Thompson on Hollywood

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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Writer Updates: Cameron, Kalogridis, Tarantino, Boal

One reason why James Cameron went out of his way to mention that he might make The Dive backstage at the Golden Globes: he was thanking screenwriter Laeta Kalogridis (Alexander) for all the writing she has done for him, not only on Avatar, but on Battle Angel and The Dive.

By Anne Thompson
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January 20, 2010 11:14 AM
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Writers Guild Noms Bring Surprises

The Writers Guild Award nominations are in. Remember, as far as future Oscar noms are concerned, the list of ineligible WGA films this year was long: Inglourious Basterds, Up, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Me and Orson Welles, A Single Man and An Education among them.

By Anne Thompson
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January 11, 2010 7:21 AM
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What's Next for Avatar Sequels?

It's not news that Fox, Lightstorm and James Cameron expect to push through an Avatar sequel or two. They want to capitalize on all the time and money that went into creating the Weta "rigs" for the CG characters. Now they're up and running, ready to go.

By Anne Thompson
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January 8, 2010 7:29 AM
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Oscar Watch: WGA Eligibility Issues Dog An Education, Weinstein Films

It's good to get an Oscar boost from the various guilds, but eligibility requirements often make that attention and credibility lift impossible.

By Anne Thompson
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January 6, 2010 9:51 AM
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Avatar's Script: Derivative?

Just to prevent James Cameron's head from swelling too much from the astonishing global Avatar phenomenon, folks keep reminding him of how derivative and clunky his script is. It's been compared to everything from Pocahontas, The New World, The Last Samurai and Dances with Wolves to Ferngully. Truth to tell, most screenplays are derivative, and this one's more "original" than all the knock-offs, remakes and sequels everyone makes now.

By Anne Thompson
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January 6, 2010 4:54 AM
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USC Scripter Award Nominees: An Education, Crazy Heart, District 9, Precious, Up in the Air

For the first time, I participated in the annual USC Libraries Scripter Awards. Voted on by a jury of screenwriters, critics and scholars, these awards honor the authors and screenwriters of the year's best English-language feature (animated or live action) adapted from a printed work. Scripter winners No Country for Old Men and Slumdog Millionaire also won adapted screenplay Oscars.

By Anne Thompson
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January 6, 2010 2:16 AM
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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Millenium Trilogy Movie Rights Go to Sony, Rudin

On a recent trip to London, I picked up a copy of the U.K. hardcover edition of the third installment of the late Swedish author Stieg Larsson's Millenium Trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, and have been lending it to my friends ever since. (It won't be published stateside until May.) The three books are addictive, globally popular (they have sold more than 20 million copies), and have spawned a Swedish film trilogy that is also scoring at the worldwide box office. The subtitled The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo arrives stateside via Music Box on March 19. (A trailer is on the jump.)

By Anne Thompson
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December 15, 2009 8:05 AM
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Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh Talk The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones presented a fascinating challenge for a movie adaptation of a book. But finally, the realities of commercial filmmaking may have been unmanageable in this case---much as they were with John Hillcoat's film version of Cormac McCarthy's The Road. What works on the page and in our imagination, no matter how harsh, can be too much to handle on the screen.

By Anne Thompson
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December 14, 2009 11:06 AM
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Ten Questions for Bright Star's Jane Campion: "I've Never Made a Crap Film"

Bright Star was brilliantly reviewed on the film fest circuit from Cannes to Toronto. But some critics praise its undeniable visual style and directorial panache (the film won a special cinematography prize from the National Board of Review) but find the 19th-century period drama lacking in deep emotion.