Thompson on Hollywood

Costumes are Earthy, Intricate, and Architectural for "Snow White and the Huntsman"

Features

Fact is, we have fairy tale fatigue. But something about "Snow White and the Huntsman" did catch our eye: its gorgeous, haunting costumes. The trailer for Rupert Sanders' upcoming translation of the Grimm's story shows earthy, exquisite, architectural clothing. The credit goes to Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood.

By Maggie Lange
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May 19, 2012 1:35 PM
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Immersed in Movies: Oscar-Winner Dante Ferretti Talks Retro 'Hugo'

Features

As we come down to the wire, it appears to be a foregone conclusion that Oscar belongs to "The Artist" and "Hugo" in a strange alignment of early moviemaking nostalgia. But while "The Artist" will likely score the top three prizes for picture, director, and actor, "Hugo" seems destined to take most of the technical awards.

By Bill Desowitz
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February 28, 2012 1:49 PM
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Inside Look: Behind the Costumes in 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'

Features

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" turns out to be a decent boxoffice performer, although it may have cost too much. But that shouldn't displease moviegoers. Check out Vanity Fair on the creative process behind the stunning visuals in the David Fincher film.

By Maggie Lange
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January 8, 2012 12:34 PM
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My Week in New York: Hugo, War Horse, Turin Horse, Parties, Marilyn, Book of Mormon

Monday night's mystery screening of Martin Scorsese's work-in-progress 3-D Hugo (featurette below) marks my last screening at this year's New York Film Festival. The reason that the movie was shown without completed effects or a final score (by Howard Shore) is that it's a cinephile's dream, and the NYFF audience couldn't have been a more receptive crowd. While the movie should work with families over the Thanksgiving holiday, and producer Graham King (nervously pacing in the rear of the theater as ushers passed out 3-D glasses) assured me that they wouldn't have shown the film if the movie wasn't going to finish on time, Paramount wanted to build buzz for the film via the festival and this was the only way to do it.

By Anne Thompson
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October 11, 2011 4:22 AM
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Thirty Faces of Comedy

And they're all Amy Poehler! New York Magazine posts a slide-show of Polaroid tests for thirty of Parks and Recreation comedienne Amy Poehler's characters. She performed them for the comedy-troupe Upright Citizen's Brigade, profiled by the magazine this week.

By Maggie Lange
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September 28, 2011 4:20 AM
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Comic-Con: Snow White and The Huntsman Details Arrive, Dueling Theron and Stewart, Gritty Images

We've been tracking the dueling Snow Whites and herewith share more details on Universal's Snow White and the Huntsman revealed by the filmmakers and cast at Comic-Con, along with some pre-production images and footage.

By Sophia Savage
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July 24, 2011 2:22 AM
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Debbie Reynolds' Costume Collection: A Glimpse Before It Goes on Auction June 18

On Tuesday night, the Paley Center in Beverly Hills hosted a cocktail party for Debbie Reynolds and the incredible costume, props and photos she has collected over the past forty years that will be auctioned off beginning on June 18. Cari Beauchamp reports:

By Cari Beauchamp
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June 9, 2011 12:24 PM
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Cannes Review: Why is Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides in Fest?

What motivates a groggy, jet-lagged scribe to crawl out of bed for an 8:30 AM press screening of Pirates of the Caribbean? Schadenfreude. The word on the Croisette was that the fourth Pirates installment was lousy. Safe to say I wasn't expecting to have a good time. (I didn't even see Number Three, even though it boasted Chow Yun-Fat.)

By Anne Thompson
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May 14, 2011 10:48 AM
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Meek's Cutoff: Professor Kelly Reichardt's Filmmaking 101 Primer

Kelly Reichardt teaches filmmaking at Bard College in New York, and writes and directs rigorous low-budget indie films on the side. Her latest, Meek's Cutoff, is even better than her last, Wendy and Lucy, which was better than Old Joy, which I found a tough slog. Star Michelle Williams may have made some of the difference on the last two, but perhaps in spite of herself, Reichardt's austere, thoughtful films are gaining accessibility as she goes along. In person, she's seriously charming. Herewith, Professor Reichardt's tips for making a good indie movie:

By Anne Thompson
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April 21, 2011 8:19 AM
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SXSW Video: Catherine Hardwicke Talks Red Riding Hood, Twilight, Women in Hollywood

Women directors really do have a tough time. So many factors work against them, no matter how successful they are, in terms of what the powers that be will let them do. Big-budget action films? Mimi Leder and Kathryn Bigelow are among the few who have been allowed into that club. Back in the day when Renny Harlin and Rachel Talalay both directed hit horror sequels, he got a career and she didn't. Even after Twilight, Hardwicke couldn't land the gig directing The Fighter, which went to a director, David O. Russell, who had been in movie jail. It's a boys' club, one in which failure for women is not tolerated. After she turned down the Twilight sequel because it was on a fast track and she wanted more time, Hardwicke tried to make Hamlet with Emile Hirsch, but has yet to raise the money.