Roundup: Soderbergh's plea for 'bananas' McConaughey, and other campaign oddities
Also: Critics split on 'Les Mis,' and stage elite pick their film directors of 2012
Matthew McConaughey in "Magic Mike."
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Today's most enjoyable Oscar-related feature comes from Steve Pond, who has rounded up a selection of the more notable and/or quirky campaign maneuvers from the season thus far, from curious merchandise (a "Lincoln" cookbook, haggis crisps for "Brave") to an Academy rule violation by shortlisted doc "The Invisible War." My favorite, though, is a typewritten letter to BFCA voters from the campaign-averse Steven Soderbergh on behalf of Matthew McConaughey: "I'm breaking my longstanding embargo regarding pleas for recognition... we found [his performance] to be completely bananas in the best sense of the word. As he says in the film, 'The moon is just a chip shot away!'" Now one for for Channing Tatum, please. [The Wrap]
David Hudson rounds up early reviews of "Les Misérables." Not all critics are hearing the people sing. [Keyframe Daily]
Craig Kennedy interviews "Les Mis" star Eddie Redmayne, who has, for many, emerged as one of the film's unexpected standouts. [Awards Daily]
Scenes from the waterborne Paris premiere of "Life of Pi." The French, as with so much in life, just do it with a little more class. [Entertainment Weekly]
An excellent feature on the creation of the alternately jangly and ecstatic score for "Beasts of the Southern Wild." This is one Oscar nomination that needs to happen. [Creators Project]
I'm loving Variety's awards coverage this year. This feature on top Broadway directors saluting their favorite film counterparts in 2012 (including Mike Nichols on David Chase, and Matthew Warchus on Rian Johnson) is a great idea. [Variety]
Prompted by Greig Fraser's win for the very contemporary "Zero Dark Thirty" at the NYFCC Awards, Jose Solis wonders why the cinematography Oscar so heavily favors period and fantasy films. [The Film Experience]
Ben Affleck and screenwriter Chris Terrio talk about how they balanced a range of genre rhythms, from bouncy satire to white-knuckle thriller, in "Argo." [LA Times]
"I turned that setting off on my TV." Andrew O'Hehir discusses the potentially alienating effect of the 48fps frame rate in "The Hobbit," and how it could affect Peter Jackson's legacy from here on out. [Salon]
Bret Easton Ellis thinks Kathryn Bigelow is overrated because she's a beautiful woman. (Best response I read on Twitter: "So why is Bret Easton Ellis overrated, then?") [The Carpetbagger]
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 SignupRicardo
December 7, 2012 at 12:43PM EST Reply to CommentAm I the only one who found Matthew McConaughey's performance respectable but nothing out of this world?
/3rt No. But people are rooting for him the same way people rooted for Sandra Bullock. Likability goes a long way in award season for veteran actors having a good year or a return to prominence.
December 7, 2012 at 1:30PM ESTRichardZ No, but it is a tricky role that he plays. He found a way to make the role to be about a person stripper beyond his prime trying to be relevant either as a mentor to the next generation and/or as an entertainment mogul. Acted in a different choice might have made the character too broad not care about him. He presented us a stripper with a heart of gold and a mind for business. One won out over the other. His role is pivotal in the choices that Channing Tatum makes--a hard choice whether to move out of Tampa or to Miami.
December 7, 2012 at 2:27PM ESTYup, Matt McConaughey's performance is truly deserving of accolades that might come its way. Bananas, indeed.
Chris138 I've actually been wondering if McConaughey will get the same treatment that Albert Brooks did last year. A lot of people expected him to get nominated, he got the NYFCC win and Independent Spirit Award nod, but ultimately didn't get the Oscar nomination. At the moment I remain cautious about McConaughey's chances of getting an Oscar nomination, although I'd love it if he did. If he gets a SAG nomination (which Brooks didn't) then I think he'll have a solid chance at an Oscar nod.
December 8, 2012 at 2:30AM ESTJLPatt
December 7, 2012 at 2:11PM EST Reply to CommentEllis says what everyone knows but is too afraid to say.
someperson I didn't know that. I don't even believe it.
December 7, 2012 at 3:34PM ESTAnd if everybody knew it, then no one would be overrating her.