MO'NIQUE'S OSCAR SPEECH: SPOT ON

Mo'Nique did everything you are NOT supposed to do to win an Oscar. She didn't do a lot of press, she didn't campaign for it, she asked for money to attend premiers, she didn't really seem to care. YET she still won her Best Supporting Actress Oscar. How? By giving the actual BEST supporting, arguably beat PERIOD, performance of the year. So when she took the stage to give her speech she called it out. She said she was gals to get her award because it was "about the performance, not the politics". True true true. There was no denying her talent and performance, but she refused to kiss ass to get her Oscar and seemed fine if she didn't get it at all. Smart? Maybe not. Admirable? Yep. I am sure that Sandra Vullocked did plenty of lobbying for her Oscar. I don't think anyone believes that Sandra is better than Meryl Streep on Meryl's WORST day, but Bullock has paid her dues, so good for her. She is good at what she does... being Sandra Bullock. Let's see who works more.

THE 82ND ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS

The Oscars were given out last night and I would have to say there were not a lot of big surprises. Not everything went the way I wanted it to, but it wasn't shocking since I tend to vote with my heart, not my brain (I would have given my left one to see Meryl Streep win an Oscar this year). The red carpet was full of glamour with standouts like Meryl Streep, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried and Jennifer Lopez. The men brought it too!! Looking hot were Tom Ford (duh), Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Lautner and Zac Efron (yum). By the way, Sarah Jessica Parker looked great and I don't care what anyone says!!!! She can do NO WRONG!!! Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin were absolutely freakin' hilarious as the hosts (with a little help from awards show stealer Neil Patrick Harris), but even these vets couldn't keep the show from running past midnight. So, the awards!!!!! Of course the big story here is the fact that, after 81 years of Oscars, the first woman to ever win a Best Director award is Kathryn Bigelow. Congrats to her!! They even pulled Barbra Streisand out of hiding with her new neck to present the Oscar to her. Here are some of the highlights:

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)

Best Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique (Precious)

Best Song: The Weary Kind (Crazy Heart)

Original Screenplay: The Hurt Locker

Cinematography: Avatar

Best Actor: Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)

Best Actress: Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side)

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker

You can read the full list here. [image]

INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS HANDED OUT

The Independent Spirit Awards were given out March 5th for the best in independent cinema. Precious was the big winner with five very well deserved awards. These winners are not always the same as the Oscar winners because big budget movies are not considered at the ISAs, but there a couple of actors that are expected to overlap. Here are a list of the winners.

Best Film: Precious
Best Director: Lee Daniels, Precious
Best Actress: Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Best Actor : Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique, Precious
Best Supporting Actor: Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Best Documentary: Anvil! The Story of Anvil
Best Foreign film: An Education
Best Debut film: Scott Cooper, Crazy Heart
Best First screenplay: Geoffrey Fletcher, Precious
Best Screenplay: Scott Neustader and Michael H. Weber, (500) Days of Summer
Best Cinematography: Roger Deakins, A Serious Man
John Cassavetes Award: Lynn Shelton, Humpday
Robert Altman Award: A Serious Man

"THE HURT LOCKER" TAKES TOP PRIZE AT CRITICS' CHOICE AWARDS

The Iraq war drama The Hurt Locker and it's director Kathryn Bigelow took the top prizes of best film and best director at the recent Critics' Choice Awars held in Las Angeles. Bigelow was gave credit to the inspiratoin for the film stating, "It's wonderful to have this honour,but the recognition should also go to the men and women who are in the field to this day." Some of the credit also has to go to the mostly hot-pieces-of-ass cast that was assembled for the film. It got me through the first 20 boring minutes of the movie until it really kicked in and turned into a great film Jeff Bridges is getting his due finally for his long career in Hollywood. He gathered up the prize for best actor for his film Crazy Heart. The song "The Weary Kind" from the film also won for best original song. Inglourious Basterds came home with best ensemble cast, best supporting actor for Christoph Waltz, and Quinton Tarantino on for his original screenplay. Avatar won for best action movie and won for cinematography, editing, sound, visiual effects and art direction. There was a rare tie in the best actress category with Meryl Streep winning for Julie & Julia and Sandra Bullock sharing the award for The Blind Side. On playing Julie Childs, Streep told the crowd, "I'm really, really thrilled because I really love what I do," she said. "I love to work, and I love food and I love sex. And so did Julia Child. So it wasn't that much of a stretch." Oh, Meryl. You always know what to say. Mo'Nique was named best supporting actress for her role as the crazy abusive mother in Precious. Saoirse Ronan, that little girl from Atonement, won for best young actress for her part in The Lovely Bones. Best comedy went to The Hangover, which was hilarious and deserved it balls out. Winners for the Critics' Choice awards are chosen by members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association. [source]

REVIEW: PRECIOUS

I went to see the movie Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire and all I can say is WOW!!! This freakin' movie will blow you away. It's about (get this) an HIV positive 16 year old girl ( wonderful Gabourey Sibide) living in Harlem in 1987 who has two kids by her father and lives with her physically and mentally abusive mother (an Oscar-worthy Mo'Nique...who knew?). Despite what you just read, this movie is actually about hope and strength and the courage to left yourself out of the situation you are in. Precious is kicked out of school and has to attend an alternative school where she encounters a teacher named Blu Rain (an amazing Paula Patton) who changes her life, teaches her to read and write, and shows her the kindness that no one else ever has. Also one of the biggest surprises EVER...Mariah Carey plays a social worker, Mrs. Weiss, and is so good I wouldn't be surprised if her name comes up around awards season. This movie is soooooo inspiring and so well done. I really believe it is going to win a Best Picture Oscar this year. If you really want to see fine film making, a gripping story and some performances that will change the way you think about acting, go see Precious. If you don't, you will never forgive yourself and die a lonely old cat lady.