Fashion at the Oscars

Since I am somewhat tired, I am only going to do the positives of the evening. So, here are the fashion winners at this year's Oscars!

5th Place - Cate Blanchett - Very beautiful and toned down in her pregnant gown. The colour was purple, which is a brave direction to go, and she pulled it off spectacularly. The neckware, like the colour, was also brave, maybe even bizarre, but Ms Blanchett pulled it off splendidly. How I will always lust for this beautiful woman!

4th Place - Jennifer Garner - Very well fitting black, gorgeous neckware, and beautiful hair make her look elegant and regal. She rarely fails to impress me!


3rd Place - Hilary Swank - OK, let's be honest. She picks the bravest endeavors with dresses, but always manages to pull them off spectacularly. This one is no exception. She's not afraid to show off her lean, statuesque figure, and I'm certainly not complaining!


2nd Place - Laura Linney - This dress was simple, but it followed all the rules. It fit well. The colour was fitting. The hair was beautiful. And, the neckware was the best there this evening. She almost got 1st place for me, but, sorry Laura, the next girl beat you in two categories. . .


1st Place - Marion Cotillard - Everything about Ms Cotillard was perfect this evening. The Hair, the neckware, the fit, pattern, and royalty of her gown. She was stunning. She certainly put to shame (though, this wasn't difficult), your French counterpart, Juliette Binoche. Snaps, Janey faces, and all to Ms Cotillard for being this year's Kate Winslet!

...more to come!

The fucking Academy. . .

OK. So, the Oscars have come and gone. And, the one thing that I said would make me livid pissed happened.

What happened? Cate Blanchett didn't take home a well-deserved Oscar this evening. It was criminal. Instead, the oddball freak Tilda Swinton took it for her role as a bitch lawyer in Michael Clayton. I must first comment on the role that Ms Swinton played. The role was incredibly two dimensional, if not incredibly stereotypical. She provided nothing extra to the bitch lawyer role, and she clearly cannot master an American accent - (in fact, before the film even started, I asked my mother, who had watched it before me, if Ms Swinton had used an American accent or a British accent, to which she promptly and confidently responded, "British"). Not only is Ms Swinton not good, her role wasn't even challenging. Ms Blanchett, on the other hand (and I comment for the Supporting category; Although Ms Blanchett was spectacular - again - in Elizabeth: The Golden Age, I won't deny Ms Cotillard's talents that earned her her Oscar), is given probably the most complex role this year, (perhaps with the exception of Daniel Day-Lewis's Plainview in There Will Be Blood), and she nails it dead on. She has everything down - the talk, the vibes, the personality. Everything about her screams BOB DYLAN in I'm Not There. Cate Blanchett is one of the most versatile actresses in the industry. Throw any role her way - Katherine Hepburn, Sheba Hart, Elizabeth Tudor, and even BOB DYLAN, and she can make every aspect of it real, alive, and totally three dimensional. That she wasn't awarded her Oscar this evening was a crime, and what was a bigger crime was that it wasn't even a decent acting job that beat her - although I may have been unhappy had anyone beat her, at least Amy Ryan, Ruby Dee, and Saorise Ronan did fantastic jobs in their roles. Basically, Academy, Y'ALL SUCK. This is worse than The Departed winning Best Picture. Worse than Marcia Gay Harden defeating Kate Hudson. Worse than Paul Giamatti being overlooked for Sideways. Almost as heinous as putting Catherine Zeta Jones in the SUPPORTING ACTRESS category, rather than the lead for her role in Chicago. This is a new low for the Academy, and they should be completely ashamed of themselves.

That's all. l8rs.

What a load of ballocks these two weeks have been!

The events of the last few weeks have made my life interesting to say the least:

Gene Nichol. The Board of Visitors decides not to renew his contract - essentially sacking him. The school erupts in disarray and strike. Why does this happen? Well, I believe the large claim is because Nichol was a maverick for First Amendment Rights and diversity - (the two biggest instances being the removal of the Cross from the Wren building and allowing the Sex Workers' Art Show to appear on campus twice). Be that as it may, I still must wonder - how is this relevant? The President of the College has a specific job - to handle the short term and long term financial well being and progress of the school. From the way I see it objectively, Gene Nichol was more concerned with making political decisions than the financial well being of the College. Prime example - Removing the Cross from the Wren building with full knowledge that he would lose a pledged $15 million donation (then lying about it) and also with the knowledge that it would bring unnecessary attention onto the school. Many people see the removal of the Cross as an end to a tradition of theocracy. I disagree. The cross was in a chapel. Those offended by the Cross had every right to ignore it or not use the chapel, but, rather, go someplace else to worship. The school was in no way sponsoring religion - no funding went to the Anglican Church to conduct any services rallying around this cross. It was just a bloody cross that was there, not hurting anyone. And, I feel that it was irresponsible for Mr Nichol to remove the cross, knowing the drama it would cause with alumni. He wasn't looking out for the financial well-being of the College, and that would certainly be cause for not renewing his contract. He seems like a nice enough guy, but perhaps the presidency isn't exactly the right position for him.

Cuba. Fidel Castro steps down. I am, obviously, ecstatic about this. I have suspected him dead for awhile. Those who know me know my very high ambition of taking over Cuba by means of the American dollar. Now that the Cold War is long over, I think that the U.S. Government should end the embargo and allow American tourism to commence. We need to allow big money to go into Cuba and open up hotels to compete with the myriad of Canadian, Spanish, and German ones already there. Furthermore, we need to bribe the Cuban government. Although it is against American policy to appease such a government, I'd consider it an investment. The Cuban government needs to end its monopoly on the Tobacco and Rum industries and allow Americans to invest in these companies. I'll be the first to admit, I go to Canada annually to smuggle cigars across the border, and I know many people who would be overjoyed to buy these products LEGALLY. Basically, it would be mutually beneficial for the Cubans and the Americans to open up free trade. Communism would become obsolete as the American dollar penetrates into Cuba. Everyone wins - our dollar will become more valuable, jobs would open up, and the Cubans, for once, would be allowed to have some money.

Big Brother. I love this show, and it's becoming incredibly interesting. I love the fights. I love the drama. I am a sadistic bastard, and I know it! More to come!

John McCain. He's going to be my party's nominee for the Presidency. I am not so thrilled about this, but I have surrendered to the fact that I will be voting for him (and, depending on who the VP candidate is, I may be holding my nose). I want to see John McCain do one thing before I become enthusiastic - and Fred Thompson at least managed to do this - Mr McCain needs to admit that McCain-Feingold was a mistake and a huge infringement against the First Amendment. If he swallows his pride and admits his mistake, then he will have a maverick campaigner on his team. I also hope he selects a good VP candidate. Ideas? J.C. Watts. Mike Huckabee. Hailey Barbour. Michael Steele. John Linder. Connie Mack. We shall see. Please, Mr McCain, pick a true conservative so that you can unite the base!

Midterm Exams. So for ghey.

Marion Cottilard. I think she's gonna win the Oscars now, but it's way to late to change my prediction sheet. Alas.

The Oscars. My second most favourite day of the year. Sunday! WOOT!

And I think that's all I have to say. So, goodbye for now!

Oscars 2007

The Academy Awards approaches us, and I am very excited this year because some of my favourite actors and screenwriters are going to be up for awards. This is about the time of year when I make my predictions. So, here I go.

Best Supporting Actor - nominees : Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men; Hal Holbrook in Into the Wild; Casey Affleck in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford; Philip Seymour Hoffman in Charlie Wilson's War; Tom Wilkinson in Michael Clayton.

Predicted Winner - Javier Bardem
Preferred Winner - Javier Bardem

*This one is a no brainer. I like villains, and Javier Bardem is the best on screen psychopath since Hannibal Lecter. I couldn't remember a time that I've wanted to be a villain more than when I first saw Silence of the Lambs (I know the script front and back). But this one was a close second, and Bardem deserves this award, and he will win it. Anyone that makes killing with a cattle gun stylish deserves the gold.

Best Supporting Actress - nominees: Cate Blanchett in I'm Not There; Ruby Dee in American Gangster; Saoirse Ronan in Atonement; Tilda Swinton in Michael Clayton; Amy Ryan in Gone Baby Gone.

Predicted Winner - Cate Blanchett
Preferred Winner - Cate Blanchett

*She is a limitless actress, and, although I haven't seen I'm Not There (I must wait til it comes to the Kimbal in a few weeks), I have seen short clips of Cate on YouTube in this role. Just this three minute clip, I think, merited the gold. She can do Elizabeth, Katherine Hepburn, Sheba Hart, and now Bob Dylan. I don't care if she's won before (she deserved it, as she made an insanely dull film somewhat interesting with her role), she bloody deserves it again!

Best Actor - nominees: George Clooney in Michael Clayton; Tommy Lee Jones in In the Valley of Elah; Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street; Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood; Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises.

Predicted Winner - Daniel Day-Lewis
Preferred Winner - Daniel Day-Lewis

*Again, anything that this guy touches makes the movie that much better. My Left Foot? The Gangs of New York? In the Name of the Father? This is one incredible role, and it has been unmatched this year.

Best Actress - nominees: Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth: The Golden Age; Julie Christie in Away From Her; Marion Cottilard in La Vie en Rose; Ellen Page in Juno; Laura Linney in The Savages

Predicted Winner - Ellen Page
Preferred Winner - Laura Linney

*This is always a complicated category for me. Last year, I didn't care who won - for me, it was a five way tie (and Dame Helen was 20 per cent equally deserving as the others). Now, I would love to see Laura Linney take home her long overdue statue. I was so incredibly excited when I heard her name nominated. Right now, it would seem that Julie Christie should be the front runner, but I think the Academy is going to go for young blood this time. Since Julie has already got her gold. I want to confidently say that it's Laura Linney's turn, but based on the nominee luncheon the other day, I think Academy voters are going to like to hear the Oscar speech from an enthusiastic and young Ellen Page (and I won't be upset, because her role was very well done).

Adapted Screenplay - nominees: Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood); Sarah Polley (Away From Her); Christopher Hampton (Atonement); Ethan & Joel Coen (No Country for Old Men); Ronald Harwood (The Diving Bell & The Butterfly)

Predicted Winner - Ethan & Joel Coen
Preferred Winner - Sarah Polley

*I'm pretty sure that the Coens will win (and they deserve it), but I was somewhat disappointed when Polley didn't get the director nomination that she deserved - the kind of movie she made at age 28 is exemplary. So, I'd like to see her take home something.

Original Screenplay - nominees: Diablo Cody (Juno); Nancy Oliver (Lars and the Real Girl); Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton); Brad Bird (Ratatouille); Tamara Jenkins (The Savages)

Predicted Winner - Diablo Cody
Preferred Winner - Diablo Cody

*Juno was such a big hit that they have to give it something. Like Little Miss Sunshine and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind previous, Original Screenplay is where it will strike gold.

Director - nominees: Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood); Ethan & Joel Coen (No Country for Old Men); Jason Reitman (Juno); Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton); Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell & The Butterfly).

Predicted Winner - Ethan & Joel Coen or Paul Thomas Anderson *see Best Picture
Preferred Winner - Paul Thomas Anderson

Picture - nominees: Atonement, Juno, Michael Clayton, No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood

Predicted Winner - No Country for Old Men or There Will Be Blood
Preferred Winner - No Country for Old Men or There Will Be Blood

**Ok, explanations .. . It's been a while since one single movie has dominated the Big 8 - the last time being Million Dollar Baby. And I think this year is no exception. I am predicting No Country and TWBB to win most of the big ones. I think whichever one wins best picture will not win director. If I were to make a prediction, TWBB will win Picture and the Coens will take home the director award. I'd like to see the opposite. I think Paul Thomas Anderson's director award is long overdue (Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch Drunk Love anyone?), not to say that the Coens don't merit one, but my heart if more for Paul Thomas Anderson. Whichever one of these films wins best picture, however, I will be satisfied.


So, yep. Them my predictions. The next time I will talk about the Oscars will be the day after - with my reactions to the awards and fashion critiques.

l8rs,
~~~~p

Die scharfe Zunge

Hmm. . . a thought a new blog seperate from my Facebook would be fun, so, here I am.

Many who might read this know me as a political, theatre, film, and crassness junkie. I am unabashedly all of these things.

I named my blog 'Die scharfe Zunge', the sharp tongue. . . on this blog, Political Correctness is not allowed! Leave that baggage at the door.

So, yea...that's basically all the warning I can give you. If bluntness offends you, Don't Read This Blog! If this kind of stuff angers you, then bugger off because I just don't care.

This is Die scharfe Zunge.