What a wonderful world.

What is this?!? Julianne Moore stealing the attention Tom Ford from his Oscar co-presenter Sarah Jessica Parker?!? What a sly fox…I love it. Poor Matthew Broderick looks like he wants in!

10 thoughts on…the Oscars 2010.

1. This may be the first time where the red carpet was a source of genuine entertainment. In recent years the Academy Awards have been quite dull when it has come to fashion but this year everyone seemed to having…dare I say it…fun!! Even Sarah Jessica Parker dared to venture out of her Carrie Bradshaw prescribed garb for something more interesting (an appropriate word for a gown I hated it then I grew to love before falling into a state of confusion!). Just look at the five women – maybe ignore Anna Kendrick‘s pale choice – below, this is what Oscar is all about; glamour!

2. It is a shame then, that the stage was so unforgiving to the more elaborate of dresses. Zoe Saldana, Kristen Stewart, Jennifer Lopez, Sandra Bullock and Barbara Streisand all struggled from one platform to another. Most memorable was Kathryn Bigelow‘s difficulty whilst returning for her Best Picture win. Adorable as ever.

3. The only true surprise of the evening was a delight (for me, anyway). Precious deserved the recognition of Adapted Screenplay to compliment its assured win for Mo’Nique. It was so much more than that wonderful performance, and this second win should ensure it’ll be remembered as such. Plus Geoffrey Fletcher (the recipient) gave us the most genuinely appreciative speech of the night and was genuinely moved. It is a shame then that despite Mo’Nique’s statement that Oscar saw beyond the poltics of race, the camera would focus solely on African American actors whilst Precious was under discussion. It would seem segregation is still supported by the Academy, albeit in a limited form.

4. The award for best presenters of the night would have to go to Carey Mulligan and Zoe Saldana. I so want these two to have the careers their talents (and they have that in spades) deserve. How cute they were!…

5. …Unlike Sandy Powell who dedicated her third Oscar (for Costume Design) to those designers who work in genres of film that are not considered ‘worthy’ by the Academy. A completely justified complaint that will only fall onto deaf ears. Still, it is always good to have a cynic in the group.

6. The ceremony seemed to strive for old fashioned Hollywood glamour yet it rarely distinguished itself from its fellow prize givings. Until this moment…the silhouettes of Tom Ford and Sarah Jessica Parker shrowded by the might of Hollywood, lights beaming from all angels – this is the Oscars; a theatrical celebration of those we idolize (for now anyway).
   

7. Why refuse performances of the nominated Original Songs when you’re going to bore us all with some ghetto dancing to the Original Score nominees? This was the biggest mistep of a relatively enjoyable show. Well that and Neil Patrick Harris‘s opening ‘showstopper’ – unnecessary and dull.

8. My biggest joy of the evening was discovering Vera Farmiga, Michelle Pfeiffer and – my one and only – Julianne Moore honouring George Clooney, Jeff Bridges and Colin Firth, respecitvely, during the presentation of Best Actor. How Oscar teases me so! These three women should be Oscar winners by now!

9. Back before it was fashionable, I mused over Sandra Bullock’s chance at Oscar glory. It remains rather shocking that she is an Oscar nominee, let alone an Oscar winner. And yet I could never begrudge her this crowning. Especially as her acceptance speech was one of the most graceful I have ever seen (when has a winner been so celebratory of their fellow nominees?).

10. I like The Hurt Locker, it’s a wonderful film that deserves its recignition yet I cannot help but feel that a future viewing will be tainted by the repeated dedication of its wins to soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan, etc. My adoration for this film stemmed out of its focus on America’s pointless need for war, so the promotion of it as an ingrained part of American culture seems inappropriate. Although compared to her sentimental mention of firemen (“they are here for us and we are there for them”), it seems apt.

Oscar predictions 2010.

Finally! The annual wait for Oscar is exhaustive, but we are mere hours away from our reward. The ceremony itself may prove more exciting than the winners, who have been pretty much decided for weeks now. Can the show’s face lift of 2009 continue its success? Could it be its funniest with Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin hosting and Tina Fey, Sacha Baron Cohen, Martin Short, etc. presenting? Is there any possibility of an upset? And will I manage to stay awake through the whole thing?!?

Best Picture

Win: The Hurt Locker

Upset: Avatar

Wish: Inglourious Basterds

Director

Win: Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker

Upset: James Cameron for Avatar

Wish: Kathryn Bigelow

Leading Actor

Win: Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart

Upset: Colin Firth for A Single Man

Wish: Colin Firth

Leading Actress

Win: Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side

Upset: Meryl Streep for Julie & Julia

Wish: Carey Mulligan for An Education

Supporting Actor

Win: Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds

Upset: Woody Harrelson for The Messenger

Wish: Christoph Waltz

Supporting Actress

Win: Mo’Nique for Precious

Upset: Anna Kendrick for Up in the Air

Wish: Julianne Moore for A Single Man (I’m pretending she was nominated!)

Original Screenplay

Win: The Hurt Locker

Upset: Inglourious Basterds

Wish: The Hurt Locker

Adapted Screenplay

Win: Up in the Air

Upset: An Education

Wish: In The Loop

Cinematography

Win: The Hurt Locker

Upset: Avatar

Wish: The White Ribbon

Art/Set Direction

Win: Avatar

Upset: Sherlock Holmes

Wish: Avatar

Costume Design

Win: The Young Victoria

Upset: Coco Before Chanel

Wish: Bright Star

Editing

Win: The Hurt Locker

Upset: Avatar

Wish: The Hurt Locker

Music (Original Score)

Win: Michael Giacchino for Up

Upset: James Horner for Avatar

Wish: Michael Giacchino (oh so much!)

Music (Original Song)

Win: Crazy Heart for “The Weary Kind”

Upset: Nine for “Take It All”

Wish: Nine

Foreign Language Film

Win: The Secret In Their Eyes

Upset: The White Ribbon

Wish: The White Ribbon

Make-Up

Win: The Young Victoria

Upset: Star Trek

Wish: District 9

Sound Editing

Win: The Hurt Locker

Upset: Avatar

Wish: Up

Sound Mixing

Win: The Hurt Locker

Upset: Avatar

Wish: Inglourious Basterds

Visual Effects

Win: Avatar

Upset: Star Trek

Wish: Avatar

Documentary (Feature)

Win: The Cove

Upset: Burma VJ

Wish: Prodigal Sons

Animated (Feature)

Win: Up

Upset: Fantastic Mr. Fox

Wish: The Secret of Kells

7 days until…

Despite the lack of competition amongst the nominees, I am excited to see it. Adam Shankman, the man behind this year’s show, better have some tricks up his sleeves after dismissing the Original Song performances and continuing last year’s trend of inviting teen stars to present awards. I do hope that one of his (many?) tricks is the return of last year’s acting presentations, with past winners celebrating each of the five nominees individually before announcing the winner.

How good would it be to have Julia Roberts for Sandra Bullock? Olivia de Havilland for Meryl Streep? Julie Andrews for Carey Mulligan? Kathy Bates for Gabourey Sidibe? Kate Winslet for Helen Mirren? That would be wonderful. I suspect that this style of presentation won’t feature this year, but perhaps there is a way to top it? We will see. In 7 days. Hoorah!

10 thoughts on the 81st Academy Awards…

1. Am I alone or did Oscar’s attempt at attracting a younger demographic fall decidedly flat? Minus the terrific presentations of the acting awards, the show consistently struggled to find its feet and left many of the presenters embarrassed (here’s looking at you Daniel Craig!).
2. Hugh Jackman is the new Rob Lowe. He just had Anne Hathaway instead of Snow White.
3. A surprising feeling of disappointment swept over me as Penelope Cruz was announced the supporting actress winner. It would have been lovely to see Viola Davis win. (Although all was forgetton when Cruz singled-out Pedro Almodovar for praise during her speech).
4. I loved the presentations of the acting awards! Look here, here, here and here. An inspired idea that brought me close to tears on a handful of occassions.
5. Baz Luhrmann got back at America and Oscar for snubbing his Australia with that awful musical number. I hope they learnt their lesson!
6. Has Sarah Jessica Parker turned into Carrie Bradshaw?!?
7. When will the Slumdog backlash begin?
8. Do you think Kate Winslet feels the whole Oscar thing is a little anti-climatic? Maybe her Oscar hunger won’t be satisfied just yet…
9. Nicole Kidman looked amazing, she did Australia proud (unlike Jackman and Luhrmann). I’m back in love with her. I think its time for a return to form!
10. Hopefully next year’s show will retain the deserving winners but with less predictability and no MTV-esque shananigans.

The 81st Academy Awards: The Predictions.

Here is my complete list of my predictions for the 81st Academy Awards.

They are neither controversial or fresh as the winners have been pre-ordained for some time now; Slumdog Millionaire will dominate, Kate Winslet will mercily end her desperate Oscar hunt and everyone will drool over this year’s host, Hugh Jackman.

Here’s hoping that Best Actor (AKA Rourke vs. Penn), Best Original Screenplay and Penelope Cruz’s potentional win for Supporting Actress will make-up for the high predictability of the year. Still, it is nice to actually appreciate the eventual winners.

Enjoy!

Best Picture
Win: Slumdog Millionaire
Upset: None.
Wish: Milk

Best Director
Win: Danny Boyle
Upset: None.
Wish: Danny Boyle

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Win: Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler
Upset: Sean Penn for Milk
Wish: Mickey Rourke or Sean Penn

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Win: Kate Winslet for The Reader
Upset: Meryl Streep for Doubt (is this possible?)
Wish: Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Win: Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight
Upset: None.
Wish: Heath Ledger

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Win: Penelope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Upset: Amy Adams for Doubt (Controversial)
Wish: Penelope Cruz

Best Adapted Screenplay
Win: Slumdog Millionaire
Upset: None.
Wish: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Original Screenplay
Win: Milk
Upset: Wall-E
Wish: In Bruges

Best Cinematography
Win: Slumdog Millionaire
Upset: The Reader
Wish: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Editing

Win: Slumdog Millionaire

Upset: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Wish: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Costume Design
Win: The Duchess
Upset: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Wish: The Duchess

Best Art Direction
Win: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Upset: The Duchess
Wish: The Duchess

Best Make-Up
Win: The Dark Knight
Upset: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Wish: Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Best Score
Win: Slumdog Millionaire
Upset: Wall-E
Wish: Milk

Best Original Song
Win: “Jai Ho” – Slumdog Millionaire
Upset: “Down To Earth” – Wall-E
Wish: “Jai Ho”

Best Sound
Win: The Dark Knight
Upset: Slumdog Millionaire
Wish: Wall-E

Best Sound Editing
Win: Wall-E
Upset: Iron Man
Wish: Wall-E

Best Visual Effects
Win: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Upset: The Dark Knight
Wish: The Dark Knight

Best Animated Film
Win: Wall-E
Upset: None.
Wish: Wall-E

Best Foreign Language Film
Win: The Class
Upset: Waltz With Bashir
Wish: Waltz With Bashir

Documentary Feature
Win: Man On Wire
Upset: Trouble the Water
Wish: Man On Wire

Day dreaming…who would you want to present you with your Oscar?

Without a doubt mine would be Bette Davis. (Or failing that, James Franco so I can pull an Adrian Brody style attack).

10 thoughts on the BAFTA ceremony 2009…

1. I’ve Loved You So Long finally gets some major recognition with the Foreign Language BAFTA. About time too!
2. Goldie Hawn, Sharon Stone and Kylie Minogue as presenters? With those Carry On references during Pinewood Studios’ Honorary Award. Gay icon overload! (Although you would think Minogue’s cinematic contribution – minus Moulin Rouge! – would automatically exempt her from such gatherings).
3. Mickey Rourke gives another wonderful acceptance speech. Before BAFTA I was torn between Rourke and Sean Penn. Now I’m a fully fledged Rourke supporter. Give him the Oscar!
4. Original Screenplay is the most enjoyable award this season, with Milk taking the WGA and In Bruges taking the BAFTA. I’ll be happy whoever takes home the Oscar (my money’s on Milk).
5. Harvey Weinstein’s ingenius plan to befriend Penelope Cruz and Kate Winslet continues. It is rather ugly for both of them. So much so that I would be happy to see either or both – and this kills me, as I adore both actresses – lose their Oscars.
6. Jonathan Ross was more miss than hit this year, but his introductory speel for Thandie Newton was priceless. Praising her portrayal of Condoleezza Rice in W., while smirking uncontrollably. Terrific.
7. Cuts to Amy Adams’ reaction to her defeat for Supporting Actress was heartbreaking. I am not sure how anyone could vote against her after watching that.
8. BAFTA looked cheap once again.
9. I am avoiding thinking about Slumdog Millionaire for risk that its phenomenal winning streak may damage my appreciation of it even more.
10. I can’t wait for the Oscars.

Give a dog a bone.

The President of the Motion Picture Academy, Sid Ganis, has kindly thrown a bone to us underwhelmed film buffs with his statement that this 81st Oscar ceremony will brave “many, many risks” so nominees should “be prepared”.

That’ll give you filmgoers something to think about until this promise becomes unfulfilled on February 22nd.

"I didn’t even buy a dress!"

The SAG Awards last night summed everything up; the Oscar race is over (apart from Supporting Actress perhaps?), actors love awards and Meryl Streep is terrific. Period.