Due to vacation last week, there was no column. Therefore, this will cover the last two weeks in Oscar news. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Oscar News

• In an interview with the New York Times, Peter O’Toole complained vocally about his record eight Oscar losses, and how he feels like his honorary Oscar wasn’t an honor at all. He was promoting the BluRay release of his Oscar-nominated performance in The Stunt Man.

Review Round-Up

• Super 8, executive produced by Oscar favorite Steven Spielberg, is getting strong Summer Blockbuster reviews, with a 72 from Metacritic. The J.J. Abrams directed film has solid responses from critics, but not as solid or revolutionary as Inception or District 9 got in recent years to help garner a Best Picture nomination.
• Beginners has gotten a very strong 81 from Metacritic with most every review citing out the wonderful performance by Christopher Plummer as a very possible Oscar nominee.

Oscar Box Office

• X-Men: First Class had a disappointing opening last weekend, with a $55 million opening putting it the worst opening for an X-Men movie. Many seem to be blaming that on the lack of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine.
• It only took Kung Fu Panda 2 11 days to reach the $100 million mark, but many around Hollywood are looking at the film as a slight failure next to its predecessors box office magic.

Oscar Farewell

• Sound designer Bill Varney passed away this week at the age of 77. Varney won sound Oscars for Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Empire Strikes Back.
• Actor James Arness died of a heart attack at the age of 88. The television legend appeared in the Oscar-winning film The Farmer’s Daughter as well as several John Wayne films in the 1950s.