Oscar-winning filmmaker Malik Bendjelloul was found dead yesterday in Stockholm, Sweden, according to local police officials and the Associated Press. He was only 36 years old. A cause of death was not specified, but spokesperson did say it was not being treated as suspicious . No other details were immediately available. Born and raised in Sweden, Malik Bendjelloul won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2013, for his acclaimed film Searching for Sugar Man . The movie chronicled the life and career of singer Sixto Rodriguez, and the efforts of two of his fans who set out to discover what had become of him. Bendjelloul started off as a child actor in the ’90s. He later studied journalism and media production and worked for a time as a reporter, as well. Searching for Sugar Man was his first feature film documentary. In addition to the Oscar, it won the BAFTA Award for Best Documentary, and accolades from the Directors Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America. R.I.P. Celebrities We Lost in 2014 1. Philip Seymour Hoffman R.I.P. Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967-2014). He will forever be missed!
Middle-earth may have some perils of the stomach variety if Kiwi viewers are an indication of things to come. Early screenings of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in New Zealand have left some movie-goers feeling nauseous. The latest anticipated epic from Peter Jackson had its world premiere Down Under last week and has already begun attracting audiences to the film that was shot using high-speed 3-D technology. Some have complained that the high frame rate, which screens at 48 frames per second compared to the traditional 24 frames per second, has resulted in dizziness, nausea and even migraines for some fans, according to The New Zealand Herald . [ ‘The Hobbit’ At 48 FPS: A High Frame Rate Fiasco? ] Director Peter Jackson trumpeted the sped up frame rate at the premiere for bringing “enhanced clarity and smoothness.” “You have to hold your stomach down and let your eyes pop at first to adjust,” tweeted one N.Z. fan. Jackson received mixed reaction when he teased footage of the Hobbit at Comic-Con last Summer though it met with some complaints that it looked “too real.” “48 frames absolutely helps 3D because suddenly you’re removing a substantial amount of the motion blur that you get at 24 . Your eyes get a much smoother experience,” Jackson wrote on the Directors Guild of America website earlier this fall. “Frame rate is a very similar thing to CinemaScope. It’s a choice. It opens up another toolbox for filmmakers.” [ ‘The Hobbit’ 3-D Early Review: Back Again, But Not Quite There ] This certainly won’t be the first time a movie has caused audience squeamishness and discomfort. Avatar and Breaking Dawn caused some fans to complain of sickness and they certainly did not result in lower box office totals. Even more dramatic, the New York Film Festival debut of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction back in 1994 famously caused one audience member to pass out (though it was rumored he had suffered a heart attack – later proven untrue) which caused an interruption in the screening until paramedics arrived to help. Then the screening continued. [ Sources: ABC News , New Zealand Herald ] Read more on The Hobbit and Peter Jackson’s 48 FPS . Follow Brian Brooks on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
Also in Wednesday afternoon’s round-up of news briefs, Kick-Ass 2 eyes an addition to its cast. The Katzenbergs will receive honors from a Gay group, and the Directors Guild of America appoints a new exec. Daniel G. Bush Named to D.G.A. Post Directors Guild of America National Executive Director Jay D. Roth announced today that Daniel G. Bush has joined the executive staff of the Directors Guild of America as an Assistant Executive Director. Bush will focus on areas related to representation, contract enforcement and organizing, in a newly-created position designed to enhance the Guild’s efforts in these areas. He will report to Associate National Executive Director/Western Executive Director Bryan Unger. The Jeffrey Dahmer Files Heads to Theaters Chris James Thompson’s documentary on serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer has been picked up by IFC Midnight, the genre label of IFC Films. The film explores Milwaukee and those who knew Dahmer during and after his hidden spree. Recollections from Milwaukee Medical Examiner Jeffrey Jentzen, Police Detective Patrick Kennedy, and neighbor Pamela Bass are interwoven with archival footage and everyday scenes from Dahmer’s life, working collectively to disassemble the facade of an ordinary man leading an ordinary existence. The deal for the film was negotiated by Arianna Bocco, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions & Productions for Sundance Selects/IFC Films with Josh Braun of Submarine Entertainment on behalf of the filmmakers. Around the ‘net… ALF Heads to Sony Animation The studio has acquired rights to the 1908s television sitcom. ALF (Alien Life Form) revolves around a friendly alien creature who crash landed on Earth and moved in with a suburban family and finds trouble with government forces on his trail, THR reports . Donald Faison Eyes Kick-Ass 2 Faison is in negotiations to join the sequel of the super-hero pic to play the role of the baseball bat wielding masked character who fights alongside Kick-Ass, Deadline reports . Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg to Receive Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network Honors GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network will fete the Katzenbergs with the Lifetime Achievement Award. White Collar ‘s Matt Bomer and his partner, Slate PR’s Simon Halls will take the group’s “Inspiration Award” during the October 5th event, THR reports .
Also rounding out Friday’s round up of news briefs, Harvey Weinstein receives UCLA honors, New York’s LGBT Festival sets its opener, the Austin Film Festival touts its record submission and California is chided for not doing enough to keep productions from ditching the state. Harvey Weinstein Receives UCLA Honors The Weinstein Company chief was feted by UCLA’s student directors as the school’s Champion Spirit Award recipient. The ceremony took place Thursday night at the Directors Guild of America as part of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Film Festival. The award was created in 2010 recognizing a person in the entertainment industry who has “courage, integrity, insight and inspiration and is dedicated to fostering and nurturing emerging talent.” Recent winners include Stacey Snider and Roger Corman. Joshua Sanchez’s Four to Kick Off NYC LGBT Festival The film follows four people as they spend a holiday encountering life changing moments, both subtle and writ large and learn to cope with the lack of honesty in their lives. Closing the event will be Marialy Rivas’ acclaimed Chilean film Young & Wild . Based on the life of co-screenwriter Camila Gutiérrez, the film is a sexually-charged, stunning and energetic look at family and youth culture in contemporary Chile. The film was the recipient of the World Cinema Screenwriting Award at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. NewFest will take place July 27 – 31 at the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater. Austin Film Festival Touts Record Submissions The event said it has received a record number of entries for its 19th annual Screenplay competition. 6,500 entries came in, up by 12% from last year’s 5,800. The 19th annual Austin Film Festival & Conference will be held Oct 18 – 25, 2012 in Austin, TX. Around the ‘net… Madagascar 3 Should Win Box Office Father’s Day Weekend New comers Rock of Ages and That’s My Boy are expected to perform modestly this weekend, which should see Madagascar 3 reigning at the box office, Variety reports . Christina Ricci Boards Australian Indie Set in an inner-city beset with riots, Ricci stars as an American drama teacher who forms a connection to a troubled Aboriginal teen. The project is the debut feature of writer-director Sarah Spillane, Deadline reports . Report Warns California Not Doing Enough to Keep Movie/TV Productions The Milken Institute says the state’s efforts to halt runaway production falls short even with an extension of the $100 million annual tax incentive, THR reports .
The most demoralizing awards season in recent memory continued over the weekend, with the Directors Guild and the Screen Actors Guild handing out their hardware to pretty much everyone you expected to receive it. I’ll factor all this into Oscar Index on Wednesday for a complete-race breakdown, but here are the five basic takeaways worth keeping in mind: 1. The Artist is not coming back. Michel Hazanavicius’s DGA win for Best Director, paired with last weekend’s Producers Guild win for Best Picture, all but cements The Artist ‘s standing as the thoroughbred way, way out in front of the Oscar pack. It isn’t about to slow up, either; the most that the teams behind such films as The Descendants , The Help and Hugo can hope for is that their principals cure cancer this week. And even that might not be enough goodwill to ratchet up their momentum. 2. Michel Hazanavicius/Tom Hooper/Quentin Tarantino are to 2012 what Robert Rodriguez/Kevin Smith/Quentin Tarantino were to 1994. If mellow is what wins, then Harvey Weinstein will give awards voters mellow. He’s about to go two-for-two with this (mostly) new stable of directorial talent, having previously made nominees of Tarantino and (ahem) Stephen Daldry. Next up in 2013, it’s Tarantino again with Django Unchained and Paul Thomas Anderson perhaps giving us back some edge as well with his new one. But mostly just look for Harvey to continue making whatever myths he can in the perennial quest to bolster his own. 3. Bank on Viola Davis. It’s not so much the precursors won — her SAG and Critics Choice awards for Best Actress, for example — that now have her ahead of Meryl Streep in the Oscar race. It’s her extraordinary class and grace and humility in accepting her plaudits — her belief in her work, her colleagues, and the power of what they created. Only the Artist gang has really shown any ability to match that, and thus look for both to be rewarded next month with the majority of the Academy’s top prizes — including… 4. Jean Dujardin should pull through. I don’t know what surveys or rankings some experts were reading that made Dujardin’s SAG win on Sunday an ” upset .” Movieline’s Institute for the Advanced Study of Kudos Forensics has had the guy tracking in the lead for two months now , with Clooney only recently pulling even after the Golden Globes. Now Dujardin returns to the solo lead, probably for good. Big deal. 5. The Academy embarrassed itself nominating Glenn Close. I don’t have much outrage left about this year’s Oscar class, but just watching another goddamn tired Albert Nobbs clip and seeing Tilda Swinton’s gracious recognition of her own SAG nomination and thinking about Swinton and Charlize Theron and Kirsten Dunst and Elizabeth Olsen and at least three or four other actresses more worthy of Close’s Oscar nomination and what could have been had me so irretrievably embittered all over again. What a bunch of bozos we’ve built this beat around. Or maybe we’re the bozos. Either way, it’s a waste. 6. It won’t get any better next year. Who’s ready for the great John Hawkes ( The Surrogate )/Daniel Day Lewis ( Lincoln ) battle of 2013? I said, who’s ready — enh, forget it. And for the record, find the complete list of SAG motion picture award winners below. Congrats to all! 18th ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS® RECIPIENTS THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role JEAN DUJARDIN / George – “THE ARTIST” (The Weinstein Company) Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role VIOLA DAVIS / Aibileen Clark – “THE HELP” (DreamWorks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures) Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER / Hal – “BEGINNERS” (Focus Features) Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role OCTAVIA SPENCER / Minny Jackson – “THE HELP” (DreamWorks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures) Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture THE HELP (DreamWorks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures) JESSICA CHASTAIN / Celia Foote VIOLA DAVIS / Aibileen Clark BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD / Hilly Holbrook ALLISON JANNEY / Charlotte Phelan CHRIS LOWELL / Stuart Whitworth AHNA O’REILLY / Elizabeth Leefolt SISSY SPACEK / Missus Walters OCTAVIA SPENCER / Minny Jackson MARY STEENBURGEN / Elaine Stein EMMA STONE / Skeeter Phelan CICELY TYSON / Constantine Jefferson MIKE VOGEL / Johnny Foote Follow S.T. VanAirsdale on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
Remember all that talk about how True Grit was the new Best Picture front runner because of its muscular box office ($110 million and counting)? Yeah, perhaps not. Joel and Ethan Coen failed to received a nomination from the Directors Guild this morning, meaning True Grit ‘s road to winning Best Picture just hit a major bump in the road. Or it didn’t, since the Coens could still grab a Best Director nomination from the Academy at the end of this month. Otherwise, this list features your usual suspects. Click ahead for the nominees.
This should quell those pesky breakup rumors. Ha, well, at least until the next round of celebrity gossip tabloid covers are rolled out later this week. The reportedly miserable pair looked anything but during a night out together at the Directors Guild of America Awards on Saturday in Los Angeles.
Last night in L.A., Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner made their first public appearance together (sorta) since their holiday breakup. Everyone, close friends included, knew Tay-Squared..
Well, this should certainly make for some interesting seating arrangements. The Directors Guild of America today announced the nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature..
