News & Tidbits: France, Brad Pitt, Julie Andrews and more...
Friday, September 20, 2019 at 3:28PM
Deadline France will send contemporary police/citizens/gang tensions drama Les Miserables to the Oscars (sorry, Portrait of a Lady on Fire fans)
Latino Entertainment Journalists Association - In their first ever TV awards, Barry, When They See Us, Chernobyl, and Euphoria lead the nominations. Jimmy Smit (Lifetime Achievement) and Isabella Gomez (Breakout) will also be honored.
Indie Wire - Have you heard that Brad Pitt is “abstaining” from Oscar campaigning. In our long years of following the Oscar race this only works for mega-stars and those who have just given undeniable performances (like Mo’Nique in Precious). Everyone else has to play the game.
After the jump Julie Andrews, Maggie Cheung, Downton Abbey, Kevin Spacey and more…
Bo Derek, Dudley Moore, and Julie Andrews in "10"
Metrograph - If you’re in NYC in October, The Metrograph is doing a Blake Edward series that Julie Andrews helped program (!!!) she’ll be appearing in person as well
South China Morning Post - an update on Maggie Cheung, mostly absent from cinema for 15 years now
Awards Daily on the great satire of JoJo Rabbit and the current political landscape
Shadow and Act - Jodie Turner Smith has lined up her post-Queen & Slim role. She’ll co-star with Michael B Jordan in a new Tom Clancy franchise/adaptation Without Remorse
The Hollywood Reporter - Crazy development in the Kevin Spacey harassment legal dramas. One of his accusers has died during the lawsuit
/Film - on the female directors who made an impression at TIFF
The Hollywood Reporter Downton Abbey is already eyeing a potential sequel.
Variety - a mixed review of Madonna’s Madame X spectacle / tour
Boy Culture - and a review from our favourite Madonna chronicler Matthew Rettemund
Film School Rejects - has thoughts on why JoJo Rabbit won the People’s Choice Award
Reader Comments (16)
Portrait of a Lady on Fire was not good, so I’m not mad. But it would be nice for more queer films to be submitted.
If I had an Oscar at home already, I would never "campaign" for one again.
Tilda Swinton's one, done, and out model is my favorite kind of Oscar record, for that reason. Think of all she's done since 2007! Think of how much time and dignity she's saved.
Nat have you seen Queen and Slim is everyone sleeping on the 2 Leads.
I love Maggie Cheung. I was re-watching Police Story 2 yesterday as she is such a joy to watch as I would love for her to come back into the world of film but if she's happy doing music. I'm cool with that.
Portrait...Fire is getting better received by American critics than French ones. I'm not surprised it was passed over for something more timely. If it's the Cold War to Parasite's Roma then hopefully it still might get some nominations.
@markgordonuk
Queen & Slim is world premiering at the AFI fest (11/14) two weeks before its release.
Ok so no one has seen it,seems we don't really have that breakout star this year and she seems like someone who could based on her UK work.
mark & Max -- yeah. i haven't seen it. i kept predicting it for things but started to feel foolish when there was no buzz whatsoever but if it does break big at least it was on my lists for quite some time!
Tilda's example is refreshing, H. Every other actor seems like they're trying to break Katherine Hepburn record. Every director trying to outdo John Ford's four wins.
The Les Miz thing was totally predictable. The movies screams 2019 even with the poster.
*checks Orbitz for Flights to NYC in October*
forever—same!
...Also Julie Andrews is being honored with the 2020 AFI life achievement award!
It seems like Brad Pitt has a different campaign strategy.
Lainey at Lainey Gossip is of the opinion that Pitt’s stance is poised to contrast with Leonardo Di Caprio’s, making Leo look needy and thirsty. Di Caprio’s publicity team is one of the most amazingly effective teams around.
Brad is going all out for Ad Astra. The Hollywood Reporter reported that Brad came early to the opening of Ad Astra so that he could personally talk individually to every reporter there. The reporters came away saying he’s a real pro.
Pitching the movie rather than himself gives Ad Astra a better shot at getting one of the Best Picture nominations. And movies that have Best Picture noms have a better chance of getting acting noms.
I like his strategy, that it’s the work that is important, that the movie and the director and the meaning are the important thing, and that he is an accessible professional who doesn’t feel personal entitlement. Nice work.
Just saw Brads CNN interview with Amanpour - can't recall seeing him in an interview before - I realised it's his eyes ... so genuine, warm - such a superstar - he might probably really don't need to campaign... also it's about time for him
Nat Oscar season doesn't start till your acting predictions are up.
Yeah, I scoffed at Brad's insistence on not Oscar campaigning. He'll just give endless of interviews and a handful of magazine profiles to... talk about the movies he's made this year. Nope, not Oscar campaigning at all.