The new issue of Entertainment Weekly, out Friday features four exclusive covers of Into The Woods. The Disney film has an all-star cast, including Meryl Streep as The Witch, Johnny Depp as the Wolf, Emily Blunt, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine and Christine Baranski also star in the movie.
Rob Marshall who won a Best Picture Oscar in 2002 for Chicago directs the Stephen Sondheim musical which brings the Grimm Fairy Tales to life. He says, “I didn’t want this to look like a cartoon world. It’s not sunny, sunny, sunny—we wanted a sense of danger.” Streep who plays the witch told Entertainment Weekly, “I’ve been offered many witches over the years, starting when I was 40, and I said no to all of them. But this was really fun because it played with the notion of what witches mean. They represented age and ugliness and scary powers we don’t understand. So here’s my opportunity to say, here’s what you wish for when you’re getting old.”
The latest issue of the magazine also looks at other Holiday movies including, Exodus:Gods and Kings, and The Hobbit:The Battle of the Five.
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Welcome 🙂
Bryce, I think Miller always stood a tough time getting in for director. I also believe Carell will stay, as well as Ruffalo and picture. Tatum, he’s unclear because we don’t know what he’ll be campaigned as. But I agree with you on its original screenplay chances. This year has so many contenders that some great script or two is likely to be left out. Futterman may end up being the casualty but I think it’ll be Anderson, sadly enough. his film came out too early in the year. Moonrise Kingdom didn’t face that challenge because that year for original screenplays was not as packed as adapted so Moonrise was able to slip in. I don’t see it repeating its successes this time. Shame too…it’s a fabulous fable.
Foxcatcher should have stayed in the race last year. I suspect they didn’t want Carell to compete with McConaughey’s narrative, but unfortunately now he’s competing with Keaton’s and I think Keaton is going to win out if only one of the two can make it in on similar narratives. I think one of the more determining factors for Foxcatcher is how A Most Violent Year is received. The two seem to have the strongest connection at least thematically and mood-wise. What AMVY has going for it commercially is Chastain’s presence and a more traditional crime story. The mixed reactions to Foxcatcher from non-festival-goers is deeply worrisome. I think its detractors will come out of the woodworks once it’s commercially released and drown out its acclaim.
As foolish as it is to worry about a film you haven’t seen, I worry about FOXCATCHER. Of all the contenders with “solid” chances to score major nominations, I believe it’s the most vulnerable. Bennett Miller seems a bit of a long shot at this very moment (since Angelina’s nomination is seen as a “lock” by most pundits’ account, it’s shall we say “reserved”). Carell could succumb any minute now if a couple of late entries make a splash (e.g., McConaughey, Cooper, etc.) and ppparently, it isn’t a player in the techs which baffles after looking at those nine trailers. I’m not liking Channing Tatum’s chances either — he is unfairly considered “not Oscar material” by envious and oblivious elements, so cat-fraud his ass to a nomination if you have to! The Original Screenplay category seems to be stacked with names that take precedent (e.g., Linklater, Gonzalez Inarritu, Leigh, Nolan, Anderson) and you also have a rambunctious smash like WHIPLASH vying for a spot. Could two nominations, Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor (Ruffalo), be its final tally?
What if the Bill Irwin voice only performance is standout?
I’m also really keen to see what Matt Damon’s uncredited role is (though I think I know).
Not to turn this thread into an Interstellar one (really looking forward to Into the Woods, love the photos, the costumes, enjoyed the teaser trailer) … But thereseem to be A LOT of conflicting reports on the acting standouts of Interstellar. Originally. It was Chastain with a supporting role, but largely emotional hook to her performance; that she was the films absolute best shot for a nom. Then news popped up that Hathaway was best in show (lead or supporting). Then I read that McConaughey was amazing. Then I heard Wes Bentley was amazing and the films only chance. Then I heard that Chastain, while great, is overshadowed by the other larger good performances. Then another actor came into the conversation. Etc etc etc. I dont know if all this is just buzz to create a whirlwind (and nothing else, all these conflicting reports) or, if everyone is great and there are no standouts.
Another thing. This looks to be Nolan’s first “emotional film” and if McConaughey can bring the voters to tears (I mean look at him crying in space, crying and driving away, holding his daughter as she cries) then watch out.
Phantom, I expect McConaughey to either make it into best actor or come very close. To me the best actor race, though people say there are 4 locks, still seems so wide open to me. I still have reservations on either Cumberbatch or Redmayne making it in, Keaton and Carell seem like safer bets but even the most likely can be left off the list. McConaughey’s work looks great, he’s coming off a win and only seems to be ascending with True Detective and now this and a Nolan film seems really ripe for some more industry love.
Benutty, I believe Her was very underrepresented at the Oscars. I didn’t think (at the time) it deserved a best costume nomination but you presented a good point. I thought it should’ve been in for director, cinematography, editing and especially sound mixing. Acting…I wanted lead actor and supporting actress but I know those races were very competitive. It deserved it’s screenplay win but also should’ve won art direction and original score. Sometimes it’s not about how flashy the costumes are but how they’re utilized.
Rufus, there have been plenty of films that won or were nominated for make up that contained visual effects. To what extent I am not sure…but they are: The Hobbit 1, Star Trek, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows 2, The Wolfman, Chronicles of Narnia and Benjamin Button had to have some since it also won visual effects which is interesting to think about. If Hellboy 2 could get in I’m absolutely certain Guardians will make it. I mean visual effects or not the practical work done on Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Dave Bautista and Lee Pace was outstanding.
Totally, Phantom. I think McConaughey is a risky prediction to make, but I don’t think it’s so out of left field to imagine that someone of his popularity could ride the wave of a win to a second nomination the next year for a film that might have a ton of other nominations. We do know that AMPAS likes to justify wins with follow-up nominations, and when a film has broad support, acting nominations can come out of left field–Weaver in Silver Linings, Cooper in Hustle, Hill in Wolf, Hill in Moneyball, McCarthy in Bridesmaids, etc.
Similarly, I don’t think we should count Hathaway out of the race. Originally I thought she’d be in Supporting, but as Jessica’s momentum picks up for her to be in Supporting, it’s likely that Anne will go Lead and in what everyone (unjustly imo) keeps calling a weak year for Lead Actress, she could swoop in pretty easily. It doesn’t hurt that the Interstellar still I keep seeing everywhere is the one of her face in the helmet.
Benutty
Oh, make no mistake, I DO expect Interstellar to score at least one acting nomination (Chastain in supporting) and frankly, I also expect this to be FINALLY Nolan’s year, I’m just not sure a Best Actor nod could happen mainoy because the competition there is massive.
I agree with Bryce 100%. While there is a lot of support for the films that we’ve already seen, there isn’t as much of a swell as there was for Gravity and 12 Years a Slave last year. Something we haven’t seen is going to steal all of the momentum and make huge strides in the race across many of the categories. While I personally think that spot is Interstellar’s, it could very well go to Into the Woods, American Sniper, Exodus: Gods and Kings, Unbroken or Selma. (It won’t go to Big Eyes).
re: Phantom’s “but the Academy almost never goes for a sci-fi lead” — I think it’s important to keep in mind that it’s just as unusual for a sci-fi to be as emotionally-charged as everyone is saying Interstellar is. For that reason alone we should hesitate when we assume that Interstellar won’t get acting nominations simply because of the genre.
My experienced Oscar-watching eye tells me it’s Michael Keaton’s to lose and he ain’t gonna.
I’m still certain of the following. The best Picture winner has not been seen yet by major critics/Oscar pundits, and it’s either INTO THE WOODS or INTERSTELLAR.
K. Bowen, not that I necessarily agree that I want something less flashy to win Costumes, but I must say that I think HER should have won last year. I thought the decisions to make future garb so damn drab and nerdy was smart and out of the box. While the costumes weren’t flashy, I think they added to the texture of the film immensely and that’s the type of work that AMPAS should strive to reward.
EW ugly.
The fact that he would be a first-time nominee, as ridiculous as it may sound, could also hurt Corden BIG time. Why ? Because right now the strongest ‘seen’ contenders are all Oscar newbies (Redmayne, Cumberbatch, Keaton, Carell, Spall), some of the most promising dark horses, too (O’Connell, Oyelowo, Teller, Coltrane, Isaac, Boseman) … and based on precedent a quintet of newbies basically NEVER happens in Best Actor. But for some reason, I have serious doubts about the previous winners/nominees in this year’s race:
– Matthew McConaughey (winning streak + potential BP frontrunner, sure, but the Academy almost never goes for a sci-fi lead)
– Bradley Cooper (another winning streak, another potentially strong BP player…but wouldn’t even the Academy consider three consecutive nods a bit much EVEN IF the film is good/great…and looking at Eastwood’s recent track record, that’s a valid IF)
– Mark Wahlberg (flashy role, no doubt, but he has to knock it out of the park to register and honestly, it is up for debate, if he has that in him)
– Christian Bale (his Gladiator or his Kingdom of Heaven ? this is the question)
– Christoph Waltz (the film is about Adams’s character so Weinstein will probably try to go 3/3 with Waltz in supporting)
– Ralph Fiennes (he could take the supporting race, but it seems they will stick to the lead campaign)
– Ben Affleck (it seems to be all about Pike, though he received probably the best reviews of his acting career to date and that should count for something)
– Brad Pitt (if he WANTS it, he could probably charm his way into the top5, but he doesn’t strike me as a campaignforit type of actor)
– Joaquin Phoenix (if the Academy didn’t recognise him for Her, I’m fairly certain they won’t nominate him for Inherent Vice)
Bottom line : My guess is it very well could an all-newbie lineup in the end, if not, then my money is on McConaughey and Cooper to break through.
“The seasoned Oscar-watcher, equipped with the relevant data – which means the results of the Baftas, the Golden Globes, the Writers, Actors, Directors and Producers Guild awards, and a month or two of breathless reviews and punditry – can predict what voters will do around 60 or 70 per cent of the time.
With the right analysis, it’s possible to score even higher: a Harvard student, Ben Zauzmer, has developed an algorithm that chews close to 18,000 individual film-related statistics, which has for the past three years been spitting out predictions with a 75-80 per cent hit rate. If you’ve seen Moneyball (a 2012 contender: six nominations, no wins), you get the drift.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/oscars/11167040/Oscars-2015-predictions-space-for-Interstellar.html
@Bryce
So your predicting Into the Woods for best picture based on a mathematical model something like Harvard student Ben Zauzmer?
https://twitter.com/BensOscarMath
Although, his model only seems to be good for predicting the outcomes of Oscar night once the nominees are chosen if I understand correctly. I haven’t been able to find anywhere what his predictions are for the upcoming Oscars…
Phantom,
She looks amazing in both roles. I need to see BELLE.
Bryce Forrestieri
Nope, you are not alone, ever since I saw BELLE in June, I’m looking forward to Gugu Mbatha’s Raw’s SECOND lead role. The range and leading lady potential she shows this year is exceptional and with a decent team, she could get some awards buzz, too. She is young, beautiful, talented, British and plays two wildly different, flashy lead roles only a few months apart…the Academy tends to go for that combination.
Jazz, I believe Best Makeup will be between FOXCATCHER and INTO THE WOODS. Also MALEFICENT and THE HOBBITT 6 have as much a shot to get a nomination as GUARDIANS, but I’m part of a teeny tiny minority who didn’t particularly care for GUARDIANS, so I might be biased.
Kane, my predictions are based on an elusive hunch — also, a rather sophisticated mathematical model which incorporates 9,567 data points, but I’m not sharing that with y’all!
And now for something more important: Am I the only one excited about BEYOND THE LIGHTS? That Nate Parker boy appears to have the goods.
Trying to make my mind about which song I prefer, Stay with me or Mother knows best.
Terrible typography on those covers
I, for one, am all for Johnny Depp dressing like a “crazing person”! The costumes look fine. I wouldn’t mind borrowing Depp’s for Halloween.
The Na’vi were all mocapped but Stephen Lang’s character had that scarred up face. Plus with movies featuring heavy CGI winning cinematography, make up and art direction it’s tough to know what they will award and what they won’t. The BFCA nominated Avatar for make up so I’m assuming they include what is done digitally?
Did Avatar even employ use of makeup? I thought most of the Na’vi were mocap.
To qoute the guys at thedissolve.com:
“Nothing is certain in this world except death, taxes, and Johnny Depp dressing like a crazy person.”
The costumes…
Sorry sorry sorry I meant Avatar wasn’t nominated for make up!!!
Star Trek won, even though Avatar was not even nominated for visual effects and was then thought to absolutely dominate the tech categories.
Jesus…
Kane, Avatar WON Visual Effects. Star Trek beat Il Divo and Young Victoria. The trend that I see that extends well beyond 2 years is that because the entire Academy votes on the WINNER, while the nominations may be based on an actual skill set because that branch nominates them, the larger body is going to more often than not throw votes to the most prestigious or obvious film, certainly in a category like Makeup & Hairstyling where they probably either can’t even remember what the films look like, haven’t even seen the other films, or don’t know the difference between good and bad hair.
Best Costume Design for Sure. Makeup and Hairstyling Nomination competiion for Sure. Maybe some music nomination (s)? Don’t undersestimate Marshall for Best Director. He did ALMOST win for Chicago. Think about how incredibly successful the source material has already been on Broadway! This one is definitely one to keep your eyes on…. particularly at the Globes!!! If there were 5 right now I would say Boyhood Interstellar Foxcatcher The Imitation Game and Into the Woods! Plus the Actors look AMAZING! Imagine how they are going to SOUND? (Missed opportunity leaving out Billy Magnusson, just FYI)~!!!
Oh I brought up ANNIE in one of those race articles and all I heard was an echo. I agree with you Phantom. It could do something if we’re not already calling the race in late October.
Well it certainly LOOKS good. We shall see. I have to check out those other photos.
…the EW article about Sia’s Annie-song ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3hMjsjQyek ) made me think of this.
This reminds me : am I still the only one thinking ANNIE could be a late surprise in the race ? The director Will Gluck (Easy A) has potential, the script (or at least a draft) was penned by the great Emma Thompson, and the leads are Oscar nominee Quvenzhane Wallis and Oscar winner Jamie Foxx. If it turns into the Christmas hit the studio hopes for, and the reviews are in the ‘decent’ ballpark (60+ Metacritic.), I think it has a legit shot at scoring a filler BP nod.
Benutty, I’d say 2 years is barely a trend. Star Trek won, even though Avatar was not even nominated for visual effects and was then thought to absolutely dominate the tech categories. Either way I think Guardians still gets it for a lot of it’s old school make up work. If there’s a branch out there that will nominate a film for an award for the craft itself it is the make up branch. Click, Norbit and Bad Grandpa all got nominations. Did they win? No. But to me that says the nomination is never about what else it has going for it but rather what is put on the screen. It’s a tough one to call when Into the Woods hasn’t been seen yet. When I see it my mind might change.
Kane, as was the case with the last two years, I don’t think a non BP-nominee will win Makeup & Hairstyling if a BP nominee is nominated against it. This race will go to whichever is the BP nominee still in the 3-film list of nominees: Foxcatcher, Into the Woods or Mr. Turner. For instance, American Hustle probably would have won last year if it had made it out of that final cut.
I LOVE Johnny Depp’s cover. He looks great as The Big Bad wolf.