Thompson on Hollywood

Now and Then: How to Ruin a Marriage Without Really Trying, from 'Carnage' to 'Virginia Woolf'

Reviews

A quick tip for anyone interested in making a film about class resentment in a recession: as the Soviet filmmakers proved, it usually helps if you're juxtaposing two distinct points of view. Roman Polanski's film "Carnage," about a quartet of outraged — and outrageous — New Yorkers, doesn't quite follow this advice. It's made for the one percent.

By Matt Brennan
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March 26, 2012 1:05 PM
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AFI FEST Books Polanski's Carnage as Gala Centerpiece, Adds Screenings

Following the lead of Venice and the New York Film Festival, this November's AFI FEST has booked Roman Polanski's four-hander comedy Carnage (December 16) as its gala centerpiece at Mann's Chinese on November 5th. Adapted by Polanski and Yasmina Reza from her hit play God of Carnage, the movie stars Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz and John C. Reilly. Here's a round-up of reviews and look at the film's award prospects.

By Anne Thompson
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October 18, 2011 6:10 AM
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American Cinematheque Ball: Downey Asks Industry to Forgive Gibson His Trespasses

Robert Downey, Jr. and a posse of pals celebrated his American Cinematheque achievement award Friday night at the Beverly Hilton. Downey took advantage of the occasion to plead with the crowd on behalf of his surprise presenter, Mel Gibson (video below), who sat during the show at a table with Iron Man director Jon Favreau, Justin Theroux, Gary Shandling and Jodie Foster, to "forgive my friend his trespasses" as they had forgiven Downey his. "Allow him to continue his great and ongoing contribution to our collective art without shame, he has hugged the cactus long enough." The two men, visibly moved, hugged.

By Anne Thompson
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October 15, 2011 12:35 PM
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Harper's Bazaar Celebrates Iconic Scorsese Movie Scenes, New Casts: Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Gangs

Harper's Bazaar celebrates Martin Scorsese by recasting and photographing some of his most memorable scenes, and talking with his collaborators. Here's a taste.

By Sophia Savage
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October 13, 2011 12:30 PM
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Oscar Talk: Clooney Leads Best Actor Field, Davis Leads Best Actress, Carnage Non-Contender

In this week's Oscar Talk podcast, In Contention's Kris Tapley and I debate Roman Polanski's NYFF-opener Carnage, which fails to improve on the play and is not going to be an Oscar contender, we agree, although I think it's an upscale crowd-pleaser. (My updated Oscar Chart is here.)

By Anne Thompson
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October 7, 2011 5:44 AM
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Polanski's Carnage: Reviews, Oscar Prospects

Roman Polanski's Carnage played well in Venice and opened the New York Film Festival Friday night. Adapted by Polanski from Yasmina Reza's Tony-winning comedy God of Carnage, which was a hit in Paris, London, New York and Los Angeles, the movie will be catnip for Sony Pictures Classics' target art house adult demo when it opens December 16. Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz and John C. Reilly are all stellar as two well-heeled New York couples who start out politely trying to negotiate an apology from one pugnacious son for knocking out the other's front teeth with a stick. Things deteriorate from there.

By Anne Thompson
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October 1, 2011 1:03 AM
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Oscar Talk: Venice and Telluride, Carnage, Ides of March, W.E., Contagion, The Artist

In Contention's Kris Tapley is here in Telluride with me, while Guy Lodge is in Venice. We all got on Skype for this week's Oscar Talk, which delves into early reaction to Venice titles from George Clooney (The Ides of March), Madonna (W.E) and Roman Polanski Carnage and a movie Kris and I saw in L.A., Steven Soderbergh's Contagion, as well as Cannes title The Artist, which is showing in Telluride. Friday Kris and I should get a crack at The Descendants, Martin Scorsese's George Harrison doc and Albert Nobbs, starring Glenn Close.

By Anne Thompson
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September 2, 2011 3:00 AM
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Venice Reviews of Carnage Have Jodie Foster Coming Out On Top of Polanski's Actors Showcase

Reviews have landed for Roman Polanski's Carnage, playing at the Venice Film Festival. Here's our report on Day Two (including W.E. and Carnage reviews). Polanski's film is an adaptation of Yasmena Reza's popular French play, God of Carnage, which most recently played at Los Angeles' Ahmanson theater with Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini and Marcia Gay Harden. That's a stellar cast to top. The difference here is that Polanski's equally impressive cast of Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, Jodie Foster and John C. Reilly shot the play on film (though it's not necessarily very cinematic), and were stuck in an apartment in Paris made to look like New York instead of on a stage. Read the buzz and trailer below. SPC will release the film December 16.

By Sophia Savage
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September 1, 2011 5:46 AM
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Venice Film Festival, Day Two: Madonna's W.E. is Forgettable; Polanski's Carnage Giddily Enjoyable

London-based TOH correspondent David Gritten reports on Day Two of the Venice Film Festival:

By David Gritten
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September 1, 2011 5:23 AM
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Venice Film Festival, Day One: George Clooney's Ides of March is a Winner, Review and Fest Preview

The Venice Biennale got off to a strong start with The Ides of March, reports London-based TOH correspondent David Gritten:How perfect a choice was George Clooney’s The Ides of March to open the Venice Film Festival today? Let us count the ways. Firstly, this political thriller fits Venice like a silk glove. It’s smart, sophisticated and politically astute, written with a shrewd intelligence and featuring stars (Clooney himself, Ryan Gosling, Evan Rachel Wood and Marisa Tomei) who offer Hollywood glamour while engaging in work that’s more than a cut above routine Hollywood product. The Ides of March also offers two terrific supporting performances from Grade-A character actors (Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giammatti), doing the kind of work that makes European critics and audiences sit up and take notice.