OSCAR – Academy Awards
Oscar 2011 Short Preview – What Movie Must Have to Deserve an Oscar?
Ok, we all know (or, at least I hope we know) that the upcoming Oscar night will not open our eyes and show us what movie deserves our attention. That award, unfortunately, doesn’t mean that the movie is the best one, or even the really good one. But I also know that tomorrow, we’ll be watching that spectacle, and hoping that our favorite movie wins. So, let’s start our little “fight” and try to answer some questions.
I’m sure I’ll never forget The Hurt Locker that took almost everything in every single category at the last year’s Oscar. If anybody cares about my opinion – Wikileaks‘ Iraq “movie” that represents the insanity of human beings and their victims, deserved Oscar more than Bigelow’s.
And I know that some out there don’t share my opinion. And it’s totally ok. But, why should we mix movies with politics now? Well, that’s exactly the thing – it’s not us! It’s Oscar that started the whole thing!
I mean, how is it possible that a movie like Avatar, made for enjoyment, lost this race? Now, please, don’t give me that “weak script” answer, and read between the lines for change…
So, let me ask you once again – what is it, that one movie must have to deserve an Oscar? Artistic impression? Art of the moment? Good and original story? Famous cast? Political background? Can anybody even answer that question?
This year we have almost identical situation. The Hurt Locker last year. The King’s Speech this year. Yes, I do know that these are completely different movies, and when I say completely – I mean, nothing in common, but that still leads us to the above mentioned question.
The Academy obviously doesn’t like blockbusters, they like to nominate a movie that will train our artificial intelligence (no, I’m not talking about Spielberg’s movie), and it sounds logical. And, if you take a little look at this year’s list of nominations, you already see that each one of 10 nominated movies really has the art moment – but how can we measure that and say – look, here’s the best one!?
For example, I think that Black Swan has it all! No, not just because we have ballet in the movie, because, let’s face it – the ballet here has almost a side effect. Then, we have 127 Hours, Inception, True Grit and of course The King’s Speech.
It’s Oscar Time! Five Great Show Ideas for the Academy Awards
Hey, I Don’t Look Like Jennifer Aniston!
Why are healthy, wealthy women in the movies always played by skinny, white women? Hollywood contributes to stereotypes of class and race. Physician and healthy living expert Dr. Veronica Anderson is a provocative and straight-talking guest who says that leading ladies don’t need to look like clones.
Celebrity Envy – Be the Star You Really Are
Celebrities on the red carpet look like they were born to be stars, but can the rest of us be stars in our own lives? Reinvention expert and author Steve Olsher says you should stop sitting in the audience and start calling the shots from the director’s chair. Invite him to reveal his top tips for career success.
Oscar 2011 Presenters
Oscar night is coming and we already know that Anne Hathaway and James Franco will host the ceremony on February 27, 2011.
But I’m sure you’re all interested to see the complete list of Oscars Academy Awards 2011 presenters. That’s why we’re here today, and according to the latest update from telecast producers Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer, this is going to be quite interesting night…
So, let’s start with some well-known ladies! Halle Berry, who, back in 2001 won the Best Actress Oscar for her role in Monster’s Ball will be among the presenters, together with Oprah Winfrey who was nominated for an Oscar for her supporting role in The Color Purple as well as Marisa Tomei who won an Oscar in 1992 for her supporting role in My Cousin Vinny.
Academy Award Special Bets for 2011
As the Oscars look even more predictable than normal this year (Colin Firth is 1/50 to win Best Actor!) Bodog has come up with a few bets to help the long evening be a little more entertaining.
Bodog.com bet:
How many of the big 3 award winners (Director, Actor, Actress) will visibly cry when receiving their award?
- None: 4/7
- 1: 3/2
- 2: 5/1
- All 3: 20/1
Performers of the Oscar-Nominated Songs Announced
Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer, 83rd Academy Awards telecast producers, announced the artists who will perform the nominated songs on the Kodak Theatre stage on Oscar Night (Sunday, February 27, 2011)
Gwyneth Paltrow fans definitely are going to be satisfied with this news, because multi-talented actress will be among a group of stars singing this year’s Oscar nominated songs on the awards show. Check out the rest of this report to find out more names.
Paltrow will perform “Coming Home” from the film Country Strong. I’m actually not a huge fan of Paltrow, but I like this one and I know I’ll be singing that “after all of my running, I’m finally coming….home.” Lady has a voice!
Incendies Oscar Nominated for Best Foreign Language
Incendies – remember that title! 2010 Canadian film written and directed by Denis Villeneuve, adapted from Wajdi Mouawad‘s play, Scorched, and this one definitely deserves our attention.
Just in case you’re wondering why – here’s the answer. The movie has been nominated for the Best Foreign Language Oscar and that’s why guys from Sony Pictures Classics have just set an April 22 release for the film in New York and Los Angeles with expansion expected over the weeks following…
Here’s the Incendies synopsis:
“When the mother of twins Jeanne and Simon passes away, she leaves them a pair of envelopes – one for the father they thought was dead and another for a brother they didn’t know existed.
In a Better World in Oscar Race for Best Foreign Language Film
In a Better World, movie nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film – that’s the movie we’re going to talk about today.
Markus Rygaard and William Johnk Nielsen in In a Better World
It’s a 2010 Danish drama directed by Susanne Bier and written by Oscar-winning screenwriter Anders Thomas Jensen. And, when you have this kind of team on board, you get the final result – awards all over the place!
Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (September 14, 2010), the movie was also presented at this year’s Sundance Film Festival (few days ago).
When asked, at the Toronto Film Festival, why she decided to change the English title of her latest film “In a Better World” from its original Danish translation “The Revenge,” Susanne Bier told that she was concerned it would be perceived as a horror film.
In a way, “In a Better World” actually fits that bill nicely, not as part of that particular genre, but instead as a well-told parable about on the futile perpetuation of violence.
So, as we said, the film has been selected as the Danish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 83rd Academy Awards and won for Best Foreign Language Film at the 68th Golden Globe Awards.
On 19 January 2011, it made the shortlist for Best Foreign Language Film and on 25 January, it was selected as one of the final five nominees for Oscar.
Check out In a Better World synopsis:
“Two Danish schoolchildren, one meek and unassertive, the other angry and vengeance-prone, forge a friendship with ugly consequences in this cautionary tale . The story opens with physician Anton, working abroad in a Kenyan hospital, where he’s routinely treating female victims of a psychotic thug known as Big Man.
Winter’s Bone Front-Runner at Film Independent Spirit Award 2011
“If you had a fleeting chance to escape a life of drudgery and poverty, of living hand-to-mouth in a closeknit rural community, would you take it?”
That’s exactly the thing with Winter’s Bone, an adaptation of Daniel Woodrell‘s 2006 novel of the same name.
The film was written and directed by Debra Granik, and stars lovely Jennifer Lawrence.
Winter’s Bone stars Lawrence as an Ozark teen named Ree Dolly, the sole guardian to her younger siblings, who is forced to search for her missing father in order to save her family’s home.
Oscar Nominations 2011: The Full List
Quit doing all your home work, and pay good attention! Why? What do you mean – why? The nominees for the 83rd Academy Awards have just been announced, and you don’t want to miss that, do you?
So, who are the biggest players this year?
Tom Hooper‘s The King’s Speech definitely leads the race with even 12 nominations, including best picture, directing, original screenplay and actor for Colin Firth.
As usual, Joel and Ethan Coen are the part of the race too, this time with the remake of the western True Grit, that gained 10 nominations, including best picture.
Let’s move on…
