LA Film Critics J’adore ‘Amour’ and ‘The Master’
Dec10

LA Film Critics J’adore ‘Amour’ and ‘The Master’

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association has bucked early awards season trends by naming the French film “Amour” as best picture and showering “The Master” with a slew of prizes, including runner-up for best picture, helmer Paul Thomas Anderson as best director, star Joaquin Phoenix as best actor, Amy Adams as best supporting actress, and David Frank and Jack Fisk for production design.   Another surprise, LAFCA anointed Dwight...

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Kevin Smith Keynote a Wild, Emotional Ride Through Moviedom
Dec06

Kevin Smith Keynote a Wild, Emotional Ride Through Moviedom

Filmmaker and entrepreneur Kevin Smith has a rabid fan base, and although we had admired some of his past films, including “Chasing Amy” and of course, his  breakthrough, “Clerks,” we didn’t consider ourselves amongst them. Until yesterday.   That’s when Smith, clad in a trademark hockey jersey and introduced by KROQ’s Ralph Garman, came clambering through the crowd of entertainment...

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Hollywood Film Awards an Early Harbinger of Oscar Season
Oct23

Hollywood Film Awards an Early Harbinger of Oscar Season

Coming several months before even the earliest film critics awards, the 16th Annual Hollywood Film Awards billed itself as the first big event and official launch of awards season. Not only that, it spotlighted talent and films that are likely to be frontrunners as the season progresses this coming winter.   In a real art imitates life moment, “Argo” director and star Ben Affleck took the stage with his castmates to pick up the...

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Ottimo Woody Allen: To Rome With Love
Jul13

Ottimo Woody Allen: To Rome With Love

  Another European capital, another delightful Woody Allen film. Although not as outstanding as his last outing, “Midnight in Paris, Allen’s “To Rome with Love” imports the trademark neuroses of his main characters to another land. This time, instead of a surrogate Allen-type, as Owen Wilson played in “Paris,” the audience gets the pleasure of seeing Allen himself, as himself. And if that...

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Meryl Moments and More at WIF’s Crystal + Lucy Awards
Jun14

Meryl Moments and More at WIF’s Crystal + Lucy Awards

When Meryl Streep is in the house, you know it’s going to be a night to remember. In fact, there should have been a Streep drinking game, similar to the Marty Scorsese one that made the rounds during this past winter’s awards season, for all the times she was mentioned  at the 2012 Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards, presented June 12 at a packed gala held at the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton.   Hosted...

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