83rd Academy Award Results :-)

It truly was a night to remember!! Congratulations to all the worthy winners - especially the exceptionally talented Colin Firth!!!


Best Film - The Kings Speech
Best Direction - Tom Hooper for 'The Kings Speech'
Best Lead Actor - Colin Firth for 'The Kings Speech'
Best Lead Actress - Natalie Portman for 'Black Swan'

Actor in a Supporting Role
Winner - Christian Bale for 'The Fighter'
Actress in a Supporting Role
Winner - Melissa Leo for 'The Fighter'
Animated Feature
Winner - Toy Story 3
Art Direction
Winner - Alice in Wonderland
Cinematography
Winner - Inception
Costume Design -
Winner - Colleen Atwood for Alice in Wonderland
Documentary (Feature)
Winner - Inside Job
Documentary (Short Subject)
Winner - Strangers No More
Film Editing
Winner - Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter for 'The Social Network'
Foreign Language Film
Winner - In a Better World from Denmark
Makeup
Winner - Rick Baker and Dave Elsey for 'The Wolfman'
Music (Original Score)
Winner - Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for 'The Social Network'
Music (Original Song)
Winner - 'We Belong Together' from 'Toy Story 3' by Randy Newman
Short Film (Animated)
Winner - Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann for 'The Lost Thing'
Short Film (Live Action)
Winner - God of Love
Sound Editing
Winner - Richard King for 'Inception'
Sound Mixing
Winner - Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick for 'Inception'
Visual Effects
Winner - Inception
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Winner - 'The Social Network' adapted by Aaron Sorkin
Writing (Original Screenplay)
Winner - 'The King's Speech' written by David Seidler

The Blind Side

Certificate: 12A

Running Time: 129 minutes

Director: John Lee Hancock

Quinton Aaron stars as Michael Oher, a teen from the american slums waiting for an opportunity in life. That lifeline comes in the shape of Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock), a wealthy housewife who welcomes him into her home. Michael Oher learns the true meaning of family, happiness and american football. Based on the true story of the football star, this heartwarming tale shows that it only takes one person to change someone’s life. Sandra Bullock deserved the Academy Award that she was given. I would certainly recommend this film.

Rating: ****

Inception

Certificate: 12A

Running Time: 148 minutes

Director: Christopher Nolan

Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is an expert at inception; the ability to lure people into a dream-like state in order to uncover their deepest secrets. As he struggles to overcome his personal life, he must pull off his biggest job to date in order to change his life. He assembles his finest team, but even the best-planned ideas can go wrong. Directed by the amazing Christopher Nolan (known for both Batman films), and also starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page and Ken Watanabe. The special effects were out of this world, and the plot was unique, inspiring and slotted together perfectly. I’m very impressed. 

Rating: *****

BAFTA Results 2011 :-)

Sunday night was truly a night to remember. Apart from being one of the only times I haven’t found Jonathan Ross irritating, there was plenty of acting talent and some well deserved awards. Leading up to the Oscars build up, will the BAFTA’s be an outline for the winner’s of the Academy Awards?!

Academy Fellowship - the very talented, humble Sir Christopher Lee

Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema - The Harry Potter Films

Best Film - The King’s Speech

Outstanding British Film - The King’s Speech

Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer - Four Lions, Written and Directed by Chris Morris

Director - David Fincher for The Social Network

Original Screenplay - David Seidler for The King’s Speech

Adapted Screenplay - Aaron Sorkin for The Social Network

Film Not in the English Language - The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Animated Film - Toy Story 3

Leading Actor - Colin Firth for The King’s Speech

Leading Actress - Natalie Portman for Black Swan

Supporting Actor - Geoffrey Rush for The King’s Speech

Supporting Actress - Helena Bonham Carter for The King’s Speech

Original Music - The King’s Speech

Cinematography - True Grit

Editing - The Social Network

Production Design - Inception

Costume Design - Alice in Wonderland

Sound - Inception

Special Visual Effects - Inception

Make Up & Hair - Alice in Wonderland

Short Animation - The Eagleman Stag

Short Film - Until the River Runs Red

Orange Wednesdays Rising Star Award - Tom Hardy

The King’s Speech pretty much wiped the floor with all the other films. With a total of 7 wins, including Colin Firth for Best Leading Actor (well done, Colin!), The King’s Speech is set to win big at the Oscars. The main challengers appear to be The Social Network, Inception and Alice in Wonderland, although for all us film buffs, we could have guessed that anyway. Congratulations to all the winners, and condolences to the runner’s up.

83rd Academy Awards Nominations :-)

Actor in a Leading Role

Nominees; Javier Bardem in ‘Biutiful’, Jeff Bridges in ‘True Grit’, Jesse Eisenberg in ‘The Social Network’, Colin Firth in ‘The King’s Speech’, James Franco in ‘127 Hours’

Most Likely to Win - Colin Firth for ‘The King’s Speech’

Deserves to Win - Colin Firth for ‘The King’s Speech’

Actor in a Supporting Role

Nominees; Christian Bale in ‘The Fighter’, John Hawkes in ‘Winter’s Bone’, Jeremy Renner in ‘The Town’, Mark Ruffalo in ‘The Kids Are All Right’, Geoffrey Rush in ‘The King’s Speech’

Most Likely to Win - Christian Bale for ‘The Fighter’

Deserves to Win - Geoffrey Rush in ‘The King’s Speech’

Actress in a Leading Role

Nominees; Annette Bening in ‘The Kids Are All Right’, Nicole Kidman in ‘Rabbit Hole’, Jennifer Lawrence in ‘Winter’s Bone’, Natalie Portman in ‘Black Swan’, Michelle Williams in ‘Blue Valentine’

Most Likely to Win - Natalie Portman for ‘Black Swan’

Deserves to Win - Michelle Williams for ‘Blue Valentine’

Actress in a Supporting Role

Nominees; Amy Adams in ‘The Fighter’, Helena Bonham Carter in ‘The King’s Speech’, Melissa Leo in ‘The Fighter’, Hailee Steinfeld in ‘True Grit’, Jacki Weaver in ‘Animal Kingdom’

Most Likely to Win - Amy Adams for ‘The Fighter’

Deserves to Win - Helena Bonham for ‘The King’s Speech’

Animated Feature Film

Nominees; ‘How to Train Your Dragon’, ‘The Illusionist’, ‘Toy Story 3’

Most Likely to Win - Toy Story 3

Deserves to Win - How to Train Your Dragon

Art Direction

Nominees; ‘Alice in Wonderland’, ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1’, ‘Inception’, ‘The King’s Speech’, ‘True Grit’

Most Likely to Win - Alice in Wonderland

Deserves to Win - The King’s Speech

Cinematography

Nominees; ‘Black Swan’, ‘Inception’, ‘The King’s Speech’, ‘The Social Network’, ‘True Grit’

Most Likely to Win - The Social Network

Deserves to Win - Inception

Costume Design

Nominees; ‘Alice in Wonderland’, I Am Love’, ‘The King’s Speech’, ‘The Tempest’, ‘True Grit’

Most Likely to Win - The King’s Speech

Deserves to Win - Alice in Wonderland

Directing

Nominees; Darren Aronofsky for ‘Black Swan’, David O. Russell for ‘The Fighter’, Tom Hooper for ‘The King’s Speech’, David Fincher for ‘The Social Network’, Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for ‘True Grit’

Most Likely to Win - David Fincher for ‘The Social Network’

Deserves to Win - Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for ‘True Grit’

Documentary (Feature)

Nominees; ‘Exit through the Gift Shop’, ‘Gasland’, ‘Inside Job’, ‘Restrepo’, ‘Waste Land’

Documentary (Short Subject)

Nominees; ‘Killing in the Name’, ‘Poster Girl’, ‘Strangers No More’, ‘Sun Come Up’, ‘The Warriors of Qiugang’

Film Editing

Nominees; Jon Harris for ‘127 Hours’, Andrew Weisblum for ‘Black Swan’, Pamela Martin for ‘The Fighter’, Tariq Anwar for ‘The King’s Speech’, Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter for ‘The Social Network’

Most Likely to Win - Black Swan

Deserves to Win - 127 Hours

Foreign Language Film

Nominees; ‘Biutiful’ from Mexico, ‘Dogtooth’ from Greece, ‘In a Better World’ from Denmark, ‘Incendies’ from Canada, ‘Outside the Law (Hors-la-loi)’ from Algeria

Most Likely to Win - In a Better World

Deserves to Win - Biutiful

Makeup

Nominees; Adrien Morot for ‘Barney’s Version’, Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng for ‘The Way Back’, Rick Baker and Dave Elsey for ‘The Wolfman’

Most Likely to Win - Barney’s Version

Deserves to Win - The Wolfman

Music (Original Score)

Nominees; ‘How to Train Your Dragon’, ‘Inception’, ‘The King’s Speech’, ‘127 Hours’, ‘The Social Network’

Most Likely to Win - The Social Network

Deserves to Win - The Social Network

Music (Original Song)

Nominees; “Coming Home” from ‘Country Strong’, “I See the Light” from ‘Tangled, “If I Rise” from ‘127 Hours’, “We Belong Together” from ‘Toy Story 3’

Most Likely to Win - “I See the Light” from ‘Tangled’

Deserves to Win - “Coming Home” from ‘Country Strong’

Best Picture

Nominees; ‘Black Swan’, ‘The Fighter’, ‘Inception’, ‘The Kids Are All Right’, ‘The King’s Speech’, ‘127 Hours’, ‘The Social Network’, ‘Toy Story 3’, ‘True Grit’, ‘Winter’s Bone’

Most Likely to Win - The King’s Speech

Deserves to Win - The King’s Speech

Short Film (Animated)

Nominees; ‘Day & Night’, ‘The Gruffalo’, ‘Let’s Pollute’, ‘The Lost Thing’, ‘Madagascar, carnet de voyage (Madagascar, a Journey Diary)’

Most Likely to Win - The Gruffalo

Deserves to Win - Day & Night

Short Film (Live Action)

Nominees; ‘The Confession’, ‘The Crush’, ‘God of Love’, ‘Na Wewe’, ‘Wish 143’

Most Likely to Win - God of Love

Deserves to Win - The Crush

Sound Editing

Nominees; ‘Inception’, ‘Toy Story 3’, ‘Tron: Legacy’, ‘True Grit’, ‘Unstoppable’

Most Likely to Win - Toy Story 3

Deserves to Win - Inception

Sound Mixing

Nominees; ‘Inception’, ‘The King’s Speech’, ‘Salt’, ‘The Social Network’, ‘True Grit’

Most Likely to Win - The Social Network

Deserves to Win - Salt

Visual Effects

Nominees; ‘Alice in Wonderland’, ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1’, ‘Hereafter’, ‘Inception’, ‘Iron Man 2’

Most Likely to Win - Alice in Wonderland

Deserves to Win - Inception

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Nominees; ‘127 Hours’, ‘The Social Network’, ‘Toy Story 3’, ‘True Grit’, ‘Winter’s Bone’

Most Likely to Win - The Social Network

Deserves to Win - 127 Hours

Writing (Original Screenplay)

Nominees; ‘Another Year’, ‘The Fighter’, ‘Inception’, ‘The Kids Are All Right’, ‘The King’s Speech’

Most Likely to Win - The Fighter

Deserves to Win - The King’s Speech

The Academy Awards are to be announced 27th February 2011.

Salt

Certificate: 12A

Running Time: 100 minutes

Director: Phillip Noyce

Angelina Jolie is Evelyn Salt, one of the best CIA agents in America. But after she is accused of being a Russian spy, she goes on the run from her respected colleagues. Through all of the action, we also learn vital information about her past. Is she really working as a spy, or is she just simply being set up? Great acting, as per usual, from the bold and beautiful Angelina, who is said to have done all of her own stunts. This epic movie reportedly was originally scripted for Tom Cruise as the title role, then rewritten for Jolie when he backed out. Overall, a pretty good film.

Rating: ****

The White Ribbon (Das Weisse Band)

Certificate: 15

Running Time: 144 minutes

Director: Michael Haneke

A foreign film about a small German village, and the strange events that take place over a couple of months. Without giving too much away, bad things have started to happen within the village, people are suffering, and it seems the culprit is yet to be identified. The whole movie seemed a bit pointless and got nowhere, and it seems there can’t have been many foreign films out last year, as it was nominated for an Academy Award. Quite a disappointment in truth.

Rating: **