Author: Alton Williams

Ok ok, I know the Oscars are over and it’s been overly talked about since the Golden Globes, but being here in the Hollywood area, it’s hard not to still feel the tingle of last night’s winners in the air. So I promise, that this Oscar recap will be quick and painless!

A lot of last night’s Oscars show was kept a secret by the Academy and everyone involved, because they had revamped the structure and overall feel in order to draw in audiences all over the world. Even the celebrity presenters played coy with any pre-Oscar interview about what involvement they had and if they knew any spoilers for the big show. The red carpet also didn’t see many of the celebrities that we saw on the show, because they wanted to keep the presenters’ identities as secret up until the very last minute possible.

Hugh Jackman, although admitting to some nerves about hosting, was completely comfortable on that stage in the Kodak Theater, whether he was singing, dancing, reenacting, and keeping the audience fully involved. Looking dapper and channeling old Hollywood glam, Jackman was tall, dark and handsome like his predecessors Dean Martin, Cary Grant, Gregory Peck and so on. And what a voice!

After the spectacular opening number, they dove in, starting the night off with a beautiful Penelope Cruz winning the Oscar for best Supporting Actress. Right away, past Oscar viewers could tell that things have changed. The presenters now come out, explain a little about the category they are presenting or talk about the nominees and then reveal the winner. I thought it was a great idea to do this, because it keeps the audience and the viewers at home involved. Although not everyone cared for it, an explanation, especially on the more technical side of things, could help home viewers understand why one film won over another.

A lot of people predicted that the Oscars would be more subdued and toned down due to the current state of the economy, but it proved to be just the opposite. All the women channeled old Hollywood with the silhouettes and gorgeous updos, while the men looked breathtakingly handsome in their tuxes and black ties. In a time when the economy sucks and everyone is worried about one thing or another, the Oscars gave us all a great escape for at least one night.

So, as this post is getting a bit lengthy, I will list all the winners from last night’s show and bid you adieu.

– Motion Picture: “Slumdog Millionaire.”

– Actor: Sean Penn, “Milk.”

– Actress: Kate Winslet, “The Reader.”

– Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight.”

– Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”

– Director: Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire.”

– Foreign Film: “Departures,” Japan.

– Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, “Slumdog Millionaire.”

– Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, “Milk.”

– Animated Feature Film: “WALL-E.”

– Art Direction: “The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button.”

– Cinematography: “Slumdog Millionaire.”

– Sound Mixing: “Slumdog Millionaire.”

– Sound Editing: “The Dark Knight.”

– Original Score: “Slumdog Millionaire,” A.R. Rahman.

– Original Song: “Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire,” A.R. Rahman and Gulzar.

– Costume: “The Duchess.”

– Documentary Feature: “Man On Wire.”

– Documentary (short subject): “Smile Pinki.”

– Film Editing: “Slumdog Millionaire.”

– Makeup: “The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button.”

– Animated Short Film: “La Maison en Petits Cubes.”

– Live Action Short Film: “Spielzeugland (Toyland).”

– Visual Effects: “The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button.”

One more thing, as I am a native New Yorker, that number Hugh Jackman did with Beyoncé stating that “The musical is BACK!” completely blew me away. I grew up watching Broadway shows and musicals and absolutely love them!

That’s all for now. I plan to make my way to the theaters to check out Coraline in 3-D one more time before it leaves theaters and then will only be played in 2-D from then on. One more tidbit of Oscar related news, Coraline received such fantastic reviews on its opening weekend, there were rumors that this film could be the first contending Oscar film for next year! I’ll be back with my review later.

Ciao ciao!

With the golden Hollywood glow of the Oscars now behind us celebrating the best of 2008, I want to turn a thought to wait awaits us in the year to come. What will be hits, what will be misses, what will gather Oscar buzz and what will be the unexpected box office smash. With a mere glimpse at what is to come, I think 2009 is going to be a big year for film.
Now I myself aren’t really into Oscar type films, serious drama’s and hard hitting film. Don’t get me wrong, I respect the crap out of them, just not my cup of tea. With that in mind, allow me to list the films that have got my blood pumping in the months ahead.

Watchmen.
Okay, there’s not much that can be said about this film that you cant already see in the trailers for it. Its a beautiful looking filming, interesting characters, amazing source material and a cast of relative unknowns that somehow look like they’ll command the screen with ease. Watchmen really will be one to watch (that hurt me to write it just as much as it was for you to read it).

Terminator Salvation
With Christian Bale being in the media spot light in the past few weeks for all the wrong reasons I think its kind of over shadowed what the real story here is HE’S JOHN FREAKIN’ CONNOR. Am I the only person who finds that to be one of the best bits of casting in years? The Bale can do no wrong, he brought Batman back to life with some guy called Nolan and now he’s put his magic to work on bringing the Terminator franchise back where it belongs in the big leagues.
p.s I love Christopher Nolan

Transformers 2: Revenge Of The Fallen
Are you seeing a trend yet? Yes, I love my big budget movies a little too much. With Megan Fox being the hottest thing on two legs saving the world, and I think there was something about robots in there too, I’m not 100% sure on that. Transformers was definitively a 2007 summer blockbuster, two years later and Mr Big Explosion himself Micheal Bay is back in the directors chair pointing the camera at nothing. I was a fan of the first film but felt the plot could of done with some trimming and some more Megan Fox. Now that he has got a second stab at it, I hope we get another action adventure worthy of a cinema ticket, and from what we’ve seen in the trailers so far, I think we may just get that.

G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra
Lets see the list
Big budget? CHECK
High Concept? CHECK
Great Action? CHECK
Hot Girls in Tight Outfits? DOUBLE CHECK
With that out the way, I find it hard to see how this film could do badly. The only thing I could possibly see holding it back is the once again relatively unknown cast. But with the action sequences shown in the SuperBowl spot and a director who is no stranger to blockbuster success (Stephen Sommers, The Mummy, The Mummy Returns and Van Helsing) I think we are looking at the possible surprise hit.
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Okay okay, hold back the hate. Not sure where you all stand on this subject, but I personally loved Twilight and no, I’m not gay or secretly a girl, there are male fans (trust me). New Moon has proved to be an interesting topic of conversation with previous helmer Catherine Hardwicke no longer set to direct and American Pie‘s Chris Weitz taking over the production. All original cast members are back, including Robert Pattinson and my future wife Kristen Stewart. As Twilight was shot on a modest budget of $37million, talk has begun over how much dollar is being thrown at New Moon, with location shoots in Italy and much more special effects needed, I cant wait to see how things play out next month when filming gets under way.

As for me, I’m done. I could go on and on about films but a line has to be drawn my friends. The real reason is the Pizza Boy just rang the door bell and I’m hungry. Until next time.

Sometimes, just sometimes it is more satisfying to read great movie lines rather than watching scenes on You Tube. So here’s 10 – well actually it’s 11 but who’s counting – of the very best from the late great Heath Ledger’s stunning portrayal of The Joker in The Dark Knight. It was these words and the way he said them – along with his mesmerising mannerisms (Note * the licking of the lips in particular !) that earned him a richly deserved Academy Award. Enjoy.

“It’s simple. We kill the Batman.”

“You won’t kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness. And I won’t kill you because you’re just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever. “

“You see, madness, as you know, is like gravity. All it takes is a little push ! “

“And here… we… go !”

“I’m a man of simple tastes. I like dynamite, and gunpowder… and gasoline! Do you know what all of these things have in common? They’re cheap !”

“Wanna know how I got these scars ?”

“If you’re good at something, never do it for free.”

“Why don’t we cut you up into little pieces and feed you to your pooches? Hmm? And then we’ll see how loyal a hungry dog really is.”

“How about a magic trick ?… I’m gonna make this pencil disappear…. Ta-daa! It’s… it’s gone.”

” Why so serious ?”

And of course, especially in an unforgettable Oscar winning performance, always save the best for last…..

“Do you want to know why I use a knife? Guns are too quick. You can’t savor all the… little emotions. In… you see, in their last moments, people show you who they really are. So in a way, I know your friends better than you ever did. Would you like to know which of them were cowards ?”

Heath Ledger R.I.P.