Thompson on Hollywood

Now and Then: Gay Biopics 'J. Edgar' and 'Milk' Reveal How History Is Made

Reviews

"We must never forget our history," growls aging anti-Communist lion J. Edgar Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio) near the end of "J. Edgar." "We must never lower our guard." Here, Janus-like in their fusion and opposition, lay the film's two faces: To narrate the past and hopefully to redeem it.

By Matt Brennan
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February 27, 2012 7:30 AM
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Golden Globes Party Whirl: Plotting Assaults on "The Punisher," In the Clinch with Mr. Big

Awards

After my stint in the backstage press room at the Golden Globes, I headed into the night for a round of Beverly Hilton parties. First I crossed the forlorn red carpet to the tented Fox party in the parking lot.

By Anne Thompson
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January 16, 2012 6:27 PM
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Screen Actors Guild Surprises: Close, Bichir, and McCarthy Are In, Theron, Redgrave, Woodley and Fassbender, Out

Awards

"Albert Nobbs" star Glenn Close can heave a sigh of relief, as she landed a Screen Actors Guild nomination as Best Actress, along with frontrunners Meryl Streep ("The Iron Lady") and Viola Davis, whose film "The Help" gets a surge in the Oscar race as it dominated the field with four nominations, including best ensemble and two supporting nods for Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain.

By Anne Thompson
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December 14, 2011 11:21 AM
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Oscar Talk: Streep vs. Davis, Prosthetic vs. Digital Makeup, Performance Capture vs. Animation, Close vs. McTeer

Awards

In this week's Oscar Talk podcast, In Contention's Kris Tapley and I debate Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin," performance capture vs. animation. Will animators support it? We think visual effects is a stronger, well-deserved shot.

By Anne Thompson
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November 18, 2011 1:31 PM
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Weekend Box Office: Mighty Immortals VFX Trounce Sandler Comedy Jack and Jill, DiCaprio as J. Edgar

News

Of three high-profile pictures arriving this 11/11/11 weekend, Relativity’s “Immortals” easily captured the top spot with an estimated $32 million, landing ahead of expectations and marking a company best debut. The stylized VFX-packed R-rated sword-and-sandal actioner from the producers of “300” and director Tarsem Singh was expected to open in the $25 million-to-$30 million range.

By Brian Fuson
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November 13, 2011 1:59 PM
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WEEKEND PREVIEW: Unmissable Apocalyptic Melancholia, Herzogian Into the Abyss, J Edgar & More

Features

By Sophia Savage
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November 10, 2011 1:29 PM
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J. Edgar DiCaprio Parody Kicks Off Oscar Campaign

On the bright side of Clint Eastwood's "J. Edgar" receiving mixed reviews (it has its supporters, including ThePlaylist), FunnyOrDie has created this hilarious video for its star, L. DiCaprio. The actor is better than the movie, so he'll forgive us for laughing at this kick-off to his Oscar campaign.

By Sophia Savage
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November 10, 2011 11:49 AM
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CASTING WATCH: Gordon-Levitt and LaPaglia Join Tarantino's Django Unchained as Aussie Brothers

It's official: Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained is getting Joseph Gordon Levitt and Anthony LaPaglia to play hick Australian brothers; small parts, but crucial, reports ThePlaylist, to key scenes at the end of the script. (LaPaglia is an Aussie.)

By Sophia Savage
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October 31, 2011 8:25 AM
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IN THE WORKS: Theron's Career Comeback Includes Horror Remake; The Departed Prequel; Night Train

Don't be surprised if Charlize Theron decides not to interrupt what looks like a promising career revival-- via Young Adult/Prometheus/Snow White and the Huntsman--with an ugly step-sister. It's a remake of Zwart Water, a Dutch horror film about a little girl whose new friend is the ghost of her mother's dead twin, in which Theron (her production company Denver & Delilah bought the rights; they also produced Young Adult) is set to play the mother. Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) will direct. This sounds like the kind of project Hilary Swank would do (see: The Reaping). We're betting that Theron won't end up in the film.

By Sophia Savage
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October 18, 2011 11:25 AM
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Tarantino's Django Unchained Cast Shaping Up for Fall Shoot; Washington Joins Foxx, DiCaprio, Waltz

The latest actor to board Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained (December 25, 2012) is Don Johnson (TV's Miami Vice, Nash Bridges; Bucky Larson, Machete, Tin Cup). The actor is in negotiations to play plantation owner Spencer Bennett. He would be joining Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson and Kurt Russell. UPDATE: Kerry Washington is now confirmed to be playing Django's wife, Broomhilda. The synopsis is below.