Academy Awards 2012

Billy Crystal was back as host for the ninth time after an eight-year break, coming to the rescue after Eddie Murphy bailed out and last year's younger hosts, Anne Hathaway and James Franco, received mixed reviews.

This year, without a juggernaut blockbuster such as "Avatar," widely loved "The King's Speech," highly popular "The Social Network," or stunners like "Black Swan" or "Inception,"  and with a silent and black-and-white film, "The Artist," as the frontrunner, it might prove to be challenging to attract more viewers.

The opening sequence with Crystal being CGI-inserted was entertaining enough. It opened with George Clooney planting a kiss on Cyrstal lying on a hospital bed in one of scenes of “The Descendants.” Justin Bieber had a cameo mixed in and self-proclaimed that he's there to attract the 18-24 demographic. One of the montages contained a nod to the ever-growing 3-D with Tom Cruise swinging in “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.”

It's no surprise the visually stunning “Hugo” wins cinematography, art direction and visual effects. Meryl Streep's uncanny look as Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady”  earned the film a win on the makeup department. The deftly written “The Descendants”  took home best adapted screenplay award and magical “Midnight in Paris” original screenplay.

Octavia Spencer made a genuinely emotional acceptance speech for winning best supporting actress in “The Help.” Christopher Plummer, awarded best supporting actor for his role in “Beginners,” quipped that the statue was merely two years older than he was and asked where it had been all his life. At age 82, he's the oldest actor ever winning an Oscar. Both received standing ovations from their peers.

Best buds Clooney, “The Descendants,” and Brad Pitt, “Money Ball,” both lost best actor award to Jean Dujardin, “The Artist.” The French actor started his speech by proclaiming, “I love your country!” With 17 nominations spanning over decades, Streep claimed her third Oscar in 29 years for best actress in “The Iron Lady.” She humbly remarked that this was the last time she would be standing on stage for winning.

Michael Hazanavicius, “The Artist,” beat Martin Scorsese, “Hugo,” for best director. The Academy once again followed the pattern of awarding best picture to the film in which the director was previously bestowed with the directing award. Although considering that “Hugo” towers in technicality but lacks in storytelling, it's not that surprising. “The Artist” becomes the first silent film to bring home the gold in 83 years. “The Artist” and "Hugo" each won five awards." 

The show was peppered with commentaries from a number of actors about their feelings on movies. Best actor and actress nominees were individually introduced with praises for their work. Crystal made references to the recession by referring to the Kodak theater as “Chapter 11” theater since Kodak filed for bankruptcy, and a parody to millionaires receiving golden statues. With the camera panning to into the faces of select actors, he also made fun of them by verbalizing their thoughts in a twisted fashion.

Aside from the "Viva la France" moments, nothing much stood out this year. If anything, Cirque du Soleil, as always, gave an award-worthy performance.  The red-carpet fashion was a parade of bold colors; forest green, tangerine orange, fiery red, silvery blush, deep burgundy, ice blue, pearly white, copper bronze, black-and-gold.  Overall, however, it's a pretty subdued show.  Here's to a more exciting 2013! 

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/events/academy-awards-2012/

And the winners are...

Best Picture: "The Artist" - Thomas Langmann
Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius - "The Artist"
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin - "The Artist"
Best Actress: Meryl Streep - "The Iron Lady"
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer - "Beginners"
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer - "The Help"
Best Original Screenplay: "Midnight in Paris" - Woody Allen
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Descendants" - Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
Best Visual Effects: "Hugo" - Robert Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossmann, Alex Henning
Best Art Direction: "Hugo" - Dante Ferretti, Francesca Lo Schiavo
Best Cinematography: "Hugo" - Robert Richardson
Best Sound Mixing "Hugo" - Tom Fleischman, John Midgley
Best Sound Editing: "Hugo" - Philip Stockton, Eugene Gearty
Best Editing: "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" - Angus Wall, Kirk Baxter
Best Makeup: "The Iron Lady" - Mark Coulier, J. Roy Helland
Best Costume Design: "The Artist" - Mark Bridges

   For a complete list of winners, please visit the Academy Awards' official website at http://oscar.go.com/

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Oscars 2012 Best Picture Nominees & Filmography

Best Picture Nominees:

The Artist, The Descendants, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, The Help, Hugo, Midnight in Paris, Moneyball, The Tree of Life, War Horse

The Oscars will air live on Sunday, February 26, 2012.  

Filmography:

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"Safe House"

No one is safe. It's an appropriate tagline for “Safe House.”

Denzel Washington ("Unstoppable") is Tobin Frost, a rogue ex-CIA agent on the run for selling intelligence secrets to the highest bidder. When he finds himself cornered in Cape Town, South Africa, he turns himself in to the U.S. Consulate, which leads him to be transferred and interrogated in a safe house guarded by a young, rookie agent, Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds).

Action thriller is a fail-safe genre for Washington and he doesn't disappoint.  It's Reynolds (“Green Lantern”), known for his comedic talent in lighthearted romcoms, who surprises the most.  When the safe house is stormed by armed thugs, he's left with no one to trust and in charge of the dangerous traitor.  Outrageous car chases, brutal hand-to-hand combats, nonstop shootouts, he gets down and dirty with the best of them.

Washington and Reynolds never develop the kind of rapport that we would expect, but their interactions are enjoyable, and frankly, a relief in between the super-charged, high-body-count violence. With choppy cuts and chaotic closeups, sometimes it's hard to tell what's going on.

“Safe House” ends satisfyingly though.  What does Frost have that is so valuable that everyone would like to get their hands on?  What does the CIA role in all this and how is it connected to Weston?  While blood spills messily, the conspiracy is unwrapped neatly and nothing is left to chance.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/movie-review-safe-house-journey-2-mysterious-island/

 

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/7554ltl

DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/7m3zas4

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"Journey 2: Mysterious Island"

Wondrous adventures in a mythical world, bursting with colors, filled with lush landscapes, towering waterfalls and fantastical creatures. 

"Journey 2: Mysterious Island" sweeps us away to a lost island in the South Pacific.  Witness the grandeur of an ancient palace carved from stones, volcanic mountains spewing molten lava and gold, underwater caves, and real creatures with sizes that defy convention.  Elephants as small as puppies.  Lizards as big as dinosours.  Colossal flowers and mushrooms.  Giant birds, bees and ants. 

Loosely based on Jules Verne's novels and a continuation of the 2008 hit "Journey to the Center of the Earth," 'Journey 2' answers a simple question, "Who's up for an adventure?"  It leads to a dazzling discovery and epic exploration.  Predictable feud mixed with family humor.  'Journey 2' is simply magical for those with adventure spirit and young at heart.  See it in 3-D if you can!

Starring: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson ("Faster"), Michael Caine ("The Dark Knight"), Josh Hutcherson, Luis Guzman, Vanessa Hudgens, Kristin Davis.

 

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/movie-review-safe-house-journey-2-mysterious-island/

 

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/6uhg9nn

DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/6rrkds3

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Upcoming Movies: February 2012

February 3

"Chronicle" - Three high school friends gain superpowers after making an incredible discovery. Soon, though, they find their lives spinning out of control and their bond tested as they embrace their darker sides.

 

"W.E." - A two-tiered romantic drama focusing on the affair between King Edward VIII and American divorcée Wallis Simpson and a contemporary romance between a married woman and a Russian security guard.

 

February 10

"Safe House" (http://www.nooneissafe.com/) - A young CIA agent is tasked with looking after a fugitive in a safe house. But when the safe house is attacked, he finds himself on the run with his charge.

 

"The Vow" (http://www.thevow-movie.com/) - A car accident puts a woman in a coma, and when she wakes up with severe memory loss, her husband works to win her heart again.

 

February 17

"Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" (http://www.thespiritofvengeance.com/) - As Johnny Blaze hides out in Eastern Europe, he is called upon to stop the devil, who is trying to take human form.

 

"This Means War" (http://www.thismeanswarmovie.com/) - Two top CIA operatives wage an epic battle against one another after they discover they are dating the same woman.

 

February 24

"Wanderlust" (http://www.wanderlust-movie.com) - Rattled by sudden unemployment, a Manhattan couple surveys alternative living options, ultimately deciding to experiment with living on a rural commune where free love rules.

 

"Gone" - When her sister disappears, she is convinced the serial killer who kidnapped her two years ago has returned, and she sets out to once again face her abductor.

See the full gallery on Posterous

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