And the winner is....

Best Picture: Chicago
Best Director: Roman Polanski
Best Actor: Adrien Brody
Best Actress: Nicole Kidman
Best Supporting Actor: Chris Cooper
Best Supporting Actress: Catherine Zeta-Jones
Best Animated Feature: Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Best Foreign Language Film: Nirgendwo in Afrika
Best Cinematography: Road to Perdition
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration: Chicago
Best Music (Original Score):Frida
Best Music (Song): 8 Mile for Lose Yourself
Best Costume Design: Chicago
Best Editing: Chicago
Best Sound: Chicago
Best Sound Editing: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Best Visual Effects: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Best Writing (Adapted): The Pianist
Best Writing (Original): Talk to Her

Well, it was long, but then, it always is. Steve Martin was a terrible host. Far worse than David Letterman, if that is even possible. There was also an unexplained 10 minute long portion that included naming off about 50 previous actors and actresses. We get it: 75th anniversary. La dee da. I was surprised to see Chicago get best picture, but I was thrilled that Nicole Kidman got the award for best actress. I was rooting for her. And Eminem really did win an oscar. I know I said it would happen, but still...I'm shocked. Bowling for Columbine won the award for best documentary and the filmmaker really blasted Bush for the war on Iraq. He called the last election "fictitious" with "results that elect a fictitious president...mean we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons-shame on you Mr. Bush." Someone had to say it. He wasn't seen again for the remainder of the broadcast. It's too bad that in three days time we'll likely hear of his tragic death. :-)

posted by Lisa at 9:22 p.m. |

 
The Academy Awards!!
Cast your vote in the shout outs!!

Best Picture

Chicago Gangs of New York
The Hours (Lisa's Pick) The Pianist
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Best Director

Pedro Almodovar for Hable con ella Rob Marshall for Chicago
Roman Polanski for The Piano Martin Scorsese for Gangs of New York
Stephen Daldry for The Hours (Lisa's Pick)

posted by Lisa at 2:30 p.m. |

 
Best Actor in a Leading Role

Adrien Brody for The Pianist Nicolas Cage for Adaptation
Michael Caine for The Quiet American Daniel Day-Lewis for Gangs of New York (Lisa's Pick)
Jack Nicholson for About Schmidt

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Salma Hayek for Frida Nicole Kidman for The Hours (Lisa's Pick)
Diane Lane for Unfaithful Julianne Moore for Far From Heaven
Renee Zellweger for Chicago

posted by Lisa at 2:29 p.m. |

 
Best Actor is a Supporting Role

Chris Cooper for Adaptation Ed Harris for The Hours (Lisa's Pick)
Paul Newman for Road to Perdition John C. Reilly for Chicago
Christopher Walken for Catch Me If You Can

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Kathey Bates for About Schmidt Queen Latifah for Chicago
Julianne Moore for The Hours Meryl Streep for Adaptation
Catherine Zeta-Jones for Chicago (Lisa's Pick)

posted by Lisa at 2:29 p.m. |

 
Best Animated Feature
Ice Age
Lilo & Stitch (Lisa's Pick)
Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi
Spirt: Stallion of the Cimarron
Treasure Planet

Best Foreign Language Film
Ying xiong - China
Mies vailla menneisyytta - Finland
Nirgendwo in Afrika - Germany
El Crimen del padre Amaro - Mexico
Zus & zo - Netherlands

Best Cinematography
Chicago
Far From Heaven
Gangs of New York
The Pianist (Lisa's Pick)
Road to Perdition

Best Art Direction-Set Decoration
Chicago
Frida
Gangs of New York
The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers (Lisa's Pick
Road to Perdition

posted by Lisa at 2:28 p.m. |

 
Best Music (Original Score)
Catch Me If You Can
Far From Heaven
Frida
The Hours
Road to Perdition

Best Music (Song)
Chicago for the song I Move On
8 Mile for the song Lose Yourself (Lisa's Pick)
Frida for the song Burn it Blue
Gangs of New York for the song The Hands That Built America
The Wild Thornberrys Movie for the song Father and Daughter

Best Costume Design
Chicago (Lisa's Pick)
Frida
Gangs of New York
The Hours
The Pianist

Best Editing
Chicago (Lisa's Pick)
Gangs of New York
The Hours
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
The Pianist

posted by Lisa at 2:27 p.m. |

 
Sound
Chicago
Gangs of New York
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Road to Perdition
Spiderman

Sound Editing
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Minority Report
Road to Perdition

Visual Effects
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Spiderman
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
About a Boy
Adaptation
Chicago
The Hours
The Pianist

Writing (Original Screenplay)
Far From Heaven
Gangs of New York
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Talk to Her
Y Tu Mama Tambien

posted by Lisa at 8:22 a.m. |

 
Today's movie is Oscar nominated The Hours. Directed by Stephan Daldry, this film stars Nicole Kidman (Birthday Girl), Julianne Moore (Far From Heaven), and Meryl Streep (Adaptation). This film follows the lives of three very different women in three very different eras. In 1929, Virginia Woolf (Kidman) is starting to write her novel, Mrs. Dalloway, while under the care of doctors and family. In 1951, Laura Brown (Moore) is planning her husband's birthday, but is preoccupied with reading Woolf's novel. In 2001, Clarrisa Vaughn (Streep) is planning an award party for her friend, an author dying of AIDS. Taking place over one day, all three stories are interconnected with the novel, as one is writing it, one is reading it, and one is living it. Also featuring Stephan Dillane (The Gathering), John C. Reilly (Chicago {and Gangs of New York incidently}), Ed Harris (A Beautiful Mind), and many more.

In a word: Suberb. In my last review, I said Chicago was a front runner for Picture of the Year. However, after viewing this incredible film, my vote is changed. Chicago is not even in the same class as The Hours. I admit, the films are vastly different, but The Hours has all the qualities that one associates with Academy Award caliber. (With perhaps the exceptions of Gladiator and Shakespear in Love) The Hours is exquisite. A hauntingly beautiful story combined with exceptional performances, I left the theater in a state of awe. The film, while melodramatic, and to some, depressing, I felt enlightened and uplifted. Kidman is amazing. She brings to life Virginia Woolf by totally becoming absorbed in the role. Not only is her appearance altered, but Kidman's entire demeanor changes, from the sound of her voice to the way she moves. Streep's performance is one of her best. In a career of great roles and performances, that is saying a lot. Julianne Moore proves yet again why she is regarded as one of Hollywood's best actresses. Her portrayal as the decidedly unhappy 50's housewife is heartbreaking. Despite the smile and happy words, one gets a sense of the inner turmoil her character is suffering. John C. Reilly, who is fast becoming a household name, is sweet and subtle, and Dillane as Virginia's husband is fabulous. A stand-out performance was given by Ed Harris, who plays the AIDs victim. I was literally moved to tears in more than one of his scenes. I enjoyed the direction Daldry took with the film. It wasn't told as three separate tales, but rather as three people in one day. The three woman were each connected in a way, and Daldry made this clear with wonderfully done transitions and montages. I highly recommend this film. It touches a place within you, and I am glad that I experienced it.


Nicole Kidman as Virginia Woolf

Julianne Moore as Laura Brown

Meryl Streep as Clarissa Vaughan, and Ed Harris

Rating: 5 (out of 5)



posted by Lisa at 9:26 a.m. |