Awards Daily

So far, the field is already half-filled with Annette Bening, Julianne Moore and Jennifer Lawrence. But out of Cannes, came three great performances. I saw two of them, Michelle Williams and Lesley Manville. I missed Naomi Watts in Fair Game, but word has it she won’t BE IGNORED, Dan. And then Tilda Swinton received her usual acclaim for I Am Love, which puts her in the running.

But there are more to come this year.

The question is, how well will these early names hold as the festival season kicks into high gear? What names will rise to the top of the pile? Will it be a newcomer? Or will a veteran finally get her due?

After the cut, a list of possible contenders, both seen and unseen.

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Women and Hollywood’s Melissa Silverstein wonders if this Gwyneth Paltrow role will bring her a second Oscar. Listen to the single Paltrow released:

This bit of news and info from CMT.com:

In May, Paltrow told MTV News, “I had to learn how to play guitar, and I took singing lessons. It was a real challenge, but I felt like I pretty much pulled it off.” She also said that her character is “in various stages of undress” because of her struggles with a drug and alcohol problem. In other reports, she said she asked her husband, Chris Martin of Coldplay, to help her master the guitar.

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Russell Brand is currently filming the remake of Arthur with Jennifer Garner. ¬†Dudley Moore was nominated, deservedly so, for his performance as the drunken millionaire back in 1981, starring alongside Liza Minnelli and Sir John Gielgud, who won for his performance as Arthur’s wise and cantankerous butler. ¬†I have my doubts about Brand but am willing to have an open mind. ¬†Helen Mirren and Nick Nolte also star. ¬†What do you think?

Another pic after the cut.

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The Toronto Star’s Pete Howell spitballs what could be big gets for the Toronto Film Fest. These have not been announced nor confirmed – but what if? Howell names Terrence Malick’s Tree of Life as the number one biggest get, with the possibility of Sean Penn and Brad Pitt showing up to set the fans afire.

He named Clint Eastwood’s Hereafter next in line. Any Eastwood film at this stage in his career is a good get for any film fest. Whether Eastwood will want to do Toronto, though, is another question. I say he passes. But what do I know?

True Grit comes next, says Pete because “Lately it feels as if it‚Äôs not TIFF without a visit by Joel and Ethan Coen.” This pic is slated for a Christmas release, which puts it squarely in the Oscar zone. If it shoots its wad early in Toronto – what does that do for the long haul of awards season? But I agree: major get.

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What a year for animated features, eh?

Source

Indiewire posted the top 50 upcoming titles for the Toronto Film Fest. ¬†It looks like The King’s Speech is getting a big roll out. ¬†Toronto is, much of the time, the hit and miss spot on the way to Oscar – though not always. ¬†Like Telluride, where Slumdog and Up in the Air launched from, a goodly buzzed film can ride high, which a badly received film (like Creation last year) can’t ever really find lift-off once the word has been spread. ¬†I was always hoping that the Toronto film fest goers had been wrong about Elizabeth: The Golden Age, but alas. ¬†What will hit and what will miss? ¬†We won’t know until early September, when Nancy Kriparos will be seeing films and reporting from Toronto. ¬†We also have a Telluride reporter, Eric Bialas.

Galas

The Conspirator, directed by Robert Redford (USA)
While an angry nation seeks vengeance, a young union war hero must defend a mother accused of aiding her son in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Directed by Robert Redford, the film stars James McAvoy, Robin Wright, Kevin Kline, Evan Rachel Wood, Tom Wilkinson. (World Premiere)

The Debt, directed by John Madden (UK)
(North American Premiere)

The King’s Speech, directed by Tom Hooper (UK)
(North American Premiere)

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A tip from Andrew leads us to this musical equation finding the common denominator between Inception’s two most familiar crescendos. Dude, whoa. Just, like, whoa.

Just about the only distant tease dangled at Comic-Con that didn’t make me stifle a yawn.

Roger Sterling’s new office in the Time-Life building on 6th Avenue.

• Eero Saarinen ‘Tulip’ pedestal desk
• Artimede Nesso mushroom lamp
• Charles Eames executive chair (the “Time-Life Chair” designed specifically for the 1959 high rise)

Is there another series that ever enshrined the decor of an era with such meticulous attention to detail? (Deadwood, maybe.) Roger Sterling’s new office not only represents his tendency to trade up to the latest stylish accessories (including wives) but what more appropriate podium for a figurehead executive who delegates all responsibilities than a desk with no drawers topped with fashionable ornaments, devoid of practical workplace tools. It’s executive suite as bachelor pad.

But it’s not mere trendy transience. Like the Rothko casually hung on Bert Cooper’s old office two blocks east, these immaculate Master of the Universe environments have been crafted with an eye for quality creative design. Those 3 items listed above are still being manufactured and sold 50 years later — though that Eames throne will set you back about 3500 bucks.

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