Thoughts on Oscar Nominations and Predictions

With just a day to go until the 89th Academy Awards, here are my thoughts on the nominations (and the snubs) as well as my personal picks to win and also my predictions. All-in-one post for efficiency!

BEST PICTURE

• Arrival (8 nominations)
• Fences (4 nominations)
• Hacksaw Ridge (6 nominations)
• Hell or High Water (4 nominations)
• Hidden Figures (3 nominations)
• La La Land (14 nominations)
• Lion (6 nominations)
• Manchester by the Sea (6 nominations)
• Moonlight (8 nominations)

It's La La Land's world and we just live in it. And I couldn't be happier. It's not often that the Oscar front-runner (with a record tying 14 Oscar nominations) is also my favorite film so I've been quite enjoying its dominant awards-season run even with the predictable backlash. If that backlash sticks though Moonlight should benefit and thankfully I really like that film too! Meanwhile don't ask me why Hacksaw Ridge or Hell or High Water were nominated.

SHOULD WIN: La La Land
WILL WIN: La La Land
COULD WIN: Moonlight

BEST DIRECTOR

• Denis Villeneuve, Arrival
• Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge
• Damien Chazelle, La La Land
• Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea
• Barry Jenkins, Moonlight

I wished this had matched up the DGA nomination with Garth Davis (Lion) replacing Gibson, but alas we can't have everything. I think the other nominees were pretty expected and quite deserving. I'm especially thrilled that Villeneuve made it in for a sci-fi film and that Jenkins could become the first black director to win. But I think no one is beating Chazelle. I think even La La Land detractors would agree that he directed that movie wonderfully.

SHOULD WIN: Damien Chazelle
WILL WIN: Damien Chazelle
COULD WIN: Barry Jenkins

BEST ACTRESS

• Emma Stone, La La Land
• Natalie Portman, Jackie
• Ruth Negga, Loving
• Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins
• Isabelle Huppert, Elle

This was a very competitive year for this category that such veterans like Annette Bening and Amy Adams were left out in the cold. The safe bet here is to pick Stone with her winnings the Globes, SAG, and BAFTA. But Portman and Huppert have their staunch fans and they've picked up their share of awards as well (i.e. Stone hasn't steamrolled). And let's give it up for Negga nabbing her first nomination... and of course Streep getting her 20th (!) Oscar nomination.

SHOULD WIN: Emma Stone
WILL WIN: Emma Stone
COULD WIN: Isabelle Huppert

BEST ACTOR

• Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
• Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
• Ryan Gosling, La La Land
• Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic
• Denzel Washington, Fences

If there was an acting race, this would be the category to watch. Affleck is the slight frontrunner dominating the awards season, but there was always the hint of a scandal that never coalesced to anything concrete. And Washington is right there on Affleck's heels with his own powerhouse of a performance garnering him the SAG which feels like a shift in the race... or not. What I would give to have Gosling win in a shock (though as much as I love his film, he should've been nominated for The Nice Guys). Then again as happy as I am for Garfield's first nom (should've been for The Social Network), it really should be for Silence and not this film.

SHOULD WIN: Ryan Gosling
WILL WIN: Casey Affleck
COULD WIN: Denzel Washington

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• Viola Davis, Fences
• Naomie Harris, Moonlight
• Nicole Kidman, Lion
• Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures
• Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea

First and foremost I love Davis and I'm so happy she's going to win her first Oscar! And yeah, no one is going to beat her. With that said, it's so clearly a lead role and I'm just a little bit disappointed at the category fraud. She would've been VERY competitive in lead. With that said, I also can't fault her. She's a lock here. If she wasn't here I think Williams could've won her first or perhaps Harris in a "shock" win. Anyways, if Davis wasn't here, who could've snuck in? Greta Gerwig? Janelle Monae?

SHOULD WIN: Viola Davis
WILL WIN: Viola Davis
COULD WIN: Michelle Williams (but she won't)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

• Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
• Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
• Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea
• Dev Patel, Lion
• Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals

Ali is the frontrunner here after dominating the awards season early on, but since then the race has gotten more interesting. He lost to Aaron-Taylor Johnson at the Globes and Patel at BAFTA. Thankfully Johnson wasn't nominated (instead his co-star Shannon deservedly snuck in without much precursor support), but with Lion surging, Patel is still a threat. Bridges' nod is so damn uninspiring. Could've made room instead for Hugh Grant or Ralph Fiennes.

SHOULD WIN: Michael Shannon
WILL WIN: Mahershala Ali
COULD WIN: Dev Patel

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

• Arrival
• Fences
• Hidden Figures
• Lion
• Moonlight

At the WGA Awards, Arrival won, but it wasn't up against Moonlight which interestingly enough was in the Original Screenplay category and won that award. I think Moonlight will make history and double-dip by winning here. If anything its closest competition is probably the surging Lion or the beloved Fences (to posthumously honor August Wilson) and not Arrival.

SHOULD WIN: Lion
WILL WIN: Moonlight
COULD WIN: Fences

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

• Hell or High Water
• La La Land
• The Lobster
• Manchester by the Sea
• 20th Century Women

With Moonlight in Adapted, this should be a cakewalk for Kenneth Lonergan's Manchester by the Sea UNLESS the Oscars want to give La La Land all the awards which it could very well do. I don't think they will, but you never know. I *am* thrilled to see The Lobster and 20th Century Women nominated here. By far the two best scripts in film this year.

SHOULD WIN: The Lobster
WILL WIN: Manchester by the Sea
COULD WIN: La La Land

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

• Land of Mine (Denmark)
• A Man Called Ove (Sweden)
• The Salesman (Iran)
• Tanna (Australia)
• Toni Erdmann (Germany)

I'm a bit sad I haven't seen any of these films yet, but I know I'll eventually see at least Toni Erdmann (the favorite to win) and The Salesman (the very strong possible spoiler). With early favorites Elle and Neruda not making it in, Toni Erdmann is the only other film to receive precursor love, but if the Academy wants to make a political statement look for Asghar Farhadi's The Salesman. Also if you haven't read the joint statement of these filmmakers, you must.

SHOULD WIN: The Salesman
WILL WIN: Toni Erdmann
COULD WIN: The Salesman

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

• Kubo and the Two Strings
• Moana
• My Life as a Zucchini
• The Red Turtle
• Zootopia

I think you know it's a great year in animation when a Finding Nemo sequel is just my fourth favorite animated film of the year and I'm not even sad it's not nominated. Zootopia is the favorite to win and it's also MY favorite animated film of the year, but I did love Moana and Kubo as well and the latter, with its recent BAFTA win, is nipping at the Zootopia's heels. I've also only heard good things about the other two which I haven't seen.

SHOULD WIN: Zootopia
WILL WIN: Zootopia
COULD WIN: Kubo and the Two Strings

BEST FILM EDITING

• Arrival
• Hacksaw Ridge
• Hell or High Water
• La La Land
• Moonlight

All of these are Best Picture nominees and convention says La La Land will take this (and it will deserve it!). But if they want MOST editing, they could possibly go with Hacksaw Ridge or even Hell or High Water. Arrival or Moonlight would be inspired.

SHOULD WIN: La La Land
WILL WIN: La La Land
COULD WIN: Hacksaw Ridge

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

• Arrival
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
• Hail, Caesar!
• La La Land
• Passengers

Here's the thing, if it was up to me I'd give La La Land most of the categories it's nominated for. And the Academy could very well think the same thing and give it a win here. With that said, I think Fantastic Beasts and Arrival and maybe even Passengers had some precursor support. The big miss here was The Handmaiden.

SHOULD WIN: La La Land
WILL WIN: Arrival
COULD WIN: Fantastic Beast

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

• Arrival
• La La Land
• Silence
• Lion
• Moonlight

Probably one of my favorite list of nominees this year. I just think every single nomination here is truly well-deserved as I thought these were five of the most beautiful films I saw this past year. Again convention says La La Land if they want to sweep, but I wouldn't be surprised AT ALL if Moonlight or even Lion took the trophy.

SHOULD WIN: Lion
WILL WIN: Moonlight
COULD WIN: La La Land

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

• "Audition (The Fools Who Dream)," La La Land
• "Can’t Stop the Feeling," Trolls
• "City of Stars," La La Land
• "The Empty Chair," Jim: The James Foley Story
• "How Far I’ll Go," Moana

Last year's winner was deplorable so the Academy can only do better this year! And it's a good list with the exception of the totally random "The Empty Chair." It probably took the spot of "Do Anything" from Zootopia or the totally awesome "Drive It Like You Stole It" from Sing Street. That said, this is La La Land versus Lin-Manuel Miranda's quest to EGOT for his Moana song. He has more than a good possibility I think especially if the two La La Land songs split votes.

SHOULD WIN: "How Far I'll Go"
WILL WIN: "City of Stars"
COULD WIN: "How Far I'll Go"

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

• Jackie
• La La Land
• Lion
• Moonlight
• Passengers

As if the Academy voters aren't going to give the score award to the musical film. I think that's a pretty safe bet. If they are feeling adventurous though this would be the best chance to honor Mica Levy's work in Jackie. Or even poor Thomas Newman (Passengers) with his 14 nominations and 0 wins.

SHOULD WIN: La La Land
WILL WIN: La La Land
COULD WIN: Jackie

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

• Allied
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
• Florence Foster Jenkins
• Jackie
• La La Land 

People are saying La La Land is a safe bet here, but I know more than a few people who wasn't too impressed (they're crazy). But if that's a more widespread feeling then I would think it'd be between Jackie or Florence Foster Jenkins. Unless they feel they must award Colleen Atwood (Fantastic Beasts) with her 4th win. Light a candle for The Dressmaker.

SHOULD WIN: La La Land
WILL WIN: Jackie
COULD WIN: La La Land

BEST SOUND EDITING

• Arrival
• Deepwater Horizon
• Hacksaw Ridge
• La La Land
• Sully

Hacksaw Ridge and Deepwater Horizon were really loud. But La La Land could sweep so...

SHOULD WIN: La La Land
WILL WIN: La La Land
COULD WIN: Hacksaw Ridge

BEST SOUND MIXING

• Arrival
• Hacksaw Ridge
• La La Land
• Rogue One
• 13 Hours

Someday I'll know the difference. Then again many Oscar voters don't. I'd probably just say La La Land again, but I think this will swing to another film. Arrival or Rogue One perhaps?

SHOULD WIN: Arrival
WILL WIN: Rogue One
COULD WIN: La La Land

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

• Rogue One
• The Jungle Book
• Doctor Strange
• Deepwater Horizon
• Kubo and the Two Strings

I think if I was making the ballot, these would've been my exact same five films. And yes, I'm thrilled that Kubo made it in since that film used VFX so well. Anyways, this is The Jungle Book's award to lose, but weirder things have happened.

SHOULD WIN: Kubo and the Two Strings
WILL WIN: The Jungle Book
COULD WIN: Doctor Strange

BEST MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING

• A Man Called Ove
• Star Trek Beyond
• Suicide Squad

Suicide Squad? Really? I would've gladly switched that out with The Dressmaker, Deadpool, or Florence Foster Jenkins. The sad thing is it's probably the frontrunner here too.

SHOULD WIN: Star Trek Beyond
WILL WIN: A Man Called Ove
COULD WIN: Suicide Squad

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

• Fire at Sea
• I Am Not Your Negro
• Life, Animated
• 13th
• O.J.: Made in America

I've only seen the Ava DuVernay's 13th, which I implore everyone to watch. With that said I haven't heard anyone say anything bad about any of these films. Made in America is probably the slight favorite with all of its precursor support, but I still call foul on submitting a 6+ hour miniseries for Oscar consideration.

SHOULD WIN: 13th
WILL WIN: OJ: Made in America
COULD WIN: 13th

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM

• Extremis
• 4.1 Miles
• Joe’s Violin
• Watani: My Homeland
• The White Helmets 

I've seen The White Helmets and Extremis since they're both available on Netflix and I meant to see 4.1 Miles and Joe's Violin since they're also available elsewhere online. Without knowing too much about the race, I think The White Helmets might have an edge especially with our current political climate. Or maybe Joe's Violin.

SHOULD WIN: The White Helmet
WILL WIN: The White Helmet
COULD WIN: Joe's Violin

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM

• Blind Vaysha
• Borrowed Time
• Pear Cider and Cigarettes
• Pearl
• Piper

Having seen only Pearl and Piper which I thought were both good (though not amazing), I have no earthly idea which of these films is the favorite or even who should win. Your guess is as good as mine.

SHOULD WIN: Piper
WILL WIN: Pearl
COULD WIN: Piper

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

• Ennemis Intérieurs
• La Femme et le TGV
• Silent Nights
• Sing
• Timecode

Saw these last weekend and I think any of them could win for various reasons. My absolute favorite is Timecode which is probably the slightest of them all story-wise, but it's also the most delightful. Sing has a very satisfying arc and some great character work. La Femme et le TGV might attract older voters and it's the only film with a recognizable star (always a plus). The latter two were my least favorites, but they were also the most topical. Ennemis Intérieurs was the better of the two but also the most inert film of the five while Silent Nights is just not good in so many sense.

SHOULD WIN: Timecode
WILL WIN: La Femme et le TGV
COULD WIN: Sing

So where does that all leave me in terms of predictions? I predicted La La Land to walk away with a leading 7 wins including Picture/Director/Actress. With the rest of the wealth shared among a few films namely Moonlight, Manchester by the Sea, Fences, Arrival, etc. And I think Lion, Hell or Hell Water, and Hidden Figures will walk away with no wins. Let's all check back on Sunday and see how wrong I am!

Screen Actors Guild Nominations

Is it just me or does this year the awards announcement seem to happen on top of one another? Well in any case, all those critic awards are all well and good, but it's the guilds that seem to really reflect where the awards season is going. So this morning when the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) nominations were announced, ears were perked. Unfortunately Perks of Being a Wallflower was ignored, but that's a whole other story. Now while getting nominated for a SAG award doesn't automatically translate into an Oscar nomination, getting one doesn't hurt.

Best Ensemble

• Argo
• The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
• Les Misérables
• Lincoln
• Silver Linings Playbook

This season's Oscar frontrunner Zero Dark Thirty tumbled a bit today garnering only one nomination for Actress and none for Ensemble, but it's hard to fault the nominations above especially with their sprawling casts. All but Best Exotic Marigold Hotel are surefire bets for Oscar glory so there's no big surprises here and even Best Exotic Marigold Hotel has some British acting royalty that the actors couldn't seem to deny.

Best Actress

• Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
• Marion Cotillard, Rust and Bone
• Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
• Helen Mirren, Hitchcock
• Naomi Watts, The Impossible

Chastain and Lawrence was always going to be nominated but Cotillard and Watts have been checking off the right boxes this awards season, first getting BFCA nominations and now SAG ones. It's important to note though that Beasts of the Southern Wild wasn't eligible thus explaining Wallis' absence. Mirren's nomination could be an anomaly (even though she had good notices).

Best Actor

• Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
• Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
• John Hawkes, The Sessions
• Hugh Jackman, Les Misérables
• Denzel Washington, Flight

The big "snub" here is Joaquin Phoenix and perhaps they just couldn't identify with his character or access the film. With that said, I think the Oscar line-up will be made up of these men including Phoenix. The only question is who will be left out. Hawkes (too small of a film?) or Cooper (newcomer) might be the odd man out in that case.

Best Supporting Actress

• Sally Field, Lincoln
• Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables
• Helen Hunt, The Sessions
• Nicole Kidman, The Paperboy
• Maggie Smith, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

This category right now feels a little bit unformed, but the enabled the voters to put in a big name in a polarizing role (Kidman) as well as honor a great dame (Smith). In fact, while Smith was honored with FOUR nominations by SAG, two in film and two in TV. Amy Adams not getting in here hurts her chances, but does it matter since this is Field vs. Hathaway all the way?

Best Supporting Actor

• Alan Arkin, Argo
• Javier Bardem, Skyfall
• Robert DeNiro, Silver Linings Playbook
• Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
• Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln

I really thoughts McConaughey was going to make it in, but alas the actors decided to go with a list of nominees that have all won an Oscar before. Has that ever happened? In any case, they all were also nominated at the BFCA including the now not surprising Bardem for his fun work in Skyfall. Could he really be the first Oscar acting nomination for the James Bond series? Djanjo Unchained's supporting men were all snubbed.

Since the Emmys were held a few months ago, these TV nominations always feel like an afterthought, but at least the nominations this year are slightly better, albeit still mindnumbingly dull, than last year...

Best Ensemble, Drama

• Boardwalk Empire
• Breaking Bad
• Downton Abbey
• Homeland
• Mad Men

Last year, this group ignored Homeland, but seem to be making up for lost time this year giving the show an Ensemble nomination along with noms for its two leads. Downton Abbey also gets its first nomination for Ensemble this year. But to see how unexciting this list is, one just has to compare it to this year's Emmy Awards where the same exact shows (minus Game of Thrones) were nominated.

Best Actress, Drama

• Claire Danes, Homeland
• Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
• Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Asylum
• Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
• Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey

I'm sorry, but American Horror Story can't be a miniseries in one award while a drama series in another. That's just plain rude. The nominees themselves are okay, but what about the Emmy-nommed Anna Gunn, Elisabeth Moss, Christina Hendricks, and Christine Baranski?

Best Actor, Drama

• Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
• Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
• Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
• Jon Hamm, Mad Men
• Damian Lewis, Homeland

I'm not a fan of Daniels and don't watch Boardwalk Empire so I'm slightly side-eying those nominations even if they are worthy. Just can't take this list seriously with the absence of Emmy winner Aaron Paul or his co-star Giancarlo Esposito. And I thought Peter Dinklage should've also gotten in!

Best Ensemble, Comedy

• 30 Rock
• The Big Bang Theory
• Glee
• Modern Family
• Nurse Jackie
• The Office

They decide to nominate six shows and I stillw ant to get rid like almost all of them and replace them with other shows. Glee? Really?! We're still on that? And I know that Carrell's departure has made The Office even MORE of an ensemble show, but NO. How about this year's breakout Girls? Veep? PARKS AND RECREATION? Community? New Girl? This category year in, year out disappoints me.

Best Actress, Comedy

• Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
• Tina Fey, 30 Rock
• Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
• Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
• Betty White, Hot in Cleveland

Glad that Parks and Recreation gets a nod finally, but Betty White again? Whose naked picture does she own? Probably a lot actually. Kind of just surprised not to see Louis-Dreyfus, Dunham, Deschanel, or Bialik nominated.

Best Actor, Comedy

• Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
• Ty Burrell, Modern Family
• Louis CK, Louie
• Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
• Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

This is actually an okay list especially with the lack of anyone from Two and a Half Men making last year's nominations really dreadful. Still, it would benefit them to think more outside the box. How about Greenfield? Wayans, Jr.? OFFERMAN.

Best Actress, Miniseries

• Nicole Kidman, Hemingway & Gellhorn
• Julianne Moore, Game Change
• Charlotte Rampling, Restless
• Sigourney Weaver, Political Animals
• Alfre Woodard, Steel Magnolias

Kidman gets her second nomination this year, but I think Moore will repeat her Emmy win and win this one as well. Glad that Political Animals is getting some awards season notice. Maybe it's enough for them to uncancel the show? Wishful thinking in my part, I'm sure.

Best Actor, Miniseries

• Kevin Costner, Hatfield & McCoys
• Woody Harrelson, Game Change
• Ed Harris, Game Change
• Clive Owen, Hemingway & Gellhorn
• Bill Paxton, Hatfield & McCoys

I've seen a total of none of these performances so I don't know what to tell y'all. This organization certainly didn't feel bad about their tendency to starfuck.

Best Stunt Ensemble, Film

• The Amazing Spider-Man
• The Bourne Legacy
• The Dark Knight Rises
• Les Misérables
• Skyfall

The snub for The Avengers worries me more than it should, but it's interesting to see Les Misérables get in here. If Maggie Smith was in that film, it would've been unstoppable!

Best Stunt Ensemble, TV

• Boardwalk Empire
• Breaking Bad
• Game of Thrones
• Sons of Anarchy
• The Walking Dead

Yeah, sure I guess. Does Downton Abbey not have a stunt ensemble?

Looking Forward To...

 

The Paperboy
Release: October 5, 2012
Distributor: Millenium Entertainment
Director:  Lee Daniels
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey, John Cusack, David Oyelowo, Macy Gray, and Zac Efron

Birthday Girl: Nicole Kidman

The beautiful and talented Nicole Kidman turns 45 today with a nearly three-decade long filmography under her belt. And she is far from done. She could very well be Emmy-nominated in a few weeks for her recent work in Hemingway & Gellhorn where she played Ernest Hemingway's third wife Martha Gellhorn. And even if she isn't, people are already talking about a fourth Oscar nomination for Lee Daniels' The Paperboy.

And while she has obviously starred and excelled in so many films, her role as the courtesan Satine in Moulin Rouge remains my absolute favorite. Her leading man, Ewan McGregor (who turned 40 just last year), played the penniless writer Christian who falls in love with her, and really how could he not? My one dream is for them to be reunited in film again. If it's in a musical then it'd be icing on the cake, but I really just want them together. Make it happen, Hollywood!

A love that will live forever.

This post is part of Nathaniel's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" series in which the participants must post a single image from a movie he or she deems as the "best shot" for any particular reason.

It was inevitable for Moulin Rouge! to be picked as one of the films for this "Best Shot" series and today is as good as any since the film is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. My earlier post from this morning talked about most everything that I loved about the film, and to be honest, also gave me chance to feature all of the shots I didn't get to pick. With that said, here's my choice for "best shot" in the film...


It's one of the very few scenes in the film that opted for a more muted and neutral color schemed so that in itself sets it apart. I also just love how the characters are positioned, Christian in the foreground writing the play with Satine in the background with so many thoughts lingering in her head. This scene happens right after we find out that Satine is dying, diagnosed with consumption. Christian is upset she stood him up last night, thinking Satine slept with the Duke even though Satine very truthfully tells him she was recovering from being ill. It's all very... domestic and I love how lived-in this shot, this situation, and this moment of the film feels. Another favorite shot comes from the same scene with Christian joining Satine on the bed...


Satine tells him that they have to break it off now before anyone else finds out and definitely before she inevitably sleeps with the Duke on opening night. He isn't having any of it of course and comes up with the idea of the secret song for themselves and the lovers in the play.

I also see these scenes as sort of wish-fulfilling glimpses at what their lives could've been if Satine hadn't been sick and they had been able to run away like they originally planned--the penniless writer sitting in front of his typewriter with his out-of-work courtesan of a wife sit in the bed in her nightie. Similarly two shots, which were runner-ups to the "best shot," from the "Come What May" number also reflected this what-if, domestic reality:


Just an enchanted boy and his sparking diamond... isn't life grand at least for those couple of moments?

Above all things, this story is about love.

The Moulin Rouge. A nightclub, a dance hall, and a bordello... A kingdom of nighttime pleasures where the rich played with the young and beautiful creatures of the underworld.

The last film of director Baz Luhrman's Red Curtain Trilogy had its wide release premiere exactly 10 years ago today after being out in limited number of theaters for two weeks. That film is Moulin Rouge! and it is one of my all-time favorite films.


The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.

Taking place in the turn of the 20th century Paris, the film features a young penniless writer (Christian) played by Ewan McGregor and a beautiful courtesan (Satine) played by Nicole Kidman who both fall in love amidst the crazy trappings of the Moulin Rouge, the idealistic notions of the Bohemian artists, and the sinister intentions of the Duke. Did I mention that it's also a musical? And it's a grand one at that with chock full of anachronistic, yet impeccably chosen pop music accompanied by lush and eye-popping production numbers and choreography.


There was a boy. A very strange and enchanted boy...

This film was the first time I had ever seen McGregor in anything so I always associate this film with him. Truth be told, just as Satine fell for him almost at first sight (or at first listen to be more accurate), I too fell for McGregor's sensitive and romantic Christian. McGregor provided a much-needed grounded quality to the whole film. Of course there's Nicole Kidman who is just fabulous here. As amazing an actress she has been even before and after this film, Satine is still probably my favorite role of hers. She made me laugh out loud as she overly got turned on by Christian's "poetry reading" and then made me sob in the end lying lifeless on that stage. It was truly a tour de force multifaceted performance that I still can't believe didn't win her an Academy Award.


Similarly, I was impressed by the great mixing of slapstick comedy and heart-wrenching drama in the film. Who didn't smile at Satine trying to hide Christian from the Duke or laugh uncontrollably at the "Like A Virgin" performance? In the same vein, who was left breathless by the "Roxanne" tango number or heart-ached when Christian confronted Satine on stage near the end?


We're creatures of the underworld. We can't afford to love.

And I haven't even mentioned all of the other great supporting actors in the cast like John Leguizamo as Toulouse Latrec, Jim Broadbent as Harold Zidler, and Richard Roxburgh as The Duke. All three, like Kidman and McGregor, had to go from outlandish to serious throughout the film. The arresting score, the extravagant costumes, the confident cinematography, the masterful editing, the intricate sets, the cast of hundreds, the trippy visual effects... I can go on and on and on, but I think you get the idea.

Now all of the images above are just a few of my favorites from the film. I'm withholding one particular shot, my favorite, which I'm saving for its own post later today.

Looking Forward To...

Rabbit Hole
Release: December 17, 2010
Distributor: Lionsgate
Director: John Cameron Mitchell
Starring: Sandra Oh, Aaron Eckhart, Nicole Kidman, Jon Tenney, Dianne Wiest, Giancarlo Esposito, and Miles Teller

Golden Globes: Film Nominations

The King's Speech lead with 7 nominations followed by strong showings by prohibiive Oscar front-runner Social Network and underdog The Fighter, both with 6 nominations. In terms of the Academy Awards, most of the favorites were nominated, but the Comedy/Musical section is downright embarrassing.

And so the nominees are...

Best Director

• Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
• David Fincher, The Social Network
• Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech
• Christopher Nolan, Inception
• David O. Russell, The Fighter

The top four nominees are definitely the front-runners right now for Oscars with David O. Russell possibly fighting for the fifth spot with Danny Boyle or the Coen Brothers. The Academy could also nominate Lisa Cholodenko. As for who could win? Well, Fincher and his film has dominated the landscape so far, so bet against him if you dare.

Best Motion Picture, Drama

• Black Swan
• Fighter
• Inception
• King's Speech
• Social Network

These five will easily be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards with Social Network the favorite to win as already it's been crowned as the critics' favorite. Still, last year the HFPA were one of the few organizations to go against The Hurt Locker tide so anything is possible.

Best Actor, Drama

• Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
• Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
• James Franco, 127 Hours
• Ryan Gosling, Blue Valentine
• Mark Wahlberg, The Fighter

The first three should get Oscar nominations especially with how their films and performances have been received so far. The winner will also come from those three with Firth probably the favorite here and at the Oscars. Wahlberg and/or Gosling most likely knocked off Jeff Bridges, Robert Duvall, or Leonardo DiCaprio for the last two spots. The snub of the latter, so far, is an intriguing, and odd, awards seasons development.

Best Actress, Drama

• Halle Berry, Frankie & Alice
• Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
• Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone
• Natalie Portman, Black Swan
• Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

Sure everyone's a bit surprised to see Halle Berry in the mix all of a sudden, but the HFPA do love those stars, probably at a cost for Lesley Manville. It's a testament to Lawrence, that she made it in at all among the big Hollywood names. Very happy for Michelle Williams (and Ryan Gosling up top) especially since ex-Dawson's Creek co-star Katie Holmes had to announce her name this morning! Too awesome for words. Portman is the front-runner here.

Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical

• Alice in Wonderland
• Burlesque
• The Kids Are All Right
• Red
• Tourist

Did the HFPA not see enough comedies this year? How about Easy A, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Greenberg, Cyrus, or I Love You Phillip Morris? Instead they give us this embarrassing lineup which wouldn't be half-bad if these were the only films they could nominate. With that said, Kids Are All Right has this one in the bag.

Best Actor, Comedy or Musical

• Johnny Depp, Alice in Wonderland
• Johnny Depp, The Tourist
• Paul Giamatti, Barney’s Version
• Jake Gyllenhaal, Love & Other Drugs
• Kevin Spacey, Casino Jack

Now it's getting silly. I love Johnny Depp, but two nominations and for THESE performances? Ben Stiller, Michael Cera, John C. Reilly and Jim Carrey must be screaming at their agents right now. Plus as much as I love Gyllenhaal, I actually didn't think much of his (or Hathaway's) performance. But their nominations were inevitable.

Best Actress, Comedy or Musical

• Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
• Anne Hathaway, Love & Other Drugs
• Angelina Jolie, The Tourist
• Julianne Moore, The Kids Are All Right
• Emma Stone, Easy A

See above about my thoughts on Hathaway and it's difficult to expect the HFPA not to nominate Angelina Jolie, so I won't say anything. However, kudos for nominating Moore alongside her more buzzed about Kids co-star. And FUCK YEAH on nominating Emma Stone. FINALLY a worthy nomination in a sea of WTF MAN? Though again, why ignore her delightful film?

Best Supporting Actor

• Christian Bale, The Fighter
• Michael Douglas, Wall Street 2
• Andrew Garfield, The Social Network
• Jeremy Renner, The Town
• Geoffrey Rush, The King’s Speech

Take out Michael Douglas and put in Mark Ruffalo and you probably have the Oscar line-up. Though I guess one can't totally count out Sam Rockwell nor any of the other guys (Hammer? Timberlake?) in Social Network. This race, as is the Oscar, is between Bale and Rush.

Best Supporting Actress

• Amy Adams, The Fighter
• Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s Speech
• Mila Kunis, Black Swan
• Melissa Leo, The Fighter
• Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom

Good solid list, especially for the Academy Awards, but one of them may have to go if the Oscars go for Hailee Steinfeld and her film True Grit in a big way, which they might. Weirdly enough Weaver might be in the weakest position since the other ladies will most likely be in Best Picture nominees. Then again Amy Adams shouldn't get too comfy either.

Best Animated Film

• Despicable Me
• How to Train Your Dragon
• The Illusionist
• Tangled
• Toy Story 3

If the Academy had five nominations this year, this would've been the five. As it is, we have to get rid of two of these films and most likely Despicable Me, Tangled, and The Illusionist will be fighting for that third spot. Toy Story 3 will still win though, here and at the Oscars. All hail Pixar!

Best Foreign Language Film

• Biutiful (Mexico/Spain)
• The Concert (France)
• The Edge (Russia)
• I Am Love (Italy)
• In A Better World (Denmark)

I've only since I Am Love, which I really liked, so I'll cheer that on. Although if they chose to honor the film, why not the lovely Tilda Swinton as well? Also don't know which films are in the running for Oscars. I wished that whole thing was more transparent.

Best Screenplay

• 127 Hours
• The Kids Are All Right
• Inception
• The King's Speech
• Social Network

The bulk of early awards have gone to Aaron Sorkin's work on The Social Network so that will be the overwhelming favorite. The others, save for 127 Hours, have won at least one award though so they're no slouch. All of these will easily make it into Oscars as they'll be divided int Original and Adapted.

Best Score

• The King's Speech
• Alice in Wonderland
• 127 Hours
• Social Network
• Inception

I'm so not getting the Alice in Wonderland love the HFPA seem to have, but the others should be safe bets for Oscars barring a weird eligibility ruling, which can totally happen. I actually have no idea who is the front-runner year. Let's just say it was a good year for film scores and applaud them all.

Best Song

• “Bound To You” (Burlesque)
• “Coming Home” (Country Strong)
• “I See The Light” (Tangled)
• “There’s a Place For Us” (The Chronicles of Narnia)
• “You Haven’t Seen The Last of Me” (Burlesque)

Too bad these won't be performed. Would have liked to have seen Cher up on stage or even Mandy Moore/Zachary Levi do their Tangled duet. Not sure who sings the others. I'm guessing a few bleached blonde babes... Christina Aguilera, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Carrie Underwood?

Spirit Award Nominations

And we're off! Awards season that is. Yesterday the Gothams started it all by honoring Winter's Bone with Best Feature and Best Ensemble. This morning, Winter's Bone yet again takes the early lead by garnering 7 nominations at the Spirit Awards. The other nominees are...

BEST FEATURE
127 Hours
Black Swan
Greenberg
The Kids Are All Right
Winter’s Bone

Happy to see 127 Hours in here since it's the only film from this list that I've seen that I actually more than liked (I haven't see Black Swan). The others are good, but I don't feel passionate about them. The lack of Blue Valentine makes me angry/sad. Also weird to see Rabbit Hole miss out since it did well below.

BEST DIRECTOR
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
Danny Boyle, 127 Hours
Lisa Cholodenko, The Kids Are All Right
Debra Granik, Winter’s Bone
John Cameron Mitchell, Rabbit Hole

A respectable and totally awesome list of directors here. Would not mind one bit to see any and all honored not only here, but at the Oscars. Crazy Fact: Boyle is the only Oscar nominee in this list. Insane right?

BEST FIRST FEATURE
Everything Strange and New
Get Low
Night Catches Us
The Last Exorcism
Tiny Furniture

Last year I had heard of all give nominees and eventually got to see them. This year, I have no idea what 4 of the 5 films are. The only one I know is Get Low. Oh well, more movies to put in my queue!

BEST FEMALE LEAD
Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Greta Gerwig, Greenberg
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

Greta Gerwig is the surprise here, but yay to Michelle Williams for getting the film's only nomination! The others were more or less expected and I expect to see a lot of these names repeated throughout the season all the way to Oscars. Poor Julianne Moore though.

BEST MALE LEAD
Ronald Bronstein, Daddy Longlegs
Aaron Eckhart, Rabbit Hole
James Franco, 127 Hours
John C. Reilly, Cyrus
Ben Stiller, Greenberg

I've only seen Franco and Stiller's performances so I can't really judge, but I'm having a difficult time accepting the fact that Ryan Gosling's performance in Blue Valentine wasn't better than some of these. Odd snub also for Get Low's lead Robert Duvall.

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Ashley Bell, The Last Exorcism
Dale Dickey, Winter’s Bone
Allison Janney, Life During Wartime
Daphne Rubin-Vega, Jack Goes Boating
Naomi Watts, Mother and Child

BEST SUPPORTING MALE
John Hawkes, Winter’s Bone
Samuel L. Jackson, Mother and Child
Bill Murray, Get Low
John Ortiz, Jack Goes Boating
Mark Ruffalo, The Kids Are All Right

With me only seeing three performances out of the ten supporting roles (Ruffalo, Dickey, Hawkes), I don't really have much to say.

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD (Low Budget Films)
Daddy Longlegs
Lbs.
Lovers of Hate
Obselidia
The Exploding Girl

BEST FOREIGN FILM
Kisses
Mademoiselle Chambon
Of Gods and Men
The King’s Speech
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives

Oscar front-runner The King's Speech sort of came out of nowhere to appear here. Last year another British film to be nominated for an Oscar Best Picture, An Education, was nominated. This year's Palme d'Or winner, Uncle Boonmee, also fittingly finds itself in the shortlist.

BEST SCREENPLAY
Stuart Blumberg, Lisa Cholodenko, The Kids Are All Right
Debra Granik, Anne Rosellini, Winter’s Bone
Nicole Holofcener, Please Give
David Lindsay-Abaire, Rabbit Hole
Todd Solondz, Life During Wartime

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Diane Bell, Obselidia
Lena Dunham, Tiny Furniture
Nik Fackler, Lovely, Still
Bob Glaudini, Jack Goes Boating
Dana Adam Shapiro, Evan M. Wiener, Monogamy

Last year's Oscar winner, Geoffrey Fletcher for Precious, started his winning ways by capturing the Best First Screenplay Award at last year's ceremony. Wonder if any of these names here (and in Best Screenplay) will transfer over to Oscar in a few months.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Adam Kimmel, Never Let Me Go
Matthew Libatique, Black Swan
Jody Lee Lipes, Tiny Furniture
Michael McDonough, Winter’s Bone
Harris Savides, Greenberg

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Marwencol
Restrepo
Sweetgrass
Thunder Soul

Movie Meme: Day 15

"31 Day Movie Meme"


Day 15 | Best musical

"The hardest thing you'll ever learn is to love and be loved in return."

Well I don't know about "best," but this is definitely one of my favorite musicals ever. Moulin Rouge! is a treat for the eyes and ears as it should be since it's the third film in Baz Luhrmann's lush and captivating Red Curtain Trilogy.

Way before Glee made mash-ups and covering pop songs cool, Moulin Rouge! used those for its electric soundtrack to match its eye-popping and grand visuals. Like Christian to Satine, it really was love at first sight with the film.

Nicole Kidman has never looked as radiant as she did as Satine, the beautiful courtesan that falls in love with Christian, the handsome penniless writer played by Ewan McGregor. This was actually the first film of McGregor I had seen so this would always be the film that I associate with him even with the multitude of characters he has since played. And when both of them are singing? Forget it, I'm gone. As cheesy as The Elephant Love Medley is, it remains breathtaking whenever I listen to it. Don't get me started on "Come What May."

Now if only these two would just reunite for another musical, it would just be the greatest thing ever.

Looking Forward To...

Nine
Release: December 18, 2009
Distributor: Weinstein Company
Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren, Stacy Ferguson, and Kate Hudson.