If you've ever watched the red carpet at the Academy Awards there's a phrase you've probably heard over and over again, and for quite a few decades: "It's an honor just to be nominated."
And to be fair, it most certainly is. Although the Oscars were invented to bust unions, not reward artistic quality, at their best it's a gesture of support for a filmmaker from their peers. To be singled out by the other hard-working artisans in your branch as worthy of awards consideration as an actor, director, writer, cinematographer, sound designer et al is a great big feather in one's cap.
But it's a feather that can, and has been, plucked out. It's uncommon but the Academy Awards have vetoed quite a few nominations in the past — three times in the 2010s alone — in situations that stirred up controversy or, in some of the more technical or niche categories,...
And to be fair, it most certainly is. Although the Oscars were invented to bust unions, not reward artistic quality, at their best it's a gesture of support for a filmmaker from their peers. To be singled out by the other hard-working artisans in your branch as worthy of awards consideration as an actor, director, writer, cinematographer, sound designer et al is a great big feather in one's cap.
But it's a feather that can, and has been, plucked out. It's uncommon but the Academy Awards have vetoed quite a few nominations in the past — three times in the 2010s alone — in situations that stirred up controversy or, in some of the more technical or niche categories,...
- 2/1/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- Slash Film
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed Friday that it is “conducting a review of campaign procedures” in the wake of Andrea Riseborough’s surprise Oscar nomination for the small indie film “To Leslie.”
The Academy released a statement Friday regarding the campaign, though it didn’t mention “To Leslie” specifically.
“It is the Academy’s goal to ensure that the Awards competition is conducted in a fair and ethical manner, and we are committed to ensuring an inclusive awards process,” the statement reads. “We are conducting a review of the campaign procedures around this year’s nominees, to ensure that no guidelines were violated, and to inform us whether changes to the guidelines may be needed in a new era of social media and digital communication. We have confidence in the integrity of our nomination and voting procedures, and support genuine grassroots campaigns for outstanding performances.”
The drama,...
The Academy released a statement Friday regarding the campaign, though it didn’t mention “To Leslie” specifically.
“It is the Academy’s goal to ensure that the Awards competition is conducted in a fair and ethical manner, and we are committed to ensuring an inclusive awards process,” the statement reads. “We are conducting a review of the campaign procedures around this year’s nominees, to ensure that no guidelines were violated, and to inform us whether changes to the guidelines may be needed in a new era of social media and digital communication. We have confidence in the integrity of our nomination and voting procedures, and support genuine grassroots campaigns for outstanding performances.”
The drama,...
- 1/27/2023
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Will Smith has been barred from the Oscars for 10 years as a consequence of him slapping presenter Chris Rock during the Oscars ceremony last month, the Motion Picture Academy ruled Friday.
The Academy’s Board of Governors also accepted the actor’s resignation as a member. However, the board did not rule Smith ineligible to receive nominations — or Oscars.
“This action we are taking today in response to Will Smith’s behavior is a step toward a larger goal of protecting the safety of our performers and guests, and restoring trust in the Academy,” the Academy said Friday in a statement. “We also hope this can begin a time of healing and restoration for all involved and impacted.”
The Academy also apologized for how it handled the immediate aftermath of Smith’s slap.
“During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room,” the Academy’s statement said.
The Academy’s Board of Governors also accepted the actor’s resignation as a member. However, the board did not rule Smith ineligible to receive nominations — or Oscars.
“This action we are taking today in response to Will Smith’s behavior is a step toward a larger goal of protecting the safety of our performers and guests, and restoring trust in the Academy,” the Academy said Friday in a statement. “We also hope this can begin a time of healing and restoration for all involved and impacted.”
The Academy also apologized for how it handled the immediate aftermath of Smith’s slap.
“During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room,” the Academy’s statement said.
- 4/8/2022
- by Brian Welk and Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Of all the categories at the Academy Awards, the two music-related ones are often the most interesting. Who could forget the 2012 Best Original Song lineup that only included two songs? Or when the songwriters of “Alone Yet Not Alone” had their nomination revoked in 2014 for overly aggressive politicking? And of course there are the many changes that the Best Original Score category has gone through in 86 years, including the era when comedic and dramatic scores were recognized separately.
Since 2019, members of the academy’s music branch have produced shortlists ahead of their nominations voting. This year, 136 scores and 105 songs that met eligibility requirements were winnowed down until 15 remained on each list. Check out our gallery of the five films that were honored with inclusions on both Oscars music shortlists and therefore could go on to compete for both prizes.
Since 2019, members of the academy’s music branch have produced shortlists ahead of their nominations voting. This year, 136 scores and 105 songs that met eligibility requirements were winnowed down until 15 remained on each list. Check out our gallery of the five films that were honored with inclusions on both Oscars music shortlists and therefore could go on to compete for both prizes.
- 2/13/2021
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Of all the Oscar categories, the two music-related ones are often the most interesting. Who could forget the 2012 Best Original Song lineup that only included two songs? Or when the songwriters of “Alone Yet Not Alone” had their nomination revoked in 2014 for overly aggressive politicking? And of course there are the many changes that the Best Original Score category has gone through in 86 years, including the era when comedic and dramatic scores were recognized separately.
In each of the most recent three years, members of the academy’s music branch have produced shortlists of 15 contenders for each of Best Original Score and Best Original Song ahead of their second-round of voting for the final five nominations in each category.
In 2019, three films appeared on both lists. “Black Panther” and “Mary Poppins Returns” each ultimately nabbed bids in both categories including the songs “”All the Stars” and “The Place Where Lost Things Go.
In each of the most recent three years, members of the academy’s music branch have produced shortlists of 15 contenders for each of Best Original Score and Best Original Song ahead of their second-round of voting for the final five nominations in each category.
In 2019, three films appeared on both lists. “Black Panther” and “Mary Poppins Returns” each ultimately nabbed bids in both categories including the songs “”All the Stars” and “The Place Where Lost Things Go.
- 2/13/2021
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
by Chris Feil
A moment that will live in Oscar infamy, it happened so fast we could barely take in the joy of “Oscar nominee June Squibb” as a realized concept. Five years ago Cheryl Boone Isaacs, standing next to Chris Hemsworth, downshifted from announcing supporting acting categories into the much more low-pressure Original Song category. And then unleashed chaos onto announcement morning.
What the hell was “Alone Yet Not Alone” from Alone Yet Not Alone?...
A moment that will live in Oscar infamy, it happened so fast we could barely take in the joy of “Oscar nominee June Squibb” as a realized concept. Five years ago Cheryl Boone Isaacs, standing next to Chris Hemsworth, downshifted from announcing supporting acting categories into the much more low-pressure Original Song category. And then unleashed chaos onto announcement morning.
What the hell was “Alone Yet Not Alone” from Alone Yet Not Alone?...
- 1/30/2019
- by Chris Feil
- FilmExperience
Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Cut to the Feeling” may be the song of this never-ending summer, but audiences in France and the UK have been grooving to this irresistible pop masterpiece since last December (about six months before it was available for digital download). Recorded during the creation of Jepsen’s monumental “E•Mo•Tion” LP, “Cut to the Feeling” was deemed “too cinematic” for inclusion on the record, and set aside for future use. For mere mortals, this euphoric jam would have been a career-defining milestone; for Jepsen, it was merely a B-side.
Fortunately, it wouldn’t be long before the song found a home, as its singer — one of post-Gretzky Canada’s finest cultural exports — offered it to a Montreal animation studio when she agreed to voice one of the characters in their animated feature, “Ballerina.”
Retitled “Leap!” for its impending U.S. release, the harmlessly inspirational kids...
Fortunately, it wouldn’t be long before the song found a home, as its singer — one of post-Gretzky Canada’s finest cultural exports — offered it to a Montreal animation studio when she agreed to voice one of the characters in their animated feature, “Ballerina.”
Retitled “Leap!” for its impending U.S. release, the harmlessly inspirational kids...
- 8/22/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
It wouldn't be the Oscars without drama. Or in this case, draaaaaa-maaaa. The day before the Oscars -- yes, the day before the Oscars -- the Academy rescinded a nomination. Greg P Russell had received his 17th nomination (he's never won) for his sound mixing on 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi but that nomination is no more. The decision was announced yesterday in light of information about phone calls to branch members. Telephone as well as email lobbying is against the rules. The other members of that particular sound team have retained their nominations so there are still 5 nominated films in the category.
Sing along at Greg's house "Alone...Yet Not Alone...♫ "
For those who recall. The song "Alone Yet Not Alone" from the movie of the same name was the last rescinded nomination just 3 Oscar seasons ago for something similar, emails to branch members. While this is unfortunate,...
Sing along at Greg's house "Alone...Yet Not Alone...♫ "
For those who recall. The song "Alone Yet Not Alone" from the movie of the same name was the last rescinded nomination just 3 Oscar seasons ago for something similar, emails to branch members. While this is unfortunate,...
- 2/26/2017
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Just when you thought you had this whole thing figured out, leave it to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to shake things up. If ever there was a bittersweet morning it was today.
Congratulations American Sniper, you got six nominations including Best Picture, But sorry Clint, they snubbed you in the Best Director category denying you the chance to become the oldest nominee ever.
Congratulations Foxcatcher for catching five nominations in key categories including Directing, Writing and Acting, But sorry Foxcatcher somehow not one of those five nods was for Best Picture.
Congratulations Selma because you did land a Best Picture nomination, But sorry that other than that (and “Glory” for Best Song) you were Awol, racking up one of the lowest overall totals ever for a Best Pic contender.
Congratulations The Lego Movie on that awesome Best Song nomination, the very first movie announced for all 24 categories,...
Congratulations American Sniper, you got six nominations including Best Picture, But sorry Clint, they snubbed you in the Best Director category denying you the chance to become the oldest nominee ever.
Congratulations Foxcatcher for catching five nominations in key categories including Directing, Writing and Acting, But sorry Foxcatcher somehow not one of those five nods was for Best Picture.
Congratulations Selma because you did land a Best Picture nomination, But sorry that other than that (and “Glory” for Best Song) you were Awol, racking up one of the lowest overall totals ever for a Best Pic contender.
Congratulations The Lego Movie on that awesome Best Song nomination, the very first movie announced for all 24 categories,...
- 1/15/2015
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline
It was inevitable, with so many inspired-by-a-true-story films in the Oscar race, that there would be grumbling about the inaccuracies of various awards-contending movies. This year, however, all those complaints seemed to emerge at once, mostly during the past week. And the gripes are especially bitter, seemingly aimed not just at questioning the movies' factuality but also at sabotaging their chances of winning awards. It's this sort of mudslinging that has many observers wondering if those who complain are actually doing the bidding of campaigners for competing films and performers.
The loudest trash talk last week came from gold-medal-winning Olympic wrestler Mark Schultz, who is played by Channing Tatum in the awards-contender "Foxcatcher." Noticing that reviewers of the recently-released films have found a subtext of homosexuality in the movie (though it's all in the way that creepy coach John du Pont, played by Steve Carell, behaves toward Schultz, and not...
The loudest trash talk last week came from gold-medal-winning Olympic wrestler Mark Schultz, who is played by Channing Tatum in the awards-contender "Foxcatcher." Noticing that reviewers of the recently-released films have found a subtext of homosexuality in the movie (though it's all in the way that creepy coach John du Pont, played by Steve Carell, behaves toward Schultz, and not...
- 1/5/2015
- by Gary Susman
- Moviefone
By Scott Feinberg
The Hollywood Reporter
Another Oscar season, another controversy with the Academy’s music branch. Last season, the music-related issue that had everyone talking was the questionable nomination and subsequent disqualification of the original song “Alone Yet Not Alone.” This season, it is the eligibility of Antonio Sanchez’s drum-centric score for one of the year’s most acclaimed films, Alejandro G. Inarritu’s Birdman, which is being distributed by Fox Searchlight.
The branch disqualified the movie for best score consideration because its soundtrack includes pieces of classical music in addition to Sanchez’s score. That, in turn, led to a highly contentious behind-the-scenes debate about whether or not to overturn the decision — a debate involving Sanchez, Inarritu, Fox Music and the chair of the Academy’s music branch executive committee, the details of which have not been previously reported.
Read the rest of this entry…...
The Hollywood Reporter
Another Oscar season, another controversy with the Academy’s music branch. Last season, the music-related issue that had everyone talking was the questionable nomination and subsequent disqualification of the original song “Alone Yet Not Alone.” This season, it is the eligibility of Antonio Sanchez’s drum-centric score for one of the year’s most acclaimed films, Alejandro G. Inarritu’s Birdman, which is being distributed by Fox Searchlight.
The branch disqualified the movie for best score consideration because its soundtrack includes pieces of classical music in addition to Sanchez’s score. That, in turn, led to a highly contentious behind-the-scenes debate about whether or not to overturn the decision — a debate involving Sanchez, Inarritu, Fox Music and the chair of the Academy’s music branch executive committee, the details of which have not been previously reported.
Read the rest of this entry…...
- 12/25/2014
- by Anjelica Oswald
- Scott Feinberg
When it comes to cultural impact, mega-sales and drama, this year’s Best Original Song category at the Academy Awards is going to have an awfully difficult time competing with last year’s category.
The 2013 winner, you might remember, was “Let It Go,” the anthem from “Frozen” that became a hit around the world and spawned a zillion amateur YouTube renditions.
See photos: 15 Movies You Already Forgot About: TheWrap’s Best & Worst 2014 (Photos)
And “Let It Go” was joined as a nominee by another song that was so ubiquitous that most sentient human beings got sick of hearing it before the Oscars – Pharrell Williams’ “Happy,...
The 2013 winner, you might remember, was “Let It Go,” the anthem from “Frozen” that became a hit around the world and spawned a zillion amateur YouTube renditions.
See photos: 15 Movies You Already Forgot About: TheWrap’s Best & Worst 2014 (Photos)
And “Let It Go” was joined as a nominee by another song that was so ubiquitous that most sentient human beings got sick of hearing it before the Oscars – Pharrell Williams’ “Happy,...
- 12/23/2014
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Birdman may be flying high with critics, but Oscar just shot him down permanently. Musically, that is.
Perhaps the most inventive and talked about motion picture music score of the year — a winner already of numerous critics awards as well as nominations from the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Movie Awards — has been deep-sixed by Oscar even before it had a chance to compete. When Antonio Sanchez’s remarkable percussive drum score for Birdman went missing from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ December 12th list of 114 eligible films for Best Original Music Score, eyebrows were raised. After all this was not exactly a list that discriminates, including everything from Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt? to Ouija. A quiet, and meticulously detailed appeal was launched by the composer, director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and distributor Fox Searchlight. After an emergency meeting of the Music Branch Executive Committee...
Perhaps the most inventive and talked about motion picture music score of the year — a winner already of numerous critics awards as well as nominations from the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Movie Awards — has been deep-sixed by Oscar even before it had a chance to compete. When Antonio Sanchez’s remarkable percussive drum score for Birdman went missing from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ December 12th list of 114 eligible films for Best Original Music Score, eyebrows were raised. After all this was not exactly a list that discriminates, including everything from Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt? to Ouija. A quiet, and meticulously detailed appeal was launched by the composer, director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and distributor Fox Searchlight. After an emergency meeting of the Music Branch Executive Committee...
- 12/22/2014
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline
Teased in Warner Bros. Pictures’ "For Your Consideration" and later confirmed by all involved, Watertower Muisc has released actor-musician Billy Boyd’s "The Last Goodbye" in full. Running behind "The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies’" credits, the track is one of the few components of Peter Jackson’s trilogy-capper that could take Oscar gold. Written and composed by Boyd (Howard Shore, who played Pippin in Jackson’s "Lord of the Rings" films, "The Last Goodbye" fits with "The Hobbit" series’ musical trend of folksy male vocalists (with Neil Finn’s "Song of the Lonely Mountain" and Ed Sheeran’s "I See Fire") versus the ethereal ballads that Enya, Emilíana Torrini, and Annie Lennox leant to "Lord of the Rings." Neither Finn nor Sheeran’s songs cracked the Original Song races in the past two years, giving "The Last Goodbye" an uphill battle when it comes to Oscars. “We focused...
- 11/17/2014
- by Matt Patches
- Hitfix
Last year's "Alone Yet Not Alone" shenanigans were a nice reminder that the Academy's Music Branch can certainly march to its own drum (no pun intended), for better or worse. So you never can tell how the Best Original Song Oscar race will turn out, and the highest of profiles isn't necessarily a guaranteed pass. Nevertheless, this year's race — already marked by contenders from popular music such as New Radicals' Gregg Alexander ("Begin Again") and the legendary Patti Smith ("Noah") — has just picked up a trio of heavy hitters. I'm told that two of the final films still to be revealed this season, Ava DuVernay's "Selma" and Angelina Jolie's "Unbroken," feature original tracks that mainly play over the closing credits. "Glory" from the former comes courtesy of John Legend and Common, while "Miracles" from the latter is performed by Coldplay. "Miracle," I'm told, begins over "Unbroken's...
- 10/27/2014
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
Welcome back to the ninth season of Tech Support here at In Contention. The crafts coverage banner has become somewhat of a staple here at this site, as we seek to shine light upon the below-the-line artists whose crafts make our movies immeasurably richer. And over the next 10 weeks we will analyze each of the Academy's craft Oscar races: Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing, Makeup & Hairstyling, Original Score, Original Song, Production Design, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Visual Effects. The order will be mixed, to keep things fresh between audio and visual categories, and complement new releases and developments in the race as a whole. At this point, a brief aside on this column's title is probably warranted. Many below-the-line artists object to the phrase "technical" or "tech" to describe these categories. This is understandable. "Tech" can have an unfortunately negative connotation, particularly when used in certain circumstances in the...
- 10/8/2014
- by Gerard Kennedy
- Hitfix
When last year's Oscar race lost a nominee in the Best Original Song category (the Academy revoked its recognition of "Alone Yet Not Alone" from Alone Yet Not Alone), the one that should have slipped into the empty slot is Keith Stanfield's "So You Know What It's Like" from Short Term 12. I like to pretend, since there wound up being no fifth nominee, that this short-listed rap song (written on-screen by Stanfield's character, Marcus) was the unofficial finalist. Fortunately, that wasn't the end of Stanfield's career playing rappers in the movies. According to the Wrap, he's been cast in the role of Calvin Broadus Jr. in F. Gary Gray's N.W.A. biopic, Straight Outta Compton. For those who don't follow every stage...
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- 8/26/2014
- by Christopher Campbell
- Movies.com
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Thursday announced their annual crop of newly invited Academy members, a grand total of 271 industry individuals, many of whom were major nominees or players in 2013′s Oscar race.
The list includes notables like Barkhad Abdi, Lupita Nyong’o, Michael Fassbender, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, former Oscar host Chris Rock, the Duplass Brothers Jay and Mark in the Directing Branch, Eddie Vedder and Pharrell Williams in the Music Branch and Annapurna hotshot Megan Ellison in the Producers Branch. The full list is available on oscars.com.
But The Academy also made a major change to the voting rules in the Music Branch Wednesday following this year’s controversy of the nomination and subsequent revocation of a nomination for the song “Alone Yet Not Alone” from the film of the same title.
“Music Branch members may not contact other Music Branch members to promote the nomination...
The list includes notables like Barkhad Abdi, Lupita Nyong’o, Michael Fassbender, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, former Oscar host Chris Rock, the Duplass Brothers Jay and Mark in the Directing Branch, Eddie Vedder and Pharrell Williams in the Music Branch and Annapurna hotshot Megan Ellison in the Producers Branch. The full list is available on oscars.com.
But The Academy also made a major change to the voting rules in the Music Branch Wednesday following this year’s controversy of the nomination and subsequent revocation of a nomination for the song “Alone Yet Not Alone” from the film of the same title.
“Music Branch members may not contact other Music Branch members to promote the nomination...
- 6/27/2014
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
At Tuesday's meeting of the Motion Picture Academy board of governors, they changed campaign rules for the music branch. They acted in response to this year's controversial revocation of music branch member Bruce Broughton's original song Oscar nomination. He had e-mailed some 70 music branch members calling their attention to his song, entry #57, which he wanted them to check out. When "Alone Yet Not Alone" from a unknown indie faith-based film was among the initial five song nominees, it stood out like a sore thumb. Now the rules are crystal clear: "Music Branch members may not contact other Music Branch members to promote the nomination of their own song in any way, including via mail, email, telephone or social media account." Music branch members are also forbidden to attend any special live performances of eligible songs-- unless they are attached to a screening.
- 6/26/2014
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Oscars organisers have introduced new rules in its music categories.
Academy members will no longer be allowed to contact voters to promote their songs ahead of the ceremony.
They will also not be able to attend a live performance of potential nominees unless it is connected to a film screening.
Earlier this year, a song was disqualified after it emerged that a songwriter emailed voters to consider his song.
Former Academy governor Bruce Broughton had contacted over 70 of the 240 members of the music branch during the nomination process to promote his song 'Alone Yet Not Alone' from an independent Christian-faith film.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said that he had lowered "the integrity of the voting process", adding that he "took advantage of information that few other potential nominees are privy to".
The award for Best Original Song was later won by 'Let It Go',...
Academy members will no longer be allowed to contact voters to promote their songs ahead of the ceremony.
They will also not be able to attend a live performance of potential nominees unless it is connected to a film screening.
Earlier this year, a song was disqualified after it emerged that a songwriter emailed voters to consider his song.
Former Academy governor Bruce Broughton had contacted over 70 of the 240 members of the music branch during the nomination process to promote his song 'Alone Yet Not Alone' from an independent Christian-faith film.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said that he had lowered "the integrity of the voting process", adding that he "took advantage of information that few other potential nominees are privy to".
The award for Best Original Song was later won by 'Let It Go',...
- 6/26/2014
- Digital Spy
Ah, remember "Alone Yet Not Alone?" For a couple of weeks at the wintery height of awards season, it was the gift that kept giving for Oscar scandal-mongers -- the head-scratching surprise of its nomination in the first place, the uncovering of its dodgy campaign tactics, the shame of its eventual disqualification. And five month later, most people have forgotten the film (which was formally released only last week) ever even existed. Oscar season: it chews you up and spits you out, but rarely quite so humiliatingly. Still, "Alone Yet Not Alone" did not die in vain, since its impact is clearly felt in the official campaign regulations for the upcoming Academy Awards, which were officially announced today. And while many of them are longstanding and largely down to common sense, a couple of clauses specific to the Music Branch are transparently pointed. Most notable among them: Music Branch members...
- 6/25/2014
- by Guy Lodge
- Hitfix
On Tuesday, the academy's Board of Governors brought in a new rule for this year's Oscars that is aimed at preventing another embarassing disqualification. Last year, a brouhaha erupted after Bruce Broughton -- a one-time governor (2003 - 2012) and current executive committee member -- emailed other members of the music branch during the nomination period to bring his title track "Alone Yet Not Alone" to their attention. His lobbying must have worked as this tune, heard in a little-seen film, reaped a Best Song bid. -Break- Join in the fierce debate about the early Oscar contenders going on right now in our red-hot forums Broughton, who lost his 1985 Score bid for "Silverado" to John Barry for "Out of Africa," penned this tune with lyricist Dennis Spiegel for a Christian film that focused on the hardships facing 18th century settlers in the Ohio Valley. Evangelical minister Joni Eareckson Tada, a quadripile...
- 6/25/2014
- Gold Derby
The Intern
Adam DeVine ("Workaholics," "Pitch Perfect") is set to join the cast of Nancy Meyers' "The Intern" opposite Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro.
DeVine will play the head of the interns in the comedy about a seventy-something widower (De Niro) who enters an intern program and is assigned to the founder of a successful fashion website (Hathaway). [Source: Vulture]
Stonewall
Matt Craven ("Justified") has been cast in Roland Emmerich's gay civil rights drama "Stonewall" alongside Jeremy Irvine, Caleb Landry Jones, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Ron Perlman.
Craven will play Deputy Seymour Pine, the leader of the police force raiding the Greenwich Village Inn of the title. Pine sympathizes with the gay community but must carry out his duties. [Source: Deadline]
The Runner
Sarah Paulson ("12 Years a Slave," "American Horror Story: Coven") is set to join Nicolas Cage in "The Runner". Paulson will play a PR consultant Cage's character hires to...
Adam DeVine ("Workaholics," "Pitch Perfect") is set to join the cast of Nancy Meyers' "The Intern" opposite Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro.
DeVine will play the head of the interns in the comedy about a seventy-something widower (De Niro) who enters an intern program and is assigned to the founder of a successful fashion website (Hathaway). [Source: Vulture]
Stonewall
Matt Craven ("Justified") has been cast in Roland Emmerich's gay civil rights drama "Stonewall" alongside Jeremy Irvine, Caleb Landry Jones, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Ron Perlman.
Craven will play Deputy Seymour Pine, the leader of the police force raiding the Greenwich Village Inn of the title. Pine sympathizes with the gay community but must carry out his duties. [Source: Deadline]
The Runner
Sarah Paulson ("12 Years a Slave," "American Horror Story: Coven") is set to join Nicolas Cage in "The Runner". Paulson will play a PR consultant Cage's character hires to...
- 6/11/2014
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Kelly Greyson — star of the film Alone Yet Not Alone, which sparked headlines when its Oscar nomination for best song was rescinded earlier this year — has signed on to star in the spy thriller Double Identity. The film will mark the first collaboration between Mutual Film Company and Dream. Greyson will play a young socialite who uses her paparazzi past as the perfect CIA cover. Kelly can be seen in Return to the Hiding Place, which screened during the Sundance Film Festival in January and won several awards at the Bel-Air Film Festival. "Kelly's recent body of work has
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- 6/10/2014
- by Tatiana Siegel
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Enthuse Entertainment presents the riveting family-friendly drama, Alone Yet Not Alone. Slated for a broad release in over 200 theaters nationwide June 13, 2014, the flagship production stars Kelly Greyson (Return To The Hiding Place) with Jenn Gotzon (God’s Country, Frost Nixon) and actor/musical artist Clay Walker (Clay Walker: Jesse James).
Last fall the movie was shown at 11 select locations as part of a “sneak peek” week long release (Sept. 27, 2013), achieving the second highest grossing per screen average (combining theater ticket sales with Seatzy ticket sales) in the country. Alone Yet Not Alone banked $11,434 per screen average in its limited release opening in Grand Rapids, Mich.; San Antonio, Houston and Dallas, Texas; Knoxville and Franklin, Tenn.; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; Atlanta, Ga. and Colorado Springs, Colo. The Christian audience’s enthusiastic reception helped rank Alone Yet Not Alone as one of the highest per screen average independently released faith-based films to date.
Last fall the movie was shown at 11 select locations as part of a “sneak peek” week long release (Sept. 27, 2013), achieving the second highest grossing per screen average (combining theater ticket sales with Seatzy ticket sales) in the country. Alone Yet Not Alone banked $11,434 per screen average in its limited release opening in Grand Rapids, Mich.; San Antonio, Houston and Dallas, Texas; Knoxville and Franklin, Tenn.; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; Atlanta, Ga. and Colorado Springs, Colo. The Christian audience’s enthusiastic reception helped rank Alone Yet Not Alone as one of the highest per screen average independently released faith-based films to date.
- 6/10/2014
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Oscar 2014 winners and nominees (photo: Oscar winners Lupita Nyong’o and Jared Leto chat at the 2014 Oscar ceremony) Best Picture: American Hustle, Charles Roven, Richard Suckle, Megan Ellison, Jonathan Gordon; Captain Phillips, Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca; Dallas Buyers Club, Robbie Brenner, Rachel Winter; Gravity, Alfonso Cuarón, David Heyman; Her, Megan Ellison, Spike Jonze, Vincent Landay; Nebraska, Albert Berger, Ron Yerxa; Philomena, Gabrielle Tana, Steve Coogan, Tracey Seaward; 12 Years a Slave, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Steve McQueen, Anthony Katagas; The Wolf of Wall Street, Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joey McFarland, Emma Tillinger Koskoff. Best Foreign Language Film: The Broken Circle Breakdown, Belgium; The Great Beauty, Italy; The Hunt, Denmark; The Missing Picture, Cambodia; Omar, Palestine. Best Actress: Amy Adams, American Hustle; Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine; Sandra Bullock, Gravity; Judi Dench, Philomena; Meryl Streep, August: Osage County. Best Actor: Christian Bale, American Hustle; Bruce Dern, Nebraska; Leonardo DiCaprio,...
- 3/4/2014
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
The 86th annual Academy Awards were really fun to watch. Ellen Degeneres did a fantastic job hosting, and I enjoyed the show she put on. It was also insanely predictable, at least, for me it was. Overall, I'm happy with all of the films that won. My favorite win of the the night was Spike Jonze taking home the Oscar for Best Original screenplay for Her. That was such an amazing movie, and I really wanted it to win that award, but I wasn't sure it would happen. My favorite speech of the night came from Best Actor winner Matthew McConaughey. I was never really a big fan of his, but over the last couple of years he has sure blown up into an amazing actor who has starred in some really incredible films. Then that speech he gave last night won me over, and now I'm on team McConaughey.
- 3/3/2014
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
It was another incredible night at the 86th Academy Awards earlier this evening (March 2), as Ellen DeGeneres hosted a wonderful show filled with fabulous moments.
Big wins went to Jared Leto and Lupita Nyong'o in the Supporting Actors categories, while Cate Blanchett and Matthew McConaughey took home the golden statues for their work as Leading Actors.
Meanwhile, the cast and crew of "12 Years a Slave" was recognized with a Best Picture Oscar and Alfonso Cuaron took home the award for Best Director.
Check out the full list of 2014 Academy Award winners below!
Best Picture
"American Hustle"
"Captain Phillips"
"Dallas Buyers Club"
"Gravity"
"Her"
"Nebraska"
"Philomena"
Winner "12 Years a Slave"
"The Wolf of Wall Street"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Barkhad Abdi in “Captain Phillips”
Bradley Cooper in “American Hustle”
Michael Fassbender in “12 Years a Slave”
Jonah Hill in “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Winner Jared Leto...
Big wins went to Jared Leto and Lupita Nyong'o in the Supporting Actors categories, while Cate Blanchett and Matthew McConaughey took home the golden statues for their work as Leading Actors.
Meanwhile, the cast and crew of "12 Years a Slave" was recognized with a Best Picture Oscar and Alfonso Cuaron took home the award for Best Director.
Check out the full list of 2014 Academy Award winners below!
Best Picture
"American Hustle"
"Captain Phillips"
"Dallas Buyers Club"
"Gravity"
"Her"
"Nebraska"
"Philomena"
Winner "12 Years a Slave"
"The Wolf of Wall Street"
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Barkhad Abdi in “Captain Phillips”
Bradley Cooper in “American Hustle”
Michael Fassbender in “12 Years a Slave”
Jonah Hill in “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Winner Jared Leto...
- 3/3/2014
- GossipCenter
The Oscars took place on Sunday with "12 Years a Slave" ending up being the big winner of the night, with a total of three awards for best picture, best adapted screenplay and best supporting actress. But it was "Gravity" that took home the most prizes, a total of seven. Most of the awards were for achievement in the technical department, except for Alfonso Cuaron, who won in the best director category. Meanwhile, Matthew McConaughey won the best actor award for "Dallas Buyers Club" and Cate Blanchett won the best actress award for "Blue Jasmine." Check out the full list of nominees and winners (marked in red) below. And let us know if you think the academy got it right. Best Picture: * 12 Years a Slave * American Hustle * Captain Phillips * Dallas Buyers Club * Gravity * Her * Nebraska * Philomena * The Wolf of Wall Street Directing: * Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity) * David O. Russell (American Hustle) * Alexander Payne...
- 3/3/2014
- WorstPreviews.com
"Let It Go," from the animated film Frozen won the award for Best Original Song at the 86th Academy Awards Sunday night, beating out competition from U2's "Ordinary Love," Pharrell's "Happy" and Karen O's "The Moon Song." Steven Price's score for Gravity won the award for Best Original Score.
U2, Pharrell and Karen O Stun With Showstopping Oscar Performances
In our look at Upsets to Beat at this year's awards, "Let It Go," written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, was the favorite to win; a "bona...
U2, Pharrell and Karen O Stun With Showstopping Oscar Performances
In our look at Upsets to Beat at this year's awards, "Let It Go," written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, was the favorite to win; a "bona...
- 3/3/2014
- Rollingstone.com
Another year has gone by with some simply fantastic movies and yes, it’s the night of the Oscars yet again. We’ll be up throughout the night tweeting from @HeyUGuys and we’ll be updating this post as we go throughout the night.
If you miss a winner, fear not as they’ll all be here as we go or if you’re reading this in the UK in the morning, welcome and we’re no doubt asleep!
The Tally:
Gravity: 7 Dallas Buyers Club: 3 12 Years a Slave: 3 The Great Gatsby: 2 Frozen: 2 Blue Jasmine: 1
—————————
Best Picture
“American Hustle” Charles Roven, Richard Suckle, Megan Ellison and Jonathan Gordon, Producers “Captain Phillips” Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca, Producers “Dallas Buyers Club” Robbie Brenner and Rachel Winter, Producers “Gravity” Alfonso Cuarón and David Heyman, Producers “Her” Megan Ellison, Spike Jonze and Vincent Landay, Producers “Nebraska” Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa,...
If you miss a winner, fear not as they’ll all be here as we go or if you’re reading this in the UK in the morning, welcome and we’re no doubt asleep!
The Tally:
Gravity: 7 Dallas Buyers Club: 3 12 Years a Slave: 3 The Great Gatsby: 2 Frozen: 2 Blue Jasmine: 1
—————————
Best Picture
“American Hustle” Charles Roven, Richard Suckle, Megan Ellison and Jonathan Gordon, Producers “Captain Phillips” Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca, Producers “Dallas Buyers Club” Robbie Brenner and Rachel Winter, Producers “Gravity” Alfonso Cuarón and David Heyman, Producers “Her” Megan Ellison, Spike Jonze and Vincent Landay, Producers “Nebraska” Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa,...
- 3/3/2014
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Here we are again after the Golden Globes, Mike Fleming and Anita Busch taking on the task of play by play during the most wide-open Oscar race we can remember. Even on the party circuit, industry insiders who usually have a grasp of who’ll walk away with Oscars were evenly torn between Alfonso Cuaron’s 3D masterpiece Gravity and Steve McQueen’s 12 Years A Slave. Then again, there were so many terrific films that got Best Picture nominations, and all of them have at least a puncher’s chance at an upset. Related: Oscars: Pete Hammond’s Absolute Final Predictions That includes American Hustle, where David O Russell co-wrote the Best Original Script nominee with Eric Warren Singer and got tour de force performances and nominations for Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. Perfs so strong there was no room on the nomination roster for perennial Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner.
- 3/3/2014
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
Waking up bright and early, Chris Hemsworth headed over to the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, CA to announce the 2014 Academy Award nominations on January 16.
In addition, the President of the Academy, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, took to the stage to kick off the day in honor the "heroes" in the film industry and read off the list with the "Thor" hunk.
Starting off the nominees list were the talented men in the Supporting Actor category including Barkad Abdi, Bradley Cooper, Michael Fassbender, Jonah Hill and Jared Leto.
As for the ladies in the Supporting Actress category, Sally Hawkins, Jennifer Lawrence, Lupita Nyong'o, Julia Roberts and June Squibb each earned recognition.
When it came to the Best Picture nominees, nine films including "American Hustle," "Captain Phillips," "Dallas Buyers Club," "Gravity," "Her," "Nebraska," "Philomena," "12 Years a Slave" and "The Wolf of Wall Street" gained a nod.
Check out the full list of 2014 Oscar nominees below!
In addition, the President of the Academy, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, took to the stage to kick off the day in honor the "heroes" in the film industry and read off the list with the "Thor" hunk.
Starting off the nominees list were the talented men in the Supporting Actor category including Barkad Abdi, Bradley Cooper, Michael Fassbender, Jonah Hill and Jared Leto.
As for the ladies in the Supporting Actress category, Sally Hawkins, Jennifer Lawrence, Lupita Nyong'o, Julia Roberts and June Squibb each earned recognition.
When it came to the Best Picture nominees, nine films including "American Hustle," "Captain Phillips," "Dallas Buyers Club," "Gravity," "Her," "Nebraska," "Philomena," "12 Years a Slave" and "The Wolf of Wall Street" gained a nod.
Check out the full list of 2014 Oscar nominees below!
- 3/2/2014
- GossipCenter
I will be posting updates of all of tonight’s Oscar action here in this post and live tweeting – so refresh every so often. You can check out all of the nominations below, I will Red Bold the winners as they are announced. Check out Bree’s “Celebrating the Oscars” checklist here, my predictions (not hopefuls) here Update: (I scored 14/24).
Here is the full list of winners:
Here we go…
Best Supporting Actor
Barkhad Abdi – Captain Phillips
Bradley Cooper – American Hustle
Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave
Jonah Hill – The Wolf of Wall Street
Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club
Best Costume Design
American Hustle
The Grandmaster
The Great Gatsby
The Invisible Woman
12 Years a Slave
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Dallas Buyers Club
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
The Lone Ranger
Short Film (Animated)
Feral
Get a Horse!
Mr. Hublot
Possessions
Room on the Broom
Best Animated Feature Film
The Croods
Despicable Me 2...
Here is the full list of winners:
Here we go…
Best Supporting Actor
Barkhad Abdi – Captain Phillips
Bradley Cooper – American Hustle
Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave
Jonah Hill – The Wolf of Wall Street
Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club
Best Costume Design
American Hustle
The Grandmaster
The Great Gatsby
The Invisible Woman
12 Years a Slave
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Dallas Buyers Club
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
The Lone Ranger
Short Film (Animated)
Feral
Get a Horse!
Mr. Hublot
Possessions
Room on the Broom
Best Animated Feature Film
The Croods
Despicable Me 2...
- 3/2/2014
- by Graham McMorrow
- City of Films
Earlier, this afternoon, Bruce Broughton had his say about the rescinding of the Oscar nomination for the title song from Alone Yet Not Alone. Here’s another side of the story, in a letter Deadline obtained that was sent to the Academy by Martin M. Bandier, the influential chairman of Sony/Atv Music Publishing. Like Broughton, he also is calling for changes in the Best Song category, but he specifically has a beef with the rule that doesn’t provide for another nominee to replace one that might be nixed, as happened this year. There certainly were other songs that warranted inclusion, and the one that I thought the category missed most was Lana Del Rey’s haunting “Young and Beautiful,” which added so much to the courtship seen between Gatsby and Daisy in Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby. There were others, too. Bandier sent the letter to AMPAS chief Cheryl Boone Isaacs,...
- 3/1/2014
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
Exclusive: Bruce Broughton speaks. The composer and former Academy Music Branch governor, whose title song from Alone Yet Not Alone received an Oscar nom but later was disqualified because of improper campaigning following an expose written by our Awards Columnist Pete Hammond, has written a letter for Deadline. In it he explains his side and calls for reforms in a current system he feels makes it impossible for smaller films to compete with the star-studded songs that now fill studio Oscar-season movies. Broughton was said to have used his position and familiarity with voters to give a listen to a song from an obscure movie and it shocked everyone when it got a nom over much higher-profile tunes in movies people actually heard of. We were pretty tough on Broughton — this was the most significant blemish on the Academy during a relatively clean, wide-open race that ends Sunday — but he...
- 3/1/2014
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
It might have been disqualified from Academy Award consideration, but the song "Alone Yet Not Alone" made quite the impact at the Movieguide Faith and Value Awards Gala. Joni Eareckson Tada's performance of the song was rewarded with a standing ovation and left many in the audience teary eyed.
Tada was invited to sing at the Movieguide awards after her song was pulled from the Best Original Song category for this year's Oscars. The disqualification came after the song's composer, Bruce Broughton, sent an email to around 70 Academy members urging them to listen to the song. Because Broughton is a former governor and current committee member, the Academy decided that his actions could undermine the integrity of Oscar voting. In a statement released by the Academy, it was stressed that the composers and lyricists are intended to be anonymous so that the nominees are based soley on acheivement. Despite all their rationalizations,...
Tada was invited to sing at the Movieguide awards after her song was pulled from the Best Original Song category for this year's Oscars. The disqualification came after the song's composer, Bruce Broughton, sent an email to around 70 Academy members urging them to listen to the song. Because Broughton is a former governor and current committee member, the Academy decided that his actions could undermine the integrity of Oscar voting. In a statement released by the Academy, it was stressed that the composers and lyricists are intended to be anonymous so that the nominees are based soley on acheivement. Despite all their rationalizations,...
- 2/20/2014
- by REELZ staff
- Reelzchannel.com
At the very least, the Academy Awards are shaping up to be an excellent showcase of musical talents. Rock super group U2 is the latest act to confirm that it will perform its Oscar-nominated song, "Ordinary Love," at the Oscars, according to a press release. Shortly after, the Academy said that Karen O also will perform "The Moon Song" from Spike Jonze.s Her during the telecast. This means all four Oscar-nominated songs will be performed live during the March 2 telecast, as Pharrell said he.ll perform "Happy" from Despicable Me 2 and . our favorite . Idina Menzel announced she will be singing "Let It Go" from Frozen. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Alone Yet Not Alone singer Joni Eareckson Tada will be belting out the theme song to her movie at home. The Academy has gone away from having musical acts performing their songs in full during the Oscar telecast. For...
- 2/13/2014
- cinemablend.com
Idina Menzel will perform “Let it Go,” the Oscar-nominated anthem from “Frozen,” at the Academy Awards next month. The Tony-winner joins a line-up of performers that includes Pharrell Williams, who will sing “Happy” from “Despicable Me 2″ as part of the broadcast. Both songs are among the four vying for a best original song trophy. The other nominees include ”Ordinary Love” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” and “The Moon Song” from “Her.” “Alone Yet Not Alone,” the title track to an obscure Christian historical drama, was stripped of its nomination after its writer, Bruce Broughton, got in trouble for illegal campaigning tactics.
- 2/11/2014
- by Brent Lang
- The Wrap
If you’ve been following the Oscars this awards season, you’ll have heard about the kerfuffle over the nomination for Best Original Song for “Alone Yet Not Alone” from the film of the same name… which was later rescinded. Check out The Daily Beast and The Hollywood Reporter for background on the issue.
The nomination itself was controversial because the nomination was the first time almost anyone had even heard of the film. And that includes critics and the industry. Alone Yet Not Alone had a brief qualifying run in Los Angeles in November — which some have questioned the legitimacy of — but otherwise it hasn’t been seen by anyone. (And since the film played only once daily at 9:55pm, without any promotion, it’s likely no one saw it during the qualifying run, either.) Ordinary moviegoers may feel that they haven’t heard of half the nominees when they’re announced,...
The nomination itself was controversial because the nomination was the first time almost anyone had even heard of the film. And that includes critics and the industry. Alone Yet Not Alone had a brief qualifying run in Los Angeles in November — which some have questioned the legitimacy of — but otherwise it hasn’t been seen by anyone. (And since the film played only once daily at 9:55pm, without any promotion, it’s likely no one saw it during the qualifying run, either.) Ordinary moviegoers may feel that they haven’t heard of half the nominees when they’re announced,...
- 2/6/2014
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Channing Tatum appeared on The Ellen Show with Ellen DeGeneres on Thursday, Feb. 6 and announced the winners of this year’s “Team Oscar” competition.
You're wonderful. Now take your shirt off. Rt @channingtatum Honored to announce 6 new members of #TeamOscar on Ellen tomorrow.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) February 6, 2014
“Team Oscar” was an open contest for college students over the age of 18 to win a chance to be a part of the 86th Academy Awards. Each contestant was required to submit a 60-second video detailing why they deserve to go to the Oscars and detail how they will contribute to the future of film. They also had to write a short essay to accompany their short films.
Tatum, who made his first appearance at the Oscars last year when he participated in Seth MacFarlane’s opening number, judged the competition along with Oscar producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.
“We created this...
You're wonderful. Now take your shirt off. Rt @channingtatum Honored to announce 6 new members of #TeamOscar on Ellen tomorrow.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) February 6, 2014
“Team Oscar” was an open contest for college students over the age of 18 to win a chance to be a part of the 86th Academy Awards. Each contestant was required to submit a 60-second video detailing why they deserve to go to the Oscars and detail how they will contribute to the future of film. They also had to write a short essay to accompany their short films.
Tatum, who made his first appearance at the Oscars last year when he participated in Seth MacFarlane’s opening number, judged the competition along with Oscar producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.
“We created this...
- 2/6/2014
- Uinterview
There is a great tradition of artists performing renditions of their nominated songs at the Academy Awards, and it's one that will continue at this year's ceremony. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences has announced that in between bits from Ellen DeGeneres and statues being handed out, Pharrell Williams is set to perform his song "Happy" from Despicable Me 2 at this year's Oscars. The track is one of four competing in this year's Best Original Song category, the others being "Ordinary Love" from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, "Let It Go" from Frozen and "The Moon Song" from Her. Originally the title song from the film Alone Yet Not Alone was up for the prize as well, but it was ultimately disqualified due to unfair lobbying practices on the part of the songwriter. Right now Pharrell is the only artist currently scheduled to perform at this year's show,...
- 2/4/2014
- cinemablend.com
By Robert W. Welkos It was only last July that Cheryl Boone Isaacs, a long-time, behind-the-scenes Hollywood publicist and marketing executive, was elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The first African American and third woman to lead the prominent movie industry organization that each year hands out the Oscars, Isaacs’ election provided proof, if any was still required, that the traditionally white and male AMPAS membership was becoming more diversified. An academy veteran, she had served in various posts inside the organization’s hierarchy and produced last year’s Governors Awards. But now Isaacs tenure as president is being buffeted by controversy over a decision by the academy’s board of governors to disqualify the song Alone Yet Not Alone from a small, faith-based movie of the same name that few have seen. How deftly she navigates the controversy could prevent the dispute from tarnishing the Oscars.
- 2/4/2014
- by Robert W. Welkos
- Hollywoodnews.com
While the "Alone Yet Not Alone" scandal has rather dominated the Best Original Song conversation since the nominees were announced, there's been some good news in the category this year -- for the first time in a while, it contains at least a couple of songs that the general public actually cares about. Top 40 hits may have dominated the Oscars in the 80s, but have largely disappeared from the race in recent years. "Skyfall" reversed the trend last year; this year, however, we have two certifiable pop hits: Idina Menzel's "Frozen" anthem "Let It Go," and Pharrell Williams' upbeat R&B...
- 2/4/2014
- by Guy Lodge
- Hitfix
The song stood out like a sore thumb. Which of the Oscar original song nominees did not belong? “Alone Yet Not Alone,” music by Bruce Broughton and lyric by Dennis Spiegel, from the religious movie of the same name (clip below) came out of nowhere. It turned out that Broughton was a former Governor, Academy member and current Music Branch executive committee member. Sure enough, on Tuesday night the Academy’s Board of Governors voted to rescind the Original Song nomination for “Alone Yet Not Alone." They had discovered that Broughton had emailed members of the committee to make them aware of his submission during the nominations voting period. The Academy will not add a nominee in the Original Song category. Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Academy President, stated: "No matter how well-intentioned the communication, using one’s position as a former governor and current executive committee member to personally promote one...
- 2/4/2014
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Pharrell Williams will perform his Academy Award-nominated song "Happy" during this year's Oscars, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The producer/singer/rapper's cut for Despicable Me 2 will compete for Best Original Song against U2's "Ordinary Love" from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Karen O's "The Moon Song" from Her and "Let It Go" from the Disney film Frozen.
The category's fifth nominee "Alone Yet Not Alone," from a Christian movie of the same name, recently had its nomination revoked after the film's producer was accused of improperly influencing voters.
The producer/singer/rapper's cut for Despicable Me 2 will compete for Best Original Song against U2's "Ordinary Love" from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Karen O's "The Moon Song" from Her and "Let It Go" from the Disney film Frozen.
The category's fifth nominee "Alone Yet Not Alone," from a Christian movie of the same name, recently had its nomination revoked after the film's producer was accused of improperly influencing voters.
- 2/4/2014
- Rollingstone.com
Pharrell Williams will perform “Happy” at the Oscars, the show’s producers said Tuesday. Williams wrote and produced the peppy anthem for “Despicable Me 2.” It’s up for an original song statue, alongside “Ordinary Love” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” “Let It Go” from “Frozen” and “The Moon Song” from “Her.” ”Alone Yet Not Alone,” the title track to an obscure Christian historical drama, was stripped of its nomination last week, after its writer, Bruce Broughton, got in trouble for illegal campaigning tactics. Also read: Disqualified Oscar Nominee Fires Back at Academy: ‘This is Stupid and Hypocritical’ In the past,...
- 2/4/2014
- by Brent Lang
- The Wrap
Bruce Broughton and his supporters are fighting back hard against a decision by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences to rescind his best song Oscar nomination for Alone Yet Not Alone, a tiny Christian movie few people saw. Broughton was disqualified for sending an email to about 70 Academy members asking them to give the song a listen. On Monday, Broughton called the Academy "stupid and hypocritical" for disqualifying his nomination on those grounds. Those remarks follow his decision this weekend to make public a letter he wrote to the Academy that lays out in detail what he
read more...
read more...
- 2/3/2014
- by Paul Bond
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Disqualified Oscar nominee Bruce Broughton hit back at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Monday after his work composing the title track to “Alone Yet Not Alone” was stripped of its nomination last week, calling the decision on the song’s eligibility “stupid and hypocritical.” Broughton, a former governor of the Academy’s Music Branch and head of the branch’s executive committee for four years, got in trouble for illegal campaigning tactics after he emailed voters in the branch to bring attention to the song, the title track to a little-known Christian historical drama that played for...
- 2/3/2014
- by Brent Lang
- The Wrap
With Woody Allen under fire following the resurfacing of his estranged daughter's abuse allegations, and the "Alone Yet Not Alone" scandal leaving a bitter taste, Michael Cieply ponders the unexpected ethical issues that have entered this year's Oscar race. "By and large, Oscar voters are lucky if they can find time to see the nominated films, let alone sort through a court case or a secret military operation. But they, including actors, are increasingly being asked to do just that," he writes, before citing Roman Polanski's surprise 2002 win as an example of the Academy "[using] the awards to send a...
- 2/3/2014
- by Guy Lodge
- Hitfix
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