Best Cinematography

The prettiest to look at were:

(certain films were not viewed that most likely would be on here, most notably 'Antichrist'. Also it was very very hard to leave out 'Watchmen' but at whose expense - possibly 'Wild Things' in the long run - I couldn't decide, it seriously ended up being a coin toss)

Mauro Fiore - 'Avatar'
It is mostly computer generated, but on my what computer generation. Raise you hands if you want to move to Pandora.

Greig Fraser - 'Bright Star'
I especially loved how every romantic scene was shot with breathtaking beauty. It made mother nature proud.

Tristan Oliver - 'Fantastic Mr Fox'
So warm and inviting with the country autumn hues. Makes you want to go and move to the farm land and live in a tree.

Robert Richardson - 'Inglourious Basterds'
The stunning and boldly comic use of Nazi red and the smaller character moments combined the beauty and the ugly.

Eduard Grau - 'A Single Man'
The use of framing and colour was something to behold. The focus was so exact you could feel the emotions rising.

Lance Acord - 'Where the Wild Things Are'
A child hood fantasy of the book bought to bold and beautiful life. Every scene filled with so much to see you just want to look at it forever.

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Thinking differently

I am not going to comment any further on the Howard Stern comment on Gabourey Sidibe than saying - "he is one to talk about appearance."
All he really did was give 'Precious' a lot more credence as a film. We do laugh at people who are physically different. We are all basically twats - some of us more than others.
However it does bring up an interesting point on black actresses in Hollywood. We all know how difficult good roles are for them to get. If they get a juicy role in a film, that happens to be considered a 'black' film, then the audience is automatically limited. In other aspects they are usually supporting players or in an independent film.
If you look at the lead actresses nominated for Oscar, the picture becomes clear:

1954 - Dorothy Dandridge in 'Carmen Jones'
1972 - Diana Ross in 'Lady Sings the Blues'
1972 - Cicely Tyson in 'Sounder'
1974 - Diahann Carroll in 'Claudine'
1985 - Whoopie Goldberg in 'The Color Purple'
1993 - Angela Bassett in 'What's Love Got To Do with It'
2001 - Halle Berry in Monsters Ball *
2009 - Gabourey Sidibe in 'Precious'

That is 2% of nominees since the beginning of Oscar time (* indicates winner).


Supporting actress is a little different:

1939 - Hattie McDaniel in 'Gone with the Wind' *
1948 - Ethel Waters in 'Pinky'
1959 - Juanita Moore in 'Imitation of Life'
1967 - Beah Richards in 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner'
1983 - Alfre Woodard in 'Cross Creek'
1985 - Oprah Winfrey in 'The Color Purple'
1985 - Margaret Avery in 'The Color Purple'
1990 - Whoopie Goldberg in 'Ghost' *
1996 - Marianne Jean-Baptiste in 'Secrets and Lies'
2002 - Queen Latifah in 'Chicago'
2004 - Sophie Okonedo in ' Hotel Rwanda'
2006 - Jennifer Husdon in 'Dreamgirls' *
2007 - Ruby Dee in 'American Gangster'
2008 - Viola Davis in 'Doubt'
2008 - Taraji P. Henson in 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'
2009 - Mo'Nique in 'Precious' *

That is a little less than 4.5% of nominees in this category (* indicates winner).
Whoopie is the only black actress to receive two nominations so there are more milestones to go.
So yes, Gabourey is going to have a hard time, but things are getting better. What troubles me is that so many people have written her off as a one hit wonder without seeing any more of her work. We will be able to judge on August 16th (Madonna's Birthday!) when her showtime series 'The Big C' premiers.
But it seems we are all ready to kill her career before it has even began based on how she looks. When did we become so f*cking cynical?
Perhaps if we thought better of the film industry, they would come around. I mean things are getting better. 43% of black actresses nominated in the supporting category were from this past decade (the lead category still needs to catch up with the 1970's - sadly).
Why do we look at someone and, judging by their appearance, dismiss them? Shouldn't we try and see everyone as equal to begin with? Isn't that the point of 'Precious' in the first place?

I think there is a place for her in Hollywood. She is something fresh, new and intelligent and that is something the film industry needs much more of. All it will take is a few screenwriters to think a little bit out side of the box in terms of what image they give their characters for and casting directors to think a little bit out side of the box in terms of filling roles.

At the end of the day, the legacy all actresses leave behind is one of two things. Their image, or the quality of their work. Sometimes, if they are incredibly lucky, it will be both.

MAFFE Break - Trailers galore

Which of these will get some end of year awards traction? None, one, all?

Anyway, here they are.

'Eat, Pray, Love'

Gosh I love Julia - is there anyone more charming? And I love Viola (naturally not getting a lead role, but stuck with supporting Best Friend - will black actresses ever get a break?) and this looks like a nice charming little film to get lost in. Here is hoping there is a little more meat than what is on offer in the trailer. Seeing as how it is based on a true story one would hope so.

'Switch'

The old turkey baster switcheroo eg? Here we have Anniston coasting on her charisma. Perhaps there are some risks being taken here, perhaps not. I just wish she would take a risk and step out of her comfort zone just so we can see if she can. If she fails then back to rom coms. Anywhoo, it looks kind of cute, but that child has already annoyed me.

'The Greatest'

See Susan and Pierce hysterically grieve. See Carey Mulligan try and live up to the expectations thrust upon her.
The story does seem kind of full of schmaltz, but it could be a little grittier. Trailers do have a way of making all drama seem very 'Lifetime'.

Best Costume

And the wonderfully dressed are....

'Bright Star' - Janet Patterson
I mean these costumes were sensational. Showing individual eye and character specific. Stunning.

'Inglourious Basterds' - Anna Shepherd
Military can be boring, but here it is iconic, plus she has some fabulous women to dress.

'Julia' - April Napier
The costumes help depict just what sort of character Julia is as much as the performance. Garish and rather pathetic.

'Julie & Julia' - Ann Roth
Delicious in showing the leanings to the French style as Julia tries to become more and more French.

"A Single Man' - Adrianne Phillips
Sexy, stylish and says so much about the character who wears them. More important it added to the visual eye candy.

Where The Wild Things Are' - Casey Storm
You may argue, but I consider these costumes and my word, what wonderful costumes these were.

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Best Score/Song

Best Original Score

'Avatar' - James Horner
Big and epic, like the film itself. Horner knows how to stir the soul









'Coraline' - Bruno Coulais
Mixing the whimsical and the eerie to great effect. You close your eyes and are transported to a world of the fabulously grotesque.




'Fantastic Mr Fox' - Alexandre Desplat
A little bit country, a little bit blue grass. IT sets the mood and keeps your toe tapping.








'A Single Man' - Abel Korzeniowski & Shigeru Umebayashi
The strings, the clock, the drama of it all. You get so caught up you almost can breath.





'Up' - Michael Giacchino
Automatically transports you to those first 10 minutes. A musical memory. sniff




'Where the Wild Things Are' - Carter Burwell and Karen O.
The frantic frenzied sounds of childhood made slightly bitter sweet.

Best Original Song

Someone Else - Crazy Heart - Song Writers: Stephen Bruton and T-Bone Burnett
Paints a great picture of the character, feels like he has been singing it for years.





The Weary Kind - Crazy Heart - Song Writers
Just really a beautiful song that makes an ok film feel so much better.








AyAyAyAyAy - The Maid - Song Writers: Sebastian Silva and Pedro Piedra.
I could sing this song all bloody day. So damn catchy.








Take it All - Nine - Song Writers: Maury Yeston
An extremely flawed film, but it gets it right with giving this number to Cotillard. Wonderful immersion of song and acting.





Possibility - Twilight Saga New Moon - Song Writers: Lykke Li
Another flawed film, but Lykke Li captures the mood of love and longing perfectly





All Is Love - Where the WIld Things Are - Song Writers: Karen O & The Kids.
It is the musical equivalent of happy childhood's where you are running as fast as you can.

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Best Poster

'Los Abrazos Rotos'
Iconic, why have one image on Penelope when you can have four. Totally carries over the obsessive current of the film.

'Coraline'
Each character poster is a little slice of fun, showing the quirky design and the darkness of the film.

'District 9'
Brilliant use of segregation posters. One of the most effective and striking campaigns of the season.

'The Hurt Locker'
Just an iconic design for the war film, each version giving a better glimpse into the films subject.

'Inglourious Basterds'
Gory, fun, violent, intelligent and beautiful. Posters to describe the film.

'Precious'
That first broken teaser, then the simple sad painting, then the long shot of our hero with wings to soar, and finally that iconic full head shot. POWERFUL!

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Best Trailers

The nominees for Best Trailers are:


'Fantastic Mr. Fox'
It just seemed like so much fun


'Nine'
It made this film look like it was going to be the best film of the year. Masterful trickery.







'A Serious Man'
Clever, hysterical and unlike any other trailer this year. Almost a remix.







'A Single Man'
The sex, the beauty, the scrore, the drama and that ticking clock. Keeps everything close to its chest.


'Watchmen'
The geek in everyone was excited with this overly stylized, so source material accurate trailer.


'Where the Wild Things Are'
I think we all jumped and clapped like children after seeing this.

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Best Adapted Screenplay

And my best adaptors are:

Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell for 'District-9'
Adapted from their own Original Short film they managed to create a thrilling and taught feature length film that made you question your own humanity. Adapting a full length film from a short is never an easy task.

Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach for 'Fantastic Mr Fox'
The most unlikely pairing created cinematic genius. Funny, touch and whilst keeping in the spirit of the wonderful Roald Dahl it has the Anderson and Baumnach stamp all over it.

Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci and Tony Roche for 'In The Loop'
Dialogue this smart and funny and fast should come with the warning "MANY REPEAT VIEWING NECESSARY". Adapted from their own TV series 'The Thick of It' they created most probably the funniest screenplay of the year

Geoffrey Fletcher for 'Precious'
After reading the book, my first thought was "HOW?". It seemed un-filmable. The bleakness, the violence, the sexual abuse. Fletcher allowed the light in, all while staying true to each and every character. A flawless adaptation

Tom Ford - 'A Single Man'
How is it possible to capture grief? Well novelist Christopher Isherwood did it, and Tom Form created a heartbreating visual study on it. It is not dialogue heavy, but it works beautifully

Spike Jones and David Eggers - 'Where The Wild Things Are'
Just for the sheer audacity of making something so big out of something so little. It may not work as a while but its screenplay is a thing of pure imagination

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Best Original Screenplay

And the most original are:

Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber
For taking a tried old genre (the rom com) and breathing brand new life into it by not going for the easy happy endings.

Quentin Taranti
There was no one writer more deserving of Oscar attention this year than Quentin. In fact there are not many more creative writers of film who can hold a candle to this man.

Adam Elliot
Animation seems to be where you are able to truly soar in creative writing. This story was told with such wit and emotion you end up staring at the screen thinking you've just witnessed a miracle.

Duncan Jones and Nathan Parker
A very very simple premise that would go terribly wrong had it not been for a tight and focused screenplay. Sci-fi writers have a hard time keeping it real. This is uncomfortably real.

Pete Doctor, Bob Peterson, Thomas McCarthy.
Those first 10 minute alone warrant them being here, but then making us continue to care, weep and laugh for the remaining 86 minutes is a miracle in story telling.

Michael Haneke
Every single word and action has such meaning. Michael Haneke has created such a mesmerizing and complex metaphor for humanities evil that you may feel shell shocked for a few days.

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THEY ARE COMING

Yes, the MAFFE awards (Michaels Academy of Feature Film Excellence) are almost here.

Since these awards are so much more important than the Oscars, so they of course come after them.

The Academy is comprised of me, Michael and a few other well respected people. Captain Howdy, Mr Ravioli, Fred (he drops dead a lot) and many more.

One thing to know about these awards. Unlike all the others, each category has six nominees. Also the top three are awards gold, silver and bronze stars. There is also a few new categories. Best Poster and Best Trailer (our cinematic year is all about the pre amble) Best Ensemble and Best Small Performance (male and female) because I just love acting so god damned much!

There will be a top 12 for best picture, but these will be broken down between two sections (top six and bottom six). Most of you already know who the winners will be in a few categories, but hopefully I will surprise you.
There is no Animated, Foreign, and Documentary categories simply because I do not believe in segregation.

Dear Gabby

Get ye to a comedy script PRONTO!



And just a little bit about her Spirit win, which for me is not so much about the awards, but her own Spirit. She won this award because of her performance, which is how it should be. However, I am convinced that her personality counted for something, mainly as a contrast to be able to appreciate the depth and complexity of her performance. With a personality like hers, she can over come anything.

Most of the press go on about how she is not 'Hollywood' enough (read too dark and big), yet here she is, doing the circuit and having a laugh. She worked the red carpets for all she i s worth and has been the most enjoyable presence in awards season. She didn't win the Oscar (Mo'Nique may have won for performance over politics, but Gabby certainly lost due to politics over performance) but she is fiercely determined to continue on acting, even shouting out Tina Fey as someone she wants to collaborate with. She is not playing by the rules and she is having fun for all it is worth.
What she is, is refreshing. That is something Hollywood certainly needs to embrace in order to survive.

Sean Penn and his "Actress"

When he came out at the Academy Awards and said

“I never became an official member of the Academy, but the Academy and I do have in common that we neglected to acknowledge the same actress in our own ways two years running. So, I’m going to start fresh with the Academy and acknowledge these wonderful actresses.”

most people were like ..."Huh...is he high?". But it all makes sense now. He forgot to thank his wife when he won for 'Milk' and they did not nominate her this year for 'The Private Lives of Pippa Lee'.

I love him and his controversial ways. Shame about the divorce though. I hear Madonna is free.....

Regrets

Nothing makes me wish I was there more than hearing news like this.
I would so be in the middle doing 'The Bump'

'It's a Wonderful Afterlife' Poster

My good friend Goldy front and centre! V. Proud!

The show

I am not going to comment too much on the various winners. Y'all know my thoughts on who I thought was the deserving, and once the MAFFE awards come around, those of you who do not know, will all see.

I just want to comment on what I honestly thought was the worst Oscar ceremony I have ever witness. It was a mess.

Here is what I didn't like:

Having the lead acting nominees lined up at the beginning was pointless. They look uncomfortable and it seriously took away from the running time. Were they trying to make it look like a beauty pageant ? "The 10 runner ups are...". Ugh.

What was with the opening number. I just did not really get what the point was. I love NPH but it just seemed silly and time consuming, and the following monologue from Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin was ok, had a few high points, but was over all a severe disappointment when compared to last years number.

The fact that they had people presenting awards for nominated films they were in, or had something to do with - Sigourney Weaver - Art Direction, Tyler Perry (very very funny) doing editing, Sam Worthington doing sound - it was tacky and awkward. Poor Sam having to read out that 'Avatar' lost the sound awards was just terrible. Who ever decided that should happen should be smacked.

I love the 5 acting nominees being presented by other actors/directors. I loved the fact that this year it was accompanied by film clips. However only for the lead categories. Supporting was just regulated to film clips. Are they saying that yes...the lead acting oscars are the only ones that deserve a special presentation?

The interpretive dance for Original Score. It went on for 4 years it seemed.

The way certain presenters (who were obviously instructed to) ran off the list of nominees so quickly before tearing that envelope open to get the winner up and off was just plain disrespectful to what they are there celebrating - excellence in film.
They should have just run down and handed them out to them, or shot them out of a cannon.

The way Tom Hanks announced Best Picture was horrendous. I do not really care about having 10 nominees. It would not have taken that much longer to read them out again (just cut the damn dance number, or shorted the John Hughes memorial).

Cutting off speeches. It is just plain rude. Seeing people up there panicking about being cut off is just bad manners. Yet Jeff and Sandra are allowed to go on an on. It makes it so obvious what they think the important awards are, and lets these poor winners know that they are not important.

"And the winner is..." HORRIBLE!!! They are not winners. Gabby, Meryl, Carey and Helen are definitely not losers. We all know that Bullock did not give the best performance of the year, which is why calling her the winner of the category 'Best Performance my and Actress in a leading role' is not true. 'And the Oscar goes to...' is accurate. This was by far the WORST decision of the night,

I would much rather have the 'Best Short' awards placed in a different ceremony to bring back the Life Time Achievement awards. I would obviously prefer a world where we would have both, but if it means I get to see Lauren Bacall be celebrated for her body of work, then so be it.

This is the last of it for my blog. I will not discuss it and instead look to the cinematic gems of 2010.

Someone once said that the awards should be given out a year later. When people have time to see all the films and sit and think about who they honestly want to win. The surrounding hoopla would have died down and voters would not be all caught up in media opinion.

I am sure the results for each year would be quite different.

Here are the best moments in Pictures (aside from Oprah presenting Gabourey Sidibe which was so moving and a nice way of letting her know that this is the reward)

Oscar winners

Best Picture: “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier, Greg Shapiro
Best Director: “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow
Best Actor: Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”
Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique in “Precious”
Best Original Screenplay: “The Hurt Locker” Written by Mark Boal
Best Adapted Screenplay: “Precious” Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
Best Foreign Language: “The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos)” Argentina
Best Animated Film: “Up” Pete Docter
Best Documentary: “The Cove” Louie Psihoyos and Fisher Stevens
Best Cinematography: “Avatar” Mauro Fiore
Best Art Direction: Avatar” Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg, Kim Sinclair
Best Costumes: “The Young Victoria” Sandy Powell
Best Editing: “The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
Best Score: “Up” Michael Giacchino
Best Song: “The Weary Kind”(Crazy Heart) Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett
Best Makeup: “Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
Best Visual Effects: “Avatar” Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham, Andrew R. Jones
Best Sound Editing: “The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson
Best Sound Mixing: “The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
Best Animated Short: “Logorama” Nicolas Schmerkin
Best Live Action Short: “The New Tenants” Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson
Best Documentary Short: “Music by Prudence” Roger Ross Williams and Elinor

Would comment on the ceremony, but I honestly thought is was horrendous.