Thompson on Hollywood

Golden Globe Nominations Announced, Bullock, Streep, Damon Get Two

The Golden Globes nominations have influence on Oscar voters, mainly in terms of steering them toward certain movies on their growing screener piles. The Globes nominations do not forecast the Oscars, and the musical/comedy category can be misleading. The Weinstein Co., which led the field with 12 nominations, is very happy this morning, as Inglourious Basterds, A Single Man and Nine scored multiple nominations. (The Road was shut out, however.) Paramount's Up in the Air boasted the most, six, including best drama, actor, director, two supporting actresses and screenplay. Avatar earned four noms including best picture and director; ex-spouses James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) will compete in that category. Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep and Matt Damon all scored two nominations apiece.

By Anne Thompson
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December 15, 2009 1:32 AM
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Crazy Schedule

I'm in Las Vegas at the International Film Festival Summit. Over the weekend I went to producer Jason Blum's celebratory party for Paranormal Activity at his super-moderne house up above Sunset Plaza. It boasts a huge view of the city and great art and an angled pool that looks like you'd swim off the edge if you weren't careful. Filmmaker Oren Peli, actors Dougray Scott and Claire Forlani, CAA's Bryan Lourd, The Daily Beast's Kim Masters, DreamWorks' Chip Sullivan, New Regency's Amy Israel, attorney Linda Lichter and ICM's Ron Bernstein were among the revelers.

By Anne Thompson
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December 7, 2009 5:58 AM
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Oscar Talk Episode Nine: Oscar Hosts, Jeff Bridges, Animation

As the Oscar race starts to come into focus, Kris Tapley of In Contention and I continue our weekly Oscar Talk. This week we both approve of Oscar co-hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, agree that Jeff Bridges has a shot at winning an Oscar at last, and with the animation list long enough for five entries, we debate what they will be.

By Anne Thompson
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November 7, 2009 11:06 AM
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Oscar Watch: Crazy Heart's Bridges Joins Actors Fray

Back in July, Fox Searchlight paid low seven figures for worldwide rights to Crazy Heart, a movie the distrib felt needed a little work in the editing room. (Here's my announcement story.) It was one of the first buys by new co-presidents Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula after Peter Rice left to run Fox TV.

By Anne Thompson
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November 4, 2009 10:14 AM
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Oscar Predicts Chart 2009

Well here’s the list of predictions for Oscar wins (in italics) in all categories including shorts. Until March 7th!

By Anne Thompson
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September 9, 2009 1:26 AM
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Fox Searchlight's Crazy Heart Acquisition Marks Changing Market

In one of the first acquisitions since Peter Rice left Fox Searchlight to run Fox TV, Searchlight co-presidents Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula acquired worldwide rights to rookie director Scott Cooper's Crazy Heart, which stars Jeff Bridges as an aging country star and Maggie Gyllenhaal as a young reporter. T-Bone Burnett supervised a country music soundtrack. The distrib paid low seven figures. "We just liked it," says one Searchlight executive.