In a new edition of At The Movies, Peter Travers redefines being one’s own worst enemy. In the beginning, we are greeted by Hollywood Travers, who announces that he will be making predictions about the 2012 Academy Awards, which air on February 26th. However, he is quickly interrupted by the irritable Indie Travers, who is decked out in a zip-up hoodie and 3D glasses.
As Hollywood Travers attempts to make well-informed predictions - selecting The Artist, Viola Davis and Christopher Plummer as his favorites - Indie Travers can’t seem to get over the fact that Drive, his favorite movie of the year, was snubbed. And so naturally, popcorn throwing ensues.
To witness the brawl first-hand, either watch the clip above or visit “The Travers Take” at RollingStone.com.
—Ben Murray
It’s Oscar season, and guess who isn’t pleased with the Academy’s nominations this year? Yep, our very own Peter Travers. In a special edition of Damn You, Hollywood!, Travers rants about the selections for Best Picture, Actor in a Leading Role and Actress in a Leading Role.
According to Travers, the biggest snub of the year was Drive. Not only was the film ignored for Best Picture, but its leading actor Ryan Gosling was also passed over for Actor in a Leading Role. And it doesn’t end there. Travers argues that Bridesmaids, Michael Fassbender and Tilda Swinton were snubbed this year as well.
To hear more criticism on this year’s Oscar nominations, either watch the video above or visit RollingStone.com.
—Ben Murray
Lady Gaga has swept countless awards ceremonies over the course of her relatively short career. Zooey Deschanel has been in the news lately with her impending divorce and successful new sitcom. So how did lesser-known composers from The Muppets and Rio beat out these leading ladies (as well as superstars like Elton John, Willie Nelson and Elvis Costello) for the sole two spots in the 2012 Academy Awards’ “Best Original Song” category? Simple math, apparently. Out of the initial 39-song short list, only “Man or Muppet” and “Real in Rio” made the cut – but not for the reasons you might expect.
Find out how the Academy chose the Best Song nominees on RollingStone.com.
— Parry Ernsberger
Rolling Stone movie critic Peter Travers is a feisty guy when there’s just one of him. Double that, and you’ve got a recipe for trouble. Hollywood Travers takes on Indie Travers in an Oscar pick showdown in this exclusive RollingStone.com video, and it doesn’t end well. Check out more of our complete Oscar coverage here, and let the carnage begin.
Whose side are YOU on? Play along on Sunday with RollingStone.com’s Oscar ballot, featuring Travers’ picks for who will win each award and who should win each award. Feel free to disagree with Travers—just watch out for his left hook.
Sometimes the Academy gets it right, and sometimes it gets it wrong. The “Best Original Song” category at the Oscars is no exception. There have been musical triumphs, like when “Lose Yourself” won at the 2002 ceremony or “Streets of Philadelphia” got the gold in 1993, but there have also been missteps—how could Phil Collins’ Disney ballad “You’ll Be In My Heart” beat out Aimee Mann’s beautiful “Save Me,” which has aged so well these past 12 years? Don’t even get us started on “(Don’t You) Forget About Me” and “Call Me” losing out on golden statues.
