"The Wackness" trailer

This could end up being the break out hit of the year and see a possible Oscar nom for Kingsley. It looks like a hell of a lot of fun. Now let me go out and spend some time with my mates in this grey dreary country. Summertime my ass.

Will this year be a first?

Let's hope so. Tom O'Neil points us to this over at Gold Derby.
It is about time and judging from the trailer this looks like a very likely nomination. Was she actually passed over for "Moulin Rogue!"?
I am dumb struck!

The Secret Life of Links

Awards Daily via just Jared has these GORGEOUS pics of Nicole and Hugh from the upcoming "Australia". So many people are expecting this movie to flop.
Why?
I look forward to anything romantic, pretty and epic, and ole Baz has yet to steer us wrong.
Plus did I mention how pretty it is....just looking at the movie will be enough to give it an 'A' grade.

For those of you who love to discover new music, and I know there are a lot of you, Arjan Writes has some great downloads to, well, download. Go on, make your summer mix tape all the more interesting.

File this inder 'How Dare They'. Madonnalicious is reporting of one of the top remixers turning her down. Don't they know the only thing to make an ok Madonna album brilliant is the remixes?

Strange Culture looks at "Burn After Reading and it's chances of some Academy love. Go J.K.

Newly born from the Lady Blogs vagine is Valley Dreamin' who rewatches 3 of my favorite films that are all better than you.

Spike Lee is making a new movie, and this time The Film Experience proves that they should be the casting director for EVERYTHING.

Why am I not considering these women?

I was going over my little predictions and was looking fondly at some, when all of a sudden it hit me like a bee sting.

Why am I not predicting any of the women from the upcoming adaptation of the best selling novel "The Secret Life of Bees"?

The film stars an actress sure to be nominated in the future, one Oscar winner, two previous Oscar nominees and multi million dollar Grammy award winning recording artist.
So why is no one predicting anything for these wonderful women?

I have no idea!


Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Husdon, Queen Latifah, Sophie Okonedo, and Alica Keys are helping bring this wonderful novel about the friendship of women to the big screen.

While I do not think Hudson will be nominated again (but who knows) I do think Latifah and Okonedo, who have the books juiciest roles can. Perhaps I should just go ahead and predict them. Latifah is fresh off her SAG and Golden Globe win for "Life Support" and may be ready to give the ole dramatic chop a whirl again. Okodeno has "Skin" coming out this year also so, as long as she gives two strong roles, she is sure to be recognized for one.
As for Keys, who knows at this point if she has the dramatic chops, but her role in the book is not as warm or challenging as the other two sisters, but a great actress can make so much more out of it....can she?
Hudson as the care giver to Fannings character does have some good dramatic moments but is mainly comic relief in the book. Can she prove all her one-hit-wonder detractors wrong?
As for Fanning, it depends how much "Hounddog" (The Dakota Fanning rape movie) hurts or helps her.

I for one will be watching this space very carefully.

Where are the Queers?

I just finished reading this article on Hollywood Reporter about how poor independent gay films are doing.
Could black Sunday have been a knife in the stomach of any film maker bringing a gay themed story to the screen?

Sure there has only been 1 major film being put into production, that being Gus Van Sants "Milk". Since that fateful day when the hopes of many a gay man or woman crashed into a wall. Sure you get the silly comedies that only a handful of people see, but nothing major.

Even gay character that seemed to litter a lot of prestige films have been scarce to say the least. Last year not one of the 5 nominated films even had a gay character in it. Perhaps gay interest film makers are playing the waiting game. Let all the homophobic old twats who hold positions of power in tinsel town pop their clogs, then things will be easier.

I still remember Ernest Borgnine saying publically he nor any of his friends would even see Brokeback, "I didn't see it and I don't care to see it ... If John Wayne were alive, he'd be rolling over in his grave."

At least we are not dealing with particularly intelligent people.

So where does this leave gay cinema? Is "Milk", Sacha Baron Cohen's "Bruno" and "Talking Woodstock" (the new Ang Lee film about a gay man working at his parents' motel in the Catskills inadvertently sets in motion the generation-defining concert in the summer of 1969) all we have to look forward to? Sure Bryan Singer is doing "Mayor of Castro Street" but by that time Harvey Milk will be old news (Much like "Infamous" was for Truman Capote).
There is "I Love You Phillip Morris" with Jim Carey and Ewan McGregor, and even though Jim has more than proved his acting chops and we all know Ewan is basically family, I am very wary of the 'comedy/drama' categorization and the fact it is written by the guys responsible for "Cats and Dogs".
All I need is another "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" to send me over the edge.

In the mean time, gay men have to turn to womans films like "Sex and the City: The Movie" and even though we loved being in those ladies company, Carrie's close close gay friend Stanford Blatch was hardly to be seen.
I still hold out hope though. We are living in intolerant times, perhaps future elections will help sort out exactly what tolerance is, and that hate is not something that should ever be preached. Until then I hope for more "Brokebacks", "Bounds" and "Priscilla's"

At least we appear to be big on TV.

Best Supporting Actor Predicitions

1) Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
He deserves a nomination. But can the performance over come it's comic book origins? This one will. Added to that the sympathy for an Actor who is gone too soon, and should already have an Oscar. Now there is talk of a lead campaign..oh dear. (previous rank 5)



2) Robert Downey Jr. – Tropic Thunder
He not only steals the pic from the other stars, but adds layers of nuance while being hysterical. Are comedies like this rewarded? With 'The Soloist' being '09 they may want to reward him anyway (previous rank 6, 5, 8, NEW)




3) Josh Brolin - Milk
Time to prove that last years was not a fluke. As the villain of the movie he will have a juicy role, but there are other villains afoot He is going to have to stand out, and the film is going to have to overcome the gay stigma to make it in the big categories . (previous rank 2, 8)




4) Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
It is a juicy role, although advance word is that the film belongs to the actresses. However the man is very well liked. If he can get nominated for ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ then…... Playing a priest accused of molestation will grab attention. (previous rank 6, NEW)




5) Dev Patel - 'Slumdog Millionaire
SAG nominated him, and gave the film an undeserved Ensemble nomination, which means the actors and the critics are behind this film. He is most likely in, even if he was not brilliant in the film. (previous rank 9, 10, 9)




6) Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road
He is a hard working actor who is always good. He is in an Oscar bait film as well, and the role is supposedly juicy. This will either be a breakout for him, or he will get lost. He really needs the film to do well. (previous rank 2, 7, 12, 10)




7) Eddie Marsan – Happy-Go-Lucky
It is not only Sally Hawkins and Mike Leigh who are getting praised. Marsan who plays the mad driving instructor has received unanimous praise. He managed to get a few end of year notices as well. (previous rank 3, 4, NEW)




8) James Franco - Milk
‘Pineapple Express’ got his great notices this year. There is strong advance buzz for him right now, and he has been around for a while, but mainly in bad films. However there is a lot of internal competition in this film. (previous rank 5, 6, 11, NEW)

He said, "I can smell your Oscar."

So the results are in for the upteenth poll.

I had asked who, out of the lovely five women nominated in 1990 for Best Actress, should have walked away with the trophy.

In 5th place our beloved C.C. Bloom - ie Bette Midler in “For The Boys” with absolutely no votes. Sniff

In 4th place with a measly 6% we have Nikki Grace/Susan Blue (aka Laura Dern for “Rambling Rose”). I have to ask where is her second nomination?

In 3rd place we have Muriel Pritchett herself, Geena Davis in “Thelma and Louise” who could only muster 7%.

Which means 2nd place had a slight 10% lead over Geena was her co-star and eventual Oscar winner Susan Sarandon for “Thelma and Louise”….I really expected her to place much higher and possibly stop

….Sarah Tobias from taking gold with a nice lead of 68%. What can we say, the populous wins out (well yeah), and is it any surprise that the winner is probably the most seen film of the bunch?

Jodie Fosters performance in “The Silence of the Lambs” is probably the only time a woman in an actionist film has won Best Actress. She in fact did what Sigourney Weaver could not do with “Aliens”. Not to say Clarice Starling is all action, but she gets to play a role usually played by men, and in fact plays it better.

I couldn’t have been happier that she won this. I am now waiting till she rejoins the Oscar nominee list.

We move up a year next…fancy that! We will look at 1992 when the nominees to choose from were…..


Diane Ladd - Rambling Rose
Juliette Lewis - Cape Fear
Kate Nelligan - The Prince of Tides
Mercedes Ruehl - The Fisher King
Jessica Tandy - Fried Green Tomatoes


Go on vote people!!!! I know it is not the best year ever, but still….VOTE!. Poll is in the side to your right!

Best Actress Predictions

1) Meryl Streep - Doubt
It have been over 20 years since Meryl Streep, arguably the greatest living actress in the world, has won an Oscar. This could be the role that makes the Academy finally say "It is about time she has another". (previous rank: 1)



2) Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married
She is proving herself as an actress, now all she needs is to be recognized for this challenging role of a recovering addict. The reviews are there, and she is doing well with critics. A Lock. (previous rank: 5, 6, 10)



3) Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
Mike Leigh is great at getting his actresses nominations, especially in well liked films. Critics have already fallen in love with the performance in the US and the UK. The win at Berlin does not hurt at all. (previous rank: 3)



4) Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road
It is not if Kate will ever win an Oscar, just a matter of when. She was a front runner when this was announced. With 'The Reader' either held up or going supporting she has a good shot here. However, you have to ask.....how good is the film? (previous rank: 4)



5) Melissa Leo – “Frozen River”
She is a respected character actress finally breaking out in a lead role (there is one every year it seems). The film won top prize at Sundance and the critics are behind her. She apparently carries the film on her back, but it is a small film. (previous rank: 7 ,NEW)



6) Angelina Jolie - Changeling
She was denied a much deserved nomination last year, and from the reaction at Cannes, she looked like a sure bet. However the critics here have not been so kind saying she is unfocused and not period enough. (previous rank: 8, 2)



7) Kristen Scott Thomas – “I’ve Loved You So Long”
Apparently she is sensational in this French language film. She plays an ex-con and is given her best role in ages. Can she make it back in the mix, this time speaking French. (previous rank: 2, NEW)




8) Cate Blanchett - 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'
With the category confusion seemingly out the way, and some of the reviews saying it is her best work (isn't it always). However the film need to go over really well to oust the ladies ahead.(previous rank: 7, NEW)