Newsweek’s Oscar Roundtable on YouTube

Posted by test on Jan 27, 2009 in 81st Ceremony, AWARDS CHATTER | 0 comments

Robert Downey, Jr. and Brad Pitt crush on Mickey Rourke — and really, it’s true: he inspired a whole generation of actors:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej_wvG4Q9y4[/youtube]

Newsweek’s full story.

brad pitt on googling himself
on what they look for in a director
their favorite performances ever
hathaway on handheld performances

Women, Mothers, Judgment Calls

Posted by test on Jan 27, 2009 in 81st Ceremony, AWARDS CHATTER, BEST ACTRESS | 0 comments

If there is one theme that weaves through the five Best Actress nominees this year is their own judgment, how they use it and where it gets them.  Meryl, Angelina, Melissa, Kate, Ann.

Thematically, this is a constant in the five roles, but the truth is that the Oscar race isn’t just about the person or the part or the film; it is about the story. And each of these women has a story this year. Kate Winslet is the brilliant young actress with many nominations but no wins who turned in two of her best performances this year.¬† It looked like she would be a double nominee and if she had been, she might have lost the lead actress prize and won in supporting. But the Academy went another way and decided to give her the big win for this part, ignoring the brilliant, inside out performance in Revolutionary Road (probably an oversight that will not be looked upon well in the years to come — she deserved to be nominated for both).

Milk Picks up Glaad Nod

Posted by test on Jan 27, 2009 in 81st Ceremony, AWARDS CHATTER | 0 comments

Gee, you think?

From the Hollywood Reporter:

“Milk,” from Focus Features, the specialty division of Universal Pictures, was included in GLAAD’s outstanding film in wide release category. It will compete with Miramax’s “Brideshead Revisited,” Columbia’s “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” Warner Bros.’ “RocknRolla” and the Weinstein Co.’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”

It looks like Guy Rithie has been vindicated.

Variety has the full list, after the cut:

For the Record…

Posted by test on Jan 26, 2009 in 81st Ceremony, AWARDS CHATTER | 0 comments

AD reader Roger Thomas first alerted me to the 81st Oscar poster but I mistakenly thought it was just a promo for the telecast – usually the poster is announced with a lot of pomp and circumstance. So I promised him I would give him credit if it turned out to be the poster – and it is, and so I am. You can buy your very own copy online.

Also a quick note to let readers know that InContention.com is back online.

Bella Roma Nove

Posted by test on Jan 26, 2009 in 81st Ceremony, AWARDS CHATTER | 0 comments

Oh to be riding around in a tiny blue Italian car in Rome with Sophia Loren and Daniel Day Lewis, co-starring in Rob Marshall’s Nine. ONTD has the photos: