Saturday, February 18, 2012





LaQuesha Watson vs. Meryl Streep


It’s that time of year again- as the 2049 Oscar race gets closer to the finish line, the Best Actress contest is down to two amazing women- 36 year-old LaQuesha Watson (in her film debut) and 100 year-old Meryl Streep. Watson plays an incredibly difficult role- its about a struggling urban mother living on the south side of Chicago who has to deal with her racist boss who refuses to let her move up at the bank she works in because “she just has too much attitude with the customers”. This doesn’t stop LaQuesha from filing a lawsuit against the company, overcoming poverty and starting her own business. The film, simply titled Now what, Bitch? has been a huge hit at the box-office, and after Oprah had Watson on her show, we all saw the film could actually be closer to home then we thought. “I grew up on the south side of Chicago, so this story was really about what I struggled with. As a black actress, I struggle every day to find roles.” Oprah Winfrey, who recently said she will retire (for the fifth time), told her audience of mostly middle-aged white females to get out there and support LaQuesha’s nomination.
“When I saw LaQuesha Watson, I cried. How could I have not realized that black women deal with this every day in the office?” Said a teary-eyed Caucasian Oscar voter who appeared anonymous in the crowd.
But what about Meryl Streep? The mega star just celebrated her 100th birthday, and also her 40th Oscar nomination for playing the title role in God, a movie about…well, God. The movie, co-directed by David Fincher, Christopher Nolan and Katheryn Bigelow, is the biggest movie of the year, up for 20 Oscars including of course, Best Picture- something Now what, Bitch? sadly couldn’t manage. However, despite giving the most critically acclaimed performance of the year again, Streep still has only won 2 Oscars- her last in 1982, nearly 70 years ago. After losing her 39th nomination to a toddler (that’s right, the baby actress Susie Satin was barely 7 months but still managed to give a great silent performance in the indie hit I Cry for Milk) Streep told reporters due to her ailing health she probably would retire. But when she was offered the part of God, she claimed, “How could I say no? It is, after all, the role all actors wish they could have the chance to do.”
Streep has won the Golden Globe, SAG, BAFTA, Cannes, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Kansas, Las Vegas, Florida & People’s World Choice award for Best Actress…however LaQuesha just found out she’s pregnant with her brother’s baby, and now most voters are feeling ashamed…and guilty they may never get another chance to vote for a newcomer minority actress, who after hearing this news, may never get another chance to be in a movie again. Jason Travis, LA Times Blogger reporting.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

My Annual Spoof of Oscar night!

ANNUAL SPOOF OF OSCAR NIGHT 2010

By: Jason Travis

The sun was blazing hot and plenty of limos were already honking their arrivals as Joan Rivers planted herself on the red carpet. She was ready for business, and even had on her Sunday best.

“We’re standing here waiting for the whores to arrive so I can tell them they all suck!” Chuckles echoed from her camera crew. “That’s right people, you all sucked big time this year! So much, that Oscar voters had to expand the nominees to 10 just so Pixar and Peter Jackson could jerk off together.”

Speaking of Pixar, their new release was already in the works. Simply titled US, it told the story of two loners who find love in the mountains by sharing the wilderness together. The loners, by the way, were a rabbit and a squirrel. Peter Travers grumbled “Simplicity seems to be the key for Pixar, as each year brings us more simplistic storylines. But this movie bored me to oblivion.” Nonetheless a spokesperson was on hand to talk to Joan.

“What do you think your chances are for winning tonight for UP?” Rivers asked.

“Well I’d say they’re DOWN tonight Joan.” Rivers didn’t crack a smile, but instead proceeded to her insulting mode.

“Did anyone ever tell you I thought your film was about Viagra?”

Mo’Nique was next, wearing a purple sequined Gucci with bright red lipstick, and dyed white hair.

“Oh my God, it’s Ursula!” Screamed Joan. “What in balls are you wearing?”

“Baby, this is a dress. I should ask you what you’re smoking.” Mo’Nique snapped.

“Nothing, my dealer isn’t here yet.” Joan was having a fun time, but E! cameras started censoring her language. “MoNique, you played the mother from hell this year. Did you ever throw a air conditioner at one of your own kids?”

“My manager can answer any more questions you have.” Mo’Nique glided away, and her manager, who was of course her pompous husband, ignored Rivers and walked with his wife. Rivers didn’t care though, since Nicole Kidman was coming up to her.

“Nicole, darling. You look fabulous. And the Botox doesn’t show tonight.”

“Joan, you’re always so funny.” Kidman said in her modest voice.

“Are you presenting tonight or just walking around like a giraffe?”

“Actually I’m supposed to talk to Tom tonight about the kids. But I can’t find him anywhere.”

“Check in-between Penelope Cruz’s thighs.” Joan laughed at this quip, but even the camera people made faces, and Kidman seemed peeved and found another reporter to talk to.

Christoph Waltz made his way over to Joan, who seemed restless.

“Who are you?” Joan asked dryly.

“Christoph, from INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS.”

“Oh, don’t know you and you sound boring. Next.”

Sandra Bullock was next indeed, and she looked amazing. Her hair slicked back, and a gorgeous light blue gown with embodied diamonds, she truly looked like the Queen of the evening.

“Sandra ****ing Bullock. You’re on fire right now, how do you feel?” Asked Joan, excited she could finally interview a real star.

“Hot!” Laughed Bullock. “It’s over ninety right now, and I’m scorching. I just hope the Kodak is as cool as my movie was.”

“Darling nothing could be as cool. I loved that you played a character America has never seen before. Rich white Republican saving a poor black soul, it just hasn’t been done.”

“We had a good script and a real great cast.”

“Who did you like working with the best?”

“Uh…damn, let’s see…you know, I’d have to go check IMBD for the cast list, it’s just so hard, being I was the only star in it.” Bullock laughed and snorted, succumbing to her Miss Congeniality character. Rivers stood with mic in hand, looking dumbfounded.

“Have a nice time doing lines in the bathroom sweetheart.” Joan wanted to move on.

Security was starting to escort everyone into the Kodak, but Rivers was looking for one more star to interview.

Meryl Streep suddenly appeared with her daughter in one arm, and Kanye West in the other. She had her sunglasses on and appeared stone faced. Reporters tried to scream for her, but they were greeted with the backs of the trio as they headed inside. Rivers seemed disappointed, but then looked into the camera and said “Good luck tonight everyone, and where’s George Clooney? Just because Betty White screwed him doesn’t mean I can’t get in on the action.”

When the show began, Steve Martin and a VERY bloated Alec Baldwin entered the stage. The applause was polite, but not as boisterous as the producers had hoped. Baldwin began.

“Good evening folks. Welcome to the 82nd Academy Awards. Before Steve and I begin, I just wanna say that I am officially on suicide watch for the evening.” No one laughed, but there was some commotion- Anna Kendrick was just taking her seat to the annoyance of some people behind her.

“This year the academy has opted to nominate 10 films for best picture, instead of 5. What’s next- nominating badly reviewed films with dumb social messages like THE BLIND SIDE?” This one made some people chuckle, but the camera had better fun getting a glimpse of Sandra Bullock looking unpleased.

“Meryl Streep is up for her 16th nomination ladies and gentleman.” Martin said, to thunderous applause. Streep brushed the applause away and giddily leaned towards her daughter. This irritated Peter Travers, who wrote, “How many times does the camera have to show Streep leaning sideways and laughing? Enough.”

After Martin and Baldwin did a four minute bit on what the movies meant to them- which mainly consisted of showing clips from their own films- Penelope Cruz glided on stage in a sexy number deemed best of the night by Variety.

“This year, quality is best for men. Men of war. Men of hope. Men of country. Nominees are…” Most people seemed confused by Cruz’s stumbling English, and Mark Caro noted ‘Cruz should be thankful she’s hot enough that people don’t care what she’s saying.’

The Oscar went to the obvious- Christoph Waltz. The clapping stopped before he had gotten out of his seat, and coughs could be heard as he began:

“When I won the Globe, I was in my Hollywood mode. When you accepted me into the acting world with my SAG, I was into the theater. But tonight is different. Tonight you honor me not only as an actor. Not only as a star. But as a God.”

The music cut Waltz off before he could get rather long list (or as Tom O’Neil called it, “a scroll”) of names.

The next amount of awards went mainly to AVATAR or THE HURT LOCKER, making no one have a clue on what the future evening would bring. UP took original score, though CRAZY HEART lost the song Oscar to one of the tune’s from THE PRINCESS & THE FROG- apparently presenter Mariah Carey forgot to name which song though, and the production crew was too lazy to list the name of the tune on screen.

Oprah Winfrey came on stage to present Best Supporting Actress, and by the time she was done rattling off the standard speech of introduction, Mo’Nique was already getting out of her seat and whisper-screaming to her husband/manager: “Hand me my damn speech now, I don’t have all night! And what ya’ll lookin’ at?” The ‘ya’lls’ happened to be two of her fellow nominees- Kendrick and Vera Farmiga, who both had bemused looks on their faces.

The Oscar indeed went to the diva comedienne, who got to the stage and fake-hugged Oprah before facing her crowd.

“My brothers and sisters…” The camera cut to Morgan Freeman shaking is head in agony. “This is for one man, and one man only. The immensely talented, and inventively stimulating Lee Daniels.” Polite applause. “When you confabulate to me your true gifts as a director, I commend you. You about the business. And speaking of business, yes I do need to get paid to come here. As a professional actor, never do anything for free! God bless you and good night.” The applause was fair, but Oprah was not looking happy. Backstage, as Mo’Nique ignored the press room, Oprah told reporters “It’s a shame I plugged for her all season, and the only name out of her mouth is that rookie?”

The screenplay awards went to UP IN THE AIR and THE HURT LOCKER. The latter received thunderous applause, but Quentin Tarantino was not happy. During a commercial break, he was overheard telling another fellow nominee “I can’t believe those bastards beat me.”

Barbra Streisand was ready to present best director, though not before cursing out two stage hands who had apparently forgotten to put white roses in her dressing room: “I asked for white, and these idiots bring pink. Morons. We’re dealing with total morons.”

On stage, Streisand congratulated the best director nominated men first before doing a literal song and dance for the woman. Spinning around a few times and singing the first few chords from “People”, the music legend looked just about as moronic as the two stage hands she had previously scolded.

The Oscar went to the woman, and it was the longest standing ovation of the night. Bigelow seemed pretty overwhelmed as she took the Oscar from a beaming Streisand, who still was able to make it her moment by quickly saying in the mic “This really should have been MINE first.” Bigelow looked a bit unnerved by Barbra before proceeding to thank the cast and crew. Cameron was not mentioned.

Kate Winslet glided on stage in a dress Variety deemed “inappropriate even for Lil’ Kim.” The Oscar winner was wearing a skin-tight, see-through gown that seemed a bit…frumpy. To cover her nipples, Winslet had placed glow in the dark sea shells. “Tyra Banks needs to tell Winslet to change ASAP!” Complained a backstage PA.

“Before I announce the nominees for Best Actor, I’d like to see if my father is in audience. Dad, whistle!” Unfortunately there was dead silence. Winslet, looking frantically around as if she was trying to relive her Oscar speech, started turning visibly red. Chicago Tribune reported “you could see the worried expression on her pudgy face grow, and apparently getting nervous on stage does have its affect- her nipple shells started glowing like crazy.”

Winslet wiped the sweat off her face, and proceeded to business. “The nominees for best performance by an actor in a leading role are…” After the clips played, Winslet ripped open the envelope with her teeth in a sexual manner, giggling “I’m a hideous kinky tonight.”

The Oscar went to Jeff Bridges, and the veteran actor was given the night’s third standing ovation. When he got to the stage, Winslet tried to embrace him but he mumbled something under the lines of “Back up tart”, and grabbed his award.

“This is for all the dumb folks who said I would never stand up here tonight. To all the people who think actors don’t matter, and that it’s the directors and writers that make the film. Well are they holding an Oscar tonight?” The camera cut to Katheryn Bigelow holding her statue and nodding. “And thanks to Pa. You always had whiskey for us after dinner.” The claps seemed muddled and many people stated that Bridges must have been pretty plastered with his Dad’s drink.

Sean Penn headed on stage, and as he did bloggers around the world started typing “OMG! God, I can’t handle it.” Jason Travis went to the kitchen, grabbed a shot glass and bottle of Grey Goose, and then took a huge swig from the bottle. The audience silenced. The air was calm. Somewhere in China a little girl played with her dolls.

“And so it has come down to this. All five women nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role have given extraordinary performances. They’ve climbed hills. They’ve beaten the odds. They’ve-“

“Just get to the ****ing award!” Screamed an unidentified drunk bleacher fan.

“Very well…” Smiled Penn. The audience laughed at Penn’s coolness, and applauded and hooted. The camera cut to Carey Mulligan, who was rolling her eyes.

“The nominees are…Sandra Bullock in THE BLIND SIDE (huge applause and hoots. Bullock was sitting at the edge of her seat, her heels already off. She was, according to Roger Ebert, ‘ready to spring to the podium.’) Helen Mirren in THE LAST STATION…(polite claps, Mirren was whispering something to Plummer)…Carey Mulligan in AN EDUCATION (strong claps, Mulligan sits with her face close to tears)…Gabby Sidibe in PRECIOUS (big whoops and claps, Gabby is all smiles)…and Meryl Streep in JULIE & JULIA (whoops and cheers, “Come on Meryl!” is heard, though its from her husband. Meryl sits stone faced, West and her daughter also poker faced.)

“The Oscar goes to…” Penn opened the envelope, looked at its contents and appeared confused. “There seems to be a typo of some sort, because Sandra Bullock’s name is in here, and-“ Penn was cut off by thunderous applause as the audience leapt to its feet and a ticked off looking Bullock tried to brush off Penn’s rude comment and headed to the stage. Security was already escorting Kanye West out of the theater, since apparently he wasn’t quick enough to crash the podium.

As Bullock took her Oscar from a ticked off looking Sean Penn, the continued hoots of love made her smile.

“Oh my. Thank you members of the academy. I’m not worthy of such an honor and I’m a bad actress.” The camera cut to Helen Mirren, who mouthed “yes dear”.

“And I know we all should be bowing before the greatest there ever was…” Streep started modestly waving towards the camera and laughing, until Bullock finished with “…and that’s my acting coach who couldn’t be here tonight. My God, is she brilliant though. Thanks to the distributor who did BLIND SIDE, and blah blah blah all the other little folks.” The audience seemed less happy now. “Oh, and I just want to say that earlier this week I donated $1 million to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences…not to say I ‘bribed’ my way into winning this, but it sure seems like a coincidence huh?” Snorting loudly between laughs, Bullock was oblivious to the sudden change of atmosphere in the theater. The best actress also glided backstage with more immensity and coldness then previously.

“Congratulations!” exclaimed an excited production assistant to Bullock.

“Uh thanks, could you be any louder?” Bullock snapped.

“Ms. Bullock, we should take you to the press room.” Said another PA.

“Well that’s totally something I wouldn’t have thought of. Give these guys a raise, quick.”

Reports began streaming that once Bullock claimed the best actress Oscar, Streep immediately left the Kodak with her crew. When some fans tried to stop the goddess for an autograph, she simply told her daughter to handle the situation. The daughter did more then that- she began signing everyone’s book or photo of the actress with the inscription “The Next Meryl- I’ll have an Oscar before my Mom!”

If that wasn’t bad enough, awards sites were being bombarded with bloggers going insane. The Streepers, now deemed “Weepers”, blogged mainly chunks of dialogue consisting of “**** Sandra Bullock, and **** the Oscars.” But one blogger was a little more precise: “Tonight I will end my life. I have no reason to go on now that the academy has decided to give their highest honor to a 45 year-old naïf whose biggest talent is to give exceptional oral sex to 6,000 voters.”

The commotion over the best actress results was causing audience members to grow restless. It was a good thing Jack Nicholson was coming on stage to announce the final award of the night.

“I hear Sandra Bullock is going to CRASH at Meryl Streep’s house tonight.” Nicholson smiled through his shades as the audience clapped and whistled.

After rattling off the ten nominees for Best Picture, Nicholson tore open the envelope to reveal the final decision. “The Oscar goes to…UP……….In the Air!”

The pause that Nicholson made before being cute had caused the entire Pixar crew plus producer Jonas Rivera to head to the stage in laughter and joy. Apparently the arrogant team didn’t realize the miscommunication. Nicholson tried to say “Fellas, look…” but it was too late.

“Wow, an animated film has finally won!” Rivera was close to tears of emotional joy. “UP had a lot to do with the loss of my own Grandmother, who…” Interrupting this landmark speech was of course Jason Reitman, Daniel Dubiecki and Ivan Reitman.

“Jonas, cut it out and hand over the Oscar.” Jason was smiling but extremely red in the face. According to Peter Travers, “Reitman’s face made Winslet’s earlier incident look practically pale.”

But Jonas was oblivious to all the commotion, and to the Price Waterhouse man making his way to the center of the stage to make a very embarrassing declaration.

“My Grandmother loved balloons. She used to let us kids play with them, though my brother’s love for them turned more into a fetish later on…”

“Excuse me…” The member of Price Waterhouse took Rivera’s mic from him. “I’d like to say that the correct winner for tonight’s Best Picture winner is indeed UP IN THE AIR. Sorry for the misunderstanding.”

The audience was not clapping, more so because they were so into the ruckus that was about to get uglier on stage.

“Huh?” Rivera made his response sound dumb and ignorant.

“You didn’t win Best Picture Jonas, stop being a dick and go sit back down!” Jason Reitman was now sounding about as childish as he did in film school.

“Yes I did win. Jack Nicholson just announced it.” Rivera was clueless. Jack was standing back now, laughing and flirting with the envelope women.

As the house lights went up, and everyone got their things to leave, the commotion on stage continued. According to the LA Times, the matter wasn’t settled until Reitman shrugged his shoulders and “drop kicked Rivera to the floor, took the Oscar and wrote ‘Up in my Ass’ on the unconscious producer’s face.” Needless to say, the Oscars ended with the highest ratings ever.

Thanks for watching everyone, and have a blast with your Oscar celebration on March 7!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Pre-Oscar nomination jitters

So the Golden Globes have passed us, and everything is looking more and more solidified. I'm still going to say that despite the (dreadful) win by Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep is on her way to winning her LONG over-due 3rd Academy Award for Best Actress in "Julie & Julia". Here's what she has going for her:

- Golden Globe, Best Actress (Comedy/Musical)
- New York Film Critics, NY Online Film Critics, Boston Film Critics, Broadcast Film Critics, National Society of Film Critics (runnerup)
- Two box-office hits- "Julie & Julia"- $94 million, "It's Complicated"- $100 millon +. That's a lot considering she's over sixty, and the latter is rated R. Harder for R rated films to make more then PG-13 unless you're Russell Crowe in a loin cloth.
- It will be her 16th nomination. Voters will know its her time.
- "Julie & Julia" gnarled Streep the best reviews by a female actress since Oscar-winner Helen Mirren in "The Queen" (2006).

What does Sandra Bullock have going for her?

- Golden Globe, Best Actress (Drama), Broadcast Film Critics, SAG frontrunner status (its between her and Streep and Mulligan and Sidibe)

- HUGE boxoffice! "The Blind Side" has earned more then $230 million domestically, and "The Proposal" earned damn near $170 million. That's a shit load of cash for a actress almost 50 who carried both films on her name-basis alone. (Streep can also brag "Mamma Mia!" made $700 million worldwide, but remember that film is more of a culture cult for fans of the music then for Streep's star power)

- Her donation of $1 million to Haiti- nothing against donating to charity, but its kind of a coincidence she donated this RIGHT when Oscar ballots are due.

- Her 'due' factor. For what, I can't really fathom. But apparently her performances in "Murder by Numbers", "Speed" and "Miss Congeniality 2" were supposed to make Oscar's shortlist. Honestly, only "Crash" came close to getting her on serious stepping stone territory, but I can see why many feel she needs to be recognized.

- Likability factor- this should also pertain to Streep. Both women are LIKEABLE. Unlike Eddie Murphy or Bill Murray (or hell, Julie Christie for that matter), who sat in the audience when their name was called like they WERE Jesus Christ, these ladies are fun-going veterans of their day who just show up for the champagne. Right? Well, I could second guess Bullock.

- The Media. Perhaps the one dying force in Streep's path since the MEDIA, as dumb downed as they get, probably feel Streep has enough awards and therefore can get the dumbed down public to feel Bullock is the IT girl of the moment. The media is a awful commodity when it comes to picking sides. After all, they're the ones who made it a race with "Brokeback Mountain" and "Crash" in 2005 even though we all knew the former was way out front- until homophobia and E! News changed the playing field.

In the long run, I still expect Meryl Streep to win the Oscar. If Sandra wins the SAG on Saturday, do not be alarmed. Streep won it last year for "Doubt", so there is no 'over due' factor from the guild.

By the way, don't mean to toot my own horn, but I just got the news that I placed 2nd in the awardsdaily.com Golden Globe contest, getting 12/14 right! I apparently get a "Star Trek" blu-ray movie for it. Cool stuff!

OSCAR PREDICTIONS AS OF JAN. 20TH, 2010 (just the basics)

BEST PICTURE
"An Education"
"Avatar"
"A Serious Man"
"The Hangover"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Precious"
"Up"
"Up in the Air"
"Star Trek"

BEST DIRECTOR
Katheryn Bigelow for "The Hurt Locker"
James Cameron for "Avatar"
Lee Daniels for "Precious"
Jason Reitman for "Up in the Air"
Quentin Tarantino for "Inglourious Basterds"

BEST ACTOR
Jeff Bridges in "Crazy Heart"
George Clooney in "Up in the Air"
Colin Firth in "A Single Man"
Morgan Freeman in "Invictus"
Jeremy Renner in "The Hurt Locker"

BEST ACTRESS
Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side"
Helen Mirren in "The Last Station"
Carey Mulligan in "An Education"
Gabourey Sidibe in "Precious"
Meryl Streep in "Julie & Julia"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Woody Harrelson in "The Messenger"
Christian McKay in "Me & Orson Welles"
Christopher Plummer in "The Last Station"
Stanley Tucci in "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz in "Inglourious Basterds"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Vera Farmiga in "Up in the Air"
Anna Kendrick in "Up in the Air"
Julianne Moore in "A Single Man"
Samantha Morton in "The Messenger"
Mo'Nique in "Precious"

ADAPTATION
"An Education"
"In the Loop"
"Julie & Julia"
"Up in the Air"
"Precious"

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
"A Serious Man"
"The Hangover"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Up"
"Inglourious Basterds"

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Sandra Bullock - Really?


Can she really win the Best Actress Oscar for "The Blind Side" over Meryl Streep in "Julie & Julia"? According to recent press releases, Bullock's campaign is working hot and wild for the popular actress to take home her first golden boy. Her Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress (Drama) in the football story is all but sealed, since nobody is talking about Carey Mulligan anymore. If she wins the SAG, are Streep's chances for her third overdue statue over?

This sickens me because I like Bullock alot, but her performance doesn't come close to Streep, Sidibe's or Mulligan for that matter. It's a cute role, with a southern accent and plenty of relish, but it just doesn't feel right. Also, people comparing Bullock's potential victory to Julia Roberts in "Erin Brockovich" need to do their homework. Roberts' film was a Best Picture nominee, and I don't see "The Blind Side" making the cut. Roberts also was up for her third trophy, while this will be Bullock's first time at bat. And normally in order to win Best Actress you either have to a) Be in a very popular film that has excellent reviews across the board, or b) Be in a mediocre film but give a performance that is leagues beyond the rest of the product. Bullock's movie, while popular, is not getting excellent reviews. And her performance is not legendary or deserving of such fawning. Not that this stopped voters in the past from honoring such work (We can all throw up together on Gwyneth Patlrow's undeserved win in 1998 for "Shakespeare in Love"). But now Bullock's campaign has got 20/20 to do a segment devoted ENTIRELY to her film. Why? What is this movie showing us that hasn't been shown before? Rich white person saves poor illiterate black person? I guess since "Precious" is also about an illiterate black person being saved, the academy should just place a theme on this year's Oscars: OBAMA, CHANGE and HELPING OUT THE BROTHAS & SISTAS. I mean come on!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS





















































































Samantha Morton in The Messenger
Vera Farmiga in Up in the Air
Penelope Cruz in Nine
Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air
Mo'Nique in Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Saphire

ALTERNATES
Julianne Moore in A Single Man
Diane Kruger in Iglourious Basterds
Marion Cotillard in Nine

As the race currently stands, Mo'Nique is way out front. But don't let this fool you. Her recent attitude towards the New York Film critics (she denied to show) and her money-hungry tatics ("I needs to be paid") might not sit well with voters who want their winner to have a little humility. However, this never stopped them from giving George C. Scott or Marlon Brando trophies in their respective years, despite their snubbing for citation, or Woody Allen and Katharine Hepburn- both who have been generously rewarded by the academy, but never made a single appearance to accept their Oscars. Mo'Nique nails her role to the point that you never forget her, and it is the only category voters might knight the film.

Farmiga and Kendrick both have received equal praise for their performances opposite George Clooney's vehicle, though Kendrick is picking up more precursors. Farmiga, however, had a fabulous year, also starring in the horror comedy Orphan, and proving her versatility as a rising character actress by remaining reliable in all her roles. The academy recently has placed 2 ladies in this category from the same film quite a bit- and since 2000 this has happened five times (2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2008).

Cruz is only on here because SAG and Golden Globe listed her. It would seem almost barbaric not to list Cotillard as another contender, but her campaign has opted to push her in lead- otherwise, she'd be a shoo-in (which she still might). Cruz has one big dance number and her recent Oscar win to help her ride the wave of Nine, though the movie is getting disastrous reviews.

Samantha Morton is my odd-ball nominee. But she's been the odd-ball nominee twice before. In 1999 in Woody Allen's Sweet & Lowdown she managed to trump Cameron Diaz (Being John Malkovich) in the Supporting Actress category for her mute role opposite Oscar-nominee Sean Penn. It was a big surprise. Even bigger was in 2003 when she managed to get over Nicole Kidman (Cold Mountain) and Uma Thurman (Kill Bill, Vol. 1) by landing in the Best Actress race for her tender work in Jim Sheridan's In America, where she landed no precursors or Globe or SAG nod, but slipped in. Why can't she do the same for playing a mother who loses her son in The Messenger, which currently has the buzz for Woody Harrelson? It's a risky pick, but the academy warms up to her alot. She has no SAG or Globe nod, but it doesn't seem to matter based on her past.

Only Julianne Moore can really unseat any of these ladies (I'm ignoring SAG and Kruger's nod for now). But Moore is only in her film 10 minutes, and she's no Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love) or Beatrice Straight (Network)- both those ladies won Supporting Actress Oscars for performances less then 10 minutes. Moore, if nominated, ironically would give Mo'Nique the biggest run for her money. She has been nominated four times in the past 12 years to no avail, and recently in 2002 she was nodded for Lead and Supporting Actress, and lost twice (to Nicole Kidman and Catherine Zeta-Jones, respectfully). Colin Firth is getting more raves for his lead performance in A Single Man, but Moore might slip in- she missed SAG, but got in for the Globe. We'll see.


BEST ACTRESS


Best Actress is going to be an interesting battle, more so because there is one spot that no one can agree upon. Below are my predictions and commentary:

  • Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side"
  • Helen Mirren in "The Last Station"
  • Carey Mulligan in "An Education"
  • Gabourey Sidibe in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Saphire"
  • Meryl Streep in "Julie & Julia"
It can be agreed upon that Bullock, Mulligan, Sidibe and Streep are all locks. All have strong critic support and plenty of precursor attention. Sandra Bullock has had a huge year with the success of "The Proposal" as well, earning her the infamous kudo from Entertainment Weekly as "Entertainer of the Year". Though her performance in the football drama "The Blind Side" is critically divided, there's no doubt that the film is on its way to making more then $200 million domestically, a HUGE deal for a female driven drama. On top of that, Bullock has been working in Hollywood for more then 15 years and has never been nominated. That's saying a lot for an actress who kept the ball rolling in "Speed" (we know Reeves wasn't making us care), charmed us in "While You Were Sleeping", and made us look at her with more serious notion when she played a self-absorbed pain in "Crash".

Mulligan has the National Board of Review award, and has implemented herself as the "new dewy young thing" for moviegoers, and it helps she's in her early twenties and British. They love their British gals. Whether she beats Bullock at the Golden Globes is another battle.

Sidibe may be coming up short in critic awards (Las Vegas doesn't count), but there's no denying that she is acing the precursor nominations (Globe & SAG remembered her), and is in a Best Picture frontrunner ("Precious" will make the cut in February). Also her screen debut, let me tell you, is incredible and she comes off naturally brilliant. In.

Finally Meryl Streep will land her 16th nomination for playing famous chef Julia Child in the hit "Julie & Julia". She has received the best reviews by a lead female actress this year. Despite naysayers saying it's too light to win, she is long overdue for a third trophy. Her New York Film Critics award for best actress bodes well for her chances, and if she wins the Comedy/Musical Globe in two weeks, they skyrocket. Her main hurdle is Bullock, not Mulligan. Bullock has a strong publicity market going for her. More on this soon!

Mirren is the fifth spot. Her possible rivals to unseat her are:

Emily Blunt in "The Young Victoria" (Globe nominee, but lack of support for movie makes her chances grim. No SAG nod)

Marion Cotillard in "Nine" (Globe nominee, but her category confusion (she's being pushed for lead) will cause her to lose votes to Penelope Cruz. "Nine" sucks big time.

Tilda Swinton in "Julia" (Runner-up precusors, and possible National Society of Film Critics winner but no one has seen the film and its too quirky).

PREDICTED WINNER: Meryl Streep in "Julie & Julia"

Predictions coming in...


Be the first to see my full-throttle predictions for the 2009 Academy Awards! It's been a dismal year for the movies, but we still have a interesting year on our plate. Stay tuned...