Marc Maron & Christina Ricci Defend Andrea Riseborough’s Surprise Best Actress Oscar Nomination For ‘To Leslie’

Marc Maron got candid about what happened during his audition for Avatar: The Way of Water.

Marc Maron wasn’t fond of his “Avatar” audition.

Christopher Vourlias Alexander Rodnyansky, the Oscar-nominated producer behind “Leviathan” and “Loveless,” has boarded “The Dissident,” a Cold War drama that follows a former Ukrainian resistance fighter trying to rebuild his life after his release from a Soviet prison camp. The film marks the fiction feature debut of directors Andriy Alferov, a renowned Ukrainian film critic, and Stas Gurenko, a veteran commercial and music video director. Rodnyansky is producing alongside Oleksandr Omelyanov. Set in 1960s Ukraine, at a time when many in the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc were re-evaluating the socialist system, pic follows Oleg, a former soldier in the Ukrainian Insurgent Army that fought against both Nazi Germany and the communist Soviet Union for Ukrainian independence during World War II. After an amnesty deal is reached, Oleg is released from prison camp and returns to Ukraine, where he tries but fails to find his place in peacetime society.

Andrea Riseborough is speaking out for the first time over her controversial Oscar nomination.

Andrea Riseborough was a surprised as anyone else when her name was called during the Oscar nominations announcement last month.

Zack Sharf “Avatar: The Way of Water” introduces Jemaine Clement as Dr. Ian Garvin, a marine biologist working for the villainous Resources Development Administration. It turns out that role could’ve gone to none other than Marc Maron, had the actor and beloved podcast host’s audition not been completely “ridiculous.” Maron opened up on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast about his short-lived “Avatar” journey. “That was ridiculous. Why the fuck would I want that job?” Maron said looking back. “There’s this assumption that we’re going to do four ‘Avatar’ movies. Dude, I don’t even remember the first one! I don’t know what this all means to the world. [James Cameron] built this city down there [at his Long Beach studio]. There’s people doing acrobatics down there, people flying…it’s like Cirque du Soleil down there.”

Selome Hailu “My Year of Dicks” is headed to Hulu on Feb. 17. The short film that tickled many at the 2023 Oscar nominations as Riz Ahmed read (and giggled at) its title hails from FX Productions. It was initially produced as a part of the FXX animated anthology series “Cake” before the company encouraged writer Pamela Ribon and her team to take it on the film festival circuit, where it picked up enough awards and attention to land a nod for best animated short. Based on Ribon’s memoir “Notes to Boys (And Other Things I Shouldn’t Share in Public),” “My Year of Dicks” is a romantic comedy set in 1991. Pam is trying very hard to lose her virginity, but it doesn’t match up to her fantasies. While searching for her ultimate partner and going through puberty, she meets up with goths, skaters, indie film snobs and straight edge posers and tries her best to avoid being grounded.

“Navalny,” the documentary feature telling the story of activist, journalist and Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny after he was poisoned with a nerve agent in an August 2020 assassination attempt and lived to tell the tale, has been making waves since it’s award-winning Sundance premiere in January 2022. Now it’s nominated for the Best Documentary Feature Oscar, as well as both the Producers and Directors Guild Award for achievement in documentary filmmaking.

The Hollywood Reporter. “I’m mindful not to speak for the experience of other people because they are better placed to speak, and I want to listen.”“I am grateful for the conversation because it must be had,” she continued.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor Move over, Tom Cruise! The “Top Gun: Maverick” legend wasn’t the only star Hollywood’s latest group of Oscar contenders were excited about seeing at Monday’s nominees luncheon. “The Banshees of Inisherin” stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson gushed over meeting Paul Mescal (“Aftersun”). “I spent a long time chatting with him,” Gleeson told me after the annual luncheon at the Beverly Hilton. In fact, Gleeson texted Mescal after the nominations were announced in January. “I had to ask my son Domhnall for his number. I was very proud of [Mescal],” Gleeson said.

EXCLUSIVE: Giant Pictures today announced it has acquired U.S. theatrical and VOD rights to the Oscar-nominated documentary feature A House Made of Splinters, a film that until very recently lacked any American distribution. 

Marc Maron might be one of the most famous podcasters in the world, but let’s not forget he cut his teeth and made his career in stand-up. His terrific new HBO Original stand-up comedy special “Marc Maron: From Bleak To Dark” debuted this past weekend and is now available to stream on HBO Max.

EXCLUSIVE: VMI Worldwide has boarded worldwide sales to sci-fi actioner The Dresden Sun, starring Wednesday’s Christina Ricci, Mena Suvari, Linus Roache, Steven Ogg and Samantha Win.

There’s lots of Oscars drama recently, with Andrea Riseborough‘s surprise nomination for “To Leslie” having Hollywood and everyone else question the campaign tactics for the Academy Awards. But Lil Rel Howery is up in arms about a different nom altogether.

Based on concerns that surfaced last week around the TO LESLIE awards campaign, the Academy began a review into the film’s campaigning tactics. The Academy has determined the activity in question does not rise to the level that the film’s nomination should be rescinded.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences attempted to quell the controversy over “To Leslie” star Andrea Riseborough’s unexpected Best Actress nomination after a Board of Governors meeting this morning. The organization sent a note to members saying no actions will be taken in this particular case, but they will continue to clarify regulations in this era of social media.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said today that it won’t take any action to repeal Andrea Riseborough’s Oscar nomination for To Leslie. “The Academy has determined the activity in question does not rise to the level that the film’s nomination should be rescinded,” AMPAS CEO Bill Kramer said in a statement (read it below).

Marc Maron is standing by his To Leslie co-star Andrea Riseborough and lashing out at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its decision to conduct a review of the campaign procedures around this year’s Oscar nominees — a reaction to Riseborough’s left-field, grassroots nomination.

A huge surprise. Andrea Riseborough scored an Oscar nomination in January 2023 for her performance in To Leslie — and her unexpected Best Actress in a Leading Role nod quickly led to an investigation.

Actor Christina Ricci shared a lengthy post on Instagram Friday questioning The Academy’s decision to review this year’s nominations following Andrea Riseborough’s Best Actress nod for her performance in lowkey indie To Leslie.