Either animal obsessions are instinctive to this awards season, or someone’s been unduly influenced by Movieline favorites Uggie and Otis the Oscar Cat . There is no other real takeaway from the latest animated news video from the folks at NMA, which makes nifty work of summarizing an utterly depressing, anticlimactic Academy Awards evening that “clocked in at just under 10 hours.” Have a look and see if your memory matches theirs. [ NMA ]
General Zod ‘has some cool speeches,’ actor tells MTV News at Independent Spirit Awards. By Kevin P. Sullivan, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Michael Shannon at the 2012 Independent Spirit Awards Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images We know that we can expect at least somewhat of a revisionist take on Superman when ” Man of Steel ” hits theaters next year, but a tap-dancing General Zod? If Michael Shannon is to be believed, Superman’s Kryptonian nemesis could be borrowing a thing or two from the 2012 Oscars Best Picture winner. On Saturday, at the biggest ceremony for independent film, the Independent Spirit Awards , Shannon arrived in support of his nominated film ” Take Shelter ,” and stopped to speak with MTV News about his upcoming role as a super-villain. For one of next year’s biggest movies, we’ve seen next to nothing officially from Zack Snyder’s reboot, but as one of the lucky few working on the film, Shannon has been privy to the top-secret info we’ve all craved. “I saw the dance sequence, but that’s it, just because I have to match the moves,” Shannon joked — we hope. We could even see a silent, black-and-white, song-and-dance film
Our experts pick the best-dressed at the 2012 Academy Awards. By Christina Garibaldi Emma Stone arrives at the 84th Annual Academy Awards montage Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic Oscar night isn’t only a huge event for the world of movies; it’s also a big night for fashion. Over the years, it has become known as the hottest runway show of the year, with the top designers clamoring to get their dresses on the night’s nominees, hoping to win a spot on the coveted best-dressed list. On Sunday night (February 26), all eyes were on the actresses working the red carpet, and they did not disappoint. There were pops of color on the carpet, but the big trend of the night seemed to be ladies in white. Gwyneth Paltrow looked glamorous in a white one-shoulder Tom Ford gown with a matching wrap. MTV Style picks their best-dressed at the Oscars. “From what I saw walking down the carpet, Gwyneth Paltrow looked amazing in Tom Ford,” Janell Snowden of VH1 told MTV News. “She was in the color of the night, which was white.” Rooney Mara, a Best Actress nominee for “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” traded in her typical black garb for elegant white, wearing a lace Givenchy gown with a plunging back. “I did think a lot about what I was going to wear; it’s a long process,” Mara told MTV News. “I like to wear white also. I wanted to mix it up. This just happened to be the most beautiful dress, that’s why I wore it.” MTV Style expert Mary H.K. Choi agreed that Mara wowed in her Oscar ensemble. “White was a huge trend on the red carpet tonight, and this stark, architectural Givenchy looked absolutely surreal against the phosphorescence of her alabaster skin,” Choi said. “She looked just pristine, and the fact that her impossibly shiny, jet-black hair was in a tight bun with blunt bangs really anchored the look. She dresses with a certain severity, given her young age, but I’m a huge fan.” Of course, it wasn’t just the ladies in white who stole the show. “The Help” star Emma Stone turned heads in a stunning red Giambattista Valli gown. “I just loved this dress. There were titterings on Twitter about how people either loved or hated the bow, but I thought a dramatic, festive accent at the neckline looked stunning and complemented the side sweep of her red hair,” Choi said. “A risk, definitely, but I think it absolutely paid off.” Stone’s co-star Jessica Chastain also made a lasting impression on her first Oscar red carpet. Chastain, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, shined on the carpet in a black and gold Alexander McQueen gown. “This is a big moment — probably it’s the biggest moment of my life — so I needed a dress that was a big-moment dress,” Chastain told MTV News. “It’s McQueen, and the embroidery and the way it fits — to me, this dress is how I’m feeling right now.” Share your favorite Oscar red-carpet looks on our Facebook page. Track all the Oscar Fashion at MTV Style and come back every day for the latest fashion news. The MTV Movies team has the 2012 Oscars covered! Keep it locked at MTV.com all night and beyond for updates on the night’s big winners and the best red-carpet fashion . Join the live conversation by tweeting @MTVNews with the hashtag #Oscars. Related Videos Oscars 2012: Red Carpet Highlights Oscars 2012: Show Highlights Related Photos MTV Style | 2012 Oscars Red Carpet Photos
MTV News compiles our guesses for who will win — and our opinions on who should win. By MTV News staff Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images Will “The Artist” dominate the 2012 Oscars ? Should “The Artist” dominate the 2012 Oscars? Might wonderful films like “Hugo” get shut out in the major categories? Can the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honestly not bestow a single statuette on “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2”? These are the sorts of questions that have been preoccupying the MTV Movies team as of late. For the last two weeks, we’ve been doing our best to predict the Oscar winners — and oftentimes pointing out that the one that will win isn’t always the one that should win. Below, we’ve gathered together all our predictions. With just hours to go until show time, take a look at our picks and see how they stack up against your own: Best Music (Original Score) Who will win : “The Artist” Who should win : “The Artist” Best Animated Feature Film Who will win : “Rango” Who should win : “The Adventures of Tintin” (even though it’s not nominated) Best Visual Effects Who will win : “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” Who should win : “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) Who will win : Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, “The Descendants” Who should win : Bridget O’Connor and Peter Straughan, “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Best Writing (Original Screenplay) Who will win : Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris” Who should win : Asghar Farhadi, “A Separation” Best Supporting Actress Who will win : Octavia Spencer, “The Help” Who should win : Octavia Spencer, “The Help” Best Supporting Actor Who will win : Christopher Plummer, “Beginnings” Who should win : Christopher Plummer, “Beginnings” Best Actor Who will win : Jean Dujardin, “The Artist” Who should win : Gary Oldman, “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Best Actress Who will win : Viola Davis, “The Help” Who should win : Viola Davis, “The Help” Best Director Who will win : Martin Scorsese, “Hugo” Who should win : Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris” Best Picture Who will win : “The Artist” Who should win : “Tree of Life” The MTV Movies team has the 2012 Oscars covered! Stick with us for everything you need to know leading up to the awards show, and head to Next Movie for a printable Oscar ballot . On Sunday, tune into MTV.com at 5 p.m. ET for our two-and-a-half-hour red-carpet live stream and updates on the night’s big winners. To join the live conversation, tweet @MTVNews with the hashtag #Oscars. Related Videos 2012 Oscar Nominees
In his ninth time hosting the Academy Awards, Crystal isn’t planning to ‘go after people’ like some recent awards-show emcees. By Kara Warner 2012 Oscar host Billy Crystal Photo: FilmMagic Although Billy Crystal wasn’t the Academy’s first pick to host the Oscars this year, the veteran emcee is a breath of familiar air to Hollywood’s main event. This year marks Crystal’s ninth time hosting the show, and at age 63, he will be the oldest solo host of the event since Bob Hope in 1978 (Steve Martin was 64 when he co-hosted with Alec Baldwin in 2010). Coincidentally, the “When Harry Met Sally” star received a standing ovation from the Oscar audience last year when he appeared onstage briefly to honor Hope. While some awards-show hosts of late have ventured into taboo and risky territory (see: Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais ), Crystal has always carried out his duties with class and his own special brand of charisma, charm and wit. “It’s important that the show be good, and I take it really seriously,” Crystal told Entertainment Weekly about the pressures and importance of the job. “That whole concept of ‘I want to really go after people’ — I don’t understand that. Is it a roast or is it an awards show? Do you dislike these people? I have a different bar. If there’s a good target and they deserve it, you can kid them in the right way. But it’s not the place to go out there and hammer people, because who am I? There’s many times we’ve kicked out jokes because they were too personal.” It is very clear that Crystal will not be going for the jugular, which is more than fine by us, since the Oscars have a decidedly more serious and regal tone. This year’s ceremony will be helmed by a man who respects the industry and appreciates the pomp and circumstance of it all. And while we likely won’t witness any gasp-worthy jokes or quips, we can expect to feel warm and welcome via another one of Crystal’s lively movie montages at the start of the show, along with a few lighthearted tongue-in-cheek remarks that make us all feel like we’re in on the joke and invited to the party. The MTV Movies team has the 2012 Oscars covered! Stick with us for everything you need to know leading up to the awards show, and head to Next Movie for a printable Oscar ballot . On Sunday, tune into MTV.com at 5 p.m. ET for our two-and-a-half-hour red-carpet live stream and updates on the night’s big winners. To join the live conversation, tweet @MTVNews with the hashtag #Oscars. Related Videos 2012 Oscar Nominees
“Nothing will come from this if you win!” joked Seth Rogen as he opened his hosting gig at the 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards . “Absolutely nothing. This won’t help you get paid anymore — if anything, it proves you’ll work for nothing.” That may be painfully true for many of the indie film nominees honored today at the annual Spirit Awards, held in a tent on the beach in balmy Santa Monica. But what does it mean that the night’s big winner was the Harvey Weinstein-backed awards season juggernaut The Artist ? The Oscar frontrunner swept the Spirit Awards Saturday in a precursor to what most pundits expect will transpire Sunday night at the Academy Awards ; the black and white silent film took home four awards, including Best Feature, Best Director ( Michel Hazanavicius ), Best Actor ( Jean Dujardin ), and Best Cinematography, further sealing its grip on the 2012 awards race. Along the road to Spirit Awards victory, the $15 million The Artist went up against the likes of more conventional indies. (Rules of eligibility includes films made for no more than $20 million.) In the Best Cinematography category, the Weinstein-backed favorite competed against, for example, Evan Glodell’s Bellflower , a film shot on a production budget of $17,000; for Best Feature it vied with 50/50 , Beginners , Drive , Take Shelter , and The Descendants . Additional winners on the night included Dee Rees’ Pariah , Alexander Payne’s The Descendants (which won Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress for Shailene Woodley), Asgar Farhadi’s A Separation , Michelle Williams for My Week with Marilyn , and Christopher Plummer for Beginners . (Full winners list here .) In other words – on the whole, not quite so different from the field competing tomorrow at the mainstream Oscars. Maybe that’s why, after Rogen’s fantastic Hollywood-skewering opening monologue, the Spirit Awards started to flag a bit in, well, spirit. By the time the absent Jean Dujardin won Best Actor about halfway through (co-star Penelope Ann Miller, the film’s mascot for the night, accepted on his behalf) the certainty of Artist domination seemed to loom in the air. Once Michel Hazanavicius arrived, fresh from the LAX runway with a police escort minutes before his name was called as Best Director, the sweep was sealed. Would any non-Oscar frontrunning independent filmmaker honorees have gotten the VIP treatment all the way down the 10? Were these the Oscar rehearsals, or the preeminent celebration of American independent film? Well, at least the show had its moments. Highlights included Rogen’s monologue; John Waters acting as MC for the night; Michelle Williams accepting her trophy with a nod to the very first Spirit Awards she ever attended, back when she wore her own clothes and cut her own hair and felt at home in the “room full of misfits, outcast, loners, dreamers, mumblers, delinquents, dropouts – just like me.” Backstage, winners trickled in throughout the night, sharing their own perspectives on craft and the awards show mania. Christopher Plummer , Best Supporting Actor: The jovial Plummer kicked off the winners’ room. “[Michael’s father, his character] was a true character and was written with such affection, such a lack of self-pity. It was fun to do, it made me so relaxed. His marvelous humor against all odds [is] a marvelous lesson to everyone who goes through cancer and dying. He treated it with a sort of carefree sense of humor, no self-pity at all.” Hinting at his next gig on an HBO project, Plummer addressed his continuing career at age 82. “I have to [keep acting] because I may croak at any moment – I have to keep going!” How did he keep from being upstaged by Cosmo the dog on the set of Beginners ? “We had a little private talk, and now that you mention it Cosmo and Uggie , I think our Cosmo was much more human than Uggie . Uggie was just a trickster – our dog had soul .” Shailene Woodley , Best Supporting Actress: “I’m so grateful,” Woodley began. “I don’t know if ‘surprised’ is the right word. I think gratitude kind of fills it all. It’s been such a beautiful experience for me in my life and totally transformed me as a human being, so I’m grateful to have been a part of the film and to have learned so many valuable amazing lessons.” “Every single person involved in the film was incredibly positive and had such gentle, kind, graceful souls. Being on the film as an 18-year-old and experiencing that right as I was about to start my life on my own, it was kind of the catalyst for me coming into my own. I don’t think there are words for me to express my gratitude for that.” As for the Oscars, Woodley has love for the Help star she went up against during the Golden Globes. “I am so stoked for Octavia [Spencer] – she is so awesome! She’s such a nice human being. [Pause] This is crazy. I was not expecting it and I got up there and said um a lot, I’m sure I’m going to be mortified when I watch it.” The Artist crew, Best Feature/Best Actor/Best Cinematography/Best Director: What did producer Harvey Weinstein bring to the film? “His weight,” joked producer Thomas Langmann, who credited Weinstein with taking a chance on The Artist when most backers balked. “We kept going to try to finance this meeting and we had very short meetings… nobody wanted to hear about this one. People told me this is against conventional wisdom. We managed to find the money and wanted to shoot here in Hollywood…” “This movie was made to be a tribute to Hollywood and cinema and especially American cinema. So to come back… and be rewarded by the Hollywood community, is a dream come true.” How’s life treating director Hazanavicius, who’s been on a nonstop tour through the home stretch of his award tour? “It’s not the worst job you can find,” he answered. “You come, you receive awards, everyone is smiling at you and is nice and they tell you you’re talented and have a very funny, charming French accent. [The police escort from LAX] was great. That was the best part.” “It’s physically tiring but the energy is so good that you don’t really feel it,” he said. “We’re really excited and are enjoying every moment we can enjoy.” Looking back to the beginning of their journey, did Weinstein promise the Artist crew he could get them to the Oscars? “Harvey knows how to promise things like that, yes. Sometimes he’s right.” Michelle Williams, Best Actress: “My friend was joking that until now I have been the Susan Lucci of the Indie Spirit Awards!” Williams said, beaming. “I have been luckier and luckier to be working with better and better people.” On how she found her way into Marilyn Monroe: “In a way you had to remove the fact that she was an icon, because that was too daunting… and think of her as an ordinary girl. There wasn’t a direct path in to her, I found. The only way in was time, so much time, and in a way letting her dictate, letting her take shape — letting all this information take shape instead of me trying to control it.” “I just do some work. I just sort of keep my head down, which is a very sort of Montana attitude. There’s this Amish thing, this Quaker thing I like – ‘Eyes to the ground and heart to the skies.’ I just keep focused.” Steve James, dir. The Interrupters , Best Documentary: “It means a lot for a film like this because this is a film about urban violence in Chicago, and when we were making it we never would have anticipated the reaction the film has gotten in the past year. It means a lot for what the film’s about and for us as independent filmmakers – I’ve been doing this now for 27 years, so it means a lot.” Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
Movie’s success proves that powerful audience support can buck Oscar stereotypes. By Kevin P. Sullivan Emma Stone in “The Help” Photo: DreamWorks Of the nine films nominated for Best Picture at this Sunday’s Academy Awards , the only two that came out before the fall movie season, where Oscar bait runs rampant, are probably the most unlikely nominees. The inclusion of “The Tree of Life” on the short list, despite its loose structure, makes sense because of the prestige of its director, Terrence Malick. “The Help,” on the other hand, found Oscar success with an untested director and a racially charged subject matter. Before “The Help” was a nominated film, it was a best-selling novel by writer Kathryn Stockett. While looking to sell the novel, Stockett queried 60 agents, all of whom rejected her request for representation. When the novel finally did find a home with an agent and eventually a publisher, it became a best-seller soon afterward. But the before the novel found a wide audience, Stockett’s childhood friend and former roommate Tate Taylor agreed with the author to pen the screen adaptation and direct the eventual film. Despite pressure from DreamWorks, Stockett insisted that Taylor direct the film of her book. The connection between Stockett and Taylor was not the only one on set. Taylor and Best Supporting Actress nominee Octavia Spencer met while working as production assistants on “A Time to Kill.” As with all high-profile novel adaptations, “The Help” had a built-in audience going into its August release, but it wasn’t until strong reviews and an A+ CinemaScore that people began to realize the potential for Oscar nominations. Two of the film’s actresses, Spencer and Best Actress nominee Viola Davis , received the earliest and most unanimous accolades after the film’s release and rode that praise to Oscar nominations. They were both favorites in their respective categories, and as we head into Oscar night, they remain so. The story of the movie’s road to the Oscars demonstrates that the power of the audience can buck old Oscar stereotypes and push a loved film to the forefront of the competition. “The Help” won audiences over and in doing so, secured a big night at the Academy Awards. The MTV Movies team has the 2012 Oscars covered! Stick with us for everything you need to know leading up to the awards show, and head to Next Movie for a printable Oscar ballot . On Sunday, tune into MTV.com at 5 p.m. ET for our two-and-a-half-hour red-carpet live stream and updates on the night’s big winners. To join the live conversation, tweet @MTVNews with the hashtag #Oscars. Related Videos MTV Sneak Peek Week: ‘The Help’
March 23 release tops first-day advance-sales record set by ‘Eclipse.’ By Jocelyn Vena Josh Hutcherson in “The Hunger Games” Photo: Lionsgate Fans of “The Hunger Games” are hungry to get their hands on tickets to the film. Presales for the flick have surpassed a record previously held by the third film in the “Twilight Saga” phenomenon, “Eclipse.” Fandango reports that the first day of presales for the film , which kicked off Wednesday, had already led to hundreds of sold-out showtimes in advance of the flick’s March 23 opening day. “Eclipse” broke the first-day advance-sales record back in May 14, 2010. In the wake of the overwhelming interest in “Games,” many theater owners have added more showtimes to keep up with the pace. ” ‘The Hunger Games’ is off to a fantastic start,” said Rick Butler, executive vice president and general manager of Fandango. “Yesterday, we saw the biggest first-day advance-ticketing sales in our company’s nearly 12-year history — which is especially impressive for a March release and a non-sequel.” With so much anticipation building, two new TV spots were released Wednesday. They feature lots of the film’s leading lady, Jennifer Lawrence, as well as some more sneak peeks into how the rest of cast will look in the Gary Ross-directed big-screen adaptation. The 30-second clips also include glimpses at the action, heartbreak and strength of Lawrence’s Katniss character. Of course, there’s also some hot-guy eye candy, with quick glances at Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson. Before the film hits theaters, the three leads — Lawrence, Hutcherson and Hemsworth — as well as much of the supporting cast will embark on a U.S. mall tour . It will hit eight cities, kicking off March 3 in Los Angeles and wrapping up March 10 in Seattle. Check out everything we’ve got on “The Hunger Games.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: Jennifer Lawrence And Josh Hutcherson MTV Rough Cut: ‘Hunger Games’ Related Photos ‘Hunger Games’ Character Posters
From Justin and Selena to Justin and Jessica, MTV News takes a look at the hottest couples from the 2011 Academy Awards. By Jocelyn Vena Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party Photo: Craig Barritt/ Getty Images The Academy Awards happen to be one of the most glamorous nights of the year, filled with over-the-top acceptance speeches and crazy-expensive couture. It can also serve as the glitziest date night for some of the most famous people in the world. With this year’s Oscars only days away, we decided to take a look back at last year’s show and remember some of the most dazzling couples to hit the Oscar scene. A very pregnant Natalie Portman took the stage on Oscars night last year to accept her prize for Best Actress for her role in “Black Swan.” In between “thank you’s” for the Academy, her family and her fellow nominees, she also thanked her main man, and the father of her son, ballet dancer Benjamin Millepied. “I want to thank my parents for giving me the opportunity to work from such an early age [and] my beautiful love, Benjamin, who has now given me my most important role of my life,” she told the room. “Most importantly, my family, my friends and my love, thank you so much.” Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez looked like the young A-listers they are when they arrived at the annual Vanity Fair Oscar party, arm in arm. The night was filled with nuzzling, schmoozing and being in love. It also served as the most high-profile appearance the two had made in their time as a couple. Another Justin and his lady love also dazzled at the same bash. Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel chilled at the party, looking stunning in high-end fashion. The two may have broken up not long after the fete, but the photo remained a reminder of their often-speculated-about romance, before they got back together — and reportedly got engaged — later in 2011. “True Blood” stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer looked like the grown-up version of Justin and Selena (both guys donned formal wear and both ladies wore blood red). James Franco and Anne Hathaway may not have been romantically involved, but they were certainly trying their best to romance Oscar viewers as co-hosts. While Hathaway brought her high-energy theater-kid charm to the show, Franco opted for the type of charm we might expect from his “Freaks and Geeks” character Daniel Desario: low-key and a bit confused. Who will be the biggest couples at the 2012 Oscars? Let us know in the comments! The MTV Movies team has the 2012 Oscars covered! Stick with us for everything you need to know leading up to the awards show, and on Sunday, February 26, tune into MTV.com at 5 p.m. ET for our two-and-a-half-hour red-carpet live stream and updates on the night’s big winners. To join the live conversation, tweet @MTVNews with the hashtag #Oscars.
