Thompson on Hollywood

Top Thirty Indie Films

Check out this list of the 30 most significant indie films in the last 30 years (full list, which includes three edited by the late great Sally Menke, is below).

By Sophia Savage
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September 29, 2010 5:23 AM
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Worthington Heads Home, Hurt Locker Reality Show, Brolin Talks

- Sam Worthington is heading home to Perth, Australia to shoot surfing drama Drift, in which he plays a photographic journalist who helped to turn surfing into a worldwide industry. After several big-budget Hollywood films, the actor is excited to be involved in this $11-million project, he says, to "put something back into my home town...There's something pure and true about surfing, and there is something pure and true about this script." (There was also something pure about his performance to in 2004's Somersault opposite Abbie Cornish). This may be the perfect project for him to rediscover the satisfaction of low-budget acting away from the blue-screen razzle-dazzle of Avatar, Clash of the Titans and Terminator: Salvation.

By Sophia Savage
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August 24, 2010 5:30 AM
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Bigelow's Triple Frontier, Republican vs. Democrat Women, The Expendables' Patriotic Divide

- The Wrap uncovered an email of Paramount interest re: what's in the cards for the studio (unofficial). For example, Kathryn Bigelow's next feature Triple Frontier (written by Hurt Locker Oscar-winner Mark Boal), an action-adventure set in the border zone between Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil), may star an ensemble of Will Smith, Sean Penn, Javier Bardem and Christian Bale. A thriller is in the works from Bad Robot mastermind J. J. Abrams (the original idea about the game "7 Minutes in Heaven" turning deadly came from Lost director Jack Bender, who may take the reins). The script for the Tom Clancy reboot featuring a new Jack Ryan needs re-writes (also possibly being directed by Bender), and Hansel and Gretel is "beginning casting conversations" (this fairy-tale turned comedy reintroduces the pair 15 years after their gingerbread house fiasco, when they've become witch bounty hunters. All of these works in progress are subject to change, natch. Paramount production chief Adam Goodman can't be very happy at being caught with his pants unzipped.

By Sophia Savage
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August 18, 2010 7:36 AM
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Bigelow, Moore Join Academy Board of Governors

Let's face it. Most of the Hollywood veterans who serve on the Motion Picture Academy board of governors, while august and admirable, are older males. While documentarian/provocateur Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine) is no spring chicken, in the world of the Academy, being in your 50s counts as young. And fellow Oscar-winners Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) and editor Anne Coates (Lawrence of Arabia) are women to boot. The Academy recently elected the three first-time Academy governors, along with nine incumbents and three filmmakers returning after a hiatus.

By Anne Thompson
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July 7, 2010 5:40 AM
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Oscar Winner Bigelow in L.A. Superior Court

The week after winning two Oscars for directing and producing The Hurt Locker, Kathryn Bigelow was standing in line at L.A.'s Superior Court. Fulfilling her duty as a citizen, she turned up for jury duty and was placed in the jury pool for a drunk driving case.

By Anne Thompson
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March 16, 2010 4:32 AM
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Oscar Night Red Carpet Montage: Clooney, Bullock, Mo'Nique

Here's a montage of video that I shot on the red carpet on Oscar night.

By Anne Thompson
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March 11, 2010 2:49 AM
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Oscar Talk Episode 25: The Final Wrap-up

Kris Tapley and I wrap up the Oscar season, from my night on the red carpet, backstage and at the Governor's Ball and how the show played, to why Geoffrey Fletcher's adapted screenplay beat Jason Reitman's for Up in the Air and Avatar won only three Oscars.

By Anne Thompson
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March 9, 2010 2:31 AM
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Oscar Video Round-Up: Opener, Chartier, Hurt Locker Victory Laps, Parties, Fashion

There's some juicy Oscar material out there about the most-watched show in five years. At the Governor's Ball, Sandra Bullock was among the nominees getting her Oscar engraved (everyone got their own statues engraved except Jeff Bridges; notable no-shows were Tivi Magnusson, producer of short The New Tenants, and Sandy Powell, costume designer of Young Victoria). Exhausted producer Bill Mechanic said that he and Adam Shankman had aimed for a more populist show (his red carpet interview is below).

By Anne Thompson
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March 9, 2010 1:19 AM
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Oscar Box Office Bump? Nope. Except for Crazy Heart and An Education

TOH box office analyst Anthony D'Alessandro lays out which films--if any--got a bump from this year's expanded Oscar derby.

By Anthony D'Alessandro
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March 8, 2010 7:46 AM
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Oscar Backstage: Bigelow, Boal Talk The Hurt Locker's Six Wins

The Hurt Locker finally ended the long, difficult Oscar campaign trail winning six awards, while Avatar won only three technical categories, for visual effects, art direction and cinematography. "I hope I'm the first of many," Kathryn Bigelow said backstage, of being the first woman to win the best director Oscar for The Hurt Locker, which is also the first best picture winner to be directed by a woman. "I long for day when that modifier is a moot point. I am grateful if I can inspire some young intrepid tenacious male or female filmmaker, make them feel the impossible is possible."