Thompson on Hollywood

Oscar Watch: The King's Speech's Helena Bonham Carter Could Win Best Supporting Actress

The King's Speech is an Oscar favorite, and depending on how strong it is, the Brit drama could carry some awards on its coattails. While Inception, The Social Network, True Grit and Alice in Wonderland could steal some wins from The King's Speech in the technical categories, recent BAFTA winner Helena Bonham Carter could score a supporting actress nod--in a wide open field including The Fighter's dueling Melissa Leo and Amy Adams, True Grit's young newcomer Hailee Steinfeld, and Animal Kingdom's 48-year Australian veteran Jacki Weaver--for her high-brow yet low-key performance as the future Queen Mum in The King's Speech.

By Anne Thompson and Sophia Savage
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February 16, 2011 7:22 AM
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BAFTAs Go to King's Speech, Social Network, Inception, Black Swan, Alice, Dragon Tattoo UPDATED

The BAFTA Awards are under way at the Royal Opera House in London. Safe to say The King's Speech is winning many awards but is not sweeping; Inception and Alice in Wonderland are grabbing many of the technical categories. I predict that the Oscars will follow this trend.

By Anne Thompson
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February 13, 2011 7:48 AM
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Rupert Murdoch Pere Knew King's Speech Therapist Lionel Logue

In his weekend column, Wall Street Journal film critic Joe Morgenstern reveals a fascinating connection between WSJ owner Rupert Murdoch and Oscar front-runner The King's Speech: With "The King's Speech" gaining the Oscar traction it deserves—the latest boost being an expression of approval from Queen Elizabeth—I can't resist going public with a story that I've relished telling to friends, and to the people who made the movie. Several weeks before it opened, I had a conversation with Rupert Murdoch, who popped a question familiar to movie critics: What should he see?

By Anne Thompson
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February 12, 2011 7:14 AM
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Oscar Talk: Bening vs. Portman, Leo's Gaffe, Nominees Lunch, BAFTAs, Inception Surge

We're in the thick of the Oscar race now. In this week's Oscar Talk podcast, In Contention's Kris Tapley and Guy Lodge and I discuss the real contest between Annette Bening and Natalie Portman, whether Melissa Leo's glam ads are opening up the field in supporting actress, and how the Nominees Lunch and the upcoming BAFTAs on Sunday give us a sense of where the races are tipping.

By Anne Thompson
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February 11, 2011 4:59 AM
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SBIFF Oscar Directors Panel: Aronofsky, Ferguson, Granik, Hooper, Russell, Unkrich

During the final panel of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 5, Variety’s Peter Bart led a discussion among directors of Oscar-nominated films, including Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan), documentarian Charles Ferguson (Inside Job), writer-director Debra Granik (Winter’s Bone), Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech), David O. Russell (The Fighter) and Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3) before a capacity crowd at the city’s historic downtown Lobero Theater. Justin Lowe reports (video is below).

By Justin Lowe
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February 9, 2011 3:14 AM
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Academy Nominees Luncheon: 2011 Class Photo, Meeting the Coens, Keeping It Short

What becomes a legend most? A diminutive best actress nominee sitting at the center of a group photo on last year's best actor winner's lap. At last year's nominees luncheon, Jeff Bridges was hanging with genuine affection with old pal Sandra Bullock.

By Anne Thompson
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February 7, 2011 11:52 AM
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Weekly Wrap: Sundance, SXSW, SBIFF, Oscar Watch, Kings Speech vs. Social Network, In Production

FESTIVALS

By Anne Thompson & Sophia Savage
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February 5, 2011 11:18 AM
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Three Critics: Forces of Change in 2011

In our ongoing Three Critics series for AOL Moviefone, indieWIRE critics Leonard Maltin, Eric Kohn and I continue to debate the challenges facing Hollywood. I start things off:Anne Thompson: As we move into 2011, things in the movie business are not looking good. Even though 3D propped up 2010 ticket sales, attendance was down 5 percent. While many disturbing trends from 2010 will carry over to 2011, there's change in the air. Hollywood is hanging on to some bad habits, but the entertainment industry is in transition.

By Anne Thompson
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February 5, 2011 7:58 AM
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Oscar Talk: Possible King's Speech Sweep, Santa Barbara Fest, Potential Upsets

In this week's Oscar Talk, Kris Tapley and I debate a King's Speech Oscar sweep, possible Oscar upsets and share what we learned in Santa Barbara at various tributes and panels.

By Anne Thompson
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February 5, 2011 12:42 AM
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Queen Elizabeth Finds The King's Speech "Moving and Enjoyable"

Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth, has viewed The King's Speech in a private screening at Sandringham. King George VI's young daughter Elizabeth is portrayed by Freya Wilson in the film. According to The Sun's source, the Queen "loves a good film. The King's Speech is close to the bone as it is a portrayal of her family in the 1930s." She found it to be both "moving and enjoyable" and "was clearly amused by some of the lighter moments." That's one more for team King's Speech. Your move, Social Network.