Oscar’s 10 Fair Ladies

Starting a new decade could either be exciting or tiring (to even start thinking about another 10 years on something). What’s sure to be nothing but fun, though, is looking back at the highlights of the previous 10 years which, whether we believe it or not, we survived.

I will go straight to the category of arts and sciences – films – Hollywood – Oscar contenders and winners – in the 2000’s. Onto the more specific one, the Best Actress category in the past decade. As we prepare ourselves and trim down our list to FIVE, let’s look back at how these previous queens won.

Circa 2000’s, 10 Years, 9 Best Actress winners.

The Oscars gave recognition to these following characters- 3 fictional, and 7 real people:

***

  

In 2000, there was the trans man- raped, and murdered. (True story)

Hilary Swank as Teena Brandon/ Brandon Teena in Boys Don’t Cry

“I’m scared of what’s ahead,

but when I think of you I know I’ll be able to go on.”

She starred in this independent film which she did not get paid enough for, at first. Then, the minor awards, the film festivals, and the heavies. Winning over Annette Bening (American Beauty), Meryl Streep (Music Of The Heart), and Julianne Moore (The End Of The Affair), newcomer Hilary Swank, in her first Oscar win in the past decade still makes critics consider her win as the most deserving in a long time. Or, not so. 2, 3 years back, Frances McDormand and Helen Hunt won their much deserved ones. It was, though, a total downfall in Oscars 1999 as Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare In Love) won a very underwhelming Oscar over Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth). BOYS DON’T CRY has got to be one of my favorite films of all time. It’s timely take on what could be the love affair of a lesbian nomad and a young woman in Nebraska, early 90’s. The film also starred Peter Sarsgaard and Chloe Sevigny who scored a Best Supporting Actress nomination for playing Brandon’s girlfriend.

***

  

 In 2001, there was the single mother who brought a small town to its feet,

and a huge company to its knees. (True story)

Julia Roberts as Erin Brockovich in Erin Brockovich

“Well as long as I have one ass instead of two

I’ll wear what I like if that’s all right with you.”

Critics voted her Oscar gown the best an actress has worn as she accepted her Oscar, while her Oscar speech was voted the second best acceptance speech by a Best Actress, the first being Sally Field’s as she won in 1985. Julia Roberts may not be my pick for that year’s Oscar, for I thought Ellen Burstyn (Requiem For A Dream) was that year’s queen playing the unintentionally addictive mother Sara Goldfarb. However, the combination of her laugh and seriousness, and the authenticity she brought to the screen, Erin Brockovich has been played alive by the Pretty Woman herself.

***

  

In 2002, there was the woman who fell in love with who assisted in the killing of her husband.

(Not a true story)

Halle Berry as Leticia Musgrove in Monster’s Ball

“What’s gonna happen now?”

She made history as the FIRST black actress to win the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Was it pushed too hard by the Academy to already make history in 2002? If you’re going to base it on the other nominees’ credentials in that year’s race, Halle Berry stands a good 3rd place to Sissy Spacek (In The Bedroom) and Nicole Kidman (Moulin Rouge!). With not much win for playing the black girl who lost her obese son and convicted husband (played by P. Diddy or Diddy or Sean “Puffy” Combs), and later on falls in love with the correctional officer who assisted in the killing of her late husband, a heavy one, you see, she took over the Oscar stage in her unforgettable wine gown, screaming, thanking the black women who have come before her.

***

  

In 2003, Virginia Woolf was reborn. And so was Mrs. Dalloway.

(Real-life character [Woolf] in a fictional novel)

Nicole Kidman as Virginia Woolf in The Hours

“Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself.”

Fresh from an Oscar loss (seriously, everyone was thought Nicole Kidman was ultimately deserving of the Oscar in the previous year for playing Satine in Moulin Rouge!, but she lost to Halle Berry), she worked with the three most amazing women of the time- Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore in the star-studded, heavy drama, Golden Globe Best Picture- Drama, The Hours. Russell Crowe, who won Best Actor in the previous year for Gladiator, joked as he awarded Kidman the Oscar trophy that she won “by a nose,” for it was all over the news that she had to wear a fake one to give life to Virginia Woolf. Everyone, mostly everyone did not fall for Kidman’s Oscar trap. Critics, up to now, still believe that it should have been given to Julianne Moore (Far From Heaven) or Diane Lane (Unfaithful). I agree with them. Lane, playing the unfaithful wife Connie Sumner, should have been awarded this prestige. Nicole Kidman is listed in the 10 Worst Wins By An Actress, with Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare In Love) at the top spot. Nonetheless, with her empirical beauty, Kidman slowly convinces the viewers that she is worthy of an Oscar title. She has a long list to brag anyway. I love you, Nicole Kidman. Dr. Chase Merridian forever!

***

  

In 2004, there was the monster. A prostitute, a serial killer, a lover. (True story)

Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos in Monster

“I’m not a bad person. I’m a real good person.”

From Monster’s Ball to Monster. From the first black to win Best Actress to the FIRST South African to win the same prestigious award. That year in Oscar was all about prosthetics and blatant campaign for wearing so. Critics thought that the total change in looks of this regal queen was Oscar-worthy, so she won several good awards that year; however, many still think that Australian actress Naomi Watts (21 Grams) should have won that year. I am with the first set of people who thought Aileen Wuornos was alive in Theron. As a kid, I watched this film all by myself and was left with tears as Christina Ricci’s character brought her own lover to her death. Not a good Oscar experience for the young boy that I was.

***

  

In 2005, there was the female boxer, a trainer’s million dollar baby. (Not a true story)

Hilary Swank as Maggie Fitzgerald in Million Dollar Baby

“Don’t you say that if it ain’t true. I want a trainer.

I don’t want charity, and I don’t want  favors.”

Her second Oscar nomination and win in five years. Yet again, for the second time, she triumphed over Annette Bening (Being Julia) who she won side-by-side with at the Globes. Hilary Swank is the ONLY Best Actress winner in the 2000’s to have starred in a film that won the Best Picture at the Oscars the same year. And again, critics agreed that it was one of the most deserving Oscar wins of all time. On her bio on the True Hollywood Story, Hilary Swank, after winning her second Oscar went to a Hamburger chain in her hometown in her Oscar gown with her husband, crew, and trophy, and opted to celebrate her win there for she promised the chain that she “shall be back.” With such talent in acting and a beautiful attitude, she has the makings of a true Hollywood queen. She remains to be my favorite Oscar winner EVER.

***

  

In 2006, there was the woman who only loved 2 things: her husband and country music.

(True story)

Reese Witherspoon as June Carter-Cash in Walk The Line

“John, you are a mean man!

You’re a mean man, and I knew it… I knew it all along.”

She remains to be my least favorite Best Actress win (bordering the worst win of the decade) only because I still think that Desperate Housewife’s Felicity Huffman (TransAmerica) should have won for playing a transvestite man with a son. Country star Witherspoon must’ve given life to the late June Carter-Cash, but she fell flat on reaching the hype of the film as it was more focused on Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of country music icon Johnny Cash. She sang good, though. Other than that, her acting was as flat as some of her notes. I still love her. Of course, the Oscars had to give an award to a youthful actress who’s been in the industry for quite sometime. And it was not Sarah Michelle Gellar who they were thinking of giving it to.

***

  

In 2007, there was THE QUEEN! (True story)

Dame Helen Mirren as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen

“Diana’s no longer a member of the Royal Family,

she’s not an HRH, this is a private matter!”

Robin Williams awarded Dame Judi Dench (Shakespeare In Love) in 1999 with the prologue, “There’s nothing like a dame!” Now, I say the same thing. There is indeed nothing like a dame. At the same time, there has got to be no other actress who was born to play the role of Queen Elizabeth II. A biopic which focused on the royal family during the sudden death of Lady Diana, Princess of Wales. There’s this one scene in the film which struck me the most, it was when Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Mother (Sylvia Syms) were talking about the royal family’s political influence, and that if you think the people don’t want to believe in you anymore, make them realize what you’re there for. With such authority, Dame Helen Mirren still streaks goosebumps as she walks a stage after every stage. She was listed as one of the TOP FIVE most deserving Best Actress wins of all time, with Vivien Leigh (Gone With The Wind) and Holly Hunter (The Piano) on the first two spots.

***

  

In 2008, there was the french chanteuse whose life was in… pink! (True story)

Marion Cotillard as Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose (La Mome)

“You are my champion. I want you to be mine for life.

Nothing existed before you. It’s all gone.”

An international win for French actress Marion Cotillard at the 2008 Oscars for playing a legendary French singer whose life and love inspired her the most, Edith Piaf. In an all-French language film, Cotillard managed to spread the passion of someone to the audiences of the world through her music and sarcastic comments on whathaveyous. That’s the life of Piaf. It may be as horrible as the prosthetics worn by Charlize Theron (Monster), still, Cotillard proved that even without it, she’s going to be one fine leading lady. A totally unexpected win over Julie Christie (Away From Her), Cotillard’s speech remains to be one of my favorites, as she concluded it by saying, “Thank you life, thank you love! It is true there is some angels (sic) in this city.”

***

  

In 2009, there was the illiterate woman who has been loved by… the reader.

(Not a true story)

Kate Winslet as Hannah Schmitz in The Reader

“You don’t have the power to upset me.

You don’t matter enough to upset me.”

The most awaited moment by audiences worldwide, the Oscar win of Kate Winslet. She had the record of the actress with the most number of Oscar nominees without a win, until Oscar 2009. In 2008, she starred in 2 films which gave her the unprecedented title of Best Actress by Time Magazine: The Reader, directed by Stephen Daldry, the same director who gave Nicole Kidman her Oscar-winning role and Revolutionary Road, directed by her husband, Sam Mendes, starring alongside her Titanic mates, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kathy Bates. With the prosthetics in the end of the film, the heavy nude scenes, and the German accent- for winslet played a German woman who later on got involved in the Nazi-caused turmoil- it was, all along, screaming Oscar. However, in Revolutionary Road, she played a typical suburban housewife who was dreaming big. Kate Winslet won in different categories for The Reader. She was awarded a Best Supporting Actress trophy at the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild, and the Best Actress trophy at the BAFTA and the Oscars. She also won the Golden Globe Best Actress award for Revolutionary Road in the same year. Nominated for Oscar Best Picture and Best Director (a third for Daldry on his third movie, beat that), this film, The Reader, opened possibilities to newcomer David Kross playing the heart of the film, Michael Berg. She may not be as worthy as Melissa Leo (Frozen River), Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married), or Meryl Streep (Doubt), she still proved herself as the ultimate best actress of the year. 

***

Among the 10 Best Actresses, 7 won by playing real people, which the Oscars is quite fond of giving the awards to. Also, 5 of them had their film nominated for Best Picture, giving them an extra push, while the other 5 was just too strong to beat (or not really).

This year, the first of another decade, we shall witness the rise of a new set of 5 leading ladies. The nominees will be announced next week, but as early as now, I have a prediction on the golden five to make it to the cut. One of them has got to be the most deserving actress to win the award, newcomer Carey Mulligan (An Education), but reality wise, she’s new and she may not be that strong as Hilary Swank in Oscars 2000. Starring in a British film was not quite the way to leave an impact to the Hollywood viewers. Ergo, Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side), who has been winning major awards like the Critics’ Choice, Golden Globes, and the SAGs, could be this year’s dark horse. Take note, she has never been nominated for an Oscar despite her resume in Hollywood films. And… Bullock played a real person in this one, which the academy might find appealing.

***

DID YOU KNOW THAT it was originally Julia Roberts who was eyed to play the character of Leigh Ann Tuohy in The Blind Side? It could have been a second Oscar for the pretty woman. Also, it was originally Nicole Kidman who was eyed to play Hannah Scmitz in The Reader? It could have been another Oscar for her, or it could have been an Oscar for Melissa Leo that year. Go figure. It’s like Assunta deRossi who was supposed to play Rachel Go in Mano Po (2002) and passed it on to Ara Mina instead, and then she won the MMFF Best Actress beating fellow star Maricel Soriano (Mano Po) and Vilma Santos (Dekada ‘70).

Anyways, I’m sleepy.

See you at the Oscars!

 

 

 

 

 

Imagining Immortality. Heath, Forever!

Nothing is permanent, not even death.

“Can you put a price on your dreams?“

Heath Ledger as Tony in The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus, 2009.

A film adaptation of the story of people served with two choices: the good and the evil. To which fate do they think handing themselves into would be best?

Christopher Plummer gives light to Doctor Parnassus, an immortal character, caught in a battle between the devil over a bet. In my head, I was aware that it was the same actor who played Captain Von Trapp in the 1965 classic, Oscar Best Picture, The Sound Of Music; however, it was a different man I knew my eyes were watching on the screen, an old man, took time to gather his strength to play a former monk, the star of a traveling circus-like show.

Posthumously awarded an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, the year before this film’s release, the late great Heath Ledger gives life to Tony, the hanging man, they thought at first. With a mysterious past, Tony engaged himself in on an adventure with the Doctor and its crew, involving himself to the wonderful lives interconnected by beliefs and imagination. A little-less-darker side of Heath, if compared to his portrayal of The Joker in The Dark Knight, the fifth highest grossing film of all time, Ledger was able to prove the world that a little element of comedy added with mystery can rise a leading man.

***

Being Heath Ledger’s unfinished last film before his sad loss, he was replaced by 3 Hollywood A-Listers, filling in on the character of Tony: 3-time Oscar nominee Johnny Depp, 2-time Oscar nominee Jude Law, and Golden Globe winner Colin Farrel. They have all embodied the character of Tony in different scenes, scenarios, and redundant it may seem, different characters. It’s really amazing watching three empire actors, leading men stepping on the scene for less than 10minutes on. These guys are just professionals.

What’s impeccable about this movie is how director Terry Gilliam executed the embodiment of the 3 actors playing Tony so subtle that you would think it was totally part of the script.

This film is a wonder. You have to watch it on the big screen, watch it right away so you would understand.

Hats off to, again, Mr. Christopher Plummer, Verne Troyer, Tom Waits, Andrew Garfield, and the bet, Lily Cole.

In memory of Heath Ledger.

Dating, 2010.

Past the awards mania, onto a more serious note, I think I maybe infatuated with someone from my past. Someone who I could have had something with if it wasn’t for the twists-and-turns of life.

I don’t want to fail myself or this person, but I don’t really see myself in a relationship. Not at this stage, I guess.

I hate blogging about personal drama. Can I just rant all-life long about the Globes mishaps?

Life happens.

Golden Aguilera

She has got to be my ultimate favorite female musician. Now, she’s in a gig with Oscar-winner Cher for Burlesque which is to be released next fall in the U.S. If she’s lucky, if the critics would love her, she’d be on her way to next year’s red carpet. It’s a new career for Aguilera, blessed, truly blessed.

Oh and I’m hearing from people that her first appearance at the Globes was breathtaking. Looking forward to more of the genie out the bottle.

And here’s a first look at Xtina on the set of Burlesque.

And she was initially offered the role of Kate Hudson in NINE; however, she declined. She was supposed to play the role of the blonde American journalist in the Rob Marshall musical.

 

 

A Golden Sell-Out

The films released in 2009, a bad year it may have been, are so far the best in the roster of Best Picture nominees and winners in small award-giving bodies. No matter how good of a year it has been for films, the Golden Globe Awards on its 67th year failed to give it to the right ones.

This has got to be the worst Golden Globe Awards ever,

and here is why. (MOTION PICTURE WISE)

***

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

AVATAR

&

BEST DIRECTOR

JAMES CAMERON

Avatar. 12-years-in-the-making. James Cameron’s follow-up to the world’s highest-selling film of all time, Oscar-winning Titanic. Avatar is a good film, yes. However, in the language of awards and Best Pictures and Oscars, you don’t give it to a film with a story so flat that if you take all the other elements off of it and just read from the script, you’d fall flat yourself. Avatar doesn’t have that story which is award-worthy. Hence, it wasn’t even nominated for Best Screenplay.

Avatar won because it is at the top of the box office, it is the most mainstream out of the five nominees, where Inglorious Basterds could be second. Avatar is very much talked-about, the collaboration between James Cameron and James Horner, the mighty visual effects, and all that. But after watching Avatar, what does it leave you with? Vertigo.

James Cameron winning Best Director. Fine. He’s waitied 12 years to have this film released. I can let it pass, but you have to know, this year’s biggest and most-talked about director is Cameron’s ex-wife, The Hurt Locker mother, Kathryn Bigelow, and she’s so getting the Oscar, and shall make a HISTORY.

 

BEST MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY

THE HANGOVER

The Hangover is the craziest film of 2009. It’s funny, it’s witty, it’s dumb-town. A huge ensemble of today’s funny men from Bradley Cooper to Justin Bartha… to Mike Tyson. I don’t have anything against it winning Best Picture, I’m not as bitter on this category as I am on the other one, but definitely, (500) Days Of Summer deserved the award more than this run-around-Vegas film. We have to consider the screenplay, how it was executed on the screen from the papers, and how the characters were well-acted.

The HFPA always loved the mainstream films. The Hangover is mainstream. Cinematography: Vegas. (500) Days Of Summer is independent. Cinematography: Downtown LA. I don’t think I’ll ever understand this year’s Globes.

***

THE ONES THE GLOBES GOT RIGHT

***

BEST SCREENPLAY

UP IN THE AIR

Adapted/ Written by Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner

“How much does your life weigh?” From George Clooney’s emotionless character, to Vera Farmiga’s slightly-mysterious portrayal of a lonely woman in the bar, to Anna Kendrick’s embodiment of a naive newcomer, Up In The Air has those elements of a good picture: the script, the production design, the cinematography, the score, and the directing. It must’ve lost to Avatar, but what the hell.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE

CHRISTOPH WALTZ

as Hanz Landa in Inglorious Basterds

I watched Inglorious Basterds because of the A-listers who I am familiar with: Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, and BJ Novak. In the end, I was left remembering one actor, Austria’s Christoph Waltz. The film opened and ended with him- causing blood, and bleeding. He has that fiesty personality that even without opening his mouth, would scare you.

His acceptance speech so heartfelt, so emotional, and so gratifying of his director the one, the only Mr. Tarantino, calling him, “that master distiller of evaporating actors’ dreams,” I almost forgot he played a Nazi for his award-winning role.

“This is my globe, and you made it golden.”

 

BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

SANDRA BULLOCK

as Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side

 

Regal in purple. She’s been called “Mama,” with the African-American accent by her ’son’ in the film, Michael, far too many times; was able to live up to her funny side in the midst of a dramatic life, reasonably, she is this year’s Best Actress. The second coming of Erin Brokovich, if you ask me. Funny fact is that, apparently, the role was supposed to be Julia Roberts’, I guess, she’s in the same category now.

Sandra Bullock’s proven herself so much. From mainstream comedies to Oscar hits like Crash and this one, she has come a long way. My heart may not be for her a total 100 per cent, I still think An Education’s Carey Mulligan deserves the award more than her, but I can’t be any happier for the actress who’s been snubbed far too many times. This is her year and there’s no stopping her.

***

OTHER REMARKABLE WINNERS

***

  

Jeff Bridges doing country, and falling in love. Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama) winner for Crazy Heart.

The chameleon superwoman, 25-time nominee, Meryl Streep adds another Golden Globe to her deck, the most deserving win of the night, for her portrayal of Julia Child in Julie & Julia.

Director Peter Docter has been winning left and right, and is most likely to have his film Up follow the steps of another Disney classic Beauty & The Beast as the only animated film to ever be nominated as Best Picture. This year at the Globes, Director Docter wins big for Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Score both for Up!

***

I’ll be forever bitter about neither (500) Days Of Summer nor Joseph Gordon-Levitt not winning, but for the love of it, they are all winners. To be recognized by the Hollywood Foreign Press is a something.

Up, High!

UP IN THE AIR, simply the Best Picture of the Year!

How much does your life weigh?

“The miles are the goal.” -George Clooney as Ryan Bingham

The road to the Oscars, 2010.

***

TOP THREE REASONS WHY THIS IS THE BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAR:

1. ACADEMY AWARD WINNER GEORGE CLOONEY

“I’m like my mother, I stereotype. It’s faster.”

He’s played Batman. He’s played a theft in the string of Ocean’s. Starred in one of the sexiest films (and sexiest sex scene in a film) of all time with Jennifer Lopez. He’s played Michael Clayton, the go-to-guy, the fixer. He’s played a CIA Operative in modern Persia, Iran, and won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2006.

In Up In The Air, George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, an employee-termination specialist, or in a nicer way, a career transition counselor. He doesn’t have a family of his own, not-so-much-recognized by his sisters, and is not really THAT interested in serious relationships. Until Alex.

George Clooney is this year’s Best Actor because he let his youthful side take over his silver hair. It’s him, being a little too professional and emotional.

2.THE AMAZING VERA FARMIGA

“You are an escape. You’re a break from our normal lives.

You’re a parenthesis.”

She played a vixen in Oscar Best Picture The Deaparted. She played the mother to Esther in Orphan. She also played a motherly character in the politically-charged drama The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas. One of her most promising roles is playing the prostitute Oana in the Law-Binoche thriller drama, Breaking And Entering. This year, she got a gig with leading man George Clooney as Alex Goran, the “call-me-when-you’re-lonely” girl.

VERA FARMIGA is this year’s BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS. The regalness in the character she was playing was perfectly executed by this golden-blonde aristocrat. From all her facial expressions to how she handled familiar situations with Ryan Bingham, and the laughs. Her subtety and authenticity on the scren convinced me that I was watching a 30-something professional who flies across the States, drinks alone in a bar, and sleeps with any random man the same evening.

How this actress delivered her lines was perfection. Her scene with Anna Kendrick’s character, Natalie Keener has got to be my favorite. “He broke up with you over a text message?” And who would forget the crashing-the-party scene as she went on Natalie, “Jessica Chiu?!”

“By the time you’re 34, all the physical requirements just go out the window. Like you secretly pray he’d be taller than you, not an asshole, would be nice. Just someone who enjoys my company, comes from a good family. You don’t think about that when you’re younger.”

3. THE GIRL TO WATCH OUT FOR, ANNA KENDRICK

“You guys don’t grow up.

It’s like you need to pee on everything.”

Having a supporting role in a high-grossing book-adaptation The Twilight Saga isn’t at all inspiring for this future Oscar heavy, Anna Kendrick. At a young age, Kendrick gets to play a young professional alongside George Clooney in a film directed by the brilliant Jason Reitman, the same director who gave Ellen Page her Oscar sot as Juno.

Anna Kendrick plays Natalie Keener, the soul of the film. From her youthful dealings with old-aged co-worker, Ryan, and new-found friend, Alex, she made them realize that life can probably mean more than flying across the seas to open a laptop and worry. A supporter of love, Natalie experiences meltdowns as the film progresses. Her beliefs about fairy tales and conventional set-ups all were fired up as she realized that love may not be “that needed yet” at the moment. As she tries to be heartless, as a requirement to her occupation, Miss Keener tries her hardest not to breakdown in front of the people she’s saying this line to, “Your position is no longer available.”

***

UP IN THE AIR is the story of a man who’s ready to make a connection, or not. UP IN THE AIR is the story of a woman who’d born to make a man realize that if this is what you tell yourself you want, then there’s no escaping that curse you put upon yourself. UP IN THE AIR is the story of a girl who’s trying to get ahead of herself, way too much, and later on realizes that life is more than the sum of travelling the miles.

From the real-life experiences of a professional  man and a woman to the youthful ideals of a young, naiver girl. UP IN THE AIR is the story of how one convinces himself/ herself that loneliness can be all you need.

THE BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAR.

Army Of The Academy

This year’s Oscar race is at its most masculine point. It has been releasing so much testosterone and male energy with films mostly dominated and led by Hollywood’s finest gentlemen and newest discoveries.

George Clooney travels around the States to fire people. Matt Damon plays an English athlete triumphing in South Africa. Brad Pitt plots an assassination of the Nazi leader himself. Peter Sarsgaard plays a heart-crook to a young lady’s innocence. Jeff Bridges plays a country singer struggling on his relationship with a young woman. Robert Downey Jr. plays… Sherlock Holmes. These and more are this year’s strongest contenders to the Academy and other award-giving bodies’ Best Actors league for 2009.

To add up to these mainstream names, the Oscars, and its posse,  also recognizes the newcomers to have played the toughest roles possibly on the big screen. These are the army men of the Academy race.

Jeremy Renner as Staff Sgt. William James

THE HURT LOCKER

An American jerk in Iraq. Not quite how most gentlemen would imagine a vacation, eh? This newcomer plays the team leader of a “bomb-disposal” group in Iraq.

THE DRAMA: Him and his family left in the U.S. Him, being totally an asshole to his team. Him, perfecting all the tasks. Him, breaking down to the loss of a young boy- it’s him breaking down to the reality of Baghdad.

THE COCK: Him and his cigarette hanging from his mouth under the scorching hot sun in Middle Asia. Him, taking his headset off during a duty. He is a bad-ass army dude. He is our Oscar Army man #1.

Sam Worthington as Corporal Jake Sully

AVATAR

From the Terminator Salvation to James Cameron’s comeback Avatar, Australian actor Worthington has taken over the role of the action-packed AND drama-filled leading man. From the marine, he steps on his brother’s shoes, and body, to a new world, so much farther from reality.

THE DRAMA: Him and his disability. Him and his ability to learn fast and adapt quickly to a new world requiring him to choose whether or not to stay in the real world, or trade it for the fantasy realm.

THE COCK: Jake Sully wasn’t only Sam Worthington is army suit, he was also Jakesully in blue. Literally. Enjoying his life and his agility in Pandora, he later on finds a woman from the tribe and falls in love.

Ben Foster as Staff Sgt. Will Montgomery

THE MESSENGER

Yes. It’s Angel. The one who flew, breaking the windows of the psychiatry building, up the sky in X-Men: The Last Stand. He gets a gig as an army man who just flew back (safely) from Iraq and gets assigned to the Casualty Notification Team of the U.S. Army. Just how hard is it to tell the families of the army men that their pride has been killed in action?

THE DRAMA: Him and the task he never asked for, the task he refuses. Him and his vulnerability in breaking the hearts of the families of the soldiers that just died. Him and his soft side for the newly-widowed women and their young kids. Him and his e, and every soldiers, experience in Iraq.

THE COCK: Him, having to deal with his partner Captain Tony Stone (played by Woody Harrelson). Him, crashing the wedding of his ex-love, wearing shabby drunk-on clothes. Him and his fresh love for the widow of a fallen soldier.

***

These are the leading men of tomorrow. Yes, even bastards, jerks, stubborn men also fall in love. These men, their strongest features and soft sides are the ones to expect on the next coming years’ mainstream Hollywood fest.

***

THE MESSENGER

Woody Harrelson gets the “supporting stint” of a lifetime.

Woody Harrelson, 1997 Academy Awards nominee for Best Actor for playing a porn magazine publisher in The People Vs. Larry Flynt. In the 2000’s, he has become prone to getting small roles in the mainstream cinema, most recently in 2012 as flip radio announcer Charlie Frost. He also appeared in numerous Oscar-recognized films such as No Country For Old Men, North Country, and Seven Pounds. More than being a serious, frightening, big man, he also played cranky doolittle roles in films such as Management and Semi-Pro. His leading man status has been renowned in films like Transsiberian, one of my favorite films, with Emily Mortimer and Sir Ben Kinglsey, and at present, the critically-acclaimed Zombieland.

Oscar nominee Harrelson is believed to be awaiting his second Oscar nomination, this time, for his supporting role in the drama The Messenger alongside Ben Foster. He played veteran Army man, Captain Tony Stone, pairing up with a staff sergeant in breaking the bad news to the families of the fallen soldiers.

Woody Harrelson had a butt exposure in the film. Yes. Him and his daddy-like saggy body, maniacal looks, and sexy aura, this Mr. Harrelson is an old man, but a hard one to kick off from his righteous state as a respected actor. It’s about time he gets recognized.

Ladies, gentlemen, folks. When the world is ending… turn to Woody Harrelson. He sure knows the way to safety. (Just like in 2012).

Cable

Papa introduced the family to Sky Cable’s Digibox and it got all of in the know of what are to be shown and what are currently showing on cable TV. For the past nights, I have been catching great films on HBO, Star, and Velvet, with some which I have never seen, and some I saw during my yesteryears.

It never crossed my mind to actually watch this Two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank- Gerard Butler starring, P.S. I Love You. First, I am not into these terajerkers. Second, I didn’t have the means to liberally watch films in 2007. I caught this for the first time on Star Movies last Tuesday (was it) and I was crying all throughout the film, considering the fact that it’s supposed to be somewhat comedic. Comedic in a sense that the film also starred Lisa Kudrow and the not-so-stressful Gina Gershon in a lighter role. The last Gershon film I remember watching was Face/Off, and she was kick-ass action-heavy in that Cage-Travolta riot.

It was a great opportunity to actually watch Hilary Swank play an all-American, mega-feminine lady. We would all recognized her as the Oscar favorite who played the life of the late Teena Brandon, a lesbian character Kimberly Pierce introduced us to in 1999’s Boys Don’t Cry where Swank won her first Oscar. In 2004, Swank starred in a Clint Eastwood drama about a female boxer, Maggie Fitzgerald, in Million Dollar Baby which scored her a second Oscar. Hilary Swank, however, starred as somewhat lady-like characters in The Black Dahlia, Freedom Writers, The Gift, and most recently, as historical icon Amelia Earhart in the 2009 biopic, Amelia.

Gerard Butler, on the other hand, who we all came to know as the 8-pack King Leonidas in 300, and as the phanton in The Phantom Of The Opera, was on a romatic-comedy mode playing a young husband to Swank’s character. I must say, I fell in love with the Butler who I watched in that film. The recent fil I saw him on was the thriller, Law Abiding Citizen.

***

The Hangover’s Bradley Cooper starred in the horror The Midnight Meat Train alongside Leslie Bibb, the actress who once played Queen B (Brooke McQueen) in the 1999 American TV series, Pop-U-Lar.

Most of the American actors who graced the TV series, Pop-U-Lar stopped acting since the end of the show. Christopher Gorham (who played Harrison John in the series) is appearing on TV shows here and there like Ugly Betty and Harper’s Island. Bryce Johnson (quarterback Josh Ford) starred in a number of independent films like Sleeping Dogs Lie and Bluetooth Virgin.

Leslie Bibb, one half of the main show casts, has been appearing in big-cuck films post pop-U-Lar stage such as Iron Man, Confessions Of A Shopaholic, and Law Abiding Citizen. She will reprise her role as the bitchy reporter, Christine, chasing after Tony Spark in Iron Man 2.

I have never been more excited for a not-so-popular movie actress. I want Leslie Bibb to keep getting the roles of a lifetime. She’s the only one who reminds me of the 90’s and how cool Television used to be then. In The Midnight Meat Train, she was at her most extreme acting, and I have never been so impressed. If she keeps working her way to supporting roles in films, she can actually get a huge recognition from film awards.

I would like to blog more about the recent great films, the award-winning ones which I have recently caught on cable TV, but I kinda feel tired already. Stressed from work, I guess. I’m going home to THE MESSENGER. This Woody Harrelson-Ben Foster drama about army men breaking the news to the families of the dead soldiers.

I wanna commend Velvet for airing Traffic and 21 Grams, both Benicio del Toro starring. Those films were unforgivable. The writing and the acting, man, those films are classic. I was reminded of how great Naomi Watts was in 21 Grams, and Michael Douglas, catherine Zeta-Jones, and Don Cheadle were in Traffic.

On Cinema One last weekend, Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit, a 1991 Filipino drama which starred Dawn Zulueta, Richard Gomez, and Eric Quizon, aired. If I may share, Dawn Zulueta made FAMAS history as the only actress to win both the Best Actress award for this film, and the Best Supporting Actress award for Una Kang Naging Akin, in the same awards ceremony in the same year. Not so much of a big deal, but how many great Filipino actresses do we know that are worthy of such recognition? Everyone’s become a little too generic, yeah?

 

On January 8th

“Tom meets Summer on January 8th. He knows almost immediately she is who he has been searching for.” – (500) Days Of Summer

This film’s got to be the best I have seen in 2009. I fell in love with how the story of pain and bitterness was told in such a way that you’d still believe that love exists.

I am going to be out and about tonight. It’s a Friday, January 8, 2010. Who knows, I might meet someone, my Tom Hansen, or my Summer Finn. Or how about being someone else’s Tom or Summer. Who knows. Someone might have gotten too addicted to the film himself, he’s highly considering this day to be special.

I welcomed the year of the tiger single.

Atleast, I had been very honest and now I’m happy.

 

Simply, The Best Band In The World!

Lifehouse keeps rockin’ my life. Since 2001, I have considered them the best band in the world.

From their 5th studio album Smoke & Mirrors is this carrier single, Halfway Gone and further down on this blog post is the new and official music video for it.

Jason Wade is the hottest thing. His bleach blonde hair just makes him the best front man ever. His distinct voice and artistry in songwriting makes him incomparable.

On this album, they finally made it official that Ben Carey be part of of the band. Get yourselves a copy of the album this February!

***

Man, I’d do anything to be on the next Lifehouse music video. Maybe if I get to fly to the U.S., it’d be possible!