Valentine's Day

Happy Birthday Kim

i love kim novak. she was groomed to 'rival' marilyn monroe. she did well. her beauty was more natural. her acting was far better. and now the monroe fans will start shooting arrows aimed at mt heart. i just have the truth on my side along with a multitude of filmologists.

BAFTA's Tomorrow

colin firth won the bafta last year for 'a single man' as he should have. will he repeat his win this year for the king's speech'? i think so.

the bafta's are awarded tomorrow in london

Oscarbation: 50 Years Ago (1960)

best picture: 'the apartment'

best actress: elizabeth taylor 'butterfield 8'

best actor: burt lancaster 'elmer gantry

best supporting actress: shirley jones 'elmer gantry

best supporting actor: peter ustinov 'spartacus'

burt lancaster in 'elmer gantry'

shirley jones in 'elmer gantry'

'the apartment' trailer

'Downton Abbey'

'downton abbey' was not on my february video recommendations only because i had not yet seen it. in a way i'm glad because now i can give it it's own spotlight. and it damn well deserves it. the bbc production aired on american pbs stations recently may be one of the best 2011 tv has to offer. it is simply put perfectly brilliant. that wasn't exactly simple was it? the brits know how to do it. the always wonderful, and fun, maggie smith, along with hugh bonnivile and american expat elizabeth mcgovern head a stellar cast. there is not a weak link in any performance. they all shine. and seeing the all too missed ms. mcgovern again was a real treat. the series is available on dvd and blu ray and can be rented on netflix. treat yourself to something wonderful and rent or buy this masterpiece. masterpiece? yes! and that's why pbs presented it on 'masterpiece theater'

the charmingly lovely elizabeth mcgovern

the ever brilliant maggie smith

hugh bonneville, jim carter, jessica brown-findlay and michelle dockery

the sisters played by jessica brown-findlay, michelle dockery and laura carmichael

the upstairs and the downstairs of it all

now go ahead and treat yourself to good writing, directing and acting...and great television

Happy Birthday Mia

Happy Birthday Mary

'in plain sight' remix

give this woman an emmy nod already

Catching Up on 2010 Films

'secretariat' i'm sorry to say i missed on the 'big' screen'. knowing the ending did not diminish it at all. that's due the expert direction and editing. diane lane is wonderful once again. ***1/2 stars.

'twelve' is the darker side of 'gossip girl'. it's just a drug crazed teen horror story. forget about it. the onlt redeeming thing in it was chace crawford and because of him alone it gets *1/2 stars.

'the american' is a bore. everything about it sucked. really! 0 stars. yup zero!

 a look at the early life of john lennon is a pleasant surprise. i watch everything kristen scott thomas is in so naturally i rented this. it is so much more than ms. scott thomas. a really good performance by aaron johnson centers the film which relates the factual tug-of-war between his aunt (scott thomas) who raised him and his mother (anne-marie duff is terrific) who let him go and the formation of the future beetles. i really recommend this movie. ***stars.

america the beautiful? not so much. no surprise to me. the true story about the lies and cover up of one one's death to promote the illegal war. 

a tense but sober look at a 12 year old vampire. however it is anything but childish. ***stars

Oscarbation: And the Nominees for Best Score Are

'The Fighter' ****stars

i went kicking and screaming to see this film. not literally but you knew that. and damn damn damn what a helluva surprise. for me anyway. this is a great film and just places with the other great films this year. it's about a fighter, two really, but it is so much more. it's the relationships, difficult relationships, amongst a truly dysfunctional set of people. the boxing out of the rink is as powerful as the boxing in the rink. it's psychological boxing and often more brutal.

as the award season progresses kudos keep going to melissa leo, amy adams  and christian bale and deservedly so. but why the hell is marl wahlberg never mentioned. his character is the heart and soul of this film. he is the center of the film. mr. wahlberg grows with every role he takes on. 

bravo to all the actors and to everyone connected to this film. run to see this now. that's the best i can say.

Oscarbation: 75 Years Ago (1935)

best picture: 'mutiny on the bounty'

best actress: bette davis in 'dangerous'

best actor: victor mclaglen in 'the informer'

*the supporting acting categories would not be created until the following year 1936

Happy Birthday Linda

this is really my last shot with ms. eder. whatever the hell she's been doing musically in the past couple of years is just not working for me. so here are some classic eder moments. if things don't change soon it is also the final sunset on my blog for her. the ball is in your court linda.

Happy Birthday Judith

February Blu Ray Recommended Releases

SAG 2010

to follow upon last night's late posting on the 2010 sag awards i present the winners

in film

the critics are pissed. the critical darling 'the social network' lost best ensemble to the most deserving 'the king's speech'. for those who may not be aware the best ensemble is the sags equivalent to best picture. i applaud the actors who looked at great acting as opposed to the stylistic presentation of despicable characters in 'the social network'. i can only hope the academy voters follow suit. deep in my heart i believe the king will reign supreme on february 27.

colin and natalie seem poised to win top acting honors at the oscars now more than ever. they should and will win

in tv

ensemble went to 'modern family' for comedy and 'boardwalk empire' for drama.

i was particularly happy and giddy that julianna margulies (the good wife) won best actress in a drama and betty white (hot in cleveland) won for best in comedy.

Remembering Susanne on Her Birthday

susanne pleshette may best be remembered for her role as emily on 'the bob newhart show'. she also became part of one the best season finales ever. when bob newhart's follow up series ended it was 'revealed' the whole series was a dream. it was really bob's nightmare and emily wakes him up in the former series. confused? guess you had to be there.

'The King's Speech' Takes Top SAG Award

'the king's speech' is on a roll and now heads toward oscar night as the front runner. just weeks ago 'the social network' seemed unstoppable. but since the pga, the dga and now the sag has gone royal everything is in turnaround. a lot of pundits thought 'the fighter' might take ensemble cast award tonight. they were wrong. i was right. the king, his therapist and their supporting cast ruled. so now we move on to the last stretch toward the oscars. it's a race for sure but the royals are now ahead by a pretty long nose. but the sag's sometimes get ahead of themselves. remember just three years ago when christie and cotillard upset the betting odds.

i've been on the firth and portman bandwagon for weeks now and tonight they prevailed.

the winners of the 2010 sag awards are

for film

Best Ensemble: “The King’s Speech”
Best Actor: Colin Firth, “The King’s Speech”
Best Actress: Natalie Portman, “Black Swan”
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, “The Fighter”
Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo, “The Fighter”
Best Stunt Ensemble: “Inception” (presented on the red carpet)

and in television

Best Actress in a TV Movie or Miniseries: Claire Danes, “Temple Grandin”
Best Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries: Al Pacino, “You Don’t Know Jack”
Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series: “Modern Family”
Best Actress in a Comedy Series: Betty White, “Hot in Cleveland”
Best Actor in a Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock”
Best Ensemble in a Drama Series: “Boardwalk Empire”
Best Actress in a Drama Series: Julianna Margulies, “City Island”
Best Actor in a Drama Series: Steve Buscemi, “Boardwalk Empire”
Best Stunt Ensemble: “True Blood”

Tom Hooper Wins DGA

tom hooper wins dga award for 'the king's speech' in an upset win over david fincher for 'the social network'. hell there really is an oscar race this year.

Oscarbation: 1977

 

today's birthday celebrant vanessa redgrave deservedly won the best supporting actress oscar in 1977 in this lillian hellman tale of friendship. her controversial acceptance speech created quite a stir.

Happy Birthday Christian

christian bale is one of the best actors around these days. this year he is finally getting his due with his role in 'the fighter'. a golden globe sits on his mantle and now an oscar nom as best supporting actor. he was robbed of a nom for 'batman returns' in 2005.

bruce wayne in 'batman returns'

and now the oscar nom for 'the fighter' as best supporting actor