Roundup: Mel Brooks to be honored by the AFI
Also: 'Lincoln' to play NYFF, and parents oppose Seth MacFarlane
Mel Brooks in "Blazing Saddles."
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The American Film Institute announced this morning that Oscar-winning all-rounder Mel Brooks will receive the institution's Life Achievement Award next June, at a gala tribute event to be aired on TNT. The 86 year-old actor-writer-director-producer was actually honored by the Academy at the earliest opportunity, winning the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for his 1968 debut feature "The Producers," before 1970s streak of genre-pastiche comedies including "Blazing Saddles," "Young Frankenstein," "High Anxiety" and "Silent Movie." AFI chairman Howard Stringer says, "Mel Brooks is America's long-reigning king of comedy... a master of an art form that rarely gets the respect it deserves." [LA Times]
"The Paperboy" opens today, and Ebert is one of the critics who gets the joke, calling Lee Daniels's swampy Southern thriller "great trash." [Roger Ebert]
After its gala tribute to Nicole Kidman, the New York Film Festival surprised punters with a sneak preview of Park Chan-wook's "Stoker." [The Playlist]
The NYFF is all about surprises this year: the news leaked yesterday that "Lincoln" will have its world premiere there on Monday. [Deadline]
The Parents Television Council is none too happy with the appointment of Seth MacFarlane as next year's Oscar host. [Vanity Fair]
Tom O'Neil checks in with their Golden Globe submissions, and confirms that the Weinsteins are entering "Django Unchained" as a drama, while "Silver Linings Playbook" and the hilarious "Quartet" will compete as comedies. [Gold Derby]
R. Kurt Osenlund considers the Oscar possibilities of "Looper," concluding that its divisive makeup work is its best bet for a nomination. [Slant]
This skipped my radar earlier, but Daniels Day-Lewis and Craig will be honored at BAFTA's LA-based Britannia Awards in November, alongside Quentin Tarantino and "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. [BAFTA]
Variety's Jon Weisman thinks Elle Fanning deserves more serious Best Actress consideration for "Ginger & Rosa" than she's currently getting. [The Vote]
Walter Hill will receive the Maverick Director Award at the Rome Film Festival, which is also hosting the world premiere of his latest film "Bullet to the Head," starring Sylvester Stallone. [Rome Film Festival]
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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October 5, 2012 at 9:59AM EST Reply to CommentPlease correct the Roger Ebert link. It sends you straight to the Mel Brooks article.
Guy Lodge Corrected. Thanks.
October 5, 2012 at 10:50AM ESTRichardZ
October 5, 2012 at 10:31AM EST Reply to CommentBlazing Saddles: "werq, werq, werq!"
Edwin
October 5, 2012 at 12:14PM EST Reply to CommentEven though the Golden Globes become less and less relevant to the Oscars every year (only 2 of the past 8 Best Picture winners also won at the Golden Globes), it's still interesting that the four movies that currently have the most Best Picture buzz ("Les Miz," "Lincoln," "Argo," "Silver Linings") will be split up at the Globes, with two competing in Drama and two in Comedy/Musical. So in addition to not being a reliable predictor of the Oscars anyway, it's possible that the eventual frontrunners might not even be competing with each other.
Joe7827
October 5, 2012 at 1:26PM EST Reply to CommentThank you for the Gold Derby link, Mr. Lodge; the Globe classifications always fascinate me. One question: I'm unsure if you're being typically sarcastic with your "Quartet" comment, or if it truly is funny.
Jonnybon
October 5, 2012 at 1:31PM EST Reply to CommentThere is no way Looper is getting nominated for best makeup.
/3rt It shouldn't. It's "White Chicks" bad.
October 5, 2012 at 2:02PM EST