Alan Parker and Madonna on the set of "Evita."

Credit: Buena Vista Pictures

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Once an A-list director who scored Oscar nominations for "Midnight Express" and "Mississippi Burning," Alan Parker's critical reputation has since slipped, along with his work rate: he hasn't directed a film since 2003's widely lambasted "The Life of David Gale." But he remains a highly regarded figure in the British industry, where he's served as chairman of both the British Film Institute and the now-defunct UK Film Council. He's a long-anticipated choice, then, for the BAFTA Fellowship: the British Academy's highest career honor, and the final presentation at the group's awards ceremony. Parker has a happy relationship with BAFTA, having previously won competitive awards for "Bugsy Malone," "Midnight Express" and "The Commitments" -- this will be his seventh honor overall from the group. (Side note: His best film, for my money, remains "Shoot the Moon" -- for which he naturally received nothing at all.) [BAFTA]    

Tom Shone on why Ang Lee could -- and should -- sneak past Spielberg to win the Best Director Oscar. [The Guardian]

Dr. Mehmet Oz believes "Silver Linings Playbook" is a valuable study of mental illness, "show[ing] us the humanity and similarities in the lives of those who are challenged with major disorders." [Huffington Post]

Tim Wu on the legal rights (or wrongs) of one of the biggest talking points at Sundance this year: the Disney-taunting indie "Escape From Tomorrow." [New Yorker]

Peter Debruge thinks the fuss over this year's surprising Best Director omissions is leading people to overlook the interesting balance and diversity of the nominees. [Variety] 

Daniel Montgomery talks to editor William Goldenberg, a double nominee this year for "Argo" and "Zero Dark Thirty." [Gold Derby]

Steve Pond wonders if Seth MacFarlane is the first Oscar host ever to get above-the-title billing on the official Academy Awards poster. [The Wrap]

Three-time Oscar winner Colleen Atwood discusses her darker duds for "Snow White and the Huntsman," one of two interpretations of the classic fairytale up for Best Costume Design this year. [New York Times]

James Cameron has been forced by a US judge to hand over drafts of his "Avatar" script, as another writer claims he wrote the unacknowledged inspiration for the Oscar-winning blockbuster. [The Telegraph]

David Edelstein on why the Oscars bring us down to earth, and not in a good way. [Vulture]

Guy Lodge
Critic

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Guy Lodge is a South African-born critic and sometime screenwriter. In addition to his work at In Contention, he is a freelance contributor to Variety, Time Out, Empire and The Guardian. He lives well beyond his means in London.