Oscarbation: With a Week to Go Here Is the State of the Race

the golden god! well he is a god that we bow to this time of the year. hell i want one!!! this year for the first time in a long time there appears to be a race on in more than one category. some films and performances have gone up, some down, then up and down again. it's been a topsy kind of turvy award season. and to tell the truth i like it. before all the damn critics awards the oscar ruled. every oscar night presented surprises. not all good surprises admittedly but there was a good deal of suspense. it was a time when people at oscar parties voted for who they wanted to win and not who will win because the critics ordained it. well this year there appears, hopefully, to be some backlash to the critics. and that is a good thing. oscar voters are not critics. they are lovers of film and the film industry. i love film. good film. i don't need a film to be canonized by critics or their groups. i firmly believe last year that the academy bowed to the critics with 'the hurt locker'. in truth i know no one, not one person, who thought it was the best film of the year. different maybe but in no way the best.  so perhaps this year the critic's darling will not win and the best picture of the year will win. you know where i'm going. but that's for next time. today is just about...

...the state of the race

best picture

until mid january 'the social network' (the commoner) appeared to be the lock. but the tide began to shift and after winning the pga and the dga guild awards 'the king's speech' (the royal) began to edge up and seems to have overcome the momentum of the facebook film. either would be worthy but i'm going full steam ahead with the royal one. and then there is 'the fighter' which seems to have gained last minute word of mouth. it certainly is most worthy as an also ran but not quite the top spot victory. the race is on with 'the king's speech' in secratariat formation. onward britannia!


best director


it's tom hooper (royal) vs david fincher (commoner).
i believe fincher gets the oscar here as 'the king' walks away with the top prize. however hooper won the dga. it's a horse race to the finish but at this point fincher by a nose. personally i'd go chris nolan for 'inception' but for some god forsaken reason he did not score a nomination. fincher gets it as the commoner cannot be ignored as 'the king's speech' proved.


actor


it's a done deal. anyone other than colin firth would be a sham and the major upset of the season. enough said!


actress


first it was benning. then portman. now it's dead heat on the oscar merry-go -round. do they go benning for a lifetime achievement as they did last year with jeff brigges over colin firth or do they go performance and justly award natalie portman? i'm thinking they are smarter than we think. but then again who will the elders vote for? the long standing joke is dolores hope. will she 'get' portman? and then if she does on the other hand won't the dirty old men like jerry lewis and ernest borgine go for the younger sexier (don't forget the lesbian kiss...these old straight geezers love that!) portman. it's portman by a nose at this point but benning's husband, warren beatty, has influence and friends and then more friends. clear a space on your mantle natalie.


supporting actress


a month ago this was melissa leo's ('the fighter') to lose. a self promotion blunder gone awry knocked her down a peg or three. she is in contention with co-star amy adams also. split votes i believe. actually i say ms. adams gave the better performance of the two. ms. leo was just too 'methody' for me. over acting, over the top...thus me thinks for ms. leo it is just over. then there is helena bonham carter for 'the king's speech'. is this her time? it's been 13 years since 'the wings of the dove' brought her to international attention. she has worked ever since commanding attention in everything she appears in. she is now in the front runner for best film. adams and leo split. voters going down ballot sweep her in with picture and mr. firth. it is bonham carter's award to lose now and she would be royally worthy.


supporting actor


only a  royal sweep gets geoffrey rush his second oscar. it would be deserving indeed. but this category is still owned by christian bale as it should be. the only wonderful thing that could really happen would be a tie. trust me...it will not happen.






this is the state of the race. i keep up with it. i read everything i can on it. it's the gay super bowl for gods sake. yes gods not god's. 


later this week i'll give my final thoughts including tech awards most all of which i'd give 'inception'. but i wonder if most academy members know the difference between visual effects and cinematography? i wonder. if yes 'inception' gets it. if not it's a toss up between the royal and the commoner again. thus we end where we began.

'Hereafter': VFX Shot Breakdowns

since 'hereafter' is arriving on video in march, the 14th,  i thought it might be cool to spotlight how the tsunami was shot. i generally hate these things because i think they kill the whole fantasy of film but hey i needed something to blog today.

i do recommend this film if you haven't seen it.

Judi Dench: 'And Furthermore'

the wonderful dame judi in conversation. a must for theatre lovers.

ms. dench won the 1998 best actress in a supporting role for 'shakespeare in love'.

Oscarbation: 25 Years Ago (1985)

best picture: 'out of africa'

best actress: geraldine page 'the trip to bountiful'

best actor: william hurt 'kiss of the spider woman'

best supporting actress: anjelica houston 'prizzi's honor'

best supporting actor: don ameche 'cocoon'

Oscarbation: Best Supporting Actor Winners 1936-2009

best actor winners in a supporting role 1936-2009

and which of the following will join this group this year

Actor in a Supporting Role
Christian Bale in "The Fighter"
John Hawkes in "Winter's Bone"
Jeremy Renner in "The Town"
Mark Ruffalo in "The Kids Are All Right"
Geoffrey Rush in "The King's Speech"

Happy Birthday Joseph

'King' Rules at BAFTA'S

Best Film – The King’s Speech
Best Director – The Social Network – David Fincher
Best Leading Actress – Natalie Portman – Black Swan
Best Leading Actor – Colin Firth – The King’s Speech
Best Supporting Actress – Helena Bonham Carter – The King’s Speech
Best Supporting Actor – Geoffrey Rush – The King’s Speech
Best Adapted Screenplay – The Social Network – Aaron Sorkin.
Best Original Screenplay – The King’s Speech – David Seidler
Best Cinematography – True Grit – Roger Deakins
Outstanding British Film – The King’s Speech
Outstanding British Debut – Four Lions – Chris Morris
Best Editing – The Social Network – Angus Wall, Kirk Baxter
Best Original Music – The King’s Speech – Alexandre Desplat
Best Production Design – Inception – Guy Hendrix Dyas, Larry Dias, Doug Mowat
Best Costume Design: Alice in Wonderland – Colleen Atwood
Best Sound – Inception – Richard King, Lora Hirschberg, Gary A Rizzo, Ed Novick
Best Special Visual Effects – Inception – Corbould, Franklin, Lockley, Bebb
Best Make Up & Hair – Alice in Wonderland – Valli O’Reilly, Paul
Best Short Film – Until the River Runs Red – Paul Wright, Poss Kondeatis
Best Short Animation – The Eagleman Stag – Michael Please
Best Film Not in the English Language – The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Best Animated Film – Toy Story 3
Orange Wednesdays Rising Star Award – Tom Hardy

just two more weeks colin...my prayer is that you get the oscar you deserved last year and certainly deserve this year. and to all the 'king's speech' detractors get over it. i am still pulling for 'the king's speech' over critic fave 'the social network'. and go natalie.

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.