Post-Oscar Thoughts

Well since I last posted the major awards came down.

First and foremost, I am beyond pumped that Natalie Portman took home Best Actress for “Black Swan.”

I sound like a broken record but it’s true; Portman was head an shoulders above anyone who was nominated in her category. Portman transformed herself, you want to talk about “method-actors/actress” she was the epitome of the title.

When I finished watching “Black Swan” I made the comparison of Portman to Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight.” In the past couple months as Oscar speculation began, many critics, most notably Richard Roeper echoed the sentiments I much opposed.

He said his pick for Best Actress was Annette Bening, for “The Kids are Alright” but not because she played the best role, but because “the Academy owed her one for ‘American Beauty’,” that’s not right is it?

When I asked Roeper why he felt this way when it was pretty obvious Portman should win, he said that’s just the way the Academy thinks.

Well low and behold, Natalie, pregnant and all, won the Oscar, and I let out a big “YES!” and was satisfied.

By the way, Roeper changed his pick a couple days ago, but I didn’t forget your original pick, and you defending it when I asked you about it…I didn’t forget!

Anyway…

Anne Hathaway and James Franco were the hosts and the general consensus says they didn’t like what they saw.

Acclaimed movie critic Roger Ebert said this…

“The worst Oscarcast I’ve seen, and I go back awhile. Some great winners, a nice distribution of awards, but the show? Dead. In. The. Water.”

Yikes…Franco, duck for cover.

And or duck under the cloud of smoke backstage because you must have been stoned. Often times he stammered and seemed out of it. Nothing seemed genuine or naturally funny coming out of his mouth.

The worst part was I predicted James would bomb, take a hike you pompous, self-righteous know-it-all.

Now lets focus on the positive.

“The Kings Speech” won four Oscars, (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Original Screenplay.)

The biggest shock at-least to me came when Tom Hooper won Best Director for “The Kings Speech.” It seemed like “The Social Network” and David Fincher were locks for that award, but once we heard Hooper win, Best Picture was sure to follow, and it did. Hooper did give a nice speech where he mentioned his mother gave him the idea for the film and then capped off his words with

“…the lesson, listen to your mother”

“The Social Network” which I felt should have won Best Picture, although originally I wanted The Kings Speech to win (you can look back at my picks from January) although after re-watching TSN I choose it to win, but to no avail. The film however did win Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Score, and Best Editing.

The other big winner was “Inception” as it took home the “smaller” awards. The Christopher Nolan directed blockbuster snatched up Oscars for Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, and best Cinematography.

Christian Bale, “The Fighter,” who was the favorite to win Best Supporting Actor, did just that. As he beat out Geoffery Rush his speech raised some eyebrows. Some people thought he forgot his wife’s name but he just got choked up, or it was just more good acting. We also saw Bale smile, a rarity.

Melissa Leo, who played the controlling mother in “The Fighter” nabbed the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and gave the most humble, heartfelt and genuine speech. Her interaction with the legendary Kirk Douglas was great as well.

Speaking of Kirk Douglas, he was hilarious, had everyone in stitches, and even at his advanced age of 94, he was a hit.

Other noteable observations…

– Jessie Eisenberg was sitting front row, first seat, dead middle, I was taken aback by his prime location.

– There was a Standing Ovation for Billy Crystal, not surprising, and based on the overall reaction after-wards, people want Billy back or to stay for that matter.

– Oprah looked awful.

– For the first time in 10 years there was no African-American nominated.

– Still can’t get over how good Mila Kunis and Jennifer Lawrence looked tonight, gorgeous.

Well that’s a wrap for Oscar night, hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading, I welcome all your comments.

Back to the normal Hollywood world.

My Top 10 Most Anticipated 2011 Films

The movies as of right now that are on my 2011 must see list. Three movies featuring the legendary Robert DeNiro, Hangover part II and lots more. Lets take a look.

1. The Adjustment Bureau – I’ve been waiting for this film for over a year. It was suppose to be released last October but editing process and whatnot towards the ends of the film forced the release date to be pushed back. It will now be released in March. Matt Damon and Emily Blunt must avoid “their chosen path” if they want to be together. Think of it as “The Notebook” meets “The Matrix” something like that.

2. Limitless – Robert De Niro co-stars in a new concept film, finally. Seems like like is a action thriller, either way I’m intrigued. Bradley Cooper gets his hands on a drug that “allows him to access 100% of his brain” and then all the craziness ensues.

3. The Killer Elite – A former Navy Seal is forced out of retirement in order to save his friend. Seems like the ultimate guy movie, Robert De Niro, Jason Statham and Clive Owen…yea awesome. Bonus, I saw early pics from the set and De Niro is sporting long hair and a full on grizzly beard.

4. The Hangover part II – As if the title alone doesn’t get you Geeked up. The first one was a comedy classic, a must watch anytime it is on TV, I’ve seen it at least 20 times since the theater debut. The entire cast is back as Stu, Phil, Doug and Alan travel to Bangkok for Stu’s wedding. Yea…I can’t wait!

5. The Rum Diary – The next Johnny Depp project that hopefully won’t suck. Aside from the Pirates of the Caribbean 4 film, Depp has picked some stinkers as of late. (“Alice in Wonderland,” and “The Tourist”) “The Rum Diary” focuses on Paul Kemp,  a freelance journalist who finds himself at a critical turning point in his life while writing for a run-down newspaper in the Caribbean. Paul is challenged on many levels as he tries to carve out a more secure niche for himself amidst a group of lost souls all bent on self-destruction. This has more personal undertone to it, deals with Journalism and the struggle that comes with it, hopefully it delivers.

6. Red Lights – A great cast of Robert De Niro, Cillian Murphy and Sundance Film Festival star Elizabeth Olsen make up this thriller. “Red Lights” centers on a psychologist, and her assistant, whose study of paranormal activity leads them to investigate a world-renowned psychic.

7. Warrior – The world of MMA has blown into mainstream sports/media over the last three years and there is no stopping it now. Over the last few years there have been terrible adaptations of the sport through low budget films, and that’s about to change. “Inception” co-star Tom Hardy plays Nick Nolte’s son who must fight in an MMA competition. The plot doesn’t sound too complex but it’s Hardy and I trust his acting above all else.

8. 30 Minutes or Less – Two fledgling criminals kidnap a pizza delivery driver and force him to rob a bank within 30 minutes. It’s a comedy but it sounds hilarious. “Social Network” star and Academy Award nominee Jesse Eisenberg stars in the film along with “Eastbound and Down” star Danny McBride.

9. Tree of Life – This is arguably the most anticipated film of the year by everyone, but who really knows what it’s about? Brad Pitt and Sean Penn star in this film that takes place in the 1950’s. It has that Academy Award feel to it, but then again it could end up being a dud.

10. On The Road – Viggo Mortensen, Amy Adams, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst all in this film. The biggest draw to me is that this seems like a big character piece. Adams and Mortensen will both play drug addicts, so that will be interesting to see. The plot of the film is about a young man who sets out to travel the roads and railways of America.

Well there you have it, I’m waiting on about 50 more films this year, but this is the top 10 as of this moment.