Tag: oscars

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Trailer for The Academy Awards (Feb. 26), starring Josh Duhamel, Megan Fox

Source: FirstShowing.net

Nothing special, but The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences have joined forces with Funny or Die to make this funny-ish trailer for the Academy Awards coming up next month. Nominations will be coming up later this month.

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The Hurt Locker (2009)

Mark Boal, a freelance journalist, spent considerable time with a bomb disposal squad in Iraq. Then he and his business partner Kathryn Bigelow made a film. You've probably heard about it. Multi-oscar winning film, The Hurt Locker is the Independent filmmakers dream. No guff, no cheese, no holds barred, this is a moving, riveting journey into the lives of an Explosive Ordnance Disposal crew. A job where a good or bad day at work translates literally as alive or dead-and-blown-into-little-bits. Oscars can often be a load of nonsense with awards seemingly gifted out on the basis of head nods, winks and elbow nudges to the 'right' people in the right place at the right time. A bumpy series of awards decisions have eroded the Academy's public respect - or, as Janet Maslin of the New York Times once said, they are "..an organization capable of deeming Kevin Costner a better director than Martin Scorsese." However, this year's awards have a feeling of redemption about them. Boal and Bigelow both won oscars for writing and directing this film and they are well deserved. To put things into perspective, I just sat through Greenzone. I stayed until the end. It's not bad (review coming...) - But it's not filmmaking. The Hurt Locker is head and shoulders, and even a bit of neck, above anything the hollywood studios could ever pump out with their cookie cutters and one-liners and Tim Bevans and Jerry Bruckheimers. It raises the bar on subtlety and depth and sets out a new standard of quality for independent writing and directing without pushing agendas and messages. Really, the oscars say it all. Watch this film. It's an experience to remember. 10/10

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Academy Award winners list

A few weeks ago, I posted my 'picks' for the Academy Award Nominees. Let's see how the Nominees(and myself) did. Let's get straight into this. So it'll go like this: Award: Winner My Pick: *Film* Best Picture: The Hurt Locker (Katheryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier and Greg Shapiro) My pick: Avatar Actor in a Leading Role: Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart) My pick: George Clooney (Up in the Air) Actor in a Supporting Role: Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds) My pick: Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds) Actress in a Leading Role: Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side) My pick: Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) Actress in a Supporting Role: Mo-Nique (Precious) My pick: Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air) Animated Feature Film: Up (Pete Docter) My pick: Up Art Direction: Avatar (James Cameron) My pick: Avatar Cinematography: Avatar (James Cameron) My pick: Avatar Directing: The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow) My pick: Up in the Air Film Editing: The Hurt Locker (Bob Murawski and Chris Innis) My pick: Inglorious Basterds Foreign Language film: The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos) - Argentina, Directed by Juan Jose Campanella My pick: Un Prophète (A Prophet) Makeup: Star Trek (Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow) My pick: Star Trek Music (Original Score): Up (Michael Giacchino) My pick: Avatar Music (Original Song): Crazy Heart - "The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)" Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett My pick: Down in New Orleans Sound Editing: The Hurt Locker (Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett) My pick: Up Sound Mixing: The Hurt Locker (Paul N.J. Ottosson) My pick: Star Trek Visual Effects: Avatar (Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones) My pick: Avatar Writing (Adapted Screenplay): Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push', by Sapphire (Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher) My pick: Up in the Air Writing (Original Screenplay): The Hurt Locker (Mark Boal) My pick: Up So there we have it. Movieville.org's first Academy Award picks. So it wasn't THAT bad, I got 6 correct of the 19 listed. Ahem. never mind, to be completely honest though, some of them I felt I should change after I wrote the post, but it wouldn't have seemed fair. Not so bad. To see the rest of the winners I haven't listed here, clicky. The Hurt Locker deservedly took away the Best Picture award, although Avatar had its 'prime rib' moments, there were too many elements that were stacked against Cameron & Avatar. Like his past with Bigelow. Zing. Seriously though, whether any of the films won or not, each film has the power to capture an individual's attention, and these awards are merely an ego booster. I kid. Until next time, Kazed

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Academy Award 2010 picks

So this'll be a first for Movieville.org, seeing as we started up before the Oscars season last year, we missed the chance to mention this. Well, we have the chance now. I'm going to pick the ones which I have a connection with, with the exception of 5 Nomination categories(Documentary- Feature and Short Subject, Short Film- Animated and Live Action, Costume Design). Let's get this started. I'll justify the ones I feel need justifying, otherwise it'll just be the nomination. Best Picture: Avatar The first time watching Avatar in 3D, I said it was the best film I had ever seen. In many ways, it was, but there were minor flaws brining this film down. But based solely on the recognition this film has been getting since it's release, it seems to be a clear pick for best picture. Actor in a Leading Role: George Clooney (Up in the Air) After watching Up in the Air, it hadn't occurred to me that Clooney would be in the running for an Oscar. Watching it a second time, it's quite clear as to why he was considered to be in the running for an Academy Award. Clooney in Up in the Air was as refreshing as the film itself. Definitely not his best, but definitely Oscar-worthy. Actor in a Supporting Role: Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds) His sinister presence was noticed in every scene he was present in, and his performance as an antagonist in Inglorious was as noteworthy as the rest of the cast, if not better. Having already received a number of awards for his supporting role, this one should be in the bag. Actress in a Leading Role: Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) I couldn't see another actress on the list who deserved it more than Sidibe did. Actress in a Supporting Role: Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air) Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air was such an excellent addition, after her minor role in the 'Twilight' films, it was definitely a step up seeing her in a more 'involved' role. Animated Feature Film: Up Every time Disney/Pixar release a film, they never cease to impress. Up most definitely wasn't an exception. Each film is a step up from the last, and Up exhibits this perfectly. Definitely the best animated feature of the year. Art Direction: Avatar Nuff' said. Cinematography: Avatar There were too many shots in Avatar to count. But each shot was as beautiful as the last. The shot from the top of Hometree, from the Hallelujah Mountains, the trademark shot of Sully's feet 'tasting' the fresh soil for the first time- All shots which will forever remind me of Avatar. Directing: Up in the Air Film Editing: Inglorious Basterds Foreign Language film: Un Prophète (A Prophet) Makeup: Star Trek Music (Original Score): Avatar I've never listen to a movie score more than I've listened to Avatar's. I said this when I reviewed it, how each track equally matches it's visual counterpart, in both intensity and emotion. Whether Avatar gets the award for this nomination or not, it'll still be one of the best movie scores I've heard. Music (Original Song): Down in New Orleans Sound Editing: Up Sound Mixing: Star Trek Visual Effects: Avatar Again, nuff' said. Writing (Adapted Screenplay): Up in the Air Having already won an award for the same nomination at the BAFTA's, it won't surprise me if Up in the Air grabs an Oscar. Writing (Original Screenplay): Up There we have it, my picks. Kazed. FYI, The reason for me not doing the BAFTA's was it was too close to the time.