The Envelope - Ultimate Awards Site

Notes on the town: Does Michael Jackson still have a chance?

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:14:30 -0800

It might have a better chance than you think.

The contender Q&A: Jackie Earle Haley

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:14:40 -0800

His career trajectory has continued its upward path since his return to the profession.

Kathryn Bigelow and the making of 'The Hurt Locker'

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Kathryn Bigelow aims to make 'entertaining and substantive' movies. She's scored on both counts with 'The Hurt Locker.'

"Hurt Locker" screenwriter Mark Boal remembers running around the Jordanian desert with director Kathryn Bigelow, watching her scale hills in 115-degree heat to set up shots for their modestly budgeted film. By the end of the day, when everyone else was exhausted, Bigelow would look like she was just beginning her morning, raring and ready to go shoot the next scene.

Lee Daniels, director of 'Precious'

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

For director Lee Daniels, who informed "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" -- an unsparing look at an urban, pregnant teen coping with horrific abuse -- with a lifetime of his own experiences, hearing trash talk about the film at a local black barbershop was eye-opening. And anger-inducing.

The writers' room

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Three possible Oscar nominees share their tips and tools of the trade.

Three of Hollywood's hot scriptwriters let us into their sancta sanctorum -- that is to say, their offices, which tend to be full of Macintosh computers, unsharpened pencils and pets. But all agree: Real inspiration comes direct from uncluttered minds, not cluttered desks.

The boys of 'Summer'

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The writing team of Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber turned the former's ill-fated romance into their first film script, which resulted in the Oscar hopeful '(500) Days of Summer.'

When is a romantic comedy not a romantic comedy? "(500) Days of Summer," essentially Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber's first screenplay, has trappings of the genre -- the romance, the comedy, the best friends, even the karaoke scene. But the boy-gets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-sinks-into-black-depression story with the chaotic chronology also flouts the rom-com rules with such brio that it becomes an original, entertaining and truthful experience. It ought to be, as its pages are torn from Neustadter's tear-stained diaries. As becomes evident from sitting down with the writers in a West Hollywood cafe on a rainy day, that point is only slightly exaggerated. The travails of the protagonist, Tom, are based on Scott's real-life heart-crushings.

CREATING A SCENE

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Several directors describe a pivotal scene in their films and how it came to about.

JOHN HILLCOAT "The Road"

Is 'Avatar' the new best picture front-runner?

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:59:17 -0800

The academy that showered a record-tying 14 nominations and 11 Oscars on James Cameron's last film, "Titanic," may be ready to do it all over again.

The academy that showered a record-tying 14 nominations and 11 Oscars on James Cameron's last film, "Titanic," may be ready to do it all over again.

Experts split on who'll win Oscar's best actress derby

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:34:51 -0800

Who thinks Meryl Streep will win?

Experts say Jeff Bridges leads the Oscars' best-actor race

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:27:49 -0800

Sorry, George Clooney.