How would you fill out your Oscar ballot: honestly or tactically? Are we too narrow-minded and pessimistic in how we see Oscar-friendly movies? These are two of the questions tackled in this week's column, with updated predictions.
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 28, 2011
We'll lead this foreign-language Oscar update with a promising bit of news on a previously announced submission. Lebanon's entry, Nadine Labaki's feminist comedy "Where Do We Go Now?" has just been picked up for US distribution by Sony Pictures Classics.
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 28, 2011
After something of a career lull in recent years, Emily Watson is enjoying a strong 2011. With an appearance in Steven Spielberg's "War Horse" on the horizon, a lead role in British heart-tugger "Oranges and Sunshine" could land the actress her third Oscar nod.
Posted on Thursday, Sep 29, 2011
Those hoping that David Fincher's "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" will give us a more well-rounded Lisbeth Salander than we saw in the original Swedish films will be encouraged by his intriguing description of the character to Empire magazine.
Posted on Friday, Sep 30, 2011
George Clooney has shared a list of his 100 favorite films -- from the years 1964 to 1976, that is -- with Parade magazine. A lot of the selections won't surprise you, particularly one he singles out for extra praise: "All the President's Men."
Posted on Friday, Sep 30, 2011
We may not be attending the New York Film Festival, here's a round-up of the festival titles we've already seen and reviewed at In Contention, including such films as "The Artist," "The Descendants," "A Separation" and "Carnage."
Posted on Monday, Oct 3, 2011
Best Foreign Language Film contenders are frequently content to wait until after the nominations to open in US theaters; however, Sony Pictures Classics has scheduled heavyweight contenders 'A Separation' and 'In Darkness' for December openings, suggesting they may have other Oscar categories in mind.
Posted on Monday, Oct 3, 2011
With George Clooney's 'The Ides of March' on the way, we offer a state of the filmpolitik union. Films on our list include "JFK," "Election" and "The Manchurian Candidate."
Posted on Tuesday, Oct 4, 2011
After last year's jury opted for lower-profile works, this year's shortlist for the Best Film award at the BFI London Film Festival is picked with big names and proven festival hits. Meanwhile, David Cronenberg and Ralph Fiennes, both presenting new films at the festival, join the illustrious list of BFI Fellows.
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 5, 2011
Nearly five months ago, I sat in the delegate room at the Cannes festival center waiting for Lars von Trier to arrive for his press conference, fully expecting some of the senior enfant terrible's requisite fun-and-games (or foot-in-mouth, depending on your take). The director has, of course, made something of a professional trademark out of his contentious public statements -- and duly delivered on this occasion.
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 5, 2011
