Finally back to auditions today.
Look for some news here soon, I think.
I will start my series of people working on this today, with myself. But that will be after I get back.
Enjoy the trailer for the next TRON -
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
2010 Oscar Blog
Doing my taxes... and starting the Oscars. Academy gets it wrong half the time, but I still find it interesting. Follow along...
Wow... terrible intro graphics. Glad we are in 1993.
Kathy Ireland... terrible announcer.
Enough with the Gyllenhaals already...
These opening interviews are painful.
Really? Zack Efron gets screen time at the awards for the supposed best in the medium? Rob Pattinson will too no doubt. And Kathy Ireland... still doing terrible.
Christopher Plummer and Helen Mirren... some people with actual weight.
I really enjoy when they show these past nominees... Casablanca, you got that right. Wonder how the general public feels about it.
I love that a film with BASTERDS in the title will be repeated all night.
Matthew Broderick is relegated to Sarah Jessica Parker accessory these days...
Cameron Diaz in interviews... shows she isn't the brightest bulb around.
8:22 - Jeff Bridges FTW. That guy rocks.
I guess Meryl Streep will continue to be nominated forever for being her... regardless of the role. She is often great, but often gets noms by just being her.
8:30 and we start. This is different... the best actor/actress people hanging out up front. That guy from Hurt Locker could blow up (no pun) as a star.
NPH kicking it off! YEAH! That's right Harold and Kumar reference at the Oscars.
Alec and Steve always have great chemistry. The set this year is elegant.
Very funny opening dialog.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Kicking it off with a good one. A no brainer, CHRISTOPH WALTZ.
Waltz gives a nice, sincere speech.
8:51 Blind Side montage. Meh.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE - Strong field this year. UP wins and it probably wasn't close. I really want to check out the Secret of Kells.
These are presenters... Miley Cyrus? Can't they get someone with some prestige?
BEST ORIGINAL SONG - THE WEARY KIND. Great song and really a stand out from this years nominees. Crazy Heart has great music.
District 9 montage. A truly special and great film. Genre snobbery will keep it from getting close to a win. Yet, if dumbed down, the genre has a chance (see Avatar).
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY - THE HURT LOCKER. Not really deserved, but perhaps a good sign of things to come for the film. BASTERDS script owned this one. Tarantino not being in WGA really hurts him around awards time.
9:17 - John Hughes montage presented by Molly Ringwold and Matthew Broderick. Almost no other person has had as much impact on pop culture over the last 25 years than John Hughes.
Up montage. Lovely film. Sad there won't be a non-sequel Pixar film for a while.
Nice bit about short films. Criminally under seen format. The net should have made these things explode, but no such luck.
BEST ANIMATED SHORT - LOGORAMA. Never saw it, want to.
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT - MUSIC BY PRUDENCE. Never saw it, want to.
LIVE ACTION SHORT - THE NEW TENANTS. Never saw it, want to.
9:38 - Ben Stiller as a Na'Vi. Great.
BEST MAKEUP - STAR TREK. No surprise. Good makeup in that one. Ben Stiller always does good presentations.
A Serious Man montage. Super strong filmmaking. Sad that it wouldn't have even gotten a nom without the 10 picture structure.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY - PRECIOUS. Meh. Not a knock on the film, but In the Loop is ridiculously great writing. Also, D9 is imagination in overdrive. But Precious feels like a good win.
Governor's awards montage... nice stuff.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - MO'NIQUE. Well deserved. Two Precious wins in a row. Still wish Melanie Laurent was nominated. Good speech save BET mention.
10:01 - An Education montage. Need to see it.
ART DIRECTION - AVATAR. No surprise. In the speech... Jim Cameron this award SEES YOU... WTF. Avatar boo.
COSTUME DESIGN - THE YOUNG VIC...yawn... er sorry. THE YOUNG VICTORIA. Costume designer is one of the best. Her dress is amazing.
Precious montage. Good stuff.
Kristen Stewart and Tayler Lautner (ugh) giving a horror send up. JAWS of course... but it's Spielberg... what else. Some good stuff. But Twilight is not horror.
SOUND EDITING - THE HURT LOCKER. Deserved.
SOUND MIXING - THE HURT LOCKER. This could spell big trouble for AVATAR.
Inglourious Basterds montage. Travolta. UGH and boo to you. But yay for an amazing film.
10:35 - CINEMATOGRAPHY - AVATAR. This evens the field a bit. How can a movie with almost no cinematography get this award?
The montage of people who died this past year.
What does break dancing have to do with Sherlock Holmes score... And the Hurt Locker gets pop lockin with force wave blasts... WTF. This is terrible. Fantastic Mr Fox... gets the nutters. UP gets Mr. Roboto. Avatar's terrible score gets... bright lights and head spinners. Best score through interpretive dance everyone... terrible.
BEST SCORE - UP. Well deserved. My favorite composer to come on the scene in the last decade. Zimmer's Holmes score was also excellent.
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS - AVATAR. Of course. Nothing to say, can't knock the effects work... too much. I am tired of everyone who wins from Avatar kissing Cameron's douchey self.
Up in the Air montage. Nice film. Director is a jerk. Not as fantastic as some people try to say, but nice and timely.
BEST DOCUMENTARY - All good films this year. Anvil deserved a nomination, light as it may be. THE COVE wins. No surprise as it was the most high profile, which is what it often comes down to in this category.
Tyler Perry. You sir make terrible films. And you aren't funny as a presenter... imagine that.
BEST EDITING - THE HURT LOCKER. Good. GREAT editing in that film. Worked on Drag Me to Hell too... great work this year from these editors. No competition.
The Hurt Locker montage. Amazing set pieces in that one.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM - This was a possibility. EL SECRETO DE SUS OJOS. The vote was split between people who know good film... The White Ribbon was great and A Prophet is INCREDIBLE. They split, and a film that is more palatable to generic Academy members wins. Ugh.
Avatar montage. Awfully generic film. Much of it is a montage... so a montage for the film is fitting. James Cameron keeps looking like a toolbag.
These actor talking on actor things are always a bit awkward.
BEST ACTOR - JEFF BRIDGES. Deserved out of the nominees. Fairly strong field. Bridges is so much the Dude.
Oprah speaking for Precious... predictable and boring.
BEST ACTRESS - SANDRA BULLOCK. Bleh. Tied for the bottom of the nominees with Meryl's Julia.
BEST DIRECTOR - KATYRN BIGELOW. Super deserved. Tarantino and Lee Daniels did great work too. Streisand was a bit of a bitch for saying the time has come... Lee Daniels looked like he was about to crack with that pressure. He would have been the first black winner. We get the first female winner, which is astounding by itself.
BEST FILM - THE HURT LOCKER. Avatar got shut down and out of big awards. Take that, king of the douche. Hurt Locker is solid and infinitely better than Avatar, but still not the best picture of the year. But it is a small movie that is expertly made, so it is good to see it slay Goliath.
Wow... terrible intro graphics. Glad we are in 1993.
Kathy Ireland... terrible announcer.
Enough with the Gyllenhaals already...
These opening interviews are painful.
Really? Zack Efron gets screen time at the awards for the supposed best in the medium? Rob Pattinson will too no doubt. And Kathy Ireland... still doing terrible.
Christopher Plummer and Helen Mirren... some people with actual weight.
I really enjoy when they show these past nominees... Casablanca, you got that right. Wonder how the general public feels about it.
I love that a film with BASTERDS in the title will be repeated all night.
Matthew Broderick is relegated to Sarah Jessica Parker accessory these days...
Cameron Diaz in interviews... shows she isn't the brightest bulb around.
8:22 - Jeff Bridges FTW. That guy rocks.
I guess Meryl Streep will continue to be nominated forever for being her... regardless of the role. She is often great, but often gets noms by just being her.
8:30 and we start. This is different... the best actor/actress people hanging out up front. That guy from Hurt Locker could blow up (no pun) as a star.
NPH kicking it off! YEAH! That's right Harold and Kumar reference at the Oscars.
Alec and Steve always have great chemistry. The set this year is elegant.
Very funny opening dialog.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Kicking it off with a good one. A no brainer, CHRISTOPH WALTZ.
Waltz gives a nice, sincere speech.
8:51 Blind Side montage. Meh.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE - Strong field this year. UP wins and it probably wasn't close. I really want to check out the Secret of Kells.
These are presenters... Miley Cyrus? Can't they get someone with some prestige?
BEST ORIGINAL SONG - THE WEARY KIND. Great song and really a stand out from this years nominees. Crazy Heart has great music.
District 9 montage. A truly special and great film. Genre snobbery will keep it from getting close to a win. Yet, if dumbed down, the genre has a chance (see Avatar).
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY - THE HURT LOCKER. Not really deserved, but perhaps a good sign of things to come for the film. BASTERDS script owned this one. Tarantino not being in WGA really hurts him around awards time.
9:17 - John Hughes montage presented by Molly Ringwold and Matthew Broderick. Almost no other person has had as much impact on pop culture over the last 25 years than John Hughes.
Up montage. Lovely film. Sad there won't be a non-sequel Pixar film for a while.
Nice bit about short films. Criminally under seen format. The net should have made these things explode, but no such luck.
BEST ANIMATED SHORT - LOGORAMA. Never saw it, want to.
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT - MUSIC BY PRUDENCE. Never saw it, want to.
LIVE ACTION SHORT - THE NEW TENANTS. Never saw it, want to.
9:38 - Ben Stiller as a Na'Vi. Great.
BEST MAKEUP - STAR TREK. No surprise. Good makeup in that one. Ben Stiller always does good presentations.
A Serious Man montage. Super strong filmmaking. Sad that it wouldn't have even gotten a nom without the 10 picture structure.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY - PRECIOUS. Meh. Not a knock on the film, but In the Loop is ridiculously great writing. Also, D9 is imagination in overdrive. But Precious feels like a good win.
Governor's awards montage... nice stuff.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - MO'NIQUE. Well deserved. Two Precious wins in a row. Still wish Melanie Laurent was nominated. Good speech save BET mention.
10:01 - An Education montage. Need to see it.
ART DIRECTION - AVATAR. No surprise. In the speech... Jim Cameron this award SEES YOU... WTF. Avatar boo.
COSTUME DESIGN - THE YOUNG VIC...yawn... er sorry. THE YOUNG VICTORIA. Costume designer is one of the best. Her dress is amazing.
Precious montage. Good stuff.
Kristen Stewart and Tayler Lautner (ugh) giving a horror send up. JAWS of course... but it's Spielberg... what else. Some good stuff. But Twilight is not horror.
SOUND EDITING - THE HURT LOCKER. Deserved.
SOUND MIXING - THE HURT LOCKER. This could spell big trouble for AVATAR.
Inglourious Basterds montage. Travolta. UGH and boo to you. But yay for an amazing film.
10:35 - CINEMATOGRAPHY - AVATAR. This evens the field a bit. How can a movie with almost no cinematography get this award?
The montage of people who died this past year.
What does break dancing have to do with Sherlock Holmes score... And the Hurt Locker gets pop lockin with force wave blasts... WTF. This is terrible. Fantastic Mr Fox... gets the nutters. UP gets Mr. Roboto. Avatar's terrible score gets... bright lights and head spinners. Best score through interpretive dance everyone... terrible.
BEST SCORE - UP. Well deserved. My favorite composer to come on the scene in the last decade. Zimmer's Holmes score was also excellent.
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS - AVATAR. Of course. Nothing to say, can't knock the effects work... too much. I am tired of everyone who wins from Avatar kissing Cameron's douchey self.
Up in the Air montage. Nice film. Director is a jerk. Not as fantastic as some people try to say, but nice and timely.
BEST DOCUMENTARY - All good films this year. Anvil deserved a nomination, light as it may be. THE COVE wins. No surprise as it was the most high profile, which is what it often comes down to in this category.
Tyler Perry. You sir make terrible films. And you aren't funny as a presenter... imagine that.
BEST EDITING - THE HURT LOCKER. Good. GREAT editing in that film. Worked on Drag Me to Hell too... great work this year from these editors. No competition.
The Hurt Locker montage. Amazing set pieces in that one.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM - This was a possibility. EL SECRETO DE SUS OJOS. The vote was split between people who know good film... The White Ribbon was great and A Prophet is INCREDIBLE. They split, and a film that is more palatable to generic Academy members wins. Ugh.
Avatar montage. Awfully generic film. Much of it is a montage... so a montage for the film is fitting. James Cameron keeps looking like a toolbag.
These actor talking on actor things are always a bit awkward.
BEST ACTOR - JEFF BRIDGES. Deserved out of the nominees. Fairly strong field. Bridges is so much the Dude.
Oprah speaking for Precious... predictable and boring.
BEST ACTRESS - SANDRA BULLOCK. Bleh. Tied for the bottom of the nominees with Meryl's Julia.
BEST DIRECTOR - KATYRN BIGELOW. Super deserved. Tarantino and Lee Daniels did great work too. Streisand was a bit of a bitch for saying the time has come... Lee Daniels looked like he was about to crack with that pressure. He would have been the first black winner. We get the first female winner, which is astounding by itself.
BEST FILM - THE HURT LOCKER. Avatar got shut down and out of big awards. Take that, king of the douche. Hurt Locker is solid and infinitely better than Avatar, but still not the best picture of the year. But it is a small movie that is expertly made, so it is good to see it slay Goliath.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Auditions have been moved to next week sometime. So, no news on that front.
Starting next week I will probably start doing a blog a week detailing someone who is involved with the film.
A Hurt Locker producer was lobbying for his film to win best picture... which is all fine and well, but then he started lobbying to slam Avatar on the ballots (which is warranted given Avatar's quality), but that is against Academy rules. So, Hurt Locker looked like a good bet to win Best Picture (it's not, but it is better than Avatar), but now... who knows. Makes it more fun at least. That producer is banned from the ceremony now... and probably hurt his career pretty bad.
I will put up my Oscar pics in a day or so.
This is via Chud... about a skit cut due to James Cameron being a baby...
"But one thing we won't be making fun of is a Ben Stiller/Sacha Baron Cohen skit that pokes fun at Avatar and James Cameron. The reason? According to Vulture the Oscar producers think that Cameron is so thin-skinned he could literally walk out of the ceremony. What's so offensive?
Our insider informs us that Baron Cohen planned to appear onstage as a blue-skinned, female Na’vi, with Stiller translating “her” interplanetary speech. As the skit went on, though, it would become clear that Stiller wasn’t translating properly, because Cohen would grow ever more upset. At its climax, an infuriated Baron Cohen would pull open “her” evening gown to reveal that s/he was pregnant, knocked up with Cameron’s love child, and would go on to confront her baby daddy as if s/he were on Jerry Springer.
What's nutty is that this doesn't even sound all that offensive. But then again, I guess when you're a director with a habit of sleeping with your leading ladies, this is a joke that hits close to home. "
Starting next week I will probably start doing a blog a week detailing someone who is involved with the film.
A Hurt Locker producer was lobbying for his film to win best picture... which is all fine and well, but then he started lobbying to slam Avatar on the ballots (which is warranted given Avatar's quality), but that is against Academy rules. So, Hurt Locker looked like a good bet to win Best Picture (it's not, but it is better than Avatar), but now... who knows. Makes it more fun at least. That producer is banned from the ceremony now... and probably hurt his career pretty bad.
I will put up my Oscar pics in a day or so.
This is via Chud... about a skit cut due to James Cameron being a baby...
"But one thing we won't be making fun of is a Ben Stiller/Sacha Baron Cohen skit that pokes fun at Avatar and James Cameron. The reason? According to Vulture the Oscar producers think that Cameron is so thin-skinned he could literally walk out of the ceremony. What's so offensive?
Our insider informs us that Baron Cohen planned to appear onstage as a blue-skinned, female Na’vi, with Stiller translating “her” interplanetary speech. As the skit went on, though, it would become clear that Stiller wasn’t translating properly, because Cohen would grow ever more upset. At its climax, an infuriated Baron Cohen would pull open “her” evening gown to reveal that s/he was pregnant, knocked up with Cameron’s love child, and would go on to confront her baby daddy as if s/he were on Jerry Springer.
What's nutty is that this doesn't even sound all that offensive. But then again, I guess when you're a director with a habit of sleeping with your leading ladies, this is a joke that hits close to home. "
Monday, March 1, 2010
Oscar predictions... thoughts.
No, I haven't seen everything. I give who I think SHOULD win and who I think WILL win. I will also live blog the Oscars for my own enjoyment come Sunday. Check it out if you want to see my thoughts on how it went down.
Actor in a Leading Role
Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
George Clooney in “Up in the Air”
Colin Firth in “A Single Man”
Morgan Freeman in “Invictus”
Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker”
Who should win: Sam Rockwell in Moon... or Tom Hardy in Bronson. But from here Jeff Bridges.
Who will take the cake: Jeff Bridges with a strong performance.
Actor in a Supporting Role
Matt Damon in “Invictus”
Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger”
Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station”
Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones”
Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”
Who should win: Christoph Waltz
Who will take the cake: Christoph Waltz, no contest
Actress in a Leading Role
Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
Helen Mirren in “The Last Station”
Carey Mulligan in “An Education”
Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia”
Who should win: No idea... Gabourey Sidibe? Anyone but Streep.
Who will take the cake: Sandra Bullock
Actress in a Supporting Role
Penélope Cruz in “Nine”
Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air”
Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart”
Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”
Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Who should win: Mélanie Laurent in Inglourious Basterds... Oh wait... no nomination? Mo'Nique for her stance against Oscar campaigning.
Who will take the cake: Mo'Nique
Animated Feature Film
“Coraline” Henry Selick
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Wes Anderson
“The Princess and the Frog” John Musker and Ron Clements
“The Secret of Kells” Tomm Moore
“Up” Pete Docter
Who should win: I find Fantastic Mr. Fox to be delightfully off kilter.
Who will take the cake: Up, and it's not undeserving.
Art Direction
“Avatar” Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro; Set Decoration: Caroline Smith
“Nine” Art Direction: John Myhre; Set Decoration: Gordon Sim
“Sherlock Holmes” Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
“The Young Victoria” Art Direction: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Maggie Gray
Who should win: Avatar
Who will take the cake: Avatar
Cinematography
“Avatar” Mauro Fiore
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” Bruno Delbonnel
“The Hurt Locker” Barry Ackroyd
“Inglourious Basterds” Robert Richardson
“The White Ribbon” Christian Berger
Who should win: “Inglourious Basterds” Robert Richardson
Who will take the cake: “The Hurt Locker” Barry Ackroyd
Costume Design
“Bright Star” Janet Patterson
“Coco before Chanel” Catherine Leterrier
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Monique Prudhomme
“Nine” Colleen Atwood
“The Young Victoria” Sandy Powell
Who should win: “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Monique Prudhomme
Who will take the cake: “Coco before Chanel” Catherine Leterrier
Directing
“Avatar” James Cameron
“The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow
“Inglourious Basterds” Quentin Tarantino
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels
“Up in the Air” Jason Reitman
Who should win: “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow
Who will take the cake: “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow
Film Editing
“Avatar” Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron
“District 9” Julian Clarke
“The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
“Inglourious Basterds” Sally Menke
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Joe Klotz
Who should win: “The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
Who will take the cake: “The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
Foreign Language Film
“Ajami” Israel
“The Milk of Sorrow (La Teta Asustada)” Peru
“A Prophet (Un Prophète)” France
“The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos)” Argentina
“The White Ribbon (Das Weisse Band)” Germany
Who should win: A Prophet (thank you, European DVD release). This is a seriously major work of cinema that can stand with some big films.
Who will take the cake: The White Ribbon - A very strong film that has beat A Prophet almost universally. But it is not the superior work (though both are incredibly good).
Makeup
“Il Divo” Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
“Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
“The Young Victoria” Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore
Who should win: “Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
Who will take the cake: “Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
Music (Original Score)
“Avatar” James Horner
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Alexandre Desplat
“The Hurt Locker” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
“Sherlock Holmes” Hans Zimmer
“Up” Michael Giacchino
Who should win: “Up” Michael Giacchino
Who will take the cake: “Up” Michael Giacchino (why is Avatar nominated here? truly awful score)
Music (Original Song)
“Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36” Music by Reinhardt Wagner Lyric by Frank Thomas
“Take It All” from “Nine” Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston
“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett
Who should win: “The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett
Who will take the cake: “The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett
Sound Editing
“Avatar” Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson
“Inglourious Basterds” Wylie Stateman
“Star Trek” Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
“Up” Michael Silvers and Tom Myers
Who should win: “Star Trek” Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
Who will take the cake: “Avatar” Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
Sound Mixing
“Avatar” Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
“Inglourious Basterds” Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
“Star Trek” Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson
Who should win: “The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
Who will take the cake: “Avatar” Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
Visual Effects
“Avatar” Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones
“District 9” Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken
“Star Trek” Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton
Who should win: District 9
Who will take the cake: Avatar, can't fault this win. But I find Christopher Johnson from D9 to be an amazing work.
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
“District 9” Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
“An Education” Screenplay by Nick Hornby
“In the Loop” Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
“Up in the Air” Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner
Who should win: In the Loop, no question. Absolutely fantastic writing.
Who will take the cake: Up in the Air
Writing (Original Screenplay)
“The Hurt Locker” Written by Mark Boal
“Inglourious Basterds” Written by Quentin Tarantino
“The Messenger” Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
“A Serious Man” Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
“Up” Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy
Who should win: Inglourious Basterds - Tarantino killing it... who TRULY comes close? No one.
Who will take the cake: The Hurt Locker... I think.
Best Picture
“Avatar” James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
“The Blind Side” Gil Netter, Andrew A. Kosove and Broderick Johnson, Producers
“District 9” Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers
“An Education” Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers
“The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier and Greg Shapiro, Producers
“Inglourious Basterds” Lawrence Bender, Producer
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers
“A Serious Man” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers
“Up” Jonas Rivera, Producer
“Up in the Air” Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers
Short Film (Animated)
“French Roast” Fabrice O. Joubert
“Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell
“The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)” Javier Recio Gracia
“Logorama” Nicolas Schmerkin
“A Matter of Loaf and Death” Nick Park
Who should win: Inglourious Basterds - but probably isn't even in the top few of votes.
Who will take the cake: The Hurt Locker. Also, Avatar could take it. Both have run a nasty campaign. The Hurt Locker has much more merit, though.
Whichever of the two wins... it will be one of those things where in 5, maybe 10 years, everyone is like WTF... why did that win Best Picture. Slumdog was one of those last year. 1994 also strikes me as one of those years (off the top of my head)... in what world is Forrest Gump better than Pulp Fiction and the Shawshank Redemption?
In another story of the dirty campaigning this season... Weinstein's have supposedly been torpedoing Hurt Locker, but not building up or pushing their own very worthy film... Basterds. Blows my mind.
Actor in a Leading Role
Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
George Clooney in “Up in the Air”
Colin Firth in “A Single Man”
Morgan Freeman in “Invictus”
Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker”
Who should win: Sam Rockwell in Moon... or Tom Hardy in Bronson. But from here Jeff Bridges.
Who will take the cake: Jeff Bridges with a strong performance.
Actor in a Supporting Role
Matt Damon in “Invictus”
Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger”
Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station”
Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones”
Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”
Who should win: Christoph Waltz
Who will take the cake: Christoph Waltz, no contest
Actress in a Leading Role
Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
Helen Mirren in “The Last Station”
Carey Mulligan in “An Education”
Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia”
Who should win: No idea... Gabourey Sidibe? Anyone but Streep.
Who will take the cake: Sandra Bullock
Actress in a Supporting Role
Penélope Cruz in “Nine”
Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air”
Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart”
Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”
Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Who should win: Mélanie Laurent in Inglourious Basterds... Oh wait... no nomination? Mo'Nique for her stance against Oscar campaigning.
Who will take the cake: Mo'Nique
Animated Feature Film
“Coraline” Henry Selick
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Wes Anderson
“The Princess and the Frog” John Musker and Ron Clements
“The Secret of Kells” Tomm Moore
“Up” Pete Docter
Who should win: I find Fantastic Mr. Fox to be delightfully off kilter.
Who will take the cake: Up, and it's not undeserving.
Art Direction
“Avatar” Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro; Set Decoration: Caroline Smith
“Nine” Art Direction: John Myhre; Set Decoration: Gordon Sim
“Sherlock Holmes” Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
“The Young Victoria” Art Direction: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Maggie Gray
Who should win: Avatar
Who will take the cake: Avatar
Cinematography
“Avatar” Mauro Fiore
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” Bruno Delbonnel
“The Hurt Locker” Barry Ackroyd
“Inglourious Basterds” Robert Richardson
“The White Ribbon” Christian Berger
Who should win: “Inglourious Basterds” Robert Richardson
Who will take the cake: “The Hurt Locker” Barry Ackroyd
Costume Design
“Bright Star” Janet Patterson
“Coco before Chanel” Catherine Leterrier
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Monique Prudhomme
“Nine” Colleen Atwood
“The Young Victoria” Sandy Powell
Who should win: “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Monique Prudhomme
Who will take the cake: “Coco before Chanel” Catherine Leterrier
Directing
“Avatar” James Cameron
“The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow
“Inglourious Basterds” Quentin Tarantino
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels
“Up in the Air” Jason Reitman
Who should win: “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow
Who will take the cake: “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow
Film Editing
“Avatar” Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron
“District 9” Julian Clarke
“The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
“Inglourious Basterds” Sally Menke
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Joe Klotz
Who should win: “The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
Who will take the cake: “The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
Foreign Language Film
“Ajami” Israel
“The Milk of Sorrow (La Teta Asustada)” Peru
“A Prophet (Un Prophète)” France
“The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos)” Argentina
“The White Ribbon (Das Weisse Band)” Germany
Who should win: A Prophet (thank you, European DVD release). This is a seriously major work of cinema that can stand with some big films.
Who will take the cake: The White Ribbon - A very strong film that has beat A Prophet almost universally. But it is not the superior work (though both are incredibly good).
Makeup
“Il Divo” Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
“Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
“The Young Victoria” Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore
Who should win: “Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
Who will take the cake: “Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
Music (Original Score)
“Avatar” James Horner
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Alexandre Desplat
“The Hurt Locker” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
“Sherlock Holmes” Hans Zimmer
“Up” Michael Giacchino
Who should win: “Up” Michael Giacchino
Who will take the cake: “Up” Michael Giacchino (why is Avatar nominated here? truly awful score)
Music (Original Song)
“Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36” Music by Reinhardt Wagner Lyric by Frank Thomas
“Take It All” from “Nine” Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston
“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett
Who should win: “The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett
Who will take the cake: “The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett
Sound Editing
“Avatar” Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson
“Inglourious Basterds” Wylie Stateman
“Star Trek” Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
“Up” Michael Silvers and Tom Myers
Who should win: “Star Trek” Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
Who will take the cake: “Avatar” Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
Sound Mixing
“Avatar” Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
“Inglourious Basterds” Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
“Star Trek” Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson
Who should win: “The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
Who will take the cake: “Avatar” Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
Visual Effects
“Avatar” Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones
“District 9” Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken
“Star Trek” Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton
Who should win: District 9
Who will take the cake: Avatar, can't fault this win. But I find Christopher Johnson from D9 to be an amazing work.
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
“District 9” Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
“An Education” Screenplay by Nick Hornby
“In the Loop” Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
“Up in the Air” Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner
Who should win: In the Loop, no question. Absolutely fantastic writing.
Who will take the cake: Up in the Air
Writing (Original Screenplay)
“The Hurt Locker” Written by Mark Boal
“Inglourious Basterds” Written by Quentin Tarantino
“The Messenger” Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
“A Serious Man” Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
“Up” Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy
Who should win: Inglourious Basterds - Tarantino killing it... who TRULY comes close? No one.
Who will take the cake: The Hurt Locker... I think.
Best Picture
“Avatar” James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
“The Blind Side” Gil Netter, Andrew A. Kosove and Broderick Johnson, Producers
“District 9” Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers
“An Education” Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers
“The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier and Greg Shapiro, Producers
“Inglourious Basterds” Lawrence Bender, Producer
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers
“A Serious Man” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers
“Up” Jonas Rivera, Producer
“Up in the Air” Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers
Short Film (Animated)
“French Roast” Fabrice O. Joubert
“Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell
“The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)” Javier Recio Gracia
“Logorama” Nicolas Schmerkin
“A Matter of Loaf and Death” Nick Park
Who should win: Inglourious Basterds - but probably isn't even in the top few of votes.
Who will take the cake: The Hurt Locker. Also, Avatar could take it. Both have run a nasty campaign. The Hurt Locker has much more merit, though.
Whichever of the two wins... it will be one of those things where in 5, maybe 10 years, everyone is like WTF... why did that win Best Picture. Slumdog was one of those last year. 1994 also strikes me as one of those years (off the top of my head)... in what world is Forrest Gump better than Pulp Fiction and the Shawshank Redemption?
In another story of the dirty campaigning this season... Weinstein's have supposedly been torpedoing Hurt Locker, but not building up or pushing their own very worthy film... Basterds. Blows my mind.
Friday, February 26, 2010
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