Roundup: Ben Affleck is EW's Entertainer of the Year
Also: Matthew Vaughn to (possibly) direct 'Star Wars', and early 'Hobbit' reax
Ben Affleck on the cover of next month's Entertainment Weekly.
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After "Les Mis" premiered last week, a lot of pundits -- including our own Kris Tapley -- installed the film as the Best Picture frontrunner, but I'm not so keen to jump the "Argo" ship. The potential Oscar narrative for Ben Affleck is an attractive one for his Academy peers, and he's sure to receive a lot of honors and accolades over the next few weeks -- beginning with the handy publicity boost of Entertainment Weekly's Entertainer of the Year title. I'd have bet on Jennifer Lawrence taking that one, but this is a reminder of just how well-regarded Affleck is in showbiz circles: "Argo" producer George Clooney, naturally, leads the cheers in the magazine's tribute to him. Lawrence is also featured in the issue, of course, alongside Anne Hathaway, Seth MacFarlane and Channing Tatum, all of whom have enjoyed similarly bang-up years. [EW]
In case you missed it, the Sundance competition lineup was announced yesterday, and Daniel Radcliffe is among its star attractions. [HitFix]
Nathaniel Rogers considers a Best Actress race that looks a lot more crowded now than it did at the start of the season. He's also hearing Academy support for Emmanuelle Riva. Huzzah. [The Film Experience]
So, Matthew Vaughn has been confirmed as the Chosen One to direct the next "Star Wars" movie. Or not, as the case may be. [Cinema Blend]
Steve Pond looks over the high and low points in the colorful history of Oscar campaigning. [The Wrap]
"The Hobbit" may be under critical embargo after its premiere yesterday, but you can silence Twitter. Or Bryan Singer. [Screen Crush]
R. Kurt Osenlund considers the Oscar prospects of "The Impossible," which could still be a spoiler if Academy members see it in time. [Slant]
Here's a list I can jive with: the greatest jackets in the movies. Astonishingly enough, Bane's flea-market sheepskin coat doesn't make the cut. [The Guardian]
Leo Barraclough examines the crossroads the European Film Awards find themselves at on their 25th anniversary. Look out for my coverage from Malta over the weekend, by the way. [Variety]
And to close on a solemn note, famed Broadway producer Martin Richards -- who also won a Best Picture Oscar for "Chicago" -- passed away earlier this week. RIP. [The Inquisitr]
2012-2013 OSCAR PREDICTIONS
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Original Screenplay
Best Cinematography
Best Costume Design
Best Film Editing
Best Makeup And Hairstyling
Best Original Score
Best Original Song
Best Production Design
Best Sound Editing
Best Sound Mixing
Best Visual Effects
Best Animated Feature Film
Best Documentary Feature
Best Foreign Language Film
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Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupRichardZ
November 29, 2012 at 11:52AM EST Reply to CommentI think the Ben Affleck for Best Director is the Hollywood story arc that's still alive. Tom Hooper just won recently.
Could this be a Pianist (a Best Dir.) vs. Chicago (musical for BP) kinda split Oscar kind of year?
sosgemini Even if Lincoln wins, Affleck's got a good chance. I just don't see the enthusiasm for Argo from any of the reporting. Sure, that could change but with all of these really dynamic films opening and getting praise, Argo now kind of comes off as a safe and bland film to champion. (Talking campaign narrative, not the content of the film.)
November 29, 2012 at 12:06PM EST/3rt
November 29, 2012 at 12:24PM EST Reply to CommentDoes Affleck being on the cover of EW prevent him from winning best director? I ask because Viola and George made the cover as sure things for Actor and Actress.
renton
November 29, 2012 at 1:06PM EST Reply to CommentEntertainer of the year? No knock at all against Affleck or Argo, but I can think of people who had bigger years.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anne Hathaway, to name two.
Joe S. I agree. I liked "Argo" very much, but if you're the entertainer "of the year," whatever you've done should have resonated throughout a good portion of the year. I'm not sure that putting one moderately successful thriller in October really fits that.
November 29, 2012 at 2:37PM ESTRicardo
November 29, 2012 at 2:08PM EST Reply to CommentI like Ben Affleck, but don't agree.
After being discovered in Winter's Bone, Jennifer Lawrence became the star of a critically acclaimed movie and box office smash with The Hunter Games and has a critical role in what's likely to be a big awards player in Silver Linings Playbook. There's also House at the End of the Street that despite a terrible tomatoscore made 35 million dollars worldwide.
Liz
November 29, 2012 at 2:21PM EST Reply to CommentHmm, if we're talking about great sheepskin coats worn by characters played by Tom Hardy, I'd give the edge to the one from Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. I saw that movie twice in the theater, and I spent an unreasonable amount of the second viewing thinking about how much I would like to own that coat.
Chad Hartigan
November 29, 2012 at 2:26PM EST Reply to CommentMan, what does an ex-contributor gotta do to get his movie premiering at Sundance a mention on this site?!
Guy Lodge Congrats! I honestly didn't know -- shamefully, I haven't even had time to read through the lineup.
November 29, 2012 at 4:11PM ESTThirdMan "This is Martin Bonner", coming soon to a Sundance screen near you. A "masterpiece of modern cinema", says Jeff Craig of Sixty Second Preview...well, he hasn't actually seen it yet, but he has a pretty good hunch. ;)
November 29, 2012 at 4:17PM ESTRichardZ Congratulations. I miss your Box Office summaries and your hilarious comments. Sundance's website is awful. It took me forever to find it.
November 29, 2012 at 10:30PM ESTM.
November 29, 2012 at 3:38PM EST Reply to CommentGreat issue of EW. I loved what Charlize Theron wrote regarding Jennifer Lawrence...what a tribute!.
Maxim
November 29, 2012 at 10:48PM EST Reply to CommentI sort of find Affleck being named #1 Entertainer vis-a-vis Argo to be incredibly revealing about the place of the movie itself and possibly why people go see it.
Kane Jennifer Lawrence would've been a great choice. I remember when The Burning Plain came out critics were citing Lawrence and saying to watch out for her in the future. Gordon-Levitt has also come a very long way and this year he brought the dinero.
November 30, 2012 at 11:27AM EST