Oscar 2011 is almost here!

Awards season is always exciting, but nothing compares to the frenzy that is the Oscars. The Oscars is a celebrity mecca where stars schmooze and primp and bling to the nines. It’s an event where stars usually compete in a good natured fashion to win Oscar gold while trying to eclipse one another, all the while smiling through teeth bleached so white one needs sunglasses to obscure the glare. There’s also a lot of Oscar myths and superstition aplenty.

Through the buzz, avid viewers will hear entertainment correspondents gush over baby bumps and speculate about the mythical luck having a baby on board can bring. Next, murmurs of the two pronged Dreaded Oscar Curse begin to stir soon after the Academy rolls up the Red Carpet. The first myth is the one that supposedly befalls actresses who win an Oscar at the pinnacle of their careers only to lose their love life. The second and the most fearsome Oscar fable is flunking after winning an Oscar. Was winning that first Oscar a fluke? is the inevitable question rolling off wagging tongues if an Oscar winner’s next role is less than Oscar worthy. And then there is my theorization over the uncanny phenomena I like to call 6 Degrees of Tom Cruise. What’s that you say? It’s my examination of the serendipitous link between the bizarre occurrences of actresses who have been Tom Cruise’s sweethearts and the fact that they seem to go on to win a golden statue on Oscar night. One thing’s for sure, it just wouldn’t be Oscar if some curioser and curioser things weren’t going on.

Baby Bump Luck – Is it fact or fiction? [Read more...]

The always stellar Natalie Portman has been nominated for a Best Actress Golden Globe for her role as tortured ballerina Nina in the 2010 movie Black Swan.

With the Golden Globes right around the corner, there is a lot of talk about Natalie Portman and her performance in Black Swan. Her film is up for 4 Golden Globe nominations, and the talented actress herself is up for a best actress nomination. There is much speculation that she may win a Globe, and since the Globes can sometimes act as a precursor for an Oscar win, the industry is a buzz with talk and anticipation that she just may walk away an Oscar winner as well. Oscar noms have yet to be announced, but with nominations already made for Golden Globes I am wondering, is Natalie Portman the best working actress of today? Is Natalie Portman Oscar worthy?

On the heels of her engagement and the announcement of her pregnancy, Natalie Portman received the Desert Palm Achievement Actress award on Saturday night at the Palm Springs International Film Festival’s 22nd annual awards gala. This event is a practice run for the Oscars, and the first trial run for awards season, and already Natalie Portman is feeling the rush of receiving accolades for her work. Yet this isn’t the first… [Read more...]

The Quick and the Dead_Wikipedia

My earliest Russell Crowe sighting was in The Quick & the Dead. This movie was back in the day when Sharon Stone was a HUGE star. Sharon Stone was fairly fresh off Basic Instinct (if you can call 3 years fresh in Hollywood) and she was still pretty popular. Anyway, she was the headliner in this flick that starred old goodies like Gene Hackman, and young faces like Leonardo DiCaprio (boy, did he look young and fresh faced. He looked like such a wee babe!).

Now keep your eyes peeled…wait for it….and there! My first Russell Crowe sighting ever!

Russell Crowe as Cort in The Quick and the Dead

Russell Crowe played Cort, a reverend who used to be one of Herod’s henchman who Herod (played by Gene Hackman) forces to enter into the quick draw competition. I saw this movie in the theater, and back in the day, I would have darn near forgot that Russell Crowe was even on screen if it hadn’t been for the fact that he had a story line! I was a teen and hence I only had eyes for Leo D. (BTW, I love any excuse to use the word hence!) Isn’t it funny? When you’re young it’s all about looks. When you’re old(er), it’s all about substance. What does that say about me? Yeah!

Anyhoo, just 5 years later, RC would go on to win an Oscar. Amazing how quickly things can change. Who would have thought he would have been an Oscar winner? I know I never did. But as I said before, things have certainly changed. Now that I am a woman of substance, I only have eyes for Russell Crowe (unless he’s acting with Leo D. Then I have to split screen time evenly because they are both so stellar in the talent department.) because: a) he has amazing mad talent, and b) Virtuosity was easy on the eyes. (I have substance, really!)  Many of RC’s movies are on my Favorite Movie List. Truth be told, he’s one of my favorite actors. I am so not hearing the buzz that he is not as strong a box office buzz as he used to be, and YES I loved Robin Hood!

Oscar Himself

As the big day approaches, all eyes are turned to Hollywood and we all wonder—just who will be graced with the honor of Oscar? I am no different…..the Oscars is my Superbowl, so everyone will know where I will be Sunday………GLUED to the TV screen watching all the Red Carpet triumphs and blunders and cheering and booing when my faves win or are shamefully dissed.

So, here is my Oscar Winners Predications List. It has long been a  perception that The Globes act as a forerunning harbinger for Oscar aspirations. However true this may be, I have hopes that this year could be different, as darling Nicole Kidman was shut out this year, and long absent pariahs like Mickey Rourke were honored. It just goes to show you never know which way the wind will blow in the town my dearest kindred spirit has dubbed Hollyweird! As you will see, my predictions read as more of a Wish List and most biased opinions ballot instead of educated guesses and hypothetical theories. I humbly beg for your forgiveness and ask that you indulge me, as my brain is frazzled by all the glamour and glitz to come. I am only human afterall. So, here goes…………

Best Actor – Brad Pitt (Though Mickey Rourke will probably find favor once again.)

Talented Taraji P. Henson

Best Actress – Kate Winslet (It’s about time….come on Angie, we’ve all seen this gut wrenching emotion from you a million times…..we have no doubts you are capable. Time to go all Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on us and play a great VILLAIN!)

Best Supporting Actor - Heath Ledger (He really was the creepiest Joker I’ve ever seen, and Oscar loves to grace thespians posthumously.)

Best Supporting Actress -  Taraji P. Henson (Did you SEE her in Benjamin Button? Amazing! Though Marisa or Penelope could be the fave.)

Best Animated Feature – WALL-E (Hands down!)

Achievement In Art Direction – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Though The Duchess was an amazing period piece that tantalized the senses, and the Dark Knight was that….dark…..it was good, don’t get me wrong, but Batman can’t win all the time.)

Achievement In Cinematography – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Ben Button_Brad and Cate

(This film was at times so intimate, I got so caught up and swept away by this story….I believed it. Isn’t it this suspension of disbelief a good movie makes? As a character driven film, the characters at times were shown so clearly and heart breakingly beautiful in all their vulnerablity that the poignancy of emotion in this film really resonated for me. Brilliant, beautiful artfully real cinematography.)

Poor, Poor Duchess

Achievement In Costume Design – The Duchess ( I want to say B.B., but I figured I’d give someone else a chance, and you can’t go wrong with a period piece for best in costume. Although, Australia could prove to be the dark horse in this race, but I really can’t say because I haven’t seen the movie yet.

Achievement In Directing – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ( Lookout for Slumdog Millionaire! This sleeper flick SWEPT the Globes! And I do mean SWEPT!)

Achievement In Film Editing – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Of course! Though The Dark Knight could be the shoe in.)

Achievement In Makeup – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Hands down, unbiased truth!)

Best Original Score – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Again, look out for Slumdog Millionaire! Though WALL-E could surprise us!)

Best Motion Pic of the Year! – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Unfortunately, the Globes disagreed with my expert opinion and Slumdog Millionaire took home the award for this category. Will Oscar do the same and nod his golden head in their direction as well? Tune in tomorrow, Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 5pm PST/8pm EST to find out!)

Anyways, can you tell B.B. was my most favorite film of the year? It’s 3rd I think currently on my favorite movies of all time list, just behind the LOTR franchise and The Chronicles of Narnia flicks, and just infront of King Kong. Legends of the Fall, Braveheart and Titanic are in there somewhere, too, but that’s another story. Anyhoo, Ben Button has 13 nominations, the most nominations out of any movie this year, so it’s bound to win something! Have fun!

King Kong

~P.S.~ In case you were wondering………

Achievement In Sound Editing – Wanted

Achievement In Sound Mixing – Wanted

Achievement In Visual Effects – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Ahem!)

Adapted Screenplay – The Reader

Original Screenplay – WALL-E