The Envelope In Print: The Award Season Preview (November 5, 2008)

November 5, 2008

THE COVER STORY

Anne Hathaway gets serious

Anne Hathaway seemed immensely proud of herself but also reluctant, initially, to make too big a deal of her experience filming the family dramedy " Rachel Getting Married." The loosely staged movie -- which follows a New England family over the course of an emotionally wrought weekend of nuptial revelry -- came out last month and has been generating the earliest of early Oscar buzz for Hathaway ever since.

November 5, 2008

STYLE

'The Duchess': Bound by the whims of fashion

Georgiana Spencer, who became the Duchess of Devonshire at age 17, was an 18th century beauty revered and reviled for her wit, intellect and political activism, as much as for her fashion sense, gambling, drinking and partying. In " The Duchess," Keira Knightley portrays the trendsetter whose massive gowns, towering hairdos and elaborate makeup were ravenously emulated by the "ton," an elite group of aristocratic ladies.

November 5, 2008

LIGHTS, CAMERA . . .

Making a truck somersault for 'The Dark Knight'

The script was clear: "The truck somersaults through the air." The director wants this shot for real and chooses a truck uncompromising in its length.

November 5, 2008

Contender Q & A

Michael Sheen on 'Frost/Nixon'

It might surprise those who know Michael Sheen from his portrayals of Tony Blair in the Peter Morgan-scripted "The Deal" and "The Queen" to see the 39-year-old actor looking downright rugged in his suit, long hair and scruffy beard. Having just flown in from London, where he learned the British Independent Film Awards would honor him with the Variety Award for "bringing global recognition to the British film industry," he sat down at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills to discuss his current collaboration with Morgan, "Frost/Nixon," opening Dec. 5 (the original broadcast of the Nixon interview will be out on DVD that week as well). In Ron Howard's film, Sheen and Frank Langella reprise their acclaimed stage roles as British interviewer David Frost and President Nixon, respectively, as the heretofore lightweight TV personality finds himself in a battle of wills with the disgraced politician on and off camera.

November 5, 2008

Changes in Oscar rules

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences grabbed headlines a few weeks ago with its decision to allow movie commercials to air during the Oscar telecast. Board members decided to ditch the 50-year ban on the ads primarily over revenue concerns. But behind the scenes, the organization's various branches have also been quietly loosening things up a bit.

November 5, 2008

IN CONTENTION

Oscar: Best picture, director, actor and actress possibilities

This year, there's more drama in the Oscar derby than on the silver screen. Best actress contenders must not only square off against mighty Meryl Streep -- who hasn't been this scary since "The Devil Wears Prada" -- but poor Kate Winslet must also take on herself (she's in two films this season). Meantime, Richard Nixon's never looked creepier, a spooky "Dark Knight" looms over everything, and a sly "Slumdog" threatens to upset.