Wes Anderson talks to Terry Gross about making Moonrise Kingdom:

I remember the emotion of feeling like I was falling in love at that age, and how powerful it was and sudden and inexplicable,” he says. “And nothing happened in my case, but I think it’s a fantasy I would have had at that age — would have envisioned. … These two characters are hit by a thunderbolt and determined to act on it.”

nprmusic:

Congratulations to Adele on her Oscar nomination for “Skyfall”! Here she is performing a stripped-down set at the Tiny Desk.

NPR Best Picture Cheat Sheet

Best Directors on Fresh Air

Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Terrence Malick, Tree of Life

David Edelstein’s Reviews of Best Picture Nominees

Best Picture

War Horse
The Artist
Moneyball
The Descendants
The Tree of Life
Midnight in Paris
The Help
Hugo
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

From Texas Public Radio: Songs And Scores Of Oscars Past

Music for your Afternoon: To arrive at our final playlist, Texas Public Radio asked — on air and via Facebook and Twitter — for listeners to tell us their favorite movie music and let us know why they love it. From the outset, it became clear that the Oscar winners each year were not always the most beloved songs and scores. Where would we be without Ennio Morricone’s beautiful melody for The Mission, John Williams’ rousing “Raiders March” or Kermit the Frog singing “The Rainbow Connection”?

Everything You Wanted To Know About Every Single Best Picture Nominee (But Were Afraid To Ask)

A Best Picture Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know About the 10 Nominees

Documentary (Feature) on Fresh Air

“Exit through the Gift Shop” David Edelstein review

“Gasland” Filmmaker Josh Fox

“Inside Job” Director Charles Ferguson (on ATC)

“Restrepo” David Edelstein review

“Waste Land” Artist Vik Muniz (on ATC)

Best Pictures on Fresh Air

Best Picture

• Black Swan Natalie Portman Vince Cassel David Edelstein Review

• The Fighter Melissa Leo Mark Wahlberg and David O. Russell David Edelstein Review

• Inception David Edelstein review

• The Kids Are All Right Lisa Cholodenko David Edelstein Review

• The King’s Speech Tom Hooper

• 127 Hours James Franco David Edelstein Review

• The Social Network Justin Timberlake David Edelstein review

• Toy Story 3 Lee Unkrich and Mike Arndt David Edelstein Review

• True Grit Coen Brothers David Edelstein Review

• Winter’s Bone Debra Granik and Daniel Woodrell David Edelstein Review

Ann Marie Baldonado: Oscar Shoo-Ins at the Toronto Film Festival

Oscar shoo-ins are continually mentioned at the Toronto Film Festival.  Who are the shoo-ins for Oscar nominations from the films this year?

Some names that people are talking about?  Natalie Portman in Black Swan.  Javier Bardem in Biutiful.  And Colin Firth in The King’s Speech.

The King’s Speech, directed by Tom Hooper (of the HBO series John Adams) is based on the real story of King George VI, the father of the current Queen, Elizabeth II, who became King after his brother abdicated the throne.  

The King lived with a stutter that prevented him from giving public addresses, and this inability to speak made him a very reluctant ruler.  Enter speech therapist Lionel Logue, who begins to get results with the would-be king and manages to befriend him, despite the difference in their standing.  Sounds exactly like the kind of film that would do well at the Oscars, huh?  Well the audiences are loving this film here.  

And they are not wrong.  Colin Firth really does give an excellent, nuanced performance. And Firth is certainly on a roll, since he was nominated last year for his work in A Single Man, which was purchased here in Toronto last year by the Weinstein Company.  Geoffrey Rush may also get a nod, for his turn as the therapist.  

Speaking in a Q & A after one of the screenings, Firth, Rush, and director Tom Hooper, attribute the on-screen chemistry between the two actors to the three week preparation period they had before filming began.  Apparently, such prep time is rare.  

That prep will probably pay off the beginning of 2011, when those Oscar nominations are announced.