life of Pi'

News

Renowned critic, author and film historian Leonard Maltin will host the International 3-D Society's fourth annual 3-D Creative Arts Awards on February 6.

By Beth Hanna
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January 25, 2013 12:43 PM
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Writing 'Life of Pi': David Magee Talks the Mother of Adaptations

Awards

After ten long years of painstaking development, "Life of Pi" finally made it to the screen. And there were many times that Fox 2000 chief Elizabeth Gabler, who optioned it right after it was published, did not think that it would happen. Only when Ang Lee came along four years ago did it become possible. The device of using the older Pi (Irfann Khan) as the window into the story came from screenwriter David Magee, who was hired on the basis of his moving Oscar-nominated screenplay for the J. M. Barry biopic "Finding Neverland."

By Anne Thompson
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January 2, 2013 2:49 PM
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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
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December 31, 2012 1:09 PM
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Highlights from LA Times Directors Roundtable with Bigelow, Affleck, Russell, Lee, Hooper and Gervasi

News

Six directors talk shop for the LA Times' directors roundtable. John Horn is joined by Kathryn Bigelow ("Zero Dark Thirty"), Ben Affleck ("Argo"), Tom Hooper ("Les Miserables"), David O. Russell ("Silver Linings Playbook"), Ang Lee ("Life of Pi") and Sacha Gervasi ("Hitchcock") to discuss their films, working with actors...

By Sophia Savage
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December 21, 2012 3:59 PM
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'Life of Pi' Dominates Las Vegas Critics: Best Picture, Director & Cinematography

Awards

The Las Vegas Film Critics Society has shown some love for Ang Lee's "Life of Pi," which has been otherwise shut out from this season's critics' awards (yet earned Best Picture and Director Golden Globe nominations). The film received Best Picture, Best Director and Best Cinematography, while Daniel Day-Lewis and Jennifer Lawrence were recognized in the lead acting categories for "Lincoln" and "Silver Linings Playbook," respectively. Full list below.

By Beth Hanna
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December 13, 2012 12:11 PM
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Sony Chief Pascal Is Gung Ho on Strong Women, from Salander to Cleopatra

News

Sony Pictures co-chairman Amy Pascal is gung-ho on "Zero Dark Thirty." At the film's Hollywood premiere Monday night, the studio chief, who acquired the film from financeer-producer Megan Ellison's Annapurna Pictures, was proud of the film's tough CIA agent heroine, played by SAG nominee Jessica Chastain, who could score big during awards season. The studio is giving the movie a big awards push in advance of its limited holiday and wide January release.

By Anne Thompson
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December 12, 2012 1:01 PM
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Watch: Tarantino, Russell, Van Sant, Lee, Affleck & Hooper Talk Directing at THR Roundtable

Video

Check out the new Hollywood Reporter roundtable interview with Quentin Tarantino, David O. Russell, Gus Van Sant, Ang Lee, Ben Affleck and Tom Hooper, in which the directors discuss tough onset moments, "difficult" brothers, navigating temper tantrums, early retirement plans and more. Full video and highlights below.

By Beth Hanna
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November 29, 2012 12:30 PM
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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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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.