The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year...Again

And so it begins again. Awards season. Well, it's been underway for a while but for us, the casual spectators, we are just waking up to what might be crowned Best Picture next year. So, let's take a brief tour around the houses. I don't really write film reviews - I tried a few times but I didn't find it as 'easy' as writing book reviews - so don't expect any profound thoughts going forward. 

What are we looking out for?

This is my 'to watch list' which, like my 'to be read' list, will probably remain just that. A list. 

So far I've only seen Interstellar. Ah...Interstellar. There were flashes of brilliance but mostly it was TOO LOUD and TOO LONG. I usually love a Hans Zimmer score and Interstellar was beautiful but the sound editors/mixers/Mr Nolan were having a laugh. It didn't help that we were in a teeny tiny screen and all squashed together for the three hours. Still, never mind. Oh and I hope Jon Faverau gets something, somewhere for Chef. I LOVED that film.

Who are we looking out for?
I lurve me the red carpet. Looking at our list of potential hopefuls, we might be graced with some fashion loveliness.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt always turn up looking elegant and dapper. Eddie Redmayne sure knows how to choose and wear a good suit. Emma Stone is one of my absolute favourite celebrities when it comes to fashion. I was watching that HBO Vogue documentary the other day and the segment with Tonne Goodman touched upon what it means when we talk about American style and for me, when I think of modern American style, I think of Emma Stone. I love the simplicity of her style. She definitely needs to wear another Calvin Klein on the circuit. From my shores, I send (haha) good fashion tidings in the form of Keira, Felicity, Jack, Rosamund, and Benedict. I'm sure we'll also see the lovely Lupita back to hand over her crown and Amy Adams will most likely give it all another run again (poor lady must be exhausted). 

So, ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, are you ready? 

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Yes. Awards season is well and truly upon us, are you enjoying yourselves? The last few weeks have been tiring for the casual spectator, such as myself, so I can only imagine how the nominees and their teams feel. Then again, can you really complain when your job involves attending parties and receiving awards? Probably not but we'll discuss that in a minute. Let's take a moment to digest the past few weeks and take stock of what we've learnt:

• Everybody loves Lupita Nyong'o - she's a fashion GODDESS and seems like a really humble, eloquent, and extremely talented woman. She deserves all the good things being lavished upon her, no doubt. Yay Lupita!
• American Hustle is the favourite? I thought it was good but I wasn't blown away. Amy Adams, Christian Bale and Jeremy Renner were amazing and the soundtrack was excellent. Anyway, I suppose it gives us a good excuse to get our J-Law fix. 
• Speaking of...Jennifer Lawrence is being her usual charming, TMI-ing self on the red carpet in some questionable Dior dresses. It's not her fault. Dior just ain't what it used to be. 
• Alright, alright, alright, Matthew McConnoghey means business and just might take Best Actor at the Oscars. Just keep livin'. 
• I've been a fan of E! Live from the Red Carpet for a loooong time but I think it's time to hand over the microphone to someone else. Ryan and G just look so tired and over it. The questions are terrible and they need to get rid of that 'mani-cam'. Kudos to Elisabeth Moss for doing what we've all been doing at home to the mani-cam. I think last year for The Oscars one of our UK channels showed another network doing the red carpet - maybe ABC? - with Kristin Chenoweth co-hosting and Hugh Jackman picked her up. Anyway, yes, time for some freshness on the other side of the red carpet. 
• Continuing with the fashion - it has been a bit blaaah. I haven't seen much that's been original or daring. Emma Watson came to play in her dress/trousers ensemble, which was bold but not too many others have followed suit. Margot Robbie has consistently 'turnt up' also. 
• Emma Thompson is a hoot! She should be invited to all awards shows regardless of nominations and whatnot. 
• People have mixed feelings about Jonah Hill. I haven't seen Wolf of Wall Street yet (don't scream at me, it has only just been released over here!) but in general I teeter towards liking him. He name drops a lot but then again if Leo was my friend, I might mention it a few times here and there too. 
• Returning to the American Hustle cast - do you think they were too rude in this interview? I do. I know they probably had a long night and were two or three sheets to the wind but still...answering press questions, regardless of how awful they are, is part of your job. Thank goodness for Amy Adams and Mr De Niro who managed to appear obliging and pleasant. 
• Speaking of Amy Adams - yay! So glad she's winning. I hope she gets the big one. I read her Vanity Fair interview (the issue where she's on the cover) and she comes across wonderfully. I love the part where she talks about working with Idina Menzel and trying to bait her into singing 'For Good' in the corridors! 
• Finally, hasn't it been nice seeing some of the big guns out and about? Meryl, Julia, Tom, Brad, Leo and co. 

Well, we've got a ways to go before Oscar night. I'm sure there will be lots of high jinks and drama along the way. The Academy Awards Luncheon is on February 10 - always produces some nice pictures. Then it's my town's turn to host the stars with the BAFTAs on February 16. We'll talk again after that. 

Not Judging Amy

Have you watched any of The Hollywood Reporter's Roundtable series this year? I always enjoy watching these and I haven't been disappointed this year. The actors gave a decent interview - Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto were the most charming and had the best anecdotes. Also great to see Michael B. Jordan there. The directors were rather odd and eccentric but interesting nonetheless - would you expect anything else from directors? However, the actresses roundtable was the most interesting. It seemed like they pulled the veil back a teensy bit more than the others. 

First of all, how lovely to see such diversity! Makes a change and also makes for a more three dimensional interview in my opinion. You could tell Oprah wanted to ask more questions but for the most part she seemed pretty much in awe of her fellow seat mates. I've grown up watching Oprah and she's been a true inspiration - an excellent role model - so it was great to see this side of her too. That is, the side where you can see her actively learning rather than doing the teaching. 

Julia was fairly quiet but she still oozed 'movie star'. Again, when I was growing up, if someone asked me to name a movie star I would probably have said Julia Roberts. 

Emma Thompson was a RIOT. She's so sharp and witty - Oprah even noted that Emma is the guest you want at your dinner party. She also - quite rightly - brought the interview down to Earth a few times too. She has a very British point of view. I think over here actors and actresses are still thought of as actors and actresses, not movie stars, if that makes sense? There's no sense of Hollywood and all that glitters. You're respected more for how often you tread the boards rather than how much your last film grossed. It's quite normal to walk into HMV and see Bill Nighy browsing the DVD's or see James McAvoy popping to a cash point and not get mobbed by fans or paparzzi, despite what the Daily Mail might have you believe. 

Oh and Lupita...bless. You know when you see any up and coming actor or sports star and they just win your heart? You just want all good things for them? That's how I feel about Lupita. So very eloquent and humble, how can you not love her?

Octavia brought some realness to the table. She spoke of her struggle to make it and avoiding stereotypical roles. I like Octavia Spencer. You think she's one way and then she moves in another direction. I look forward to her next few films - although I'm still waiting for Fruitvale Station to be released here- and, of course, Murder She Wrote! 

However, the standout for me was Amy Adams. Amy was my Lupita from when I first saw her on the Oscar red carpet back when she was nominated for Junebug. She gave her interview to whoever it was back then (remember when Debbie Matenopolous used to do the red carpet and it wasn't all about Ryan Seacrest? It was much better). I've been rooting for her ever since and it seems everyone else has been too because she's nominated ALL THE TIME yet still hasn't won the Oscar. I haven't seen American Hustle  but can it really beat out Lupita or Julia or Meryl - depending on which category she's canvassing for?! Anyway, Amy endeared herself to me yet again in this interview when she talked about not taking any breaks because she didn't start working until she was thirty. I love stories like her's. I think they need to be told more these days because it seems as though we've got a skewered view being fed to kids these days about success. When you have the Kim's and NeNe's and all the others turning into celebrities overnight there's a danger that kids will think that's how it works. You see it on X Factor or America's Next Top Model and all those other talent shows - contestants assuming they'll just make it and then falling apart when they're cut after the first round. You see it in the real world when new graduates go for their dream job, don't get it straight away - or it turns out to be different to what they expected - and so they give up/lash out/ get disproportionately upset. Heck, isn't Girls based on this? I never saw season 2 but in season 1, Hannah thought the world owed her something because in her eyes she was a gifted writer. She may well be a gifted writer but she's got to blimmin' earn her stripes first! 

Anyway, back to Amy. Amy (and Octavia to a certain extent) is the perfect example of the oldie but goodie - hard work pays off in the end. I hope this year she'll reap the rewards - goodness knows she's overdue! If you haven't seen it yet, do take a look. You won't be disappointed.