Hope Springs (2012) Review
An old couple who have been married for 31 years attend intense week-long counselling in an attempt to get their marriage back on track.
Music of the Heart (1999) Review
The story of Violin teacher Roberta Guaspari and her struggle to keep the program in Harlem for school children.
Oscars 2012 – The Show
There’s no business like show business . . . this is something that the Oscar’s is all about showing the world that there really is no business like show business. Billy Crystal was back to being our host again for the ninth time. It was always going to be a more traditional show after the poor attempt last year at having two young actors hosting in Anne Hathaway and James Franco, which really didn’t work. More because of Franco being so wooden than Hathaway, she didn’t really do anything wrong. But they went back to Crystal and you can’t really going too wrong with him as you know exactly what you’re going to get.
The opening monologue featured Crystal in some scenes from the nominated films and sharing a kiss with Geroge Clooney was among it. Also a small cameo from Justin Bieber which Crystal put it that it was to capture the younger audience! His opening speech also had songs about the nine best picture nominations which was actually rather clever due to the nature of some of the films.
We saw loads of different actors throughout the show hitting the stage to present the different awards. Some very charming and others relying on jokes. All of this is what we have come to expect from the ceremony, with a mixture of the current biggest selling actors along with previous Oscar winners and much-loved older actors.
The big four winners . . . aka the acting Oscar winners. These four awards are the most talked about and looked into with the Best Picture and Best Director. As they are the ones audiences pay the most attention to throughout the film going year. These are also the speeches we all want to hear! We want to see how they react and how they then act whilst holding the Oscar they have just won.
Christopher Plummer was my favorite with his “”You’re only two years older than me darling, where have you been all of my life?” that has to be my favorite quote of the night. Just fantastic from Captain Von Trapp! Who became the oldest ever Oscar winner. It makes me want to see The Beginners even more now, as my cinema didn’t screen it!
Obviously my other favorite was the ever fabulous Meryl Streep. Who I have grown to love so much over the past few years, yet I still haven’t managed to catch up on all of her films! I just thought her reaction when she won was so shocking and to be honest I was surprised that she had won as well. Her speech was then just lovely from start to finish and admitting she knows she will never be up there again! I am sure many more nominations will come her way, being the most nominated actress of all time!
The Artist was the big winner collecting best picture, actor and director. So pleased that I can say that I have seen this film as it really is a fantastic experience. As an earlier blog post stated I have only seen 2 of the films which were nominated therefore I am very pleased that I have seen the one that won. Especially that I loved it from start to finish and hope the win encourages people to go and see it!
So after the disappointed of last years Academy Awards, Oscar went back to being more basic and putting on a show that we all have been used to in the past. Therefore a winning formula and I found it very nice to watch, it flowed very well and we got to see a lot of the hottest acting talent around. Much better than last years! Helping me also see which films I now have to catch up with (ok I already knew, but the Oscar makes you want to see them more!). Until next year . . .
The Iron Lady (2011) Review
A look into the life of the first female Prime Minister in Great Britain. An old Margaret Thatcher who is suffering from dementia, we see her story in flashback form.
Golden Globe Awards 2012 – Nominations
The road to the Oscars is very much starting with the nominations coming out thick and fast for all of the other awards shows. The Golden Globes is always a popular show and the nominations for the 2012 Golden Globes are as follows. The Golden Globes combine the best of film and television into the one awards show.
Best Motion Picture – Drama
The Descendants
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball
War Horse
Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
50/50
The Artist
Bridesmaids
Midnight in Paris
My Week with Marilyn
The Iron Lady (2011) Poster
I haven’t really been blogging about new movie posters recently but have to change that with the first poster for ‘The Iron Lady’. I really do think it’s just fantastic with Meryl as Thatcher’s head linked to the House of Parliament on the other side. It really is well worked. I cannot wait to see this film, I’m convinced it’s going to be an Oscar win for Streep!
The Deer Hunter (1978) Review
An in-depth examination of the way that the Vietnam war affects the lives of people in a small industrial town in the USA. We see how friendships are tested and lives which need to be rebuilt and of course Russian Roulette . . .
Meryl Streep – LAMB Acting School
In recent years Meryl Streep has easily become one of my favorite actress. Watching her in all different types of film is just incredible, she is such an amazing actress. The most Oscar nominated actress of all, with a couple of Gold statues to go with the nominations.
The LAMB is this month going to be celebrating Meryl . . . that means more Meryl posts from Let’s Go To The Movies, in celebration of such a fantastic career that is still going so strong. I really do think Meryl will pick up a long-awaited Oscar next year for her performance as Thatcher in the Iron Lady.
Reviews
Postcards from the Edge (1990)
The Bridges of Madison County (1995)
Features
Can a woman be more successful than her partner in Hollywood?
Top 10 – Birthday Scenes
Today is my 24th Birthday so I decided to make a top 10 list of birthday scenes from the movies. All different types of scenes with some brilliant ideas of what to do and what not to do on your birthday. I can relate to some of these and could possibly relate to even more of them after this birthday as well!
Postcards from the Edge (1990) Review
Hollywood actress Suzanne Vale is addicted to different drugs. After a stint in rehab and trying to get her life back on track. Whilst having to live with her mother to film a new movie.
Oscar Moments 2
11 days to go!
Billy Crystal informs us what the stars are thinking at the 2000 Oscars.
Oscar Moments 1
12 Days til 2011 ceremony!
Steve Martin tries to answer the question – what is a movie star? from the 2003 show!
The Iron Lady (2011) – First Picture!
The first picture has been released from the up and coming film ‘The Iron Lady’ with Meryl Streep taking on the task of becoming Margaret Thatcher. Well by this picture she certainly does look like her! Cannot think of any other actress who could take on this role. Streep will be just incredible.
Jules too old for Rom-Com?
Oscar winner Julia Roberts and queen of the rom-com genre throughout the 90′s has said that she now feels too old to be in romantic comedies. I hope this is mainly because the scripts she has been given for rom-com’s aren’t fitting for her and she won’t completely rule out a return to the genre she really owned for a decade! If we look at Diane Keaton and Meryl Streep in Nancy Meyers films they are great roles for the older woman, and Jules isn’t that old yet.
So we will have to watch this space!
Top 10 – Best Films of 2009
The 10 films I found the best from the year 2009. Yes you may think its now April, but I was trying to keep it to films from 2009 based on the year they were made rather than UK release date as that is often different to the US release date. Anyway I didn’t want to end up with a confusing list not containing some of the best of 2009 because I saw them at the beginning of 2010.
Check it out see if you agree with many of the films! As I am sure some of the films included would not have been expected.
Can a woman be more successful than her husband/partner in Hollywood?
After the recent allegations that the most recent best actress Oscar winner Sandra Bullock’s husband Jesse James cheated on her. It got me thinking about the previous best actress winners and there relationships especially after Kate Winslet announcing her spilt from husband Sam Mendes earlier this week. Hilary Swank split from Chad Lowe not too long after she picked up her second best actress statue. So can men really not handle it if there wife is more successful than them or is it all just a coincidence?
The old-fashioned values and usual relationship rules are that the man is classed as the main earner and “looks” after his wife and children. But in Hollywood that is not often the case when a woman can easily be more successful than her husband. So lets venture down the road of successful actresses and have a comparison with relationships she has had, especially before and even after winning the highest accolade of an Oscar.
Oscars 2010 – Pictures
My thoughts and opinions on the Oscar’s will be coming in the next couple of days when I manage to finish watching the ceremony. So I decided to search for pictures of the winners, my favorite actors and actresses along with pictures of the winners.
Oscars 2010 – Nominations
The day eventually arrived and the nominations have now been released (I now know which films I have to watch before 7th March) and we can all start debating and creating our predictions on who is going to walk away with the golden statue come Oscar night.
We go back to 10 nominations for Best Picture and an animated film has been included in those 10, that being Up. Now that will cause a lot of debate because from what I have read people preferred Wall-E to Up. From my first look at the nominations the only suprise for myself is seeing District 9 in the Best Picture cateogry. Everything else is pretty much what was expected.
Best Picture
Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air
BAFTA 2010 – Nominations
The nominations were released this morning for the 2010 BAFTA’s and don’t really seem to have many suprises. I was really hoping that The Damned United would recieve some nominations but that did not happen.
I am very happy to see Alec Baldwin nominated for”It’s Complicated” which he was just fantastic in, lets hope he turns up at the awards.
Movie Quote of the Day 30
Today’s quote is a confusing and complicated moment for Meryl Streep in “The Bridges of Madison County” when she realises that nothing makes sense in her life anymore.
“And in that moment, everything I knew to be true about myself up until then was gone. I was acting like another woman, yet I was more myself than ever before.”
Golden Globes 2010 – Pictures
Some pictures of my favorite actors and actresses. More from the red carpet and some of the winners and presenters. The best moment of the night had to be for Scorsese who was presented his award from Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Golden Globes 2010 – Live
Ricky Gervais hosting the awards which will be an experience, I will keep updating this blog post as the show goes on.
- The opening speech he headed straight for Steve Carrell with jokes about “The Office” and plastic surgery.
- Very good opening jokes which seemed to go down well with his audience.
- Nicole Kidman is the first up presenting best supporting actress in a motion picture.
- Which goes to . . . Mo’Nique for Precious.
- First speech of the night is a very emotional one with tears and dreams being reached, a rather long speech.
- I have just spotted Julia Roberts for the first time
- Toni Collette won best actress in a tv show comedy/musical.
- ooo Robert De Niro is there !!!
- First Meryl Streep spotting
- Sir Paul McCartney presents best animated feature and is rather amusing, which has a great shot of Julia Roberts laughing.
- Winner of best animated feature is Up
- Kate Hudson introduced some clips from Nine
- Ricky Gervais saying we have had some worthy winners and some not so worthy winners. Plugging his own film.
- Felicity Huffman who decided she messed up what she was saying so started over. She has totally lost what she’s trying to say.
- Best actor in a TV series drama goes to . . . Michael C. Hall for Dexter.
- Best actress in a TV series drama goes to . . . Julianna Margulies for The Good Wife.
- Just spotted Mickey Rourke kissing Mike Tyson.
- Harrison Ford introduces Up in the Air.
- Cher and Christina Aguilera presenting the best original song . . . The Weary Kind from Crazy Heart.
- Best original score . . . Up
- Best mini series or tv movie presented by Amy Adams and Josh Brolin. Goes to . . . Grey Gardens.
- Something that always amuses me about the Golden Globes has to be how difficult it is for the winners to get onto the stage if they are not on one of the tables right next to the stage.
- Tom Hanks introducing Julie & Julia.
- Colin Farrell who looks very good I might add. Presenting best actress in a comedy or musical . . . Julia Roberts is sitting next to Paul McCartney. Meryl looks embarrassed with both of her nominations. Goes to . . . Meryl Streep for Julie & Julia.
- She wants to change her name to T-Bone . . . T Bone Streep hahaha. I really do love Meryl the more I see her, she really is just brilliant. Awww she got rather emotional talking about her mother and how she is really grateful for everything.
- Helen Mirren introduces Precious.
- Kevin Bacon won best actor in a mini series or TV movie for Taking Chances.
- Drew Barrymore won best actress in a mini series or TV movie for Grey Gardens.
- Cameron Diaz introducing It’s Complicated.
- Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler presenting best screenplay for a motion picture . . . Up in the Air. I am so pleased about this!!! Also Gerard Butler was very cute not letting Jennifer Aniston see the paper then saying I’m not telling you haha.
- Jason Reitman got rather emotional towards George Clooney.
- Jennifer Garner and Ashton Kutcher present best actor in a comedy/music on TV . . . Alec Baldwin won for 30 Rock, but he wasnt able to attend the awards.
- Samuel L. Jackson introduces Inglourious Basterds. He then introduced Sophia Loren who got a standing ovation from the audience.
- Best foreign language film . . . The White Ribbon (Germany)
- Best TV series Drama . . . Mad Men.
- Taylor Lautner introduces (500) Days of Summer.
- Halle Berry presenting best supporting actor in a motion picture . . . Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds which I think was a pretty obvious choice.
- Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio presenting Martin Scorsese with an award. Was brilliant seeing them on the stage together and talking about everything they have done in the films and what an impact he has had on films. Leo sees Marty as his friend and mentor, thats nice !!!
- Marty’s speech was just brilliant after seeing clips from his films. Everyone in the audience gave him a standing ovation, Kate Winslet and Julia Roberts lead the cheering which was great. You can tell that everyone respects Marty by the way they were watching him.
- Jodie Foster introduces The Hurt Locker.
- Mel Gibson is presenting after a very cheeky joke from Ricky Gervais about drinking. Director of a motion picture . . . James Cameron for Avatar. Could this be the first hint of the Oscar going to James Cameron too??? He thought his ex-wife was going to win it.
- Best TV series comedy/musical . . . Glee. Yes, I really was hoping that Glee would win this. It’s brilliant! All of the cast decided to get on the stage as well.
- Reese Witherspoon presenting motion picture comedy or musical . . . and the winner is The Hangover.
- Mickey Rourke (yay) presenting actress in a motion picture drama. He always seems so shy when he has to talk on a show like this.
- The winner is . . . Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side.
- Best actor in a comedy or musical . . . Robert Downey Jr for Sherlock Holmes. This is a bit of an outside win I reckon. I love him though he is brilliant. A very funny speech as well.
- I am really hoping that George Clooney is going to get the best actor award, will find out in a few seconds.
- Kate Winslet is presenting best actor in a drama . . . Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart. Who got a standing ovation from the audience. They really let his speech be a long one !!!
- The last award of the night best motion picture drama !!!
- Presenting this my favorite Julia Roberts. She really does have a great smile. The Golden Globe goes to Avatar !!!
- Interesting I was hoping for Up in the Air. O well never mind, this will make the Oscars more interesting.
