Brian Grazer is in as the new producer of February’s Oscar telecast, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced. Perhaps best known as Ron Howard’s filmmaking partner and cofounder of Imagine Entertainment, Grazer should steady the Oscar ship’s erratic course.

It’s a first for Grazer. But, said Academy president Tom Sherak in the statement released Wednesday, “he’s a renowned filmmaker who over the past 25 years has produced a diverse and extraordinary body of work. He will certainly bring his tremendous talent, creativity and relationships to the Oscars.” High points in the Oscar- and Emmy-winning producer’s resume: “A Beautiful Mind” and “Apollo 13,” “24″ and “Parenthood.”

Earlier in the week director and well-known bad boy Brett Ratner resigned his post as the show’s coproducer after causing a stir when he used a homophobic slur at a screening of his movie “Tower Heist” and then rubbed salt into an open wound yammering about his sexual proclivities on The Howard Stern Show. Murphy, set to host February’s show, followed his friend and director out the door. Perhaps, ironically, Grazer is a “Tower Heist” producer.

Courtesy Focus Features

Alike (Adepero Oduye, right) and Bina (Aasha Davis) share music and a moment in writer-director Dee Rees' "Pariah"

Didn’t pull the trigger on this one, it seems…Feeling a little too much participant and not enough observer at the 34th Starz Denver Film Festival (through Nov. 13). Friday, played interviewer for a post clip-reel Q&A with Judy Greer, recipient of the fest’s John Cassavetes Award. She was better than charming earlier in the day–just as funny and warm in the evening: talking about Detroit Pride, her sense of what it means to have a “supporting” role in a film, and her having to explain to fiance Dean Johnsen why people keep asking about kissing George Clooney Read more…

When director Brett Ratner — Eddie Murphy’s creative partner for the Academy Awards — resigned his duties as the producer of February’s Oscar telecast yesterday it was reasonable to wonder what Oscar host Murphy would do.

He resigned, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today. “I appreciate how Eddie feels about losing his creative partner, Brett Ratner, and we all wish him well,” said Academy President Tom Sherak in a statement. Read more…

I lost count of days somewhere along the way. Not a good sign. Using the Auraria wi-fi between screenings at the Starz Film Center at the Tivoli. Just Saw “Undefeated,” a very strong documentary about a high school football program in the economically depressed area of North Memphis, TN. If this were a pitch, codirector’s Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin’s film might be characterized as “The Blind Side” meets “Hoop Dreams.” It’s moving and revealing and scrappy the way sports narratives can be. Headed in two minutes to one of the First Look programs of film student shorts.

She’s funny, that Judy Greer. The Starz Denver Film Festival John Cassavetes Award winner with David Letterman awhile back.

See:

Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures © Christian Geisnaes.

They have only just begun but the end is nigh in "Melancholia," with Alexander Skarsgaard, Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg.

Consider it Opening Night: The Sequel. For the second year the Starz Denver Film Society held back-to-back opening nights. Wednesday’s took place at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Or as feted “Like Crazy” director Drake Doremus cracked “the Macaulay Culkin Opera House.” Last night at the Denver FilmCenter/Colfax was a more sober affair. Don’t get MMovigoer wrong, the theater’s lobby and Henderson’s Lounge (named for Ron Henderson, the cofounder of and former artistic director of the Denver Film Society) teamed with festgoers. And for awhile photogs anxiously awaited the expected arrival of Michael Moore — in town to promote his book, “Here Comes Trouble: Stories From My Life.” The filmmaker Read more…

A creepy, creepy movie offers two debuts worth lauding: writer-director Sean Durkin and Olsen Twin sis, Elizabeth.

Tonight, Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Michael Moore will walk the red carpet at the 34th Starz Denver Film Festival’s Denver FilmCenter/Colfax theater before heading next door to Tattered Cover Book Store to sign copies of his latest book, “Here Comes Trouble: Stories from My Life.”

Earlier in the day, Moore spoke to students at the University of Colorado-Denver about his quasi-memoir. Before heading uptown for the evening’s events, he tweeted plans to visit the Occupy Denver protesters near the State’s Capitol.

Courtesy of Paramount Vantage and Indian Paintbrush

Left to right: Anton Yelchin (as Jacob), discusses a scene with Co-Writer/Director Drake Doremus and Felicity Jones (as Anna) on the set of LIKE CRAZY

A few hours before “Like Crazy” was set to open the 34th Starz Denver Film Festival, writer-director Drake Doremus didn’t look the least bit concerned about his big evening on the stage of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Why should he? Since Read more…

This week on The Pick, Denver Post film critic Lisa Kennedy takes a look into “Anonymous.″