Annette Bening is an actor’s actor. Like many of the greats before her, she began her career in the theatre. Through the 80s, she quietly compiled a library of rich, complex characters before making her Tony-nominated broadway debut in 1987’s “Coastal Disturbances.”
Bening then made her well deserved transition over to Hollywood with John Hughes’ “The Great Outdoors.” The film didn’t perform as well as hoped, nor did Milos Forman’s “Valmont” which was released the following year, but they both paved the way for Bening’s eventual Oscar-nominated breakout as Myra Langtry in Stephen Frears’ “The Grifters.”
She got particularly close to Oscar gold with “American Beauty” in 2000. Annette bagged the BAFTA and SAG award for her iconic portrayal of the colourfully volatile wife-in-crisis, Carolyn Burnham. She lost to Hilary Swank (“Boys Don’t Cry”) though, who had edged her out at the Globes.
Swank clearly was Bening’s kryptonite,...
Bening then made her well deserved transition over to Hollywood with John Hughes’ “The Great Outdoors.” The film didn’t perform as well as hoped, nor did Milos Forman’s “Valmont” which was released the following year, but they both paved the way for Bening’s eventual Oscar-nominated breakout as Myra Langtry in Stephen Frears’ “The Grifters.”
She got particularly close to Oscar gold with “American Beauty” in 2000. Annette bagged the BAFTA and SAG award for her iconic portrayal of the colourfully volatile wife-in-crisis, Carolyn Burnham. She lost to Hilary Swank (“Boys Don’t Cry”) though, who had edged her out at the Globes.
Swank clearly was Bening’s kryptonite,...
- 1/22/2024
- by Nick Bisa
- Gold Derby
Times are rough right now under self-quarantine, so maybe it’s time to stop begging for scraps from Disney and watch some fantastic Lgbtqia+ cinema instead. Why not watch some smaller films that haven’t been talked to death by every pop culture website on the planet?
The purpose of this list is to cheer people up, especially during a time when people really can’t go out and decompress. All we can do right now is curl up under our blankets with a libation or two and try to forget our troubles by streaming movies nonstop.
Queer cinema is not a monolith, but I do prefer to prioritize the films that depict queer life as it is. This is a list big on laughs, keeping the sadness to a minimum. There are some recognizable titles in here, mixed in with lesser-known gems that deserve public attention. Luckily, film critics...
The purpose of this list is to cheer people up, especially during a time when people really can’t go out and decompress. All we can do right now is curl up under our blankets with a libation or two and try to forget our troubles by streaming movies nonstop.
Queer cinema is not a monolith, but I do prefer to prioritize the films that depict queer life as it is. This is a list big on laughs, keeping the sadness to a minimum. There are some recognizable titles in here, mixed in with lesser-known gems that deserve public attention. Luckily, film critics...
- 3/20/2020
- by Jourdain Searles
- Variety Film + TV
When composer Nate Heller was asked to score A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, he says he felt “equal parts joy, excitement and terror,” knowing that the music he’d create would have to stand up to the legacy of Fred Rogers.
“He was an extremely musical person. He wrote all the original songs for the show, which his bandleader Johnny Costa arranged for him and put his magic to,” Heller explains. “So, I think I felt this cautious excitement about, ‘Ooh, this is going to be so fun, to tuck into this project with all of this beloved music.’”
Directed by the composer’s sister, Marielle Heller, A Beautiful Day tells the true story of the unlikely friendship that unfolds between the beloved children’s television host and a cynical Esquire journalist sent to profile him, on the Pittsburgh set of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
With the score for his biggest film to date,...
“He was an extremely musical person. He wrote all the original songs for the show, which his bandleader Johnny Costa arranged for him and put his magic to,” Heller explains. “So, I think I felt this cautious excitement about, ‘Ooh, this is going to be so fun, to tuck into this project with all of this beloved music.’”
Directed by the composer’s sister, Marielle Heller, A Beautiful Day tells the true story of the unlikely friendship that unfolds between the beloved children’s television host and a cynical Esquire journalist sent to profile him, on the Pittsburgh set of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
With the score for his biggest film to date,...
- 1/1/2020
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Three films into her feature career, Marielle Heller has carved out a particular niche: movies about real people and their messy lives. From last year’s “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” to her latest effort — the feel-good “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” — the filmmaker excels at avoiding the trappings of staid old biographical dramas. And yet, her work always has a gentle emotional pull. “Beautiful Day,” which features Tom Hanks as beloved television host Fred Rogers, tells a story about kindness and being comfortable with yourself that doesn’t easily slot into the biopic sub-genre. It’s also not really a biopic about Fred Rogers, no matter how many stories characterized that way early on.
“I don’t know why that ever got started as a thing,” Heller said in a recent interview with IndieWire. “There’s nothing about it that is a biopic.”
It’s a familiar semantic battle for Heller,...
“I don’t know why that ever got started as a thing,” Heller said in a recent interview with IndieWire. “There’s nothing about it that is a biopic.”
It’s a familiar semantic battle for Heller,...
- 11/21/2019
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options—not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves–each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit platforms. Check out this week’s selections below and an archive of past round-ups here.
Can You Ever Forgive Me? (Marielle Heller)
Do you have a Lee Israel work on your shelf? What should be a matter of owning one of her books or not since she was a notable author of biographies who hit the New York Times Best Sellers list, things get much more complicated when you look closer to see she wrote more than just about the likes of Dorothy Kilgallen and Estée Lauder. Israel also wrote as some of her subjects too. During the early 1990s when she was down on her luck professionally, financially, and personally, a fateful discovery occurred that would ultimately ensure her name...
Can You Ever Forgive Me? (Marielle Heller)
Do you have a Lee Israel work on your shelf? What should be a matter of owning one of her books or not since she was a notable author of biographies who hit the New York Times Best Sellers list, things get much more complicated when you look closer to see she wrote more than just about the likes of Dorothy Kilgallen and Estée Lauder. Israel also wrote as some of her subjects too. During the early 1990s when she was down on her luck professionally, financially, and personally, a fateful discovery occurred that would ultimately ensure her name...
- 9/6/2019
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
It’s about time that Hollywood produced a biopic that lauded an influential person whose story is more uplifting than than tortured.
Watching the just-released trailer for ‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” gave me flashbacks. Not because I grew up watching Fred Rogers on TV. But because, just like the “Esquire” writer played by Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”), I actually visited his set at Pittsburgh’s Wqed in 1991 and watched a taping before interviewing the children’s show host for “USA Today.” He wasn’t feeling well that day but he soldiered on through his cold. What was frustrating, however, is that he kept asking me questions about my life instead of answering mine. It was against his nature to not put others before himself.
All I can say is that everything in the trailer looks exactly like what my experience was. And Tom Hanks captures the man who sat before me perfectly — kind,...
Watching the just-released trailer for ‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” gave me flashbacks. Not because I grew up watching Fred Rogers on TV. But because, just like the “Esquire” writer played by Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”), I actually visited his set at Pittsburgh’s Wqed in 1991 and watched a taping before interviewing the children’s show host for “USA Today.” He wasn’t feeling well that day but he soldiered on through his cold. What was frustrating, however, is that he kept asking me questions about my life instead of answering mine. It was against his nature to not put others before himself.
All I can say is that everything in the trailer looks exactly like what my experience was. And Tom Hanks captures the man who sat before me perfectly — kind,...
- 7/23/2019
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
With her last film, the critically-acclaimed “Can You Ever Forgive Me?,” Marielle Heller accepted the grueling challenge of painting an odious misanthrope in a positive light. And dang, she pulled it off with aplomb, Melissa McCarthy and screenwriters Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty helping the director make notorious bunco writer Lee Israel not only excusable but utterly endearing (read our review here).
Read More: The Best Films Of 2019… So Far
Heller clearly isn’t tempted by an easy life, her upcoming feature “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” entailing molding Tom Hanks into the iconic Mr.
Continue reading ‘A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood’ Trailer: Tom Hanks Is Born To Play Mr. Rogers at The Playlist.
Read More: The Best Films Of 2019… So Far
Heller clearly isn’t tempted by an easy life, her upcoming feature “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” entailing molding Tom Hanks into the iconic Mr.
Continue reading ‘A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood’ Trailer: Tom Hanks Is Born To Play Mr. Rogers at The Playlist.
- 7/22/2019
- by Steven Allison
- The Playlist
Melissa McCarthy is to replace Steve Harvey as the host of Little Big Shots as the reality competition series returns to NBC for a fourth season.
The Mike & Molly and Bridesmaids star is to take over the variety series, which was created by Harvey and Ellen DeGeneres. Securing McCarthy, who recently received an Academy Award nomination as Best Actress for her role in Lee Israel biopic Can You Ever Forgive Me?, is a big coup for NBC. McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone have two young daughters and she is considered another top star who can relate to little kids.
NBC Entertainment Co-Chairman Paul Telegdy said that it was a “refresh” for the brand. He called McCarthy an “incredible” performer and comedian. “She’s going to bring a completely fresh perspective to it,” he said.
The show is set to undergo a number of format changes. “Shows always go through...
The Mike & Molly and Bridesmaids star is to take over the variety series, which was created by Harvey and Ellen DeGeneres. Securing McCarthy, who recently received an Academy Award nomination as Best Actress for her role in Lee Israel biopic Can You Ever Forgive Me?, is a big coup for NBC. McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone have two young daughters and she is considered another top star who can relate to little kids.
NBC Entertainment Co-Chairman Paul Telegdy said that it was a “refresh” for the brand. He called McCarthy an “incredible” performer and comedian. “She’s going to bring a completely fresh perspective to it,” he said.
The show is set to undergo a number of format changes. “Shows always go through...
- 5/12/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday.
“Tolkien” and “All Is True” are opening this weekend, and both films illustrate how difficult it can be to capture the writing process on screen.
This week’s question: What is the best movie about the writing process (or about a writer)?
Mae Abdulbaki (@MaeAbdu), The Young Folks, Movies with Mae
“Shakespeare in Love” probably doesn’t come to mind for most, but it is a great example of the ups and downs of writing. It strangely nails the writing process, while also tackling the business of theater. Simply put, “Shakespeare in Love” follows the journey of William Shakespeare’s writing of his famous play, “Romeo and Juliet.” The film strikes a balance between Shakespeare’s struggles with writer’s block and the maddening passion to write that comes after inspiration strikes:...
“Tolkien” and “All Is True” are opening this weekend, and both films illustrate how difficult it can be to capture the writing process on screen.
This week’s question: What is the best movie about the writing process (or about a writer)?
Mae Abdulbaki (@MaeAbdu), The Young Folks, Movies with Mae
“Shakespeare in Love” probably doesn’t come to mind for most, but it is a great example of the ups and downs of writing. It strangely nails the writing process, while also tackling the business of theater. Simply put, “Shakespeare in Love” follows the journey of William Shakespeare’s writing of his famous play, “Romeo and Juliet.” The film strikes a balance between Shakespeare’s struggles with writer’s block and the maddening passion to write that comes after inspiration strikes:...
- 5/6/2019
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” star Richard E. Grant, Oscar-winner Sally Field and “Mr. Robot” alum Eve Lindley have joined the cast of Jason Segel’s AMC anthology series “Dispatches From Elsewhere,” the network announced Tuesday.
Created by and starring the “How I Met Your Mother” star, “Dispatches From Elsewhere” centers on a group of ordinary people who stumble onto a puzzle hiding just behind the veil of everyday life and come to find that the mystery winds far deeper than they ever imagined.
According to AMC, the 10-episode series will involve some form of viewer engagement “across multiple media platforms.” It is set to begin production this summer.
Also Read: AMC Orders Jason Segel Anthology Series 'Dispatches From Elsewhere'
Segel is executive producer on the series alongside Scott Rudin, Eli Bush and Garrett Basch.
For Grant, the role comes fresh off an Oscar nomination for his role...
Created by and starring the “How I Met Your Mother” star, “Dispatches From Elsewhere” centers on a group of ordinary people who stumble onto a puzzle hiding just behind the veil of everyday life and come to find that the mystery winds far deeper than they ever imagined.
According to AMC, the 10-episode series will involve some form of viewer engagement “across multiple media platforms.” It is set to begin production this summer.
Also Read: AMC Orders Jason Segel Anthology Series 'Dispatches From Elsewhere'
Segel is executive producer on the series alongside Scott Rudin, Eli Bush and Garrett Basch.
For Grant, the role comes fresh off an Oscar nomination for his role...
- 4/9/2019
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Alec Bojalad Mar 30, 2019
Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer are helping Netflix stat in the superhero game by starring in Thunder Force from Ben Falcone.
At this point, Netflix is missing only one thing in its search for streaming domination: a high-profile superhero film. Following the success of The Umbrella Academy, the streamer must be feeling pretty good on the superhero TV show front. Now it wants more and it's bringing in some major star power for help.
According to Deadline, Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer are wrapping up deals to star in superhero film, Thunder Force, for Netflix.
No details are available yet for Thunder Force though it's speculated that McCarthy and Spencer will star as two individuals who unexpectedly gain superpowers. Comedy writer and McCarthy's husband Ben Falcone has written the script and will direct the project as well. Given the seemingly tongue-in-cheek name "Thunder Force" and Falcone's extensive comedy history,...
Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer are helping Netflix stat in the superhero game by starring in Thunder Force from Ben Falcone.
At this point, Netflix is missing only one thing in its search for streaming domination: a high-profile superhero film. Following the success of The Umbrella Academy, the streamer must be feeling pretty good on the superhero TV show front. Now it wants more and it's bringing in some major star power for help.
According to Deadline, Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer are wrapping up deals to star in superhero film, Thunder Force, for Netflix.
No details are available yet for Thunder Force though it's speculated that McCarthy and Spencer will star as two individuals who unexpectedly gain superpowers. Comedy writer and McCarthy's husband Ben Falcone has written the script and will direct the project as well. Given the seemingly tongue-in-cheek name "Thunder Force" and Falcone's extensive comedy history,...
- 3/30/2019
- Den of Geek
At this point, it’s common knowledge that Julianne Moore was the original star of the Oscar-nominated film, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” We also know that before original director Nicole Holofcener left the production, she fired Moore from the role of Lee Israel. Of course, Melissa McCarthy would go on to take the role and join new director Marielle Heller for the film, with the actress earning an Oscar nomination.
Continue reading Richard E. Grant Says Julianne Moore Was Fired From ‘Can You Ever Forgive Me?’ For Wanting To Wear A Fat Suit at The Playlist.
Continue reading Richard E. Grant Says Julianne Moore Was Fired From ‘Can You Ever Forgive Me?’ For Wanting To Wear A Fat Suit at The Playlist.
- 3/22/2019
- by Charles Barfield
- The Playlist
Richard E Grant confirms that the actor’s departure, six days before shooting began, was due to a dispute over prosthetics
The success of Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Marielle Heller’s tragicomedy starring Melissa McCarthy as real-life literary forger Lee Israel and Richard E Grant as her withering sidekick, Jack, has reawakened interest in details of an aborted version of the movie, which was abandoned six days before shooting was due to begin.
The collapse of this version – which would have been directed by the screenwriter of the finished film, Nicole Holofcener, with Julianne Moore and Chris O’Dowd in the leading roles – was evidently a sore point for most of those involved. Holofcener has spoken of the “terrible” and “traumatic” experience, and Moore has voiced her upset at having been fired from the project – and not having dropped out as many people previously assumed.
The success of Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Marielle Heller’s tragicomedy starring Melissa McCarthy as real-life literary forger Lee Israel and Richard E Grant as her withering sidekick, Jack, has reawakened interest in details of an aborted version of the movie, which was abandoned six days before shooting was due to begin.
The collapse of this version – which would have been directed by the screenwriter of the finished film, Nicole Holofcener, with Julianne Moore and Chris O’Dowd in the leading roles – was evidently a sore point for most of those involved. Holofcener has spoken of the “terrible” and “traumatic” experience, and Moore has voiced her upset at having been fired from the project – and not having dropped out as many people previously assumed.
- 3/22/2019
- by Catherine Shoard
- The Guardian - Film News
Julianne Moore revealed earlier this month she was fired from “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” by original director Nicole Holofcener. Moore was the actress first attached to play the film’s protagonist, author Lee Israel. Holofcener eventually left her directing role as well and was replaced by Marielle Heller, who cast Melissa McCarthy in the lead role.
“I didn’t leave that movie, I was fired,” Moore told Andy Cohen on “Watch What Happens Live.” “Nicole fired me. So yeah, that’s the truth. I think she didn’t like what I was doing. I think that her idea of where the character was, was different than where my idea of where the character was, and so she fired me.” She also told IndieWire that the decision was not her own and she has yet to see Heller’s film.
Moore said she never saw McCarthy and Heller’s version...
“I didn’t leave that movie, I was fired,” Moore told Andy Cohen on “Watch What Happens Live.” “Nicole fired me. So yeah, that’s the truth. I think she didn’t like what I was doing. I think that her idea of where the character was, was different than where my idea of where the character was, and so she fired me.” She also told IndieWire that the decision was not her own and she has yet to see Heller’s film.
Moore said she never saw McCarthy and Heller’s version...
- 3/21/2019
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
After writing the DVD Obscura column for years at Movies.com, TheWrap’s Film Reviews Editor Alonso Duralde brings it to its new home. In an age where niche and classic movies are harder and harder to find via traditional streaming services, it’s still worth maintaining a collection of physical media that can’t disappear from the internet (or even from your own online library). Each month, Duralde highlights new DVD, Blu-ray and 4K releases in six categories: Indie, Foreign, Documentary, Grindhouse, Classics and TV.
New Indies
Both hilarious and heartbreaking, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment) may be one of the best films ever made about the plight of the writer — whether it’s the agony of having to be her own publicist or the realization that she’s most valued for her skill at mimicking the voices of other authors, Lee Israel (the...
New Indies
Both hilarious and heartbreaking, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment) may be one of the best films ever made about the plight of the writer — whether it’s the agony of having to be her own publicist or the realization that she’s most valued for her skill at mimicking the voices of other authors, Lee Israel (the...
- 3/19/2019
- by Alonso Duralde
- The Wrap
Julianne Moore made a lot of jaws drop the other day when she revealed on Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens Live that she didn't exit the lead in Can You Ever Forgive Me? — you know, the part that landed Melissa McCarthy an Oscar nom — of her own free will.
"I didn't leave that movie. Nicole fired me," she said on the March 7 episode, referring to writer-director Nicole Holofcener, who adapted the memoirs of literary forger Lee Israel into a 2018-19 awards contender. Moore was set to play Israel in the film but ...
"I didn't leave that movie. Nicole fired me," she said on the March 7 episode, referring to writer-director Nicole Holofcener, who adapted the memoirs of literary forger Lee Israel into a 2018-19 awards contender. Moore was set to play Israel in the film but ...
- 3/14/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Julianne Moore made a lot of jaws drop the other day when she revealed on Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens Live that she didn't exit the lead in Can You Ever Forgive Me? — you know, the part that landed Melissa McCarthy an Oscar nom — of her own free will.
"I didn't leave that movie. Nicole fired me," she said on the March 7 episode, referring to writer-director Nicole Holofcener, who adapted the memoirs of literary forger Lee Israel into a 2018-19 awards contender. Moore was set to play Israel in the film but ...
"I didn't leave that movie. Nicole fired me," she said on the March 7 episode, referring to writer-director Nicole Holofcener, who adapted the memoirs of literary forger Lee Israel into a 2018-19 awards contender. Moore was set to play Israel in the film but ...
- 3/14/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It’s well known that “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” was originally set to star Julianne Moore as Lee Israel before she left the project in 2015 and was later replaced by Melissa McCarthy. Well, according to Moore, she didn’t leave on her own accord.
“I didn’t leave that movie. I was fired,” Moore revealed Thursday on “Watch What Happens Live” while promoting her new film “Gloria Bell” (watch above). “Nicole [Holofcener] fired me. So, you know, that’s the truth.”
Holofcener, who shared a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar nomination with Jeff Whitty for the film, was initially slated to direct. At the time of Moore’s departure in July 2015, her exit, which occurred a week before production was scheduled to start, was chalked up to the usual “creative differences.”
“I think she didn’t like what I was doing,” Moore continued. “We had just been rehearsing and doing pre-production and stuff,...
“I didn’t leave that movie. I was fired,” Moore revealed Thursday on “Watch What Happens Live” while promoting her new film “Gloria Bell” (watch above). “Nicole [Holofcener] fired me. So, you know, that’s the truth.”
Holofcener, who shared a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar nomination with Jeff Whitty for the film, was initially slated to direct. At the time of Moore’s departure in July 2015, her exit, which occurred a week before production was scheduled to start, was chalked up to the usual “creative differences.”
“I think she didn’t like what I was doing,” Moore continued. “We had just been rehearsing and doing pre-production and stuff,...
- 3/8/2019
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
Julianne Moore admitted that she was fired from the Oscar-nominated film “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
Moore opened up about her ousting during Thursday night’s episode of “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen” after a caller asked the “Still Alice” star why she left the pic.
“I didn’t leave that movie, I was fired,” Moore said. “Nicole fired me. So yeah, that’s the truth.”
Nicole Holofcener, who wrote the screenplay and was originally the director until Marielle Heller took her place, decided to re-cast Melissa McCarthy for the role, which landed her an actress Oscar nomination earlier this year.
In a 2015 interview, Moore claimed she had exited the film due to “creative differences,” but she explained the circumstances in more blunt terms while speaking with Cohen on Thursday.
“I think she didn’t like what I was doing,” Moore explained. “I think that her idea of where the character was,...
Moore opened up about her ousting during Thursday night’s episode of “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen” after a caller asked the “Still Alice” star why she left the pic.
“I didn’t leave that movie, I was fired,” Moore said. “Nicole fired me. So yeah, that’s the truth.”
Nicole Holofcener, who wrote the screenplay and was originally the director until Marielle Heller took her place, decided to re-cast Melissa McCarthy for the role, which landed her an actress Oscar nomination earlier this year.
In a 2015 interview, Moore claimed she had exited the film due to “creative differences,” but she explained the circumstances in more blunt terms while speaking with Cohen on Thursday.
“I think she didn’t like what I was doing,” Moore explained. “I think that her idea of where the character was,...
- 3/8/2019
- by Anna Tingley
- Variety Film + TV
Turns out even Oscar winners can get the sack.
Julianne Moore claims she was “fired” from Melissa McCarthy‘s Oscar-nominated role in Can You Ever Forgive Me?.
The actress, 58, made the confession during a new episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen that aired on Thursday.
Moore was questioned about the film when a caller asked the Still Alice actress why she had left Can You Ever Forgive Me?, as had been previously reported.
“I didn’t leave that movie, I was fired,” Moore said. “Yeah, yeah, Nicole [Holofcener, the original director] fired me. So yeah, that’s the truth.”
“I think...
Julianne Moore claims she was “fired” from Melissa McCarthy‘s Oscar-nominated role in Can You Ever Forgive Me?.
The actress, 58, made the confession during a new episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen that aired on Thursday.
Moore was questioned about the film when a caller asked the Still Alice actress why she had left Can You Ever Forgive Me?, as had been previously reported.
“I didn’t leave that movie, I was fired,” Moore said. “Yeah, yeah, Nicole [Holofcener, the original director] fired me. So yeah, that’s the truth.”
“I think...
- 3/8/2019
- by Helen Murphy
- PEOPLE.com
With wins for queer characters in “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Green Book” and “The Favourite,” the 2019 Oscars were unprecedented when it comes to Lgbt representation — though some feel the representations in “Rhapsody” and “Green Book” are problematic. But despite those visibility breakthroughs, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” didn’t get to join the party. It lost all three of its nominations on Sunday night. But it’s not alone. Scroll through our gallery above of 35 great Lgbt movies that were snubbed by the motion picture academy.
SEE2019 Oscars: Full list of winners (and losers) at the 91st Academy Awards
“Forgive Me” tells the true story of lesbian author Lee Israel (played by Melissa McCarthy), who made her living as a biographer but whose career hit a snag due to changing public tastes as well as her own alcoholism and caustic personality. To pay her bills she resorted to forging letters by literary...
SEE2019 Oscars: Full list of winners (and losers) at the 91st Academy Awards
“Forgive Me” tells the true story of lesbian author Lee Israel (played by Melissa McCarthy), who made her living as a biographer but whose career hit a snag due to changing public tastes as well as her own alcoholism and caustic personality. To pay her bills she resorted to forging letters by literary...
- 2/25/2019
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” screenwriter Nicole Holofcener offered a blunt assessment of the lack of Academy Awards recognition for director Marielle Heller, and women directors everywhere.
“I feel Marielle was cheated and I feel badly about that,” Holofcener said backstage after winning a Spirit Award for screenplay with Jeff Whitty.
Holofcener was originally attached to direct the project eight years earlier but decided that she could not do so when the film was being greenlit due to her commitment to direct “The Land of Steady Habits.” She knew that Heller would be the right choice, thanks to her work on “The Diary of a Teenage Girl.”
Holofcener and Whitty won the Writers Guild Award for adapted screenplay for “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” and are up for an Academy Award. She also gave credit Saturday to the late Lee Israel for the memoir of the same name about being...
“I feel Marielle was cheated and I feel badly about that,” Holofcener said backstage after winning a Spirit Award for screenplay with Jeff Whitty.
Holofcener was originally attached to direct the project eight years earlier but decided that she could not do so when the film was being greenlit due to her commitment to direct “The Land of Steady Habits.” She knew that Heller would be the right choice, thanks to her work on “The Diary of a Teenage Girl.”
Holofcener and Whitty won the Writers Guild Award for adapted screenplay for “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” and are up for an Academy Award. She also gave credit Saturday to the late Lee Israel for the memoir of the same name about being...
- 2/24/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
The tone of this year’s Film Independent Spirit Awards was set early, when host Aubrey Plaza kicked off the annual awards ceremony with a girl-powered pre-taped show opener, which featured Hollywood heavyweights like Marcia Gay Harden, Rosanna Arquette, Christina Ricci, Sharon Stone, and Marisa Tomei playing at summoning indie film-fueled power in literal witch garb. Putting the focus on women and their impact on the industry isn’t exactly groundbreaking these days, but the Spirits weren’t just going for cheap gags in service of a laugh or two.
Unlike other awards season to-do’s, the Spirits nominated plenty of women, including in the Best Director category, a space that still doesn’t typically find room to recognize the work of creators who happen to be female. Plaza’s opening monologue pointed out that 60 percent of the ceremony’s nominated directors were women, and though she admitted that really...
Unlike other awards season to-do’s, the Spirits nominated plenty of women, including in the Best Director category, a space that still doesn’t typically find room to recognize the work of creators who happen to be female. Plaza’s opening monologue pointed out that 60 percent of the ceremony’s nominated directors were women, and though she admitted that really...
- 2/24/2019
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Glenn Close, Ethan Hawke and “If Beale Street Could Talk” took home the top prizes at the 2019 Film Independent Spirit Awards, held Saturday on the beach in Santa Monica, Calif.
Close stole the Aubrey Plaza-hosted show by inviting her dog Pip up on stage to accept best female lead, causing massive oohs and ahs and considerable distraction from her triumph for “The Wife.”
“It’s always the work, isn’t it?” Close said of the Sony Pictures Classics film, before thanking the women in her category including Carey Mulligan and and Regina Hall.
Producers for “Beale Street,” led by Adele Romanski, agreed with Close in a short but sweet acceptance speech that justly gave all the credit to author James Baldwin for his lush romance.
Ethan Hawke won for best male lead for Paul Schrader’s “First Reformed,” though his costar Amanda Seyfried accepted on his behalf, while Richard E. Grant...
Close stole the Aubrey Plaza-hosted show by inviting her dog Pip up on stage to accept best female lead, causing massive oohs and ahs and considerable distraction from her triumph for “The Wife.”
“It’s always the work, isn’t it?” Close said of the Sony Pictures Classics film, before thanking the women in her category including Carey Mulligan and and Regina Hall.
Producers for “Beale Street,” led by Adele Romanski, agreed with Close in a short but sweet acceptance speech that justly gave all the credit to author James Baldwin for his lush romance.
Ethan Hawke won for best male lead for Paul Schrader’s “First Reformed,” though his costar Amanda Seyfried accepted on his behalf, while Richard E. Grant...
- 2/23/2019
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
The comedy “Holmes and Watson” upset the derided biopic “Gotti” for Worst Picture at the 39th Annual Razzie Awards, which were announced right before midnight on Friday night, February 22. These prizes, rewarding the worst films and performances of the year, were revealed less than 48 hours before those other Hollywood awards will be given out. Check out the complete list of winners in all 10 categories here, and scroll down for the winners listed by film below.
“Holmes and Watson” won four awards total. It also claimed Worst Director (Etan Cohen), Worst Supporting Actor (John C. Reilly) and Worst Remake, Ripoff or Sequel. This was the first Razzie win for Reilly, who is a past Oscar nominee for “Chicago” (2002), but he’s not alone. “Holmes” was produced by Adam McKay, who previously directed Reilly and Will Ferrell in the better-received “Step Brothers” (2008) and is currently nominated for three Oscars for writing, directing...
“Holmes and Watson” won four awards total. It also claimed Worst Director (Etan Cohen), Worst Supporting Actor (John C. Reilly) and Worst Remake, Ripoff or Sequel. This was the first Razzie win for Reilly, who is a past Oscar nominee for “Chicago” (2002), but he’s not alone. “Holmes” was produced by Adam McKay, who previously directed Reilly and Will Ferrell in the better-received “Step Brothers” (2008) and is currently nominated for three Oscars for writing, directing...
- 2/23/2019
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” stunned us all with a Writers Guild of America Awards win for Best Adapted Screenplay on Sunday. Can it pull off another shocker this weekend — not at the Oscars, but at the Independent Spirit Awards?
The Spirits only has one screenplay category that combines original and adapted scripts. “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”, written by Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty, is in second place in our combined odds behind Paul Schrader‘s “First Reformed,” and ahead of “Private Life” (Tamara Jenkins), “Sorry to Bother You” (Boots Riley) and “Collette”. “First Reformed” is the safe pick, as the film got a co-leading four nominations, including Best Picture unlike “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”, and it’s a chance to honor Schrader, the scribe behind classics like “Taxi Driver” and “Raging Bull.”
But two of our Experts, Kevin Polowy (Yahoo) and Gold Derby’s own Tom O’Neil,...
The Spirits only has one screenplay category that combines original and adapted scripts. “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”, written by Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty, is in second place in our combined odds behind Paul Schrader‘s “First Reformed,” and ahead of “Private Life” (Tamara Jenkins), “Sorry to Bother You” (Boots Riley) and “Collette”. “First Reformed” is the safe pick, as the film got a co-leading four nominations, including Best Picture unlike “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”, and it’s a chance to honor Schrader, the scribe behind classics like “Taxi Driver” and “Raging Bull.”
But two of our Experts, Kevin Polowy (Yahoo) and Gold Derby’s own Tom O’Neil,...
- 2/23/2019
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
At 61, with some 127 acting credits to his name, Richard E. Grant finds himself a first-time Oscar nominee for his scene-stealing performance as Jack Hock, a streetwise gay roué who becomes partners in crime with author Lee Israel (fellow nominee Melissa McCarthy) in Can You Ever Forgive Me? "Ninety-nine point nine percent of the actors I know are like me — you never get nominated for stuff, you don't have any expectation," says Grant. "But right now it feels like the world is smiling at you. You are greeted [at] the Apple store by total strangers ...
- 2/22/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
At 61, with some 127 acting credits to his name, Richard E. Grant finds himself a first-time Oscar nominee for his scene-stealing performance as Jack Hock, a streetwise gay roué who becomes partners in crime with author Lee Israel (fellow nominee Melissa McCarthy) in Can You Ever Forgive Me? "Ninety-nine point nine percent of the actors I know are like me — you never get nominated for stuff, you don't have any expectation," says Grant. "But right now it feels like the world is smiling at you. You are greeted [at] the Apple store by total strangers ...
- 2/22/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
A screenplay could be adapted from many different forms of existing works — everything from a novel or a memoir to a newspaper article. The academy’s ruling also means that remakes/sequels/prequels etc, which all may feature made-up characters and stories, are classed as adapted, too as they are taken from their original films.
Let’s take a look back at the last five Oscars and examine the source material of the 25 Adapted Screenplay nominees to find out which type has proven to be the most winning. That could help us figure out who is ahead in this competitive race on Sunday.
2018:
Winner: “Call Me By Your Name” – Novel
“The Disaster Artist” – Non-fiction book
“Logan” – Comic-book/graphic novel
“Molly’s Game” – Memoir
“Mudbound” – Novel
2017:
Winner: “Moonlight” – Play
“Arrival” – Short story
“Fences” – Play
“Hidden Figures” – Non-fiction book
“Lion” – Memoir
2016:
Winner: “The Big Short” – Non-fiction book
“Brooklyn” – Novel...
Let’s take a look back at the last five Oscars and examine the source material of the 25 Adapted Screenplay nominees to find out which type has proven to be the most winning. That could help us figure out who is ahead in this competitive race on Sunday.
2018:
Winner: “Call Me By Your Name” – Novel
“The Disaster Artist” – Non-fiction book
“Logan” – Comic-book/graphic novel
“Molly’s Game” – Memoir
“Mudbound” – Novel
2017:
Winner: “Moonlight” – Play
“Arrival” – Short story
“Fences” – Play
“Hidden Figures” – Non-fiction book
“Lion” – Memoir
2016:
Winner: “The Big Short” – Non-fiction book
“Brooklyn” – Novel...
- 2/22/2019
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
At the Writers Guild Awards this past weekend, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” pulled off an upset by winning Best Adapted Screenplay over the presumed front-runner, “BlacKkKlansman.” Six of the last eight WGA winners in that category went on to repeat at the Oscars, but our odds still favor “Klansman” to be the academy’s choice. Can “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” pull off another upset this Sunday night? If it does, it would be historic.
“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” tells the true story of biographer Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy), who made her living in the 1970s and 1980s profiling the likes of Katharine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, Estee Lauder, and journalist Dorothy Kilgallen. When Israel is no longer able to get published because she has fallen out of step with current tastes — and because of her abrasive personality — she attempts to make a living by forging and selling letters...
“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” tells the true story of biographer Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy), who made her living in the 1970s and 1980s profiling the likes of Katharine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, Estee Lauder, and journalist Dorothy Kilgallen. When Israel is no longer able to get published because she has fallen out of step with current tastes — and because of her abrasive personality — she attempts to make a living by forging and selling letters...
- 2/21/2019
- by Jeffrey Kare
- Gold Derby
Over the past few months we’ve hosted exclusive video interviews with eight of this year’s Oscar nominees for acting. Will they get the almighty Gold Derby bump when the envelopes are opened on Sunday, February 24? Follow the links below to be taken to their full interviews.
See Watch 3 Gold Derby pundits argue over predictions: Thelma Adams, Paul Sheehan, and Tom O’Neil
Yalitza Aparicio (“Roma”): Aparicio pulled off the rare feat of earning an Oscar nomination for her acting debut. She competes in Best Actress for playing Cleo, a maid working for an upper-middle class family in Mexico City during the 1970s. She also contended at the Critics’ Choice Awards. (Click here to be taken to her full interview)
Glenn Close (“The Wife”): After victories at the Golden Globe, SAG, and Critics’ Choice Awards, Close may finally win her long overdue Best Actress Oscar on her seventh try.
See Watch 3 Gold Derby pundits argue over predictions: Thelma Adams, Paul Sheehan, and Tom O’Neil
Yalitza Aparicio (“Roma”): Aparicio pulled off the rare feat of earning an Oscar nomination for her acting debut. She competes in Best Actress for playing Cleo, a maid working for an upper-middle class family in Mexico City during the 1970s. She also contended at the Critics’ Choice Awards. (Click here to be taken to her full interview)
Glenn Close (“The Wife”): After victories at the Golden Globe, SAG, and Critics’ Choice Awards, Close may finally win her long overdue Best Actress Oscar on her seventh try.
- 2/20/2019
- by Zach Laws
- Gold Derby
Let the humans have their Oscars and Globes. Those who answered our poll about which animal performers in award season films know that audiences can’t resist the charms of a slinky cat, cuddly canine or waddling duck onscreen.
So which Mvp – most valuable pet – took top honors among the seven furry and feathered standouts in the running?
The top vote getter is Charlie, Bradley Cooper’s actual dog, who served as a baby substitute for Lady Gaga’s ambitious Ally and Cooper’s struggling country legend Jackson Maine in “A Star Is Born.” The labradoodle was considered a good boy by 33% of participants. Hopping into second place? Those 17 bunnies who were fawned over by Olivia Colman’s Queen Anne in “The Favourite.” Dramatically, they served as substitutes for the 17 children she borne yet died early in life. They managed to nibble their way to 25% of the votes.
Next in...
So which Mvp – most valuable pet – took top honors among the seven furry and feathered standouts in the running?
The top vote getter is Charlie, Bradley Cooper’s actual dog, who served as a baby substitute for Lady Gaga’s ambitious Ally and Cooper’s struggling country legend Jackson Maine in “A Star Is Born.” The labradoodle was considered a good boy by 33% of participants. Hopping into second place? Those 17 bunnies who were fawned over by Olivia Colman’s Queen Anne in “The Favourite.” Dramatically, they served as substitutes for the 17 children she borne yet died early in life. They managed to nibble their way to 25% of the votes.
Next in...
- 2/18/2019
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Sunday night brought the next precursor to our door in the Writers Guild of America. The WGA Awards were given out right as the Academy Awards loom a week away. With the Oscar categories of Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Screenplay far from locked up, this was an opportunity for voters to make a statement about those races. Or, you know, they could just make for more awards season chaos. Which did they do? Well, the title is a bit of a giveaway, but they did not make the expected decisions, that’s for sure. There were upsets across the board. The Writers Guild opted to provide a pair of shocking upsets last night. In the Adapted Screenplay category, the expected battle between BlacKkKlansman, Black Panther, If Beale Street Could Talk, and A Star Is Born ultimately paved the way for something totally different. Instead, it was Can You Ever Forgive Me?...
- 2/18/2019
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
An Oscar would certainly be nice, but Richard E. Grant doesn’t need a golden statue to walk away from this awards season as a winner.
The 61-year-old actor landed his first Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Jack Hock, the loyal accomplice of author-turned-literary-forger Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy) in the biopic “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
Unlike most actors who become jaded by the grind that comes with awards season — its punishing schedule of screenings, interviews on late-night shows, and grip and grins — Grant isn’t taking a single moment for granted.
Instead, the veteran is fully embracing the ride, using the long hours spent at industry events as a chance to mingle with his favorite celebrities and meet fans. His social media platforms have become an endearing window into the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, one that lets his 200,000 followers accompany him as he navigates through the...
The 61-year-old actor landed his first Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Jack Hock, the loyal accomplice of author-turned-literary-forger Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy) in the biopic “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
Unlike most actors who become jaded by the grind that comes with awards season — its punishing schedule of screenings, interviews on late-night shows, and grip and grins — Grant isn’t taking a single moment for granted.
Instead, the veteran is fully embracing the ride, using the long hours spent at industry events as a chance to mingle with his favorite celebrities and meet fans. His social media platforms have become an endearing window into the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, one that lets his 200,000 followers accompany him as he navigates through the...
- 2/18/2019
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Writers Guild of America awards throw spotlight on two surprise winners – including the black-comedy Oscars contender
The awards season race took a late final twist as two previously little-fancied films took best screenplay awards from the Writers Guild of America. Teen movie Eighth Grade, written and directed by Bo Burnham, won best original screenplay, while black comedy Can You Ever Forgive Me? won best adapted screenplay.
Eighth Grade, which is Burnham’s feature-directing debut, is not even nominated for a best screenplay Oscar, while Can You Ever Forgive Me?, telling the story of literary forger Lee Israel, is well behind Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman and Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk in the race for the adapted screenplay Oscar. The results appear to underline the lack of consensus for this year’s Academy awards, with all major craft guilds opting to honour different films for the first time ever.
The awards season race took a late final twist as two previously little-fancied films took best screenplay awards from the Writers Guild of America. Teen movie Eighth Grade, written and directed by Bo Burnham, won best original screenplay, while black comedy Can You Ever Forgive Me? won best adapted screenplay.
Eighth Grade, which is Burnham’s feature-directing debut, is not even nominated for a best screenplay Oscar, while Can You Ever Forgive Me?, telling the story of literary forger Lee Israel, is well behind Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman and Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk in the race for the adapted screenplay Oscar. The results appear to underline the lack of consensus for this year’s Academy awards, with all major craft guilds opting to honour different films for the first time ever.
- 2/18/2019
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
Eighth Grade Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Film Festival Can You Ever Forgive Me? and Eighth Grade were the surprise winners at the Writers Guild of America last night - picking up the adapted screenplay for Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty, and original screenplay for Bo Burnham respectively.
Burnham beat off competition from the heavily touted Roma and Green Book with his coming-of-age drama, while Holofcener and Whitty were also considered underdogs with their comedy drama about literary forger Lee Israel in a field that included BlackKklansman and If Beale Street Could Talk.
In her acceptance speech, Holofcener said: “I want to thank Lee. She’d probably be sitting in the room judging all of us. She though she was the smartest person in the room and she probably was.”
Burnham - who has not in the running for next week's Oscars - credited his young star Elsie Fisher for winning the award.
Burnham beat off competition from the heavily touted Roma and Green Book with his coming-of-age drama, while Holofcener and Whitty were also considered underdogs with their comedy drama about literary forger Lee Israel in a field that included BlackKklansman and If Beale Street Could Talk.
In her acceptance speech, Holofcener said: “I want to thank Lee. She’d probably be sitting in the room judging all of us. She though she was the smartest person in the room and she probably was.”
Burnham - who has not in the running for next week's Oscars - credited his young star Elsie Fisher for winning the award.
- 2/18/2019
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Bo Burnham’s debut feature won original screenplay.
The Writers Guild of America held its 2019 awards on Sunday February 17 in Beverly Hills, with Eighth Grade and Can You Ever Forgive Me? taking the major awards.
Bo Burnham picked up the original screenplay award for his directorial debut Eighth Grade, which premiered at Sundance 2018 and follows a 13-year-old girl as she navigates high school and the social media landscape.
Burnham took the award against competition from A Quiet Place, Green Book, Roma and Vice, the latter three of which are nominated at the Oscars (February 24).
Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty received...
The Writers Guild of America held its 2019 awards on Sunday February 17 in Beverly Hills, with Eighth Grade and Can You Ever Forgive Me? taking the major awards.
Bo Burnham picked up the original screenplay award for his directorial debut Eighth Grade, which premiered at Sundance 2018 and follows a 13-year-old girl as she navigates high school and the social media landscape.
Burnham took the award against competition from A Quiet Place, Green Book, Roma and Vice, the latter three of which are nominated at the Oscars (February 24).
Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty received...
- 2/18/2019
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
The Writers Guild Awards, East and West, always deliver strong pro-union and leftist political sentiments, not to mention a raft of colorful F bombs and dick jokes. Give writers a place to sound off, and likely they will, especially if there’s alcohol flowing. This show, as WGA West’s killer host Chelsea Peretti noted, “has all the glitz and glamor of the Oscars without the pressure of public interest.” Tomorrow, she noted, “most of you will be writing about losing awards.”
Indeed. Like other guild shows this year, the Writers Guild winners did not shed much light on the upcoming Oscarcast. The winner of Original Screenplay — beating Oscar nominees “Roma,” “Vice,” and “Green Book” — was a scribe not nominated for an Academy Award. Youthful Bo Burnham (“Eighth Grade”) at the DGA had already beat “A Star Is Born” writer-director Bradley Cooper for First-Time Director. “To the other nominees in...
Indeed. Like other guild shows this year, the Writers Guild winners did not shed much light on the upcoming Oscarcast. The winner of Original Screenplay — beating Oscar nominees “Roma,” “Vice,” and “Green Book” — was a scribe not nominated for an Academy Award. Youthful Bo Burnham (“Eighth Grade”) at the DGA had already beat “A Star Is Born” writer-director Bradley Cooper for First-Time Director. “To the other nominees in...
- 2/18/2019
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The Writers Guild Awards, East and West, always deliver strong pro-union and leftist political sentiments, not to mention a raft of colorful F bombs and dick jokes. Give writers a place to sound off, and likely they will, especially if there’s alcohol flowing. This show, as WGA West’s killer host Chelsea Peretti noted, “has all the glitz and glamor of the Oscars without the pressure of public interest.” Tomorrow, she noted, “most of you will be writing about losing awards.”
Indeed. Like other guild shows this year, the Writers Guild winners did not shed much light on the upcoming Oscarcast. The winner of Original Screenplay — beating Oscar nominees “Roma,” “Vice,” and “Green Book” — was a scribe not nominated for an Academy Award. Youthful Bo Burnham (“Eighth Grade”) at the DGA had already beat “A Star Is Born” writer-director Bradley Cooper for First-Time Director. “To the other nominees in...
Indeed. Like other guild shows this year, the Writers Guild winners did not shed much light on the upcoming Oscarcast. The winner of Original Screenplay — beating Oscar nominees “Roma,” “Vice,” and “Green Book” — was a scribe not nominated for an Academy Award. Youthful Bo Burnham (“Eighth Grade”) at the DGA had already beat “A Star Is Born” writer-director Bradley Cooper for First-Time Director. “To the other nominees in...
- 2/18/2019
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty’s “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” has been named the best adapted screenplay of 2018 by the Writers Guild of America, while Bo Burnham’s “Eighth Grade” was named the year’s best original screenplay in a surprising upset over Oscar Best Picture and screenplay nominees “Green Book,” “Roma” and “Vice.”
“Eighth Grade” is not even nominated for the original-screenplay Oscar, making it the first WGA screenplay winner not to be nominated for the Oscar since Michael Moore’s “Bowling for Columbine” in 2003.
While “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” is an Oscar screenplay nominee, it was not nominated for Best Picture and was competing against three films that had been nominated in that category — “Black Panther,” “BlacKkKlansman” and “A Star Is Born” — plus “If Beale Street Could Talk.”
Also Read: 11 Best Movies of 2018, From 'Paddington 2' to 'Eighth Grade' (Photos)
The results...
“Eighth Grade” is not even nominated for the original-screenplay Oscar, making it the first WGA screenplay winner not to be nominated for the Oscar since Michael Moore’s “Bowling for Columbine” in 2003.
While “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” is an Oscar screenplay nominee, it was not nominated for Best Picture and was competing against three films that had been nominated in that category — “Black Panther,” “BlacKkKlansman” and “A Star Is Born” — plus “If Beale Street Could Talk.”
Also Read: 11 Best Movies of 2018, From 'Paddington 2' to 'Eighth Grade' (Photos)
The results...
- 2/18/2019
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
The 71st annual Writers Guild Awards are underway at dual ceremonies at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. and at the Edison Ballroom in New York City. “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” won the comedy series award for Kate Fodor, Noah Gardenswartz, Jen Kirkman, Sheila Lawrence, Daniel Palladino and Amy Sherman Palladino. The series won the Emmy for best comedy series last year.
Bill Hader and Alec Berg won the episodic comedy award for the opening segment of HBO’s “Barry,” “Chapter One: Make Your Mark” (“Barry”).
Stephanie Gillis won the animated award for the “Bart’s Not Dead” episode and Alex Gansa took the episodic drama award for the “Paean To The People” segment of “Homeland.”
Chelsea Peretti hosted the West Coast ceremonies while Roy Wood Jr. was the emcee in New York
Original screenplay nominees are Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma”; Adam McKay’s “Vice”; Bo Burnham’s “Eighth Grade”; Bryan Woods,...
Bill Hader and Alec Berg won the episodic comedy award for the opening segment of HBO’s “Barry,” “Chapter One: Make Your Mark” (“Barry”).
Stephanie Gillis won the animated award for the “Bart’s Not Dead” episode and Alex Gansa took the episodic drama award for the “Paean To The People” segment of “Homeland.”
Chelsea Peretti hosted the West Coast ceremonies while Roy Wood Jr. was the emcee in New York
Original screenplay nominees are Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma”; Adam McKay’s “Vice”; Bo Burnham’s “Eighth Grade”; Bryan Woods,...
- 2/18/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
The Writers Guild of America announced the winners of their 71st annual awards on Sunday, February 17 in a ceremony held simultaneously in Los Angeles (Beverly Hilton Hotel) and New York City (Edison Ballroom). Each year these kudos recognize the best writing of the prior calendar year in a plethora of genres including movies and television. Scroll down to see the full list of film and TV winners for the 2019 WGA Awards, with winners designated in gold text.
Keep refreshing/reloading this page as we’ll be updating live.
Many awards pundits see the Writers Guild as a bellwether for the Oscars, though there’s a catch: oftentimes the Oscar nominees are not eligible at the guild because they aren’t written under its strict guidelines. Thus, Oscar nominee “The Favourite” was not eligible at WGA as this foreign production did not go through the lengthy process of proving its eligibility.
Keep refreshing/reloading this page as we’ll be updating live.
Many awards pundits see the Writers Guild as a bellwether for the Oscars, though there’s a catch: oftentimes the Oscar nominees are not eligible at the guild because they aren’t written under its strict guidelines. Thus, Oscar nominee “The Favourite” was not eligible at WGA as this foreign production did not go through the lengthy process of proving its eligibility.
- 2/17/2019
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
The 71st annual Writers Guild Awards are being handed out tonight in simultaneous ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York. Deadline will be updating the winners here as they are announced.
Here is the complete list of winners announced so far at the 2019 Writers Guild Awards, followed by the list of nominees:
News Script – Analysis, Feature, Or Commentary
“Wounds of War” (60 Minutes), Written by Scott Pelley, Katie Kerbstat, Nicole Young; CBS News
Documentary Screenplay
Bathtubs Over Broadway
Written by Ozzy Inguanzo & Dava Whisenant; Focus Features
Comedy Series
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Written by Kate Fodor, Noah Gardenswartz, Jen Kirkman, Sheila Lawrence, Daniel Palladino, Amy Sherman Palladino; Prime Video
Children’S Episodic And Specials
“The Ersatz Elevator: Part One” (A Series of Unfortunate Events), Teleplay by Daniel Handler; Netflix
Short Form New Media Original
Class of Lies, Written by Tessa Leigh Williams; Snapchat
Quiz And Audience Participation
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire,...
Here is the complete list of winners announced so far at the 2019 Writers Guild Awards, followed by the list of nominees:
News Script – Analysis, Feature, Or Commentary
“Wounds of War” (60 Minutes), Written by Scott Pelley, Katie Kerbstat, Nicole Young; CBS News
Documentary Screenplay
Bathtubs Over Broadway
Written by Ozzy Inguanzo & Dava Whisenant; Focus Features
Comedy Series
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Written by Kate Fodor, Noah Gardenswartz, Jen Kirkman, Sheila Lawrence, Daniel Palladino, Amy Sherman Palladino; Prime Video
Children’S Episodic And Specials
“The Ersatz Elevator: Part One” (A Series of Unfortunate Events), Teleplay by Daniel Handler; Netflix
Short Form New Media Original
Class of Lies, Written by Tessa Leigh Williams; Snapchat
Quiz And Audience Participation
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire,...
- 2/17/2019
- by Erik Pedersen and Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
It was a big night at the Writers Guild of America Awards for the films Can You Ever Forgive Me? and Eighth Grade, the television series Barry, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Americans and The Assassination of Gianni Versace; and, though he wasn't nominated in any category, actor-director Ron Howard.
With a week remaining before the Academy Awards signal the end of the awards season, Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty claimed the WGA's trophy for adapted screenplay for Can You Ever Forgive Me?, based on the memoir of the dissembling author Lee Israel, while writer-director Bo Burnham's middle school dramedy Eighth Grade took ...
With a week remaining before the Academy Awards signal the end of the awards season, Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty claimed the WGA's trophy for adapted screenplay for Can You Ever Forgive Me?, based on the memoir of the dissembling author Lee Israel, while writer-director Bo Burnham's middle school dramedy Eighth Grade took ...
- 2/17/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It was a big night at the Writers Guild of America Awards for the films Can You Ever Forgive Me? and Eighth Grade, the television series Barry, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Americans and The Assassination of Gianni Versace; and, though he wasn't nominated in any category, actor-director Ron Howard.
With a week remaining before the Academy Awards signal the end of the awards season, Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty claimed the WGA's trophy for adapted screenplay for Can You Ever Forgive Me?, based on the memoir of the dissembling author Lee Israel, while writer-director Bo Burnham's middle school dramedy Eighth Grade took ...
With a week remaining before the Academy Awards signal the end of the awards season, Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty claimed the WGA's trophy for adapted screenplay for Can You Ever Forgive Me?, based on the memoir of the dissembling author Lee Israel, while writer-director Bo Burnham's middle school dramedy Eighth Grade took ...
- 2/17/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Rowdy boos were followed by triumphant cheers at the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards on Saturday in Los Angeles, as the Hollywood union touched on a week of controversy over a reversed decision to hand out four Oscars during the show’s commercial breaks.
Hair and makeup was one of the four categories that would have been relegated to commercials, edited down and aired later on in the ABC event. After intense backlash from the creative community, the Academy stood down and declared it would air all categories on the live show.
“We’re in good company with the cinematography and the editing folks because they’re vital to making movies. Can you imagine if they didn’t have hair and make up for the movies?” joked Loni Love, a host on “The Real” and the emcee of the guild’s Saturday ceremony held at Dtla’s Novo Theater.
Hair and makeup was one of the four categories that would have been relegated to commercials, edited down and aired later on in the ABC event. After intense backlash from the creative community, the Academy stood down and declared it would air all categories on the live show.
“We’re in good company with the cinematography and the editing folks because they’re vital to making movies. Can you imagine if they didn’t have hair and make up for the movies?” joked Loni Love, a host on “The Real” and the emcee of the guild’s Saturday ceremony held at Dtla’s Novo Theater.
- 2/17/2019
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
by Jorge Molina
Marielle Heller’s Can You Ever Forgive Me? is a subtle study of a woman clinging to relevance in a world that not only has forgotten about her, but never took her into consideration in the first place. It’s about isolation, and loneliness, and people that already live at the margins marginalizing themselves even more. But it is also a rare, realistically moving portrayal of queer friendship; of the friendship of a woman with a man that’s just as forgotten and isolated as she is.
The screenplay adaptation of Lee Israel’s memoir by Jeff Whitty (of Avenue Q fame) and Nicole Holofcener (of many great pictures fame) tackles the relationship between Lee and Jack (Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant in career-best performances) with nuance and bite, and never gives in to "likeability". Whitty and Holofcener know that sometimes friends happen to just not like each other.
Marielle Heller’s Can You Ever Forgive Me? is a subtle study of a woman clinging to relevance in a world that not only has forgotten about her, but never took her into consideration in the first place. It’s about isolation, and loneliness, and people that already live at the margins marginalizing themselves even more. But it is also a rare, realistically moving portrayal of queer friendship; of the friendship of a woman with a man that’s just as forgotten and isolated as she is.
The screenplay adaptation of Lee Israel’s memoir by Jeff Whitty (of Avenue Q fame) and Nicole Holofcener (of many great pictures fame) tackles the relationship between Lee and Jack (Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant in career-best performances) with nuance and bite, and never gives in to "likeability". Whitty and Holofcener know that sometimes friends happen to just not like each other.
- 2/15/2019
- by Jorge Molina
- FilmExperience
“BlacKkKlansman” is the Oscar front-runner for Best Adapted Screenplay, with “If Beale Street Could Talk” poised to upset, but in our Writers Guild Awards predictions, the Expert journalists we’ve polled point to another possible surprise: “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
As of this writing “Klansman” is the overwhelming favorite at the WGA Awards with 31/10 odds, and it’s backed by six of our seven Experts: Edward Douglas (Weekend Warrior), Joyce Eng (Gold Derby), Susan King (Gold Derby), Peter Travers (Rolling Stone), Adnan Virk and Susan Wloszczyna (Gold Derby). And “Beale Street” ranks second with 39/10 odds with support from some of our Top 24 Users who got the highest scores predicting last year’s WGA Awards, but not from our Experts.
Sign UPfor Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
However, one of our Experts, Tariq Khan (Fox TV), is going out on a limb for “Forgive Me.” Is he onto something?...
As of this writing “Klansman” is the overwhelming favorite at the WGA Awards with 31/10 odds, and it’s backed by six of our seven Experts: Edward Douglas (Weekend Warrior), Joyce Eng (Gold Derby), Susan King (Gold Derby), Peter Travers (Rolling Stone), Adnan Virk and Susan Wloszczyna (Gold Derby). And “Beale Street” ranks second with 39/10 odds with support from some of our Top 24 Users who got the highest scores predicting last year’s WGA Awards, but not from our Experts.
Sign UPfor Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
However, one of our Experts, Tariq Khan (Fox TV), is going out on a limb for “Forgive Me.” Is he onto something?...
- 2/15/2019
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Finding the identity, the heart of a character can be an enormous task for an actor, whether depicting a real person or creating an individual out of whole cloth. The obstacles actors face can often be intellectual or emotional, forcing them to find ways of getting inside that character’s headspace and perspective to make their behavior seem believable. But just as frequently, those actors must muscle through any number of unexpected, unusual or flat-out uncomfortable scenarios that audiences will never know tested their concentration or jeopardized their ability to find the truth that ended up on screen.
Many of the nominees for Oscar’s 2018 acting awards found themselves intimidated, distracted, caught off guard, left vulnerable, exposed and overwhelmed by the prospect of bringing the humanity of their characters to life.
For “Bohemian Rhapsody” lead actor nominee Rami Malek, the challenge was trying to uncover the relatable individual hiding beneath...
Many of the nominees for Oscar’s 2018 acting awards found themselves intimidated, distracted, caught off guard, left vulnerable, exposed and overwhelmed by the prospect of bringing the humanity of their characters to life.
For “Bohemian Rhapsody” lead actor nominee Rami Malek, the challenge was trying to uncover the relatable individual hiding beneath...
- 2/14/2019
- by Todd Gilchrist
- Variety Film + TV
(Caution: This story reveals a plot point late in the movie.)
Melissa McCarthy delivered both hilarious and heartbreaking moments in her Oscar-nominated performance as author and literary forger Lee Israel in Can You Ever Forgive Me? But she considers one of the film’s more sentimental scenes her favorite.
“My favorite moment, which was the hardest moment, was our last scene,” the actress, 48, says in People’s Oscar Portfolio in this week’s issue. “The lovely Richard E. Grant, when you know he’s dying of AIDS, that whole scene, when we kind of rekindle as best as we can what our friendship was,...
Melissa McCarthy delivered both hilarious and heartbreaking moments in her Oscar-nominated performance as author and literary forger Lee Israel in Can You Ever Forgive Me? But she considers one of the film’s more sentimental scenes her favorite.
“My favorite moment, which was the hardest moment, was our last scene,” the actress, 48, says in People’s Oscar Portfolio in this week’s issue. “The lovely Richard E. Grant, when you know he’s dying of AIDS, that whole scene, when we kind of rekindle as best as we can what our friendship was,...
- 2/14/2019
- by Dana Rose Falcone
- PEOPLE.com
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