Denzel Washington | pinartarhan.com

2010: And the Oscar finally goes to Jeff Bridges and a Female Director, Kathryn Bigelow

Posted on March 9, 2010 Written by ripitup

I used to make a fuss over the Oscars when I was in high school, especially in my earlier years when the internet didn’t exist or just wasn’t all the rage. I’d really be curious about who would win and would watch the entire show. And my friends would usually learn it first from me. I’ll even admit to fantasizing about winning one (hell, can’t say the fantasy is completely gone). And who won would really matter.

I am not saying it doesn’t matter now. But for me, now I care more about the hosts and the big night than really caring about the winners. I am extremely happy with this year’s winners but had they not won, it really would not be that big of a deal. I mean did we really need that award to know Jeff Bridges is a terrific actor? Of course not. I have been a big fan of Kathryn Bigelow ever since I watched Strange Days and Point Break. I am not saying those movies were Oscar-material (whatever the hell that means) but I am just pointing out to the fact that she is a great director.

Kathryn Bigelow wins! Couldn't be happier. Love her work.

Yep, I admit to being one of those movie nuts who question when her movies don’t get picked. But I can’t help it. I don’t get why one movie gets the oscar when another nominee doesn’t or why an actor is/isn’t nominated. I know about the votes. But what about the voters? What’s their demographics? What’s the racial/gender distribution among them for instance?

So please feel to list your movies/film-makers/actors, etc. that surprised you by not winning or by not being nominated. All categories are welcome. Here are some of mine:

The Shawshank Redemption, starring Tim Robbins

Where is the oscar for The Shawshank Redemption? I get the fact that Forrest Gump was there for competition and I like that movie but if I need to compare the effects that it had on me, Shawshank Redemption wins by far. 7 nominations and no wins? And 6 wins by Forrest Gump. Once again, Forrest Gump is a really good film and Tom Hanks is terrific but you do get my point. And again, why was Tim Robbins not nominated for best actor in TSR? Yes, Morgan Freeman was nominated and he was as always good. But did you see how difficult Robbins’ role was? Does anyone think the movie would have been more impressive without him? Where is his nomination?

Mel Gibson won two oscars for Braveheart. The movie won a total of 5 and had been nominated for 10. But actor Mel wasn't nominated for best actor.

Why wasn’t Mel Gibson nominated for best actor for Braveheart? He won best film and best director. But he wasn’t even nominated for best actor. So he excelled at directing everyone in that film and was better than the other nominee directors but he couldn’t direct himself all that well then?

Training Day with Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. Cool movie. Great performance. Like Denzel never rocked in a role before...Please!

Was Denzel Washington’s best performance in a leading role in Training Day? Like he never had an equally great (if not better) performance before 2001? And let’s not even go over the fact that the academy waited till 2001 to hand out to the leading actor oscar to an African- American.

Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win a best director award. First female director to win in 2010???? In the 82nd year of the show??? Yes, she deserved to win. But no other woman did until this year? Of course I am going to question the award!

Why was Kate Winslet even nominated for best actress in 1997 for Titanic? How is that role oscar-worthy? If they really had a shortage, they should have done with 4 nominees. It is not like they can’t stretch rules. This year the best film category had 10 nominees.

My rants can go on but these are the two major ones that bother me. I was feeling bad that Edward Norton didn’t win with Primal Fear (best supporting actor) or American History X but after the ones I pointed out, that really shouldn’t surprise me.

photos from:

http://www.fusedfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/oscar.jpeg

http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/mar2010/5/0/kathryn-bigelow-best-director-pic-getty-868188750.jpg

http://www.swotti.com/tmp/swotti/cacheDGHLIHNOYXDZAGFUAYB…

http://www.vanityfair.com/images/culture/archive/cusl01_oscars9603.jpg

http://tf.org/images/covers/TrainingDay.jpg

Inside Man with Clive Owen, Denzel Washington and Jodie Foster

Posted on February 25, 2010 Written by ripitup

inside man with clive owen, denzel wasington and jodie foster — Brilliant. Just brilliant. If I were an actor, I’d be so jealous of Clive Owen. The guy plays in awesome movies. And obviously, I don’t need to praise neither Jodie nor Denzel at this point in their careers? Love the cast,script and the direction. The only thing I don’t like about this movie is…Wait, there is nothing I don’t like about it! Image via cinemablend.com

Wow. Wow. And wow. It is one of those rare movies where it gives you everything you can ask for, while entertaining the hell out of you and keep you guessing during the whole time:

Actors: Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Willem Dafoe, Christopher Plummer

Plot: Detective Keith Frazier (Washington) is facing the most interesting bank robbery-hostage situation ever. The criminals are very well-organized and very smart. Their leader Dalton (Clive Owen) seems to have thought every little detail. They have tens of hostages, all from different backgrounds, all forced to dress like the criminals. Needless to say the cameras are broken, and our criminals never show the hostages their faces. So if they all get caught, there is no one who can testify against them.

The bank in question belongs to a wealthy and well-respected businessman (Christopher Plummer) who wants a very mysterious woman involved: Madeleine White (Jodie Foster). She has a complicated job description. She knows all the right people in the high places and she can get anything to anyone. But this one is tricky- even for a sharp woman like her. How the hell is she going to get one specific thing out in all the chaos? And why is that one thing so much more important than all the money inside the vaults?

A 7.7 imdb rating is way, way underrated. The script is brilliant. Just when you think you see the next twist coming, you don’t. I think this is Clive Owen’s best movie. Oh, and don’t give me that “you raised our expectations so high and now we will be disappointed” look. If you don’t like this thriller, there is a chance my taste in movies is radically different from yours. I never thought I could like a Spike Lee movie this much. But whether you like him or not, anyone into smart heist movies will like this movie.

9/10. At least.

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjqWFRPi63s[/pro-player]

inside man with denzel washington, clive owen and jodie foster — What’s your favorite Clive Owen movie? This is mine. Image via movie studio.files.wordpress.com

THE CUTE ROBERT PATTINSON, THE BEAUTIFUL EDWARD CULLEN

Posted on November 4, 2009 Written by ripitup

Robert Pattinson

Rob Pattinson is a pretty boy. He is cute. Sure he can be beautiful, graceful and alluring. He is dreamy as a man can get when he stops being Rob and becomes Edward Cullen in the Twilight Saga. Edward is elegant, deep, intense and captivating. You see, guys can understand why a woman can find Gerard Butler handsome. Look at The Ugly Truth. Look at Lara Croft The Cradle of Life. He is as manly as one can get, with a great frame and the acting that can make him cute and sexy at the same time. Or look at Hugh Jackman. Look at his role as Logan in Wolverine. But even when they are not playing certain characters, they maintain those good looks and charisma.

Now, I loved Pattinson in Twilight. He is the perfect vampire. He is a seductive creature by nature. He also plays a 17-year-old going on 90- which adds wisdom to his character. And he really isn’t 17 but early 2os, so you don’t have to feel a little ashamed about falling for an actor that young. But when he is not Edward, the magic disappears. Now, I know there are many Robert fans out there who will want to shoot me just for making this comment but this is the way I see it: He is a kid. He is young, he got way too famous way too soon and he is both embarrassed and bored by the attention. No matter how grounded you are, I don’t think it is possible not to let all that fame go to your head. Fair enough. I’d be bored too if I suddenly become this person everybody was dying to get a piece of or suddenly had to dress up and go to award shows and be handed awards by Denzel Washington. No,wait-(this is how my friend was defending Edward when I said I find him cold and just cute off the movie screen), I actually wouldn’t. I’d love it if Denzel knew my name and even though the show is just MTV’s popularity contest, I’d not care. But Edward was just like a bored kid among “pretentious” adults and just looked like he didn’t belong there. C’mon,it is MTV- if you have become a world-wide celebrity, that’s exactly where you belong. You are supposed to lay back and enjoy.

But if I want to see Pattinson hot, and not just cute- if I want to see him intense and not just funny, all I have to is wait for the New Moon and catch another glimpse of Twilight. Let me visualize my point for you: