The Oscars take place this Sunday, and although I still believe that the Academy has hardly ever been a barometer of quality, I will certainly tune in to watch the ceremony. I don’t do it for the show, jokes or the Red Carpet either. And, truth be told, I wish there were more people actually interested in going to the movies and less people interested in the Oscars spectacle (how many of these are real movie lovers, I wonder?). But I can’t deny I always look forward to the Oscars night, my favourite night of the year, because it makes me happy to see some of my favourite actors live and maybe catch a glimpse of the Old Hollywood glamour, imagining how it all used to be in the golden years of film.
So I thought I’d make this edition of the Notebook Pages all about film and the Oscars, including a few of my preferences and predictions (that’s a first, but this time I HAVE watched all the films competing for best picture, except for Philomena, and in the other important categories). I know it will not win, but Dallas Buyers Club is my favourite contender, being the film that, with its indie genre and especially with its Dare to Live adage, moved me the most. I can see why 12 Years A Slave will probably get the votes of the Academy (let’s face it, Dallas Buyers Club is a much more difficult film than Steve McQueen’s), and I really hope the Academy will get it right, because, to be honest, it comes a second for me too. It is a very good and a very complete film, an unflinching portrayal of slavery and a very even-handed one at that – I think it helped that a movie with a very American subject was directed by a British.
Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto are my favourites as well for Best actor in a leading role, and Best actor in a supporting role, respectively, for their performances in Dallas Buyers Club. While I believe that Jared Leto has no real contender, I really liked the other performances of the actors nominated in the best actor category (Chiwetel Ejiofor is so very good, and Leonardo, Christian Bale and Bruce Dern are, too), but I still think McConaughey stood out. It wouldn’t be fair if these two didn’t win, it’s their year. And speaking of Dallas Buyers Club, here is an insider view I enjoyed reading.
Here are my other picks and predictions, and a few links:
Best actress: Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
Best supporting actress: Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years A Slave)
Best cinematography: I think Gravity is the most likely to win and I have to admit that for someone who is very reticent to high-tech films like me, I really liked this movie – for one, it didn’t give me a headache as every single other 3D movie I’ve seen has, and secondly, it really was beautifully executed, reminding me of Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. But I still prefer 12 Years A Slave for its gorgeous classic cinematography (the contrast between the beauty of the landscape and the human tragedy is very powerful) and I am very puzzled that the film wasn’t even nominated in this category.
Best original screenplay: Her, but as a Woody Allen fan, I’ll name Blue Jasmine as a personal favourite too, if only for my pleasure.
Best costumes: American Hustle has a good chance to win, but I think 12 Years A Slave is in the cards too.
Best director: I think it’s between Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity) and Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave). In my opinion, Gravity does not have the script to help it land an Oscar for best picture (it did come as a big surprise when it won the BAFTA), but I am already very used to seeing the awards for best picture and best direction split between films. However, I still don’t get why the most innovative direction should be the best one, too.
• In this interview, Judi Dench, the Philomena Oscar nominee, talks about how she began one of the great film careers at 63 (she is 79) thanks to Harvey Weinstein, about her simple life outside the film world and why she doesn’t allow the words “old”, “vintage” and “retirement” in her home.
• George Hurrell’s Hollywood: Glamour Portraits 1925-1992
• Oscar moments: A From the Archives look at the Oscars night.
• Let’s not forget about the Red Carpet either: here are my all time favourite Oscar gowns.
PS: It’s going to be a special film weekend on Classiq, in case you’d like to stop by. Have a good one!
photos: 1-Perdido Productions (Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine) / 2,4-Regency Enterprises, etc. (Lupita Nyong’o, Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years A Slave) / 3-Truth Entertainment, Voltage Pictures (Matthew McConaughey & Jared Letto in Dallas Buyers Club) / 5-Atlas Entertainment, Annapurna Pictures (Amy Adams in American Hustle)
Unfortunately I didn’t get to see as many of the films this year. Most years (because I am a SAG member) I get sent some of the films beforehand (so that I can vote in the SAG Awards), but my family didn’t have a chance to send me the viewers!
I hope you have a lovely weekend!!!! And enjoy the spectacle of the Oscars
I feeling a bit out of touch with this year’s Oscars so I haven’t decided whether to watch the live show or not. I haven’t seen any of the films but I wish they had nominated Emma Thompson.
I remember seeing an old interview with Jeremy Irons where he said that the Oscars were also about the right timing. I hope it’s the right timing for McConaughey. I think he’s one of those actors that hasn’t been valued for his talents, only his good looks.
Yes, the Oscars are about the right timing too. And McConaughey did an incredible role, he deserves to win and I hope he will. I’ve recently read something he said about his not disregarding any of the films he has done in the past, because he wouldn’t have been here if he hadn’t. And he’s right, and this goes for everyone I guess at some level. He sounds like a down-to-earth person and I like that.
I loved Emma Thompson in Saving Mr Banks and I also wish she was nominated. But I don’t even want to go there, who really should have been nominated in each category.
i was pretty happy with the oscars. my favorite movie was the first one i saw, gravity. i think it just had this feeling to it that reminded me of when i first got into film and i loved stanley kubric, i loved the symbolism in so many of those movies from the 70’s – it just had that feeling to me and i loved it. so i was happy it took so many wins. i was also really happy lupita won for best supporting actress, they got that right.
Christine, I really think all the actors and actresses deservedly won the Oscar. Amy Adams was so great in her role, but I think Cate was even better. From the very moment I saw Blue Jasmine, before all the other Oscar contenders, I put my bet on Cate. I thought she was THAT good. And I know the Academy has a thing for awarding actors who take on roles of mentally ill, disabled, ugly people or those who go through huge transformations of their looks, and I’ve always criticized that, but I think McConaughey and Leto’s performances topped all these aspects.
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