In the opening montage of Sunday’s Academy Award ceremony, hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway played with a dreidel, which proved to be a good omen that a good night awaited Jewish talent.
“The Human Resources Manager” struck out early in the best foreign-language film competition, while the documentary feature “Precious Life” was short-listed among the 15 semi-finalists but didn’t make the final five cut. However, still in the running is “Strangers No More” in the documentary short category.
George is a client in my leadership and communication coaching practice. A few weeks ago, he sent an e-mail asking if I had seen “The King’s Speech.” The message struck me because, earlier that day, another client had said to me: “Drew, you need to see that movie. It reminds me of what you do.” After I saw it (and loved it), I understood what my clients saw.
Ever since Hollywood agent Swifty Lazar died in 1993, Vanity Fair has hosted his legendary, exclusive Oscar after-party. The event’s official photographer from 2000-2009 was Larry Fink, who is having an array of his unusual Oscar night photos exhibited at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art from Feb. 13 to April 3 as part of the museum’s homage to the Academy Awards.
On a recent afternoon, producers David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman were finishing up a meeting with “The Muppets” filmmakers Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller in the maze of production trailers between stages 27 and 28 at Universal, where the highly anticipated children’s movie had been filming several weeks ago.
For “The Fighter” director (and Oscar nominee) David O. Russell, the film isn’t just a docudrama about the rise of boxer Micky “Irish” Ward (nominee Mark Wahlberg), who won the light welterweight championship in 2000 with the help of his ex-champ half-brother, Dicky (supporting actor nominee Christian Bale). It’s about fighting within the ring and without, in life and with loved ones, and the closely knit but explosive relationships within the Ward clan. The film has received seven Academy Award nominations, including one for best picture.
Jennifer Lawrence, nominated in the best actress category for her searing portrayal of an Ozarks teenager in “Winter’s Bone,” was indispensable to writer-director Debra Granik — and not just for her acting prowess. Lawrence, 20, who was raised in Kentucky, played an important role in helping the New York Jewish director bridge the culture gap to bring the gritty Bible Belt tale to the screen.
