day 4.42

2012 oscar nominations
we've officially entered oscar season. hunger games star jennifer lawrence and the academy's president announced this year's crop of nominees this morning- here's who got snubbed, who surprised and who i expect to win.

best picture

• the artist
• the descendants
• extremely loud and incredibly close
• the help
• hugo
• midnight in paris
• moneyball
• the tree of life
• war horse

having seen six of the nine nominees, i'm pretty confident in calling the artist as the winner. the academy voters are old and will vote for nostalgia over a modern film. while i like the artist, i didn't think it was as spectacular as everything keeps claiming. if it were up to me, the descendants would take home the top trophy. well, if it were really up to me, bridesmaids would be nominated and win. hey, academy- time for a comedy category!

best actor in a leading role

• demian bichir, a better life
• george clooney, the descendants
• jean dujardin, the artist
• gary oldman, tinker tailor soldier spy
• brad pitt, moneyball

this category packed two surprises- nominations for demian bichir and gary oldman. both gave buzzed about performances, but neither were expected to make it on the academy's short list. demian won't win, but this wil definitely pump up his presence in hollywood (check out a better life if you can). but expect clooney to take it in this category, with dujardin a close second. i just don't think dujardin's over-the-top emoting will overpower clooney's best performance in years.

best actress in a leading role

• glenn close, albert nobbs
• viola davis, the help
• rooney mara, the girl with the dragon tattoo
• meryl streep, the iron lady
• michelle williams, my week with marilyn

the academy loves a good transformation and this year's leading lady nominees reflect that- all 5 completely transformed on screen, some unrecognizably (see: glenn close as transgendered albert nobbs). close and mara were minor surprises, but neither will win against davis, streep and williams. my guess is the academy will go with perennial winner streep (she did take the character from 40something to 80something), even though davis and williams both deserve to take home a golden guy.

actor in a supporting role

• kenneth branagh, my week with marilyn
• jonah hill, moneyball
• nick nolte, warrior
• christopher plummer, beginners
• max von sydow, extremely loud and incredibly close

w ... t ... f is this category? the supporting actor categories are surprise central. to get it out of the way first, christopher plummer is taking home this award hands down- and i haven't even seen the movie. he's taken every other prize, so why not this one? i mean, he's captain von trapp. but let's talk the other nominees- jonah hill? the academy knows he's in the upcoming 21 jump street, right? nick nolte? huh? max von sydow ... ok, i don't think he talks in that movie, but still. i can get behind kenneth branagh, but eddie redmayne should've been nominated alongside him.

actress in a supporting role

• berenice bejo, the artist
• jessica chastain, the help
• octavia spencer, the help
• melissa mccarthy, bridesmaids
• janet mcteer, albert nobbs

my top choice isn't even nominated???!!! where's shailene woodley? where? that girl cried under water. cried. under. water. i get it- she's on secret life of the american teenager, but don't hold that against her, academy. ok, rant over. this category comes down to octavia spencer and melissa mccarthy- it just depends on what kind of work the voters want to reward. my vote would go to melissa mccarthy- she's all anyone could talk about after bridesmaids hit the big screen- but, octavia spencer (and, to be honest, all of black hollywood) deserve the golden guy more.

that does it for the big categories. to see more nominees and make your own prediction, click here. the 84th academy awards air february 26 on abc, 8/7c. 

day 4.40

what i love (this week)


the song

modern romance

the show

i mean. they designed for miss piggy. and took it more seriously than any other challenge in project runway history.

the movie

straight '80s camp.

the look

so many people i like being weird.

day 2.246

just blurbs

there really isn't anything to write about, so here are some little thoughts you can marinate on.

• lindsay lohan is officially out of jail, but don't expect to see her on the interview circuit just yet. the pretty much former actress (though, she did film a movie with the sham-wow guy...scram bracelet intact) went straight to rehab at ucla. she's reportedly being treated for bipolar disorder and meth addiction. she'll be there for at least 90 days, on her own dime, with no chance of early release.
• the only sure thing about american idol's next season is ryan seacrest. randy jackson told e news he has no clue what the next season holds. he may not even be included. the latest rumors are that randy will stick around - producer nigel lythgoe reportedly decided he didn't want to completely overhaul the show - alongside jennifer lopez and aerosmith's steven tyler. an official announcement should be out soon as preliminary auditions are going on across the country as i type.
• i'm pretty sure the kim kardashian miles austin rumors are true. why else would kim k be tweeting with candice crawford, sister to chace and girlfriend to miles' cowboys cohort tony romo?
• two big movies have been cast: sandra bullock and steve carrel will play love interests in the abstinence teacher, about an outspoken sex-ed teacher (bullock) and the conservative dad (carrel) she falls for ... meryl streep and tina fey are set to star as mother and daughter in mommy & me, directed by streep's recent constant costar stanley tucci. no word on what the plot is, but how can they screw that up?

hopefully those little bites will tide you over until something juicier comes along.

day 2.39

it's complicated, but not really

let's face it. i'm a sucker for comedies geared at the 50+ set. maybe it's because i'm really a retiree trapped in the body of a 19 year old. hollywood's latest offering for the over-the-hill set, it's complicated, filled my appetite for the genre. following the affair of a divorced couple, the movie is pretty much a non-stop laugh fest with heart. meryl streep, alec baldwin and steve martin all give quality performances, but the scene steeler is the office's john krasinski as meryl and alec's daughter's fiance. i don't know how much - if any - of his lines were adlibbed, but they come off effortlessly and hilariously. like most other nancy meyers flicks (i.e. the parent trap, what women want, something's gotta give and the holiday), it's complicated has something for everyone - so don't be fooled into thinking it's an old folks romcom. i expected the movie to have a few uncomfortable old people sex scenes, but all that was just alluded to (minus one alec baldwin semi-nude scene). if it's complicated pulls in a good showing at the box office (which i'm sure it will), meyers is set to pass nora ephron (when harry met sally, you've got mail, julie and julia) as the highest grossing female filmmaker ever. you go girl (shut up). the movie just opened yesterday, so there's plenty of time to check it out before it heads into that 3 month limbo between theater and dvd. hopefully, by that point, they will have greenlit a sequel. might i suggest it's still complicated as a title, nancy?

day 263

shocker: i review a movie

it's been...i don't know how long since i reviewed a movie. like christmas-long. so, here we go. at the beginning of summer (okay, it was really more july) i decided to go on a book-buying-binge. barnes and noble was having a red dot sale. how could i resist? one of the books i picked up was julie and julia, the 2005ish (i don't feel like looking it up) memoir by julie powell about her "year of cooking dangerously." the book documents julie's year of cooking all 524 (again, just a guesstimate because i don't feel like double checking) recipes in julia child's mastering the art of french cooking, including her time spent writing a blog all about the adventure. the book is a witty, tongue-in-cheek look at a once-in-a-lifetime trip down crazy lane that turned out to be a goldmine (both spiritually and physically) for powell. i bought the book mainly because i had seen previews for the movie and i have a rule - generally - that i have to read the book version of a movie before i watch the adaptation (case in point, i also read the time traveller's wife). when i finished the book, i was confused as to how julia child's life was going to be incorporated at all. julie and julia (the book) only makes reference to the julia child living inside julie powell's head, with re-imaginings of historical letters placed throughout. that's when i actually did some research and learned that the movie version of j and j was actually based, partially, on julia child's own memoir about her life in paris. i didn't get a chance to read that before watching the movie; but, after seeing it, i definitely will add it to my ever-growing pile of books to read. the movie divides its 2+ hour running time almost equally between julie and julia; writer/director nora ephron does a great job seamlessly paralleling the two women's stories. this is not a romantic comedy, but a comedy about finding yourself. julie and julia are both happily married so you don't have to sit through a contrived love story. well, to an extent. the love story you get to see is all about food. food plays such an important in j&j's lives that it's almost the third star of the film. the marquee should probably read "starring meryl streep, amy adams, and julia child's beef bourguignon." when i got to the theater i googled how long the movie ran and was immediately worried; at 122 minutes i was expecting a grueling experience in which i check my watch every 5 minutes. however, while i did check my watch a few times throughout, i was happily surprised. with the split narrative, it's like you're getting to watch two short movies (that complement each other perfectly) for the price of one. while i was sad to see that some of my favorite parts of julie and julia the book were changed, rearranged, and eliminated completely, i couldn't have asked for a better interpretation. all julie powell all the time would have been watch-inducing pain; same for all julia child all the time. but the pairing of them together was right on the money. and, for the $9 you're probably paying to see the flick, it better be. in my book, meryl streep can do no wrong...and amy adams is ready to inherit her throne when she's done with the movie biz. everything about the movie - from the creative techniques made to make 5 foot something streep appear 6'2" and the seamless transitions between both worlds - was cinematically appetizing. and just plain appetizing. i highly recommend both the book and the film. it would be a shame if you passed on either. in the words of julia child, bon apetit.

day 81

show me the money

like each year, forbes has done some pretty critical r

esearch as to who in hollywood is raking in the best money for each hollywood studio (a list of the biggest losers is also compiled, but i don't think that's been released yet).  so, who were 2008's biggest forces at the box office? the answers may surprise you.  for "best performance by a male," the award goes to robert downey, jr.  the rehabed star made paramount's year with his turn in the superhero flick, iron man.  the film brought in $580 million for the studio (hence the much hyped sequel slated for next year), with paramount making $52.60 for every dollar rdj was payed.  because downey is on a bit of a comeback tour (after his trips to rehab and being shunned in hollywood), he took just $5 million for the part (that figure is sure to go up for the sequel, especially now that "oscar nominated

" can precede his name due to his role in tropic thunder), whereas some of the bigger action names (like will smith and brad pitt) would have commissioned upwards of $10 mil for the picture.  looks like the studio got a bargain.   and as for female power at the box office? meryl streep's leading role in the summer's record breaking musical mamma mia brought in the biggest bucks.  streep earned close to $50 million for the movie, with nbc/universal raking in $12 for ever $1 paid to the acting legend.  because streep earned more for her role, the studio made less per dollar paid, but still took in $575 million. streep is always in high demand and now downey probably will be, too.  how i can't wait to see who was a big loser - i'm betting on nicole kidman and hugh jackman, both for australia.  

kids get racy

today's kids choice awards aren't what they used to be.  with the onslaught of material that is always "should kids watch/listen to/admire this or shouldn't they?" the nominations for this year's nickelodeon run show push the envelope.  in the category for "best movie" are two superhero flicks much more geared to the 13 and over set, with the dark knight and iron man each getting a chance to take home an orange blimp.  when i was a kid, sure i was allowed to watch stuff like that, but it wasn't exactly the "main stream."  apparently parents aren't such sticklers about the mpaa ratings system as they used to be?  will smith even nabbed a nod for his role in hancock, whose original cut received an "r" rating.  the "favorite song" category is probably the most shocking to parents, with katy perry's lesbian themed tune "i kissed a girl," beyonce's anthem "single ladies," and chris brown's "kiss kiss" all getting recognized.  maybe kids are just hearing this stuff on the radio and not really listening to the lyrics?  with the debate going on over whether or not britney's "if u seek amy" should get radio play, it seems like there shouldn't be any discussion - if kids are already listening to this stuff, what's the difference?  other more adult nominations are: the simpsons for favorite cartoon show, jason lee for "favorite tv actor" in my name is earl, and america's next top model in the reality show category.  i think my favorite nomination, however, is michael phelps for "favorite male athlete," because of his recent herbal endeavors.  maybe he'll show up the show a little stoned? he has to drown his sorrows somehow - kellog's just dropped him and subway is about to end his sponsorship campaign.

america's got no host, but actors got work

nbc summer juggernaut america's got talent is currently host-less.  after losing regis philbin after only one season, talk show host jerry springer took over post his dancing with the stars stint that reinvigorated interest in the whitetrash brawl mediator.  springer isn't leaving the show because of creative differences, but rather because of scheduling conflicts (supposedly).  springer's syndicated "talk show" and a role in a stage production apparently would take too much time away from his duties at the peacock net (or so he says - i didn't even realize his show was still being made...).  the show will be returning to tv this summer for its fourth season, with judges sharon osbourne (who replaced brandy after season 1), david hasselhoff, and piers morgan all returning.  but who will be taking springer's spot? that is yet to be announced.  but it seems the show likes talk show personalities who've gone grey.  in other casting news, the gossip girl spin off about young lily van der woodsen has its first cast mate.  lily's older stister, carol (the black sheep of the family), will be played by confessions of a shopaholic costar krysten ritter, who's known for her stints on shows like gilmore girls, veronica mars, and til death.  krysten will make her first appearance as carol on the "backdoor pilot" episode of the spin off, airing as part of gossip girl, in march.  jennifer anison and jason bateman have also landed roles in the new film the baster, about a single woman who decides to be artificially inseminated to fulfill her dream of being a mother.  problem is jason's character, jennifer's character's best friends) switches the donor sperm with his own and hijinks ensue. and disney darling selena gomez will be making her big screen debut in beezus and ramona, a live action adaptation of the beverly cleary classic.  she'll be taking the role of big sister beezus to child actor joey king's ramona.  

speaking of aniston

jennifer made an appearance on today's ellen degeneres show to promote her new movie he's just not that into you and ellen surprised the newly 40 star with a birthday celebration.  now that ellen is running her show from the warner brother's lot, she has access to a lot of old tv sets, including that of jennifer's star-launching show friends.  check here to see a video of the duo's visit to aniston's old stomping grounds.  ellen even surprised the star with a birthday cake complete with 40 candles.  in the interview, jen said she was open to a friends reunion, but don't expect a movie.  she'd like 

to a tv special along the lines of the holiday episodes the sitcom was known for.  aniston also talked about her relationship with singer john mayer for one of the first times when ellen displayed a pic of john in a green borat thong (see above), to which jen responded "the man's got balls. what can i say? i think he's funny."  mayer makes an appearance on ellen's monday show, divulging that "yeah, there are sleepovers" at aniston's la pad.  i still think they're quite the odd couple.