MY OSCAR PICKS FOR SUN FEBRUARY 27, 2011

Here are my Oscar picks for this year.  Most are ones that I think will/should win.  I'll comment on the before/after this week.  Good luck everyone!

Best Picture: The King’s Speech

Actor In A Leading Role: Colin Firth, The King’s Speech

Actor In A Supporting Role: Christian Bale, The Fighter

Actress In A Leading Role: Natalie Portman, Black Swan

Actress in A Supporting Role: Melissa Leo, The Fighter

Animated Feature Film: Toy Story 3

Art Direction: Alice In Wonderland

Cinematography: True Grit

Costume Design: Alice In Wonderland (or The King’s Speech)

Directing: David Fincher (or Tom Hooper)

Documentary: Inside Man (or Exit Through The Gift Shop)

Documentary Short Subject: Strangers No More

Film Editing: The Social Network

Foreign Film: Biutiful

Makeup: The Wolfman

Music (Original Score): The King’s Speech (The Social Network)

Music (Original Song): We Belong Together (Randy Newman)

Short Film (Animated): Day And Night

Short Film (Live Action): Na Wewe

Sound Editing: Inception

Sound Mixing: Inception

Visual Effects: Inception

Writing (Adapted Screenplay): The Social Network

Writing (Original Screenplay): The King’s Speech

According to NYT Article: Blogs Wane as the Young Drift to Sites Like Twitter

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/21/technology/internet/21blog.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Nominees for the 83rd Academy Awards | Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences

Nominees for the 83rd Academy Awards Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences

Watch Dominic Cooper and Talulah Riley Announce BAFTA NOMINATIONS

http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/2011-film-awards-nominations-announcement,1607,BA.html

Review of THE GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS FASHION

Last night was the Golden Globe Awards at the historic Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.  It was an unusually warm day of about 80 degrees.  The majority of women were in fine form in sleeveless or strapless gowns.  Elphaba would have been happy that so much green was to be seen!  Also seen were lots of black, red and blush tones.  We saw hairstyles with bangs (Sandra Bullock, Olivia Wilde), updos (many) and side parts (Anne Hathaway, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Vergara). 

For men, it was the classic B&W tux; most with bow ties, many with long black ties.  The ones who separated from the pack were Robert Downey Jr. and Taylor Hackford.   My least favorite look is the all-black outfit worn by such people as Christian Bale, Jeremy Renner and composer Alexandre Desplat.  My top faves were Matthew Bomer, Mark Ruffalo and Jon Hamm(some)!

First to arrive (and who has my vote for best dressed) is the stunning Olivia Wilde in a brown jeweled Marchesa ball gown and dazzling shoes by Christian Louboutin.  Well done!  My second favorite was Mila Kunis in a dark green Vera Wang with an asymmetrical pouf shoulder piece.  And coming in third is Claire Danes in a coral colored halter dress by Calvin Klein.

Honorable mention: Nicole Kidman looked soft and lovely in an ivory sequined one-shouldered Prada gown.  Nice to see her look healthy and with some meat on her bones.  Must be all that Southern cooking!

Women In Black: Eva Longoria, Halle Berry, Jennifer Lawrence, Julia Stiles, Melissa Leo, Piper Perabo, Tina Fey.

Women In Green: Angelina Jolie, Catherine Zeta Jones, Elizabeth Moss, Mila Kunis

Women In Red: Edie Falco, January Jones, Julianne Moore, Sophia Vergara

HITS:

Age appropriate: Hailee Steinfeld

Channeling Ava Gardner: Milla Jovovich (Giorgio Armani Privé)

Channeling Jackie O: Julianna Margolies (vintage Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture)

Couple: Colin and Livia; Nicole and Keith (Tie)

Cute Onscreen Frenemies: Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield

Favorite Ensemble: the Cast of Glee

Hair: Claire Danes; Mila Kunis (Tie)

Hot-Hot-Hot: Megan Fox

Pretty and Pregnant:  Natalie Portman (Viktor & Rolf)

Sexy (No Matter What She Wears): Halle Berry

MISSES:

Top Three Un-Huh Dresses:

1^st Helena Bonham Carter: Birds nest hair, mismatched shoes and floral print dress.  It worked for Cyndi Lauper in the 80’s, not so much here.

2^nd Julianne Moore:  Was the one sleeve an afterthought?  Or forgotten?

3^rd Jennifer Love Hewitt:  A major ill-fitting wedding dress.  Where is a seamstress when you need her? 

Must Mention: Heidi Klum in her hot mess of a dress.  Better at MTV Awards.

Worst Hair: Helena Bonham Carter, then Scarlett Johansson, looking like the bride of Frankenstein!

Channeling Mae West: Christina Aguilera

Check your golden globes: Rita Wilson and Katy Sagal

Oops!  We can see through your dress Emma Heming (Mrs. Bruce Willis)

Check out red carpet photos at: http://www.goldenglobes.org/gallery/

Review of THE GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS

Last night was the Golden Globe Awards at the historic Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.  It ran on time, clocked in just under 3 hours.  This awards show is different than most because it brings together people of the movie, television and music worlds.  My kind of party!  To me, that is very appealing.  It’s refreshing to see movie stars mingling with television stars. 

The host in his sophomore attempt was British comedian/actor Ricky Gervais.  To me, he seemed to cross over the line early in the evening talking about celebrities there and not.  The last straw seemed to be when he insulted one of the HPFA members.  We didn’t see him for about an hour.  When we did, it was to quickly introduce presenters.  Robert Downey Jr.  was naturally funny and had the guests on his side when he asked, “Aside from the fact that it’s been hugely mean-spirited with mildly sinister undertones, I’d say the vibe of the show has been pretty good so far, wouldn’t you?”

In regards to the actual ceremony, there were but a few surprises.  My predictions were correct 15 out of 25.  (The television nominations were a crap shoot for me.)  Did anyone in the audience see the mini-series Carlos?  Where did it come from to win over The Pacific or Temple Grandin?  Claire Danes won on the heels of her Emmy win.  It was very sweet when she hugged and thanked the real Temple Grandin.  (Another sweet moment was when Angelina Jolie fixed Brad Pitt’s tie.)  Glee’s Jane Lynch and Chris Colfer won in their categories.  Jane also won the Emmy.  (I thought she actually won the GGs last year so I “voted” for the hilarious Sofia Vergara).  She was a good sport and tweeted “I don't care!!! I already have my Golden Globes!!!!!!!!hahhahha”.  For the Supporting Actor category, Scott Caan was a frontrunner but I’m delighted that Glee’s Chris Colfer won.  He has become the moral center of the show.  Veteran actors Al Pacino and Robert De Niro received honors.  De Niro gave a great speech- he never disappoints.  My favorite acceptance speeches were that of actors Colin Firth (The King’s Speech) and Natalie Portman (Black Swan).  I’m very pleased they won.  Expect to see more awards for these two in the coming weeks.

My TV Predictions of THE GOLDEN GLOBES

TV is more of a guess, who I’d like to win.  Some have won before so spread the wealth!

Series, Drama: Boardwalk Empire, HBO; Dexter, Showtime; The Good Wife, CBS; Mad Men, AMC; The Walking Dead, AMC

Actor, Drama: Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire; Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad; Michael C. Hall, Dexter; Jon Hamm, Mad Men; Hugh Laurie, House

Actress, Drama: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife; Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men; Piper Perabo, Covert Affairs; Katey Sagal, Sons of Anarchy; Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Series, Musical or Comedy: 30 Rock, NBC; The Big Bang Theory, CBS; The Big C, Showtime; Glee, Fox (1^st); Modern Family (2^nd), ABC; Nurse Jackie, Showtime

Actress, Musical or Comedy: Toni Collette, The United States of Tara; Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie; Tina Fey, 30 Rock; Laura Linney, The Big C; Lea Michele, Glee

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock; Steve Carell, The Office; Thomas Jane, Hung; Matthew Morrison, Glee; Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Miniseries or Movie: Carlos, Sundance Channel; The Pacific, HBO; Pillars of the Earth, Starz; Temple Grandin, HBO; You Don’t Know Jack, HBO

Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Hayley Atwell, Pillars of the Earth; Claire Danes, Temple Grandin; Judi Dench, Return to Cranford; Romola Garai, Emma; Jennifer Love Hewitt, The Client List

Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Idris Elba, Luther; Ian McShane, Pillars of the Earth; Al Pacino, You Don’t Know Jack; Dennis Quaid, The Special Relationship; Edgar Ramirez, Carlos

Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Hope Davis, The Special Relationship; Jane Lynch, Glee; Kelly Macdonald, Broadwalk Empire; Julia Stiles, Dexter; Sofia Vergara, Modern Family

Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Scott Caan, Hawaii Five-0; Chris Colfer, Glee; Chris Noth, The Good Wife; Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family; David Strathairn, Temple Grandin