-
Which of this year's directors deserve the industry’s highest honor?
No one was too surprised when French director Michel Hazanavicius and his (mostly) silent film The Artist practically swept the Academy Awards last year or when British director Tom Hooper's The King's Speech did the same the year before. This year, however, there are no "sure thing" movies, with several being heralded as "brilliant," "masterful," and "the best movie of the year" by critics...until the next great movie comes along.
Several Oscar-winning directors — including two-time Best Director winner Steven Spielberg (Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan) and Kathryn Bigelow, the first woman to win Best Director — are among this year's contenders, but they are up against stiff competition from upstart indie directors who helped to make this one of the best years for independent movies in recent memory and the genre movie directors who gave us superheroes, wizards and time travelers as compelling as the special effects that blew our minds. We won't know which directors the Academy will nominate until the middle of January, but we want to know who you, the moviegoers, think deserves the industry's highest honor.
Top 10 Most Oscar-Worthy Directors of 2012 >>
Posted 12.12.12 by BrentJS -
If you're going to work on the script for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, you'd better have an Oscar.
Before Lionsgate even released The Hunger Games, the studio hired Academy Award–winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) to adapt Suzanne Collins' sequel novel into a script, but after director Gary Ross decided against returning for the sequel, the studio hired Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) to replace Ross and apparently wants the script rewritten.
who is rewriting Catching Fire? Plus ross goes houdini >> Posted 05.05.12 by Ryan -
When Gary Ross opted not to return to direct Jennifer Lawrence in the sequel to The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, the search was on to quickly replace him. Just a little over a week after Ross bowed out, Lionsgate is said to have found a replacement — Francis Lawrence.
His directing credits include I Am Legend, Constantine, and Water for Elephants. Before featured films, Lawrence made his mark directing music videos for Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and Green Day. While Lawrence has proven he can handle a large production with extensive special effects (I Am Legend), THR says it might have been his open schedule and not his résumé that landed him the job.
Who did lawrence beat out? >> Posted 04.20.12 by Chris -
Director Gary Ross' possible return to the director's chair for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has been the subject of much online debate this week. First it appeared that the director had dropped out of a follow-up to his wildly successful The Hunger Games, then it was reported that Lionsgate was making a last-ditch effort to keep Ross on board. All along we assumed that either Ross wouldn't abandon such a wildly successful franchise at its beginning stages or that the studio wouldn't let Ross get away, but The Playlist held strong to its story that Ross was gone and turned out to be right. In a statement, Ross said:
Despite recent speculation in the media, and after difficult but sincere consideration, I have decided not to direct Catching Fire. As a writer and a director, I simply don't have the time I need to write and prep the movie I would have wanted to make because of the fixed and tight production schedule.
more about Catching Fire >> Posted 04.11.12 by Ryan -
Last week, it was rumored that The Hunger Games director Gary Ross had dropped out of the sequel, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Turns out, he hasn't. At least, not yet.
Ross co-wrote and directed The Hunger Games, but reportedly wasn't too pleased over Lionsgate's low ball offer to direct Catching Fire. Over the weekend, however, Deadline reported that Ross had not formally withdrawn from the Hunger Games sequel, and argued that Ross had invested too much in the first movie to drop out of the sequel over money. According to THR Ross and Lionsgate are meeting today to discuss the director's participation in Catching Fire. Ross is not signed for the sequel, and, reportedly is hesitant about the quick turnaround Lionsgate has planned for Catching Fire.
The studio's urgency stems from Jennifer Lawrence's commitment to the X-Men franchise. Fox's decision to shoot its X-Men: First Class sequel next January ostensibly cleared the way for Catching Fire to make its scheduled August-September production start, but only gives Ross about four months to approve the script that Academy Award–winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) has delivered and prep for the sequel shoot, which apparently is less than desirable to Ross. However, what isn't desirable for Lionsgate is waiting for Lawrence to finish work on a First Class sequel before they can continue with a Hunger Games franchise that, in just three weeks, has already earned more money domestically than any Twilight installment. Waiting could push Catching Fire off by nearly a year, so expect the studio to reach some kind of agreement with Ross soon.
Posted 04.09.12 by Ryan -
Today we learn that Jennifer Lawrence's schedule has cleared up so she can return to play Katniss Everdeen in the sequel to The Hunger Games but it was also revealed today that she won't be reuniting with director Gary Ross.
With The Hunger Games destroying everything in its path at the box office, Lionsgate already basically announced that the sequel, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, was in the works when the studio gave the sequel a November 2013 release date last year. Catching Fire took another step forward when Academy Award–winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) delivered the first draft of the sequel script before Hunger Games even opened. The only issue that seemed to be a stumbling block for Catching Fire was that Lawrence was also contractually obligated to a X-Men: First Class sequel, with Lawrence confirming last month that she's "in" for a return as mutant shapeshifter Mystique. Since X-Men: First Class came before The Hunger Games, 20th Century Fox had the right to exercise their contract option over Lawrence even if Lionsgate needed her for Catching Fire.
According to THR, however, Fox decided to play nice and shoot the First Class sequel next January as opposed to the fall, which is when Lionsgate had planned to shoot Catching Fire. However, now Catching Fire has another hurdle to clear before they can start production: hiring a new director.
Ross gone from catching fire? >> Posted 04.06.12 by Ryan -
Last night, the long-awaited The Hunger Games premiere was held in Los Angeles — and Caitlin, who won our Hunger Games premiere sweepstakes, was there with her sister. What stars did they see (and even meet)? And what did they think of the movie? Find out in their latest blog installment. (If you missed it, here's their first blog.)
see their blog, photos, and movie review >> Posted 03.13.12 by reelz -
To further fuel the hysteria that is the lead-up to The Hunger Games, a new extended TV spot has been released featuring plenty of unseen footage, including the rabbit-feeding scene and further glimpses of life in District 12.
Until now, fans have seen only glimpses of the life that protagonist Katniss Everdeen lives before she is thrown into the Hunger Games, but the new TV spot fills in some of the gaps. It gives District 12 a decidedly squalorous look, though we'll have to wait to see whether they've captured the spirit of its inhabitants and, of course, The Seam.
So, in less than three weeks, Games will drive throngs of movie-goers to theaters for the first movie adaptation of author Suzanne Collins' popular trilogy. And with record-breaking early sales and a nationwide mall tour with director Gary Ross and stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth that commenced this past weekend, there is certain to be plenty more clips, news, and teasers to keep HG fandom from boiling over into this (we hope).
Check out the tv spot >> Posted 03.05.12 by Jud -
Today, advance tickets are on sale for the adaptation of Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games. In case fans forget that the movie will open in IMAX as well, the studio has released a new banner poster that shows protagonist Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) taking aim with her bow and arrow. Lionsgate clearly hopes the movie is on target to be a massive hit so it can greenlight Hunger Games sequels.
The story is set in a dystopian future where "tributes" from the 12 districts are randomly selected to participate in The Hunger Games, a televised fight to the death. Elizabeth Banks, who plays District 12 escort Effie Trinket, told MTV that she was "excited to see the actual Games." She also admitted that the Reaping, the ceremony where Effie publicly selects tributes, was the most difficult scene to shoot.
more about the Reaping + the two TV spots >> Posted 02.22.12 by Ryan -
Once it was announced that director Gary Ross was going to adapt The Hunger Games, fans of Suzanne Collins' trilogy of novels began scrutinizing every casting choice, particularly lead character Katniss Everdeen. When Jennifer Lawrence eventually landed the part, some fans wondered how a blonde-haired actress with a fair-complexion would play a character described as having "straight black hair, olive skin [and]... gray eyes." Almost before anyone could say "hair dye, skin tanner, and contacts" the first trailer for the movie arrived, and seemed to please even the most obsessive of Hunger Games fans.
One character casting that has seemed to avoid some of the harsh scrutiny was Woody Harrelson in the role of Haymitch Abernathy. A former victor of the Hunger Games, the televised battle to the death that is the catalyst for Collins' story, Abernathy serves as a mentor for Katniss, despite his heavy drinking problem. In an interview with The LA Times, Harrelson said he wanted the fan-favorite character to be more than "a typical version of an alcoholic."
harrelson talks haymitch >> Posted 01.11.12 by Ryan