Thompson on Hollywood

Art Directors Go with Avatar, Hurt Locker, Sherlock Holmes, Beatty

One thing I love about this year's Oscar race is the way lower-budget movies like The Hurt Locker hold their own against the big-budget behemoths. At the crystal-themed Art Director's Guild awards on Saturday night at the Beverly Hilton, The Hurt Locker director Kathryn Bigelow, taller than ever in high high heels, presented the period film award to Sherlock Holmes, which beat out best-picture Oscar nominee Inglourious Basterds.

By Anne Thompson
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February 14, 2010 10:19 AM
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Oscar Talk Episode 21: On the Campaign Trail

This week Kris Tapley and I cover Oscar activity at the Santa Barbara Film Festival and in town, and keep debating the best actress, actor, picture and director race. Does Up in the Air or Inglourious Basterds have a fighting chance?

By Anne Thompson
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February 12, 2010 10:29 AM
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Oscar Phase Two: Bullock vs. Streep, Renner vs. Bridges, Cameron vs. Bigelow

Nothing is certain until it's over. And that's especially true for the Oscar race.

By Anne Thompson
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February 9, 2010 11:16 AM
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Santa Barbara Film Fest Panels, Up in the Air Wins Scripter Award

Sometimes I find myself covering so many things that I don't write about them right away. A case in point: my weekend trip to Santa Barbara. I'm still writing up the Sandra Bullock tribute and haven't transcribed my writers panel, which went well even without Quentin Tarantino, who did turn up the following day for Peter Bart's director's panel (clips below).

By Anne Thompson
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February 9, 2010 2:14 AM
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Oscar Watch: Academy Rules on Best Picture Producers

The Academy has ruled on the remaining two best picture nominees' producer credits. They like to limit them to three (hence the Crash imbroglio that eliminated angry financeer Bob Yari). But in this case, The Blind Side has three, The Hurt Locker, four.

By Anne Thompson
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February 5, 2010 3:33 AM
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Santa Barbara Film Fest: Opener, Bullock, Cameron, Panels

I'm in Santa Barbara for its 25th film fest: 196 films, 18 world premieres, 28 U.S. premieres and a program from 45 countries. The festival runs through Sunday, Feb. 14. Per usual, I'm ensconced in a twee bungalow at the Simpson House--sweet muffins on arrival, Laura Ashley decor, fringed pillows and lamp shades, white venetian blinds, stone fireplace, hot tub, soft bed, classical music.

By Anne Thompson
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February 5, 2010 2:40 AM
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Vanity Fair's Leibovitz Shoots Directors and Stars

At their best, the photos in Annie Leibovitz's 2010 Hollywood photo gallery capture feelings between the movie directors and their stars. This one of Quentin Tarantino and straight man Christoph Waltz--who will get an Oscar, even if his boss does not---is my favorite.

By Anne Thompson
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February 4, 2010 1:31 AM
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Oscar Wrap-Ups, Reactions

USA Today's Anthony Breznikan shares his sleepover (with no sleep) at the Oscars with Anne Hathaway the night before nominations.

By Anne Thompson
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February 3, 2010 3:15 AM
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Oscar Watch: Final Nominations Predictions

Today, I picked up my credential to attend the Oscar nominations announcement bright and early Tuesday morning. I'll bring my laptop and file from there. I like getting the information packet that has all the stats and info about all the nominees. I have posted my final predictions, front runners and one long shot in all the categories except the shorts, which I have not seen.

By Anne Thompson
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February 2, 2010 2:01 AM
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Oscar Watch: Bigelow First Woman to Win DGA Award

It means less for Avatar to have won best drama and director at the Golden Globes than to have lost best film at the Producers Guild and best director at the Directors Guild, both times to The Hurt Locker. And it means less for Inglourious Basterds to have won best ensemble at the Screen Actors Guild than to have lost at the PGA and DGA. See where I am going? Kathryn Bigelow's DGA win Saturday night (the first to a woman in 61 years) is a sign of continued strength for that film, which could well repeat at the Oscars. (BTW, Bigelow, 58, does not look older than her ex-husband, Cameron, 55).