Michael B Jordan Best Actor

Big Meach - So, Ellen is now the Official Voice of LGBT Hollywood??

Big Meach - Kevin Hart vs. THE Oscars and LGBT Community

What Happened Miss Simone?

Great documentary about a trailblazing artist.  Highly recommended!

And the Oscars Go To...: My Picks and Predictions for The 88th Annual Academy Awards

For movie and award show fans, THIS is OUR Super Bowl!

With race and politics aside, here are my labored picks and predictions for The 88^th Annual Academy Awards.  The ONE true thing is that I still love the Cinema and there were many achievements made this year on celluloid.

Best Picture:
"The Big Short"
"Bridge of Spies"
"Brooklyn"
"Mad Max: Fury Road"
"The Martian"
"The Revenant"
"Room"
"Spotlight"

My Pick: I would love for the action of MAD MAX: FURY ROAD to win, with SPOTLIGHT next on my list.  It seems like a tight race though and…

My Prediction: I feel the grit and grandeur of THE REVENANT will prevail.

Best Actor:
Bryan Cranston, "Trumbo"
Matt Damon, "The Martian"
Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Revenant"
Michael Fassbender, "Steve Jobs"
Eddie Redmayne, "The Danish Girl"

My Pick and Prediction: Leonard DiCaprio for THE REVENANT. It is just time. FINALLY!

Best Actress:
Cate Blanchett, "Carol"
Brie Larson, "Room"
Jennifer Lawrence, "Joy"
Charlotte Rampling, "45 Years"
Saoirse Ronan, "Brooklyn"

My Pick and Prediction:  This would be Blanchett’s third win and I just don’t feel that is going to happen. Brie Larson’s star turn in ROOM has been winning all awards season and I am sure she will cap it off with a win here.

Best Supporting Actor:
Christian Bale, "The Big Short"
Tom Hardy, "The Revenant"
Mark Ruffalo, "Spotlight"
Mark Rylance, "Bridge of Spies"
Sylvester Stallone, "Creed"

My Pick and Prediction: Rocky Balboa comes full circle.  My parents would be so proud.  ROCKY was one of the very first movies I saw as a kid and to see this come to fruition all these years later would be a wonderful thing.  So, yes, I will be through the rafters when Sylvester Stallone wins for CREED.

Best Supporting Actress:
Jennifer Jason Leigh, "The Hateful Eight"
Rooney Mara, "Carol"
Rachel McAdams, "Spotlight"
Alicia Vikander, "The Danish Girl"
Kate Winslet, "Steve Jobs"

My Pick: Of the acting categories, this one seems to be the toughest to call.  I am rooting for either Jennifer Jason Leigh for THE HATEFUL EIGHT or Kate Winslet for STEVE JOBS, but…

My Prediction: Alicia Vikander, THE DANISH GIRL also rocked it in EX MACHINA and peaked at the right time during Awards season.  I think she will get the win here.

Best Director:
Adam McKay, "The Big Short"
George Miller, "Mad Max: Fury Road"
Alejandro Iñárritu, "The Revenant"
Lenny Abrahamson, "Room"
Tom McCarthy, "Spotlight"

My Pick: George Miller for MAD MAX: FURY ROAD is my personal fave.

My Prediction: Alejandro Iñárritu, THE REVENANT for the grind of helming his masterpiece alone.

Best Foreign Language Film:
"Embrace of the Serpent," Colombia
"Mustang," France
"Son of Saul," Hungary
"Theeb," Jordan
"A War," Denmark

My Pick and Prediction: SON OF SAUL, Hungary. No Contest.

Best Screenplay (Adaptation):
"The Big Short" by Charles Randolph and Adam McKay
"Brooklyn" by Nick Hornby
"Carol" by Phyllis Nagy
"The Martian" by Drew Goddard
"Room" by Emma Donoghue

My Pick: ROOM

My Prediction: THE BIG SHORT

Best Screenplay (Original):
"Bridge of Spies" by Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
"Ex Machina" by Alex Garland
"Inside Out" by Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, Josh Cooley; original story by Pete Docter, Ronnie del Carmen
"Spotlight" by Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy
"Straight Outta Compton" by Jonathan Herman and Andrea Berloff; original story by S. Leigh Savidge & Alan Wenkus and Andrea Berloff

My Pick: My tastes gravitate more so toward INSIDE OUT and STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON, but…

My Prediction: SPOTLIGHT brilliantly shed light on a topical subject matter with both intense fierceness and entertainment quality that packed a punch.

Best Cinematography:
"Carol"
"The Hateful Eight"
"Mad Max: Fury Road"
"The Revenant"
"Sicario"

My Pick and Prediction: THE REVENANT

Best Costume Design:
"Carol," Sandy Powell
"Cinderella," Sandy Powell
"The Danish Girl," Paco Delgado
"Mad Max: Fury Road," Jenny Beaven
"The Revenant" Jacqueline West

My Pick and Prediction: This is such a toss-up and while I think Sandy Powell may actually win, I get the feeling she may cancel herself out with these two nods beaming that golden fella right to Jenny Beaven for MAD MAX: FURY ROAD.

Best Makeup and Hairstyling:
"Mad Max: Fury Road" Lesley Vanderwalt, Elka Wardega and Damian Martin
"The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared" Love Larson and Eva von Bahr
"The Revenant" Siân Grigg, Duncan Jarman and Robert Pandini

My Pick and Prediction: MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

Best Original Score:
"Bridge of Spies" Thomas Newman
"Carol" Carter Burwell
"The Hateful Eight" Ennio Morricone
"Sicario" Jóhann Jóhannsson
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" John Williams

My Pick: John Williams is such an icon and so is STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, but…

My Prediction: So is Ennio Morricone for THE HATEFUL EIGHT

Best Animated Feature Film:
"Anomalisa"
"Boy and the World"
"Inside Out"
"Shaun the Sheep Movie"
"When Marnie Was There"

My Pick: ANOMALISA

My Prediction: INSIDE OUT

Best Documentary Feature:
"Amy," Asif Kapadia and James Gay-Rees
"Cartel Land," Matthew Heineman and Tom Yellin
"The Look of Silence," Joshua Oppenheimer and Signe Byrge Sørensen
"What Happened, Miss Simone?" Liz Garbus, Amy Hobby and Justin Wilkes
"Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom," Evgeny Afineevsky and Den Tolmor

My Pick: WHAT HAPPENED, MISS SIMONE?

My Prediction: AMY

Best Documentary Short Subject:
"Body Team 12," David Darg and Bryn Mooser
"Chau, beyond the Lines," Courtney Marsh and Jerry Franck
"Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah," Adam Benzine
"A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness," Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
"Last Day of Freedom," Dee Hibbert-Jones and Nomi Talisman

My Pick: A GIRL IN THE RIVER: THE PRICE OF FORGIVENESS

My Prediction: BODY TEAM 12

Best Film Editing:
"The Big Short," Hank Corwin
"Mad Max: Fury Road," Margaret Sixel
"The Revenant," Stephen Mirrione
"Spotlight," Tom McArdle
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens,"Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey

My Pick and Prediction: Margaret Sixel, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

Best Original Song:
"Earned It" from "Fifty Shades of Grey,"Abel Tesfaye, Ahmad Balshe, Jason Daheala Quenneville and Stephan Moccio
"Manta Ray" from "Racing Extinction" J. Ralph and Lyric by Antony Hegarty
"Simple Song #3" from "Youth," David Lang
"Til It Happens To You" from "The Hunting Ground," Diane Warren and Lady Gaga
"Writing's On The Wall" from "Spectre," Jimmy Napes and Sam Smith

My Pick and Predction: Til it Happens to You from THE HUNTING GROUND, so powerful! I really hope it wins.

Best Production Design:
"Bridge of Spies" Production Design: Adam Stockhausen; Set Decoration: Rena DeAngelo and Bernhard Henrich
"The Danish Girl" Production Design: Eve Stewart; Set Decoration: Michael Standish
"Mad Max: Fury Road" Production Design: Colin Gibson; Set Decoration: Lisa Thompson
"The Martian" Production Design: Arthur Max; Set Decoration: Celia Bobak
"The Revenant" Production Design: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Hamish Purdy

My Pick and Prediction: MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

Best Animated Short Film:
"Bear Story" Gabriel Osorio and Pato Escala
"Prologue" Richard Williams and Imogen Sutton
"Sanjay's Super Team" Sanjay Patel and Nicole Grindle
"We Can't Live without Cosmos" Konstantin Bronzit
"World of Tomorrow" Don Hertzfeldt

My Pick and Prediction: SANJAY’S SUPER TEAM

Best Live Action Short Film:
"Ave Maria" Basil Khalil and Eric Dupont
"Day One" Henry Hughes
"Everything Will Be Okay (Alles Wird Gut)" Patrick Vollrath
"Shok" Jamie Donoughue
"Stutterer" Benjamin Cleary and Serena Armitage

My Pick and Prediction: AVE MARIA

Best Sound Editing:
"Mad Max: Fury Road" Mark Mangini and David White
"The Martian" Oliver Tarney
"The Revenant" Martin Hernandez and Lon Bender
"Sicario" Alan Robert Murray
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" Matthew Wood and David Acord

My Pick and Prediction: MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

Best Sound Mixing:
"Bridge of Spies" Andy Nelson, Gary Rydstrom and Drew Kunin
"Mad Max: Fury Road" Chris Jenkins, Gregg Rudloff and Ben Osmo
"The Martian" Paul Massey, Mark Taylor and Mac Ruth
"The Revenant" Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño, Randy Thom and Chris Duesterdiek
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" Andy Nelson, Christopher Scarabosio and Stuart Wilson

My Pick and Prediction: MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

Best Visual Effects:
"Ex Machina," Andrew Whitehurst, Paul Norris, Mark Ardington and Sara Bennett
"Mad Max: Fury Road," Andrew Jackson, Tom Wood, Dan Oliver and Andy Williams
"The Martian," Richard Stammers, Anders Langlands, Chris Lawrence and Steven Warner
"The Revenant," Rich McBride, Matthew Shumway, Jason Smith and Cameron Waldbauer
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens," Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Neal Scanlan and Chris Corbould

My Pick: MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

My Prediction: STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS

 

The 88^th Annual Academy Awards will be held at The Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and will be telecast Live on ABC beginning with Live from the Red Carpet coverage on Sunday, February 28, 2016 on ABC-TV, 7pm EST/4pm PST.  Chris Rock will be the host.

For everything Oscar – please go visit the Academy’s website at http://oscar.go.com/

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Thank YOU!

MOVIE REVIEW: For Colored Girls - Tyler Perry's Most Important Film to Date On Many Levels

For Colored Girls -- Lionsgate

Directed by Tyler Perry

Screenplay by Tyler Perry, based on Ntozake Shange's choreo-poem stage play, for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf

Cast: Janet Jackson, Kimberly Elise, Loretta Devine, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose, Kerry Washington, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Whoopi Goldberg, Macy Gray, Michael Ealy, Omari Hardwick, Richard Lawson, Hill Harper and Khalil Kain

Film Editing: Maysie Hoy

Costume Design: Johnetta Boone

My Grade: A

First of all, this is a time when a film comes along that I wish the Academy, like the Screen Actor's Guild Awards had an ensemble acting category. I will come back to that point in a moment, but I must first begin this review with a poignant question to mass media film critics. Is Tyler Perry on some sort of list? I say that, because I could not get over the numerous negative critiques this film received citing everything from accusing Perry of hacking Shange's original poetic masterpiece to smithereens with formulaic melodrama, very little character development and Janet Jackson coming from the Meryl Streep school of Miranda Priestley a la Devil Wears Prada - actually THREE reviewers had that same insight. I found it curious. Did they have a meeting? I only bring this up, because this is one case where I must compel you to not listen to the mass media critics on this one. The other thing that seemed to be across the board with these critics is they felt that the interwoven poetry of Ntozake Shange's original work with Perry's dialogue would go way over his 'usual' audiences head. What the hell is that supposed to mean? As a person familiar with the original piece, as well as Perry's work - I can tell you that it didn't go over my head. People get it!

It is as though the mass media critics have written him off as comedy, not to be taken too seriously with the Medea films and what not. Sure, Hollywood can count on him to rake in the box office come opening weekend, but he'll never be considered for anything more than that. I wouldn't write him off just yet. This could very well be Tyler Perry's best film. In fact, it is a borderline masterpiece in social commentary. Without giving away any spoilers, unlike some of those aforementioned critics, the issues brought about through both the original play and this film are ones that are not only viable, but that need to be put on the table. If not, unapologetically, put in your face - as they are so eloquently and grittily displayed in the film.

My hope is that not only mass audiences give this film a chance, but that it gets some recognition come awards season. The depths of the cast alone, with each of the central actresses portrayals having at least one, what I affectionately call 'Oscar reel' moment. Of course, I have my favorites. I mean, in an ensemble this deep and gifted, who do you nominate or recognize? Kimberly Elise definitely could come up come awards season, as well as Thandie Newton - as both brought the bravura to their roles.

The best thing about Perry's direction of the film lay in it's nuances - and there are several. There is a scene between Newton and Whoopi Goldberg where they exchange lines from one of Shange's wonderful poems - both beginning in the same place, then drifting separately; each actress not missing a beat and then meeting up to a conclusion from where they first began. I was on the edge of my seat. Phylicia Rashad is brilliant as the wise, if not matronly apartment manager who definitely goes above the call of duty on several occasions. Rashad's performance is timed so well... It is as though she shows up, and it makes all the sense in the world. Every time... Loretta Devine shines in what I think is the best role I have seen her in, 'like you've never seen before.' Even Macy Gray's one scene will have you feeling so on edge and in the moment, if you just go with the suspension of disbelief...yes, people; (ie those critics) run with it.

Get into these characters. There is so much meat here, and for critics to just toss it away like 'whatever' really got under my nail a tad. It is the movies people. I also have to make mention of the men that are in these women's lives. Michael Ealy, in what must be the most unlikeable role an actor could have - his character definitely has some major issues, but Ealy makes you feel for him; just brilliant. Omari Hardwick, Richard Lawson, Hill Harper and Khalil Kain are all solid, as well.

Then there is that exchange between Janet Jackson's Jo/Red and her husband (Hardwick) near the end of the film. No spoilers here, but let's just say that it is a subject that I am glad somebody finally put very much in your face; in not just the African-Amercian community, but in the world community as well. Jackson's sweet soliloquy with all of it's tears and reserved rage, hurt and emotion has got to be her shining moment. I have always been a fan of Janet Jackson, but in a lot of her previous movies I always felt like I was watching Janet Jackson playing a role. Not here. This is the real deal. Pure, raw acting.

The ensemble is so important to this film and I hope audiences do go see it, get into the characters, stories and the wonderful poetry and just go with it. If you are familiar with the play, accept that this is a film based on the material and don't get caught up in trying to compare one with the other. We don't do it every time a Shakespearean piece is turned into a film, why start now?

Also, of note - if, by chance, this film gets recognized come awards season two other artist's work shines as well and that is the amazing Maysie Hoy's film editing and the masterful costume design of Johnetta Boone. Boone's task was not as easy as one would think. The costumes in this film were very important from Goldberg's clean white garb for her religiously fanatic Alice and Loretta Devine's costume jewelry to the pastel shirt worn with metrosexual fit-to-a-tee suaveness of Hardwick's suit as he's talking to Jackson's Jo on his cell phone, while walking down the street. You better believe that every outfit in this film had a reason and a purpose.

Yes, it is the details and when you have woven them altogether you have what could very well be Tyler Perry's first step at being considered a serious filmmaker; a contender if you will - damn the naysayers.

Bravo!

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards: My Picks & Predictions

The annual Hollywood extravaganza has always been a kind of holiday in my neck of the woods. As I was coming up, my family and I used to make it an event at the house. My brother, Dan, and I usually are pretty good at predicting the winners, sometimes even the nominations. My parents were always about the 'moments' during the awards show. I also recall Dad being quite flustered when "The Color Purple" got that big snub back in 1985. I was pretty upset by that too. However, like the decisions of the Academy or not, I always look forward to the saga the annual Academy Awards provide; with all the glitz and glamour. We take a look back at what was the best of one of our most popular mediums with honor.

The big fun is if one of your faves wins, of course. Even better, if you predict who is going to win. Like I said, I used to be really good at the prediction part. I am a bit rusty these days, because in all honesty the older I get, the more time I spend creating my own art - thus the less opportunity I have to view films. This year I saw a few. Then, admittedly, like a lot of filmgoers who are also fans of Oscar, when the nominations came out I saw a couple more. 10 nominations for Best Picture be damned, I still come up with the same result in that category.

We will see Sunday whether my faves outweigh my predictions, mostly based on gut instinct, history and a few throws up to the movie gods...

Here we go - I went to Oscar's website and simply list them by the ballot there...

Because, after all, an Oscar IS an Oscar!


ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”

George Clooney in “Up in the Air”

Colin Firth in “A Single Man”

Morgan Freeman in “Invictus”

Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker”

Not sure why Morgan Freeman is here this time, but who am I? Jeff Bridges has sure had quite a career and "Crazy Heart" so reminds me of "Tender Mercies." Jeremy Renner impressed me.

~My Choice: Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker"
~My Prediction: Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Matt Damon in “Invictus”

Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger”

Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station”

Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones”

Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”

GREAT CATEGORY! Wow! All this talent in one little category is too much, but I have to say Christoph Waltz will be hard to beat...four languages, energy, raw and pure talent...hard to not tip your hat to him for such a performance.

My Choice & My Prediction: Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”

Helen Mirren in “The Last Station”

Carey Mulligan in “An Education”

Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”

Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia”

I am really going on a limb here, but Meryl Streep has been showing up many years since her last win in 1983 and you gotta be thinking, one of these years, she is gonna slip in there and take the trophy. Not positive if her comedic turn as Julia Child is enough, but she DID play that role to the hilt and Oscar loves a good 'drag' show. Any way you slice it, Streep is still here and one of these days I truly believe she will get her third win. Sure, Sandra Bullock may win. It would be perfect, the way her career has gone. She has had a solid enough one; she stopped taking the huge money roles and started picking roles with substance - you could even say it is the right time for her. I wouldn't be mad if Bullock wins, and she was my first prediction when Awards season roled around. All that being said, Gabourey Sidibe's dart right out of the shoot in "Precious," is not only a meaty role with substance, but it was the role and a performance of a lifetime. Those kind of characters, with all that grit and grandeur don't come along everyday. She was raw and awesome and beautiful.

~ My Choice: Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious"
~ My Prediction: Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia"

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Penélope Cruz in “Nine”

Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air”

Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart”

Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”

Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”

GO MO' NIQUE! I know "Mary Jones" - believe it or not; she has been my nemesis, my co-worker, my fan a t my shows, even my friend. She walks among our streets, hangs out in our nightclubs, shops in our stores, cruises our highways and yes, even stumbles into our churches. So real, so deep, so brilliant. Most of all, from the outside looking in on the "Mary Jones'" from my life, I didn't really understand them as much until I saw such pureness and depth in this performance. Keep making us say, "WOW!" Brava Diva!

~ My Choice & My Prediction: Mo' Nique, "Precious"

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

“Coraline” Henry Selick

“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Wes Anderson

“The Princess and the Frog” John Musker and Ron Clements

“The Secret of Kells” Tomm Moore

“Up” Pete Docter

~ My Choice & My Prediction: "Up"

ART DIRECTION

“Avatar” Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair

“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro; Set Decoration: Caroline Smith

“Nine” Art Direction: John Myhre; Set Decoration: Gordon Sim

“Sherlock Holmes” Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer

“The Young Victoria” Art Direction: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Maggie Gray

Not knocking it, I am just not IN to "Avatar" - just putting it out there right now. It has been shoved down my throat enough. Meh. BUT...it is a bar-setter, as any Cameron film has been. I think it will do well.

~ My Choice: "The Young Victoria"
~ My Prediction: "Avatar"

CINEMATOGRAPHY

“Avatar” Mauro Fiore

“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” Bruno Delbonnel

“The Hurt Locker” Barry Ackroyd

“Inglourious Basterds” Robert Richardson

“The White Ribbon” Christian Berger

~ My Choice: "Inglourious Basterds"
~ My Prediction: "The Hurt Locker"

COSTUME DESIGN

“Bright Star” Janet Patterson

“Coco before Chanel” Catherine Leterrier

“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Monique Prudhomme

“Nine” Colleen Atwood

“The Young Victoria” Sandy Powell

~ My Choice & My Prediction: "The Young Victoria"

DIRECTING

“Avatar” James Cameron

“The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow

“Inglourious Basterds” Quentin Tarantino

“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels

“Up in the Air” Jason Reitman

~ My Choice: Lee Daniels, "Precious"
~ My Prediction: Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker"

Footnote: History will be made if either Bigelow (she'd be the first woman to win) or Daniels (first African-American to win) - both films are deserving. As an actor, I always look at this category to see the performances the director pulled from their actors... And while "Avatar" fits that "Movies are Made, Plays are Produced' Mode... I hope the Academy goes for the grittiness the other directors pulled from the core of their actors - or make history. Just a thought.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

“Burma VJ” Anders Østergaard and Lise Lense-Møller

“The Cove” Louie Psihoyos and Fisher Stevens

“Food, Inc.” Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein

“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers” Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith

“Which Way Home” Rebecca Cammisa

~ My Choice & My Prediction: "The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers"

DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT

“China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province” Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill

“The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner” Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher

“The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant” Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert

“Music by Prudence” Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett

“Rabbit à la Berlin” Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra

~ My Choice: "The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant"
~ My Prediction: "China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province"


FILM EDITING

“Avatar” Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron

“District 9” Julian Clarke

“The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis

“Inglourious Basterds” Sally Menke

“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Joe Klotz

Tough category for me. Give them all a prize! LOL.

~ My Choice: "The Hurt Locker"

~ My Prediction: "Avatar"

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

“Ajami” Israel

“The Milk of Sorrow (La Teta Asustada)” Peru

“A Prophet (Un Prophète)” France

“The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos)” Argentina

“The White Ribbon (Das Weisse Band)” Germany

~ My Choice & My Prediction: "A Prophet" France

MAKEUP

“Il Divo” Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano

“Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow

“The Young Victoria” Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore

~ My Choice & My Prediction: "Star Trek"

MUSIC SCORE

“Avatar” James Horner

“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Alexandre Desplat

“The Hurt Locker” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders

“Sherlock Holmes” Hans Zimmer

“Up” Michael Giacchino

~ My Choice & My Prediction: "Up"

MUSIC - ORIGINAL SONG

“Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

“Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

“Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36” Music by Reinhardt Wagner Lyric by Frank Thomas

“Take It All” from “Nine” Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston

“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

~ My Choice: "Down in New Orleans" (from "The Princess and the Frog")

~ My Prediction: "The Weary Kind" (from "Crazy Heart")

BEST PICTURE

“Avatar” James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers

“The Blind Side” Gil Netter, Andrew A. Kosove and Broderick Johnson, Producers

“District 9” Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers

“An Education” Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers

“The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier and Greg Shapiro, Producers

“Inglourious Basterds” Lawrence Bender, Producer

“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers

“A Serious Man” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers

“Up” Jonas Rivera, Producer

“Up in the Air” Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers

I just got a feeling this won't be as big a showcase between the two exes (Cameron for "Avatar" and Bogelow" for "The Hurt Locker"). Again, like my Streep prediction, I will not be mad if I am wrong and the win goes to "The Hurt Locker" (as that was my early prediction, until the whole producer from the film being barred from the show fiasco because the dope wrote an email to Academy members pointing out his film was better than "Avatar" and company - WOW!). With that, I think it may put another film in Oscar's line of sight. "Inglourious Basterds" still surprises and amazes me, so I actually wouldn't be shocked if it wins Best Picture. Call it a shot in the dark. Hell with TEN nominations, "The Blind Side" could sneak up and win. Yowza! All I know is if "Precious" sneaks up there I will gag in ecstasy!

~ My Choice: "Precious"

~ My Prediction: "Inglourious Basterds"

SHORT FILM ANIMATED

“French Roast” Fabrice O. Joubert

“Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell

“The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)” Javier Recio Gracia

“Logorama” Nicolas Schmerkin

“A Matter of Loaf and Death” Nick Park

~ My Choice & My Prediction: "Logorama"

SHORT FILM LIVE ACTION

“The Door” Juanita Wilson and James Flynn

“Instead of Abracadabra” Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström

“Kavi” Gregg Helvey

“Miracle Fish” Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey

“The New Tenants” Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson

~ My Choice: "The Door"

~ My Predicition: "The New Tenants"

SOUND EDITING

“Avatar” Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle

“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson

“Inglourious Basterds” Wylie Stateman

“Star Trek” Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin

“Up” Michael Silvers and Tom Myers

~ My Choice: "Inglourious Basterds"

~ My Prediction: "Avatar"

SOUND MIXING

“Avatar” Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson

“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett

“Inglourious Basterds” Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano

“Star Trek” Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin

“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson

~ My Choice: "The Hurt Locker"

~ My Prediction: "Avatar"

VISUAL EFFECTS

“Avatar” Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones

“District 9” Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken

“Star Trek” Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton

~ My Choice & My Prediction: "Avatar" (I won't cry if it don't win...lol)


WRITING - ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

“District 9” Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell

“An Education” Screenplay by Nick Hornby

“In the Loop” Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche

“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher

“Up in the Air” Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

Going on a bender again... ugh... My heart tells me that "Up in the Air" is bound to win 'something,' after all the hoopla it has mustered...why? Hell if I know... 'it's the movie of our times' one critic wrote... Sorry, that appeared to be "Slumdog Millionaire" LAST year...so, I am just gonna throw it out into the universe for "Precious"...what a story, such characters!

My Choice & My Prediction: "Precious"

WRITING - ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

“The Hurt Locker” Written by Mark Boal

“Inglourious Basterds” Written by Quentin Tarantino

“The Messenger” Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman

“A Serious Man” Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen

“Up” Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy

~ My Choice: "Up"

~ My Prediction: "Inglourious Basterds"

Enjoy the Show!!!!

Sunday Brunch #3 - Lauren Bacall Among 2009 Honorary Academy Award Recipients

Today's Sunday brunch is in celebration of some news that broke this week. So grab a spot of tea and some crumpets - and enjoy the show. Lauren Bacall, whose was among the top leading ladies in film noir movies and was married to screen legend Humphrey Bogart, is to get an Honorary Oscar from The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. They voted to honor Bacall with an honorary Oscar, along with other Hollywood figures. Bacall, 84, has never received an Oscar. She was nominated for her supporting role in the 1996 movie The Mirror Has Two Faces. She starred in over 30 films during her storied career, including many classics including To Have and Have Not , Key Largo and Woman of the Year.

The Board of Governors also voted to award honorary Oscars to producer and director Roger Corman and cinematographer Gordon Willis, and to give the Irving G Thalberg Memorial award to producer and movie executive John Calley.

The honorary Oscars that Bacall, Corman and Willis will receive are to honor "extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement" or service to the motion picture academy. The Thalberg Award was created to honor producers who create "high quality" work, the academy said. All four will receive their awards on November 14 at an event in Hollywood. Organizers of the Oscars created the event to hand out those statues ahead of the Academy Awards in March and scale down the time of the annual telecast.

Even though some detractors may opine that these 'honorary' Oscars are given to elder screen legends who have 'one foot in the grave,' - and that may have some credence, but no matter how you slice it... Bacall is very deserving for what she gave during her career and I am pleased as punch that she is getting her due.