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Welcome once more, to the Randomizer!
Today we will be looking at the recent 2013 edition of the
Oscars, not the possible lynching of Oscar Pistorius. I know it says OSCAR
SEASON in the title, but still we can at least try to be human beings and not
pretend to be Elmur Fudd. Hehehehehehehe. (If your mind went into his voice for
laugh, give yourself a point)
Moving on swiftly (and fast before people come after me), we
know what the Oscars are about. A celebration of the great and good of
film-making all on a February night, the handing out of awards for those
considered to be the best films of that year, and of course, the ability in
screwing Ang Lee out of a best picture award again (the new Martin Scorsese for
this generation).
This year had some lovely segments inserted in and some
pretty funny gags from presenter Seth McFarlane. And I was absolutely taken
back by some of the jokes. But there were a few segments I thought were quite
off putting and such.
With the awards
themselves, there were definately some predictable results which were probably
well-deserved because I haven't seen the films, but from the clips shown I
thought were mightily impressive, especially from Anne Hathaway and Jennifer
Lawrence. And there was even a TIE for one award! Apparently it's only
happened five times beforehand!
So let's not waste anymore time. We shall cover the actual
awards first, before looking at the presenting and segments. If you haven't
seen or heard the results first, go spoil it for yourself first so you won't be
disappointed with me :-). Also please bear in mind I have NOT seen every film
on the list so I apologise for any mishaps I make or come across perchance.
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BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
CHRISTOPH WALTZ (DR. KING SCHULTZ IN DJANGO UNCHAINED).
This was the first predictable role, however quite deserved.
Waltz played the bounty hunter really well, and is a pretty good negotiator
when it comes to killing those people he has been assigned to despatch. The way
he delivered his lines were perfect, the gold tongued devil (see what I did
there, replaced the word silver with gold ;) sorry, I couldn't resist), as well
as the actions he carried out, killing the slave trader brothers with quick
succession.
It's really hard to imagine any other actor who can play
this role as well as Waltz and deliver a better performance. But since Quentin
Tarantino actually wrote the role with him in mind, it's not hard to see
why. I think it might be a good career move
for him to stick with Tarantino films, because from gaining TWO academy awards,
it's clear these films bring out the best of his acting abilities.
I must admit though I did like his horse. I'd like a horse
who'd politely bow after being introduced. Or maybe a cat. Least that would be
cheap.
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BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
PAPERMAN (JOHN KAHRS)
Now I've only seen this last week when it was tagged onto
Wreck-it-Ralph. And it was good, nice time to spend about 2 minutes of my life.
The story is about a man whose bit of paper in his folder
flies and hits a woman in the face, leaving lipstick on it. The man, who's
attracted to her, goes to work and discovers her in a building opposite him.
Trying to get her attention, he uses a stack of paper been given to send her
paper aeroplanes. But that fails dismally and she leaves. He tries to catch up
with her but to no avail and he angrily throws his last paper, the one with the
lipstick on. However, the paper meets with all the others and come alive, the
lipstick covered one going after the woman, while the rest pin the man down.
Eventually the two are reunited and have coffee together.
There are some really good animated pieces in this little
flick, and the story is quite simple to follow with a good ending. But I didn't
feel as if it was anything spectacular, possibly because of the simplicity and
the realism it projected. Still I wouldn't mind watching it over again, to at
least give me something to watch.
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BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
BRAVE (BRENDA CHAPMAN, MARK ANDREWS)
No brainer really, it's Disney they usually win everything
when it comes to animated awards. I did already talk about this film a lot when
I was doing the Top 10 films I've seen in 2012 so I don't have really a lot to
say on the matter.
Though I do admit, there were definitely a few films I liked
in this category, this one included. The other two were Band of Pirates and
Wreck-it Ralph. Band of Pirates was never going to win, even though its
stop-motion animation is something we hardly see nowadays, and with near
everything being computer made it's a sad slight to see. Wreck-it Ralph was
good too, but I never got a sense of enjoyment that I did with Brave.
I did feel some time ago that with some animated films like
the adaptation of Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel 'Persepolis', they should
deserve some recognition because the narrative was more mature then say Disney
animated flicks. But I had also come to thinking that computer generated stuff
is more harder to work on because your having to create a 3D world, as opposed
to a 2D world. So I wouldn't judge this too harshly, but it would be nice to
see a 2D animated film win the prestigious award at some point. But it's very
unlikely to happen, because of the technical aspects brought with computer
animation.
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CINEMATOGRAPHY
LIFE OF PI (CLAUDIO MIRANDA)
Watching the trailer for how everything is lit up, Miranda
really knew how to create a vibrate colourful world. The scenes during the day
use a mixtures of oranges, reds and maybe a hint of brown, make it look like
the real world. But with the scenes at night, using blues and greens when Pi is
out at sea and presumably on the island, these palettes of colours mix beautifully
well seemingly throughout the movie and make it look like Pi has entered into a
fantasy world. It's quite clever that it managed to provoke a reaction of
such......I can't think of a good word for it!
This article will posted up before I get a chance to see the
bloody film all the way through to dutifully lust longfully at the imagery with
my drooling mouth open like that bald yellow guy.....Marge I think his name
was. (I especially like when the thunder
strikes in the trailer. Looks magnificent!). I look forward to seeing this
movie when I have my chance! And gawp at all the beautiful images.
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VISUAL EFFECTS
LIFE OF PI (BILL WESTENHOFER, GUILLAUME ROCHERON, ERIK-JAN
DE BOER, DONALD R. ELLIOTT)
Definately not a surprise. From watching the trailers, Life
of Pi does boast a very detailed and fantastic piece of computer generated art,
and probably used the 3D to great expense.
I never got to see this film in cinema (yet), because at
first I wasn't that interested in it. But I would take a look now since it's
won some awards. Jumping on the band wagon I know, but what can you do?
*SPOILERS*
I must admit though it was odd to see that the tiger has an
actual name: Richard Parker. Why? Least it would be an excuse to see what
happens in this film.
*END OF SPOILERS*
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COSTUME DESIGN
ANNA KARENINA (JACQUELINE DURRAN)
Costume in time-period films are always going to be a
bastard to pull off. So making costumes being set in the 19th
century is not an easy task. But from looking at some of the pictures, Durran
did pull it off really well. The costumes seen look to die for and reflects the
character's class status, even though some of the colours can be quite dulling.
They just stand out amongst the crowd, which is what a costume should do
really: to make a character recognisable and reflect their world in the film.
However I wasn't that interested in seeing Anna Karenina, and
still don't. Yes, the costumes are nice but they really don't get me interested
in seeing this film, just how beautiful they are. There seemed to be more interesting films to
keep an eye-out for as the article continues. So sorry Anna Karenina, you just
didn't do it for me. I'm not into Russians to be honest.
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MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
LES MISERABLE (LISA WESTCOTT, JULIE DARTNELL)
Watching a video about crafting the make-up to Les Mis, it
shows how hard these two artist tried to make people look so decrepid and
suffering in a stylised world. Westcott describes how Jean Valjean as a convict
is treated with a scar on his head and a long straggling beard and essentially
at the bottom of the barrel. There was also talk about teeth which sounds
weird, but does make sense because it matches the appearance of that
decrepitude of the world. If Hugh Jackson just had his normal teeth, it
wouldn't have matched.
Make-up on Anne Hathaway also brings about how the character
has changed as well from working in a factory to just being in the gutter and
having to become a prostitute, even painting her tooth blood red, and having to
become part of a brutal world.
Maybe that's why they won the award, on the basis of teeth.
Sounds like a good day for dentistry doesn't it? A very well deserved award
once more for Les Mis.
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BEST SHORT FILM
CURFEW (SHAWN CHRISTENSON)
'At the lowest point of his life, Richie gets a call from
his estranged sister, asking him to look after his nine-year old niece, Sophia,
for a few hours'
The tagline doesn't reveal much as opposed to some others.
But this little film does have some interesting moments from its plot about a
budding relationship between the two characters and how the film has been shot
to these those moments in creating a chemistry. Also the trailer shows some
really good camera shots and good choreography.
Again, I won't try to spoil anything, but the over-riding
theme of the film is 'idols'. Like who was that person you looked up to (or
still look up to) and how that affects your life. So you might be able to
understand the plot from that one word, though it might be better watching the
film itself instead so you get the full picture. It looks a good film and
probably worth a viewing, with some great use of cameras, interesting
characterisation and even a dance number apparently. Maybe I should have done
that for my short film. Random mosh-pit at the end of the film since I used a
Metallica song. Oh well.
'Curfew' definitely works as a short film by the look of it,
so is worth the 20 minutes of anyone's time.
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BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
INOCENTE (SEAN FINE, ANDREA NIX FINE)
'Inocente' is the journey of a 15 year old homeless girl who
finds solace in painting a vibrant colourful world onto paper while hiding her
present situation from her classmates in case they will laugh her off.
Watching the trailer for this film, you see how Inocente
creates her art, even using paint at the start of the day on her face and how
she slowly begins to make her own art show. But there is a darker side in her
personal life as family problems reveal domestic issues, an attempted suicide
and shuffling through homeless shelters.
I became facisinated by what is shown in the trailer and
would definitely want to give this film a try, because it looks so heartfelt
and deep that I couldn't exactly take my eyes away from the story of her life.
I want to understand why her life has become the way it has and how she deals
with the issues at hand.
'Inocente' looks a fantastic film about this girl's life and
is worth a viewing into a world we have never crossed before.
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BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN (MALIK BENJELLOUL, SIMON CHINN)
'Searching for Sugar Man' is another journey about finding
the truth behind the myth. And it's an odd myth to say the least. 'Sugar Man'
or Sixto Rodriguez is not really known around the world, but is immensely
popular in South Africa, where it was rumoured since the 70s that he had
commited suicide because there was so little known information about him. Well,
Wikipedia had existed since 2004 so someone must've posted something about him
between that time and the documentary.
But I digress.
The film shows the discovery that Rodriquez did not in fact
commit suicide and how hard he has lived life. His albums had hardly sold at
all in America and having a job as a construction worker in order to at least
have some income. But with the onset of the Academy Awards, his audience has
increased and is subsequently now touring with his band 'We're not Dead',
alongside Paul McCartney, Jeff Goldblum on drums and random members of CNN.com
incident.
The documentary looks quite interesting to look at,
considering how Rodriguez had influenced the South African population at the
time of apartheid and comparing that to his life now. I would give it a go and
see how this man has fast-becoming at least a recognisable figure in few parts
of the world now.
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BEST FOREIGN LANGAUGE FILM
AMOUR (MICHAEL HANEKE)
Now I'm half and half on this film after recently watching
the trailer as I write this.
After reading up the story online, I thought I would give
this movie a go. And from a few clips, it's definitely has some shocking
moments, especially when the main woman is slapped by her husband when refusing
to gulp down water. Now there is a reason for this, but I won't spoil it for
anyone.
From one of the trailers, I wasn't sure what to make of it.
It seemed distorted and only a few points were made clear in trailer that the
main couple are very much in love. Though I have read comments on the Youtube
page that the trailer does not do the film justice and that it's better off
actually watching the film.
But the plot did shock and bring me into the story so I'd
watch this film given the opportunity.
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SOUND MIXING
LES MISERABLE (ANDY NELSON, MARK PATERSON, SIMON HAYES)
This comes not much as a surprise too. But to be fair, the
sound mixers had their work cut out, having to match the actor's voices with
the crescendo of the musical score. Now that cannot an easy task, especially
with the actors singing live on set, rather than singing in a studio.
So what are the advantages of this? Well firstly, it could
give you more time to prepare for meeting with other actors and allows for more
emotion to show through the acting, instead of having to mime alongside the
playback while you're actually shooting the film in the first place. Second,
the music team used a piano to help with the tempo of the music so you could
capture the right sound from the actors and replaced that with orchestra
pieces.
Disadvantages would be: a bad stroke of luck if one of the
actors loses their voice during production. Luckily for Tom Hooper, this didn't
happen. However, the other problem is if one of the actors can't sing, and
falls onto Russell Crowe for not having a good voice. I thought he wasn't bad
during his bit at the ceremony, so I'd have to disagree moderately.
In the end, I think all the actors could sing well and
helped to bag a small award for such a ground-breaking production. It might
actually try to tell us those who can sing and those who can't (maybe in future
High School Musical productions. Then we can see whose shit and who isn't).
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SOUND EDITING
TIE!!- 1ST: ZERO DARK-THIRTY (PAUL N.J.
OTTOSSON), 2ND: SKYFALL (PER HALLBERG, KAREN BAKER LANDERS)
Yep, there was a tie. Between the ever-running James Bond
Franchise and the compromising of Osama Bin Laden. But the tie here isn't so
important.
What is important is how sound editing helps in the process
of making a film sound believable, the collection of pieces of gunshots, phones
ringing, and flipping through of books that come together into the editing
process.
Talking to Entertainment Weekly about ZERO DARK THIRTY,
Ottosson wanted to keep it authentic and allow for these little pieces to build
up the tension in the film. Because Zero Dark Thirty isn't the conventional
action film, it uses the realism to maintain a sense of tension within its
world. He also revealed that he was in the army, which in a film like this, is
key to heightening the sense of realism in the world of modern day military
spying and planning.
With SKYFALL, you get the usual explosions and gunfights
that are relevant to a James Bond film, but with the added expansion of a train
ripping into two pieces and a London Underground train crashing off-track into
an open chamber, and missing Bond in the process. The collection of these
sounds are quite spectacular (shame about the Aston Martin though.....) and
help make a bigger impact on the audience through possible exaggeration of the
force of these sounds.
Sound Editing is one of those things that could have such a
big responsibility to the film overall and ZERO DARK THIRTY probably shows that
a bit more than SKYFALL, but still SKYFALL was a epic galore of sound making
and deserved an award for it as much as ZERO DARK THIRTY did. So I can kind of
see how difficult it was to choose between the two. Well done to both.
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BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
ANNE HATHAWAY (FATINE IN LES MISERABLE)
OH MY GOD, I DEFINATELY DIDN'T SEE THIS COMING!!! THIS WAS
AWESOME! THIS WAS----(ahem) sorry, I let my sarcastic nature get the better of
me.
Obviously this was one of the biggest predictors and came
through as we all expected. Though hearing the song, Hathaway could have won it
on that basis (seriously she is pretty good singing I Dreamed a Dream). Going
by the song, she probably gave her all in the performance of playing Fantine
and really deserved winning that Oscar.
I was conflicted whether to see this film or not. Wasn't
that interested, then quite interested. In the end I couldn't really get into
convincing myself to go watch it. And I'm thinking as I write this: I probably
should've done. Not because of the song (or the crying though I've heard
rumours where people had pretty much fallen in tears from this movie. Damn you
Tom Hooper.), but just a gut feeling. I missed out on a different experience
altogether. And I only have myself to blame.
I dreamed a dream of time gone by, when I should've seen Les
Miserable in the cinema........shit.
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BEST EDITOR
ARGO (WILLIAM GOLDENBERG)
If a film can make you feel a rush of emotions that feel
RIGHT, then the editing must be near or spot on the money. And there were
definite moments in Argo where I felt the pacing was just right. I'm starting
to like movies that make good use of their running time, like with The Hobbit
and The Hunger Games where everything didn't feel too extreme in slow like a
snail, but neither too fast like a cheetah. And Argo falls into that category
too. Even with the events happening on-screen, I felt everything was happening
at the right and appropriate speed that the events SHOULD be going at.
From the beginning of the escape from the embassy, to Mendez
coming back from Iran, the film flowed perfectly in the narrative side of
things. The comedy relief was good, the threatening scenes were tense and the
final scene was incredible. Everything in this film brought the right emotions
out of me, and that's what a film should do: make you feel the right emotion at
the right time. And if you don't feel right, then obviously the film hasn't
done its job. Or maybe it's just you.
Goldberg did a fantastic job on this film, personally making
me feel the rise in tension at the right moments and laugh at the good jokes,
and make the film feel just right. Personally, I would tell anyone to watch
this film. Including you. Yes, you. Go watch it. Now!
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PRODUCTION DESIGN
LINCOLN (PRODUCTION DESIGN: RICK CARTER, SET DECORATION: JIM
ERICKSON)
Like costume design, designing the sets and finding the
accurate props needed for 19th century America is also a total bastard.
The finding and creating of bringing back to life the dark days of the American
Civil War, and how to make the picture look in some sense realistic, yet
darkened world.
Well, these two guys must have achieved a great feat in
showing us a realistic picture of history, enough to win this award. Carter
said of the interior design of the White House that "it was an extremely
personal space and often a psychological space". So what this means is the
White House was Lincoln's own playground to let his mind wander and plot his
plans into motion, into bringing around the 13 amendment: to abolish slavery. Jim
Erickson apparently knew when to keep his mouth shut when he was talking to
Abraham Lincoln about his research , and Lincoln said: "Jim, I'm the
President". Would you have done the same?
I must admit that the sets and production do look pretty
good, impressive and feel ok, but that's all the reaction I can get out. Just
ok. But maybe that's what the film is trying to do, to not make everything ok.
There are obviously battlefields, strung with craters and what-have-you. All in
all, these two men did a good job on Lincoln and focused on the more emotional
side rather than the technical side.
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BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
LIFE OF PI (MICHAEL DANNA)
Music in film can help nail down the emotion of a scene, or
completely distract you from everything. So far, listening to the song 'Pi's
Lullaby', you can tell that the music is something out of this world and feels
like Oscar material.
Danna has created something almost child-like with this song
and it flows quietly, yet brings you into a different environment altogether.
I'm curious to know what the other songs will be like to listen to, and I have
good hopes that the rest of the soundtrack will be something other-worldly.
Though I shouldn't expect too much, then I'd have a greater sense of being let
down.
Then I listened to some of the other tracks like, 'Christ on
the Mountains', 'Richard Parker' and 'The Deepest Spot on Earth'. I liked
'Christ on the Mountains' with its pop-like beat and nice flute accompaniment.
'Richard Parker' felt quite haunting and long with a quick crescendo to quickly
wrap the song up. 'The Deepest Spot on Earth' sounds epic, but I hope it's
better in the film. It doesn't sound as good on Youtube then you think.
So far, the soundtrack sounds like it has ups and downs.
Some songs work beautifully, while others feel like they miss the mark.
However, I am listening to it without the film in general so I shouldn't judge
harshly. If the songs work on screen, I will be happy as a bumblebee with a pot
full of honey. Admittedly, I'm not sure this score deserved the Oscar so much
but I'll just have to wait and see until I get my hands on a ticket to watch
Life of Pi.
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BEST ORIGINAL SONG
SKYFALL (ADELE, PAUL EPWORTH)
This ISN'T one of my favourite Bond songs. I'm throwing it
out there. I just feel as if it doesn't really bring anything as a whole. Maybe
it's because I am not a massive fan of Adele in general, and her songs are
quite annoyingly catchy. But I wouldn't say it's a bad song, there are some
bits I like about it, like the opening piano bit and the chorus. And also this
song was better than some of the entrants on the list (Everybody needs a Best
Friend was quite good, but I don't think Oscar material). And I have to admit,
it is difficult thinking about someone else who could've pulled that song off
with the gusto that Adele has.
I am generally happy that a James Bond film had won an
Academy Award, even if it's for a song. It's probably one of those things that
will never be seen again at least for a few decades at least. Also seeing the performance live was a lot
better rather than hearing it in studio form. Maybe I should try to steal a
live version or something. Still, it is a great achievement to get and Adele
has a very prestigious award to show for her efforts. So kudos to you Adele.
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BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
ARGO (CHRIS TERRIO)
One thing I like about a movie is when it reveals to your
surprise to have some very good jokes and some nice written in moments where no
words don't really need to be spoken. Terrio did that very well for 'Argo'.
I wasn't even expecting Argo to be as good as it could be,
but the writing for this film was really, really funny. And I'm still
remembering that great one-liner 'Argo fuck yourself' :D. Best. Line. Ever :P. Perhaps
then the key to a good film is that it doesn't look as if it's trying to force
funny moments onto us, but allows us to diffuse the tension of the story using
those little moments, especially in a situation such as Iran. I won't list the
scenes that will be tense, but when you see this film you might get a feeling
of happiness, at least for a few minutes while your brain has a chance to
relax.
*SPOILER*
Another nice scene
was at the end, where the main character Tony Mendez shakes the hand of one of
the hostages and not one word of dialogue is made between them. In some cases
with scenes like that, dialogue is really not needed. Film can sometimes about
more expression in the face and seeing the emotions on screen, where if any
words were spoken it could in fact ruin that moment totally. We know that
dialogue has obviously been a mainstream in film since the later 1920s, but we
can still sometimes see the character's on-screen expression reveal everything,
even if they aren't talking. If those two characters had said anything, it
would've felt different, and wouldn't have been right to say anything in the
first place.
*END SPOILER*
ARGO is a clever, brilliant written film and deserved this
Oscar in so many ways.
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BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
DJANGO UNCHAINED (QUENTIN TARANTINO)
*DEFINATELY SPOILERS*
Like 'Argo', DJANGO UNCHAINED is clever and funny. But of
course in Tarantino's hands, it was gold.
The little moments again do come in great, like the bag
scene. If you haven't seen it yet, take some time out to do so because it is
funny as! Personally, I liked it when Dr. Schultz said Auf Wiedersehen and carried on with his business.
All the characters were written well. Not just Django and
Dr. Schultz, but Calvin Candie and his manservant Stephen as well.
The pairing of Django and Dr. Schultz is good,as Schultz
becomes a mentor figure to Django and teaches him how to use guns and to kill
people as well as giving him the first opportunity to free his wife from
slavery. They develop a kind of chemistry with each other and Django even gives
Schultz some advice as well when he's antagonising Candie.
But the main villains
are just as good. With Candie, you can see how the character can be so brutal
and yet show it so little in a subtle kind of way. He allows Django to enter
into his circle, but you can see he clearly has misapprehension for him and
then comes out as a kind of psychopath when he threatens Broomhilda. Now I
didn't like Candie, But I HATED Stephen. Hated him with a passion because he
was a treacherous low-life betraying bastard, and brilliantly played by Samuel
L. Jackson! Though that's more acting side than the writing.
Now I probably should come onto the multiple use of the
word, nigger. It was used a few times for some really funny jokes, like: 'that
nigger's on a horse!'. Yes, well done you, specific character. Have a medal.
But it is also used for some of the more vicious moments (like Candie's
eurphoria at one-upping the two), and it is for uncomfortable viewing. But I
guess the overall use of the word was because the focus was on a black person
and his struggle to save his wife against white slavers, and using it will
probably make anyone squirm in their seats.
But the screenplay is still awesome in that it gives a new
perspective on the revenge story and tackling such a grave subject in America's
past (Spike Lee should say nothing until he's seen the film.) An award again,
well deserved for one of film's prolific makers, Mr Tarantino.
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BEST DIRECTOR
ANG LEE (LIFE OF PI)
This was probably a two-legged race between Lincoln and Life
of Pi, with the latter winning through. And probably rightfully so.
Life of Pi does seem the more visually impressive (being
done in 3D), better acted, and the more personal journey that the main character
goes through (and there's a tiger. Maybe Lincoln would have been better if
there was a tiger? Just one random tiger appearing at Lincoln's side? No?
Ok....................sad face). Anyway, it just looked better and felt really
good.
As I've talked about in the cinematography section, the film
looks stunning with its colourful imagery. Acting-wise, it looks very-well done
with Suraj Sharma being pretty good as Pi. And I did really believe that that
was a tiger despite it being CGI! Though I do hope there's a good explanation
why the tiger's called Richard Parker. I have one idea but I'm not going to
spoil it for anyone.
I have read that the film was apparently unfilmable, with M.
Night Shyamalan and Alfonso Cuaron had rejected directing the film. Well, they
said the same thing about Lord of the Rings.......and anyway, M. Night
Shyamalan hasn't had a good run with films for the past few years has he? With
the emotional depth needed to carry such a large scale film, Ang Lee was
probably the right choice to make LIFE OF PI, because Pi has quite the journey
to go through, as John Hiscock put it in his article for the Telegraph
newspaper: Literal and spiritual journey.
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BEST ACTRESS
JENNIFER LAWERENCE (TIFFANY MAXWELL IN SILVER LININGS
PLAYBOOK)
Oh look, Jennifer Lawerence tripped up on the stairs. Yay.
Moving on!
It probably should never be denied that Jennifer Lawrence is
becoming THE female talent in Hollywood today. I have seen her perform in
'X-Men: First Class' and 'The Hunger Games' and she is good at the roles she
plays.
As I again saw a clip to her performance in 'Silver Linings
Playbook', I was simply gobsmacked by her ferocity at projecting the anger at
Bradley Cooper's character and probably wouldn't want to approach her when
she's in psycho mode (especially if she's holding a bow and arrow, then I'd be
super-fucked). And I did think about seeing this film, but I never got around
to it. God, what a life I lead! However
I have read a little about the character she played so I think it added more to
the intensity of the scene I saw.
Still, getting an award on your second nomination is a
definite plus and says something about your future career. I'd even go as far
as saying Jennifer Lawrence could be the next Meryl Streep if she continues in
her choices of roles, which suffice to say, are very good choices. Soon as
Silver Linings Playbook comes out on DVD, I'm definite willing to give this
film a go and see how everything pans out, not just with Lawrence's character
but everyone else's too, because judging by the clips I've seen there is plenty
to get sucked into! After all, what are crazy sluts with dead husbands for?
(If you like to answer this question, use the comment box
below)
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BEST ACTOR
ABRAHAM LINCOLN (ABRAHAM LINCOLN IN LINCOLN)
You know, at the tender age of 202, Lincoln doesn't look
half bad for playing himself considering he took over from Liam Neeson. His
beard seemed well-trimed.
As we all know, his performance was greatly praised. Well he
was playing himself so be fair, he'd know his own stuff like the back of his
hand. And with his third Oscar win, he became the first three-time recipient
for the Best Actor award in the history of the Academy Awards (his other two
being in 'My Left Foot' and 'There Will Be Blood'). Still it was quite predictable that he would
capture another award. But in all fairness, this is Abraham Lincoln we're
talking about. His dedication to playing roles is well documentated. He even
played Daniel Day-Lewis at the Oscar ceremony. Could've won an award for that
even!
However I can't really comment on the actual performance
itself sadly. So I'll have to wait until it's on DVD or make a last ditch
attempt to see it in cinema at least (though I have been told on good authority
by the mother that it made one of her friends fall asleep. So maybe it will be
a good opportunity to have a quick nap. At least when Lincoln's not on screen).
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BEST FILM
ARGO (BEN AFFLECK, GEORGE CLOONEY AND GRANT HESLOV)
I was so hoping for this film to win the Academy Award, and
I was happy I even shouted 'YES!' when Madam President announced the winner
(probably because it was the only film I actually saw out of all the others).
As I said before, I had good fun watching this film and
enjoyed the funny moments, so there isn't much to talk about. Although I do
think in a way, 'Argo' is a redemption for Ben Affleck. He has come a long way
through despised and poorly received films like Gigli and Pearl Habour, only to
slowly build himself up again over the years and come back smiling with a Best
Picture award (into Seth McFarlane's face) and reinventing himself from an
actor into possibly a great director, and turning himself into a family man
with wife Jennifer Garner.
I suppose the only thing I regret is not putting this film
into my Top Ten list at the start of The Randomizer. It was such a hard choice
between this film and Brave, that in the world I thought Brave was the better
film. But that was my gut feeling at the time. Now I think I should've put it
in somewhere, but what's done is done.
Argo is a fantastic film and quite worthy of the Academy
Award for Best Picture 2013. Though Life of Pi could come to strike more of a
cord with me when it's started the ball rolling, I still remember the rush and
funny moments that Argo brings with it. So for the moment, Argo comes out on
top and deservedly so.
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PRESENTING AND (a few) SEGEMENTS
SETH MACFARLANE
I love Seth Macfarlane. I laughed out loud completely at his
risqué humour while watching and liked some of the comedy routines he did.
Comes with being a Family Guy fan for donkey years (thanks brother Nick :) ).
And of course, controversy followed. Seems people don't have
the same sense of humour and have criticised his tenure because of such jokes
as "Django Unchained is the story of a man fighting to get back his woman
subjected to unthinkable violence. Or as Rihanna and Chris Brown call it, A
date movie" and probably more famously, 'The Boob Song', a listing of the
female actors who brought them out in selected films. After the Oscars, Macfarlane
announced he would not present another in the future.
I don't think Macfarlane was horrible as host for the
Oscars. I enjoyed his wise-cracks at the actors and at himself, though why William
Shatner made an appearance is bizarre to me. Would it have made more sense to
have Billy Crystal or something?. But I do think that some of the jokes were
hit and miss. Especially those that made me go: oooh, that was awful. For example,
the Lincoln joke was so dark, I think I just laughed and cringed at the same
time. Also, what was up with that Sally Field sketch. Again, kind of a miss.
But his humour is very risque that it will only appeal to
certain adult people (like me) and not to a wide-range audience that might
include children or otherwise the easily offended. So as much as I liked the
comedy, I can understand why he won't be back so soon. But I enjoyed it while
it lasted and that's the main thing.
FIFTY YEARS OF BOND....
......was shit. James Bond got a tribute video and Shirley
Bassey singing. I was completely let down by this segment, thinking at the time
I could've come up with something so much better. Fifty Years of the longest
running film franchise in history, and THAT was what the Oscars came up with?
The tribute video was a selection of clips from all the Bond
films. Nothing remotely interesting to say really.
And much as Shirley Bassey is the main Bond singer, I didn't
like her singing the Goldfinger theme song because she sounded so croaky. I'm
sorry, but Adele could've sung that better I reckon, and she was the best Bond
tribute of the night with her rendition of 'Skyfall'.
If I was to do a tribute of fifty years, I would have
possibly brought ALL the James Bonds on stage and let them talk for a few
seconds of their experience as 007. Then I could have asked Adele and Bassey to
do duets with each other, bringing old and new generations together. And I
would've asked Barbara Broccoli to come onto stage and allow her a few minutes
to talk about a monumentous event of continuation since 1962.
But such things exist in fantasy. Fucking Oscars.......
IN MEMORIUM
As with any year, the film industry loses esteemed members
and recognisable figures that we hold close to our hearts. I shall be taking a
look at three figures I remembered from time's past:
Michael Clarke Duncan:
I remember seeing this man in a multitude of roles, first
being in Cats and Dogs as Sam the dog, and then I recognised him more in Sin
City as the giant manservant Manute. His voice is so recognisable for its deep baritone
level, you could probably orgasm on cue at any word he said and then you'd have
to go and clean yourself up. His win for his only Academy Award actually came
early in his career with his performance in the role of John Coffey in 'The
Green Mile', and he kept up being suitable for dramatic and comedic roles
alike. The last film role I saw in him in was, of all things, Green fucking
Lantern as Killowag.
It would have been good to see his career continue, whatever
his choices. Sadly, it's not to be.
Tony Scott:
Ridley Scott's younger brother and well-known director in
his own right, famous for films such as Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop II and most recently,
Unstoppable. Honestly, I have never seen any of his films, mainly because I
wasn't so interested in them apart from Unstoppable, but I never saw that in
the cinema. Interestingly enough, I have seen him act when he was younger on
his brother's short film, Boy and Bicycle as he travelled through West
Hartlepool and Seaton Carew.
The circumstances
around his suicide in August last year will always remain a mystery at best
since there hasn't been a clear-cut reason as to why Scott would suddenly take
his own life. A sad loss to the film industry.
Ernst Borgnine:
I'd be lying if I said I knew a lot about his career. The only thing I knew him for was having a guest role in an early episode of 'The Simpsons'.
Like Clarke Ducan, Borgnine received his only Academy Award
for his role in the film 'Marty' early in his career, and went to have a
glittering career in both film and television, playing a significant role in
'Spongebob Squarepants' as Mermaid Man. One of Hollywood's finest actors, he
will be missed.
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Final Notes:
Overall, the Oscars were quite predictable in a lot of areas with every expected victor coming out on top. Seth Macfarlane is unlikely to come back as a host in any regard, and there should have been a better tribute to Bond.
But it wasn't all a bad night. There were good points like
Adele singing and Argo coming out on top to win the Best Film award. I had good
fun watching and will definitely watch next year's show with interest. I apologise for the lack of substantial humour in this article. Normal service should be resumed in the next when my next blog comes up.
Randomizer out.
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