The Oscars made history on Sunday night by awarding “Parasite” best picture, the first time in the 92-year-history of the telecast that a foreign-language film took home the top statue. Indeed, it was a big night for “Parasite,” which won a total of four Academy Awards, including best director for Bong Joon Ho, who —
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Neon has purchased North American rights to Josephine Decker’s “Shirley,” a drama about novelist Shirley Jackson that premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The film stars Elisabeth Moss as Jackson, a writer whose work intertwined elements of the macabre with sly social commentary, most notably in her short story “The Lottery.” The pact closed
London-based sales agency Film Republic has boarded Finnish film “Eden” as it prepares for the European Film Market in Berlin. The company has released a teaser for the film. [embedded content] “Eden,” the debut feature film by Ulla Heikkilä, is produced by Miia Haavisto from Tekele Productions. It will be released in Finland in the
After the commercial successes of “Wonder Woman,” “Aquaman” and “Joker,” Warner Bros. had been on a hot streak with its DC Universe. Its latest comic-book offering, “Birds of Prey,” seemed to have all the ingredients necessary to continue that trend in the studio’s attempt to fashion an alternative to Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe. But despite
February 10, 2020 8:58AM PT After Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite” made history at the Oscars on Sunday night, picking up four trophies including best picture, the film has risen to the top of Apple’s iTunes and Amazon’s sales charts. On Monday morning, the Blu-ray edition of “Parasite” stood as the overall No. 1 best-seller on
Italian producer Grazia Volpi, best known for bringing many works by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani to the big and small screens, including their Berlin Golden Bear winner “Caesar Must Die,” has died. Volpi was 79, according to Italian press reports. The cause of death has not been disclosed. Born in the Tuscan town of Pontedera,
The fire marshal shut down the “Parasite” party at Soho House before the Oscars were even over. At about 8 p.m., guests arriving to the viewing and after party were asked to give their phone numbers to staff at the door and suggested they grab a bite to eat at BOA restaurant — they would
The 2020 Oscars In Memoriam segment memorialized late Hollywood icons such as Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, and Kirk Douglas, who died last week at age 103. But the Academy left off a few notable names, including Luke Perry, Cameron Boyce and Sid Haig. Orson Bean, the 91-year-old “Being
It was one of those years when a movie that was made to sweep the Oscars didn’t, and a movie that wasn’t made to sweep the Oscars did (or, at least, it came close enough to a sweep to feel like one). That may sound unfair to Sam Mendes’ “1917,” which is no doubt a
As the world applauded the Oscar success of Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite,” the film’s producers had further reason to celebrate following a record-breaking theatrical release in the U.K. over the weekend, pushing its worldwide cume to new heights. The tragicomedy about social inequality in modern Korea scored £1.4 million ($1.81 million) for its opening weekend,
After weeks of awards campaigning and hundreds of interviews, “Parasite” began Sunday as a successful and well-appreciated movie. Yet its Academy Awards wins for best picture and for Bong Joon-ho as best director were shocks that thrilled the Asian movie industry. “I’m so happy for all the Asian Film industry. It has now created bigger
Variety has been given exclusive access to the trailer for Christian Petzold’s “Undine,” which world premieres in competition at the Berlin Film Festival. Petzold won the Silver Berlin Bear for best director for “Barbara” in 2012. At the heart of “Undine,” set in modern-day Berlin, lies the Undine myth: a water nymph becomes human when
February 9, 2020 11:08PM PT “Parasite” made history at the 92nd Academy Awards, winning a total of four Oscars, including best picture and director for Bong Joon Ho. It was also a big night for Neon, the film’s distributor, which went home with a total of four trophies. “Parasite” also scooped up original screenplay honors
Roger Deakins has won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for “1917” — his second Oscar in three years following his first Academy Award for “Blade Runner 2049.” The 70-year-old Deakins had been favored for the trophy for his widely praised shooting of Sam Mendes’ World War I epic in what appeared to be a
Netflix’s “The Irishman” struck out at the Oscars on Sunday night, despite its 10 nominations. Martin Scorsese’s sprawling three-and-a-half-hour look at a gangster’s life received 10 Academy Award nominations on Jan. 13 and came away empty-handed. “The Irishman” has now joined five titles that amount to the Oscar snubs hall of fame that hit double
In a stunning upset, Bong Joon Ho’s black comedy “Parasite” almost swept the 92nd Academy Awards on Sunday night, making history along the way. “Parasite” became the first foreign-language film to win best picture. Its victories in the international feature film, director and original screenplay categories were also a first for a South Korean movie. The
Renée Zellweger won best actress at the 92nd Academy Awards for her portrayal of Hollywood icon Judy Garland in “Judy.” The actress took the stage celebrating heroes, and her hero Garland. “This past year of conversations celebrating Judy Garland across generations and across cultures has been a really cool reminder that our heroes unite us,”
February 9, 2020 8:29PM PT Neon’s “Parasite” made history on Sunday night at the 92nd Academy Awards, becoming the first foreign-language film ever to win a best picture Oscar. Directed and co-written by Bong Joon Ho, the film follows an impoverished South Korean family posing as qualified professionals to gain long-term employment by a wealthy
Joaquin Phoenix accepted his best actor award for “Joker” at Sunday’s Academy Awards with a lengthy and impassioned speech that touched on racism, animal rights and his own ability to grow and change. “I do not feel elevated above any of my fellow nominees or anyone in this room, because we share the same love,
Like many in Hollywood, Derek Fisher is thinking of the late Kobe Bryant this Oscars Sunday. ”It’s been special,” Fisher told Variety of the tributes to Bryant — at the Oscars and elsewhere — at Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios Oscar Gala at the Beverly Wilshire. “When you grow up with your brother, you may not
One of the highlights of this year’s awards season has been Brad Pitt’s acceptance speeches for his performance in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” At the Golden Globes, Pitt told co-star Leonardo DiCaprio (and star of “Titanic”), “I would’ve shared the raft.” At the SAG awards, Pitt quipped that he’d put his win on
Just as the 92nd annual Academy Awards were starting to feel utterly predictable, Bong Joon Ho was announced as best director over perceived front-runner Sam Mendes. A few minutes later, “Parasite” made history by becoming the first foreign-language film to ever win best picture. It not only defied expectation, it triumphed after the PGA Award
Awards season officially comes to a close on Oscar Sunday. The 92nd Academy Awards will be held at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre on Feb. 9 and air live on ABC at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET. Red carpet coverage will begin at 3:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. ET. Viewers will be able to live-stream the awards show
February 9, 2020 3:04PM PT Spike Lee paid a fashionable tribute to Kobe Bryant at Sunday’s Oscars by wearing a purple and gold tuxedo, made by Gucci, with the number 24 stitched onto his lapels. Lee, a basketball fanatic, directed the 2009 documentary “Kobe: Doin’ Work” for ESPN. Bryant, along with his 13 year-old daughter
February 9, 2020 11:16AM PT A slice-of-life look at a Muslim fabric shop salesman in southern India, told with a deeply affecting humanism that beautifully draws out the man’s dignity. The understated, deeply humane approach director Arun Karthick takes in addressing the heinous anti-Muslim rhetoric infecting Indian politics today proves far more powerful than any
Warner Bros.’ comic-book adaptation “Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” got off to a soft start at the international box office, generating $48 million when it debuted in 78 foreign markets. The R-rated adventure — starring Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn — kicked off in North America with an equally
The 92nd Academy Awards is off to a wet and wild start as rainfall soaks the tent outside the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, causing leaks on the red carpet as staff members scrambled to keep the area dry. Trashcans draped in red fabric were placed on the red carpet to catch the falling water while
There’s nothing like being honored for your 52nd Oscar nomination on your 88th birthday and finding yourself serenaded by 350 of the town’s top composers and songwriters. But that was Saturday afternoon for composer John Williams at the Society of Composers & Lyricists’ annual Oscar music reception, which was attended by nearly all of the
“Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” flew much lower than expected in its debut, collecting just $33.25 million from 4,236 U.S. theaters. The sequel to 2016’s “Suicide Squad” — seeing Margot Robbie reprise her role as Harley Quinn– now holds the ignominious distinction as the worst opening for any film
Awards season officially comes to a close on Oscar Sunday. The 92nd Academy Awards will be held at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre on Feb. 9 and air live on ABC at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET. Red carpet coverage will begin at 3:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. ET. Viewers will be able to live-stream the awards show