Thompson on Hollywood

Poster Watch: Eastwood's J. Edgar Features Angry Multi-Colored DiCaprio

New word on Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar from someone who has seen it: Leonardo DiCaprio is even better as the old J. Edgar Hoover than he is as the young one. The movie, written by Milk Oscar-winner Dustin Lance Black, cuts back and forth between the beginning and the end of Hoover's stellar five-decade FBI career, and suggests the tragedy of a hidden romance between the FBI chief and his longtime assistant Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer). And yes, DiCaprio gives an Oscar-worthy performance. "To me, it's really a story of how absolute power corrupts absolutely," the star told EW. "He was always an outsider."

By Anne Thompson and Sophia Savage
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October 7, 2011 4:19 AM
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Oscar Talk: Ides of March's Clooney vs. Gosling vs. Hoffman, Supporting Categories

Now that we've both seen George Clooney's political thriller The Ides of March, Kris Tapley and I dig into not only Oscar prospects for that film, but the list of supporting players in contention for this year. We also debate the respective box office fates of Drive and Warrior as well as how success in theaters impacts a film's awards chances. (CORRECTION: Yes, Clooney won best supporting actor for Syriana and not Good Night, and Good Luck.)

By Anne Thompson
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September 30, 2011 4:15 AM
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Descendants, Clooney, Streep Top Gurus 'O Gold Oscar Rankings

The Gurus have spoken. Post-festivals, Alexander Payne's The Descendants (1) has taken over the frontrunner spot from Steven Spielberg's unscreened period war adventure War Horse (2). Interestingly, Spielberg was considering submitting the film to Venice but decided not to do so. He usually likes to wait until the last possible minute to show his films. It's better NOT to be at the head of the pack, anyway. The Descendants' George Clooney (1) is also at the front of the Best Actor race.

By Anne Thompson
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September 27, 2011 5:10 AM
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Oscar Talk: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Melancholia, Moneyball, Ides of March, New Oscar Rules

In this week's Oscar Talk podcast, Kris Tapley and I engage on several pressing Oscar fronts. We debate the impact of the Academy's new constraints on parties and Q & As and whether or not the Oscars should move up their date. We dig into several new films, Brad Pitt-starrer Moneyball and Cameron Crowe's Pearl Jam Twenty, which open this weekend, plus the upcoming Melancholia, starring Kirsten Dunst, Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy, starring the great Gary Oldman, and George Clooney's The Ides of March, starring the director opposite Ryan Gosling.

By Anne Thompson
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September 23, 2011 5:47 AM
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Honor Roll: Producers Guild Recognizes Steven Spielberg

The Producers Guild of America will honor Steven Spielberg with the 2012 David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Motion Pictures. The guild will bestow the producer, director, writer and Principal Partner of DreamWorks Studios with the award at the 23rd Annual Producers Guild ceremony on January 21st at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

By Anne Thompson and Maggie Lange
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September 21, 2011 5:36 AM
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Trailer Watch: J. Edgar Trailer Lands, "When Morals Decline and Good Men Do Nothing Evil Flourishes"

Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar will open the AFI Fest on November 3 followed by a limited release November 9. Here are more details on the star cast. Leonardo DiCaprio plays J. Edgar Hoover, ages considerably (he spent hours in makeup) over the course of the trailer and alludes to man-love with co-star Armie Hammer (Clyde Tolson). The trailer begins with a warning; "When morals decline and good men do nothing evil flourishes."

By Sophia Savage
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September 20, 2011 5:45 AM
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DiCaprio and Eastwood Talk J. Edgar in GQ Cover Story

In the latest issue of GQ, the magazine pairs the actor and director combo from biopic J. Edgar, in which Leonardo DiCaprio suits up as the famed and defamed former head of the FBI under Clint Eastwood's direction. The film will kick off this year's AFI Film FEST on November 3 before opening wide November 11.

By Maggie Lange
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September 14, 2011 8:15 AM
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Weekly Wrap: Venice and Telluride Reviews, Pre-Toronto Buys, Lifetime Achievement Awards

INTERVIEWS:

By Maggie Lange
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September 9, 2011 10:04 AM
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LACMA Honors Eastwood, Pledges Commitment to Film

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) will honor filmmaker/star Clint Eastwood and artist John Baldessari at their inaugural Art + Film Gala on November 5 as part of their stated initiative to make film a central part of the museum's curatorial program. (Really? Film Independent hired critic Elvis Mitchell to program LACMA's film series, and so far has not announced a fall program.) LACMA Trustee Eva Chow and Leonardo DiCaprio, who stars in Eastwood's upcoming biopic J. Edgar, will co-chair the event.

By Maggie Lange
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September 9, 2011 9:59 AM
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Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar to Open 25th AFI FEST

Clint Eastwood's period biopic J. Edgar will open the 25th AFI FEST on November 3. The R-rated movie, which opens limited November 9 and wide November 11, was not ready for the fall festival circuit.