Thompson on Hollywood

'Life of Pi' Continues Tech Surge at Visual Effects Society Awards

Awards

The big winner at the Visual Effects Society Awards with four wins was VES visonary award-winner Ang Lee's "Life of Pi," which clearly had the support of the room at the Beverly HIlton Tuesday night. Another big winner was "Brave," which swept the four top animation categories. As for star presence, although Harrison Ford presented the life achievement award to veteran VFX master Richard Edlund, who met him 37 years ago on the first "Star Wars," and Oscar nominee Naomi Watts presented the evening's last awards, to best animated VFX to "Brave" and live action VFX to "Life of Pi," the star of the evening with this group was presenter Andy Serkis of Gollum fame.

By Anne Thompson
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February 6, 2013 4:29 PM
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Now and Then: 'Side by Side,' I'll Still Take Film Over Digital

Reviews

Smart, wide-ranging, and informative, "Side by Side" may be a postcard from the future of movies, but it's still intoxicated by the past. Its dreamiest moment comes at the outset, a montage of clips from the first century of cinema: Eadweard Muybridge's horses to "Do the Right Thing."

By Matt Brennan
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February 5, 2013 1:29 PM
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Immersed in Movies: Assessing the Animation and VFX Oscar Nominations

Features

What were the noteworthy takeaways from yesterday's Oscar nominations? In terms of animation, stop-motion was the big winner among animated features, with Sony/Aardman's "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" bumping DreamWorks' "Rise of the Guardians" to join Tim Burton's "Frankenweenie" and Laika's "ParaNorman," and Disney grabbing three of the five nominees with "Brave," "Frankenweenie," and "Wreck-It Ralph." And, of course, "Life of Pi" dominated the tech awards, including VFX, with eight nods overall.

By Bill Desowitz
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January 11, 2013 3:50 PM
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Visual Effects Society Recognize 'Hobbit,' 'Avengers,' 'Life of Pi,' 'Prometheus' and More with Award Nominations

Awards

The Visual Effects Society has announced the nominations for its 11th annual VES Awards, recognizing outstanding VFX in film, animation, television, commercials and video games. "The Hobbit," "Prometheus," "Life of Pi" and two films on opposite ends of the box office spectrum...

By Beth Hanna
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January 7, 2013 1:59 PM
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Immersed in Movies: Uli Hanisch and Hugh Bateup Talk 'Cloud Atlas' Production Design

Features

While "Cloud Atlas" may be the most polarizing movie of the year (winding up on both year-end best and worst lists), there's no denying its ambition and beauty: it's the ultimate time travel movie about connecting and reconnecting and grappling with free will and destiny.

By Bill Desowitz
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December 19, 2012 1:30 PM
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Academy Reveals Visual Effects Shortlist of Ten, Including 'John Carter,' 'Life of Pi' and 'The Hobbit'

Awards

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed the Visual Effects Branch's shortlist of ten films vying for the final five Oscar nominations in the Visual Effects category. Members of the branch are invited to view ten-minute excerpts from each of the ten films at the annual VFX bakeoff on Thursday, January 3. Following the bakeoff members will make their choices on the final five to be announced in January 10.

By Anne Thompson
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November 29, 2012 3:10 PM
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Immersed in Movies: A CG Tiger to Die for in 'Life of Pi' (VIDEO)

Awards

Don't be surprised if Ang Lee's "Life of Pi" is right up there competing for the VFX Oscar with "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" and all the other prestigious front runners. It's that good. In fact, Richard Parker, the integral tiger, is arguably the best photorealistic CG animal ever created. What a performance: the way he interacts with Suraj Sharma's Pi in such close proximity on a lifeboat. The tiger exhibits such believable expression and nuance; he uses the space underneath the tarp first as shelter and then to observe and control his turf. It's truly an amazing character arc, bolstered by the most spiritual and dimensional use of 3-D yet, which only enhances its Oscar chances.

By Bill Desowitz
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November 23, 2012 1:58 PM
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Immersed in Movies: Zemeckis Talks 'Flight' and the 'Digital Stew'

Interviews

While "Flight" marks Robert Zemeckis' return to live-action, he rejects the notion that he spent the last decade wandering in the virtual woods with performance capture. In fact, the Oscar-winning director likes to quote Francois Truffaut in explaining that his movies have always been about "truth and spectacle." In "Flight," we get both, of course, with a harrowing plane crash, and a riveting performance from Denzel Washington as an alcoholic airline pilot forced to confront his personal demons when his heroics turn against him. Indeed, Zemeckis maintains that the real spectacle was navigating the dramatic ambiguity of Washington's crucible.

By Bill Desowitz
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November 2, 2012 4:21 PM
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Immersed in Movies: Talking 'Cloud Atlas' VFX

Features

"Cloud Atlas" might not approach the VFX intensity or complexity of "The Matrix" trilogy or "Speed Racer," but it still required the same level of sophistication and flexibility that the Wachowskis demand. After all, you've got six stories about reincarnation spanning 500 years with the same actors in multiple roles...

By Bill Desowitz
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October 29, 2012 5:07 PM
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Immersed in Movies: The VFX Tipping Point?

Features

With Digital Domain Media sinking like the Titanic and filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but Searchlight Capital Partners coming to the rescue and buying its Oscar-winning VFX division ("Titanic" and "Benjamin Button") for $15 million...