Bethlehem Trailer

American distributor Adopt Films have released an English language trailer (via Deadline) for Bethlehem, a stunning le Carré-esque spy movie set against the present day Israeli-Palestinian conflict that examines the psychological toll of espionage on its practitioners. Bethlehem, which already bagged six Ophir Awards (the Istraeli Academy Awards), was Israel's official submission for the Best Foreign Language Oscar, but shockingly didn't make the final cut. Directed by first-time helmer Yuval Adler and co-written by the Israeli Adler and Palestinian journalist Ali Wakad, Bethlehem tells a very Cold War type of spy story set in the titular city, about an agent of Israel's Shin Bet and his Palestinian asset torn between two masters and two worlds, the teenage brother of a wanted terrorist with ties to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and Hamas. And it's a truly fantastic movie, one of the best serious spy films in years. I saw a festival screening earlier this year, and in a Q&A afterwards the director cited le Carré as an inspiration - and when I say the influence was obvious, regular readers will know that I mean that as high praise indeed! U.S. spy fans should definitely check this one out when it's released in limited markets on February 21, 2014.

Could Skyfall Be a Legitimate Oscar Contender?

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences can be a fickle bunch, and has been notoriously dismissive of the James Bond series over the years despite the deserving contributions of many artisans in many different fields. But there's a chance Skyfall could change all that. Not because it's the best Bond film ever, but because it's a very good one that has come along at the right time. A few years ago, the Academy expanded the number of possible Best Picture contenders from five to ten, largely in response to the critical and audience favorite of 2008, The Dark Knight, getting shut out of a nomination. Ostensibly the number was increased for exactly this purpose: to give deserving big-budget, crowd-pleasing studio films a chance to compete with the indie darlings, historical epics and art films that typically dominate the awards season. Personally, I definitely think Skyfall is one of the best films I've seen in 2012 (and likely to remain so even by the end of December), and that it's deserving of a nomination in a field of ten. But then, I thought that about Casino Royale, too. But back then there were only five nominees, and, crucially, Sony didn't put a large Oscar campaign behind the film. In this altered Oscar climate, it might be that a serious studio campaign makes all the difference. Deadline's resident awards expert Pete Hammond indicates that we may see just such a campaign for this film. He points out the legitimacy of potential support in such categories as Best Director (Academy Award-winner Sam Mendes), Best Cinematography (9-time nominee Roger Deakins), Best Supporting Actress (Oscar-winner Judi Dench), Best Supporting Actor (Oscar-winner Javier Bardem) Best Original Score (10-time nominee Thomas Newman), and for the 15-time nominee (yet to score a win) for sound mixing, Greg P. Russell. To that list I'd certainly add Daniel Craig as a potential Best Actor. Even in a world where a Bond film might score a Best Picture nomination, I can't imagine the Academy recognizing an actor for playing 007 (sadly), but, still, Craig's stellar performance is certainly worth pushing for. Again, I'm not saying that he's the only Bond actor deserving of such a nod, but in this more enlightened age, he might be the first one who even has a shot! I hope that Hammond is right and Sony does campaign for this film, because it would be an incredible experience to hear the James Bond Theme played repeatedly during an Oscar broadcast, wouldn't it?

Video: Jean Dujardin Auditions for Various Spy Villain Roles

This Funny or Die video is pretty hilarious, and ably showcases Oscar nominee Jean Dujardin's ample comedy skills. Of course, spy fans (like French people) already knew those talents well from his two fantastic OSS 117 movies. But please bear with the rest of the world while they finally catch up, thanks to The Artist. I hope this video proves prophetic, and Dujardin enjoys thriving global stardom... but I hope it doesn't prove too prophetic, because I don't want future Bond or Die Hard roles to get in the way of another OSS 117 movie!

Read my review of OSS 117: Cairo Nest of Spies here.
Read my review of OSS 117: Lost in Rio here.

Tinker Tailor Nets Three Oscar Nominations

Tomas Alfredson's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (review here) netted three well-earned Academy Award nominations this morning, including Best Actor for Gary Oldman (portraying John Le Carré’s spymaster George Smiley), Best Original Score for Alberto Iglesias and Best Adapted Screenplay for the husband-and-wife team of Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan. Sadly, the recognition is a posthumous one for O'Connor, who succumbed to cancer before the film was released. But what better tribute for such a talented screenwriter? I'm glad that the film garnered these nominations, since it's been shockingly omitted from most of the year-end guild awards, but I'm still sorry that it didn't earn more. For my money, it should have also been up for Director, Supporting Actor (for John Hurt as Control), Art Direction, Costumes, Editing and Best Picture. The last one is particularly insulting, considering that only nine out of a possible ten films were chosen this year. Shockingly, this nomination is a long-overdue career first for the great Gary Oldman!

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was better recognized in its native land, where it earned 11 BAFTA nominations including Best Film and Outstanding British Film, Best Actor, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Original Score, Editing, Production Design, Costume Design and Sound.

Spy fans may also be pleased that four veterans of the fantastic OSS 117 parodies (reviews here and here) received Oscar nominations for their work on the wonderful awards front runner The Artist: Jean Dujardin and Bernice Bejo were both nominated for their acting, Ludovic Bource for his score and Michel Hazanavicius for directing and writing. It's great to see spy movie veterans go on to such acclaim, but I hope amidst all the Oscar buzz they don't forget their Eurospy spoof roots... because I still desperately want to see a third OSS 117 adventure! (It would likely see a much wider U.S. release following the visibility of The Artist.)

Congratulations to all the nominees from Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Artist!

Mission: Impossible Stars Shanghai Director Brad Bird

Deadline has linked to this video that might interest fans of the Mission: Impossible films.  Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol director Brad Bird accepts his Windsor McCay Award at the 38th Annual Annies via video link from the set of the latest entry in the spy film franchise.  Stars Tom Cruise and Simon Pegg make humorous appearances toward the end of the segment, following a reel of highlights from Bird's impressive career in animation (including clips from The Simpsons, Iron Giant and the heavily Bond-inspired The Incredibles). The silliness starts around the four-and-a-half minute mark.

The Man With the Golden Career

Deadline reports that Christopher Lee is finally getting some of the recognition he so rightfully deserves.  This Sunday, "the British Academy of Film and Television Arts will present Sir Christopher Lee with the Academy Fellowship at the Orange British Academy Film Awards ceremony at London’s Royal Opera House. Awarded annually by the Academy, the Fellowship is the highest accolade bestowed upon an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film." Previous recipients include Sir Sean Connery, Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Stephen Spielberg and Dame Judi Dench, so Francisco Scaramanga is in good company.  Besides playing a Bond villain, Lee's spy career includes two guest turns on The Avengers and a handful of villainous roles in obscure TV movies (Once Upon a Spy) and Eurospy flicks (Five Golden Dragons). If that seems surprisingly skimpy for one of the most prolific actors in film history, it's more than made up for by the fact that Lee's pre-acting career included a real spy career in military intelligence during WWII! Now if only BAFTA's American counterpart, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, would recognize Sir Christopher's amazing career with a Lifetime Achievement Oscar...

AMC Touts Ian McKellen For Best Actor From The Prisoner

It's Awards Season, and that means that every studio and network runs ads in the trades touting the talent from their movies or shows for the consideration of the the Academy, or the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, or the Screen Actors' Guild, or whoever. Interestingly, AMC has chosen, in a two-page spread in The Hollywood Reporter, to put forward Ian McKellen ("Two") as the "Best Actor" candidate from its miniseries remake of The Prisoner, instead of "Six" Jim Caviezel. It's an interesting choice because Caviezel is clearly the main character, with more screentime. But, as I mentioned in my review, McKellen's is undoubtedly the showier performance, and clearly has the better shot at winning a Golden Globe, despite the fact that his role is actually a supporting one. (Being the bigger star, McKellen was also top-billed.) AMC lists Caviezel as being "For Your Consideration" in the "Supporting Actor in a Miniseries" category, along with Lennie James (147) and Jamie Campbell Bower (11-12). They also tout Ruth Wilson in the "Best Actress" category, and Hayley Atwell in the "Supporting Actress" field. In the same spread, the cable net also pushes its more acclaimed series, Mad Men and Breaking Bad. Click the pictures to expand.

The fact that an actor playing Number 2 could even be considered the lead illustrates how very different this incarnation of The Prisoner is from the Sixties version. That series rested squarely on the shoulders of lead actor Patrick McGoohan (Number 6) alone, with no other regular characters. (Well, save for the diminutive butler.)

Spying On The Oscars - Live

I hadn't planned on live-blogging the Oscars, but there have already been a couple of spy moments, so I guess I might as well... just mentioning the spy-related stuff. Everyone's live-blogging, but I doubt anyone else is taking that approach! Keep refreshing.

Saw Daniel Craig lurking in the background on the red carpet, so he'll probably be a presenter...

I loved the inclusion of Eva Green as Vesper Lynde at the end of that montage of accountant clips introducing the Price-Waterhouse guys (or wherever they're from this year).

There was just a TV spot for the Nicolas Cage movie Knowing. Hasn't he already made this movie like six times before? It's kind of like a "Best of Nicholas Cage" movie: part National Treasure, part Next, part everything else...

Hugh Jackman looks good in a tux. I think he could have been Bond in another reality.

It's good to see Eva Marie Saint, who still looks good 50 years after North By Northwest, but not good enough to justify not showing clips of the nominated performances! What's up with that? If the whole night is going to be past winners describing scenes from the nominated movies instead of actually showing them, then we're in for a really long night... I hate that.

Here's Daniel! Looking very Bondian in his tuxedo. Presenting the Oscar for Art Direction with Sarah Jessica Parker. The one category that Quantum of Solace really should have been nominated for! Still, a lot of good candidates.

They're also presenting costume design. And make-up! The Academy's getting a lot of mileage out of 007 and Carrie Bradshaw. "We don't have to tell you what a make-up artist does," says Sarah.

"Just look at us," deadpans Daniel. I love hearing James Bond talk about Hellboy! (Hellboy II is nominated for make-up. Too bad it didn't win.)

There's some Pierce Brosnan in the romance montage, from Mama Mia. I wonder if he's there? I wish they'd had Brosnan and Craig present together. That would have been cool! And Michael Caine could have united them, the way he did with Roger Moore and Sean Connery when the three buddies appeared as co-presenters back in the Eighties...

Seth Rogan and James Franco (in their stoner characters from Pineapple Express) mentioned Bond in their hilarious short film about comedies that weren't nominated. They're getting stoned and watching bootlegs, including Mama Mia. "It stars James Bond and that chick from Doubt," says Rogan. Then Spielberg's go-to cinematographer Janusz Kaminski shows up in their apartment and things get really hilarious. This is so weird! And awesome. Then the three of them take the stage together. What an odd combination!

Lots of Bond clips in the action montage, along with Indy and even Transporter 3! Really, who thought we'd be seeing Tranporter 3 in an Academy Awards show? Cool! I actually found the clips from the opening car chase in Quantum of Solace easier to follow here, in this quick-cut clip montage, than they were in the actual movie! Now that says something. And that was all leading into the Visual Effects Oscar, presented by Will Smith. 007's special effects coordinator Chris Corbould is nominated for The Dark Knight... but he doesn't win.

I love Alias's Michael Giacchino, who's serving as the musical director for tonight's awards show, but I miss hearing the themes of the winning films accompanying the winners to the stage!

Liam Neeson is presenting Best Foreign Film and starts off by speaking French. Is that sort of an apology for tearing up Paris and urging Americans never to go there in Taken? They introduced him as "Academy Award Nominee," so I guess that means he's never won an Oscar. That's weird!

Time for the memorial reel... Lots of spy stars here, sadly... BUT THEY'RE NOT SHOWING THEM! What the hell? There's Quiller Memorandum writer Harold Pinter... and Paul Newman, of course (where's that DVD of The Prize Warner promised two years ago?)... but where's John Phillip Law??? Where's Patrick McGoohan? Yes, he died this year, but Ricardo Monteblan died the same day and they showed him! And, yes, he's better known for TV, but he did plenty of movies! Seriously, what the hell? That's an outrage. Not only that, but the whole thing was handled unbelievably badly. Queen Latifah did fine and "I'll Be Seeing You" (which would have been so appropriate for McGoohan!) was a good choice of song, but they should have just shown the tribute reel on screen, not her performing. It was nearly impossible to read some of the names on a TV screen! That's really offensive. What's normally a really moving part of the ceremony was just annoying instead. It's a huge failure on the part of this year's producers all around. Frankly, I'm disgusted. This puts a cloud over the whole broadcast.

Sophia Loren always looks great, even 40+ years after her spy role in Arabesque. And she's always classy. But I still don't like this past-winner-talking-about-the-nominated-performance thing instead of showing clips of the performances!

It's tough to end the show with soundless clips of next year's movies. Montages like this work well for movies we've already seen and know from the previous years, but it's a tough way to promote upcoming ones. That said, those brief glimpses of Sherlock Holmes looked pretty to me! But... are there no big spy movies coming out this year? I guess not, really. Unless you count State of Play. That's surprising, what with everything that's in development for the next year!

Well... that's it. No Pierce Brosnan. Not even Judi Dench amidst all those previous winners. (There was Halle Berry, though.) Not as much spy stuff as I thought there might be. As for the show? Well, I admire the desire to do something different, but this wasn't it. Hugh Jackman was OK, and I did like how they demonstrated the screenwriting, but the whole show was pretty poor. They definitely need to bring back clips of the actors next year, and they need to do the memorial reel right!