The Oscar Race 2012: Nominees and Predictions

The Oscars are only a month away and with all the politics and ridiculousness that comes along with everything I've decided to have my predictions anyway. I still watch the award shows, and sometimes the people who actually deserve to win do, but unfortuneately for the most part it's the people who promote themselves the most that win. It shouldn't work that way, but it does. However this year I think some unexpected people are going to take home the gold. Or not. You never know, so let's get on with the nominees.

Best Picture
The Artist
The Descendents
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight In Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse

What Should Win: The Artist
What Will Probably Win: The Artist

For those of you who haven't seen The Artist yet, you are really missing out. Not only was it probably one of the best movies of the year, it's probably one of the best movies of all time. Never have I been so enthralled with a piece of cinema before. The Artist is everything a movie should be, and will more than likely be taking the trophy home. It's biggest competition is The Descendents and The Help. More than likely though they won't be able to live up to the black and white silent film. Another possibility is Hugo, which has the most nominations with 11. Hugo will probably take home the visual effects and directing categories and leave The Artist with this one, which has 10 nominations.

Actor In A Leading Role

Demián Bichir - A Better Life

George Clooney - The Descendents

Jean Dujardin - The Artist

Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Brad Pitt - Moneyball

Who Should Win: Jean Dujardin - The Artist
Who Will Probably Win: George Clooney - The Descendents

Both Clooney and Dujardin took home the Globes for best actor in drama and comedy or musical roles, but the edge could go to Clooney. A big friend of the Academy Clooney being nominated multiple times may edge him out and the prize could also go to Dujardin. His portrayal of the silent film star George Valentine was impeccable, and the power and expressiveness of his face and prescence certainly makes him the stand out. It would be a delightful surprise if he wins, and while the performances from Pitt, Oldman, and Bichir are no doubt wonderful, Bichir may be too much of a curveball having such little known recognition, while Oldman's spy drama hasn't been doing that well this season. As for Pitt, it's still just not his year. Although his Moneyball nomination is certainly more deserving than his nom for Benjamin Button.

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

Who Should Win: Viola Davis - The Help
Who Will Probably Win: Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady

Meryl Streep has now been nominated 17 times for this coveted prize and the last time she won was in 1983 for Sophie's Choice. Almost 20 years later she may just win again for her marvelous transformation into Margaret Thatcher. The fan favorite is Viola Davis' riveting turn as a maid in The Help, and she's definitely a strong contender, but I'm gonna give the edge to Streep.

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

Who Should Win: Christopher Plummer - Beginners
Who Will Probably Win: Christopher Plummer - Beginners

It's about time the academy gave Plummer his dues, and with his enthralling turn as a man who comes out to his son after his wife's passing, he will no doubt take home the prize. He's been cleaning up the award shows and the other nominees don't even stand a chance. Sorry Jonah Hill.

 

Actress In A Supporting Role

 

Bérénice Bejo - The Artist

Jessica Chastain - The Help

Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids

Janet McTeer - Albert Nobbs

Octavia Spencer - The Help

It's about damn time the academy gave Christopher Plummer his due, and with his capitivating performance as a man who comes out to his son after his wife of many years passes, he's a certainty in receiving the Oscar. He's been cleaning up at all the other major awards and there's is definitely no competition here. Sorry Jonah Hill.

 

Actress In A Supporting Role

 

Who Should Win:
Who Will Probably Win:

Who Should Win: Octavia Spencer - The Help

Who Will Probably Win: Octavia Spencer - The Help

Not only does she deserve this award wholeheartedly, but being a voter favorite she definitely has the edge to take home the prize. While Chastain is remarkable in her own right, Spencer has a big advantage over her. McTeer is a long shot in this, as well as McCarthy. While it's fantastic that McCarthy was nominated for the crude summer smash, it's an improbability she'll be taking home the award. Bejo would be a strong contender, but unfortuneately hasn't been doing well with the awards, seeing as how Spencer has been cleaning up.

Directing

The Artist - Michel Hazanavicious

The Descendents - Alexander Payne

Hugo - Martin Scorsese

Midnight In Paris - Woody Allen

The Tree of Life - Terrence Malick

Who Should Win: The Artist - Michel Hazanavicious

Who Will Probably Win: Hugo - Martin Scorsese

The dazzling and daring French director for The Artist could take home the coveted prize, but unfortuneately Scorsese has been cleaning up the prize and will most likely take it home again. At least this time it would be deserving because The Departed was an overrated, awful, boring piece of cinema. Sorry, soapbox moment.

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

The Descendants - Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash

Hugo - Screenplay by John Logan

The Ides of March -Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon

Moneyball -Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin. Story by Stan Chervin

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Screenplay by Bridget O'Connor & Peter Straughan

 

 

Who Will Win: The Descendants by Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash

Dean Pelton for the win! I love how he's the Dean a ling ling on one of my all time favorite shows and is most likely going to take home the Oscar with Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon.

Writing (Original Screenplay)

The Artist - Written by Michel Hazanavicius

Bridesmaids - Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig

Margin Call - Written by J.C. Chandor

Midnight in Paris - Written by Woody Allen

A Separation - Written by Asghar Farhadi

Who Will Win: Midnight In Paris by Woody Allen

While Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig deservedly so, are in this category, chances are they won't be seeing Oscar gold, but Allen's whimsical journey through Paris is definitely the delight that will win.

So, those are my predictions and their nominees. So many snubs this year, but then again what year is someone not snubbed? I mean what the hell does Ryan Gosling have to do here?! With that being said, hopefully the right people will win this year, and joy and parties in Hollywood will be had.

 

Who Will Win: Midnight In Paris by Woody Allen

 

Even though Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo wrote an amazing screenplay, chances are they won't be seeing Oscar Gold in their future. The award will most likely go to Allen, whose whimsical journey through Paris was pure delight.

Looking Back: An Homage to Wisteria Lane

For the past eight years Susan, Lynette, Bree, and Gaby have become four of the most iconic names for women on television. Love it or hate it Desperate Housewives has become a big part of TV history. Without it I don't think many shows would exist today, or maybe not be as well received. Some say it's gotten too ridiculous and while I admit the girls have had their nice and not so nice moments, as a whole Desperate fans can agree that it has always entertained. Even though I may have had my opinions on the last few seasons, when news hit that season 8 would be the last, my heart broke. Originally the girls were going to keep living on the lane until season 9, but because of the business being what it is in Hollywood, my lovely ladies have been snubbed right out of tinsel town, and alas come May it will be a true goodbye.

That goes without saying that as sad as it is for me that one of my all time favorite shows is coming to an end, I couldn't think of any better way to pay homage than to write about it. Now how can I sum up the Housewives in just one blog? I can't. It would be impossible. So instead I've decided to do a whole collection of blogs, at least one for each season, some dedicated to characters, villians, and what have you. It's the only way I could pay homage in a proper way. How the hell can you sum up Edie Britt in one paragraph? Exactly. So for now I am leaving with this small summary of what is to come in the impending months. Things are going to get crazy. It has come out recently that one of the major characters on the lane will die come March. In the DH world that could be anybody, because they've pulled the 'major character death' before and it has never been one of the girls, or their fellas. Okay maybe a husband took a couple stabs before, literally, but that aside with the way things are on the lane it could actually be one of them. And my reaction to whoever takes the fall? NO!! WHY??!! HOW COULD YOU??! Until then, enjoy this beautiful day. We get so few of them.

- Tori -

A Look Back - Zoolander

Ten years ago we all found out what a eugoogalizer was and that orange mocha frappuchinos were a great way to tame the blues. This was all thanks to Derek Zoolander. I don’t know whether it’s the fall air or the fact that a new team of besties came out last weekend, Stefon and Zoolander, which you can watch at the link below…

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/weekend-update-stefon-and-zoolander/1361094

But as hilarious as the above is, (how could you do that to Hansel?!) Zoolander has been a favorite of mine for many years. Being only 14 at the time it was released, I don’t think I actually got to see this in the theaters, but I definitely remember falling in love watching it’s syndication on TV, and even though this movie is far from Oscar worthy, (in the people’s eyes, not mine) the love and laughter come charging at you anyway. There’s been recent talk of a sequel with the original cast returning, ten years later into a new world where they may seem out of date and maybe not model of the year worthy anymore. I hope this comes to fruition soon, because the time is perfect for Stiller. Between the fun and family oriented Night at the Museum’s to the lackluster third chapter of Little Fockers to the upcoming hit or miss Tower Heist, I think everyone needs a little bit of Derek, Hansel, and Matil again. (In between Finnish dwarves of course.)

There are a million things I could go on and on about while I laugh and type simultaneously, but it’s the little things that are real memory triggers for me. Alexander Skaarsgard from HBO’s True Blood was one of the male models, um earth to Sookie another reason why you should be with Eric. Probably my favorite little known fact from this film comes from the discussion between Derek, Matilda, and David Duchovny’s beautiful hand model character J.P. Prewitt in the graveyard. Derek asks why male models, and Duchovny’s response is a good example of so, until Derek pauses and repeats but why male models to which he replies, are you serious? I just answered that. Apparently Stiller forgot his line after David’s big speech, so he just repeated his earlier line while David just went with it. To me that is just another fine example of comedy gold.

Many people ask me, really, Zoolander? Yes, it’s really in my top 10. Not only do I crack the fuck up every time I watch it, but it just tugs at my heart strings just a little bit. I don’t know if it’s him asking the moon, who am I, or the love story between Ben Stiller and his wife, but this movie just gets me in a warm, fuzzy place. I can’t resist Hansel’s story of falling down Mt. Vesuvius, how you know Mugatu gets farty and bloaty from foamy lattes, centers for ants, mermen, freak gasoline fight accidents or just the utter and complete ironic stupidity of everything this movie stands for. Let’s all cross our fingers for the return of Blue Steel, and hope that Magnum can come out and dazzle us all once again. And to end this entry here is one of the best scenes from Zoolander.

This Was Not Filmed In Front of a Live Studio Audience

The sit-com is slowly on its path to extinction, and I don’t mean in general, but the sit-coms filmed in front of a live studio audience are. Since the dawn of television, sit-coms have become a staple in the American family home, with classics like The Honeymooners, I Love Lucy, Bewitched and steadily going throughout the rest of the century. But once the year 2000 hit, the live studio audience became a rare commodity and instead most TV shows today, comedy or drama, are not filmed in front of an audience and this past decade has produced some of the best shows on television. These days it seems almost impossible to get a good live audience sit-com right, but why is that? There have been millions of cheesy sit-coms in the past, Full House, Boy Meets World, The Brady Bunch, so why is it so hard to get it right today?

Let’s think back. Friends, Seinfeld, That ‘70s Show, not only are these some of my all-time favorite shows, but they all had laugh tracks, and they were damn good. Seinfeld was good because it wasn’t the atypical sit-com, and its premise was about nothing. Seinfeld also was never cheesy. It was always outrageous and the four of them got into the most insane situations, most of them based on real events that happened to Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld. Friends, was also another great show with an audience. It was never groundbreaking, six friends living in New York that date, have sex and get into “everyday” situations. I was heartbroken when I had to send my monkey back to the zoo, and who hasn’t had their brother’s triplets? Regardless, the relationships of the six of them were so close that you wanted to be in that group. You wanted to have a cup of coffee at Central Perk. You wanted to have sex with Joey or listen to Phoebe sing Smelly Cat. This show worked so well because of the relationships that were built over those ten years. This show worked because you rooted for them, for better or for worse. Another great example is That ‘70s Show. I never saw this show as a show about the ‘70s. It was a show about a group of teenagers growing up, and all the stuff that gets thrown their way. The cast worked so well together, and even though Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher left that last season, the show still had a major impact on the television world. I will always bob my head when I’m hanging out down the street.

All of those shows began in the ‘90s which was a prime real estate for sit-com shows. Today, that formula is really hard to come by. Excluding children’s sit-coms on Disney or Nickelodeon, (Those scripts are too cheesy that they need that laugh track.) most 2000 and beyond sit-coms don’t work. I’m not saying they aren’t picked up or fail after a couple years or are even poorly reviewed. Two and a Half Men for example is one of the most famous sit-coms in the past decade, especially now for reasons that need no explanation, but despite the critical and fan acclaim and the fact that it’s going into its ninth season, what is really all that special about it? Maybe I’m too harsh, because statistically it’s been ranked in the top 20 shows ever since it first aired, but having seen it I just don’t get why it’s so special. If someone can enlighten me then please do so. I watched the season premiere with Ashton Kutcher for curiosity sake. I will admit it is nice seeing Kutcher on TV again, but not in this show. I can see where they’re going with this and hopefully this will be Men’s last year.

I watched some new shows that just premiered this fall, both actually involving Whitney Cummings. In case you don’t know who she is, she’s a shitty comedian who yells a lot and had a bad face lift. I wanted to give them a chance to see if they had any decent qualities. While 2 Broke Girls starring Kat Dennings was mediocre at best, they were a couple moments that made me chuckle. I attribute that to Kat Dennings spot on performance. So far this has yet to be picked up for a full season, but the freshman comedy Whitney starring the Botox queen herself was just recently picked up for a full season, which just goes to show how much people love D-list celebrities with bad plastic surgery. You’d think this show would be on E! This show was just god awful. Despite my distaste for Cummings I wanted to put my judgment aside and take a look regardless, going in without bias, but I barely escaped only five minutes in when I changed the channel from one of the most trite, awful, unfunny pieces of television I have ever laid my eyes on. The forced laugh track was played after every sentence each character said, making it difficult to even find the funny things funny, but then again nothing was funny anyway. Everything from the stereotypical drunk, perverted friends to the terribly written dialogue made ABC Family’s Melissa and Joey the next Seinfeld.

Why the laugh track has to be used so forcefully after every line of dialogue is ridiculous and completely unnecessary. Even when you watch an old episode of Friends there wasn’t a laugh every two seconds, rather a witty dialogue, while not always a gem, but still funny, then the laughter goes where it’s supposed to go. One live audience comedy created after the year 2000, 8 Simple Rules, was a pretty big hit, and was extremely funny. If not for the untimely death of John Ritter, that show could’ve gone on for much longer than three seasons, but I suppose it worked out for Kaley Cuoco in a way, although I don’t know many people besides my parents and the critics who are crazy about The Big Bang Theory.

Good Times, The Jefferson’s, Green Acres, I Love Lucy; this was when TV was great and the laughs of an audience meant something to the dynamic of the show. Even The Flintstones had a laugh track and that worked well too. Besides the already existing shows today, is it a good idea to get rid of the live studio audience for good? Obviously for late night talk shows, Saturday Night Live, stuff like The Daily Show among others need their live audiences, but should the future of sit-coms kill the idea of laugh tracks? I’m not sure how I feel about it, but I know that if Modern Family had an audience, would be the Emmy power house it is today? My guess is no. This was written in front of a live studio audience.

A Look Back: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

It’s almost time for one of the most cracked out shows on TV to return in a few days, with their much anticipated season 7. As of now they hold the honor for longest running basic cable live action sit-com. Congrats to them, for being totally deserving of this, and also for having Green Man become a thing at parties. I wanted to take a look back at my favorite episodes from the Sunny seasons and some of the best one liners.

So let’s kick it off with a look back at last season. Dee was pregnant and the much anticipated father of the baby was… Carmen the Tranny. Even at the end when you see Dee coming out with a tiny little bundle of joy and the looks on the Gang’s faces looking like everything in their lives is about to change, you see Mac’s on again off again love interest Carmen, and her loving husband and Sunny goes back to what it does best, uncomfortable, ridiculous and completely crazy moments. Here are some highlights from the past six seasons.

Mac’s Big Break Season 6, Episode 4

I think this episode won me over with the intro rolling into the opening credits as Mac wins a radio contest, and Charlie, lets out a loud, uninhibited scream. Everything from Charlie’s mullet wig, Mac’s use of the word ‘jerbronie’, and Frank, Dennis and Dee starting their own podcast made this episode one of my favorites.

Paddy’s Pub: Home of the Original Kitten Mittens Season 5, Episode 8

Seriously just watch the video. Was it the Kitten Mitton commercial? Or even Frank’s obsession with eggs? Dicktowel.com? What made this episode great was the complete and utter absurdity that came from it. And for those of you VH1 reality fans, like me, one of your favorite Rock of Love girls has a cameo. I freaking love this episode. Egg.

The Waitress Is Getting Married Season 5, Episode 5

My idea was to only have one episode with each season that I loved, but I couldn’t decide between the two. The episode is filled with one liners that I constantly spout off. It makes me want to see Charlie Kelly’s match.com profile so I can browse his interests of milk steak, ghouls and magnets. Just magnets dude. Mix that in with a wheel of cheese and a box of hornets and you have an episode embedded into my mind forever.

Sweet Dee Has a Heart Attack Season 4, Episode 10

I couldn’t choose between this episode and The Gang Solves the Gas Crisis, but overall this one takes the prize as my favorite from season 4. Dee and Dennis are hilarious in this episode with their Mexican Botox do-it-yourself kits among their workout attire, but the highlight of this episode is Mac and Charlie working as two mail room schlubs, in order to get health insurance. Watch the video above for one of the best TV flip outs of all time. Don’t forget to do a little sing-a-long to Day Bow Bow, oh yeahhh.

Sweet Dee’s Dating a Retarded Person Season 3, Episode 9

Dayman… Fighter of the Nightman… Champion of the Sun… You’re a master of karate and friendship for everyone. Truly epic, oh and yeah Sweet Dee may or may not have dated a retarded guy, so that was really funny too.

Hundred Dollar Baby Season 2, Episode 5

Sweet Dee and Charlie on steroids. If them not facing square off and staring at each other only a couple inches away from each other's faces did not floor you, well, you just don’t know the true essence of Sunny. This was chock full of Sunny goodness, whether it had to do with Clown Baby or the Million Dollar Baby parody at the end of the episode.

Underage Drinking: A National Concern Season 1, Episode 3

The beginning of Sunny was rocky, only because not a lot of people knew about it, but those who did knew something special was going to happen. I personally don’t remember exactly which season of Sunny it was when I started watching… I believe it was either four or three, but regardless the first season was fantastic because of the introduction to these completely ridiculous characters and scenarios. This episode in particular was right up there on the Sunny scale of insane. Dating high school kids and letting them drink it up in the bar. Oh you guys, you slay me. I love how Mac wants to go stag to a prom he obviously has no business being at, then again none of them did.

Post some of your favorite Sunny moments, and don’t forget to tune in to FX Thursday September 15^th for the season 7 premiere, Frank’s Pretty Woman. And also take a listen to the WTF with Marc Maron podcast, with guests Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton. It was a pretty interesting episode. You can listen to that at www.wtfpod.com

The Best and Worst of the Summer Movies (2011 Edition)

Summer's over along with the summer movies. Fall's looking a lot into the horror category with backwoods murderin', bird flu outbreaks and Justin Timberlake as an action star. Just in time for Halloween... no double pun intended. So here are the best and the worst of what I've seen from the summer 2011.

THE BEST

Horrible Bosses

Forget about The Hangover, this was the comedy everyone should've seen this summer. If you didn't you are an idiot. The cast was impeccable and completely on point. The jokes were fantastic and kept coming. There were some very unexpected surprises and we all know I'm talking about Colin Farrell. I cannot wait to own this movie on blu-ray because I'm sure there will be some special features I will not want to miss out on. This movie made me want to bend Jason Sudeikis over a barrell and show him all fifty states, if you know what I mean.

Final Destination 5

Yes, this is in my best category. As a big fan of the FD series it wasn't my absolute favorite, but was it an enormous step up from the last one. I like to pretend FD4 just didn't happen. The actors weren't annoying, but very good at dealing with their potential deaths and what was going to happen. And how can you not enjoy a Final Destination movie with Dave Koechner? Will this be the last final destination? I say most likely, and here comes a spoiler for those of you who haven't seen it.

*SPOILER*

As it turns out the final two people at the end of the movie are alive, one of them actually never died in the first vision so she was always safe, and the other took another life in order to keep his own. They board a plane to Paris and you see footage from the first movie and they are on the doomed Flight 180 and it is infact the year 2000. So, having the series come full circle should mean the end right?

30 Minutes or Less

This is on my best list for the sole reason that it was unexpectedly hilarious. Danny McBride and Aziz Ansari were in high form of comedic greatness. Jesse Eisenberg was good as usual as the frantic fast talker he usually is, but his delivery was in a much better, more frantic place. I've never seen Nick Swardson perform so well on screen before, honestly it was the best work he's ever done. Definitely check it out because it was packed with a lot of great laughs.

THE WORST

Friends With Benefits

 

Justin Timberlake is hot. Mila Kunis is hot. The two of them having sex should be hot too theoretically, but this movie was a huge, ugly mess. Probably the best word I could describe this movie would be boring. So damn boring. Did the guy who made The Room write this monstrosity? I love Woody Harrelson, and it wasn't his portrayal of a gay man, but it was the shit lines they made him say. This movie was predictable garbage. Not even a good predictable rom com cheesy movie. Such a shame. Such hotness wasted.

The Hangover Part 2

 

I figured that part two would be the same thing as one, but it left out the whole being funny thing. It was so forced, and just unappealing. One over the top thing to the next over the top thing to the next became so daunting. I didn't like how they wanted to copy the original to a T, and then just add anal sex with a transvestite and expect everyone to flip their shit with hilarity. Access denied. I will write the one line I laughed at though, "Hey mom, I'm done with my lunch it's just sitting here." Thanks Zach Galifinakis, for your delivery and fat Jesus attitude.

Even though there was a lot more good, bad and ugly of this past summer I wanted to hit on the big movies I considered to be the best and the worst. I would like to also shortly mention Super 8. It wasn't just any typical JJ Abrams affair a la Cloverfield. The kids were fantastic and acted their butts off, and it was a very sweet, touching and not trying to be cliche almost magical and made me feel like a kid again. Now it's time for the fall to begin and a lot of Oscar contenders will most likely be coming up and causing a whole new best and worst list to come.

Tori

Things Are Changing

I've decided to change the format of this blog into a pop culture how to, introduction, what's hot, what's new, that sort of thing. With a brand new fall lineup for TV with budding new shows, TV shows coming to an end and all sorts of new things for the fall it'll be a perfect time for lots of new things.

Also coming soon will be a podcast. Right now it's in the beginning stages but once it's up and running it'll be an extension of the blog. So that's all I have for now, I'll definitely try to keep updating more.

Tori