Oscar News

• The Academy released the short lists for Foreign Language Film and Documentary Short Film this week. There are 63 eligible foreign films, and 8 short films. On the 63-film list are the new films from Zhang Yimou, Ari Kaurismaki and Wim Wenders, along with Toronto Film Festival Audience Award Winner Where Do We Go Now?.

Review Round-Up

• Pedro Almodovar’s The Skin I Live In opened to strong reviews this weekend, garnering a 70 on Metacritic. Unfortunately, the strong reviews were not raves, which are generally needed to push a foreign film into general consideration.

Oscar Box Office

• The Ides of March opened last weekend in second place, just over the $10 million mark.

Oscar Farewell

• Costume Designer Ray Aghayan, who was nominated for his work on Gaily, Gaily, Lady Sings the Blues and Funny Lady, died this week at the age of 77. The Iranian designer was also the first Emmy winner for costume design.