Coens and Europeans grab Oscar Gold!
Hello, everybody. Two weeks after the writers strike ended, producer Gil Cates and his staff were working round the clock to make sure the 80th Annual Academy Awards would proceed as planned. And last night for 3 hours and 21 minutes, they did that with host Jon Stewart keeping things in order again.
Joel and Ethan Coen's "No Country for Old Men" as expected walked out of the Kodak Theatre victorious with four Oscars including Directing and Adapted Screenplay for the duo, Supporting Actor for Javier Bardem, and Best Picture of 2007. But the big story was that Europe has all the acting gold: The aforementioned Bardem from Spain; Ireland's Daniel Day-Lewis, his second Best Actor ("There Will Be Blood"); England's Tilda Swinton, Supporting Actress ("Michael Clayton"); and 11 years after Juliette Binoche's upset win over Lauren Bacall for Supporting Actress, it was fellow French Marion Cotillard's turn swiping Best Actress away from heavily favored Julie Christie for "La Vie en Rose." By the way...just like last year, I was 4-6 in my picks missing the mark on female acting.
"Ratatouille" took Animated Feature; "Taxi to the Dark Side" beat out Michael Moore's "Sicko" for Documentary Feature; Original Song went to "Falling Slowly" from "Once"; dancer-turned-writer Diablo Cody picks up Original Screenplay for "Juno"; and for poor Kevin O'Connell...his Sound Mixing loss to "The Bourne Ultimatum" has extended his win-loss record to 0-20.
Despite the rain over the weekend, the red carpet shone as always with Cameron Diaz in Dior; double winner Hilary Swank in Versace; Anne Hathaway looking much better in red than last year (as were Helen Mirren and Heidi Klum); Jessica Alba, Cate Blanchett, and Nicole Kidman really showing their baby bumps; and Miss "Hannah Montana" herself Miley Cyrus in Valentino.
So who gets the best-dressed honors? I'll have to say Katherine Heigl once again (yes, I've stuck with her at the Emmys and I'm sticking with her at the Oscars). Her new husband may be away for a while, but we wish her red Escada gown stopped the drizzle above the covered red carpet. As for worst-dressed? Definitely Tilda Swinton; she may have picked up Oscar gold, but her one-arm dress looked like it was crumpled up and bought at a thrift store for $72.98!
And now, as always, to the stories behind the wins: The last time the Coen brothers went on stage, it was for Original Screenplay for "Fargo." Eleven years and several films later, they've reaped their rewards once again claiming the top prize for "No Country for Old Men." As for Marion Cotillard? This is one name we're going to be hearing a lot about for years to come, and her surprise Best Actress win is only the beginning for this lovely French pastry.
By the way...the only major post-Oscar party to hit to after the Governor's Ball was by Elton John's AIDS Foundation, as the writers strike cost us the big one that was "Vanity Fair's" bash. And for the nominees, winners, and other big names hoping to show up for that? Well, they'll have to wait till next year.
Even though everything had to be in place after those tumultuous three months, the 80th Annual Academy Awards still had a show after all. And I'm certain Oscar's next 80 years will provide us with more memorable moments aplenty.
Now that it's out of the way for another year, some other ground to cover...
Before the Oscars on Sunday, there was the Independent Spirit Awards where the big news coming out from it was...yes, it's official: Angelina Jolie does have another bun in the oven! And just a few days ago, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony gave birth to twins. I'm telling you; with that, Christina Aguilera's baby boy, and Angelina, Kidman, Halle, and Alba all coming soon, 2008 before this year is over will be all about the Hollywood baby boom!
Now the other big entertainment story of last week to go along with final preparations for Sunday's Oscars and J-Lo's birth and Angelina's latest pregnancy belonged to Lindsay Lohan, whose recreation of Marilyn Monroe's "The Last Sitting" by photographer Bert Stern for "New York" magazine was not only worldwide news...but masturbation heaven for guys everywhere!
Over that week, "New York's" website which contained those ultra-steamy photos and additional outtakes crashed numerous times, receiving over 60 million hits and its traffic increased by a staggering 2000 percent (yes, 2000 PERCENT!!!) from last year. But right now it's all quiet on the magazine's front, as the cover story this week is about Chelsea Clinton finally speaking during mother Hillary's prematurely doomed presidential campaign trail.
But yeah, reaction was indeed mixed over those photos, especially as far as Lindsay's parents were concerned. Mother Dina said they were "very tastefully done", but estranged father Michael disagrees. And of course, the media and Internet community wasted no time weighing in; many of them saying the shoot could be Lindsay's way of getting her groove back after a trying two years marred by rehab and box office flops. Speaking of which, "I Know Who Killed Me" was the big "winner" at the Razzies taking eight dis-honors including Worst Actress and Picture.
I'll admit it...I've rubbed one out to better-quality versions of those photos, and I think that even for a prestigious publication like "New York" magazine, it was done in exquisite good taste by the same man behind Marilyn's last shoot. Four years will have passed this spring since "Mean Girls" put her on the map, but her not-that-excessive partying and nobody seeing her films took her off the radar for some time. She has indeed learned from her mistakes and accepted them, but you better believe that the new Lindsay Lohan in 2008 will be more bold, energetic, and yes, sexier than the old.
With my complete takes on the Oscars, pregnancies, and Lohan...so long and stay strong!
RATINGS UPDATE (2/26): Maybe it had something to do with either the aftermath of the writers' strike or Europe taking all the acting honors, but Sunday's Oscar show with 32 million viewers and an 18.7 rating was the lowest-rated ever.
Hello, everybody. Two weeks after the writers strike ended, producer Gil Cates and his staff were working round the clock to make sure the 80th Annual Academy Awards would proceed as planned. And last night for 3 hours and 21 minutes, they did that with host Jon Stewart keeping things in order again.
Joel and Ethan Coen's "No Country for Old Men" as expected walked out of the Kodak Theatre victorious with four Oscars including Directing and Adapted Screenplay for the duo, Supporting Actor for Javier Bardem, and Best Picture of 2007. But the big story was that Europe has all the acting gold: The aforementioned Bardem from Spain; Ireland's Daniel Day-Lewis, his second Best Actor ("There Will Be Blood"); England's Tilda Swinton, Supporting Actress ("Michael Clayton"); and 11 years after Juliette Binoche's upset win over Lauren Bacall for Supporting Actress, it was fellow French Marion Cotillard's turn swiping Best Actress away from heavily favored Julie Christie for "La Vie en Rose." By the way...just like last year, I was 4-6 in my picks missing the mark on female acting.
"Ratatouille" took Animated Feature; "Taxi to the Dark Side" beat out Michael Moore's "Sicko" for Documentary Feature; Original Song went to "Falling Slowly" from "Once"; dancer-turned-writer Diablo Cody picks up Original Screenplay for "Juno"; and for poor Kevin O'Connell...his Sound Mixing loss to "The Bourne Ultimatum" has extended his win-loss record to 0-20.
Despite the rain over the weekend, the red carpet shone as always with Cameron Diaz in Dior; double winner Hilary Swank in Versace; Anne Hathaway looking much better in red than last year (as were Helen Mirren and Heidi Klum); Jessica Alba, Cate Blanchett, and Nicole Kidman really showing their baby bumps; and Miss "Hannah Montana" herself Miley Cyrus in Valentino.
So who gets the best-dressed honors? I'll have to say Katherine Heigl once again (yes, I've stuck with her at the Emmys and I'm sticking with her at the Oscars). Her new husband may be away for a while, but we wish her red Escada gown stopped the drizzle above the covered red carpet. As for worst-dressed? Definitely Tilda Swinton; she may have picked up Oscar gold, but her one-arm dress looked like it was crumpled up and bought at a thrift store for $72.98!
And now, as always, to the stories behind the wins: The last time the Coen brothers went on stage, it was for Original Screenplay for "Fargo." Eleven years and several films later, they've reaped their rewards once again claiming the top prize for "No Country for Old Men." As for Marion Cotillard? This is one name we're going to be hearing a lot about for years to come, and her surprise Best Actress win is only the beginning for this lovely French pastry.
By the way...the only major post-Oscar party to hit to after the Governor's Ball was by Elton John's AIDS Foundation, as the writers strike cost us the big one that was "Vanity Fair's" bash. And for the nominees, winners, and other big names hoping to show up for that? Well, they'll have to wait till next year.
Even though everything had to be in place after those tumultuous three months, the 80th Annual Academy Awards still had a show after all. And I'm certain Oscar's next 80 years will provide us with more memorable moments aplenty.
Now that it's out of the way for another year, some other ground to cover...
Before the Oscars on Sunday, there was the Independent Spirit Awards where the big news coming out from it was...yes, it's official: Angelina Jolie does have another bun in the oven! And just a few days ago, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony gave birth to twins. I'm telling you; with that, Christina Aguilera's baby boy, and Angelina, Kidman, Halle, and Alba all coming soon, 2008 before this year is over will be all about the Hollywood baby boom!
Now the other big entertainment story of last week to go along with final preparations for Sunday's Oscars and J-Lo's birth and Angelina's latest pregnancy belonged to Lindsay Lohan, whose recreation of Marilyn Monroe's "The Last Sitting" by photographer Bert Stern for "New York" magazine was not only worldwide news...but masturbation heaven for guys everywhere!
Over that week, "New York's" website which contained those ultra-steamy photos and additional outtakes crashed numerous times, receiving over 60 million hits and its traffic increased by a staggering 2000 percent (yes, 2000 PERCENT!!!) from last year. But right now it's all quiet on the magazine's front, as the cover story this week is about Chelsea Clinton finally speaking during mother Hillary's prematurely doomed presidential campaign trail.
But yeah, reaction was indeed mixed over those photos, especially as far as Lindsay's parents were concerned. Mother Dina said they were "very tastefully done", but estranged father Michael disagrees. And of course, the media and Internet community wasted no time weighing in; many of them saying the shoot could be Lindsay's way of getting her groove back after a trying two years marred by rehab and box office flops. Speaking of which, "I Know Who Killed Me" was the big "winner" at the Razzies taking eight dis-honors including Worst Actress and Picture.
I'll admit it...I've rubbed one out to better-quality versions of those photos, and I think that even for a prestigious publication like "New York" magazine, it was done in exquisite good taste by the same man behind Marilyn's last shoot. Four years will have passed this spring since "Mean Girls" put her on the map, but her not-that-excessive partying and nobody seeing her films took her off the radar for some time. She has indeed learned from her mistakes and accepted them, but you better believe that the new Lindsay Lohan in 2008 will be more bold, energetic, and yes, sexier than the old.
With my complete takes on the Oscars, pregnancies, and Lohan...so long and stay strong!
RATINGS UPDATE (2/26): Maybe it had something to do with either the aftermath of the writers' strike or Europe taking all the acting honors, but Sunday's Oscar show with 32 million viewers and an 18.7 rating was the lowest-rated ever.
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