Oscar Index: The Pitt and the Pendulum

A week after its stirring season debut, Oscar Index returns to the scene with the latest scientifically observed developments in the 2011-12 awards race. Indeed, Movieline’s Institute for the Advanced Study of Kudos Forensics has issued the results from its latest zeitgeist biopsy, and they look… inconclusive. Naturally! It’s September. Nevertheless, ready as so many prognosticators seem to be to issue grains of salt with their preliminary awards analysis, it hasn’t slowed the torrent of data rocketing forth from the cognoscenti. Let’s get a look at the latest: [Click the graphs for full-size images.] The Leading 10: 1. War Horse 2. The Descendants 3. Moneyball 4. The Ides of March 5. The Artist 6. J. Edgar 7. The Help 8. Midnight in Paris 9. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy 10. The Tree of Life Outsiders: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Iron Lady, A Dangerous Method Last week’s Index almost directly coincided with word that the Academy was revising its rules for campaigning. To wit, no star-studded receptions! No Twitter badmouthing! Limited Q&A’s! “We want to do everything we can to put the focus back on the work,” AMPAS COO Ric Robertson told Steve Pond. Right. I really wish this meant great things for the masterful Melancholia and every deserving candidate on Sasha Stone’s “For Your Consideration” list, but it’s another toothless bit of Academy regulation that obviously can’t even take effect until after nominations are announced — by which time it’s too late for “the work” that’s already been buried by critics’ awards, top-10 lists, and the Golden Globes, whose HFPA administrators never encountered an awards-season gravy boat they didn’t nearly drown in. Furthermore, as Scott Feinberg observes, this just drives the active campaigning underground — not that there weren’t already inky Weinsteinian currents of power and influence traversing the awards substrata, but this rule change just means that voters shouldn’t be surprised when they order a pizza and someone from The Artist delivers it. Or, even likelier, someone from The Artist delivers a pizza that a voter didn’t order. (“Je suis vraiment dsol! Vous n’avez pas command une pizza? Eh bien, tenez quand mme, avec les hommages de monsieur Harvey Weinstein et L’Artiste,” etc. etc.) Of course this doesn’t slow War Horse’s brisk gallop through the dawn-speckled Oscar landscape. (There’s even a new, corresponding dawn-speckled poster. Well played, DreamWorks!) The latest editions of both Gold Derby and Gurus O’Gold have the year-end Spielberg entry reigning over the likes of the upsurging Descendants and even more upsurging Moneyball, whose opening-weekend windfall complemented its impressive Academy screening and far-flung social-media approbation. (Bret Easton Ellis and Jerry Seinfeld seemed especially jazzed in this week’s edition of Twit Wit.) The aforementioned Artist also enjoyed a boost from the likes of Stone, who persuasively reminded us all: And then there’s The Artist. The Weinstein gem is the snake in the grass, as they say, driven home by a conversation I had with David Poland. […] Some are wondering if it will even get nominated — it’s time to put those thoughts to bed. The film that has been carried through strongly from Cannes, Telluride and Toronto is The Artist and it will be a very strong force to be reckoned with. The Artist has it all - it is a movie about movies. It is a movie that is the kind of movie audiences turned to during the Depression to feel better about their own lives. “The trick,” said Poland, “is whether the movie can make any money.” Unlike the 1920s, getting audiences to pay for a silent, black-and-white movie seems like a daunting task. “Y a quelqu’un qui a command une pizza?” Ahem. Also of note: Gregory Ellwood’s pronouncement that Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, like War Horse, is the other present-day Best Picture frontrunner sight unseen (“Hanks, Bullock, Daldry, Rudin, a boy loses his father during 9/11. Until it isn’t, it is”), and the awesome, awesome, awesome new, extended trailer for The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. “There are two things that Oscar voters adore,” writes Tom O’Neil. “1) overdue, cool directors with edgy new films and 2) movies based upon books that have a fanatical following.” The latter is most definitely true, and may also benefit Extremely Loud (based on the bestseller by Jonathan Safran Foer). But there’s a third thing that Oscar voters adore as well: Heart-squeezing war movies directed by Steven Spielberg. That’s War Horse’s royal flush to the others’ two pair — or at least that’s how it looks on paper. The Leading 5: 1. Steven Spielberg, War Horse 2. Alexander Payne, The Descendants 3. Clint Eastwood, J. Edgar 4. Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist 5. George Clooney, The Ides of March Outsiders: David Fincher, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo; Stephen Daldry, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close; Bennett Miller, Moneyball; Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris; Tomas Alfredson, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; Tate Taylor, The Help; David Cronenberg, A Dangerous Method Taking the data from the Best Picture races and entering it into the Director-race algorithm, our Kudos Forensics researchers came up with the graph above. I think it’s mostly accurate, if only because Ides of March slipped a bit and Fincher and Daldry have that awards-darling mojo that keeps them ranking over a guy like Miller — Moneyball’s ascendancy notwithstanding. Clooney is clearly the filmmaker in the most danger of tumbling from the competition, with Ides slowing a bit behind War Horse and Descendants and Michel Hazanavicius whipping up pizzas in the Weinstein kitchen enjoying a nice boost from the pundit ranks.

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Rachelle Lefervre On Set: 'Abduction' Co-Stars Weigh in

While Rachelle Lefervre has gained numerous fans and lovers through his role within the Twilight Saga, he'll make an effort to display to the world a brand new side of themself within the Lionsgate action-thriller, Abduction.our editor recommends'Abduction' Red-colored Carpet Premiere 'Abduction' Photos: Rachelle Lefervre and Lily Collins around the RunTaylor Lautner's 5 Funniest 'Abduction' Interview Moments (Video)'Abduction's' Jason Isaacs Talks Live training with Rachelle Lefervre: 'I Had My Work Eliminate for Me' (Video)'Abduction's' Rachelle Lefervre is 'Like a Youthful Tom Cruise' States Studio Professional (Video)Box Office Preview: Kaira Pitt's 'Moneyball' Looks to Out-Run Taylor Lautner's 'Abduction' PHOTOS: 'Abduction': Rachelle Lefervre, Lily Collins away from home The Hollywood Reporter spoke using the 19-year-old's co-stars in the film's Hollywood premiere, who detailed the commotion surrounding their Pittsburgh set and just how Lautner modified to his new role of leading guy. "To begin with, allow me to explain the pandemonium that Taylor has: He's like three to 400 fans being released every single day, turning up with posters, showing him love, showing all of us love," stated Denzel Whitaker. "However the awesome factor about this is the fact that he supports his fans, he loves them. He's real humble about this. Hollywood has not reached him, that's the kind of dude he's. Dealing with Taylor, it is simply like dealing with anybody else. We've got along well, i was chillin', getting a great time, playing football in-between. It had been good." VIDEOS: 'Abduction' Red-colored Carpet Premiere "In my experience, he's a youthful actor dealing with a larger challenge," noted Sigourney Weaver. "That they certainly appeared to satisfy at each chance after i was there." "He was incredibly lovely," added Jason Isaacs. "I'll confess which i was worried, because I labored with all of individuals lovely Potter youthful stars. They're extremely humble and respectful, which differs. This really is America. But he switched to be very, very gracious and extremely diligent.Inch VIDEO: Rachelle Lefervre's 5 Funniest 'Abduction' Interview Moments "He's just received a lot phenomenal energy about him and without having done much. Lots of stars need to perform a good deal to actually contain the attention viewers. But he does not need to do greatly," recommended director John Singleton. "I usually say basically can view an actress and find out through them, then they are not holding my attention. Taylor isn't like this.Inch "He's a sweetheart. He's a very, great guy," gushed Antonique Cruz, before likening Lautner to some youthful Tom Cruise. STORY: Rachelle Lefervre's 'Abduction': Exactly what the Experts say Lionsgate leader of movies, Joe Drake, echoed Smith's observation. "Whenever you watch Taylor, he's just like a youthful Tom Cruise. The way in which he handles his business, he's this type of professional and they have this type of huge fanbase," stated Drake. "I have never seen anybody handle his business the way in which he is doing. He's been marketing this movie hard, he understands how to sell, he's a hell of the actor." Abduction opens countrywide on Friday, Sept. 23. Related Subjects Rachelle Lefervre Abduction

Elton John Launches Rocketman

A completely new kind of biopic.... When the year's garden conflict 'toon Gnomeo & Juliet just didn't feature quite an sufficient quantity of Elton John's music to satisfy you, you need to be one hell from the Elton fan. Which means you will most likely happily learn that John's Rocket Pictures is gearing to craft a musical/biographical fantasy film about his existence and career, referred to as Rocketman. Lee Hall, who labored with with John round the Billy Elliot musical, is aboard to produce the script for your movie, which will stay with the man from his beginning becoming an adult piano prodigy through his wild costumes and greatest-selling career. Though he'll be positively involved just like a producer, Elton apparently desires to ensure the rough edges of his existence aren't smoothed off, though all of us do question the quantity of his behind-the-moments diva attitude will achieve the screen. "Rocketman is really a considerably different kind of biopic," Rocket Pictures' Steve Hamilton Shaw mentioned in the statement acquired by Deadline. "It'll be as unique as Elton's existence, told in the non-linear and hyper-visual manner that will transport individuals with the numerous intense encounters, some wonderful, some not, that aided define Elton becoming an artist, music artist and guy. "There's not sure of who may direct the eventual pic as well as there's the issue of who'll play EJ at his various age groups. Any suggestions, folks?

'Americano,' 'Night' unveil foreign sales

SAN SEBASTIAN -- Vindicating its new worldwide sales strategy, France's Bac Films has started sales on San Sebastian Competition player "Americano," plus Toronto hit "Sleep deprived Evening." Co-starring Salma Hayek in their first French role, "Americano" marks the directorial debut of actor-switched-author-helmer Mathieu Demy, boy of Agnes Varda and Jacques Demy, who's honored having a 2011 San Sebastian retrospective.A semi-autobiographical emotional journey, "Americano" follows Martin (Demy), a Paris real estate agent, who travels to La, where he was elevated, to remain his dead mother's matters. Troubled by recollections, he'll remove to Tijuana, meeting his mother's close friend Lola (Hayek), who dances at Americano, a sex club. Geraldine Chaplin and Chiara Mastroianni ("Chicken With Apples") co-star.After its Toronto world preem, "Americano" was acquired for Benelux (Imagine Film Distribution), South usa (California Filmes) and Colombia (Babilla Cine). As formerly reported, MPI Media Group acquired U . s . States rights, which is arranging a spring theatrical release. Bac releases in France this December.Meanwhile, Frederic Jardin's "Sleep deprived Evening," a nightclub-set thriller with Tomer Sisley ("Largo Winch"), closed U.K. (Icon), Canada (eOne), South usa (California) and China (Domo Media). Major territory pre-sales include Germany (Tiberius Film) and Russia (Luxor Ing.) U.S. and Japan they're under settlement."An art movie with commercial elements," "Americano's" San Sebastian selection is "key," mentioned Bac's Gilles Sousa, since it'll have before general audiences. A The nation purchase would depend how well it screens, he added.Under Bac owner Roch Lerner, Sousa remains upped to Bac Films sales mind, and former Funny Balloons professional Mathieu Robinet attracted on as sales-purchases professional.Bac now focuses on less films for worldwide, aims for early purchases, forget about requires its pick-ups to snag distribution via Bac in France, which is "absolve to acquire films for appropriate for worldwide areas," Sousa mentioned at San Sebastian. The sales company may even "return into festivals."Another Bac title, "The Enemy," from Belgian avant-garde visual artist Nicolas Provost, plays San Sebastian's fest fave sidebar Zabaltegi Pearls. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Juan in the Dead (Juan p los Muertos)

A La Zanfona Producciones and Producciones p la 5ta Avenida production. (Worldwide sales: Latinofusion, Jalisco, Mexico.) Produced by Gervasio Iglesias, Inti Herrera. Executive producers, Iglesias, Herrera, Claudia Calvino. Directed, put together by Alejandro Brugues.With: Alexis Dias p Villegas, Jorge Molina, Andrea Duro, Andros Perugorria, Jazz Vila, Eliecer Ramirez.A great title, a novel setting and several remarkably blunt digs at Castro's Cuban land of non-chance aren't enough to be able to save "Juan in the Dead" from like a lowbrow zombie comedy that mostly goes where plenty of others have gone before. Written and directed by Alejandro Brugues ("Personal Possessions"), this The nation-Cuba co-production scores a few laughs, nevertheless the weak script's scant narrative drive and crude humor might be best appropriate for that undiscriminating. Nonetheless, pic should obtain a reasonable volume of offshore deals for several formats, with distribs in many areas signing or settling after its Toronto preem. Fortysomething Havana slacker Juan (Alexis Dias p Villegas) is certainly an agreeable ne'er-do-well whose wife and child left him for eco-friendly pastures abroad way back when. He and constantly horny dim-bulb friend Lazaro (Jorge Molina) scrape by through variably legal odd jobs including fishing after they catch a ravenous zombie, their curious truth is no more than a shrugged "Let's not tell anybody relevant for this.In . It's everyone's business very quickly, though, becoming an undead epidemic begins decimating the city's population soon after that. Inside the screenplay's most amusing stroke, government government physiques and media immediately insist the marauders are essentially "dissidents" bent on undermining the communist symptom in the behest from the certain evil empire just up north. Their sticking compared to that party line, no matter how dire things get, is certainly an inspired running gag subversive nods to Cuba's constantly broken-lower infrastructure making-do citizenry may also be ideal for some chuckles. Juan susses an infrequent private business opening being snapped up inside the general chaos, creating themselves, Lazaro and latter's lanky boy (Andros Perugorria) just like a zombie cleanup crew while using motto "We kill your loved ones people." Pushing their strategies by as partners are shrill neighborhood tranny La China (Jazz Vila) and her friend El Primo (Eliecer Ramirez), a massive muscleman who faints to start of blood stream. Also joining, although unwillingly, is Juan's now-grown daughter, Camila (Andrea Duro), whose holiday to visit Grandmother remains extended indefinitely with the crisis. Fairly plotless hijinks ensue, with periodic good lines then one great little setpiece (a unique mass-zombie beheading) outweighed by homophobic and otherwise puerile jokes and routine splatstick. Clearly this isn't Noel Coward, but Brugues may have specific slightly greater there's precious little wit, originality or film style even attempted here, even though vitality remains midway decent high. Perfs and packaging are sufficient, with CGI effects different from capable of subpar.Camera (color), Carles Gusi editor, Mercedes Cantero music, Sergio Valdes production designer, Derubin Jacome costume designer, Esther Vaquero appear, Daniel p Zayas effects supervisor, Juan Carlos Sanchez visual effects supervisor, Juan Ventura makeup effects, Cristian Perez Jauregui assistant director, Olga Sanchez casting, Libia Batista. Examined at Toronto Film Festival (Contemporary World Cinema), Sept. 14, 2011. Running time: 96 MIN. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Hot Parody: Disneys The Muppets

Going for a page in the quick-cut teaser trailer made by director David Fincher for that Girl Using The Dragon Tattoo, the manufacturers from the Muppets have produced their very own to advertise the household comedy that premieres November 23 through Disney. James Bobin directs and Jason Segel, Can Be and Chris Cooper star.

Missoni for Target Merchandise Surges eBay

Greater than 20,000 Missoni for Target items are actually released on eBay under 24 several hours since becoming available.our editor recommendsMissoni Target Collection Crashes Website Most likely probably the most pricey items to exhibit on the internet auction were the Missoni bike (retail $399, eBay for roughly $1135), a tea set (retail $40, eBay $400), together with a mattress bed comforter/sham set (retail $99, eBay $400), notes Fashionista.com. Target launched its 400-item Missoni for Target line Tuesday. Curiosity about our prime-finish label at low-finish prices am great that customers removed merchandise from store shelves as well as the Target website, sometimes resulting in the web site to crash. Even when the web site was operable, the majority of the Missoni items offered out less within 24 several hours online. The promotion was scheduled to use for six days. PHOTOS: Behind the curtain of 'The Office' Target apologized due to its site issues via Twitter but has yet to handle the selling of items on Ebay. You will discover no expects to restock the Missoni merchandise in stores or online. Work's Mindy Kaling was among people who experienced the downed site and was dismayed to discover the eBay secondary industry for the Missoni merchandise. She tweeted, "@target broke my heart today once i could not access the website once in 9 several hours for Missoni." She later written, "To ensure that all @target is totally offered from Missoni and inside your get it originates from extorting eBay trolls??" PHOTOS: Fox's New Fall Programs With 'The New Girl,' 'Terra Nova' Hollywood fashionista and New Girl star Zooey Deschanel taken proper care of immediately among Kaling's tweets, "should probably be referred to as Missoni for Target for eBay." Cougar Town's Busy Philips also stated, "Is One Able To just say, individuals putting the Missoni for Target stuff on eBay?? Total FAIL." However, The famous host the famous host oprah Winfrey, who attended the business's national sales meeting Wednesday in Ontario, had no problem acquiring a Missoni item. She tweeted, "Spent your entire day returning and forth from Ontario. Gorgeous CLEAN city.stood a fun time meeting our pals at TARGET! Got a MIssoni box!" PHOTOS: Toronto Film Festival's Top Fashion Claims Also, Ryan Seacrest considered about Target for Missoni etiquette, "When u buy a $100 Missoni towel for $10 at Target, simply how much do u tell your houseguests it cost? Related Subjects Fashion Mindy Kaling Ryan Seacrest Zooey Deschanel

North American Pictures nabs 'Atlas'

North American Pictures has acquired all privileges for Canada to ''Atlas Shrugged Part 1'' and can distribute through its Mix Country Delivering. Deal was introduced Saturday in the Torono Film Festival. Pic opened up to $1.8 million at 299 screens within the U.S. in April and handle its run having a $4.8 million cume. Script of Ayn Rand's novel was compiled by John Patrick O'Toole and John Aglialoro. Harmon Kaslow and John Aglialoro created. Taylor Schilling and Grant Bowler starred. The film was directed by Paul Johannson. North American Pictures Vice president Emily Alden stated, ''Ayn Rand's philosophy still resonates strongly with individuals today. Tea Party organizations from around the globe remain hungry for Rand's message and that we are proud to possess Atlas Shrugged Part 1 as Mix Country's first project.'' Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

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Trailer: Twilight's Peter Facinelli is a Pickpocket with Panache in Loosies

Peter Facinelli, the elder Twilight statesman at age 37, wrote, produced, and stars in the new movie Loosies, the story of a tricky pickpocket who discovers that his ex-girlfriend (Jaimie Alexander) is pregnant just as he finds himself on the lam. It costars Michael Madsen and Vincent Gallo, which should make you jolt an eyebrow. Let’s see if Facinelli can make thievery look cool in the movie’s new trailer. Catch Me if You Can-type protagonists are inherently fascinating, but the supporting cast is bothering me most here. While Facinelli seems committed to the caper craziness, Jaimie Alexander seems (so far) pretty uninspired as his annoyed paramour. In fact, her storyline seems pretty uninspired. I’ll watch for the Lance Burton-style pocketbook disappearances, but I’m leery of the less-then-magical comedic elements here. But: Vincent Gallo! Verdict: Sticky fingers and shticky zingers. Check out the trailer for Peter Facinelli’s first official film ‘Loosies’ [TeamTwilight]

SUMMER FADE: The Debt Pulls Ahead Of Apollo 18 And Shark Night 3D Which Labor At Box Office; The Help #1 Again

MONDAY AM, 4TH UPDATE: What a very slow Labor Day weekend at the North American box office as Summer 2011 crawls to a close. DreamWorks/Disney’s The Help is an easy No. 1 againafter 4.5 weeks in release.Focus Features’ adult-targeted The Debt came in No. 2 despite playing in far less theaters than its competition. Not much good to say about the other new offerings which audiences decided weren’t worthwatching.The Debt earned a ‘B’ CinemaScore, Relativity’s Shark Night 3D a ‘C’, and bringing up the rear wasDimension/The Weinstein Co’s Apollo 18 with only a ‘D’ indicating just how disappointed audiences were with this pic. This is Weinstein’s 3rd summerunderperformer in a row.Also this weekend, Disney returned Cars 2 for $1.6M through Labor Day bringing its worldwide total to $540.8M, and Lionsgatesneaked Warrior: 1. The Help (DreamWorks/Disney)Week 4.5 [2,843 Theaters] Friday $3.6M, Saturday $5.3M, Sunday $5.5M 3-Day Weekend $14.6M, 4-Day Holiday$19M, Cume $123.3M 2. The Debt (Focus Features) NEW (Wed opening) [1,826 Theaters] Friday $2.6M, Saturday $3.8M, Sunday $3.6M 3-Day Weekend $9.9M, 4-Day Holiday $12.5M, Cume $14.4M 3. Apollo 18 (Dimension/The Weinstein Co) NEW [3,328 Theaters] Friday $2.8M, Saturday $3M, Sunday $2.8M 3-Day Weekend $8.7M, 4-Day Holiday $10.7M 4. Shark Night 3D (Relativity) NEW [2,806 Theaters] Friday $2.7M, Saturday $3M, Sunday $2.6M 3-Day Weekend $8.3M,4-Day Holiday $10.3M 5. Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (Fox) Week 5 [3,193 Theaters] Friday $1.8M, Saturday $2.9M, Sunday $3.1M 3-Day Weekend $7.9M,4-Day Holiday $10.2M,Cume $162.4M 6. Colombiana (Sony) Week 2 [2,614 Theaters] Friday $1.9M, Saturday $2.7M, Sunday $2.7M 3-Day Weekend $7.4M (-28%), 4-DayHoliday$9.4M,Cume $23.9M 7. Our Idiot Brother (The Weinstein Co) Week 2 [2,555 Theaters] Friday $1.4M, Saturday $1.9M, Sunday $2.1M 3-Day Weekend $5.4M (-22%), 4-Day Holiday$7M, Cume $17.2M 8. Spy Kids 4D - 3D (Dimension/Weinstein Co) Week 3 [3,007 Theaters] Friday $1M, Saturday $1.8M, Sunday $1.8M 3-Day Weekend $4.8M, 4-Day Holiday $6.6M, Cume $31M 9. Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark (FilmDistrict) Week 2 [2,780 Theaters] Friday $1.4M, Saturday $1.9M, Sunday $1.7M 3-Day Weekend $5.1M (-40%),4-Day Holiday $6.1M, Cume $17.5M 10. The Smurfs (Sony) Week 6 [2,706 Theaters] Friday $875K, Saturday $1.5M, Sunday $1.6M 3-Day Weekend $4.1M, 4-Day Holiday$5.6M,Cume $133.5M International Cume$295.8 million,Worldwide Total $427.8M

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