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Home Archives for Fun Stuff Blog a Thon

March 1, 2014 By iluvcinema 4 Comments

T’was the Night Before the Academy Awards Ceremony ….

No. Do not worry that I am going to break out into cheap verse. I have neither the creativity nor the energy to go there today. In fact, my predictions for this year’s ceremony is quite simple:

People will win Oscars whilst wearing fancy frocks and suits.

And that is about it. Well, that really isn’t everything, as my most ardent wish is for awards success for Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave.

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Photo Credit: Thomas Ormston (via Flickr)

Now, to switch gears a bit, I have previously been asked (*) to look a bit further down the line and put on my prognostication glasses. The mission: to ‘predict’ which young thesps currently in the game I think will probably be awarded film’s highest honor at some point in the future. For the sake of simplicity (and my sanity), I have divided the groups into 1) actors and actresses and 2) directors.

 

THE ACTORS

  1. Chiwetel Ejiofor: Although I had decided to arbitrarily restrict my selections to the ‘Under 35s’ set, I made an allowance in this case. I have hoping for Ejiofor’s ascension to widespread recognition for quite some time. Although he is nominated this year (and not likely to win according to the odds makers), I hope that he will have another shot at receiving an acting accolade in the future.
  2. Adèle Exarchopoulos: Based on her breakout performance in the controversial Blue is the Warmest Color, I feel her success will continue in France and has the potential to translate into crossover success in the English language market. Which frankly will increase her chances of obtaining an Oscar in the future.
  3. Tom Hiddleston: This versatile Brit is bound in the near future to strike Oscar gold. That is all.
  4. Saoirse Ronan: In all her performances (yes even Byzantium) I remain captivated by the ethereal, otherworldly quality she possesses.
  5. Brie Larson: A critically recognized turn in 2013’s Short Term 12 has put this young woman on the map. I see bright (golden?) things in her future.
  6. James Franco: Due to his prolific nature in all aspects of the filmmaking process, I am sure he will strike lucky and at least get a nomination, if not take home Oscar at some point in his diverse career.
  7. Ellen Page: Although it seems like she has been around for a while, she is still quite young and has a long career ahead of her. I think she will secure an acting gong one day.

Honorable Mentions: Ben Whishaw, Romola Garai

Side Note: in doing my research, I ‘discovered’ a rather disturbing trend when looking up male versus female actors. When I searched for males, the top search results and subsequent lists spoke mainly of their talent and versatility. The lists for the female thesps, on the other hand, produced mainly “hot” lists. Color me slightly disappointed.

 

THE DIRECTORS

Now I admit I am not as knowledgeable with up and coming directors as I would like to be. That said, here are a couple of women I feel have the greatest potential of winning top prize for their work in directing a feature film:

Sarah Polley: She started out in front of the camera but has really made a name for herself as a creative force behind the camera with films such as Away From Her and Take This Waltz. There is great promise that a future dramatic feature will be recognized by the Academy.

Ava DuVernay: Another slight deviation from my ‘age’ rule, DuVernay won the Best Director prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013 for her film Middle of Nowhere (film also garnered her the John Cassavetes Award the same year). DuVernay’s career has also seen her recognized and win multiple accolades for her auteurism.

I wish I could speak to the other folks that make the movies – shame on me.

This is where audience participation comes in. Submit in the Comments section below what who you think in these or any other categories is Oscar-bound in the future.

(*) This post is part of the 31 Days of Oscar Blogathon sponsored by Outspoken & Freckled, Once Upon a Screen and Paula’s Cinema Club.

leigh-oscar-banner-flat

 

Filed Under: Awards, Blog a Thon, Fun Stuff Tagged With: future oscars

June 30, 2013 By iluvcinema 18 Comments

Funny Lady Mae West

mae-west

As part of the Funny Lady Blogathon, hosted by Movies, Silently, I have selected the incomparable Mae West (1893-1980). In researching for this piece, I soon realized that I could not do her full biography justice, so I refer you to her official website (http://allaboutmae.com), the Turner Classic Movie Database entry for a fully fleshed out retrospective on her life. For my piece, I have decided to pick up a few career highlights as well as dedicate a section to some of my favorite quotes from her.

The former vaudeville star made a seamless transition from the Broadway stage to film, where she entertained audiences and challenged conventions of femininity and sexual mores, most notably through her provocative turns of phrase.

Born Mary Jane West in Brooklyn, New York to a former prizefighter father and fashion model mother, she seemed destined for stardom at an early age. By age of 14, she was a staple of the vaudevillian circuit. She ultimately decided to take a turn on Broadway. West wrote several plays – the first, titled, Sex, (which she also wrote, produced and directed) led to her arrest for “corrupting the morals of youth.” A year after the arrest in 1928, Mae West scored a bona fide hit in the form of the play Diamond Lil, all about a woman living during the Gay Nineties.

A few years later, Hollywood came a calling and she signed a contract with Paramount Pictures. Her motion picture debut was at age 38 in Night After Night, costarring George Raft. It was in this film that she quipped (go to the 40 second mark of the clip):

The next year saw her reprise her Diamond Lil character in She Done Him Wrong a movie that featured the then unknown Cary Grant and was the first high profile role in his career. The success of the film brought Paramount back from the brink of bankruptcy and was matched in her next film (and second on-screen pairing with Grant), titled I’m No Angel, the most commercially successful film of West’s career.

05_Flatbed_2 - JULY

Over the next few years, and with the institution of the Production Code, West battled constantly with the powers that be that wanted to curb the more suggestive elements they saw in her projects. One of her last major roles was in the 1940 feature My Little Chickadee, costarring W.C. Fields. It was a film marked by their mutual dislike for one another.

mae_west-w.c._fields

By 1943, her film career stalled and she would not return to the big screen until 1970, with the release of Myra Breckinridge, which starred Raquel Welch. Her final screen appearance came in 1978’s Sextett.

 ——–

Notable Quotables

In her relatively brief on-screen career, it would appear that Mae West definitely lived by her own words You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. Below I have chosen some additional funny quips and double entendres (Source: All About Mae):

  • When I’m good I’m very good but when I’m bad I’m better.
  • It’s not the men in my life that counts – it’s the life in my men.
  • I go for two kinds of men, the kind with muscles, and the kind without.
  • Too much of a good thing… can be wonderful.
  • I generally avoid temptation unless I can’t resist it.
  • Marriage is a fine institution but I’m not ready for an institution.
  • I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.
  • It’s better to be looked over, than overlooked.
  • I don’t like myself, I’m crazy about myself.
  • I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor… believe me, rich is better.
  • It’s hard to be funny…when you have to be “clean.”
  • She’s the kind of girl who climbed the ladder of success…wrong by wrong.
  • When I’m good I’m very good, but when I’m bad I’m better.

—–

Be sure to check out some of the other awesome ladies highlighted in this wonderful blogging event!

Funny Lady Blogathon

 

Filed Under: Blog a Thon Tagged With: funny lady, mae west

March 29, 2013 By iluvcinema 21 Comments

My Favorite Moments in Fashion, Hollywood Style

It is my honor to participate in this lovely blogging event (“Fashion in Film Blogathon”), hosted by Angela at The Hollywood Revue. Be sure to check out her blog to read more contributions!

FIFBlogathon

These are moments when I saw what was on the screen and totally wished that were me looking all elegant, sophisticated or just downright put together in a fashion ensemble. What I have assembled is a bit of a hodgey-podgey collection of clothing that I find either absolutely fabulous but in all likelihood would not wear, for a variety of reasons to fashions I can easily see myself slipping into.

 

AUDREY HEPBURN  Funny Face

So many fashion moments from her but alas I will just pick one. But I love the lithe, youthful vibe I get from her attire in this film.

FunnyFace copy

 

KEIRA KNIGHTLEY  Atonement

Definitely not meant for fuller figures but this dress is stunning.

atonement

 

GRACE KELLY Rear Window

I love her style – classic, sophisticated personified. That is all …

Rearwindow

 

DREW BARRYMORE  Music & Lyrics

Granted the film is not up there with other screen gems (I did like it though), but I love Drew’s style in this film (and in life).

MusicLyrics

 

AMANDA BYNES What a Girl Wants

To add this one to the list is to admit I have seen the film – more than once 🙂 In spite of the cheesiness of the film, I must give all dap to the costume designer. From the elegant frocks to the lovely relaxed, vintage (I SO still want that sarong), there is no denying that these are some well put together ensembles.

whatagirl

 

Well these are some of my personal faves – what are yours?

Filed Under: Blog a Thon Tagged With: fashion, fashion in film, hollywood fashion

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