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Academy Awards (Oscars)
by DixieChick101 Ciao at the moment have a Product Of The Month about the Oscars, more specifcally the 81st Academy Awards (2009) and our opinion on the winners this year. So here is my review. I hope you enjoy, and please comment. If you are a ciao member as well, take a look at the review over there as well if you want. The Oscar for Best ... Director for the best film ever made goes to Kirsty F... wait; I'm getting a little bit ahead of myself here, that's not going to happen for a few more years. As most of you know I do dream of doing something within the media industry, whether it's directing, writing or editing, these awards are for everyone, most of the crew within a film are looked at for their creativity, their passion and most importantly the final footage that comes together, came together because of their brilliance. These awards are called The Oscars and this year in my opinion they were very special. The Oscars are integral part of the media industry, there is a season during January/February where all of the actors, actresses and everyone else in the media industry get dolled up and go to countless awards ceremonies, The Golden Globes and The BAFTA's to name a few, however it all comes down to one night. All the awards ceremonies before this night are rehearsals almost to the biggest night in film history... The Oscars. ==================== What Are The Oscars ==================== Here is a short little explanation of what the Oscars are and why they are such a big thing within the film industry. The Oscars or Academy Awards are annually presented by the AMPAS (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences), and they award some of the best people in the media world, from the best actress, actor to best cinematography in a film. The first ever Academy Awards was held in May 1929 in the middle of the Great Depression in America and was hosted by Douglas Fairbanks and William C. deMille. Since then there have been 81 Academy Awards, the latest was at the start of 2009 and was held on February 22nd 2009 at the beautiful Kodak Theatre and the host was the equally beautiful Australian actor Hugh Jackman. ================== 81st Academy Awards ================== 2009 and the 81st Academy Awards in my opinion are very special this year, not only have they got a new host to host the awards who is great eye candy for us ladies, but the quality of the films is just out of this world. I don't think there has been another year with so many contenders for the Best Picture award, and I think that anyone could win it. I think the last time that there were so many good films (according to some people) was 2005, where Crash and Brokeback Mountain were up for Best Picture. The films this year are just amazing, towards the end of 2008 and the start of 2009 films began to come out of the wood work and shock us all with their stunning cinematography, brilliant acting and what makes a film brilliant in my eyes, the screenplay/script. I tape the Oscar's every year; well I have to really because I'm not insane enough to stay up on a school night, but every year I wake up the next day and find myself not being able to watch any channel or check my emails without finding out the main winners of the awards. I do still like watching the awards and with Sky + it's brilliant as you can forward through the awful performances. I sat down to watch the Oscar's and dreamily stared at the screen when Hugh Jackman came on and began to sing and dance with the brilliant Anne Hathaway. Here is where the main part of the review begins, the question I have to answer here is 'How do I feel about this year's winners?', I'll expand that question slightly because I believe that without every other person that was nominated the Oscar's wouldn't be what it is today, so I'll be writing about how I feel about the winners of the 81st Academy Awards and if they deserved the award over their competitors within that race. ======================= The Awards & The Winners ======================= Here are my opinions on the winners and if I think they deserved the award or not. =========== Best Picture =========== I am a bit impartial here as I have not been able to go out and say if any of the other nominations should have won. Out of the 5 that were nominated for the Best Picture award I have only seen two of them, and these two were just amazing, two of the best films I have ever seen and two films that will still be talked about when I hopefully win my Oscar. I think that this year really showed how brilliant films can be and even though certain films may have an out of this world budget they may not be what the academy deems Award worthy. The Nominations ----------------------- The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button Frost/Nixon Milk The Reader Slumdog Millionaire And The Winner Is... --------------------------- Slumdog Millionaire Is the Award Deserved? -------------------------------- I don't think a film has ever been more deserved of the best picture award than Slumdog Millionaire was. This film that nearly went straight to DVD, has followed its plot and gone from rags to riches and has stormed the world. I think this is one of the best films I have ever seen, I think it was beautifully done and considering that it had such a small budget Danny Boyle and his team really did do something brilliant with this film. Like I said before, I have only seen a small amount of these films, but I think from what I have heard that they are all must see films, and even thought it was pretty predictable that Slumdog Millionaire was going to win this award, the other's still had a chance, there was many bets on the fact that Millionaire would win, however I think that The Curious Case, Milk, Frost/Nixon and The Reader could have took the award from them. My opinion on Slumdog Millionaire winning this award is that it was well deserved, I think Danny Boyle directed a masterpiece and one that I will be buying as soon as it comes out on DVD. ====================== Actor In A Leading Role ====================== Even more so than the Best Picture Award I really am impartial here as I have only seen one of these films, so I can only say that I thought that Brad Pitt really did deserve the award, however I can't really compare it to the likes of the Frank Langella or Sean Penn, as I haven't seen those performances, however the Best Actor award is the one award within the whole ceremony that wasn't written down on paper before hand, everyone knew that Mickey Rorke, Brad Pit and Sean Penn had a fighting chance of winning the award, but it was undecided who was going to win. The Nominations ------------------------ Brad Pitt (The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button) Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon) Sean Penn (Milk) Richard Jenkins (The Visitor) Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) And the winner is... --------------------------- Sean Penn- Milk Is the Award Deserved? -------------------------------- I have not seen Milk, but I have heard so many good things about Sean Penn within that role that yes, I do think the award is deserved and I think that he really is a brilliant actor and if this is the performance of his career then it really is going to be a magnificent role. I myself think that Brad Pitt's role in Benjamin Button was seriously overlooked, I think mainly because this is a marmite type film, I think that 60% of the population adore the film and the rest hate it. This may have come across when giving Brad Pitt the award of Best Actor, because a lot of people didn't like the film and then didn't like his performance in the film. I think from a lot of reviews I have read about The Wrestler, Mickey Rourke really played the role brilliantly well and this comeback king gave the performance of his life within this film. I think it would have been nice for him to win this award, however I have to laugh because a friend of mine said he bet some money on Rourke and Winslet winning best actress and best actor, he won for Kate Winslet but not for Rourke and he wasn't too happy. I do think that the award is very much deserved here, I think that Penn's role must be magnificent, I may be editing this review when I finally get around to watching the film, however I think that to come up against so many good actors and win, he must have done brilliance here. ====================== Actress In A Leading Role ====================== I'm just going to kick out Angelina Jolie and Melissa Leo out of the occasion here, I have never heard of Leo and never heard of Frozen River before the Oscars and I can't stand Angelina Jolie, I really think if she's there when I of course win my Oscar and I win over her, I will point and laugh because even though she can act, she thinks she is the world. Anyhow, getting down to it, I think this was the award that was pretty much written in stone before the nominations came out, okay everyone was saying Winslet would win an award for Revolutionary Road and that film wasn't even looked at, but every one knew she was going to win. The Nominations ----------------------- Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married) Angelina Jolie (Changeling) Melissa Leo (Frozen River) Meryl Streep (Doubt) Kate Winslet (The Reader) And the winner is... --------------------------- Kate Winslet Is the Award Deserved? -------------------------------- Come on, Kate Winslet is a damn good actress, probably our best Actress and she's always been the bridesmaid and never the bride and she finally produces two of probably the best roles of her career in the same year. It really was a shame that Revolutionary Road wasn't put up for any nominations as from what I've heard it really is brilliant. I think Winslet really deserved the award and even though it was pretty much written in stone, she was up against some brilliant actresses, come on, who can say they beat Meryl Streep for best Actress, this woman is probably one of the best actresses of our time, she has had 15 career nominations and is just a fantastic actress and Winslet beat her to the post. Anne Hathaway is still very young, and the potential that she has shown over the years has been very prominent and I don't think anyone including her, ever thought that she would beat Streep and Winslet for best actress, but she looked like she was having the time of her life at those awards and she really looked in awe of the people around her. Winslet deserved the award this year, but I think we'll be seeing Annie Hathaway win one years down the line. ====================== Actor In A Supporting Role ====================== I think this like Best Actress was also written in stone for this award, on January 22nd 2008, actor Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose, leaving behind him, one completed film and one half completed film. I think that anyone who says that the only reason Ledger was nominated for this award was because of his death, but come on, did they see the performance he gave within The Dark Knight? It was terrifying, psychotic and brilliant at the same time, I think even if he was still with us today, he would have still won the award The Nominations ----------------------- Josh Brolin (Milk) Robert Downey Jnr (Tropic Thunder) Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt) Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight) Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road) And the winner is... --------------------------- Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight) Is the Award Deserved? -------------------------------- I think that anyone who says that the only reason Ledger was nominated for this award was because of his death, but come on, did they see the performance he gave within The Dark Knight? It was terrifying, psychotic and brilliant at the same time, I think even if he was still with us today, he would have still won the award because he and Robert Downey Jnr who I think is a blummin talented actor were not on the same league at all, and I don't think any of the others really held a torch to the performance that Heath Ledger gave. I believe Ledger was only the second Posthumous Recognition winner, which means he is only the second person to win an award after he died, a bit controversy surrounded who was going to get the award as he was not married and his daughter was too young, however they have put it in procession of his daughter's mother, and she'll get it when she's 18.I think the other's were all brilliant performances however none really shone a torch to Ledger's performance in The Dark Knight. ======================== Actress In A Supporting Role ======================== I think that the Actress in a Supporting Role was a waste of time, I think really only two people could win the award, that is Penelope Cruz and Marisa Tomei. I think you'll all agree with me when an award is given out for supporting actress, it should be given to someone who takes the focus away from the lead actor. I have heard from countless people that Amy Adams, despite being good within Doubt, is the same as she's always been. There is no range there and the role that Viola Davis plays in Doubt, was only a few minutes long and not really worthy of an Oscar nomination let alone a win. Now we come onto the one that I have actually seen, that is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, to say that I was shocked that when I saw that there had been a nomination for a supporting actress from the film and it wasn't Cate Blanchett, I actually had no idea who the hell Taraji P Henson was. Here are the nominations: The Nominations ----------------------- Amy Adams (Doubt) Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) Viola Davis (Doubt) Taraji P Henson (The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button) Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler) And the winner is... --------------------------- Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) Is the Award Deserved? -------------------------------- Why the hell was Taraji P Henson nominated for this award over Cate Blanchett, this I can't get my head around, because seriously, she was in the film for a little bit of time, I don't think I even wrote about her in my review of Benjamin Button, she was overshadowed by Blanchett who really shined within this film and wasn't' even looked at for the award. Back to the winner, I haven't heard much about Vicky Cristina Barcelona, only the fact that it's got the weird looking guy from No Country For Old Men in looking cute for an older guy. I think that Penelope is a good actress, I'm not sure if she deserved the award, I will have to wait to see the film, because I'm not wasting what is a ticket now £5.80 or something to see it at the cinema. Overall I don't think that any of the people that were nominated for best supporting actress were worthy of the nomination let alone the win. I think that it was a shame the lieks of Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway lost to Kate Winslet when in this category they would have been in a war of their own. =========== Best Director =========== The thing about these Oscar's is that it was so publicised over here and in America because of the brilliance of the films that were nominated that every one really knew who was going to win Best Director. This is the award I hope to win and it really peeves me off that not many women get nominated for the best director award and hopefully I will be up against some of the greats. Here though it was obvious that Danny Boyle was going to flourish and become victorious. The Nominations ----------------------- The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button Frost/Nixon Milk The Reader Slumdog Millionaire And the winner is... --------------------------- Danny Boyle- Slumdog Millionaire Is the Award Deserved? -------------------------------- Yes, I think that Slumdog Millionaire is a film that everyone should see, it is truly beautiful and brilliant and this was down to Danny's direction and the cast he chose. I think that the likes of Ron Howard who is one of my favourite directors, could have won, as I hear that Frost/Nixon is brilliant, but it was Danny Boyle that shone, I knew as soon as I saw the film that it was one of the best Directed movies out there. ============= Music (song) ============= I thought I might as well include the music, when I wrote my review on this film I said the music adds a lot to it and here you have it, two songs have been nominated and they are brilliant songs. Jai Ho, which I have no idea what it means is my favourite and I think that it was played so much to advertise the film that it sticks in your head, a rightful winner. The Nominations ----------------------- Jai Ho- Slumdog Millionaire Down On Earth- Wall E O Saya- Slumdog Millionaire And the winner is... --------------------------- Jai Ho- Slumdog Millionaire ============= Film Editing ============= I think personally, that the editing is the bit that is overlooked when it comes to film making, the Director and writer are probably the only two crew members that are talked about when it comes to films and I am the same, I usually ignore the film editors and the producers and things like that, but if you think of it like this, the writer is the one that comes up with the story, and writes it down on paper, the director gets the actors to perform and it's his ideas along with the cinematographer that make the film look how it looks however it is the editor that makes the film how you see it, he puts the sounds with the footage, he/she is the final part of the film making process and probably one of the most important parts, I have always said if I don't get to be a director, an editor would sound brilliant. The Nominations ----------------------- The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button The Dark Knight Frost/Nixon Milk Slumdog Millionaire And the winner is... --------------------------- Slumdog Millionaire ============= Visual Effects ============= I think there was one very clear winner for this award, The Dark Knight had some great visual effects but come on, Benjamin Button was just amazing, I don't think the Dark Knight and Iron Man had a chance when it came to this award, the way the visual effects team super imposed Brad Pitt's face into the old man's body and how they made Brad Pitt younger than he did in Thelma & Louise is just shocking and brilliant. A well deserved an award. The Nominations ----------------------- The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button The Dark Knight Iron Man And the winner is... --------------------------- The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button ============= Final Opinion ============= For me these Oscars were the best ones I have seen yet, I think Hugh Jackman despite all the criticism he faced after the awards was not only charming, but he made the awards flow, I'm sure it is very hard for all of those people to sit on their asses for that long, come on, the awards were what 5 hours long, Angelina Jolie could have adopted another tribe of children in that time. For me, the highlight of the film has to be the fact that us Brits did brilliantly well, it was Slumdog Millionaire and Danny Boyle that brought home the most amount of Oscar's I believe out of the 10 they were nominated for they won 8 which is just amazing for a film that nearly was going to go straight to DVD. Our best actress, well one of them, finally became the bride; Kate Winslet won her rightful Best Actress Oscar, bringing one more for the Brits. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was nominated for a staggering 13 awards including Best Picture however disappointingly only came out with 3 awards which is a bit dismal if you think about it, I think that this film was amazing and deserved a lot more than 3 awards, I do think it is the film that has been overlooked at the Oscar's but steeling a phrase from Jim Carey, That's the way the cookie crumbles. There was a beautiful performance from Queen Latifah preformed I'll Be Seeing You as a tribute to all of those that we lost last year, Heath Ledger was not there as he died before last years awards, however the likes of Bernie Max, Sydney Pollack, Paul Newman, Anthony Minghella and Charlton Heston were all within the tribute. ============= ============= ============= ========= Overall, How Do I Feel About This Year's Oscar Winners? ============= ============= ============= ========= I think pretty much that everyone that won an award actually deserved the award, the films that were nominated within these awards were out of this world quality and they are some of the best films of my time at least, I think everyone knew that the likes of Slumdog Millionaire and Kate Winslet were going to do well however the awards were not that predictable, I don't think anyone really knew who was going to win Best Director or who was going to be Best Actor and it was lovely that Danny Boyle, who was before Slumdog Millionaire a seriously underrated Director. Sean Penn in my opinion is a seriously underrated actor and it was lovely that he was honoured for what I have heard is a brilliant role. Role on Oscar's 2010, I hope that they are going to be as good as this Oscars was and let's hope the gorgeous Hugh Jackman hosts them again. (C) Kirsty 2009 The last review like this that I did, ended up with some idiot accusing me of copying something he had apparently wrote. So here is to him, when I say that all of this work is my own, thank you to this website http://www.oscar.com/nominees/?pn=nominees where I got my list of nominees and winners from because it's impossible to remember all of them. Everything but the names of the films and who won is completely my own opinion. Read the complete review |
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Academy Awards (Oscars)
by cloudwood88 Here's my attempt to liveblog (not exactly but you know what I mean) the Oscars fashion -- Fearn Cotton -- Obviously not a movie star, just presenting for Sky 1, but all i've got so far! I must admit to a deep-held dislike of Fearn Cotton - she is dead behind the eyes - why do people keep employing her? - so I could be a ... bit prejudiced against her fashions. She's wearing a Cerise Pink Tea Dress - Quite a nice cut and style, subdued and suitable for a presenting job. But the hideous eye makeup! Fearns wearing dark pink eye make up - and loads of liner. Some people could rock this look - but she's just not pulling it off, I think a darker skin tone is needed to prevent the 'black eye' look. Hair is in a 40s wave, tucked behind one ear - she's going for old Hollywood glamour, not a disaster, but nothing special. Please let people arrive soon! UPDATE - Anthony Hopkins says he likes Fearn's eyeshadow - he says it is 'different", I think he is just so bored with her interviewing style he has to say something. Fearn's hair isn't holding up from the back - which doesn't really suit this type of filming - but she not annoying me too much. Far too much of this review is of Fearn, it's because i'm only getting glimpses of everyone else. -- Dominic Cooper -- Ok there's not much to say about men's fashion - just a boring old tux - come on ladies - I have to see some fashion before I go to bed! -- Zac Efron -- Horrible slicked back hair - don't do it Zac, you are too young for me but can look quite cute - not today! I guess he's going for suave and sophisticated - it's a total failure! -- Vanessa Hudgens -- Just got a quick glimpse of Vanessa. She's wearing a long, black tulle fishtail dress, with flower detail. The dress is Marchesa, but It's vile - the bottom of the skirt is massive, and looks totally out of proportion with the rest of the dress. It has been altered from short to long, with very bad effect. -- Miley Cyrus -- Miley's wearing a white, layered 'princess' dress, with tons of beading - exactly the kind of thing a 15 year old would pick for prom. She looks cute, but not really stylish. Like a scalloped mermaid - and what is with the belt! Hopefully i'll get a closer look soon. -- Dev Patel -- Burberry suit - "keeping it British". What a cutie - go slumdog! -- Frieda Pinto -- One Shouldered beaded blue John Galliano dress. It's good to see some colour already. Nice unusual neckline, but i'm not sure about the beading or the cut. Ferns fave dress of the night (so far). It's not mine - too old fashioned and ageing. Her hair is plain and boring. -- Taraji P. Henson -- White mermaid dress - and an amazing diamond necklace - it's huge, pewter looking and so so beautiful. Her hair is lovely and sleek. She's extoling the virtues of Spanx and has brought her mom and nan as her dates - what a superstar, how lovely. -- Heidi Klum -- Is in a long red dress, with a side split. High red heels. Only caught a glimpse so far - but she has some amazing earings on. They are huge flowers, super glamorous. She has tons of massive thick bangles and bracelets on too - love these - can't wait for the topshop knock offs. Her hair looks very weird. Turns out she is wearing Heidi Roland Mouret - love him, but not 100% sure of this. Heidi wins for Jewels. -- Mickey Rourke -- What a legend in his white suit. Better still is his bling - no million dollar diamonds for this dude, no way - instead he announces that the gold chain hanging from his trousers is the choke chain previously worn by his late dog, Loki. And for a second reference to his canine friend the medallion round his neck contains a picture of Loki. Less blandness from everyone else - more of this! -- Amanda Seyfried -- Also in a long red dress with a massive bow - looks a bit old for her, and the colour is a bit too orange for her skintone - It's Valentino - The first she tried on- but she has amazing long blonde rapunzel hair, and the bling! Huge diamond necklace made up of five flowers. -- Amy Adams -- Another red dress, Carolina Herrera, with a flowing detail in the middle - I don't care for it - but again she's rocking her necklace. -- Sarah Jessica Parker -- She looks like a princess. It's a big, beaded and belted ball gown - and is Dior Haute Couture - she is so so lucky. It's ott, but i'm loving it - it looks absolutely beautiful. She's got big brown wavy hair - my favourite so far. -- Marisa Tomei -- She looks cute in a one shoulder oyster white gown, very fitted and she looks tiny - and it only arrived this morning, she is so brave! The dress has an amazing train. She's not loving the interview though - she just looks bored. -- Kate Winslet -- In a dark grey one shouldered frock, with a wide sequin black lace sash. I'm not sure - I'll have to get a better look from the pics tomorrow - it's not a boring dress - but i'm not sure yet if it has worked. The dress is Yves St Laurent, a classic designer, but at the mo the jewellery is the star - classic diamond earings and bracelet. I don't think i'm convinced with the hair - too old. -- Natalie Portman -- Some colour - Someone is finally wearing this season! I love it! She looks stylish but modern, nice to see someone taking a (small) risk and moving away from white and black. -- Penelope Cruz -- In a beautiful detailed white dress with a full skirt - The fuller, ballgown skirts are getting my vote this year. This is nice - but SJP's is better. The fit of this dress isn't very good on Penelope, which is a real shame. Her hair is quite a plain bun - that seems to be the look everyone is rocking this year. -- Beyonce -- Just got a quick glimpse of her dress - a strapless, bodycon black mermaid dress with a fishtail - with a vile gold pattern. Beyonce is so hit and miss with her fashions - this is such a miss. her hair is rubbish, no jewellery, but she does have a great bod. -- Angelina -- Is wearing the most amazing green earings. She's got a long plain black dress on and looks stunning - but it's no surprise she's in black - give us some colour Angelina! -- Tilda Swinton -- Often looks crazy - but is pretty plain tonight - in black and beige. -- Meryl Streep -- Looks classic, old hollywood - she's lovely. Her dress is a grey-brown, long sleeved off the shoulder effort. -- Anne Hathaway -- Another one in white - although all the jewels on the dress are make the top look gold. I like the top, but the bottom of the dress is an unflattering shape. Nice sleek hair tho. -- Jennifer Aniston -- In an off-white beaded gown which looks beautiful. A great shape on her. Her casual hair with a small french plait also looks chic and elegant. --Tina Fey-- Also is beaded white - I love this, the cut is fantastic and the dress is timeless. Her hair is in a big side bun, which is that bit more glamorous and sleek than the buns sported by lots of the celebs tonight. --Goldie Hawn-- Just a quick shout out for the worst fitting dress of the night - So unflattering - how did a stylist let this get anywhere near the door. So it seems like black and white are the colours of the day, classic, glamorous, but not very exciting. At least we just had New York Fashion week for some more exciting looks - This was a classic Glam year. No mega disasters, although i'm sure there will be some once the magazines come out. Oh well - I'll reassess tomorrow, haven't even seen the bottom of most of these dresses! Thanks for reading to my inane ramblings if you got to the end of this - no-one wanted to stay up with me - and I had to talk about the fashion asap! Read the complete review |
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Academy Awards (Oscars)
by Praskipark I usually don't like writing this sort of review and seeing that I was up until 4 am this morning listening to Bruce Springsteen and the Hilltop Hoods on U tube I feel lazy and tired today so this might not be the best account of my writing skills. Seeing that Dooyoo's man in red has asked me to list my nominations for the glittering ... prizes I will give it my best shot. He is much better at this sort of thing - he is far more analytical than me. I think a lot of us think that the Oscar ceremony is a lot of fuss about nothing. Perhaps it is but I still find it exciting and can't wait for the results. When I was younger the awards were much more important to me. I remember the times well - 17 years old living in a bed sit in The City of Steel with a sofa bed, a one bar electric fire and a TV as big as a house. My mates lived across the road but they didn't have a TV so it was always in my flat where we woud dress up in our posh frocks, dab a bit of blusher on our pale, soft cheeks and tie ribbons in our long locks. We wanted to look as glamorous as the stars, of course. But before the fancy dress rehersal one of us would pop down to the Victoria Wine shop on London Road for a bottle of the cheapest and foulest fake champagne on offer. We didn't have any glasses so had to drink the yellow liquid out of Easter egg mugs from the previous year. After drinking that stuff it is a surprise that I am still alive and kicking. In those days Johnny wasn't around or Sean Penn. I was in love with four guys at once - Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood and Richard Dreyfuss. As for the ladies - I wasn't in love with any but I admired one or two. Meryl was around then so she is doing okay - she is till dominant and looking pretty good for her age. Barbara Streisand was pretty famous in those days. Although, I never thought she was attractive she had a funny side to her that I kinda liked. Anyway, I think I am beginning to waffle here so I will get on with the awards for 2009. Are you ready? Let's take a look at the nominees for Best Picture. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Frost/Nixon Milk The Reader Slumdog Millionaire I have seen all of these films but have only reviewed 3. Frost/Nixon I wasn't too mad about - I thought it dragged on too long and was a bit boring, in my opinion. The Reader is a very good film in parts but I have to admit I came out of the cinema thinking that it had lost the plot half way through and I wasn't really sure what the film was about. Classed as a holocaust film yet we were only introduced to it half way through the film and personally I thought that was just a backdrop and the film was more about the generation born after the war who learnt that the generation of people they loved was actually guilty of hideous crimes - so in that way I suppose there is a link to the holocaust. For me, it was a messy film and just didn't fit together. Slumdog, I love with all my heart and I would love the film to win this award but it won't - this is Hollywood and they are going to choose one of their own babies. Milk - a great film - interesting and an emotive subject. Well acted by Mr. Penn with his quiffy hairstyle and false hooter. The filming in this is very low key and sympathetic to the man, Harvey Milk. Could be in with a chance but then so could Frost/Nixon. It's the sort of political film the Yanks love. The Reader from what I have read looks an interesting watch. So we are left with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - well I know there has been a mixed reaction from Dooyoo readers about this film and the Poles here in Warsaw are totally confused by the concept and did not like the film at all. I loved it and I am not a Pitt fan. He did a fine job and the cinematography was far out. If it was up to me I would give Slumdog the vote but it isn't and I think Benjamin Button will win. Best Director Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire Stephen Daldry - The Reader Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon Gus Van Sant - Milk David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Danny Boyle has had a mixed career and some of his films have been very hit and miss but I think his direction on Slumdog is excellent even though an Asian friend of mine living in Warsaw, who is a Bollywood promoter, disagrees with me. He told me last night that he didn't think the Jamal's accent was the accent from a Mumbai slum. Also, Indian critics have criticised the film for glamorising poverty or alternatvely not representing the subject authentically. His view is that it is just an average sort of film - nothing special. I disagree. However, as much as I love Boyle's work on this movie I am not going to nominate him. Gus van Sant - I like his work very much. He is very artistic and has an individual style although his work on Milk wasn't his usual style so this time I have to take him out of the running. So we are left with Ron Howard, Stephen Daldry and David Fincher and the award goes to David Fincher. Hurrah! In my view, he should win the Oscar and I think he will. His work this year has been outstanding. He is so imaginative and his use of colour and excessive detail make his work outstanding in beauty and composition. Terrific work! Now for my favourite category - Best Actor And the nominees are: Richard Jenkins - The Visitor Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Sean Penn - Milk Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon Micky Rourke - The Wrestler Brad Pitt was very convincing in Benjamin Button and I have to say I was impressed with his acting ability. Frank Lagella was pretty good in Frost/Nixon too as was Richard Jenkins. Obviously, they are all good - that's the reason they have been nominated but the two who shine out to me are Sean Penn and Micky Rourke. Whether you like Penn or not he is totally believable as Harvey Milk. His mannerisms are exact. His pursuasiveness and his flamboyant air are very convincing. But as much as I love him I am not going to nominate him because there is someone else who deserves the Oscar and I think he will win. Tonight, ladies and gentleman, the Oscar for Best Actor, goes to Mickey Rourke for his portrayal of the tired, beaten up wrestler, Randy Robinson. Next Category - Best Actress Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married Anjelina Jolie - The Changeling Melissa Leo - Frozen River Meryl Streep - Doubt Kate Winslett - The Reader In my view it is between two ladies - Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep. Now, we all know that Kate Winslet is one feisty lady and usually she plays intelligent roles but I fear in The Reader she is a bit of a dim-wit which takes a bit of getting used to. Her role is of a woman who lives in post-war Germany and her involvement with the cruel ways of the Nazis eventually catches up with her. I have to say she is really good in this role and not at all glamorous. In fact I would say that she was exceptional in this but she was in Revolutionary Road as well where she played the bored housewife. And what about the grandee of Hollywood - Ms Streep. Mmmm - well dominant as always. I think I described her as a Gothic cat in my review of Doubt. She knows her craft inside out and there is no doubt about that (no pun intended) and in the film she holds your attention at all times. I think she will win the Oscar for Best Actress but I am going to nominate Kate Winslet because she deserves the accolade. Streep plays over the top - Winslet doesn't. Next....Best Suporting Actor Without listing the names we know who is going to win this but I will list them anyway. Josh Brolin - Milk Robert Downey Junior - Tropic Thunder Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt Heath Ledger - Dark Knight Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road Okay, so Heath Ledger will win the award because he is dead and he was outstanding in The Dark Knight but I am going to nominate Josh Brolin out of Milk although Hoffman was good in Doubt but out of the two I would say Brolin is the better actor. That's short and sweet. And Next we have - Best Supporting Actress Amy Adams - Doubt Penelope Cruz - 'Vicky Christina Barcelona' Taraji P Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Viola davis - Doubt Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler And my nomination goes to Taraji P Henson whose portrayal of the ferocious and dominant woman who adopts Benjamin is outstanding. Her peaceful eyes and fiery spirit are a pleasure to watch. Marisa Tomei would get second prize if there was one because she was very convincing as the ageing stripper in The Wrestler. Her devotion to the man and the way she was always rooting for him melted my heart. Superb. Amy Adams is too wet behind the ears and far too sweet for my liking and although Viola Davis played a strong role I just think Henson and Tomei have the edge. As for Penelope Cruz - nil point. So that's all the biggies but I will just give you my nominations for the remaining categories. Best Cinematography - I want Slumdog to win but I think Benjamin Button will Best Animated Feature Film - Kung Fu Panda Best Foreign Film - Waltz with Bashir (Israel) Best Original Screenplay - Millk (Dustin Lance Black) Best Adapted Screenplay - Doubt (John Patrick Shanley) Best Documentary Feature - Man on Wire Best Original Score - Slumdog Millionaire or Defiance (Can't make my mind up on that one) Best Costume Desugn - Revolutionary Road Best Make Up - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Best Visual Effects - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button but I think Dark Knight will win this one. There are a few more categories left but I had better not go on too long as I know people don't like lists. So there you are folks - my nominations. Not sure if they are the same as the man in red's although I bet Kate Winslet is on his list. 2008 was a bit of a mixed bag - some great movies and some awful ones. What saddens me is that Defiance isn't up there with the nominations. I have watched that film a few times now and I like it a lot more than when I first reviewed it and I apologise to Danny boy (Daniel Craig) because I don't think I did him justice in my review. So tomorrow we will see who the winners are. Goodbye and Goodnight. Read the complete review |
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