Posts Tagged ‘ meryl streep ’

My Oscars 2012 Reactions Post (part 1 or 2)


Tonight, I’m just going to quickLY discuss the winners and losers. Tomorrow or sometime next week, I’ll make a longer post about what I thought of the actual ceremony/Billy Crystal and the Oscar season as a whole.

FOR THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS, CLICK HERE.

First…for the dependable readers out there, I want to apologize for not posting predictions. And, really, I want to apologize for not being as invested in the 2012 movie season as I was last year. This week, I was contracted with an ugly case of the stomach flu, so I’ve pretty much spent the week lying in bed, groaning, holding my stomach, vomiting at the vomit stank coming out of my trash bag. So…I didn’t really have time to post predictions. And, frankly, I didn’t have much of a mind to think about who I would have predicted for a lot of the categories.

Like for the Screenplay categories. It’s not shocking that The Descendants and Midnight in Paris won. However…would I have predicted that? I dunno…I think I would have predicted The Artist for Original and thrown a curve ball and predicted Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy for Adapted. But…who knows? I think all four of these films are wonderful so I would have been happy either way. Actually…I would have been happiest with Bridesmaids winning. Think of it…”Oscar Winner, Triangle Sally”. So great. However, The Descendants may very well be my favorite movie of the year so I was very happy to see it win for Screenplay…esp. since Community’s Jim Rash shared the prize. (And he was pretty hilarious tonight…more on that another time).

As much as I loved The Descendants and George Clooney’s performance…the right leading actor won. Jean Dujardin was brilliant in The Artist. He was funny. He showed so much emotion with his face. He proves that you can be silent for a full movie and still be genius. And he was. And…after appearing on SNL, he’s pretty much the coolest person ever. I’m not gonna lie…it would have been cool if his co-star Berenice Bejo had won for her category…but I’m just glad The Help has an Oscar and Octavia Spencer’s performance is a good representation for the film and its many great performances. And…let’s admit it. Christopher Plummer had to win. End of story.

Speaking of The Help…I have very mixed feelings concerning Viola Davis losing. Viola Davis gave the best female performance of the year. She was my personal pick…and I thought the Oscar was hers. However…Meryl Streep is friggin’ amazing in EVERYTHING she does, and I’m very glad that she won her third Oscar, and that I was alive to see it. I was actually very giddy when Colin Firth initially called out her name. And I still am. But…this will always be a bittersweet moment for me (well…until Viola wins in the future hopefully). I know a lot of people are happy about this and I’m right there with them. But…if I was the one to pick…I still would have given it to Davis. Oof.

Anyway, onto the two other big awards. Y’know…Hugo won a lot of technical awards in the beginning of the ceremony (including Cinematography and Visual Effects wtf), so I thought that Martin Scorcese (take a swig of vodka) would win. So I was little surprised that Michel H-whatever won for The Artist…but not really. The Artist also won for Best Picture. There isn’t much to say about the win. It’s been the favorite since the beginning of the season. It’s a deserved win…I have no problem with it. I don’t really like silent films, but I loved this movie. So…go it.

For the most part…the rest of the wins weren’t shocking. Rango and A Separation won for their respective categories. (OK, maybe it was a little shocking that A Separation won because a lot of time, Foreign Language film is unpredictable…but A Separation was so huge this year that the voters couldn’t resist . Some people even think it should’ve been nominated for Best Film…I haven’t seen it so I’ll have to wait and see if I agree with that.) But, really, most of the wins were safe…

…except for one. And that is Best Film Editing. This is an important category because it’s been a LONG while since a film has won Best Picture…without at least getting nominated for this category. So for people (like me and nerds) who are obsessed with movie awards, this is a very important category. Many thought that either The Artist or Hugo would win. Even The Descendants winning wouldn’t have been too shocking. But, instead, the Academy really went out on a limb and gave Girl with a Dragon Tattoo. This doesn’t really make up for the movie getting snubbed Picture and Direction…but it’s still pretty nice!

Check back later for my review of the ceremony and my closing thoughts on this Oscar season. Thanks for reading!

Also…I have a message for the Meryl Streep fans…don’t be stupid. Don’t be smug. You got your way. Meryl won. Don’t be political. Don’t make comments like “I’m glad voters gave it to the best performance, and not for the actress with the darkest skin”. Seriously let’s not play this. You’re not speaking for Streep when you make idiotic comments like that. You’re only speaking for your stupid self. Be happy. Rejoice! But…don’t be stupid.

And Viola fans…don’t be stupid also. Don’t talk about how racist the Oscars are and all that junk. Be sad because you thought the BEST ACTRESS lost tonight…not because another black actress lost.

2012
02/27
CATEGORY
academy awards
awards
ceremony
nominations
oscars
predictions
recap
reflection
review
snubbed
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The Devil Wears Prada Ending (Video and Poem)


One of my favorite movies of all time is the 2006 comedy film The Devil Wears Prada. It has heart. It has laughs. It has witty dialogue. And great performances from Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci. Oh! And Meryl Streep, IMO, gives the greatest performance she has ever given (that includes Sophie’s Choice, Kramer vs. Kramer, and Adaption). Meryl is just subtle and sexy. She makes the character evil, but at the same time likeable. An by the end, you’re totally sympathetic towards her character Miranda.

I said this movie was one of my favorites. But I can confidently say that this movie has the greatest ending a movie could have. Between it’s lovely rock score. The hopeful message. And Meryl Streep’s impeccable facial expressions…this is an ending I watch over and over. I was so inspired by the end, I wrote a poem based off it (using loose rhymes BTW).

So, my apology for not posting more frequently, I give you the end scene and the poem that describes that end scene. Enjoy!

(PS…I’m sorry about the lame green bar that compresses the movie to half its size. I’ll try to fix that later. But you still get the jist of the amaingness of the ending. I couldn’t find a youtube video of this, that’s why I posted it myself.)

Here’s a link to a video of the ending (since WordPress won’t let me actually post a video directly here unless I pay money. Why?)

AND THIS IS THE POEM…

The Devil Sees Herself

 

For the first time Andrea was wearing clothes that fit.

She no longer hides behind some lumpy, blue sweater.

She walks out of the office building with confidence,

Enjoying the bright, yet cloudy, weather.

 

Miranda, the white haired women on her cell, walks outside.

She meanly asks her assistant why her damn car came so late.

Then she sees the young woman across the street, waving “hi”.

Miranda briefly considers waving back, but she just turns away.

 

Back at Andrea, she lowers her hand and watches her turn with a smirk.

She happily rolls her eyes, knowing everything they’ve been through.

She positions her tote bag on her shoulder and heads off to work.

Everyone’s going to be back to normal, soon…

 

And in the car, Miranda sits on a back seat and watches Andrea cross the street.

She closes her eyes, breathes, and then slowly forms a real happy smile.

Quickly she realizes what she’s doing and begins to lightly chuckle.

Her eyes beam as she looks up, her heart flutters, she doesn’t know why.

 

Andrea, on the New York street, continues to walk through the crowds of people.

She proudly declares that she will never do the things that woman did.

Miranda suddenly tenses up and frowns to the driver up front with an annoyed look,

And with such ease and power, she tells the him to do the one thing she wanted all along:

 

“Go.”

2011
02/18
CATEGORY
movie
review
1 comment

SAG Awards Movie Predictions


So the SAG Awards are tomorrow night, presumably airing on TBS, or one of those other cable channels where the sitcom show reruns they air are more interesting than their original programs (kidding, guys!). But I am excited. I love these awards, mostly because it’s just one step closer to the Oscars…the more important award. Again kidding…actually Meryl Streep winning the SAG a couple years ago remains one of my favorite award show moments ever. The world’s greatest actress still gets excited about winning awards. Go figure!

Anyway, here are my predictions for all the categories. Full list of nominations here. For my TV award predictions, click here.

MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Will win: This is really easy. There is no way in hell Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network) is winning this. James Franco might be a spoiler. But, at this point, it has to go to Colin Firth for his performance in The King’s Speech. If he loses, it’ll probably be one of the biggest snubs in the history of history!

Should win: I loved Colin Firth’s performance in The King’s Speech. It reminds me of Claire Danes performance in the TV movie Temple Grandin. Colin Firth’s character obviously has a mental problem, but it seems like Firth cares more about the emotions and insecurities behind the character, instead of perfecting a stutter. However, I feel like lately I’ve been rooting for Firth only  because one) he’s an older veteran actor who has never won before. And two) because he plays an undeniably difficult role. However, if I were to be true to my heart, I have to say it’s James Franco’s thoughtful performance in 127 Hours that gets me the most.

FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Will win: Annette Bening is an older, veteran actress that probably gets a lot of respect in the actor’s world. So I wouldn’t be too shocked if she won for The Kids Are All Right, especially since Meryl Streep did shockingly beat Kate Winslet a couple years ago. I think the SAGs sometimes show more respect towards older actresses. However, it would still be pretty silly not to make Natalie Portman (Black Swan) you’re first choice. She has received way too much buzz.

Should win: Portman winning would make me happy, but on my list, she’s literally in 4th place. It was really Nicole Kidman’s performance in Rabbit Hole that made me think the most.

MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Will win: Could Geoffrey Rush (The King’s Speech) pull an upset? Nah. Surely, most actors agree with the critics and the Hollywood Foreign Press: Christian Bale gave the strongest performance this year.

Should win: Let’s make a deal: Christian Bale can win the Oscar for his druggy, physically demanding performance in The Fighter. But how ’bout John Hawkes (Winter’s Bone) takes the final prize this time for his subtle, beautiful performance in this year’s under-the-radar gem.

FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Will win: Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) is officially in the race, but considering the SAGs track record…I think Melissa Leo will grab another award for her role in The Fighter.

Should win: After seeing The King’s Speech, I have officially fallen in love with Helena Bonham Carter. She was so calm, quiet, delicate and perfect in the movie. But, it would be so awesome if Amy Adams won, a performance I thought was stronger than Melissa Leo’s.

CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE

Will win: I had a really tough time with this one. For me, it came down between The Social Network and The Fighter. Some people people are saying The Fighter will win because it’s been dominating in the supporting categories, and because it won the Best Ensemble award at the Critics awards. But…I would fight that and say that Dreamgirls also won the SAG for best supporting actor and actress, but it did not win Best Cast a few years ago. Also, a couple years ago, Hairspray won the Critics Award for Best Ensemble but it did not win the SAG Award. Clearly, the SAGs have their own brains. Also in the last 15 years the SAGs have been in existence, most of the Best Cast winners have been bonified Best Picture front runners. It’s difficult because The Social Network didn’t really have much of a cast, but it is a huge front runner for Best Picture come Oscar time. I figure The voters are already going to award The Fighter for 2 awards…they may want to spread the love. So…that being said, if Slumdog Millionaire can win beating movies with “stronger, more traditional” ensembles like Doubt and Milk – movies with more recognizable, respected movie stars, then I think that The Social Network will win this one. (Although, I do this hesitantly, if I could choose more than one possibility, I’d put The Fighter up there.) So…The Social Network it is!

Should win: I’m crushed, however, that a true ensemble like The Kids are All Right isn’t getting more buzz. That movie would get my vote!

So, there it is. My predix and pix! This was a lot easier than the TV awards, I’ll tell you that. Check back soon for a recap after the SAG awards announce the winners. Bye for now!

2011
01/29
CATEGORY
academy awards
awards
movie
nominations
oscars
predictions
review
sag awards
the kids are all right
the social network
2 comments

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