the fashion report: 2011 Academy Awards

the 83rd annual academy awards are over, which means one thing: the fashion police are out and in full effect!

beside being entirely underwhelmed at last night’s production (sorry james & anne!), there were definitely some fashion stand-outs. check out my picks for best and worst dressed, and more!

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i’ll start with my faves.

first up, miss reese witherspoon in a to-die-for ensemble. this giorgio armani prive gown is so simple, yet beautifully elegant. kudos to that hair do as well! and the best actress academy-award winner herself, natalie portman, shined in this marroon rodarte dress. perfect choice for her growing baby bump too! love the off-the-shoulder detailing.

‘best song’ performer mandy moore chose this subdued monique lhuillier gown. this is how you do red carpet, folks. her look is flawless right down to the exceptional fit of the dress. black swan actress mila kunis took lavender to new heights when she donned this elie saab haute couture beauty. breathtaking details and gorgeous overall design. loved it.

rounding out my top 5 was matthew mcconaughey’s baby momma camilla alves in kaufman franco. WOW, is all i can say. i couldn’t have been more in love with this choice… the ruching and lay of the skirt was muy fantastico!

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we saw lots of RED on this year’s red carpet… and i must say they look radiant.

oscar host anne hathaway‘s chose this valentino gown for her first dress of the evening. while i liked the look, how much more svelte would this have been without the additions to the skirt? i would’ve gone ga-ga over this if it were a column dress. but good job, anne, i do like! newcomer jennifer lawrence tore it up in this form-fitting calvin klein collection gown. let’s call a spade a spade… she’s hot.

one of my favorites of the night – sandra b in vera wang! simply ravishing! that waist is perfection. i would’ve liked to see her wear her hair down for a change, but she still looks scrumptious. new mommy penelope cruz accompanied her nominated hubby (javier bardem) in l’wren scott. wasn’t my fave of the night, but you gotta hand it to her – she looks great!

presenter jennifer hudson wowed the crowd in atelier versace… what else can be said? she is workin’ it in this dress! you don’t see too many halter straps on the red carpet, but this definitely works. get it girl!

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and now… for the worst. yikes, did these ladies have it WRONG.

i was brought to tears laughing so hard at marisa tomei‘s charles james dress. red carpet commentators loved it… until the camera panned down to the bottom. that looks like something that belongs under the dress, not on top! close, but no cigar. for best supporting actress melissa leo, i have one question: why are you wearing a doily to the oscars? please shred this marc bouwer dress as soon as possible. thanks.

nominee michelle williams picks this less-than-flattering sleeved column gown by chanel haute couture. this girl has a rockin’ bod, but even SHE looks awful in this sheet! i would’ve liked to see her in a strapless blue or red gown. next year, next year. resident beauty scarlett johansson slipped up big time in dolce & gabbana. i’m telling you, remove the old-fashioned lace, and i would’ve loved it. the color and cut are gorge, the lace is not.

an unusual choice from cate blanchett (wearing givenchy couture), that i would’ve liked if not for the circle cut-out. the light lavender and gold embellishments are glorious togehter… even the funky sleeves are working! but why is there a target-shaped hole on your chest?! bah!

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well that about wraps things up! what did YOU think? agree or disagree with any of my picks?

live at the 2011 Academy Awards

5:30 – the Oscars are about to start! did you catch my red carpet coverage?

5:31 – loving the best picture montage to kick things off…

5:33 – hosts james franco & anne hathaway are already livening things up. good choice, academy!

5:42 – what is this? a tribute to my FAVORITE movie ever… gone with the wind?!

5:46 – glad alice in wonderland won for art direction. that film sure deserved something!

5:47 – lovely! inception wins for best cinematography. what an excellent production.

5:52 – haha kirk douglass about anne hathaway: “she’s gorgeous! where was she when i was making movies?”

5:58 – best supporting actress winner melissa leo is so deserving of this award… and so humble too!

6:06 – best animated film goes to… toy story 3! i have a soft spot in my heart for how to train your dragon, but oh well.

6:19 – the first award for the king’s speech of the night, for best original screenplay.

6:26 – helen mirren, you are FLAWLESS. can i please look like you when i’m older?

6:33 – of course, christian bale wins for best supporting actor! LOVED him in this role. what a great acceptance speech! “to my wonderful wife, you’re my mast through the storms of life. i hope i’m likewise.”

6:45 – the social network wins for best original score, which makes sense… did you or did you not have that soundtrack in your head after watching it?

6:59 – GOOD! alice in wonderland wins for best costume design. such a magical display of costuming.

7:08 – and the best original song performances have begun!

7:18 – halftime report on anne hathaway and james franco. they’re doing okay… anne’s a bit flighty and james is lacking some personality. but, it could be worse!

7:27 – yes, a seasoned veteran! billy crystal‘s here.

7:41 – james makes a joke! inappropriate movie titles from 2011… winter’s bone, rabbit hole & how to train your dragon :)

7:47 – randy newman wins for best original song (toy story 3 – “we belong together”). this is his 20th nomination and 2nd win! congrats!

7:59 – in memoriam tribute… “it’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” – lean horne

8:03 – and the best director winner is… tom hooper for the king’s speech! “listen to your mother!” for it was she who introduced tom to the movie in the first place.

8:12 – okay here come the big ones!

8:13 – black swan‘s natalie portman wins for best actress! definitely no surprise there.

8:22 – the beautiful sandra bullock presents for best actor… with that lovely carefree attitude and humorous tone.

8:25 – YAY for colin firth! first oscar win, for best actor for the king’s speech.

8:36 – and the final award for best picture goes to… the king’s speech! LOVE IT!

8:40 – and, that’s a wrap. until next year!

 

 

 

 

 

live at the 2011 Golden Globes

let the fun begin!

5:00 – and here we go. did you catch my red carpet coverage?

5:01 – host ricky gervais: “it’s going to be a night of partying & heavy drinking. or as charlie sheen calls it, breakfast.”

5:03 – i LOVE that ricky just dumped on johnny depp & angelina jolie‘s the tourist. hilarious.

5:04 – ricky on sex & the city 2: “girls, we know how old you are.”

5:06 – no one is safe here! ricky’s already insulted scientologists, hugh hefner, mel gibson, jewish people & “secret” gays!

5:08 – presentor scarlett johansson not looking her best this year.

5:09 – best supporting actor: christian bale, for the fighter! SO HAPPY! what a cute speech.

5:13 – total shocker! sons of anarchy katey sagal takes home the best supporting actress award after being nominated 5 times good for her!

5: 17 – sorry julianne more, but you struck out here. it would’ve been pretty, but that sleeve is getting in the way!

5:22 – “please welcome, ashton kutcher‘s dad, bruce willis!”

5:24 – newbie chris colfer wins best supporting actor in a tv series (comedy) for glee and kids rejoice around the world!

5: 33 – best actor in a tv series (drama): the amazing steve buscemi for boardwalk empire!

5:40 – i guess this means i should start watching boardwalk empire – the newly-crowned best tv series (drama).

5:45 – “he’s alec from the rock, she’s jenny from the block… if the block is that one near rodeo.”

5:48 – there ya go, burlesque. music is your thing… NOT the best picture category.

5:50 – …and the social network takes home it’s first award of the night! (best musical score for a film) will it win best picture as well?

5:55 – wait, why is justin bieber at the Golden Globes?! and i love that his similarly-aged co-presenter hailee steinfeld is taller than him. oh, puberty.

5:59 – toy story 3 wins for best animated feature film! ts3 director to presenters: “were you guys even born when the first toy story movie came out?”

6:00 – words can’t describe how much i love robert downey jr.. “i don’t know if an actress can do her best work until i sleep with her.”

6:03 – called it! annette bening wins best actress in a comedy/musical film for the kids are all right. would you just look at that hair of hers? not her best look.

6:19 – al pacino for you don’t know jack & claire danes for temple grandin taking home awards just as they did at the 2010 Emmy‘s! congrats!

6:25 – thank you steve carrell & tina fey for bringing some laughs! whew, we needed it.

6:26 – best screenplay goes to aaron sorkin for the social network! tina fey: “thank you for ruining our ability to interact in real life.”

6:28 – i love that sorkin did a little shoutout to real-life mark zuckerberg, calling him a true genuis & altruist. he didn’t deserve the negative light that was cast upon him!

6:36 – best foreign language film: “the category that no one in America cares about!” (winner: in a better world)

6:48 – wow, big bang theory is blowin’ up! jim parsons wins for best actor in a tv series (comedy). just got picked up for 3 more years.

6:53 – YES. melissa leo for the fighter takes home best supporting actress in a film (drama).

7:04 – lifetime achievement award to robert deniro. so iconic.

7:15 – …and the social network wins again for best director (david fincher)!

7:28 – paul giamatti of barney’s version takes home the Golden Globe for best actor in a musical/comedy film. NBC keeps preemptively bleeping out speeches since it’s a live show. wonder what he said?

7:35 – best actress in a film (drama) goes to natalie portman for black swan. haven’t seen it, as it would probably scare the crap out of me, but i hear she was brilliant.

7:40 – best motion picture comedy/musical: the kids are all right. i personally didn’t like it, but to each their own!

7:49 – so happy for colin firth (the king’s speech) to have finally won a Golden Globe. well-deserved!

7:54 – almost over! to present the final award of the evening, michael douglas. “there’s gotta be an easier way to get a standing ovation.” (referring to his recent battle with cancer… love his sense of humor about it all!)

7:55 – best picture? the social network! yes, it was good. but i would’ve loved to see inception or the fighter take it home. oh well!

8:00 – welp, that was fun! hope you enjoyed the coverage.

who & why

Alrighty so the biggest night in cinema is upon us. The Academy Awards will be on in less than 2 hours! I threw together my predictions for the biggest categories, and explained why I think they are a shoe-in for the Oscar honor.

BEST PICTURE
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog is sure to take home the prize. if you’ve seen the movie, I’m sure you’d agree. I was truly captivated the entire length of the movie. The screenplay, actors, theme, costumes – every bit of the movie was riveting. Plus, they’ve already got a Golden Globe (among others) for Best Picture. How crazy is it that this film was supposed to be released straight to DVD? Good thing the film debuted huge at the Toronto Film Festival and was picked up by Fox Searchlight!


BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Richard Jenkins – The Visitor
Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn – Milk
Brad Pitt – The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler

I don’t LOVE Mickey Rourke, but it has to be said that he was quite the actor in this film. While he is always eccentric an has had his share of ups & downs, his role in The Wrestler was definitely an ‘up’.


BEST ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie – Changeling
Melissa Leo – Frozen River
Meryl Streep – Doubt
Kate Winslet – The Reader

Such a ridiculous group of women in this category – I think all of them are very deserving. But I think this award belongs to Kate Winslet. I haven’t seen a more skilled actress than her.


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin – Milk
Robert Downey Jr – Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt
Michael Shannon – Revolutionary Road
Heath Ledger -The Dark Knight

Obvi. This one is going to Heath Ledger, hands-down. It does not have to be said that he threw himself into this role, and in doing so created an incredible character in The Joker. I’d be truly shocked if it turned out otherwise.


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams – Doubt
Penelope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis – Doubt
Taraji Henson – The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler

While I’d love to see Amy Adams take home the award, I have a sneaking suspicion that Marisa Tomei will receive the honor. You know, the Academy always have a soft spot for interesting characters, and I’m betting Marisa’s role as a stripper will be no different.


BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E

All I know is that Wall-E was a joy to watch. I think those cute little robots captured the hearts of every viewer!


BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button – Alexandre Desplat
Defiance – James Newton Howard
Milk – Danny Elfman
WALL-E – Thomas Newman
Slumdog Millionaire – AR Rahman

If you’ve seen Slumdog, you will agree that the film was driven by its musical backdrop. It was brilliantly catered to fit the film at each scene. Also, my most favorite song of the year “Paper Planes” by MIA was mashed up as part of the soundtrack, so I am loving it even more.


BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Down To Earth from WALL-E – Peter Gabriel
O Saya from Slumdog Millionaire – AR Rahman
Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire – AR Rahman

I cannot even WAIT to see the performances for the two Slumdog songs. While I am pulling for Jai Ho to take home the Oscar, either one will do! They’re both so fun.