As the first award of the evening the Academy showed us what we could expect for the rest of the ceremony with their new format. Five past winners of the Best Supporting Actress Oscar, whom included Eva Marie Saint, Whoopi Goldberg, Goldie Hawn, Angelica Huston, and Tilda Swinton presented this year’s five nominees with a monologue describing the significance of their nomination and their role.

And the Oscar went to…

Continue Reading

Last time I checked this was the Oscars, not the Tony’s – but Hugh Jackman‘s little song and dance was definitely one way to start this epic evening! Each Best Picture nominee was featured in this musical montage – and it was surprisingly hilarious! Frank Langella got a lap dance from Mr. Jackman, and Anne Hathaway even got up there. Who knew she could sing?!

Stay tuned for more updates… perhaps we are in store for another musical number?

Lights are flashing, my friends! The evening has arrived, and the two-hour red carpet parade of nominees, presenters, and hollywood’s A-listers has begun! We’ve kept posted with ABC’s coverage, and below are a couple hi-lights from the interviews…

On the success of Frost/Nixon:

“Its been amazing, the whole journey. It started in London as a play, then new york. People have been going mental for the film. Ron has done a magnificent job of making it. It offers something new to everyone. People who remember the interviews, the people who don’t – it’s a bit of a boxing match. Whether you remember or not, it’s a compelling story.”  - Michael Sheen

Continue Reading

Although, Heath Ledger hasn’t won the Oscar yet, I think it’s pretty clear from every other award show, audience reactions, and his performance, that he will be receiving an Oscar this Sunday. The question originally was who should accept his award, but the bigger question is, who gets to keep it?

“It’s complicated, because there are two different questions that have to be answered,” said Bruce Davis, executive director of the Academy. “First, we have to decide who gets the job of accepting the award onstage on the night of the ceremony. And then there’s the question of the eventual disposition of the posthumous statuette, which may not stay with the person who accepts it.”

It would be natural for it to go to Ledger next of kin. But he divorced his wife Michelle Williams and his daughter Matilda is only 3-years-old and Davis has stated that “From our point of view, somebody has to sign the winner’s agreement, and a 3-year-old can’t do that… Nor can a parent sign any kind of legal document that obligates a child to do something once they turn 18. I didn’t know that before we looked into it, but it’s a good law.”

So who should get to keep the award? Vote for your pick below… Continue Reading

Academy Award nominated director David Fincher has more on his mind, than what to wear at next month’s Oscars. According to THR, Fincher was or has been attached to direct the graphic novel adaptation of Torso, “a crime thriller that tells the true story of Treasury Department agent Eliot Ness’ time after his Al Capone days.” Sounds good, right? The project is said to have peaked the interest of Jason Bourne himself, Matt Damon, and Academy Award nominated actor, Casey Affleck.

Oh! What’s in this script? I

Continue Reading

Now that the buzz surrounding, this morning’s Oscar nominations has gone down a bit, let’s do some analyzing shall we? The most notable and surprising nominees in my opinion are Richard Jenkins for The Visitor and Michael Shannon for Revolutionary Road. It’s obvious that Jenkins took DiCaprio’s spot in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role category, but who saw Michael Shannon coming? As a Best Supporting Actor nominee he came completely out of left field. Who is this Michael Shannon? Where does he come from? What else has he been in? Let’s find out!

Continue Reading

For many of us, the holidays are just beginning. Oscar Season is definitely the most wonderful time of the year. 2008 has been an especially stimulating year in film – the competition is fierce, my friends! While most rumored Best Picture candidates seem suitable, and more or less expected – Chris Nolan’sThe Dark Knight is sparking hordes of controversy regarding a potential nom. And I am here to assert that, yes, 2008′s highest grossing box office film – The Dark Knight – does not deserve an Oscar Nomination.

Let me preface this by saying I am absolutely a fan of this film. In fact, I saw The Dark Knight multiple times in theaters. It was the box office hit of the summer, clearly  epitomizing cinematic entertainment. However, the key phrases here are “entertainment” and “summer box office hit.” Do you really think that TDK could stand up to last years winner No Country for Old Men? Or even the runners up, There Will be Blood or Atonement? No!

Continue Reading

I have got to get my hands on a copy of the script for Sylvester Stallone’s The Expendables, because it’s attracting some of Hollywood’s most talented actors. First, it was Forest Whitaker, and now Stallone himself confirmed during a red carpet interview for Extra, that Academy Award winner Sir Ben Kingsley is starring in the film as well.

I know I can’t completely disregard some of the questionable films Kingsley has starred in recently. BloodRayne being at the top of the list in terms of “suspect” project decisions, but I just expect more from him.

The Expendables co-stars Jet Li, Jason Statham, and Randy Couture.

Well THR is rather bold. Before the Oscar noms have even been announced they interviewed the 2009 Oscar Directors. Really? THR has decided that Clint Eastwood, Ron Howard, Danny Boyle, Gus Van Sant, Darren Aronofsky and Ed Zwick are going to be our Oscar nominated Directors. Good picks yes, but hardly rock solid. Apparently they’re not buying the whole Christopher Nola, Dark Knight buzz.

All the directors all sat down together at one table to talk about their 2008 film(s). Everyone seemed more than happy to chime in about their filmaking process and the challeneges of directing except for Gus Van Sant. Apparently THR decided to cut Van Sant out of the show. I can’t imagine he didn’t say a single work. Why no Van Sant THR?

Check out the interviews with all the other Directors below…

Continue Reading