Did the Oscars go to the deserving nominees? (Oscars 2011)

The Oscars this year went to the most deserving contenders thus it undeniably became one of the most boring Oscars in recent memory. And… I meant “Boring” in a very sincere way. Neither surprises nor stunts were pulled and everyone went home happy.  I was very glad to see nine out of ten awards predictions I made except for the cinematography category were accurate but that just simply means how easy it was to predict the eventual winners from the list of 10 brilliant films of 2010. The two hosts, James Franco and Anne Hathaway kept it simple and enjoyable which in my opinion was a good move as they are merely actors and definitely NOT the supposed-to-be funny comedians like the previous Oscars hosts. They relied pretty much on their charms, good looks and in Hathaway’s case, various glittery designer frocks. I however can already feel the hating from the critics and fans alike who weren't thrilled by their somewhat lackluster performance as hosts. I guess a lot of people expected a lot from them and I don’t think they delivered. They both looked very cute together though.

Melissa leo’s F-word bomb in her winning speech should land her in the front page news for the weeks to come as it probably was the most exciting yet inappropriate thing that happened at the Oscars this year. She deservingly won her first Oscar despite the back lash from her much publicized self-promotion scandal.  Personally, I applaud her for recognizing her own talent, preventing the chances of getting her work overlooked and most importantly taking the steps necessary to secure what she felt she deserved.  Let’s just not be hypocrites here. It’s Hollywood.  Narcissism is a well-known ingredient and any types of promotion including self- made ones are considered perfectly fine. What’s with all the fuss?  

It was delightful to see “The King’s Speech” become the best film of 2010 as it absolutely should be.  I like “The social network” but we’ll be remembering the brilliance of “The King’s Speech” in twenty years time.  It is indeed in the same league of old Hollywood classics such as “The Last Emperor (1987)”, “Schindler’s List (1993)” and “Braveheart  (1998)”.  The very famous, “Inception” took home some awards too but mostly in technical categories which I thought was fair. Both Best Actor winner (Colin Firth) and Best Actress winner (Natalie Portman) gave great speeches especially the one by Firth reminded us of why we JUST can’t get enough of The Brits in cinema. What a suave and classy man he is!

In short, the Oscars this year was a great finish for 2010, the year of great films and lawfully the right people were celebrated and honored for their great work.  Well done!

Evita (Movie review)

As we are gearing up for our trip to Argentina, I thought it’d be nice to watch “Evita” again. I must have seen this movie like 20 times and I always could find a lame excuse like this to watch Madonna belt out “Don’t cry for me Argentina” over and over. But joking aside, “Evita” is one of my all time favorite musicals and God knows I have many. Unlike other movie musicals where characters share dialogues and then all of a sudden Wham, Bam, they break out into song and dance numbers, Evita is almost 100% musical, driven only by songs and occasional dance sequences.

Although the story is about Eva Perón , the Argentine spiritual leader and the second wife of the Argentine president, Juan Perón, it is not entirely about the politics. In fact it is about a woman’s journey from a humble beginning to her meteoric rise to the top and the love she shared with a man she believed in and cherished. I always like Madonna but never really can call myself a hard-core fan. She won my heart and respect with “Evita”. Madonna, in “Evita”, is not Madonna, she is THE character and that’s what I love about this movie. I also like the fact that she could finally say “Suck it” to the critics and haters who consistently ridiculed her for her somewhat weak acting and singing skills. With proper training and determination, she has proven that she can transform herself from a controversial pop tart that she’s most famous for to a credible singer and a serious actress. Her dedication and hard work in “Evita” definitely paid off as she took home the award for Best Actress in a comedy/musical in 1997. Deservingly of course!

Songs like “Another suitcase in another hall”, “Don’t cry for me Argentina” and this hauntingly beautiful song exclusively written for the movie version, “You must love me” (the Oscar and the Golden Globe winner of 1997), have become modern classics and that alone gives you an idea of how genius and gifted Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber are and for turning this piece of history into a full-length musical. Although the film’s cinematography got most critics’ approval and some award nominations, I personally feel that there are too many close-up shots and not enough scenes showcasing the beauty of Buenos Aires. Shot mostly in Sepia tone, though an appropriate choice for an epic movie like this, it certainly can be a bit tiring to watch for over an hour. The combination of timeless music and stunning art direction apparent in the opening Eva’s funeral scene and particularly the balcony scene when Eva starts singing “Don’t cry for me argentina”, with the crowd chanting “Evita, Evita” bring goose bumps: one of the most memorable scenes in recent Movie Musicals history!

Although turning a famed musical into a mainstream movie is obviously not an easy feat, the director Alan Parker did such a fine job balancing the elements of politics, love and heroism while successfully blending music, drama and art. Here’s one interesting fact: “Evita” holds the Guinness world record for "Most costume changes in a film" (85 times in total for Madonna). Gorgeous Jackets, Beautiful hats and elegant pencil skirts on Madonna adorn the film’s many scenes. “She's the diamond in their dull grey lives”, Juan Perón (played by Welsh theatre great, Jonathan Pryce) sings in the film praising his wife’s influence and impact on the millions of poor Argentine through her charity work. Madonna is indeed the diamond here not because of the stylish clothes they put her in but because of her incredible acting and singing triumph.

“Have I said too much?
There's nothing more I can think of to say to you.
But all you have to do is look at me to know
That every word is true.”

You Again (DVD review)

You Again (2010)

High school is such a tough place to survive and “You again” has proven that it’s even more so for the girls.  Marni (Kristen Bell) was constantly bullied and ridiculed throughout her high school life by Joanna (Odette Yustman) who happens to be the soon-to-be-bride of her brother Will (James Wolk).  To cut the story short,  Marni’s mother Gail (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Joanna’s aunt Ramona (Sigourney Weaver)also had the similar situation back in the day but the only difference here is that it is the other way around. Ramona who is now a powerful wealthy woman still somehow holds the grudge towards Marni’s mum. So they, with a twist of fate, find each other once again in the middle of the wedding preparation. Those high school memories are too painful to keep inside that these ladies within a few hours of meeting start clashing. That’s the story and how they come to resolve their conflicts is the ending.  Anyway, the first half of “You again” sincerely gave me great laughs. All four leading ladies are genuinely funny plus the hilarious supporting  turns by the Broadway’s darling, Kristen Chenoweth as the flamboyant wedding planner and the great Betty White as Marni’s grandma. Especially Betty White, who in my opinion is underused in the film, dazzles even with a few lines that she was given.  I was LOL-ing so much that I began to wonder why this movie got too many negative reviews.  Are the critics biased and simply being mean? Well- they were kinda right (in a way)!  After the comedy’s climax, the wedding shower scene, all the fun that I was having stopped. All the laughs I had on the first half had to be puked back out during the second half because the movie became so corny, predictable and clichéd. In particular the scenes where the girls make icky confessions and apologies to each other or the hospital scene where Will and Joanna get back together are indeed pass-me-the-bucket -please moments!  “You again” after all is okay (and I would even say “decent”) so I won’t totally trash it. Yes, it blatantly borrowed the great comedic elements from movies like “Bride Wars”, “Death becomes her” and “Mean girls” (no originality here, nada!) but sometimes a good mindless comedy is just what you need, no?  I REALLY thought it was fun but one last thing, I honestly don’t like the way they portray women, even if it’s for comedic purpose, as vicious, revengeful, bitter and scheming witches.  You know? Seriously!     I mean…………………They aren’t, right??? …………………………. or Are they?  ;o) 

Jennifer Hudson's new song "Where you at" (Performance Review)

I can’t stop watching this live performance by Jennifer Hudson on Oprah. It’s her new song “Where you at” from her upcoming album “I remember me”. It’s about a lover who doesn’t live up to his promises. She sings

You said when the storm came 
That you would be there with your umbrella to block the rain 
And you said you'd protect me 
From heartache, pain, lies, loneliness, and misery 
You said you'd tear down the walls that were in my way 
You promised things would be okay 
And I stood there in the freezing cold 
And I waited for you, but you never showed 
Where you at? Oh, where you at? Oh,where you at? 

The thing I love about Jennifer Hudson is that she keeps getting better. From her bumpy start on American Idol to her Dreamgirls Oscar glory, she has never failed to astound us with her powerhouse performances, one after another. When she sings, especially live, you can tell she interprets the song’s lyrics with her heart. She even acts out the song at times which nowadays is very rare quality. In fact, it’s a quality you’d find in artists like Barbra Streisand or Shirley Bassey. I know it’s quite a high praise but hey… she deserves it. Check out some of her live performances at various tribute shows and events on Youtube. You will see what I mean.

Anyway, back to this performance, it’s indeed a tricky song to sing live, in particular the bridge part where she has to soar. She nevertheless did a flawless job. It's a great song that showcases her powerful voice to a maximum effect. I love the bit where she ad-libs “Deliver!!!!, Deliver!!!” Classic J-Hud moment, reminiscent of her “Dreamgirls” days. I don’t think this song will be a huge monster hit as it’s not a very radio-friendly tune like those from Kehsa, Rihanna and Katy Perry but it somehow gives a glimpse of what we can expect from her new album which drops on March 22. I can't wait!!!!

Jennifer Hudson's upcoming album "I remember me" cover art

Who will win at the Oscars? (2011 Oscar Predictions)

Oscars 2011

2010 was a great year for films. Plenty of notable films in different genres graced the cinemas around the world, there were not only the million dollars-making blockbusters such as “Toy Story 3”, “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”, “Iron man 2” and “Inception”, also the thought-provoking , art-house releases like “Winter’s Bone”, “Blue Valentine” and “The kids are all right”. When the nominations for Oscars came out, I was delighted to see that most categories were filled with the names of truly deserving nominees.  As I happen to be someone with so much passion for films and someone who can never shut up when it comes to sharing opinions, allow me to make predictions of who should win and who will win at this year Oscars. So let’s take a look at the nominees.

Best motion picture of the year

Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone

Out of 10 films being nominated this year, I have seen 8 of them except for “Toy Story 3” and “True Grit”.  Honestly, I’m not a big fan of “Inception” and although “The kids are all right” (Best Comedy Film winner at the Globes) is brilliantly made and superbly acted, the theme of the film is not enough to make the voters go gaga for it. So I personally think that it’s a race between “The King’s Speech” and “The social network”.  I like both films but I believe “The King’s Speech” will and SHOULD win the “Best picture” simply because “The Social Network” may very well be the hip new cocktail of the moment but “The King’s speech” is indeed the fine vintage French wine.  The academy voters will go for wine as they have always done in the past.  Historical films that previously won “Best Picture” include “Titanic”, “Braveheart”, “Lawrence of Arabia”, “Gandhi” and “A beautiful mind”.

Performance by an actor in a leading role

Javier Bardem (Biutiful)
Jeff Bridges (True Grit)
Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network)
Colin Firth (The King's Speech)
James Franco (127 Hours)

Jeff Bridges won his Oscar last year and Javier Bardem, two years ago. They are not “Tom Hanks” or “Hilary Swank” so they will just have to be happy that they got nominated. On the other hand, Jesse Eisenberg and James Franco are still very young and they will have chances to shine in the years to come plus their respective performances are pretty light-weight. Have you ever seen Eisenberg off-camera? He’s just like the Zuckerberg character he played in the film. That means he pretty much played himself and won these rave reviews. Good but NOT Oscar-worthy. So that leaves Colin Firth who acts in each and every frame of “The King’s Speech” with such depth and mastery. If he didn’t win, that would be the biggest, I MEAN in all seriousness, the biggest upset in Oscar history.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

Christian Bale (The Fighter)
John Hawkes (Winter's Bone)
Jeremy Renner (The Town)
Mark Ruffalo (The Kids Are All Right)
Geoffrey Rush (The King's Speech)

I have seen these five actors in their nominated roles and they are all equally good. My favorite is Mark Ruffalo in “The Kids are all right”. Geoffrey Rush is ALWAYS good but had already won once for “Shine” (1996). John Hawkes and Jeremy Renner are JUST okay, not enough screen time to really give jaw-dropping performances. Christian Bale has been sweeping up awards with this role (Globes, SAG, etc) so I’d put my money on him. Besides, he’s one of the industry heavy-weights and he will sure get some love from the voters. Oscars however can always surprise especially in the category like this. Remember “Alan Arkin’s “Little Miss Sunshine” win over Eddie Murphy’s “Dreamgirls”? Or Marisa Tomei’s scandalous victory in “My Cousin Vinny”???  Or Judi Dench’s 8-minute performance from “Shakespeare in love" that won her the gold in 1998??? SHOCKING!

Performance by an actress in a leading role

Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right)
Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole)
Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone)
Natalie Portman (Black Swan)
Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine)

An amazing year for actresses as usual. So many great roles and so many soul-bearing performances but there will only be one winner and that is “Natalie Portman” for “Black Swan”. Why? First of all, her emotional delivery as the ballerina on edge is intense, candid and dramatic: a showy enough performance to take home the Oscar. Second of all, she’s one of the brightest young stars in Hollywood. Let me ask you one question. How many times dear old Meryl Streep sat and watched some young and pretty actress beat the shit out of her at the Oscars??? Sandra Bullock, Jodie Foster, Gwyneth Paltrow, Hilary Swank and Kate Winslet- Hello??? That means, the great Annette Bening will need Mr Warren Beatty to cry on his shoulder for they will surely go with young and crispy Natalie this year. And the other three, Kidman, Lawrence and Williams gave amazing performances too but this is JUST not the year for them. Just enjoy the gown they sent for free and strike your best pose on the red carpet, girls!!!!

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

Amy Adams (The Fighter)
Helena Bonham Carter (The King's Speech)
Melissa Leo (The Fighter)
Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit)
Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom)

I haven’t seen True Grit so I’m not sure whether the 14 year old Hailee Steinfeld(True Grit) deserves the award or not. Personally, I think it’s a battle between Melissa Leo (The Fighter) and the Aussie Jacki Weaver(Animal Kingdom). Funny thing here is that they both play evil mums and boy, they are sooo good at it. Melissa has lost her Oscar before to Kate Winslet in “The Reader” and she’s been a darling at various award shows this season for her white trash mum role in “The Fighter”. That indicates she’s the front runner. But like I said, surprises happen in this category. What if the voters go with the quirky Helena Bonham Carter for her role as the queen mum in The King’s Speech??? That’d be absolutely fun to watch.

Achievement in directing

Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan)
David O Russell (The Fighter)
Tom Hooper (The King's Speech)
David Fincher (The Social Network)
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen (True Grit)

I think Tom Hooper should win for the brilliantly-crafted “The King’s Speech”. Now THAT’s a movie. After watching the atrocious “The tourist”, “Burlesque”, “Gulliver’s travel” and “The Expendables”, I lost the will to watch movies but Tom Hooper single-handedly restored my faith in movies with “The King’s Speech”. For that and that alone- he SHOULD win.

Adapted screenplay

127 Hours - Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy
The Social Network - Aaron Sorkin
Toy Story 3 - Michael Arndt (screenplay); John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich (story)
True Grit - Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Winter's Bone - Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini

This is for “The Social Network”. It’s written all over it. 

Original screenplay

Another Year - Mike Leigh
The Fighter - Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson (screenplay); Keith Dorrington, Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson (story)
Inception - Christopher Nolan
The Kids Are All Right - Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg
The King's Speech - David Seidler

All great movies rely on a good script.  “The King’s Speech” will win.

Achievement in cinematography

Matthew Libatique (Black Swan)
Wally Pfister (Inception)
Danny Cohen (The King's Speech)
Jeff Cronenweth (The Social Network)
Roger Deakins (True Grit)

This is a tough category. My most favorite “127 hours” was not even nominated for cinematography. How ironic? I’m going to go with “The Social Network” because I still really can’t get over the stunning boat racing scene on the river Thames from the movie. Original and a true piece of art.

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (original score)

John Powell (How to Train Your Dragon)
Hans Zimmer (Inception)
Alexandre Desplat (The King's Speech)
AR Rahman (127 Hours)
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (The Social Network)

This is for “The social network” again. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s dark ambient music adorns the large part of that movie- it’s young, it’s cool, it’s fresh and it complements the movie’s theme. The winner, hands down!!!!!