*
|
|---|
Thursday, February 25, 2010
How Many Times Have You Seen _____________?
I'm curious. Some Oscar seasons seem better attended than others if you know what I mean. Please answer ALL the polls so we have an accurate sense of how box office and DVD and general hoopla correlate with you, reader, you. How familiar are you with Avatar, Precious, The Blind Side, District 9, Up in the Air, A Serious Man, An Education, Inglourious Basterds, Up and The Hurt Locker? If you're just lurking, why not click some buttons? You'll be done in 20 seconds. It's easy. And oh so revealing while still being anonymous. Ah the joys of internet movie addiction.
*
*
Precious Day: What Will Gabby & Mo'Nique Wear?
<-- the Precious ladies at Sundance (even Sapphire!) 13 long months agoFashion rundowns of awards events tend to ignore the plus sized ladies (and the plus age ladies) but why should we? Mo'Nique hasn't been attending every event this season --thankfully the misplaced bizarre fury about that died down -- but when she shows up she aims to impress, baby. Gabby, on the other hand, has been working the campaign trail so hard one wonders how she's managing it and still effervescent through all. Maybe they have her 4 hour sleep rations?
Here's a brief history...
THE WARMUP
From left to right, January through September: Gabby hits a movie premiere (not her own) before fame truly hits; Monique attends the NAACP and the Essence Awards after Sundance (before all the "she won't campaign!" business hits which coincides with her busy summer touring and working on her new talk show); Gabby enjoys the spotlight (still a fresh feeling) at the Cannes premiere in a busy black evening gown; Gabby in bright orange for the TIFF premiere (not an easy color for red carpets. Be warned!) and Gabby at another premiere (not her own). I like those two dress down looks and I'm wondering if maybe she should approach the Oscars with more of a youthful funky spirit?CAMPAIGN SEASON
From October 2009 to February 2010, it seems like Gabby showed up to virtually everything: film festivals, special galas, multiple premieres, talk shows, guild awards. I bet she logged as many miles in four months as Up in the Air's Ryan Bingham himself! Don't you kinda dig that Morticia-ish dress on top left? Go Fug Yourself wrote up her white dress from BAFTA on the bottom right. Gabby's fallback color: purple. Might we see her in it at the Oscars? Hmmm, she's never worn it to the biggest most glitziest events.
REHEARSAL DINNERS
Whatever will they wear to the THE MAIN EVENT?
Care to make a prediction? Often times -- and this has precious little to do with Precious -- I fantasize about the Oscars being a costume party for the nominees, wherein they have to come in character. I don't really wish this on Gabby, since it's so refreshing to see her bubbly and happy as Gabby rather than Claireece. But part of me can't get enough of Mo'Nique in that hideous floral onesie and part of me thinks that her final ensemble, recalls the turban and fur wrap of a Grand Actress Throwback as much as it can for a movie set in 80s Harlem. Fitting rather since Mary Jones is Acting her way through that social worker showdown. As is Mo'Nique.
*
*
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Oscar Symposium Day 1: 'I'm an Oscar Winner, Get Me Outta Here'
Nathaniel: Welcome to the 5th annual Oscar Symposium. Each year I invite a handful of smart movie types into my virtual home to decipher, debate and occassionally defenstrate the choices made by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. This year's illustrious panel unintentionally mimics the general geography of AMPAS (Los Angeles / New York / London) if not, one feels free to assume, their psychology. Please welcome: Peter Knegt, Guy Lodge, Karina Longworth, Tim Robey and Sasha Stone.
But we aren't hear to predict.
Who doesn't know that Jeff Bridges, Mo'Nique, Kathryn Bigelow, and Christoph Waltz are taking Oscar to bed on March 7th? The Academy received its Bachelor of Arts And Sciences from The School of Redundancy School.
We're here to gab.
Here's a kick off. Adam Shankman of Hairspray, So You Think You Can Dance and Bringing Down the House fame, who is producing the show this year, has promised to play up the horse race aspect of the show, declaring that the Oscars are really "the best dressed reality show competition on the air". Never mind my distaste for the ubiquity of reality television... if we're really going to play it like that, let's play it like that. Shouldn't they have started filming the potential nominees months before the show, sending cameras to invade their every private moment (er, wait. that's called "paparazzi") and watch the triumph or heartbreak when they do or don't make the finals? A So You Think You Can Act? face/off might be the only way Meryl Streep can ever win a third Oscar, so let's do it. And if we're playing it like this, why can't we vote people off? You're the judging panel... so who are you jettisoning in the first episode, and who gets a "raise your game or go home" stern warning?
Guy Lodge: You break my heart with your talk of sure things, Mr. Rogers. Does this mean that I should withdraw my bet on a Lovely Bones write-in sweep of every category, including a Gordon E. Sawyer Award for the technological achievement of Susan Sarandon’s wig collection? Clearly, I haven’t been keeping up. It’s hard, after all, what with the dearth of film awards reporting on the web. Someone should really create a site for it. I’m sure it’d do quite well.
"how'd I get dragged into this?!?"
Read the rest of DAY ONE
Topics include but are not limited to: nominees we're not comfortable with, the soulless campaign machine, what the Oscars are *about* and potshots at Nine, James Cameron, The Blind Side and Invictus.
*
But we aren't hear to predict.
Who doesn't know that Jeff Bridges, Mo'Nique, Kathryn Bigelow, and Christoph Waltz are taking Oscar to bed on March 7th? The Academy received its Bachelor of Arts And Sciences from The School of Redundancy School.We're here to gab.
Here's a kick off. Adam Shankman of Hairspray, So You Think You Can Dance and Bringing Down the House fame, who is producing the show this year, has promised to play up the horse race aspect of the show, declaring that the Oscars are really "the best dressed reality show competition on the air". Never mind my distaste for the ubiquity of reality television... if we're really going to play it like that, let's play it like that. Shouldn't they have started filming the potential nominees months before the show, sending cameras to invade their every private moment (er, wait. that's called "paparazzi") and watch the triumph or heartbreak when they do or don't make the finals? A So You Think You Can Act? face/off might be the only way Meryl Streep can ever win a third Oscar, so let's do it. And if we're playing it like this, why can't we vote people off? You're the judging panel... so who are you jettisoning in the first episode, and who gets a "raise your game or go home" stern warning?
Guy Lodge: You break my heart with your talk of sure things, Mr. Rogers. Does this mean that I should withdraw my bet on a Lovely Bones write-in sweep of every category, including a Gordon E. Sawyer Award for the technological achievement of Susan Sarandon’s wig collection? Clearly, I haven’t been keeping up. It’s hard, after all, what with the dearth of film awards reporting on the web. Someone should really create a site for it. I’m sure it’d do quite well.
"how'd I get dragged into this?!?"Read the rest of DAY ONE
Topics include but are not limited to: nominees we're not comfortable with, the soulless campaign machine, what the Oscars are *about* and potshots at Nine, James Cameron, The Blind Side and Invictus.
*
CONTEST WINNER! (And Oscarless Greats)
One of television's best annual traditions, Turner Classic Movies "31 Days of Oscar" (now showing!) sponsored a fine contest for us. I was able to choose 5 DVDs to give away to one lucky reader. I chose five films that Oscar sorta loved (multiple nominations) but couldn't settle down with (major losses) and I asked all contestants to write a note about the Oscarless situation that bugs them most. The winner and runners up were drawn randomly.
SAM in Texas. Even if I hadn't drawn randomly, I would have had Sam's back on his favorite "snub" choice. Here's what he has to say...
who'll receive an Oscar party pack from Turner Classic Movies are DAVID in North Carolina and CHRISTINE in Massachussets. They both picked two of Oscar's most frequently nominated but never winning players.
David says:
I want to thank everyone who entered. It was great fun to read your entries and certainly provided food for thought. How is it that some people just can't get lucky with Oscar?
Here's a few fun bits from other contest entries. I didn't include any Julianne Moore quotes but you are correct in guessing that she was the most popular answer to this "i hate that they've never won!" query. Give or take Alfred Hitchock.
Robert on cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki
- 5 DVD PACK: Double Indemnity (1944), A Star is Born (1954), The Umbrellas of Cherbourgh (1964), The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) and They Shoot Horses Don't They (1969)
SAM in Texas. Even if I hadn't drawn randomly, I would have had Sam's back on his favorite "snub" choice. Here's what he has to say...
The Runners Up...My great Oscar snub is also my favorite actress: Kathleen Turner. Only one nomination? Really? Hilary Swank has two Oscars and Kathleen Turner only has one nomination? I'd like to see Swank tackle Peggy Sue and Romancing the Stone and Prizzi's Honor and make them all hits. If I were the Oscar God, I would have nominated Kathleen for Body Heat, a film that almost turned me straight (thank God for William Hurt's nakedness). If she can make a gay like me want her, she's a brilliant actress.
who'll receive an Oscar party pack from Turner Classic Movies are DAVID in North Carolina and CHRISTINE in Massachussets. They both picked two of Oscar's most frequently nominated but never winning players.
David says:
There are many celebrities that should have won an Oscar, but actor that comes to mind is (Sir) Richard Burton. Not only was he such an amazing talent, a ferociously brilliant actor, but also the fact that he was one half of the most famous couple in the world, or at least the 60's, while he was married to the great Elizabeth Taylor, cemented his status as one of Hollywood's biggest/greatest leading men. His iconic performances in such film classics as "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold", "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?", "Night Of The Iguana", and "The Longest Day" still linger on in the mind.Christine picks the woman who shares Deborah Kerr's Oscar record for an actress (6 noms / 0 wins). (Yes, there were women who had it worse than Glenn Close and Julianne Moore)
It's probably too obvious, but I'm going to go with Thelma Ritter as an Oscar nominee who should have won at least once. Her line delivery alone ought to have clenched it for a lot of her films ("What a story! Everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end!"). In addition, she was one of the last great old-school character actors, and it would have been nice to see her win for all of the Edward Everett Horton's and Iris Adrian's of the world.
I want to thank everyone who entered. It was great fun to read your entries and certainly provided food for thought. How is it that some people just can't get lucky with Oscar?
Here's a few fun bits from other contest entries. I didn't include any Julianne Moore quotes but you are correct in guessing that she was the most popular answer to this "i hate that they've never won!" query. Give or take Alfred Hitchock.
Robert on cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki
He utilized only natural light with a constantly moving camera for a period epic, and not only were the results not a disaster, The New World ended up arguably the most beautiful film of 2005.Joseph on Joan Allen (another popular answer to this question)
an Oscar for her heartbreaking turn as the resilient Elizabeth Proctor (The Crucible) would've been really nice...And might I add that she's also kind of awesome in Death Race!Sean on cinematographer Roger Deakins
I even watch The Man Who Wasn't There on mute!Erica on Peter O'Toole
Lawrence of Arabia, for crissakes. Oh, sure, he has an honorary one, but those are basically Hollywood's silent excuse, both acknowledging that 'you probably deserved it more than anyone else of any year ever, but now you're too old, so please enjoy this montage of better days'.
Curio: Pick Your Cupcake
Alexa from Pop Elegantiarum here. Anyone who follows my blog knows that I'm all about pop culture sweets, and cupcakes are on top of the list. There's nothing better than a great movie cupcake on Oscar night, and I still haven't come up with a plan on what to bake for this year's party. Blue Avatar treats? Hurt Locker bomb component cakes? By way of inspiration, here are a few of my past film-themed favorites.
I've been meaning to replicate Deidre Jean's Fargo wood chipper cupcakes for some time now, but I'm nervous about sickening my guests:
A bit more enticing are my Sugar Magnolias. I can tell you from experience that no one turns down a Dolly Parton red velvet cupcake:
For Oscar night, instead of choosing one film maybe I could follow Leigh-Anne Dennison's example: she created these movie-treat sprinkled, poster-topped cakes for 2008's awards:
For those of you in New York with cash to spare, Eleni's bakery makes fantastic Oscar night treats. Check out last year's Oscar cupcakes:
This year, Eleni's is making equally fantastic (and pricey) best actress and actor cookies:
Enjoy! Now I'm off to figure out how to make wires and detonators out of fondant...
I've been meaning to replicate Deidre Jean's Fargo wood chipper cupcakes for some time now, but I'm nervous about sickening my guests:
A bit more enticing are my Sugar Magnolias. I can tell you from experience that no one turns down a Dolly Parton red velvet cupcake:
For Oscar night, instead of choosing one film maybe I could follow Leigh-Anne Dennison's example: she created these movie-treat sprinkled, poster-topped cakes for 2008's awards:
For those of you in New York with cash to spare, Eleni's bakery makes fantastic Oscar night treats. Check out last year's Oscar cupcakes:
This year, Eleni's is making equally fantastic (and pricey) best actress and actor cookies:
Enjoy! Now I'm off to figure out how to make wires and detonators out of fondant...
Oscar Symposium Begins Tonight !
One of The Film Experience's big traditions each Oscar year is to invite an esteemed panel of web voices over for a few days of Oscar chatter. I'm pleased to announce this year's six-shooter panel...
The six of us have already begun our e-mail volleying... but if you have any questions, you're dying to ask, now would be the time in the comments. I might incorporate some of your inquiries in the chatter. The first day's conversation will go up later tonight.
P.S. If you've been missing Joe & Katey, my Oscar podcast buddies, fear not: The new one will be up in the next few days. We're finally (almost) back... I'm just working on the editing. It's only 11 days until the big night. There's sure a lot left to cover.
*
- Peter Knegt, IndieWire
- Guy Lodge, In Contention
- Karina Longworth, LA Weekly
- Tim Robey, The Telegraph
- Nathaniel Rogers (c'est moi), The Film Experience
- Sasha Stone, Awards Daily
The six of us have already begun our e-mail volleying... but if you have any questions, you're dying to ask, now would be the time in the comments. I might incorporate some of your inquiries in the chatter. The first day's conversation will go up later tonight.
P.S. If you've been missing Joe & Katey, my Oscar podcast buddies, fear not: The new one will be up in the next few days. We're finally (almost) back... I'm just working on the editing. It's only 11 days until the big night. There's sure a lot left to cover.
*
"Lars von Trier" for Denmark
Denmark Introduces Harrowing New Tourism Ads Directed By Lars Von Trier
completely sick but funny, too.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Let It Out
What's on your mind cinematically speaking? We'll be back shortly with lots of Oscar talk but today was busybusybusy.
Hello World I'm Your Wild Girl
.
JA from MNPP here, wishing Dakota Fanning a very happy Sweet 16 today. Hard to believe she's old enough to shove Tom Cruise outta the driver's seat and outrun alien-tripod-killing-machines all on her own now (and maybe stop that endless annoying shrieking from the backseat already for the love of god stop), but it's true.Much has been said about Dakota's preternaturally adult-like demeanor - a whole series of SNL skits was devoted to it - and that was in keeping with the New Jodie Foster mantle placed on her back in the day. Every serious young actress has Jodie's name flung at them, after all. Anytime one goes to college, they're taking The Jodie Route!
Dakota got her Accused outta the way quick - some might say far, far too quick - with Hounddog. And now comes the sexually-ambiguous period. Jodie accomplished this by igniting exactly zero point zero-zero sparks opposite every man she's ever been cast across from, including Mel Gibson and Richard Gere. Looks like Dakota's bypassing that and instead gunning straight for Sappho with her soon-to-be-much-touted scene with (other New Jodie) Kristen Stewart in The Runaways. That's called progress, people!So what do we think of Dakota? Will she steer herself out of the pack of her peers and past child-star shadows into a longtime career of her own? And who wins in a Jodie off - her or K. Stewart?
.
.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
