Film and Theatre Lover!
After seeing Joy last week and then catching Jennifer on the Graham Norton show it inspired me to do this blog post. She comes across so cool and that she does not have a care in the world on a chat show and has already played some great characters in film! At the age of 25 she already has an Oscar win to her name for Silver Linings Playbook as well as two other nominations for Winter’s Bone and American Hustle.
Live updates with my thoughts on the 2011 Oscars!
I have managed to achieve what would seem impossible and watch all ten of the best picture nominations before the Oscar ceremony. Usually this is not possible due to UK release date. But this year a lot of the films seem to have been earlier than usual in the Oscar race. With the help of LOVEFiLM for a couple of Blu Ray’s to make sure I achieved the goal of seeing each film before the ceremony. I am still no further forward in being able to predict the winner the Academy will choose. I mean we know they have made some mistakes in the past.
This is the second year in row which has seen 1o films being nominated for Best Picture. Which allows a few films into the category which would not make the final 5 in the old format. I guess this is just a way to make some films more well-known. Or for the more seen films to receive a nomination. Who can really tell . . . but does that mean they have a better chance of winning? Probably not.
The ten films which have been nominated this year all bring something very different to the Oscar stage. I have to say out of them the ones I have enjoyed the most have to be Black Swan and Inception, with True Grit and The King’s Speech following them.
Black Swan and Inception both had very similar impacts on me as I was still thinking about them days after seeing them at the cinema. They really get into your head and stick in there too. Make you really think about the film, and keep you trying to figure out how you perceive them.
127 Hours (Review)
Stuck between a rock and a hard place. A man must keep himself alive by any means possible after having his arm trapped by a bolder.
Black Swan (Review)
A Ballet dancer trying to take on the difficult role in Swan Lake, whilst trying to deal with her life at the same time.
The Fighter (Review)
The rise of Micky Ward as a boxer, looking into his family life and relationships with his brother, mother and girlfriend.
Inception (Review – not yet written)
A very interesting look into what could happen if you could plant ideas or take them away, by entering someone’s dream.
The Kids are All Right (Review)
A look into how the family dynamics differ in a same sex marriage with children.
The King’s Speech (Review)
A look into how King George VI overcame his speech problems after his older brother abdicated the thrown.
The Social Network (Review)
A look back at how Facebook came into being during Zuckerberg’s time at Harvard and the lawsuits which followed.
Toy Story 3 (Review)
We go on another adventure with our favorite toys, when Andy is now leaving for college.
True Grit (Review)
A remake of the classic John Wayne film, but with the Coen Brothers edge on it. Brilliant story of retribution.
Winter’s Bone (Review)
A young woman trying to find out what exactly happened to her father, leads her into very dangerous territory.
WHO DO YOU WANT TO WIN?
One last look at the five women nominated for best actress in a leading role. Team Portman for this one!
Annette Bening as Nic in “The Kids Are All Right”
Bening is Nic a woman trying to balance her working life, with the family she has with her longterm partner Jules. Who have two teenage children. Her world is turned upside down when the sperm donor is back in the picture, and Jules’ infidelity. Very well acted performance (as usual) from Bening.
Nicole Kidman as Becca in “Rabbit Hole”
I have not managed to see this film, so cannot comment on the performance. Only heard good things about it!
Jennifer Lawrence as Ree in “Winter’s Bone”
Brilliant performance from the young actress, in such a difficult role. Having to overcome so much and still manage to keep her heard held high, while searching for the truth from people she should not be mixing with.
Natalie Portman as Nina in “Black Swan”
Incredibly haunting performance in a film with exactly the same feel. She really does become both the white and black swan. That is Nina’s life and she must then transfer it onto the stage, feeling the pressure from everywhere. She is a very mixed up young woman who needs help more than anything!
Michelle Williams as Cindy in “Blue Valentine”
Unfortunately I have not seen this film either, has not been released here yet. Looking forward to seeing it, when we eventually get it!
One last look at the actors and the roles they were nominated for best supporting! I guess I am Team Bale for this one!
Christian Bale as Dicky Eklund in “The Fighter”
The has-been who believes that he is making his boxing comeback, while attempting to help his younger brother train and do something he never did. Become champion, whilst battling with drug addiction which has taken over his life. We see him fight his demons and eventually help his brother out. Larger than life and totally crazy, brilliant performance from Bale.
John Hawkes as Teardrop in “Winter’s Bone”
A very haunting performance in a very haunting film. At times very difficult to watch but Hawkes put in a very good performance, eventually helping out his niece.
Jeremy Renner as James Coughlin in “The Town”
Missed seeing this film, so cannot comment on the performance.
Mark Ruffalo as Paul in “The Kids Are All Right”
I have to admit that when I found out Ruffalo was nominated for an Oscar I was very shocked as seeing his previous performances didn’t think it would be something he would ever achieve. But in this he does put in a very honest performance as Paul, managing to make us feel sorry for him when we really shouldn’t.
Geoffrey Rush as Lionel Louge in “The King’s Speech”
Rush gives a fantastic performance and helps Firth bring out his character. They have fantastic chemistry and bring out the very best in each other. If anyone is a threat to Bale I really think it’s Rush!
Black Swan picked up 4 Independent Spirit Awards last night, which was just fantastic to see! The film seems to have been forgotten about in the Oscar race, other than the leading role for Natalie Portman. The Spirit Awards seem to just love Aronofsky and his films.
The King’s Speech picked up another award, this time for Foreign film. Obviously no Colin Firth allowed James Franco to receive a very well deserved award for his role in 127 Hours.
Best Feature: “Black Swan”
Best Director: Darren Aronofsky, “Black Swan”
Best Screenplay: Stuart Blumberg, Lisa Cholodenko, “The Kids Are All Right”
Best First Feature: “Get Low”
Best First Screenplay: Lena Dunham, “Tiny Furniture”
John Cassavetes Award: “Daddy Longlegs”
Best Female Lead: Natalie Portman, “Black Swan”
Best Male Lead: James Franco, “127 Hours”
Best Supporting Female: Dale Dickey, “Winter’s Bone”
Best Supporting Male: John Hawkes, “Winter’s Bone”
Best Cinematography: Matthew Libatique, “Black Swan”
Best Documentary: “Exit Through the Gift Shop”
Best Foreign Film: “The King’s Speech”
17-year-old Ree (Lawrence) faces tough times as she must look after her 12-year-old brother, 8-year-old sister and sick mother. She manages to get herself into all kinds of trouble when searching for her drug dealing father.
20 Days to go until the 2011 Oscar ceremony, so I thought it was about time that I made the effort to actually post the nominations and my predictions for the awards as well. Looking forward to it this year and will be making the effort to stay up late to watch all the drama unfold!
Prediction: The King’s Speech
I think it has gained the most momentum leading up to the Oscars over the last few weeks. So I fancy it to pick up the big award.
The nominations are really coming out thick and fast for the up and coming awards seasons from the start of 2011. The Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations were announced yesterday! The King’s Speech is yet again leading the nominations! With The Fighter also widely nominated. First time True Grit has been nominated for a couple of awards too. A few different nominations to which we have seen in the other award noms so far!
The nominees are:
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
JEFF BRIDGES / Rooster Cogburn – “TRUE GRIT” (Paramount Pictures)
ROBERT DUVALL / Felix Bush – “GET LOW” (Sony Pictures Classics)
JESSE EISENBERG / Mark Zuckerberg – “THE SOCIAL NETWORK” (Columbia Pictures)
COLIN FIRTH / King George VI – “THE KING’S SPEECH” (The Weinstein Company)
JAMES FRANCO / Aron Ralston – “127 HOURS” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
ANNETTE BENING / Nic – “THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT” (Focus Features)
NICOLE KIDMAN / Becca – “RABBIT HOLE” (Lionsgate)
JENNIFER LAWRENCE / Ree Dolly – “WINTER’S BONE” (Roadside Attractions)
NATALIE PORTMAN / Nina Sayers – “BLACK SWAN” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
HILARY SWANK / Betty Anne Waters – “CONVICTION” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
CHRISTIAN BALE / Dicky Eklund – “THE FIGHTER” (Paramount Pictures)
JOHN HAWKES / Teardrop – “WINTER’S BONE” (Roadside Attractions)
JEREMY RENNER / James Coughlin – “THE TOWN” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
MARK RUFFALO / Paul – “THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT” (Focus Features)
GEOFFREY RUSH / Lionel Logue – “THE KING’S SPEECH” (The Weinstein Company)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
AMY ADAMS / Charlene Fleming – “THE FIGHTER” (Paramount Pictures)
HELENA BONHAM CARTER / Queen Elizabeth – “THE KING’S SPEECH” (The Weinstein Company)
MILA KUNIS / Lily – “BLACK SWAN” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
MELISSA LEO / Alice Ward – “THE FIGHTER” (Paramount Pictures)
HAILEE STEINFELD / Mattie Ross – “TRUE GRIT” (Paramount Pictures)
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
Let's Go To The Movies 