The Seattle Times: Popcorn & Prejudice: A Movie Blog

Oscar countdown: 'Silver Linings Playbook'

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 10:37:58 PST

Only two to go! David O. Russell's "Silver Linings Playbook" is something unusual this year: the sole romantic comedy in a Best Picture list that's otherwise fairly grim. It's an odd sort of rom-com, though; its main characters struggle with mental illness, in a way that often isn't cute and charming, and there are plenty of moments in this film that you can't picture Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks enacting. Nonetheless -- or perhaps because of it -- "Silver Linings Playbook" has an uncanny way of winning over audiences; I've met few who didn't like it, and when it premiered at Toronto last fall I remember a warm reception rare from an audience of press and industry types. This isn't Russell's first time at the Oscars -- he was nominated for Best Director in 2011, for "The Fighter" -- but it's definitely his biggest splash. And his film might have a little-mentioned advantage over its competitors: It'll screen well on DVD (unlike such epics like "Lincoln" and "Life of Pi," which are at their best on the big screen), which is how many older Academy voters will view it.

Total U.S. box office: Just topped the $100 million milestone this week, thanks to a post-nomination expansion
Total Oscar nominations: Eight, including best picture, director, actor (Bradley Cooper), actress (Jennifer Lawrence), supporting actor (Robert De Niro), supporting actress (Jacki Weaver), adapted screenplay, film editing.
Best chance for a win: I'm thinking Lawrence, who's been charming Hollywood throughout this awards season (she's delightfully uncensored when talking to the press, or to anyone, apparently), might take best actress, partially as a triumph of miscasting. (She's too young for the role -- but you forget that, watching her.) De Niro has a good shot at supporting actor, unless Tommy Lee Jones edges him out. Otherwise I think "Silver Linings" will have that fate of being a movie everyone loves but that doesn't quite finish on top.
Odds of this film creating some fabulous Oscar-night weirdness: Well, I mentioned that Lawrence is famously uncensored, so she might give a pretty memorable speech. Russell, likewise, should he surprise and win the screenplay award, should be entertaining. (I interviewed him once, a few years ago. Very funny guy.)
Fun fact: "Silver Linings Playbook" is the 14th film in Oscar history to receive nominations in all four acting categories -- and the first in more than 30 years. (The other 13? Oh, all right. "My Man Godfrey," "Mrs. Miniver," "For Whom the Bell Tolls," "Johnny Belinda," "Sunset Boulevard," "Streetcar Named Desire," "From Here to Eternity," "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf," "Bonnie and Clyde," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?," "Network," "Coming Home," "Reds.") None of these won all four awards; "Silver Linings" likely won't, either.

Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper in "Silver Linings Playbook" (photo courtesy of The Weinstein Company)

Get ready for some Oscar-night singing

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:01:07 PST

Not from me, mind you -- though I'll be right here on Oscar Sunday, hosting a live chat starting at 4pm. (Do join me! If you're not interested in red-carpet fashion, join in at 5:30 p.m. for the ceremony. Maybe we'll even sing a bit.) The Oscar-show producers, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, have announced that the evening will include a tribute to movie musicals of the past ten years (hmm, short tribute) that will feature performances from Catherine Zeta-Jones ("Chicago"), Jennifer Hudson ("Dreamgirls"), Barbra Streisand (who hasn't made a musical in the last ten years to my knowledge, but will nonetheless show up singing something that hasn't been announced), Russell Crowe (you have been warned), and many other members of the cast of "Les Miserables." The show will also include a James Bond tribute celebrating the franchise's 50th year, with Shirley Bassey singing. And, the producers warn, it's unlikely they're going to get everything done in three hours. Of course they won't; the Oscar ceremony hasn't been under three hours since the 1980s. More time for snacks and drinks, right?

Oscar countdown: 'Lincoln'

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:16:04 PST

Getting into the home stretch of our alphabetical countdown with Steven Spielberg's Lincoln" (yes, this year's list is heavy on the first half of the alphabet). Inspired by Doris Kearns Goodwin's book "Team of Rivals," screenwriter Tony Kushner's first draft of "Lincoln" was reportedly 500 pages (an average screenplay might be 120). But he and Spielberg narrowed and shaped it to cover a relatively brief period in the life of President Abraham Lincoln: his last four months, during which the 13th Amendment was passed and the Civil War ended. The result is a remarkably vivid history lesson that's resonated strongly with audiences: "Lincoln" has the highest box-office total of all of this year's Best Picture nominees, and was a front-runner for the top awards long before it was even released.

Total U.S. box office: $176 million
Total Oscar nominations: Twelve (the most of any film this year), for best picture, director, actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), supporting actress (Sally Field), supporting actor (Tommy Lee Jones), adapted screenplay, cinematography, costume design, film editing, original score, production design and sound mixing.
Best chance for a win: That Daniel Day-Lewis will win his third Oscar for best actor seems to be this year's safest bet; it's hard to imagine anyone, even the beloved Hugh Jackman, beating him this year. That's the only sure thing, but "Lincoln" is a contender in numerous other categories: It's still a dark horse for best picture (though "Argo" seems to have momentum), and Spielberg could well take best director for the third time. And quite possibly composer John Williams, who has more Oscar nominations than any other living person (48, counting this year), could win his sixth Oscar -- and his first in 20 years.
Odds of this film creating some fabulous Oscar-night weirdness: Well, you know Day-Lewis is good for a memorable speech, though I suspect he won't do it in character. (The actor, famous for his intense approach, stayed in character throughout the shooting of the film, with Spielberg addressing him as "Mr. President.") And a Best Picture/Best Director split is always interesting; should it happen this year, I think "Argo"/Spielberg is the most likely combination. And, should Sally Field surprise all those Anne Hathaway-predictors, we'll know for certain that the Academy really, really likes her. (She wouldn't dare say that again in a speech, would she?)
Fun fact: Spielberg acquired the film rights to Goodwin's book back in 2001, long before it was published, and Field campaigned early for the role. At one point, Liam Neeson was in talks to play Lincoln opposite Field, but things didn't work out. When Daniel Day-Lewis came on board in 2010, it appeared that Field might be too old for the role (she's ten years older than Day-Lewis; Mary Todd Lincoln was in fact ten years younger than her husband). Spielberg gave her a screen test, rejected her -- then ultimately cast her after Day-Lewis saw the screen test and agreed to read with her. They improvised for an hour -- and, as the story goes, sparks flew.

Remember, you're invited to join me at 4 p.m. this Oscar Sunday at seattletimes.com, for a chat about red-carpet arrivals and the awards ceremony.

(Photo: Sally Field and Daniel Day-Lewis in "Lincoln," by David James, courtesy of DreamWorks II Distribution and Twentieth Century Fox.)

An Oscar-themed promo at the Humane Society

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:46:09 PST

As someone who adores both movies and cats, I had to pass this one on: On February 22 and 23rd only, the Seattle Humane Society is waiving adoption fees for all black and black-and-white tuxedo cats (aged one year and older), in honor of the Academy Awards. If you've been thinking about getting a grown-up cat, this might be a great opportunity. Throwing in a plug for the Seattle Humane Society here: My current kitty Miranda and my previous cat Myrna Loy (who died a little over a year ago, aged 19) were both Humane Society kittens. Great cats; great people working there. Maybe you need to watch the Oscars with a formally attired cat on your lap . . .

Last word on 'Downton Abbey,' Season 3

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 13:01:06 PST

(Needless to say, spoiler alert, if you haven't finished watching the season.)

It was probably just as well that yesterday was a holiday, so we can pause for 24 hours to take in the last images of the season -- Mary, serenely holding the newborn heir to Downton Abbey; Matthew, lying dead by the side of the road, blood trickling from his head. How could you do this to us, Julian Fellowes? As the "Downton" creator explains in a New York Times interview, he didn't really have a choice:

We wanted [Dan Stevens and Jessica Brown Findlay] to stay and said, "Would you just do two or three episodes? And then you're living in America or in Dublin." But they both felt they wanted to make a clean break. When an actor playing a servant wants to leave, there isn't really a problem - [that character gets] another job. With members of the family, once they're not prepared to come back for any episodes at all, then it means death. Because how believable would it be that Matthew never wanted to see the baby, never wanted to see his wife? And was never seen again at the estate that he was the heir to? So we didn't have any option, really. I was as sorry as everyone else.

Sigh. OK then. But could, just once on this show, somebody get pregnant, have a baby and not have something terrible happen? (Cora, Sybil, Ethel, now Mary . . . ) Maybe Anna, next season? But that would be the end of her job as Mary's maid, and surely Mary will now need her more than ever. Edith, with Mr. Rochester? Can't imagine that turning out well; unless the Madwoman in the Attic dies a convenient death in Season 4. Perhaps Rose will get married? Daisy? Ivy? (Why are so many women on this show named after plants?)

It's been an up-and-down season for me; moments of heartbreaking drama (most notably Sybil's death, and the Dowager Countess's reaction to it), alongside a few too many plots that we've seen before. Ethel's story seemed to get re-told this season, and Edna romancing Tom seemed too much like Jane and Robert in Season 2. (We already know that the easiest way for a maid to get dismissed is to kiss one of the house's gentlemen.) Mrs. Patmore's thwarted romance was a little too much like Mrs. Hughes' in Season 1 -- the ending, at least, was the same -- and poor Edith is becoming a sad story too often retold. Nonetheless, "Downton Abbey" is never less than a great pleasure, and it was lovely to see some actors really come to the forefront this season, particularly Lesley Nichol as Mrs. Patmore, who's now rivalling the Dowager Countess for zingers. (I think "Do I look like a frolicker?" just might be the season's best line. ) So, come back soon, "Downton Abbey" -- we'll be waiting.

Oscar countdown 'Life of Pi'

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 13:01:06 PST

We're more than halfway through our alphabetical Oscar march today with "Life of Pi," Ang Lee's beautiful 3D adaptation of Yann Martel's 2001 novel about a seemingly impossible journey. And, with the possible exception of "Les Mis," this movie might have had the rockiest road to Oscar of all of the Best Picture nominees. Three other directors -- M. Night Shyamalan, Alfonso Cuaron, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet -- all tried their hand at adapting the novel; all gave up. Lee and screenwriter David Magee took on the challenge -- only to almost lose it when Twentieth Century Fox came near to backing out of the project as expenses soared. Nonetheless, it finally got made -- with a first-time actor sitting in a boat in a water tank on a Taiwan soundstage. Watching it, you'd swear he was on the open sea, with only a tiger (rendered in CGI for the boat scenes) for company. An amazing achievement; a lovely film.

Total U.S. box office: $111 million (putting it right in the middle of the Best Picture nominees)
Total Oscar nominations: Eleven, for best picture, director, adapted screenplay, original score, original song, cinematography, film editing, production design, sound mixing, sound editing, visual effects.
Best chance for a win: "Life of Pi" is a dark horse for the two top awards, but has a strong shot at cinematography (Claudio Miranda's work is a revelation in 3D) and visual effects (you'd never believe that tiger wasn't real).
Odds of this movie creating some fabulous Oscar-night weirdness: If Lee wins best director, or "Life of Pi" takes the top award, it'll shock Hollywood -- but a movie doesn't get 11 nominations without strong support. "Argo" and "Lincoln" are perceived as the front-runners for best picture and director -- but this film just might surprise. Lee has experience in winning best director, only to see his film not win the top prize: it happened in 2006, when Lee took the directing statuette for "Brokeback Mountain," but "Crash" won Best Picture.
Fun fact: Not only had Suraj Sharma (who played teenage Pi in the film) never acted in a movie before -- he didn't know how to swim. Lee and the crew taught him how, and Sharma ended up doing most of his own stunts.

Remember to join me this Sunday night to chat about the Oscars during red-carpet arrivals and the ceremony, starting at 4 p.m. at seattletimes.com.

(Photo: Suraj Sharma and the tiger in "Life of Pi," courtesy of 20th Century Fox.)

Oscar countdown "Les Miserables"

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 11:31:05 PST

Seems like it should have been "Lincoln" on President's Day, doesn't it? But never mind; we're continuing our alphabetical Best Picture march today with "Les Miserables," the first musical to be nominated for Best Picture since "Chicago" ten years ago. "Chicago" cleaned up at the Oscars that year, winning six awards, but don't expect "Les Mis" to do as well; though popular at the box office, it's drawn mixed reviews from audiences and critics. Some are deeply moved by the emotional impact of its songs and performances; others found it heavy-handed. (Me, I felt both.) The first screen adaptation of the wildly popular stage musical by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, "Les Miserables" was a long-in-the-works project that finally came to the screen directed by Tom Hooper, who used his post-"The King's Speech" momentum to get it done his way. This included the innovative use of live singing (rather than the voice-over that's standard in film musicals), which served most of the cast very well -- except perhaps Russell Crowe, whose voice might have been better served in a studio. Nonetheless, "Les Mis" is a bonafide hit that may well usher in a new era of movie musicals. Then again, everyone said that about "Chicago" ten years ago, and it didn't really happen. We'll see. Meanwhile, just try to get "On My Own" out of your head.

Total U.S. box office: $144 million; third among the Best Picture nominees
Total Oscar nominations: Eight, for best picture, actor (Hugh Jackman), supporting actress (Anne Hathaway), costume design, production design, original song, makeup and hairstyling, and sound mixing.
Best chance for a win: Hathaway, who's been sweeping the pre-Oscar awards in her category, seems like a sure thing; and I'm guessing that the film's ambitious makeup and hairstyling might be rewarded. Otherwise, "Anna Karenina" might well edge it out in the design categories, and the category where you'd think a musical would have an advantage -- original song -- seems more likely to go to "Skyfall."
Odds of this movie creating some fabulous Oscar-night weirdness: Well, if Hathaway sang her acceptance speech, or if the popular Jackman managed an upset victory over Daniel Day-Lewis, that might liven things up. Or if the film's cast and crew, outraged by losses, built up a barricade in the theater and started singing "Do You Hear the People Sing?"
Fun fact: Even if "Les Miserables" magically managed to win all eight of its nominated categories, it still wouldn't be Oscar's most-rewarded musical. That would be "West Side Story," which won ten Academy Awards in 1961. "Gigi," in 1958, won nine; "My Fair Lady" (1964) and "Cabaret" (1972) won eight each.

Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway in "Les Miserables" (photo by Laurie Sparham; courtesy of Universal Pictures)

Oscar countdown: 'Django Unchained'

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 12:31:06 PST

Our alphabetical trot through the Best Picture nominees continues today with "Django Unchained," Quentin Tarantino's blood-soaked Western about a freed slave (Jamie Foxx), a bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz), and a hateful plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio). It's been a box-office hit (second only to "Lincoln" among the Best Picture titles) and Tarantino's highest grossing film to date, despite the usual Tarantino controversy over the film's language and violence. Doesn't seem like the kind of film that the staid Academy would reward, does it? But Oscar has smiled on Tarantino before; he's received four nominations prior to "Django," and a 1994 win for the screenplay for "Pulp Fiction." This year he joins Ben Affleck, Tom Hooper, and Kathryn Bigelow in the Academy of the Snubbed Directors -- those whose movies are in the running for Best Picture, but who didn't get a directing nod.

Total U.S. box office: $155 million
Total Oscar nominations: Five, for best picture, original screenplay, supporting actor (Waltz), cinematography and sound editing
Best chance for a win: I wouldn't be surprised to see "Django" go home empty-handed; its best shot is in the screenplay category, but it's up against some strong competition ("Amour," "Flight," "Moonrise Kingdom," "Zero Dark Thirty").
Odds of this movie creating some fabulous Oscar-night weirdness: Any speech by Tarantino would likely be a little weird, but never mind that. If Waltz had a surprise win, it would be his second Supporting Actor trophy in three years (he won in 2010 for "Inglourious Basterds"); an unusual if not unprecedented feat. (Jason Robards won the category back-to-back in 1976 and 1977.)
Fun fact: John McLeod, special-effects coordinator for "Django Unchained," gave an entertaining interview to Vulture.com discussing the film's impressive blood-spurting effects: "One of Quentin's directions was that he wanted the hits in some of the scenes to be very meaty. He kept pushing for it: 'I want to see flesh and meat ripping as the squibs are going off. I don't want to see a bunch of liquid; I wanna see a meaty effect!' So we were trying to introduce different materials, strips of latex, little bits of particles, that we put inside the blood bag."

Have a lovely holiday weekend! Remember that I'll be chatting live on seattletimes.com on Oscar night; hope you'll be joining me.

Christoph Waltz and Jamie Foxx in "Django Unchained" (photo by Andrew Cooper; courtesy of The Weinstein Company)

Maggie Smith alert!

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:16:05 PST

Listen up, "Downton Abbey" (and Maggie Smith) fans: Dame Maggie, who rarely gives interviews, will sit down with Steve Kroft on "60 Minutes" this Sunday on CBS at 7 p.m. As the Dowager Countess would say, it seems a pity to miss such a good pudding, er, interview. If you can't wait, here's a tidbit: