Oscars 2011 – Live Blog

Live updates with my thoughts on the 2011 Oscars!

Well I made the decision to watch E! for the red carpet coverage, which I have no idea if it was a good thing or a bad thing. Ready for the Oscar ceremony to start on Sky Movies.
Alec Baldwin included in the opening scenes with James Franco and Anne Hathaway. Appearing in all the best picture nominees. Brilliant start!
Ahhh Morgan Freeman making a little appearance too!
Very clever editing Franco and Hathaway into the films!
Hugh Jackman looked like he wanted to be back on the stage!
Getting the parents and grandparents involved. Very funny! Especially Franco’s grandmother saying Marky Mark! Mark Wahlberg, love it!
A look back at ‘Gone with the Wind’ the ultimate classic ❤
Tom Hanks presenting ART DIRECTION – WINNER – Alice in Wonderland
CINEMATOGRAPHY – WINNER – Inception
Credit given to Christopher Nolan!
Awww Kirk Douglas! Standing ovation for him. He’s just incredible for his age. Very funny with both Franco and Hathaway. Struggling to speak bless him!
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – WINNER – MELISSA LEO for The Fighter
Now for a very over the top speech . . . Or maybe not, she actually sounds very nervous. Just dropped the f-word too.
Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis presenting. Timberlake claiming to be Banksy!
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM – WINNER – THE LOST THING
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE – WINNER – Toy Story 3
Hathaway talking about the very first Academy Awards
Presenters Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem . . . wearing old school white tux’s.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY – WINNER – The Social Network – Aaron Sorkin
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY – WINNER – The King’s Speech – David Seidler
Oldest person to win that award, he hopes its broken quickly and often.
Hathaway performing musical number, directed at Hugh Jackman . . . Using ‘On My Own’ from Les Mis. Franco comes on in a very pink dress. Charlie Sheen joke!
Helen Mirren and Russell Brand presenting
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM – WINNER – IN A BETTER WORLD (DENMARK)
Reese Witherspoon presenting. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – WINNER – CHRISTIAN BALE for The Fighter
He actually sounds rather nervous with his speech, Dicky Eklund is there too 🙂 Very emotional in his speech, especially towards his wife and daughter.
Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman presenting . . . Aussie rules!
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – WINNER – THE SOCIAL NETWORK
SOUND MIXING – WINNER – INCEPTION
SOUND EDITING – WINNER – INCEPTION

February 28, 2011 0

Burlesque (2010) Review

Ali (Aguilera) is from Iowa and one day decides she’s leaving to go to LA. In order to fulfill her dreams of performing for people. But remember as the tagline says, it takes a Legend to make a star. That legend in this film being Tess played by none other than Cher. Who in my opinion steals each scene she is in!

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February 2, 2011 1

Golden Globes 2011

I have grown to enjoy the Golden Globes over the past few years, possibly even more than Oscars. They seem to be more relaxed and fun. Everyone seems to have a good time. This year the big talking point fell around Ricky Gervais who was hosting, some of his jokes not going down very well with the audience. This then lead to him disappearing for more than an hour from the ceremony, leading to talk that he was stopped from coming on to deliver monologue.

So the talk surrounding the Globes is that Gervais will not be asked to host the show for the third time in a row. I personally found his jokes to be rather amusing and I am not usually a massive fan of his. But I guess for the American audience Gervais’ still was a bit extreme. Best moment had to be introducing Bruce Willis as Ashton Kutcher’s dad!

My favorite speech had to be from Robert De Niro when he picked up the Cecil B. DeMille Award (lifetime achievement). He managed to mix thanking people, talking about his career with a very heart warming feel and jokes put in to even it all out. He really is something else!

Colin Firth continued his collection of awards for his performance in “The King’s Speech” and looks almost certain to pick up the Oscar next month. His speech was also just fantastic, being very funny as well. It really is brilliant to see Colin getting the recognition that he so rightly deserves.

My favorite moment had to come from Michael Douglas appearing on stage to present the Best Film (Drama) award. He received a standing ovation from everyone in the room and responded with “there has to be an easier way to get a standing ovation”. It was brilliant to see him on a stage a few days after being given the all clear from his cancer battle. Definetly the most tear jerking moment in the whole ceremony. An icon to all!

The Winners are . . .

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January 21, 2011 2

Golden Globes 2011 – Nominations

The nominations for the 2011 Golden Globe awards were announced today. The nominee’s are:

Best Picture: Drama

Black Swan

The Fighter

Inception

The King’s Speech

The Social Network

Best Picture: Comedy or Musical

Alice in Wonderland

Burlesque

The Kids Are Alright

Red

The Tourist

Continue reading “Golden Globes 2011 – Nominations” →

December 14, 2010 2

45 Years of the Sound of Music!

The hills are alive with the sound of music, with songs they have sung for 45 years . . . yes that’s right one of the most loved and well-known films of all time is 45 years young. To celebrate that another special DVD is being released along with the a Blu Ray Disc release! (Yes I shall be purchasing that one sometime soon).

Oprah reunited the cast for the first time since the film came out and it really shows just how special it is. It feels good to see the Von Trapp family all together again. I am not afraid to admit that “The Sound of Music” has always been and will always be one of my favorite ever films. It’s one of my feel good films that really helps me when I feel down.

I’ve watched it from since I can remember and know all of the words off by heart . . . that’s the dialogue as well as the songs. Julie Andrews is just incredible and I cannot believe if people have not seen this film! I just think it really does have a bit of everything. It even makes me cry with the romance between Maria and the Captain.

October 29, 2010 0

Musical Moments 1 – Let’s Go To The Movies

The first in the Musical Moments feature which I mentioned a little while ago now, that Monday is Musical Moments day! I thought the best way to start this all off ties in very well with the name of this blog. The “Let’s Go To The Movies” scene from Annie. It really is a brilliant scene from the film, which see’s little Annie visit the cinema for the first time and good musical fashion they all make a big song and dance out of it!

So let’s go to the movies . . .

Performed by Aileen Quinn, Ann Reinking, & Albert Finney

August 2, 2010 2

Catherine Zeta Jones – Tony Award Winner 2010

With my major lack of updates over the past few months, I missed posting about one of my favorite actresses who has taken Broadway by storm with her debut in A Little Night Music. Which she won the Tony Award for best leading actress in a musical. She also performed Send in the Clowns that night and she really is a very talented performer.

I have been a huge fan of Catherine from the first time I saw her sing “All That Jazz” from “Chicago” the movie musical in which she won her Oscar for. Just a shame I came home from the USA a month or so before Catherine made her debut as I would have made sure I went to see her on the stage. Lets hope that she signs up for another movie musical or even makes her way back to where it all began on the West End stage!

I love her reaction when she found out that she won the award, total classic moment. Looks like she was trying to get Michael to go onto the stage with her!

July 4, 2010 2

Desert Island DVDs

Whilst trying to decide which films to include, I decided the biggest factor had to be if your able to watch it over and over again. I mean your only going to have 8 DVDs to chose from. Pointless having DVDs in there if you could not watch them over and over.

In putting together my list they had to have a good story, acting and interesting characters who you could either relate to or are very likeable.

My initial idea was to narrow it down towards the 8 films by separating the films into different genres. Then attempting to have at least one from each genre, giving a wider variety of film choice. But I am not entirely sure that actually happened when I look at my finished list.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Thought provoking and complex with a very interesting concept.
Brilliant performances from Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey
Has to be watched many times for you to really notice a lot of things in it.
Makes you wonder if you would erase someone
Confuses you so much throughout

American Beauty

“Look Closer . . . ” – tagline really explains it all, that you must look closer as life isn’t always what it first appears.
You must look closer at everything.
Brilliant performances from all members of the cast, who work so well together.
How midlife crisis can go
You will never look at a plastic bag blowing in the wind in the same way again!

The Sound of Music

Feel good film you can sing along to and enjoy at any ages.
The love story, between Maria and the Captain.
This is the film I watch when I feel a little down or ill, as it makes me smile.
Julie Andrews being just amazing
Heartwarming

The Dark Knight

Amazing performances and storyline
I saw it 3 times at the cinema (holding the record for most cinema viewings for a film)
The Joker & Batman
Thought provoking in the sense of terrorism
Amazing Batman installment

Million Dollar Baby

I tried to resist all temptation of including my favorite film in this list, but the pressure got to me and I decided to include it.
Amazing performances and a storyline which really got to me.
The score by Clint Eastwood is just brilliant
The trio of Swank/Eastwood/Freeman
Best Picture Oscar winner

As Good As It Gets

Jack Nicholson at his very best in a best actor winning role.
Such a funny film with sarcastic and very witty humour used.
Helen Hunt in an Oscar-winning role
The dog – amazing in so many ways
The amazing lines Nicholson delivers

Beaches

The ultimate tale of friendship lasting and how you get past disagreements and heartache.
Tear-jerking
“Wind Beneath My Wings”
Bette Midler putting in a believable and brilliant performance
Totally heart-breaking

Rocky Horror Picture Show