Tuesday
Feb242015
Beauty Break: Random Oscar Night Gowns You Might Not Have Seen
Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 8:18PM Because they weren't on the stage but at after parties. Many beauties after the jump...
Entries in parties and events (71)
Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 8:18PM Tuesday
Feb242015
Curio: Oscar Snacks 2015
Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 8:00AM Alexa here. I knew early on that my annual Oscar pig-out this year would feature the pastry at the center of Wes Anderson's latest. Not only because it was probably my favorite film this year, but because Wes kindly supplied detailed instructions for making the Courtesan au Chocolat. A literal invitation to create my own Wes Anderson diorama! I had to try.
It was all fun and games until the assembly, when the mini towers toppled like dominoes. Damn you, Wes!
Friday
Feb132015
Interview: Tomm Moore on "Song of the Sea" and the Oscar Race
Friday, February 13, 2015 at 1:31PM 
Tomm Moore, 38, is enjoying his second Oscar nomination for Animated FeatureOne of the semi-unexpected joys of the birth of the Animated Feature Oscar category in 2001 has been the steady stream of international cartoons that the Oscars have spotlighted. The first truly big surprise was a nomination for a film few had heard of at the time called The Secret of Kells (2009) -- that "what's that?" nomination has become something of a tradition in the category since then. The Oscar nomination for that hypnotic and singularly gorgeous tribute to Irish folklore did a lot to put Cartoon Saloon, an Irish animation studio, on the map.
Cartoon Saloon's co-founder and Kells co-director Tomm Moore has crafted another magical Irish winner in Song of the Sea, an adventure about a boy who discovers his little sister is a "selkie" and holds the key to saving all the faerie folk who are slowly turning to stone (long story!).
I had the pleasure of speaking to Moore by phone where he was in San Francisco on his Song of the Sea tour and about to meet with Pete Docter (Up). He peppers his conversation with plentiful references to other animation giants (also sharing a story about hanging out with the Big Hero 6 team). It all paints a wonderful picture of a very tight mutual-appreciation niche within Hollywood's larger ecosystem.
We talked Oscars, storytelling, and Cartoon Saloon's next project...
NATHANIEL: This is your second time nominated for the big show. Does it feel different this time?
TOMM MOORE: For sure yeah. It’s more fun because we know a little bit more what to expect and am able to enjoy it a bit more rather than just be like “what?”
NATHANIEL: It’s been five years since your last movie.
TOMM: In the meantime I’ve joined the Academy myself and I understand a little bit better how it all works.
Moore's favorite film of 2014 and the responsibility of kids movies after the jump...
Wednesday
Feb112015
Wes Anderson on 'Budapest', Fellini and Revisiting Max Fisher.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at 11:20AM Jose here. Last week I attended a screening of The Grand Budapest Hotel followed by a Q&A with director Wes Anderson. Self-aware and adorably humorous he shared anecdotes about the making of the film, and also discussed his influences. Here are some of the most interesting tidbits.
Tuesday
Feb102015
Netflix Sneak: "Bloodline" with Kyle Chandler & Sissy Spacek
Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at 6:50PM 
Last week here in Manhattan The Film Experience was invited to attend a very exclusive special screening and dinner for Netflix's new series Bloodline. How did they know we had a thing for Kyle Chandler and Sissy Spacek? Even more mysterious: How did they know about our deep abiding love for Norbert Leo Butz and Katie Finneran, two Tony-winning Broadway musical comedy sensations who are surprising but great choices to play husband & wife in a swampy thriller / family drama / murder mystery fusion.
The storyline concerns the Raeburn family, a rich Southern Florida clan who own and run a very lucrative beachfront hotel. In the premiere episode the parents (Sam Shephard and Sissy Spacek) are celebrating an anniversary and home come there four adult children played by Kyle Chandler, Linda Cardellini, Norbert Leo Butz, and their eldest and most troubled prodigal son Ben Mendelsohn. (Mendelsohn's management team might want to look into a curveball next time he takes a role because seeing his face is now already shorthand for TROUBLE!)
