Gold Derby nuggets: Steve Pond digs into documentary race | Guy Lodge on category fraud | Guests line up for Conan O'Brien

• Steve Pond delves into the selection process for the documentary feature Oscar race. As he reports, "in a remarkable year for non-fiction filmmaking of all kinds, the looming possibility of more Oscar-doc controversies means it’s time to take a look at a process in which: films are judged by surprisingly few people; the most active filmmakers are ineligible or unable to vote; and the final slate of nominees is almost invariably made up of issue-oriented docs — to the exclusion of the odder, entertaining works that make the field so vital these days." THE WRAP • Sasha Stone finds much to quote from the script for "The Social Network," leading off her list of...

Academy Awards Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Anne Hathaway Annette Bening CMA Awards Conan O'Brien Country Music Association Gotham Awards Gwyneth Paltrow Jake Gyllenhaal Julianne Moore Love and Other Drugs Oscar nominations Oscars The Kids are All Right
10/21/2010 17:10
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Gold Derby nuggets: Fest faves James Franco & Carey Mulligan | Tom Bosley dead at 83 | Sasha Stone on best picture race

• "127 Hours" leading man James Franco will receive the outstanding performance prize from the Santa Barbara filmfest on Jan. 29. In making the announcement, fest exec Roger Durling described him thus: "A truly exceptional actor who embraces the character and lives the story to tell it, James Franco eases onto the screen, seducing the audience no matter if he is the hero, the villain or the victim." Among the roster of talent that has taken home this prize in the past: Colin Firth (2010), Penelope Cruz (2009), Angelina Jolie (2008), Helen Mirren (2007), Heath Ledger (2006), Kate Winslet (2005) and Charlize Theron (2004). SBIFF • Carey Mulligan will be feted by the Palm Springs...

127 Hours Academy Awards Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Annette Bening Carey Mulligan Carol Burnett Glee Gotham Awards Gwyneth Paltrow James Franco Oscar nominations Oscars Tom Bosley Tony Awards Tonys True Grit Winter's Bone
10/19/2010 13:41
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Poll: Will 'Winter's Bone' be nominated for best picture at the Oscars?

Now that "Winter's Bone" leads with the most nominations at the Gotham Independent Film Awards (three), its Oscar hopes brighten. But how much? Only three previous Gotham champs were nommed for best picture in the past: "The Hurt Locker," "Capote" and "Sideways." "Winter's Bone" faces a crowded field at the upcoming Oscar derby. Currently, there are 13 front-runners competing for the 10 best-picture slots: "127 Hours," "Black Swan," "The Fighter," "Hereafter," "How Do You Know," "Inception," "The Kids Are All Right," "The King's Speech," "The Social Network," "The Town," "Toy Story 3," "True Grit" and "The Way Back." Jockeying right behind: "Alice in Wonderland," "Another Year," "Blue Valentine," "For Colored Girls," "The Ghost Writer," "How...

127 Hours Academy Awards Black Swan Gotham Awards Inception Oscars The Fighter The Kids are All Right The King's Speech The Social Network Winter's Bone
10/18/2010 16:20
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Do Gotham Award nominations boost Oscar odds of 'Winter's Bone'?

Oscar hopes run high now that "Winter's Bone" received three nominations from the Gotham Independent Film Awards. That's the same number as "The Hurt Locker" reaped last year before it romped at the Oscars. "The Hurt Locker" won best picture at both awards, but that's the first time the groups' champs aligned. Over the past several years, none of the Gotham Awards' winners were even nominated for best picture: in 2008 ("Frozen River"), 2007 ("Into the Wild") and 2006 ("Half Nelson"). The previous two Gotham victors did make the Oscar high five, however: "Capote" (2005), "Sideways" (2004). Last year, it was extremely odd that the Gotham Awards, based in New York City as their name...

Academy Awards Gotham Awards Oscars Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire Winter's Bone
10/18/2010 15:38
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Gold Derby nuggets: Pete Hammond: Oscars in November | 'The Hobbit' sets starting date | Supporting race surprises

• After reviewing the pros and cons of moving the Oscars, Pete Hammond proposes that they should indeed change the ceremony's timing. However, for Pete, such a shift should not be just the few weeks being bandied about as of late but months earlier -- in November. DEADLINE • Sasha Stone considers five films that could replicate the success of "The Blind Side" at this year's Oscars. Leading her list is "For Colored Girls" followed by "Love and Other Drugs" and "Secretariat." "How Do You Know" and "The Town" round out her selections for that slot. AWARDS DAILY • Kris Tapley and Anne Thompson welcome In Contention contributor Guy Lodge and Indie Wire blogger Peter...

Academy Awards Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Annette Bening Conviction Gotham Awards Hilary Swank Oscar nominations Oscars Peter Jackson The Hobbit The Kids are All Right
10/15/2010 17:23
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Grammy predix for best record: Katy Perry or Train?

Now that we have David "Guru" Schnelwar's Grammy predictions for best record of the year to compare with the ones we already published from Darrin "DoubleD" Dortch, it's curious to see the overlap. They agree on four of the five nominees, but Schnelwar opts for Katy Perry's "California Gurls" instead of Train's "Hey, Soul Sister" (Dortch's choice) in that last slot. Below: Schnelwar's commentary and predix: Eminem is no stranger to the record of the year category. He was previously nominated for "Without Me" (in 2002) and the Academy Award-winning "Lose Yourself" (in 2003). Eminem is likely to return for either his collaboration with Rihanna "Love the Way Yo Lie," which was No. 1 on...

Gotham Awards Grammys Katy Perry Lady Gaga Rihanna
10/08/2010 17:04
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Everybody loses: Gotham Awards vs. Indie Spirits ('Hurt Locker' vs. 'Precious')

Just as we expected, Independent Spirit Awards lavished nominations upon "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" today, thereby addressing the film's ridiculous snub by the other, rival prize for independent films, the Gotham Awards, which gave their top trophy last night to "The Hurt Locker." This year's clash between the two awards — bestowed by rival factions of an organization that split in 2006 — marks the height of absurdity in awards land. Each side is embracing one of the two top indies — "The Hurt Locker" or "Precious" — to the exclusion of the other. In the end, both awards look foolish and everybody loses. "The Hurt Locker" isn't eligible at the...

Gotham Awards Independent Spirit Award Indie Spirits Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire The Hurt Locker
12/01/2009 11:47
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