Showing posts with label actors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label actors. Show all posts

Friday, March 1, 2013

Why Hello Old Friend

I blame my late posting about the Oscars on post-Oscar hangover.  Not an alcoholic hangover, a hangover from all the pizza and snacks I ate.  My mom, sister, and I watched a whole day's worth of red carpet pre-pre and pre-shows as promised.  After, I realized that I had watched three hours of skinny people while I ate a whole pizza.

There were some awkward red carpet moments, like when Ryan Seacrest seemingly dissed Catherine Zeta-Jones.  Let the woman have her mani-cam moment Seacrest!  Also, Giuliana Rancic asked Reese Witherspoon what her secret to having great, shiny hair was and Witherspoon said it was post-baby hair.  Ouch, a bit insensitive considering Rancic had trouble conceiving and finally had a baby via surrogate.  (Rancic chose Witherspoon as one of her worst-dressed on Fashion Police after.  Coincidence?  I think not.)  Lastly, Jennifer Hudson felt the need to keep reminding us that she had won an Oscar.  We remember, trust us.  Wait, also, did anyone catch Octavia Spencer being listed as Viola Davis on E!?  They don't look anything alike!  I was looking around going, where's Viola Davis?

Other than the awkward moments, the red carpet was full of gorgeous gowns.  Interesting and daring they may not have been, but pretty they were.  Where was Marchesa this year?  I love their dresses usually.  My faves were Kerry Washington in a strawberry Miu Miu gown (she is flawless), Naomi Watts in a futuristic, metallic Armani Prive dress, Jessica Chastain in old Hollywood glamour-a beautiful Armani Prive dress, and finally JLaw (that never caught on for some reason) of course!  Jennifer Lawrence looked absolutely stunning.  She was so young and fresh in a Dior Haute Couture blush-colored gown that everyone said could have looked bridal.  It didn't and she looked like a winner.  Her backwards necklace caused a stir although frankly I didn't understand the purpose of it.  I just kept thinking it would be annoying having to make sure it stayed that way.



Some looks that didn't quite hit the mark were Amanda Seyfried, in an Alexander McQueen gown that seemed uncomfortable in its fitting under her arms.  You would think they could go a size up since they're so tiny.  I also didn't love Anne Hathaway's last-minute change to Prada (I don't know why she wouldn't want her winning night to be in her bestie Valentino's gown).  It did look a bit like Seyfried's dress but who cares if you look better, plus she was the one who was winning an award.  I did like her hair, though, and am trying to recreate it myself but failing kind of horribly.  (Speaking of short hair, could Charlize Theron look any more beautiful?  The woman pulls off a boy-cut like no one else, perhaps since Natalie Portman after V for Vendetta.)  I liked the dress she wore on stage to sing better (the one with the sparkles and tiers).  I don't get why Hathaway is getting so much flak, though.  She is a talented actress and seems nice even if she does try a little hard.  I have a feeling that is the way I would come off on screen whereas my sister would come off more like Jennifer Lawrence who is so incredibly funny and likable.



Now, on to the show.  Seth MacFarlane did a good job in my book considering it was his first time and there were quite some funny moments.  I cannot believe that the "We Saw Your Boobs" song has caused this much controversy.  My mom did say that he should've done a song about the men too though, like Jane Fonda has also said now.  That is MacFarlane's humor and overall he was pretty G-rated.  I think sometimes everyone in the business takes themselves a little too seriously.  If we can't get Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to host next year can we please get Kathy Griffin?  Pretty please?

There were some surprises during the night.  Ang Lee was an upset.  I figured if Ang Lee hadn't won before then maybe he should get it but he had already one for his much much better work in Brokeback Mountain.  Steven Spielberg deserved this and it seemed that Lincoln got slighted (Silver Linings Playbook did too a little).  Any other year Lincoln would have done a Titanic-like sweep.  Christoph Waltz was another surprise.  I was rooting for Tommy Lee Jones but Waltz was fantastic (probably the best thing) in Django Unchained.  He really should stick with Quentin Tarantino!

Argo won for Best Picture deservedly, Daniel Day-Lewis took home the Best Actor award, and Anne Hathaway won Best Supporting Actress.  Amour won for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Screenplay went to Django Unchained (for Original) and Argo (for Adapted).  I am so glad that Jennifer Lawrence won!  She is so charismatic and adorable.  I don't mean to seem like I'm gushing, eh who am I kidding?  I am totally gushing.  If it was even possible, her fall made her even more likable.  Flats, ladies, wear flats!

So, it was a fun night and what the Oscars should be...a show! (Channing Tatum and Charlize Theron were amazing in their dance in the opener and who knew Seth MacFarlane could sing so well?)

Ah, 'til next year...

 

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Oh my, it's Time for the Oscars!

I absolutely love and adore movies (on an equal level with writing).  Old and new, quirky and haunting, all poignant in their own way.  They, like books, give us a glimpse into places we may never see and people we will never know.  They can open our eyes, make us laugh and cry, and give us an escape, if only for a little while.

I am so excited that the Oscars are tomorrow!  I am dedicating my entire day to watching the pre-pre-show, the pre-show, and all the red carpet goodness.  Bring on the pizza and the popcorn.  My family takes it seriously-winner of most accurate predictions gets lunch.  I've got this in the bag.
 

In a year of great films and not-so-great music (see further down), this awards season has been exciting.  Exciting is not usually the adjective first thought of to describe these awards shows because of past years of fairly predictable wins.  This year is up for grabs, though.  The only sure bets are Anne Hathaway for Best Supporting Actress and Daniel Day-Lewis for Best Actor.  I’m thinking that Jennifer Lawrence will and should take it for Best Actress.  Best Supporting Actor methinks will go to Tommy Lee Jones but the Academy may pull one of those “Here’s an award for all of your work that we should have rewarded earlier” and give it to Robert De Niro (or Bob as Lawrence calls him).  Christoph Waltz could be a surprise here as he won the BAFTA and Golden Globe but probably not.  Best Picture will most likely go to Argo but the division of awards is weird this year because Ben Affleck was snubbed for Best Director.

The awards shows have been fun so far, save the slowness of the BAFTAs (even the dry, witty host can’t save that).  The SAGs moved quickly and the Golden Globes were hilarious due to Amy Poehler and Tina Fey’s brilliance.  It truly was a night full of girl power and star power.  

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosting the Golden Globes and just being hilarious

The dresses this season have been pretty but also pretty safe.  There have not been any major blunders but some standouts have been all of Anne Hathaway’s choices (love her short hair), Marion Cotillard is always stunning (except for wearing the yellow version  of Jennifer Lawrence's SAG dress at the BAFTAs-why they made it a split level dress so that it looks like it is falling apart I'll never know), and Kerry Washington never misses.  Jennifer Lawrence looked beautiful at the Golden Globes but could even step outside of her box a little more.  Remember how gorgeous she looked at the Oscars a few years ago when she was nominated for Winter’s Bone?  She had her signature blond locks and a form-fitting red Calvin Klein dress.  **This just in, I just saw a picture of Jennifer Lawrence at the Film Independent Spirit Awards (damn you IFC for not showing on my TV) in a gorgeous short black Lanvin dress.  She looks young and fresh and I love love love it!  Jessica Chastain also chooses safe looks usually; I have to say I did not like the dress and hair she had for the Golden Globes this year. 


Anne Hathaway at the SAGs

Jennifer Lawrence at the 2011 Oscars

Jennifer Lawrence at the Golden Globes

Marion Cotillard at the Golden Globes

Music, on the other hand, has been disappointing this year.  Did anyone see the Grammys?  They were as lackluster as a potato chip.  I’ve never been so bored during the show.  My sister said we have officially entered Dante’s Inferno as Taylor Swift opened the show.  Clowns and Taylor Swift.  I like Taylor Swift but I didn’t think she needed all that stuff around her.  It was just distracting.  All the artists kept making it seem like Justin Timberlake was the best thing we'd ever seen (don't lie to us people, seriously not cool) and I don’t even like his new song, “Suit & Tie.”  If he doesn’t want to do music anymore then listening seems like a waste.
Taylor Swift opening the Grammys
  
I haven’t heard a song that I genuinely want to listen to over and over since Gotye’s haunting “Somebody That I Used to Know.”  Is it bad that I want that to be my theme song?  A few years ago my theme song was Papa Roach’s “Scars,” so it can’t be any worse than that.

I like Mumford & Sons but I liked their earlier music like “The Cave” and don’t get me wrong, Fun.’s “Some Nights” is catchy but should they have been nominated in almost every category?  I don’t think so.  One hit song or two does not a great album make.  I must be missing something because everyone loves Miguel and Frank Ocean and I just don’t get it.


Back to the movies, though.  Here are some of the movie reviews that I've written.  The films have all been nominated for Best Picture.  This year I actually have gotten to see all of the Best Pic nominees before the show.  The rest of the nominated movies' reviews to come along with a recap of the Oscars!