Thompson on Hollywood

Oscar Watch: War Horse, Ides of March, The Artist Lead Early Gurus 'O Gold Top Ten

In advance of the coming festival season, the Gurus 'O Gold have made their first picks of the ten top contenders for best picture nominations. Here's my top ten list--with many of the films sight unseen (the Gurus list is on the jump). 1. The Artist2. Jane Eyre3, Midnight in Paris4. The Tree of Life5. War Horse6. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close7. The Help 8. Moneyball9. The Ides of March10. Carnage

By Anne Thompson
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August 24, 2011 5:45 AM
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The Change-Up Premieres in Westwood: Bateman, Reynolds, Bullock; Early Reviews

The studios get freaked when a movie destined to be commercially mainstream plays better for adults. That's because it's in their interest to play better to dumb young males than to, say, smart older females who can't be counted on to show up on an opening weekend. That's why so many awful movies get made that leave me out of their target demo. This was one topic at Monday night's Universal premiere of The Change-Up (August 5, trailer below), which was better than I was expecting. Universal is nervous because the movie is tracking older and female. (Early reviews are trending rotten; here's Metacritic.)

By Anne Thompson
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August 2, 2011 10:57 AM
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Celebs Sell: 2010 Ten Bestseller Magazine Covers Led by Sandra Bullock, Dr. Oz and Angelina Jolie

News flash: Celebrities sell magazines. AdWeek reports the ten best-selling magazine covers last year: 1. Sandra Bullock (7.4 million copies, People)2. Dr. Oz (7m, Women's World)3. Angelina Jolie (5m, Vanity Fair)4. Bachelor Jake (3.6m, Us)5. Royal Wedding (3.2m, Life & Style)6. Lady Gaga (2.8m, Cosmopolitan)7. Teen Mom (2.75, OK)8. The Kardashians (2.7m, In Touch)9. Jennifer Aniston (2.6m, Bazaar)10. The Twilight Series, including Taylor Lautner and Kellan Lutz (2.4m, Men's Health).

By Sophia Savage and Anne Thompson
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April 25, 2011 4:20 AM
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In The Works: Bullock and Freeman May Chase Somali Pirates, Meg Ryan Directs, Medallion Adds Stars

- Sandra Bullock and Morgan Freeman are wanted for an adaptation of 2010 Somali pirate novel , by 85-year-old writer Elmore Leonard (Justified, 3:10 to Yuma, Get Shorty, Out of Sight). "We're trying to get my new book Djibouti [made as a film]," Leonard told Digital Spy. "Morgan Freeman likes it a lot. In fact, I even thought of him while I was writing it," he said. Apparently Samuel L. Jackson has already turned down a part because he wasn't the star (though Leonard insisted his character would have all the good lines) and Freeman dubbed Bullock as first choice for the female lead. The story follows an award-winning filmmaker and a 72-year old African American seafarer who pair to get footage of Somali pirates in action.

By Sophia Savage
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April 6, 2011 6:23 AM
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Entertainment Industry and Celebs Pledge Aid for Japan Relief

As the full horror of the scale of earthquake and tsunami damage to Japan, and its ongoing nuclear radiation crisis, hits Americans, folks in show business are stepping up. (Our initial report on Japan's earthquake aftermath and Hollywood is here.)

By Anne Thompson and Sophia Savage
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March 18, 2011 6:25 AM
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Alliance of Women Film Journalists Nominees

The Alliance of Women Film Journalists has posted its nominees for the 2010 AWFJ EDA Awards (full list is below). Nominated for Best Film are Black Swan, Inception, The King's Speech, The Social Network and Winter's Bone. Oddly, The Kids Are All Right received 16 nominations-- but not best picture. Helen Mirren (RED) got five.

By Anne Thompson
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December 22, 2010 11:23 AM
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Production Watch: Wilde and Bana, Clooney and Bullock, Miller and Huston

- Olivia Wilde and Eric Bana are in talks to star as outlawed siblings who cross paths with a troubled ex-boxer (Charlie Hunnam) in Kin, slated to shoot in Canada next March. The script comes from Zach Dean (his first feature) and Stefan Ruzowitzky (Anatomy, Anatomy 2, The Counterfeiters) is directing. Wilde, heating up with a stand-out performance in TRON: Legacy, has five titles lined up for 2011; Cowboys & Aliens, comedies Butter and The Change-Up, Now (a sci-fi thriller with Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried and Cillian Murphy) and Civil War pic Cleburne (rumored). Bana is rumored to star in Sheldon Turner's By Virtue Fall, plays opposite Cate Blanchett and Saoirse Ronan in Joe Wright's Hanna (releasing in April), has The Emperor's Children in development with director-writer Noah Baumbach (which co-stars Keira Knightley, Michelle Williams and Richard Gere), and is attached to Armored and Factor X (though neither appear to be going anywhere any time soon).

By Sophia Savage
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December 17, 2010 5:31 AM
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Oscar Presenters Include Halle Berry, Jeff Bridges, Sandra Bullock, Marisa Tomei, Oprah

Oscar producers Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer announced Monday that on February 27, Oscar presenters for the 83rd Academy Awards will include past nominees and winners Halle Berry (won Best Actress for Monster's Ball), Jeff Bridges (won Best Actor for Crazy Heart), Sandra Bullock (won Best Actress, The Blind Side), Marisa Tomei (won Best Supporting Actress, My Cousin Vinny) and Oprah Winfrey (nominated for Best Supporting Actress, The Color Purple).

By Sophia Savage
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December 13, 2010 6:20 AM
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Harry Potter Producer David Heyman Talks Deathly Hallows, Tentpoles, Gravity

As the seventh and penultimate Harry Potter installment was breaking records for the series, producer David Heyman reflected on producing the mighty franchise. He talked to Anthony D'Alessandro:Most producers can only dream about churning out $24 million from 3,700 midnight showings or $61.15 million in one day. But that’s what Harry Potter producer David Heyman experiences every time he opens a new chapter in the $5.48 billion Harry Potter franchise: Breaking a new record. The opening day for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 set a record for the series, ranking the fifth best first day bow among all films. Once an indie producer on such offbeat Parker Posey comedies as 1996’s The Daytrippers, which launched director Greg Mottola (Superbad), Heyman’s producing career took a 180 when he optioned an unpublished manuscript by author J.K. Rowling. On Hallows opening day, he took time out to give us some insight on how the Harry Potter franchise has impacted his career and the film industry.

By Anthony D'Alessandro
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November 23, 2010 3:26 AM
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Forbes Top Entertainment Earners: Women vs. Men

- Check out Forbes' annual list of Hollywood's highest-grossing women in entertainment. For one thing, points out THR, there aren't any female directors among the top ten women. James Cameron dominates the men's list, along with George Lucas and Michael Bay, but Oscar-winner Kathryn Bigelow isn't on the list at all.